Principal Updates - March 17

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Oakton Students Photo

Be sure to follow us on X (@OaktonHS), and Instagram oaktonhs ! Be sure to check out our Oakton Accolades section on our website as we celebrate student achievement!  

Important Dates 

You can access the FCPS 2024-2025 school year calendar here.   

March 19 - The Center Tutor-a-Thon; Partners for Safe Teen Driving Presentation; Partners for Safe Teen Driving Presentation 

March 23 - Regional Science Fair Awards (Robinson Secondary School) 

March 28 - End of 3rd Quarter 

March 31 - No School, Eid-al-Fitr

April 1 - Student Holiday, Teacher Workday 

April 14-18 - Spring Break 

May 9 - Junior/Senior Prom (Westwood Country Club) - SAVE THE DATE! 

The Center Tutor-a-thon March 5 Graphic

Please note the Tutor-a-Thon has been moved to March 19th (same time, same place) to avoid conflict with the Student vs. Staff Basketball game on March 5.  

General Information

👗 Prom Dress Shop Opens With Hundreds of Dresses

The annual Prom Dress Shop opens for the season on Friday, March 7, at Centreville High School. Any area student — not just those from Fairfax County Public Schools — who do not have the funds to purchase a prom dress may choose from hundreds of new dresses donated by Macy’s. Learn more and see shop hours.

📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra learning resources. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Upcoming Safety Drills 

In the month of March we will practice two safety drills in addition to our monthly fire drill.  More information can be found below. 

  • Tornado Drill (Completed 3/6): The Code of Virginia § 22.1-137.1 requires all public schools to participate in at least one tornado drill each year. Additionally, FCPS Regulation 8625 requires the tornado drill be completed during the school year in March. 
  • Lockdown Drill (Completed 3/12) - We will hold our second lockdown drill of the school year.  The specific date and time of the drill will not be announced.  However, parents will be notified via email in a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the drill. Parents will also be notified at the conclusion of the lockdown drill on the day it is held.  

Reminder to Sign Up Weekly for Student Fasting Meal Kits

Students who are fasting during the school day between now and March 28 can take school meal kits home at the end of the day. Families must fill out a separate request form for each week and for each student in order to receive school meal kits. To receive meal kits for the week of March 24, please fill out this form by March 17. 

Please remind your child to pick up their meals each day at our school’s designated location. Visit the Food and Nutrition Services webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.

Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) Presentation - New Date

Please note we have moved the date to May 21 due to inclement weather on February 11.  

HIPS is a community awareness program designed to enlighten parents through a unique learning experience encompassing insights into trends and indicators of potentially risky behavior.  This allows parents the opportunity to interact with police officers and various props.  

If you are interested in attending on May 21, please register for the event using this link (https://bit.ly/hipsohs021125). 

The presentation will be run by Fairfax County Police Department and our Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist for the Oakton and Madison Pyramids, Mr. Michael McNulty.   

HIPS Flyer

K-12 Mathematics Basal Public Review

Fairfax County Public Schools will adopt new Mathematics Instructional Resources for the 2025-2026 (secondary) and 2026-2027 (elementary) school years. A review committee composed of community members, administrators, and teachers will be meeting to review materials submitted by vendors. The public is also invited to review materials and provide comments.

Mathematics basal instructional resources may be accessed in-person and online from February 14, 2025 – March 21, 2025, for public feedback. Those reviewing instructional materials in-person or on-line will give feedback via a digital input form. 

Hard copies of instructional materials will be available for review at Willow Oaks Welcome Center Monday - Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Note: If review hours are needed outside of these hours please email mathbasalreview@fcps.edu

FCPS Administrative Building

8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Dr.,

Suite 100

Falls Church, VA 22031

Electronic materials for public review will be available on the FCPS Mathematics web site.

All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with School Board members before a vote at the School Board regular meeting in 2025.

Senior Deadline for X2VOL Hours

All Senior Service-Learning hours for Seniors must be submitted no later than April 25th at 3pm to guarantee they are approved for graduation accomplishments. Hours posted past the deadline will not be guaranteed to be counted toward awards and recognition for Seniors. Please submit all hours into X2VOL for approval no later than April 25th at 3pm.

