From the Principal's Desk

upcoming events

Upcoming Events

April 27-29: FHS Spring Musical, Sister Act

April 28: Senior Yard Sign Order Deadline

May 1-18: AP Testing Daily- Volunteers Needed!

May 5: Principal’s Coffee 7:30am, FHS Library

May 9: FHS Chorus Concert 7pm

May 11: FHS Band Concert 7pm

May 16: PTSA Meeting online at Noon

May 16: FHS Orchestra Concert 7pm

May 17: ANG Meeting online at 7pm

May 20: Junior/Senior Prom, State Theatre

Included in this issue:

Staff Spotlight:

  • Kendall Barry, Fashion Design Teacher, Fairfax Academy
  • Fashion in Motion Show, tomorrow night! 7:00pm @ Sherwood Center

Fairfax Lions Need to Know:

  • Calendar Reminders: School Library Month, National Library Week
  • Staff Spotlight: FHS Librarians Anne Nolan and Lynette Constantinides
  • Seniors: Commitment Day, Monday May 1
  • Colleges and Universities Still Accepting Applications
  • FHS May Testing Calendar Info
  • FX Players: Last weekend of Sister Act performances! 

Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:

  • Fairfax Dance Academy Presents: Art in Motion, May 5 & 6
  • How to sign up for a ParentVue account
  • Family Resource Center
  • DECA Conference Results
  • Athletic Dept. Health Physical Night, May 8, FHS Cafeteria
  • Athletic Boosters Golf Tournament, May 8, Country Club of Fairfax
  • Tutor.com is Available for ALL students, K-12
  • Connect - Contact - Reach Us

Fairfax HS PTSA

  • Next Principal's Coffee May 5 @ 7:30am in the Library
  • End of Year Teacher Appreciation Plans  
  • Proctor Volunteers Needed this Testing Season
  • Senior Class News

Acceso de News You Choose en Español:  Haga clic aquí.


FHS English/Math ceremonies

Top: English Awards Ceremony with Teachers David Greene and Dept. Chair Heather Davids; Bottom: Math Awards Ceremony with Dept. Chair Thresa O'Neill. 

 

April 28, 2023

 

It may be raining outside today, but the SUN has been SHINING all week at Fairfax High School. We had a delightful "Wellness Week" that featured self-care events, social emotional learning lessons, and the space to breath as testing season ramps up (you could even breathe with our alpacas and hedgehogs outside—SO COOL). BINGO, therapeutic animals, visual art, and physical exercise were all offered as "BE WELL" experiences.

As we recognize National School Library Week, we want to thank our librarians, Anne Nolan and Lynette Constantinides, for providing a safe, engaging, and responsive space for the Fairfax High Community. Students can be found before, during, and after school using the library for reading, relaxation, learning, and fun. There are culturally responsive texts that mirror our diverse and growing family and students cherish this space. 

We celebrated our English and Math Department awards ceremonies. Students and families packed our libraries to celebrate the talent, excellence, growth,  and efforts of students in content classes and their electives. We also inducted new members into our Math and Computer Science Honor Societies. The Middle Eastern Society hosted a cultural event filled with music, food, and hands on henna.  

End of the year classroom visits are leaning into Portrait of a Graduate, Presentations of Learning and Reflection. When we stopped by Auto Tech, we were able to see our CTE champions under the hoods, writing up estimates, and putting on new tire wheels; while they explained to us what was happening each step of the way. Fairfax Academy's Dance and Fashion classes were in their final creative modes as they get ready for the Fashion Show and Dance Showcase coming up this weekend and next week. These experiences are capstones of learning and their time in the programs. Piano students were self-assessing and listening to their play and practice, while AP music theory was getting ready for their AP exams. Skill Reflection is key as we develop our Portrait of a Graduate Skills. 

Activities are on fire at the fields and courts! It has been action packed on these gorgeous spring nights.  You have a few more chances to see SISTER ACT, this show is toe-tapping and feel good. The student performances from our live band and theater STARS are exemplary. 

As the rain waters the flowers and results in growth, our educators are pouring into our LIONS and ensuring they grow and develop. We are excited to kick off our Fairfax High Educator Appreciation Week, NEXT WEEK! If you have a moment, take the time to say "thank you" to one of your children's champions. 

Every Student, Every Strength, Every Day here at Fairfax High.

Yours in partnership,

SignatureFHS Seniors at DRES

Photo courtesy of Nico Ramallo

FHS SGA students recently visited Daniel's Run Elementary School to connect and mentor our future Lions. It was a great success! 


