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This past week, we had a wonderful time celebrating our incredible teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week! Our teachers and staff are the heart of our school community—igniting curiosity, nurturing growth, and shaping the future with every lesson they teach and in every act of service.
I would like to extend a very special thank you to our Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA), Seahawk Athletic Boosters, and our community/business partners for your generous donations of talent, treasure, and time in helping to make Teacher Appreciation week fantastic! Your contributions made the week truly special. I could not think of a staff that is more dedicated or more deserving of the celebration than the one we have here at South Lakes!
Our "Secret Staff Spirit Week" added some fun and mystery to the week, as staff dressed up in their favorite team jerseys, college shirts, favorite musical group/band, and even very bright shades of neon. It was a joy to see our educators connect with their inner child and have a little fun with their outerwear.
Very special thank you to all of our students to their patience and understanding as we piloted our new weapons detection system this past week. We are very proud of the way our students’ followed directions and moved through the system in an orderly fashion. If you have any questions about the weapons detection system, please visit FCPS’ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page or submit your question on the FCPS website.
The PTSA will host its final meeting of the year on Wednesday, May 14 at 7:00pm. I invite each and every one of you to the meeting as we review the great work and achievements of this year, and take a special sneak peek into what will be our vision and mission for next year. I also encourage each and every one of you to consider joining PTSA and becoming actively involved in the advocacy and engagement that is critical for South Lakes to continue down the “road to remarkable.” We still have positions on the PTSA executive board that could use your expertise. Join us in this fun and rewarding work! PTSA operations next year. If you are curious about what’s involved or how much time it takes, please don’t hesitate to reach out to President Larry Howell at president@southlakespta.org
With Gratitude,
Carlos Seward
We value your feedback. Share your observations, suggestions, questions and celebrations with me here.
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Important Dates
- May 12, 2025: SOL Testing Continues (Schedule: 2025 SOL Testing Schedule)
- May 15, 2025: Spring Band Concert, 7:00 PM
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June 3, 2025: Spring Orchestra Concert 7:00 PM **NEW DATE**
- May 28, 2025: Spring Choral Concert 7:00 PM
- May 30 - June 4, 2025: SENIOR Finals (See below for Schedule)
- June 5 - June 10, 2025: UNDERCLASSMEN Finals (See below for Schedule)
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June 10, 2025: **DISMISSAL 10:30 AM** Class of 2025 Graduation 2PM Eagle Bank Arena
- June 11, 2025: Last Day for Underclassmen; Dismissal at 10AM
CONGRATULATIONS to our FBLA State Competitors
On April 4/5 this Spring, we had (21) SLHS students compete at FBLA States here in Reston, VA. Of those competitors, 16 placed anywhere from 1st through 5th place, with 9 advancing onto Nationals. Seven of the 9 students have decided to move forward with competing at Nationals in Anaheim, CA June 28-July 3. They will compete nationally in categories such as Personal Finance, Hospitality & Restaurant Management, Sports Marketing, Cybersecurity, and Healthcare Administration.
FBLA COMPETITION STATE FINALISTS ARE:
- 1st Place Personal Finance- Arya Gigi
- 1st Place Cybersecurity- Gauatam Tanavade
- 2nd Place Hospitality and Event Management- Luke Bowen, Arya Gigi, and Adrienne Crowe
- 2nd Place Sports Marketing- Elise Longinaker & Lara Arafa
- 2nd Place Public Speaking- Julissa Guevara-Lopez
- 3rd Place Help Desk- Kirtana Vootkur
- 4th Place Advertising- Justin France
- 5th Place Healthcare Admin- Isha Saini
- 5th Place Marketing- Keelie Benabaye, Kenzie Boardman, & Ahna Castelda
- 5th Place Business Plan- Evan Meade & Sachika Mann
SLHS Production of "Once Upon A Mattress" receives Brandon Victor Dixon Nominations
 Broadway at The National is delighted to announce that South Lakes High School is a finalist and a number of our students are acting semi-finalists for the fourth annual Brandon Victor Dixon Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre. Winners will be selected during a ceremony on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 7:00pm at The National Theatre.