To learn more about Senior awards and recognition for graduation click HERE. This includes all Service-Learning Recognitions for graduation and their requirements. Any questions regarding this information can be forwarded to Mrs. Kimberly Stewart, the Service Learning Liaison, at OHS at kastewart@fcps.edu

Partners for Safe Teen Driving Presentation

All students enrolled in Classroom Driver Education during the 2024-2025 school year must attend an in-person Partners for Safe Teen Driving (PSTD). The presentation is connected to successful classroom instruction and must be completed to receive a DEC-District 8 card (pink card). The parent-teen traffic safety presentation (PSTD) will be offered multiple times during the school year at Oakton. Students and their parents/guardians should plan to attend the
presentation at Oakton at your earliest convenience.


All PSTDs begin promptly. Late admission will not be allowed.

2024-2025 Dates:

  • October 28, 2024 6:30-8:00pm
  • January 21, 2025 6:30-8:00pm
  • March 19, 2025 6:30-8:00pm
  • May 19, 2025 6:30-8:00pm

These sessions are intended for Sophomores. Juniors and Seniors can attend a session through Adult and Community Education. PSTD nights are not available to freshmen.

Yearbook Flyer

Student Services Updates 

Junior College and Post-Secondary Planning Presentations

This year, school counselors will offer two optional presentations for juniors to attend that are focused on post-secondary planning.

The first presentation will be offered on April 3 during Cougar Time and will focus on college planning and applying to four-year institutions.

The second optional presentation will be offered on April 9 during Cougar Time and will focus on post-secondary options other than attending four-year institutions such as attending a community college, enlisting in the military, receiving training at a vocational or trade school, and taking a gap year.

Juniors will have the option to attend one or both presentations.

Junior College Planning - Parent Night (Virtual)

Junior parents and guardians, please join us on Wednesday, April 9th from 6:00-7:30pm for Junior College Planning - Parent Night. Counselors will share information about the college planning and search process. This will be a virtual webinar, and a link will be emailed to all junior families a day before the webinar. We hope you can join us, but if not, the session will be recorded and posted on the OHS website.

Virtual Presentations on Financial Aid for Military Families

College Access Fairfax will hold two sessions on financial aid hosted by the Navy Mutual Aid Association’s lead financial educator and military benefits liaison. 

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.

Virtual FAFSA Workshops

uAspire is hosting free FAFSA Walkthrough for students and families. This session will give them an overview of the new FAFSA and walk them through the steps required to receive federal financial aid at colleges nationwide.

  • Thursday April 3 - 5:00PM

Register HERE!

Summer 2025 Online Campus Courses

Registration for the Summer 2025 Online Campus courses started Friday, February 14, 2025, and ends Friday, June 6, 2025. Courses are open to middle and high school students who meet prerequisites.

Courses may be cancelled if they are under-enrolled. If a course is cancelled, students will be notified using the registration contact information and a full refund will be given.

Schedule Changes

Please see the timeline below regarding schedule changes for the 2024-2025 school year.

  • August 8 – September 6: School counselors will make requested schedule changes based on space availability.
  • September 9 – November 8 (end of 1st quarter grading window): No schedule changes
  • After November 12: Any student requesting a schedule change will need to fill out the schedule change request form, with permission from parent, student, teacher, school counselor, and administrator. If approved by the administration, schedule changes will only be processed if there is space available.
  • After March 28: There will not be any schedule changes, regardless of space availability. This date aligns with the last day of the 3rd Quarter.

Health and Wellness Updates

Emergency Resources

Crisis Link Regional Hotline            703-527-4077

Crisis Text                                       Text NEEDHELP to 85511

Dominion Hospital Emergency       703-536-2000

INOVA Emergency                         703-289-7560

Merrifield Center Emergency         703-573-5979  TTY dial 711

Life Threatening                             911

💻 Hazel Health: Virtual Therapy for High School Students

Teletherapy services are available for all FCPS high school students at no cost. Sessions can be scheduled Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Hazel Health’s highly qualified therapists specialize in working with teens. Learn more on FCPS’ teletherapy webpage.