Staff Spotlight

Kendall Barry, Fashion Design Teacher, Fairfax Academy

Fashion Teacher

 

Kendall Barry is a seasoned fashion professional with over twelve years of career experience designing for prominent national brands based in New York City and Philadelphia including AVIVA, J.Crew, Michael Kors Collection, and Anthropologie. Prior to those full-time design positions, she gained significant experience and exposure interning in the PR department at Betsy Johnson and in the sampling room at Haute Hippie.

Her work has been featured in numerous publications and seen worn by various celebrities attending VIP red carpet events such as The Met Gala, Emmys, Tony’s, and Oscars.

In 2020 she launched the luxury swimwear label ISAMEL with a strong focus on embellishment, sustainability, and ethical production.

Ms. Barry grew up in Fairfax County and is an alumnus of the Academy Fashion program. She went on to graduate from The Savannah College of Art & Design with a BFA in Fashion Design magna cum laude. Ms. Barry is very excited to share her experiences and knowledge with the new generation of Fashion Academy students back in her hometown.

 

Fashion in Motion - Tomorrow Night!

Fashion in Motion 2023

Fairfax Lions Need to Know:


Calendar Reminders:

📚 School Library Month 

student reading

 

In FCPS libraries, students develop knowledge and skills, experience a sense of belonging, find inspiration and support, and have the ability to freely pursue their personal interests and academic growth. Watch this video to learn how FCPS librarians make a difference.

Workforce Readiness Month

The Virginia School Boards Association has designated April as Workforce Readiness Month to promote workforce development opportunities that help students succeed in the new economy. FCPS offers many experiences for students through the Career and Technical Education programs and courses.

 

April 24 - 28 is National Library Week

Anne Nolan, FHS Librarian

FHS Head Librarian, Anne Nolan

 

This week is National Library Week which means it is time to recognize and celebrate our phenomenal librarians here at Fairfax High School! We are  fortunate to have such dedicated professionals working hard for our community every day. 

Anne Nolan is our Head Librarian and a native of Northern Virginia. Ms. Nolan graduated from Chantilly High School and went on to earn a B.A. in European Studies from George Mason University, and a M.S. in Library & Information Sciences from The Catholic University of America.

Ms. Nolan is an enthusiastic reader and loves to share her enthusiasm with others. She enjoys collaborating with teachers to help students learn. She enjoys working with our students both during the school day and beyond. Ms. Nolan has been in FCPS since 2004 and working at Fairfax HS since 2010. She has been a proud co-sponsor of the Fairfax High School chapter of the National English Honor Society for over 10 years. 

In her spare time, Ms Nolan enjoys gardening, hiking and cooking.  She is especially interested in cultivating native plant species and helped to establish the Entrance 6 native plant garden with members of the FHS Green Club.

 

Lynette Constantinides

FHS Librarian Lynette Constantinides

 

Raised in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Lynette Constantinides decided on a career in librarianship at an unusually young age (9!). She completed a bachelor’s degree in history at James Madison University before moving on to College Park for her master’s in library science. Settling in Arlington, Ms. Constantinides began her career as a news librarian at USA TODAY. She switched to school librarianship in 2000, and has worked at Washington-Lee (now Washington-Liberty) High and Chantilly High before coming to Fairfax High School in 2014.

Her favorite aspect of working with high school students is the satisfaction of connecting young readers with the right books. She feels that the library should be the heart of a school, and is passionately committed to guiding our students to become critical thinkers and knowledgeable consumers of information.


Seniors: Commitment Day, Monday, May 1

College signs

 

We will be celebrating Commitment Day on Monday, May 1st to recognize our Senior’s post-secondary plans. Seniors should plan to wear their future College or Career Path shirts on Monday! We are so proud of all our seniors and the amazing plans they have after graduation.


Colleges and Universities Still Accepting Applications

NACAC Logo

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has released their annual list of colleges and universities that are still accepting applications from prospective freshmen or transfer students for fall 2023. Students and families are encouraged to use this tool to search colleges that still have space available. Users may narrow down the list of schools by state and view whether a school still has financial aid, as well as unfilled housing. 

Additionally, NACAC has created an enrollment deposit fee waiver request form that is considered by some institutions for students experiencing significant financial hardship. Families can learn more about the enrollment deposit fee waiver and eligibility on the NACAC website. Students and families may contact their school counselor, and college and career specialist with any questions.


FHS May Testing Calendar

May Testing Calendar

 

Attention FHS families, the May Testing Calendar has been posted to the school website here:
https://fairfaxhs.fcps.edu/student-services/student-testing.

