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Upcoming Events
October 31: End of First Qtr., 2HR Early Release
November 1: School Holiday (Diwali)
November 4: ROAR Roundup, 8:30-11:30am, Field House
November 4 & 5: Student Holidays, Teacher Workdays
November 11: No School, Veteran's Day
November 27-29: Thanksgiving Holiday, No School
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🎃Happy Halloween!
October 31, 2024
Happy Friday Fairfax Family and Friends,
Quarter 1 has come to a close and we have had a PAWSome time welcoming in the new school year. We are dedicated to helping all of our LIONS build a strong foundation for success by balancing academic rigor with essential organizational skills during the first semester. We are also looking forward to celebrating student growth and commitment to academic excellence in the next few weeks with our Honor Roll recognition and Lions on the Rise awards.
We celebrated an energetic Fall Spirit Week filled with dress up days and fun games. Fostering school pride and community engagement is always fantastic to see when students and staff come together in support of our school culture.
A true highlight of the week was the Fairfax Pyramid Concert that took us on a journey around the world. We welcomed 350 choral students from Daniels Run, Eagle View, Providence, Willow Springs, Katherine Johnson Middle School, and Fairfax High School. These beautiful voices united in harmony, showcasing the incredible talent within our pyramid. The future of Fairfax is filled with song!
Looking ahead, we are excited for parent conferences this Monday. These conversations are vital for strengthening the partnership between home and school, and we encourage all parents to participate. Based on the FHS Family Engagement Survey our parents asked for more opportunities to connect with the school and more strategies to support their students. The ROAR Round Up is here for YOU.
The Class of 2025 is READY to ROAR with early college admissions. Faculty and staff have enjoyed reviewing student essays and writing letters of recommendation in support of post-secondary options.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication. Here’s to a successful Quarter 2 ahead!
Always in Partnership,
Included in this issue:
Student Spotlight
- 2024 Legend Track Championship
- Pyramid Chorus Concert
- Patriot District Champions
- Arbor Day Contest Winner
Calendar Reminders:
- End of First Quarter, Early Release Day, Oct. 31
- Diwali/Dia de los Muertos/All Saints Day, Nov. 1, No School
- School Planning and Teacher Workdays, Nov. 4 & 5, Student Holidays
- Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back) this weekend
Fairfax Lions Need to Know:
- Please Nominate our Outstanding Employees
- Roar Roundup Conferences, Nov. 4, 8:30-11:30am, Field House
- No Saturday School Nov. 2 and 16.
- Underclass Picture Retakes, Nov. 14 & 15
- Federal Impact Aid Survey now ONLINE
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
- Student Services Reminders
- City Schools Referendum Info
- MySchoolBucks Directions
- District News: In Case You Missed It
- Quick Links
Fairfax HS PTSA
- Next PTSA Newsletter Nov. 12
- Support the Class of 2025!
- Join the PTSA or Donate Today
- No-Fuss Fundraiser
Legend Track Championship Winner!
Photo Credit: FFXnow.com
FHS Senior student, Miles Murray, won the 2024 Legend Track Championship at Virginia's Dominion Raceway. Read all about it here:
https://www.ffxnow.com/2024/10/29/fairfax-hs-students-competitive-car-racing-career-kicks-into-new-gear/
Congrats, Miles!
Field Hockey Team is Patriot District Champions!!
Congrats to our Field Hockey team and Coaches for winning the Patriot District Championship!! Go, Lions!!
Chorus Pyramid Concert was a huge Success!
 A beautiful musical evening was had by all at the recent Pyramid Chorus Concert. Congrats to Choral Director, Juliana Woodill, and all our students.
Arbor Day Poetry Contest Winner!
Mickey Johnson, 9th grader at Fairfax HS is the Arbor Day Poetry contest winner for 2024 for FHS. Mickey was recognized at the Arbor Day event last weekend at Kutner Park.
The night turns day as it all comes down
The morning mist like a calling sound.
The beckoning of creatures as they come
The fishing of minnows are caught as a hum the voices of children as they are many and near
Noon is old as lunch is here
Memories fading closing fear
As the loud noises come
And the animals go,
The trees follow suit as there chopped down in droves
The ferns and willows that were trampled in droves
As the concrete takes its form
The memory fades to the old yet new norm.
Congrats, Mickey!
🗓️Calendar Reminders
Quarter End, Early Release, Diwali/Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day, Student Holidays
Thursday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. Friday, November 1, is a holiday this year for Diwali and Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day. All schools and offices will be closed. Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher workday.
See the complete school year calendar.
Fin de trimestre, salida anticipada, Diwali/Día de los Muertos y Todos los Santos, Día festivo para los estudiantes
El jueves, 31 de octubre, es el último día del primer trimestre y los estudiantes saldrán dos horas antes de la hora habitual. El viernes, 1 de noviembre, es un día festivo este año para Diwali y Día de los Muertos y el Día de Todos los Santos. Todas las escuelas y oficinas permanecerán cerradas.Las escuelas están cerradas para los estudiantes el lunes, 4 de noviembre, para un día de planificación escolar, y el martes, 5 de noviembre, para un día de trabajo para los maestros.
