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Blue Star Welcome Week
 Blue Star Welcome Week, September 21-29, is an opportunity to empower military families to thrive as they serve. There are approximately 13,500 military-connected students enrolled in FCPS. Each year, one-third of our military families transition into or out of our district. Blue Star Welcome Week gives schools an opportunity to welcome and connect with their military families. The goal is to create a sense of belonging and ensure that our military families feel celebrated and welcomed into their school communities.
September 21-29: Blue Star Welcome Week
September 26: Financial Aid Night, 6:30 pm, Auditorium
September 28: 27th Annual Showcase of the Bands, All day, HHS Stadium
October 01: Freshman Transition Program, 4th Period, Various Locations
October 03: Holiday | Rosh Hashanah (begins sundown 10/2 - sundown 10/4)
October 04: Student Holiday | Teacher Workday
October 09: PSAT/NMSQT/SAT School Day
October 11: Religious and Cultural Observance | Yom Kippur (begins sundown 10/11 - sundown 10/12)
October 14: Student Holiday | Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Staff Development Day)
FCPS Standard School Year Calendar for 2024-25
🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:
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Monday, September 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Newington Forest Elementary School.
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Monday, September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.
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Monday, October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School.
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Monday, October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School.
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Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School.
Events will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
Financial Aid Night
HERNDON and SOUTH LAKES High School Seniors & Families (Juniors Welcome!)
Director of Financial Aid at Loudoun NOVA, Jack Zeeger, will present on all aspects of FAFSA and paying for college. Topics to be covered include: understanding financial aid, how the financial aid process works, and the steps that families need to take to secure financial aid. Spanish and English session.
- September 26, 2024 at 7:00 – 8:30 pm
- Herndon HS, 700 Bennett Street, Door 1
- English Session: Auditorium
- Spanish Session: Lecture Hall
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Please RSVP: https://forms.gle/DEjUzPjKx9WR1qcK8
The 27th Annual Showcase of Bands
Join us for our 27th Annual Showcase as we kick off the 2024 Marching
Band competition season! We have 35 Marching Bands from the region
performing throughout the day; Herndon High School’s ‘The Pride of
Herndon’ will perform around midday this year.
- WHEN: Saturday, September 28, 2024, All day - detailed program to come
- WHERE: Herndon High School Stadium, 700 Bennett Street, Herndon VA 20170
- TICKETS: Available online - https://www.herndonband.org/showcase, General Admission $12, Students (ages 6-12) $6*, 5 yrs and younger FREE, * free entry to kids wearing a Herndon Pyramid school shirt with a paying adult
Volunteering opportunities are available for students and can be found at https://www.herndonband.org/showcase
Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)
The SR&R document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when logging in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage. This form should be signed and returned by Monday, September 30.
Freshman Transition Program
On Tuesday, October 1st, the school counselors will meet with their freshmen during 4th period. This is program designed to help freshmen learn about the resources available to them and to help them navigate through some of the challenges that may arise in high school.
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Wednesday, October 2. That day is an evening-only O day, and important events will not be held after school.
Thursday, October 3, is a holiday for all FCPS staff. Schools and offices will be closed.
Friday, October 4, is a teacher workday and there will be no school for students. See the complete school year calendar
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🌍 Receive Credit for Proficiency in Languages
This year's World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school.
The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits.
Registration opens on Wednesday, September 4, at 8 a.m., and closes on Friday, October 4, at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted. Please contact your student’s school counselor to register for the exam.
Find more information, including the list of eligible languages.
PSAT/NMSQT/SAT School Day
On Wednesday, October 9, tenth and eleventh grade students will be taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) exam, and all registered twelfth grade students will be participating in SAT School Day. Grade 12 students who signed up prior to September 4, 2024 will be taking the SAT Test.
School Day Schedule
All FCPS high schools will operate on a two-hour early release schedule. High school academy courses and all high school shuttles will be canceled on this day.
Grade 9 and Grade 12 Students
During the PSAT/SAT School Day, most ninth grade students will have an unscheduled school day and not attend school. On this day, ninth grade students are encouraged to complete any missing work or assignments that need to be completed prior to the end of the first quarter.
Please note that ninth grade students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (students receiving low incidence special education services) will continue to receive in-person instruction with a 2-hour early release on October 9.
Grade 12 students who did not sign up to take the SAT will have an unscheduled school day and not attend school. On this day, twelfth grade students are encouraged to complete any missing work or assignments that need to be completed prior to the end of the first quarter.
Transportation
FCPS transportation is available for all students participating in the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day. Regular bus routes will be provided in the morning and after the early release. Families of students requiring alternate transportation arrangements due to accommodate testing will be contacted directly by the PSAT Coordinator or SAT School Day Coordinator.
