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Herndon Pyramid Outstanding Professional Employees
Our very own Isabel Silvestre have been named the Herndon Pyramid Outstanding Operational Employee and Dana VanSlyke has been named the Herndon Pyramid Outstanding Leader. We are so proud of their leadership and the positive impact they have on the Herndon High School community. They will move forward in the award process to compete at the region level. Congratulations Mrs. VanSlyke and Ms. Silvestre!
February 28-March 07: Rising Sophomore and ML Level 1 & 2 Freshman Individual Course Selection
March 02-08: National School Social Work Week
March 05: Ash Wednesday
March 05: Orthodox Ash Wednesday
March 09: Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
March 17: SEL Screener Administration
March 20: Nowruz
March 28: End of Third Quarter
March 31: Holiday | Eid al-Fitr (begins sundown 3/30 – sundown 3/31)
April 01: Student Holiday (Teacher Work Day for Staff)
FCPS Standard School Year Calendar for 2024-25
National Women’s History Month
National School Social Work Week
March 2-8 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS.
Herndon has two amazing social workers, Dianna Sosa and Cynthia Ramirez! We are so fortunate to have them working with our students and families.
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Academic advising and course selection is coming to an end! Starting in January and through mid March, students will meet individually with their teachers and school counselor to discuss and choose their courses for the 2025-26 school year. It is so important that parents and students are informed of their academic options. Families are encouraged to talk with current teachers for their feedback for next school year. Just like last year, students will choose classes via their SIS Student accounts. After the students choose their courses via their accounts, they will meet with their school counselor to confirm the selections.
It is important for students to choose a course load that will challenge them and help prepare them for their post-secondary endeavors while also allowing for balance with their extracurricular and personal commitments. We take academic advising and course selection seriously and encourage students to base their choices on their strengths and interests and with their plans for life after high school in mind.
All of our academic advising and course selection information is available on the Herndon HS > Student Services > Course Selection webpage and a few are listed below.
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February 28-March 07: Rising Sophomore and ML Level 1 & 2 Freshman Individual Course Selection
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March 10-14: Make up days for anyone who may have missed their individual course selection appointment
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After March 14: No course request changes will be permitted.
Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
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2025 Family Summit - Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging! (an Extension of the Special Education Conference)
Families, educators, and community members are invited to the 2025 FCPS Family Summit: Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging. Fairfax County Public Schools will be hosting the free, in-person event in collaboration with valued community partners. The summit will be held Saturday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School.
This event will feature:
- Opening Session: Julie Causton and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak — best-selling authors, motivational speakers, and advocates for inclusion — will share practical tools and evidence-based strategies to empower and assist all families, with a special emphasis on parents of students with individual education programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans.
- Breakout Sessions: Learn more about special education and global topics that benefit all families.
- Student Showcase: FCPS students will share their efforts in fostering inclusivity through posters, essays, videos, songs, art, and other mediums.
- Exhibitor Hall: Discover valuable resources and services in the community to support families.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with other families, staff, and community partners.
Childcare will be provided. Special education staff will be available to care for children with high support needs. You may sign up for childcare during the registration process.
Learn more about this event and register today! Contact FamilySummit@fcps.edu for more information.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener
The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 9-12 during the week of March 17th. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. More information is available about the SEL Screener by accessing this link: https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener. If you have any questions please reach out to our SEL Screener Lead, Samantha Kramer, at spkramer@fcps.edu.
Virtual Presentations on Financial Aid for Military Families
College Access Fairfax will hold two sessions on financial aid hosted by the lead financial educator and military benefits liaison from the Navy Mutual Aid Association.
Topics will include:
- Residency Requirements
- Using the GI Bill
- The Yellow Ribbon Program
- Using Chapter 35 (DEA benefits)
- Military scholarships and grants
- Virginia Education Programs
Sessions will be held Tuesday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 22, at 10 a.m. Click on the date to register. Contact info@CollegeAccessFairfax.org to learn more.
Quarter End, Eid al-Fitr, and Student Holiday
Friday, March 28, is the last day of the third quarter. It is a full day of school for students.
All FCPS schools and offices are closed on Monday, March 31, for Eid al-Fitr. Tuesday, April 1, is a student holiday and teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.
