Important Dates 10/16-10/20 - Homecoming Week! 10/19 - PTSA Meeting (7:00 pm) 10/21 - Homecoming Dance (8:00 - 11:00 pm, FC Gym) UPDATED 10/23 - FCHS Renovation Community Meeting w/Dr. Michelle Reid (6:00 pm, Cafeteria, see announcement below) 10/23 - Paying for College: The Financial Aid Process (7:30 pm, Library, see announcement below)

Attendance Matters!

Good attendance is an important life skill that will help students succeed in school and beyond.

When scheduling trips or family events, try to use weekends and school holidays, and refer to the FCPS Calendar when planning. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered chronically absent.

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or another reason, you must report the absence to the school. If you are unsure how to report an absence, please call the front office.

Watch this video with tips on understanding our school calendar and visit the Attendance webpage for additional information.

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Congratulations... To Eleanor Nguyen for a successful audition to the Northern Virginia Senior Regional Orchestra. Out of the 158 violins that auditioned for the event, Eleanor ranked 33rd in the region. She will be representing Falls Church High School at the event in November! Eleanor is only the 4th orchestra student to make Senior Regional Orchestra in 13 years!!

FCHS is on Instagram!

Paying for College: The Financial Aid Process

Monday, October 23, 7:30 – 9:00 pm in the FCHS Library (following the PTSA meeting with Dr. Reid), College Access Fairfax will present, “Paying for College: The Financial Aid Process.” BIG changes coming to the FAFSA, VASA, and FSA ID. College Access Fairfax will also provide tips on the scholarship search and how to make sense of college financial aid packages. Parents and students in all grades are invited. It’s never too early to start planning! College Access Fairfax is a non-profit, FCPS Partner Organization. Please contact Terri Markwart with any questions. tmarkwart@fcps.edu

Homecoming!

UPDATE - FCHS Renovation Community Meeting w/ Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid UPDATE: Please note, the time of the meeting was incorrect in our earlier message. The community meeting on Monday, October 23, is 6 - 7 p.m. We apologize for the error. Falls Church High School is currently under construction in a highly-anticipated renovation. The public is encourage to attend a community meeting on Monday, October 23, 6 - 7 p.m. in the cafeteria (enter door #8). This meeting will be an information session about the current status of the project and what to expect going forward. FCPS staff will share information about the project’s history and how cost-saving measures were incorporated. Dr. Michelle Reid, superintendent, will also be in attendance.  Language interpretation will be provided based on staff availability. Learn more about this FCPS capital project and sign up for a project-specific mailing list on the Falls Church High School renovation project webpage.  RSVP not required but appreciated to ensure adequate seating and set up: https://forms.gle/3fJbdWEXbK5RDEPW7

Know Our Security Terms

FCPS uses specific terminology to specify the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.

Watch this video to learn more about the definitions of the security terms: lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned.

If students, staff, or community members have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1. 

From our Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist (SAPS)

How to Prevent Substance Misuse

It’s true, teens are more likely to listen to peers rather than their parents, it is part of this stage in development. When a baby is born, the brain’s sole responsibility is focused on keeping them alive. As they grow into adolescence, finding their tribe becomes important. Think about your top three happiest memories up to this point in life. What were you doing? How did you feel? Who was there? Each of these memories was likely a shared experience with others. Likely you were laughing and smiling with loved ones, maybe food was involved. Now shift to think about your three worst memories. What was going on? How did you feel? Who was there? In each of these memories, you likely were alone or felt alone. 

Substance use becomes a problem for some because they either are or feel alone. Connection is an important aspect in our everyday lives. Fairfax County’s “Three to Succeed” describes protective factors to help youth achieve their higher selves. If a child has at least three of these protective factors, they are more likely to succeed in life. They include: having high personal integrity, trusted adults to talk to, performing community service, participating in extracurricular activities, teacher recognition of effort and good work, and parents availability for help. What is noticed is that five of the six protective factors involve connection with someone else, and the first protective factor describes connection with self.

Helpful Resources:

Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Youth

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Substance Use Prevention & Encouraging Healthy Brain Development

REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses

FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS. 

For further information & support

Anna Teeter

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

amteeter@fcps.edu

Food For Neighbors - Holiday Meals

This holiday season, let's come together to make a difference in the lives of food-insecure students in our community. Food For Neighbors plans to provide local families with Holiday Meals at Thanksgiving.

Visit the FFN website today and learn how you can help students and their families experience the joy of gathering for a holiday meal. Every $50 donation provides a meal for a family. Your generosity can make a world of difference for local students!

Student Bus Passes

Useful Links/Information

FCHS Bell Schedule

Schoology

SIS ParentVUE

FCPS 22-23 School Year Calendar

FCPS Cares Do you know a Falls Church HS or FCPS employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.

7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, VA 22042  | Main Office: 703.207.4000
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