Oakton Pantry Update 

The Oakton Pantry continues to provide support for families in our community with food insecurities. On a weekly basis our student shopping and curb side delivery serve approximately 50 families. We appreciate all who donate food, money and time to keep the pantry up and running! If you would like to donate food items please consider something from the list below. These are items that are in greatest demand and shortest supply. Thank you.

  • Beans- 1 pound bag
  • Rice- 1 pound bag
  • Canned Tuna
  • Canned Chicken
  • Mac and Cheese- boxes, preferably not easy mac
  • Instant Oatmeal- individual packages or cups
  • Crackers- individual packs
  • Jelly- jars
  • Ramen
  • Cup of Noodles

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:

  • Second Annual Food Show
  • Cameras on School Bus Stop Arms
  • Comprehensive Boundary Review Process Explained

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today

🎤 Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! Share your thoughts and ask questions regarding FCPS on March 20, 2025 at Cunningham Park Elementary School from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

FCPS Budget

FCPS Budget — Our Students Deserve the Best

More than $240 million of FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget is dedicated to increasing compensation for our teachers and staff to stay competitive and reduce turnover. Currently, FCPS ranks fifth out of eight neighboring districts in regards to starting salary for teachers with a master’s degree. 

Our families expect — and our students deserve — the best teachers.

Next Steps in the Budget Process

The next steps in the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process include the School Board presenting the budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 22, and then the Board of Supervisors will conduct public hearings Tuesday, April 22, through Thursday, April 24. Community members can submit testimony or sign up to speak

Visit the county government website to view the Fairfax County FY 2026 Advertised Budget. The community is also invited to complete an online survey to provide feedback on the county’s FY 2026 Advertised Budget. 

🛑 Cameras Installed on School Bus Stop Arms

Cameras have been installed on the stop arms of 50 FCPS school buses. These cameras will be used to identify drivers who pass stopped school buses while children are entering and exiting the bus (called a “stop arm violation”). 

Warnings for drivers will begin on Wednesday, April 9. After a 30-day warning period, citations will begin to be issued on Monday, May 12.

According to Virginia law, drivers must stop for stopped school buses with flashing red lights on and their stop signs extended. Motorists should stop when approaching from any direction (unless there is a barrier or median separating their lane from where the bus is stopped). They should remain stopped until everyone is clear and the bus is moving. 

We appreciate our law enforcement partners for working with us to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Read more information about the stop arm cameras and all of the ways that we work with our county partners to keep students safe on their way to and from school.

📍 The Comprehensive School Boundary Review Process Explained

Want to learn more about the ongoing Comprehensive School Boundary Review process? Watch this video for explanations of terms such as attendance zones, attendance islands, split feeders, and other factors that affect school boundaries. The video will also be available in other languages soon.

 Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information and sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter.

 

Oakton PTSA Logo

PTSA Updates

Senior Student Families 

The PTSA is seeking a dedicated volunteer to chair the All-Night Grad Party (ANGP) Chair position. Without someone stepping up, this cherished event will be canceled. If you’re organized and passionate about giving our graduates the celebration they deserve, please consider taking on this rewarding role. Training and support will be provided. 

Winter Fundraiser 

The Winter Fundraiser is also underway. You can send checks ( made out to - Oakton High School PTSA)  or donate on our website. All donations are tax deductible!

Stay Connected 

Follow ' oaktonhs_ptsa' on Instagram to keep abreast of what's happening at the PTSA. Become a member, Join the mailing list and/or donate to the PTSA at PTBoard - Oakton High School PTSA

Join the PTSA 

Want to be part of PTSA? We are looking for an ANGP Chair (All Night Grad Party),  Webmaster, Business Chair, Hospitality Chair and Treasurer.  Email us at oaktonhsptsa@gmail.com

Parent Resources

Parent Information Line 

Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.

Parent Resource Center 

The FCPS Parent Resource Center offers a wide variety of information and resources to support the success of all students.  This includes monthly workshops and webinars.  More information can be found on the FCPS website, including registration information.  

FCPS Cares

Do you know an Oakton High School 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.