Centreville Students, Families, and Community,

Last week, I had the privilege of witnessing the exceptional nature of our community, both inside and outside the classroom. Our administrators and instructional coaches participated in a structured process to observe student learning and gain a deeper understanding of the current state of instruction. We were able to visit many classrooms and engage with students about the activities they were involved in.

Outside the classroom, I had the chance to support our girls' basketball team during their game against Westfield, watch gymnast Brandon Mills qualify for Regionals on the uneven bars, and celebrate Centreville’s first-ever Girls Wrestling District Champion, Maya Felsted. These are just a few highlights — there's so much more to celebrate within our school community. I encourage you to learn more about our Wonderful Wildcats below.

Looking ahead, barring any inclement weather, Centreville will host the Regional Wrestling Tournament this Thursday during the school day. Hundreds of athletes, families, and community members will be in attendance, so we will have adjusted protocols in place. Specifically, certain areas of the building will be restricted to ensure safety and security, which may impact some students and classes.

Lastly, we continue to seek the support of our families regarding student absences and timeliness. Chronic absenteeism, whether excused or unexcused, can significantly impact academic performance and school-wide outcomes. At Centreville, our goal is to have students in school and on time, so we can provide the best learning experience possible. Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we work together to achieve this goal.

Thank you and Go Wildcats!

Dr. Erik Healey

Principal

Centreville High School

Upcoming Events

February 10-18 - WIDA Testing

February 11 - Career Speaker Series

February 11 - PTSA Meeting - 7:00 PM, CVHS Library

February 13-15 - All-District Chorus, West Springfield High School

February 17 - Presidents Day, No School

February 18 - START on Time Initiative Begins

February 19 - Black History Month Kickoff Celebration (New Date)

February 24 - Spring Sports Begin

February 28 - Ramadan Begins

February 10-28 - Individual Academic Advising Meetings: Students will meet one-on-one with their counselors to discuss academic goals and finalize their course selections for next year. These meetings will occur during students’ English classes. We this week with our current sophomores until February 14, and will conclude with current freshmen from February 18-28. 

February 11 - Career Speaker Series Begins: Our College & Career Specialist, Ms. Stamper is proud to bring back the 3rd annual Career Speaker Series. Students in all grade levels are encouraged to attend to hear about the education and training required, daily responsibilities, successes, and challenges in each career field. Here are some of our speakers in the upcoming weeks:

• Police Officer/Detective/Teacher – Tuesday, Feb. 11 during PLUS 2 in the Auditorium: Hear from CVHS Criminal Justice Teacher Mr. Urps about his career as a Police Officer and Detective investigating crimes, examining evidence, questioning suspects and testifying in court. Learn about the education and training needed to work in this law enforcement field and about his transition to teaching.

February 10-18 - WIDA Assessment Testing: Beginning February 10, both current and former ESOL students are scheduled to complete the four-part WIDA annual assessment. Federal law (ESSA) requires that all Level 1-5 English Learners (ELs) participate annually in an English language proficiency assessment. WiDA ACCESS for ELs consists of the following parts (domains): Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Each domain is a separate test and students must complete all 4 domains to meet the testing requirement. This assessment is used to determine a student’s English language proficiency level, eligibility for ESOL services and testing accommodations. It also provides teachers with information they can use to plan for and support their students’ learning. Participation in this assessment is a critical part of how we measure our students' growth and progress as well as plan for their continued success.

February 11 - PTSA Meeting: Please join us for the monthly PTSA meeting on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:00 PM in the Centreville High School Library. We invite you to join the Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA) to help foster a positive and inclusive school climate. By working together we can build stronger connections that support our students' growth and success. Collaboration between teachers, parents, and students is key to creating an environment where everyone thrives. Your involvement in PTSA is an opportunity to strengthen relationships and make a lasting impact on our school community. If you are not a member of the CVHS PTSA, learn more about membership, donations, and information from previous meetings here.

February 13-15 - All-District Chorus: 25 CVHS singers auditioned for and were selected to participate in the Virginia Choral Directors Association’s District XI Honors Chorus! These students have been learning some challenging music and will rehearse with a guest conductor at West Springfield HS February 13-15. The event will culminate in a concert at 1pm on February 15. The concert is free and open to the public.

February 18 - START on Time Begins: At Centreville, we are committed to ensuring all students are in class regularly and on time to maximize instruction and learning. START on Time is an initiative that works to reduce tardiness and improve transitions between classes, which will lead to improved school climate and increased time dedicated to learning in the classroom. Our goal is to improve student attendance and timeliness, and we want to partner with families to emphasize the importance of this goal. 