The full document can be downloaded here:
May 2023 FHS Testing Schedule.pdf.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • If a student is absent: All make-up tests will be scheduled from May 22-June 2.
  • If your student has an AP exam and an SOL on the same day – the AP Exam gets taken on schedule.
  • For Underclass students, Mon-Thu, June 12-15, is early release at 11:35am; Friday, June 16th is early release at 10:10am and the last day of school.   

Final weekend of performances for Sister Act! 

Sister Act poster

 

Come See Sister Act!

A woman hiding in a convent helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she rediscovers her own. Sister Act is the feel-good musical comedy smash based on the hit 1992 film that has audiences jumping to their feet!

Purchase tickets here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15604. You don't want to miss it! 


Fairfax Lions Nice to Know: 


Art in Motion ~ Dances inspired by famous works of Art, May 5 & 6

Fairfax Academy Art in Motion

 

Art in Motion, A dance concert presented by The Fairfax Academy dance program.

This end-of-the-year performance will consist of dances inspired by famous works of art, such as Starry Night and the Mona Lisa. Fairfax Academy dance students studied the common elements between visual art and dance and used these common concepts to create movement. The dance, once performed, is gone and can never be recreated and seen in its true form.

There is a surprise for the audience and the dancers at the end of the performance when 12 dancers perform on a large canvas, using their bodies as paint brushes, and creating a one-of-a-kind art piece from motion.

The performances are on May 5th at 7 pm and May 6th at 1 pm in the Fairfax High School auditorium. TICKETS are on sale now! 


What is ParentVue and How Can You Sign Up?

If you do not already have a SIS ParentVUE account, sign up now to monitor and support your child’s academic success! Through ParentVUE, you are able to view your student’s attendance, grades, and assignments at any time. You can also access special reports for your student like progress reports and assessment score reports. 

Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. 

Need help creating a SIS ParentVue account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.

Update Your Contact Information in WeCare@School

Within SIS ParentVUE, FCPS provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system. weCare helps manage contact and emergency medical information by allowing parents/caregivers to enter and update their children’s data online. 

That contact information automatically enrolls parents/caregivers to receive critical updates from the district and their child’s school through the eNotify system. FCPS uses eNotify to communicate emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closing and delay, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent by email, text, and occasionally by phone. Learn more about updating your emergency care information.


Parent Resource Center is now the Family Resource Center

FRC banner

 

FCPS’ Parent Resource Center has changed its name to the Family Resource Center (FRC) as a way to acknowledge and support the broad diversity of families in our community. The FRC continues to offer a wide range of essential resources and education for caregivers and students including:  

Families can find printable resource guides and details about the center’s free lending library on FRC’s homepage. They may also sign up to receive the FRC newsletter for updates on webinars, resources, and other information. If you have questions, please contact the FRC via email at frc@fcps.edu or call 703-204-3941.

Upcoming FRC Webinars

The Family Resource Center is hosting the following webinars. Events are virtual unless stated otherwise:

Click on the titles above for more information or to register for a webinar.


DECA Conference Results

DECA

 

Thirteen Fairfax High School marketing students represented the professional marketing student organization at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida.

DECA members earn the opportunity to advance to this event as a result of winning at the Virginia State DECA competition. Over 20,000 DECA members from around the world demonstrate their college and career knowledge and skills by participating in DECA’s Competitive Events Program.

The Fairfax DECA chapter received recognition for achieving three DECA Chapter Campaigns. Reagan Wise and Shiza Malik graduated from the DECA Emerging Leader Series, a comprehensive leadership program for members. Brandon Nguyen and six other students prepared written marketing research projects and creatively presented their marketing plans to industry judges. 

Congratulations to Sami Moudarres and Sarah Hegazy who were recognized as top 10 finalists for their Career Development Project; Ella Modes and Riya Menon were recognized as a top finalists for their Community Giving Project and Kiran Ashok and Ronit Manchanda were recognized as top finalists for their Community Awareness Project. Kai Keo, Sahithi Rampally and Kathleen Murray competed in the individual series and team decision making roleplay events. Kathleen Murray was recognized as a top finalist in Principles of Business Management and Administration.

Congrats, all, and well done, Lions!!


Athletic Dept. Health Physical Night, May 8

Fairfax Fence

 

The Athletic Training Program will be hosting our physical night for our annual fundraiser on May 8th in the FHS Cafeteria. This is the only money we get to be able to buy any sort of supplies that we would need for the school year (i.e. tape, wound care, modalities, rehab equipment, etc.). This physical will be good for the 2023-2024 school year. Physical Night registration is now Available. Please use the below link to sign up!