Consulte el calendario completo del curso escolar.
☀️ Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)
Time to Nominate our Outstanding Employees!
Do you have 5-10 minutes to tell someone at Fairfax High School how outstanding they are?
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Fairfax High School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the Google form linked in each title. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 15, 2024.
Questions, please contact the Principal's Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Cate, at 703-219-2223 or vmcate@fcps.edu. Thank you!
🦁 Roar Roundup, Monday, Nov. 4
IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENT: The ROAR ROUND UP!
Fairfax High School is excited to welcome back mini-Parent/Teacher Conferences. The ROAR Round Up will be hosted on Monday,
November 4, from 8:30 am-11:30 am.
- The field house will be set up with rows of tables, organized by department, with teachers sitting in alphabetical order within each department. They will have signs above their heads so you know who's who.
- Doors to the field house will not open early. The field house lobby, however, will be open around 8:15 and light refreshments will be provided by the PTSA.
- Bring a copy of your child's schedule or have a list of teacher names from your student. If you forget, copies of student schedules will be available, but bringing your own will result in one less line in which you need to stand. You can chat with the teachers in any order, you do not have to follow your child's schedule.
- Lines form in front of each teacher, when it is your turn, step forward and sit down. You will have 4-6 minutes to chat with the teacher. If you request a longer conference, it may be better to work with the teacher or counselor to schedule an appointment for a different time.
The teacher will have your child's current grade report as a reference. You can ask if any assignments are missing. You can ask if homework is being turned in on time. You can ask about test corrections, retakes, support, etc. You can learn if your child is taking advantage of these policies to improve their grade. If your child is struggling in class, you can ask if they have gone to the teacher's classroom during Lion Time or stayed after school to get help during coach class or the learning lounge. You can also ask if there is anything you can do to support your student.
How long will it take? It depends on how many other parents are there to see the same teachers as you. If you are the only one in line to see your child's 7 teachers, you could be done in 20-30 minutes. You can come within any time during the 8:30-11:30 window.
No Saturday School on Nov 2 and Nov 16
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PLEASE NOTE:
There will be NO Saturday School on Saturday, November 2 and November 16.
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📸 Underclass Picture Retakes, Nov. 14 & 15
Underclass Makeups and retakes are scheduled for November 14-15 in the MPR. Students will be permitted to drop by anytime during the day when they have free time or when a teacher permits them to leave for a moment.
Families can access student photos by contacting our photography provider, Legacy Studios, by visiting LegacyStudios.com or calling 716-512-6336. They can be reached by email at customercare@legacystudios.com.
Seniors have one last chance to schedule a session coming up. The last dates will be at the beginning of December and can be booked by going to Fairfax Senior Scheduling.
📝Federal Impact Aid Survey now Online
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.
For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, we will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
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Step 1: CLICK HERE or use the QR Code to be taken to SIS ParentVUE.
If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation letter.
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Step 2: After you’ve logged into your ParentVue Account, look for the ‘Online Packets’ link at the top of the page. Click ‘Online Packets’. |
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Step 3: Next, click the ‘Federal Impact Aid Survey’ button on the bottom of the page:
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If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please make sure to fill out a form for each of your children. You will know you have completed all of the forms when you see a green check next to each of their names on the final screen. |
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Please be sure you are using SIS ParentVUE to get the most recent information and complete all the electronic forms. If you do not have access you can request it here and if you need assistance FCPS has a designated phone line 1.833.921.3277.
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
Student Services Reminders
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FHS Grading Timeline:
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PSAT/SAT scores available Thursday, October 24 by 6pm. Students should access their College Board account to review scores. They will receive an Advisory lesson on Tuesday on how to review and interpret their scores.
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Governor's Schools: Reminder for 10th and 11th grade students – It is time to apply to attend the summer residential Governor’s schools in Academic and Visual and Performing Arts. Emails went to students and parents on Thursday, October 24. Students who are accepted into one of the programs will live in residence halls in one of the state colleges in VA for four weeks in the June - late July timeframe. To learn more about SRGS opportunities and the application process, visit the VDOE website. For additional information please contact Ms. Markenson, dmmarkenson@fcps.edu or Ms. Hartley at thartley@fcps.edu.
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2024-25 AP Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees: As part of the FCPS FY 2025 Approved Budget, the fees for the first six AP tests taken for courses in which students are enrolled for high school credit will be paid for by FCPS. Students taking AP tests without enrolling in the corresponding FCPS course are responsible for the test fee(s). FCPS encourages all students to take AP tests for courses in which they are enrolled. However, students will have the opportunity to opt-out of the test(s) by filling out an Opt-Out form that was sent home with your student the week of September 23rd and October 7th. To assist in the decision-making process, students were provided a report with their previous tests and current AP course enrollment. AP students must make Opt-Out decisions by November 1st. Parents will be billed a $99 non-refundable test fee for AP exams, in December for tests that exceed the six FCPS-funded tests.