Leaving After the Testing Window is Completed
Students will have the opportunity to leave the building upon the conclusion of the testing window (scheduled for 11:15 AM). However, parent/guardian permission must be granted through the completion of the PSAT/SAT Attendance Form. The completed form must be turned into Mrs. Barr in the Student Services Office by Tuesday, October 8, 2024. No handwritten notes or phone calls will be accepted in lieu of the form.
Pre-Survey
Prior to test day, students will complete a digital readiness check during an advisory lesson at school. During the digital readiness check, students will see a voluntary pre-survey that asks questions about a variety of topics. You may opt out of this pre-survey for your student. Additional information about the content of the pre-survey and how to opt out can be found on the SAT and PSAT Pre-Survey Opt-Out Policy webpage at https://www.fcps.edu/node/36639.
If you choose to opt your student out of the pre-survey, please notify our Assessment Coach, Dr. Karl Gussow at ksgussow@fcps.edu by Friday, September 27, 2024, and include your student’s full legal name and FCPS ID number in the email. Please be sure to talk to your student about your opt out choice so your student knows they should not answer the survey questions during the digital readiness check.
If you have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day administration, please contact Dr. Gussow.
Walk and Roll to School Day
FCPS will participate in International Walk and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 9, in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools.Students and employees are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work where safe to do so. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to school, and to work with their school and PTA or PTO to assemble bike trains or walking groups for the event. Schools are encouraged to register online with Walk and Bike to School. Get more information about Walk to School Day.
Yom Kippur
Friday, October 11, will be an evening-only observance day for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. There is school that day, but important events will not occur after school. See the complete school year calendar.
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Ombuds Day
Office of the Ombuds staff engage with families, students, and staff to offer resources, assist in settling conflicts, and raise concerns to improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
The ombuds is available to:
- Share strategies for parents to improve communication with, and between, school and home.
- Help resolve disagreements between parents and schools or disagreements involving employees in the workplace.
- Provide ideas to foster parent participation in Individual Education Plan (IEP) and 504 Plan meetings.
Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may Submit a Question
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Indigenous Peoples' Day honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples, past and present. Monday, October 14, is a student holiday and staff development day. See the complete school year calendar.
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Attendance Report Card
Greeting Hornet Families!
We hope this message finds you well. It’s hard to believe we are already at the mid-way point of our first quarter. As such, every Hornet family will be receiving an “Attendance Report Card” via email this upcoming week. We anticipate sending these updates to you on a bi-quarterly basis. This gives families an opportunity to embrace their student’s personal attendance data and to partner with our Herndon High School staff to ensure our students are in class every day and on time every day. We recognize that there are a variety of reasons that students are absent, and this update is not to judge the validity of these absences. We value the role families play in their child’s education and believe that, by working together, we will make a difference in the lives of our students!
Please know that parents have access to their student’s ongoing, updated attendance data through ParentVue and are encouraged to check it often. This “Attendance Report Card” is merely a report at a moment in time to help you make sense of your child’s data. We appreciate your efforts and partnership to help improve our school’s performance for student attendance!
We All Belong at School
Each one of us is unique, and every student matters. If your student is having a difficult time attending class, please speak with a trusted adult at school.
Watch this video to see how everyone belongs at school. Visit our Attendance webpage for resources on attendance. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
Yearbooks For Sale!
Yearbooks are now available for purchase on yearbookordercenter.com! Our school code is 8967. Books start at $65. Students receiving free/reduced lunch can pick up an order form in the main office to purchase a yearbook at a reduced cost.
Senior ads for sale! Families of seniors can now purchase senior ads for the yearbook! Please go to yearbookordercenter.com and use school code 8967 to feature your child in this year’s book!
Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students.
After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office.
Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.
✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Our third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful. For example, making sure they are readers by third grade and taking courses that challenge them throughout their education will help prepare them for lifelong success. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.
FCPS Trust Policy Supports Caring Culture
Fairfax County Public Schools is proud of its caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families. The FCPS Trust Policy solidifies this commitment and aligns with Fairfax County Goverment's Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. It ensures that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials. Please visit FCPS’ Trust Policy webpage to learn more about the policy and regulation in multiple languages.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact Herndon's school psychologist, school social workers or school counselors to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
No-Cost Therapy for High Schoolers
High school students can access virtual mental health services at no cost through an FCPS program with Hazel Health. Their therapists are licensed and also trained in teen-specific challenges.
Students may be referred by a guardian or designated staff member and participate in weekly video therapy sessions. The therapists will work with students until they achieve their therapy goals, or they can help connect families with long-term mental health services in the community if needed.
Learn more about teletherapy for high school students.
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