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Scholastic Art & Writing Award Winner
Pandora Grissom won a Silver Key Award in the 2025 Regional Scholastic Art Awards for her Digital Art submission. She will be honored at a celebration this week. Congratulations Pandora!
Library News
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Pleasure Reading. Snow days make great reading days! Encourage your students to curl up with a hot cocoa and a good book after shoveling the sidewalk. There may be more weather on the horizon, but I there is still time to come check out some reading material. If the West Entrance of the library (near the Tech Offices) is unlocked and a member of the library staff is present, students may come in. Your student can check with us if they would like to stay later than the posted hours: we are often open longer.
- Mondays -- 7:30 - 3:30
- Tuesdays -- 7:30 - 3:00
- Wednesdays -- 7:30 - 4:30
- Thursdays -- 7:30 - 4:30
- Fridays -- 7:30 - 3:00
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Research Help. The librarians are offering research help during Stingers. If any students need help completing their research, encourage them to use Securly to write an eHall Pass to Library Help, we’ll be ready for them when they arrive. Of course, they are always welcome, and we are always willing to help. See hours above.
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Volunteers Needed! If you’d like to volunteer in the library, we would love to have your help! Please email HHS_library@fcps.edu. Come hang out at the best place in the school! Whether you are looking for a recurring volunteer slot or you have just an hour to serve, we would appreciate your time and effort.
🚀 Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Summer Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10, and ends Friday, June 6.
Earn Credit Toward Graduation This Summer
Take advantage of the opportunity to earn a high school course credit via this summer’s online campus program. Registration is now open. Students must register by Friday, June 6. Mathematics, health and physical education, career and technical education, English, science, social studies, and world language courses are available to eligible middle and high school students.
Summer is a great time for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course requirement. This is a self-directed course where students work independently. The course is available between Monday, June 23, and Friday, July 25. Registration is now open. Students must register by Friday, May 23. For more information, visit this Summer Learning page.
Eating Disorder Parent Information
The Code of Virginia, 22.1-273.2 requires schools provide, on an annual basis, parents/guardians educational information regarding eating disorders for students in grades five through twelve.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023), Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a web page with detailed information and resources to be provided to parents and guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools. This information may be found at Eating Disorders.
📖 Supporting Academic Growth and Reading on Level by Third Grade
The FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan.
Across FCPS, teachers, staff, parents, and even older students are invested in helping our youngest learners grow their love of reading from a strong foundation.
The goal is for students to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” by the end of the third grade. Reading on grade level is connected to other Strategic Plan goals, including completing advanced coursework and graduating on time.
Last fall, FCPS introduced a new reading curriculum that aligns with evidence-based literacy instruction. Between fall and winter, reading screener results show more than a 4% increase in the number of students in kindergarten to third grade approaching or meeting expectations. Similarly, 3.4% more third graders demonstrate strong foundations of reading and 8.4% more third graders are mastering grade-level standards.
Discover how an elementary school employs a science-based approach, including phonics, to supercharge students' reading.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Advertised Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar to stay up to date.
District 12 Honors Choir
Congratulations to these 14 students for representing Herndon at District 12 Honors Choir this weekend!
Allie Steinhardt, Grace Wagner, Amelie Aubouin, Laila Tomhave, Maggie Growney, Cara Ethington, Ellen Lawton, Luke Marvin, Henry Waldrop, Sumner Langston, Luca Aten, Ethan Pimentel, Mazzy Johnston, Sayuri Tasaki.
🗣️ Connect With Your Kids: Simple Steps to Stronger Communication
Teens skip things that don't interest them, including lectures from their parents. How do you connect with your children and really know what's going on in their lives? How can you become “unskippable”?
Effective communication can build trust and understanding, but it takes thought, planning, and effort.
The latest Healthy Minds Blog offers practical strategies to improve communication and build strong, lasting relationships:
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Ditch distractions and create a safe space where your child feels comfortable opening up.
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Listen actively and validate their feelings, even if you don't agree.
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Ask "how" questions instead of "what" questions to get them talking about their experiences.
For more tips and techniques, read the full article on the Healthy Minds Blog, which shares information related to youth mental health and wellness.
For support on talking with your teen about difficult subjects like fentanyl, discover how to Become Unskippable.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Summer Camps and Learning Opportunities
- Supporting Academic Growth
- Preparing for Tough Conversations With Your Child
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today
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