February 19 - Black History Month Kickoff Celebration:  After careful consideration, we have decided to postpone the Black History Month Kickoff event, originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 5th. The event will now take place on Wednesday, February 19th. 

As many of you are aware, the Fairfax County Public Schools community has been affected by the tragic airline incident that occurred at Reagan National Airport. In light of this devastating event, we want to provide space for our community to grieve and heal during this difficult time.

FCPS invites students and families to attend the Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration on February 19 from 5:30-7:30PM at Woodson High School. The celebration includes performances that inspire and celebrate Black history and culture and opportunities for reflection on the contributions of Black history and culture.

Wonderful Wildcats

Centreville Musicians Qualify to Audition for All-Virginia Ensemble: Five CVHS band and orchestra students (Daniel Ahn, alto saxophone; Vivien Berg, French horn; Sean Hyjek, viola; Seoyeon Kim, violin; Charlotte Lee, violin) qualified to audition at James Madison University on February 22 for the All-Virginia Ensembles.

Daniel and Vivien qualified to audition for All-VA through their high placements in All-District Band. Sean, Seoyeon and Charlotte qualified to audition for All-VA through their high placements in Senior Regional Orchestra. Both of these qualifying events earned the Centreville musicians spots at the February 22 audition at James Madison University, where they will audition again against hundreds of other musicians from across the state. There are three instrumental ensembles that make up the All-VA band and orchestra (Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Orchestra). Results will be available after the completion of the audition.

CVHS Student to Illustrate for Author's Next Book: Eli Delac, a talented 11th grader was chosen to illustrate the cover of the author Jennifer Degenhardt’s next novel. Ms. Degenhardt recently visited our school to talk about a novel that students are reading in Spanish 2. We are so proud of him, and we can’t wait to see this book’s release. Stay tuned!

CVHS FBLA Participates in Regional Leadership Conference: CVHS FBLA Chapter members participated in the Regional Leadership Conference at Edison High School on January 29, 2025. Twenty-four members placed in their events, and twelve qualified for the State Leadership Conference. Additionally, Simon Waldman was elected as the new secretary of the NoVA Regional Board.

CVHS Drumline First Competition: Congratulations Centreville Indoor Drumline on a fantastic first competitive performance of the season on Saturday at Tuscarora High School! Students have been preparing diligently for this competition and we are proud of their efforts!

Latino Student Union Spreading Positive Messages: The Latino Student Union came together last week to create Valentine's Day cards to give to Centreville's Multilingual Learner students. These leaders designed cards and wrote messages in Spanish to be delivered to their peers. Thank you to the LSU for spreading a sense of belonging and creating a positive school climate for all students!

Students Pitch CoffeeVille Business: Students from our English Language Development (ELD) course pitched a proposal for a temporary business at CVHS. Students conducted market research and presented a proposal to Dr. Healey and Mr. Brown for their business, CoffeeVille, which will serve coffee and tea to students and staff during lunch. The menu will be coming to you soon! Congratulations to these students for their hard work!

Important Information

Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities Seeks Nominations for First-Class Awards: First-Class Awards are presented each year to individuals who support, design, and/or implement inclusion activities that result in positive outcomes for students. The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the 2025 First-Class Awards. This is a great opportunity for the community to recognize and celebrate the inclusion efforts of educators, administrators, and students who demonstrate the inclusion of students with disabilities in all facets of education.  Nominees should model excellence in their role relative to special education, have a positive impact that benefits disabled and non-disabled students alike, and be committed to creating an inclusive environment and mindset. Nominate an administrator, staff member, student, or community partner who has made an exceptional contribution to inclusive practices in Fairfax County Public Schools. Nominations close Wednesday, February 19.

Application for the 2025 Student Representative to the School Board: The School Board student representative represents the interests of Fairfax County Public Schools students. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity. Students currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to apply. 

Watch this video to learn about the student representative experience from the current representative, Megan Sawant. 

Application Information and Deadlines

To be considered for the election, students are required to provide:

• A written component, which is due Monday, February 24.
• A 30-second candidate video statement, which is due Wednesday, March 26. Candidates will be emailed a link to record their video on Monday, March 17.

Both application components are required to be considered for the election. Read more about the election process.

Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration (Note: Date Change) FCPS’ Chief Equity Office invites the community to an Inaugural Black History Month Kickoff Celebration on Wednesday, February 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Carter G. Woodson High School.   