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2025 AP Testing: Reference the College Board AP exam dates site for dates of AP Exams. Any questions regarding AP testing can be sent to Leslie Trieu, FHS AP Coordinator at latrieu@fcps.edu.
City Schools Referendum Info
City of Fairfax residents!
Learn about the school bond referendum on the November 5 ballot. Go to www.CityofFairfaxSchools.org for more information or to submit a question.
MySchoolBucks Directions
Instructions for using My SchoolBucks online (if using the mobile app, instructions are the same but location of links will be different than shown here):
1. Go to myschoolbucks.com.
2. Click the Log In button in the top right corner of the screen.
3a. If you have an existing account, enter your user name and password.
3b. To create a new account, select “Register Now”. Students, DO NOT use your school email address. You must use a personal email address (@gmail.com, @yahoo.com, etc.).
4. Once you have successfully logged in, select “My Students” using the user control panel icon. |
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5. If your student's information is not shown, click "Add Student."
6. Enter student information as instructed and select “Add Student” when done. Repeat if you need to add more than one student. *Student name must match record in SIS exactly (including hyphenated last names).
7. Once the student information has been applied to your account you will be able to pay invoices for class fees and make purchases from the School Store using ACH, credit or debit card.
8. Invoices folder & School Store--Class fees are the only fee that will show in your invoices folder, everything else will be accessed by shopping in the school store.
If you have questions or need help with MSB, please contact our Finance Specialist, Melissa Courtney, at macourtney@fcps.edu or 703-219-2215.
District News - In Case You Missed It
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week - October 30, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Federal Impact Aid Survey
- Football Players Tackle Literacy
- Tips to Keep Children Safe
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Quick Links
throughout the year:
Fairfax HS PTSA
Table of Contents:
- Next PTSA Newsletter on Nov. 12
- Support the Class of 2025!
- Join the PTSA or Donate Today
- No-Fuss Fundraiser
Next PTSA Newsletter on Nov. 12
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Please Note:
Due to the Student Holiday on Nov. 5, the next PTSA Newsletter will be published on Nov. 12.
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🎓 Support the Class of 2025!
The Class of ‘25 is thrilled to host our All Night Grad (ANG) Celebration at Launch Family Entertainment in Herndon! ANG is an unforgettable, FUN, drug and alcohol free event designed to keep our students safe the night of graduation. This NEW venue includes a full trampoline park with challenge courses, dodgeball, tumble tracks and basketball! Graduates love betting it all in the casino and hanging with their friends in the chill lounge. PLUS Launch has a full arcade we’d like to include IF we can raise the money!
How can I help?
The All Night Grad (ANG ‘25) committee is working concessions 11/16 - 11/17 at the Fairfax City Holiday Craft Show at Fairfax High School. All the proceeds for concessions benefit the Senior Class ANG celebration to be held the night of graduation. This is our first fundraiser and a GREAT way to defray the cost of the event and keep ANG ticket prices low. The Craft Show is also a great place to shop for unique gifts before or after your shift ;)
BUT we need assistance - we need lots of parents and students to pull this off! (Junior parents are highly encouraged to assist since you will be running the event next year!)
All students can get volunteer hours for their support, plus it's a lot of fun for our Seniors! Volunteers also receive FREE entry to the craft fair to shop before or after their shift, a $10 savings!!
There are 3 ways to help:
Thank you for supporting the Class of 2025 and keeping our kids safe as they celebrate on graduation night!
JOIN OR DONATE TODAY!
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JOIN the PTSA to support our FHS teachers, students and community! Your member dues and donations work to fund all of our activities and programs, help keep you engaged and informed about what is happening in our school community and provide opportunities to get involved if your time permits.
Parent/Adult: $20, Teacher/Staff: $12, FHS Student: $8.
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PTSA No Fuss Fundraiser - Donate Today!
Support our FHS Students and Teachers with your generous donations! Our No-Fuss Fundraiser has a goal of $2200 to fully fund the proposed 24-25 PTSA budget. The Parent, Teacher, Student Association supports FHS students and teachers through financing events and supporting wellness, diversity, and volunteerism. The PTSA rewards academic achievement, offers student scholarships, funds classroom grants, puts on teacher appreciation events, and supports the FHS Food Bank.
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We rely entirely on membership dues and donations to fund the PTSA budget, and as a 501(c)3, your donation is tax-deductible. For details on how the funds are spent, see the proposed budget HERE.
Tap or Click on the QR code to donate, or visit the donation page. Thank you!
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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. |
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