It’s alive!!!  2023 Athletic Physical Registration 

While any help would be appreciated we are looking to get a few more medical professionals ( Doctors, PA’s, NPs ect) to sign up to make sure the night runs smoothly.

Here’s the Volunteer form:  2023 Athletic Physical Volunteer Registration


Athletic Boosters Golf Tournament

FHS Golf Tournament

 

ATHLETIC BOOSTERS SILENT AUCTION 

OPEN MONDAY, MAY 1st thru MAY 8th!!!!  

Great items to bid on including restaurant gift cards & meal vouchers, gift baskets, photography & portrait sessions, golf lessons, foursomes, sports tickets and much more!  All proceeds support FHS athletics!

FINAL WEEKEND TO REGISTER for Golf Tournament Event!  There are a few spots left including singles and twosomes. Click Here to Register and submit your payment. Golf, food, prizes and a great cause!!


Tutor.com Services for ALL Students

Tutor.com video

 

Does your student need help with homework or preparing for a test? Don’t forget, FCPS students still have no-cost access to Tutor.com 24/7. Do you have questions about the service? View this FAQ.


stay in touch

with us throughout the year by:


Fairfax HS PTSA


Table of Contents:

  • Next Principal's Coffee May 5 @ 7:30am in the Library
  • End of Year Teacher Appreciation Plans  
  • Proctor Volunteers Needed this Testing Season
  • Senior Class News

Next Principal's Coffee Friday, May 5

Principal's Coffee

Please join us for the next Principal's Coffee on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 7:30am in the school library. Stop in for coffee and conversation with Principal Aye. See you there! 


End of Year Teacher Treats! 

Hard to believe we are in the final months of school! Help the PTSA treat our teachers and staff one last time with fun goody bags for summer. Please send donations to school by May 12 so that our students in the adapted curriculum can build their job skills and assemble the gift bags before the end of the year. Purchase items from the FHS PTSA Amazon Wish List or drop off those items in the school office CLEARLY LABELLED for Staff Appreciation. Or email Jen Seifert to make other delivery arrangements liledjen4901@gmail.com.

Thanks for your generosity! 


Proctor Volunteers Needed to Support Testing

Fairfax High School is seeking parent volunteers to help proctor the AP exams being administered May 1-18th. We have many opportunities available to give our students a great exam session. Email or sign up for a time you can work during the school day even if it’s not the whole session:

FHS AP Testing Proctor SignUp

Please note that you cannot proctor an AP exam that your student is scheduled to take and you cannot be in the same room with any family member. If you have any questions, please email Leslie Trieu at latrieu@fcps.edu.


Senior Class News

Class of 2023

 

The Class of 2023 graduates Wednesday, June 7th!  In keeping with the 30+ year FHS tradition, the grads are invited to safely celebrate together at the All Night Grad Event the night of graduation at The St. James Sport and Entertainment Center https://www.thestjames.com/

Tickets for All Night Grad (ANG) are $45 each, all inclusive of fun activities, DJ, food and prizes.  Purchase your student's ticket here: https://fairfaxhs.memberhub.com/store/items/499302 

Tickets increase to $55 on May 9.  Deadline to purchase tickets to secure t-shirt size is May 23rd.

Students will pick up their ANG t-shirt after graduation rehearsal:
The ANG t-shirt is their ticket into the event.

Free & Reduced Lunch eligible students can get the discount ANG ticket order form and the discounted yard sign form in the main office. We are thrilled to have the support of so many community businesses and families to make this safe and fun event affordable for our kids.

 

Zoom Meeting

 

Senior Parents: If you're wondering what All Night Grad is all about, join us for a Q&A Zoom session on Thursday, May 4th at 7:00 PM.  Co-Chairs will share all the details and answer your questions about events, activities, food, available transportation and anything else you're curious about.  

ANG 2023 Q&A Zoom Meeting, May 4 @ 07:00 PM

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83550883330

We look forward to celebrating with the FHS Class of ‘23! (and YOU if you'd like to volunteer!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EA9A62FA7F58-allnight)

Yard Sign double

 

Senior Yard Signs Deadline is TODAY!

https://fairfaxhs.memberhub.com/store. The first batch are available for pick up after school from 3-4pm this Wednesday and Thursday. The final order deadline is TODAY, FRIDAY, April 28!.


FCPS Cares

Do you want to celebrate a Fairfax employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way, or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.