The event begins with a light reception followed by a formal program, From the Threads of Our Past to the Fabric of Our Future. The program will honor the enduring contributions of Black history and culture while envisioning a future rooted in equity and excellence. It will include inspiring performances, personal stories, reflections, and opportunities to connect and celebrate. The event is open to the entire community. 

For more information, contact Nina Thomas, senior manager for Professional Learning and Cultural Responsiveness.

Community Boundary Review Meetings: The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee held its second meeting on December 16 at Gatehouse Administration Center. View key takeaways from that meeting and access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received.  If you did not get a chance to attend an in-person Community Boundary Review Meeting, please consider participating in one of the following virtual meetings: Monday, February 10, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m.  Language interpretation will be available.  All virtual meetings will follow the same format as the in-person meetings that were recently held, and the same information will be shared. Please stay tuned for details on how to register. Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage to learn more. Sign up for FCPS’ School Boundary Review newsletter as well.

FCPS Proposed Budget Progress: The Fairfax County School Board discussed the FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at their work session on February 4. They discussed details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education.  The School Board also held a public hearing on February 4, where they invited the community to share their feedback on the proposed budget. On Tuesday, February 18, the Fairfax County executive will present the county’s Advertised Budget, and the School Board will hold a work session on FCPS’ FY 2026 Proposed Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar. Breaking Down the Budget: More than 85% of the budget is dedicated to instruction and reflects the needs of our community’s young people in response to the changing world around us. Budget priorities include providing competitive compensation for all employees, including a 7% salary increase for all staff.   Our families want their children in high-quality schools with the best teachers who provide rigorous academic experiences. FCPS must provide competitive compensation to attract and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students.  The proposed 7% salary increase would likely move FCPS to the highest starting salary for teachers with a master's degree among our neighboring counties and greatly improve our recruitment efforts amidst an ongoing teacher shortage. Visit the Budget webpage for more information.

Make Sure Your Children Are Up-to-Date on Immunizations: Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy! Starting Monday, May 19, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.  Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!

Students Invited to Share Their Voices at the 2025 Family Summit: The 2025 FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, March 15, at South Lakes High School. Visit the Family Summit webpage for more information. 

At the event, FCPS students will be invited to showcase projects and advocacy efforts around inclusivity in schools. This is a great resume-building opportunity, and students can earn service hours as well. Students may share their work in a share-fair environment using posters, essays, videos, songs, or art. They will interact with attendees through conversations about their work, ideas, and efforts to foster inclusivity in school communities. 

Students must use this Google Form to participate by Monday, February 17. A list of possible projects is also on the form. More information will be provided after the student’s submission is received. Please contact Manuel Gomez Portillo with any questions. 

✨ Centering student voice is part of FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.

News from Student Services

College Partnership Program (CPP) Application:  Do you have a student between grades 8 through 11 who wants to go to college? If so, they should consider applying to the College Partnership Program (CPP), which offers support from exploration to application! The deadline to apply is February 28, 2025. CPP offers programming to help prepare students and families from 9th grade all the way through applying to and enrolling in college, including: Academic counseling College visits Help with completing college and scholarship applications Monthly meetings A summer overnight experience on a college campus   News and information related to colleges and careers via Schoology All students are eligible and encouraged to apply to this program, and are expected to meet the following requirements: Maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher in core classes Attend monthly CPP meetings  Are willing to pursue advanced coursework Demonstrate leadership in school or community activities The goal of the program is to systematically mitigate the impact of barriers to access and opportunity, and support students who are from populations that are historically underrepresented on college campuses. This includes students who are the first in their family to attend college in the U.S., Multilingual learners, students who are economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities. Application Link: https://tinyurl.com/u2e3hme3  The application is only open to students using their FCPS G-Suite account. Make sure to do this application on a computer not a phone! All applications will be submitted ONLINE ONLY.  No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students: Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as: Mood/behavior; changes, motivation, grief/loss; Anxiety, worry, fears; Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships; Academic stress. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information. Graduation Requirements and Planning: Careful consideration is essential when planning next year's courses. We encourage our students and families to review the Graduation Requirements and Course Planning webpage to make informed decisions while planning for success in high school and beyond. Reviewing the Program of Studies may be helpful as well.

6001 Union Mill Road, Clifton, VA 20124 | Main Office: 703.802.5400
Attendance: 703.802.5419 | Web | Twitter | Instagram