The Brandon Victor Dixon Awards highlights excellence in high school musical theatre and is a proud Regional Awards Program of the National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®), also known as The Jimmy Awards®. The regional awards program is named in honor of Brandon Victor Dixon, a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy Award nominee originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Tickets are no-cost and are available now. Reserve tickets in advance at BrandonVictorDixonAwards.com.
2025 Yearbooks For Sale
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2025 South Lakes High School Final Exam Schedule |
Seniors (Grade 12) Exam Schedule
Senior exams are part of a regular school day.
Underclassmen (Grades 9 - 11) Exam Schedule
Exams/Culminating Activities Schedule. Dismissal will be at 11:55 each day after a Grab and Go lunch.
Graduation Updates & Reminders
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Senior Dues & Fees -
Check outside sub-school 255 for fees, dues and other obligations owed
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Save the Dates:
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June 3 - Senior Sunset in the Stadium
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June 4 - Grad Walk at South Lakes High School. Wear your Class of 2025 t-shirt.
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June 6 and June 9 - MANDATORY graduation practice. Must attend, NO exceptions
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Senior Slideshow - Due Date May 16
Don't forget to submit ONE picture of your senior for the SLHS graduation slideshow to Mrs. Baumann no later than May 16.
All Night Grad Party - Volunteers Needed
The All Night Grad Party is June 10th, and we’re looking for underclassmen parents (21+) to help make it amazing! ✨
✅ Help keep seniors safe + smiling
✅ Sneak peek at what YOUR student will enjoy on the night of graduation
✅ Join a fun, lively volunteer crew!
👉 Sign up today to donate or volunteer!
Donate:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/8050A45A9A9292-56035311-2025
Volunteer:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/8050A45A9A9292-55899459-2025
Congratulations to South Lakes Alumnae, Virginia Banton
Congratulations to South Lakes High School alumnae, Virginia Banton (Class of 2024) for being honored by both houses of the Virginia General Assembly (the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia State) for winning the Student Peace Award of Fairfax County.
The Student Peace Award was established in 2006 to annually recognize one junior, one senior, or a student group at each public high school in Fairfax County who has worked to promote peace in their community. Virginia was the president of the South Lakes Best Buddies Club, a group dedicated to supporting students with intellectual and developmental disabilities by connecting them with other students to socialize and collaborate on projects. In her role as president, Virginia helped her fellow students thrive and develop a sense of togetherness while combating bullying and encouraging friendlier relationships throughout the South Lakes High School community.
The Virginia General Assembly ratified the joint resolution earlier this year while Virginia was away at school. Principal Carlos Seward read and presented Virginia and her family with the join resolution at South Lakes on Thursday, May 8, 2025.
Virginia is a rising sophomore studies Retail Management with a minor in Corporate/Community Philanthropy at the University of South Carolina.
Congratulations, Virginia!
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Yale Alley Cats A Capella Concert
On Friday, May 16th, you’re invited to a night of incredible music, unforgettable harmonies, and hometown pride!
South Lakes graduate, August Rivers (SLHS '24), and his brother Cyrus Rivers (TJHSST '23) are bringing their world-renowned a cappella group, The Yale Alley Cats, home to Reston to perform their hometown tour on South Lakes’ stage for friends, family, and our entire community.
Known for their stunning vocals, bold arrangements, and a repertoire that spans Sinatra to Sam Smith, The Yale Alley Cats have been delighting audiences around the globe since 1943.
The concert will also feature performances by South Lakes’ own talented a cappella groups: DoReMigas and SMAC!
Some of the proceeds benefit South Lakes Theatre Boosters, Parents for Choral Arts, and Reston Stars.
To learn more and get your tickets for the performance on May 16th at 7:00pm, visit: Tickets for Yale Alley Cats
We’ll see you there!
~ South Lakes Theatre Arts Boosters
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow. We All Belong Here!
In FCPS, we all belong. From the first day of school, to the last day of school, every child matters. If your student is having a hard time finishing the year strong and attending school, please contact a trusted adult at our school — a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources. |
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Do You Drive Your Student to School? Reminder!
If you drive your student(s) to school, please use our Kiss n’ Ride located at door 4, (stadium-side of the building). During the morning arrival (7:30AM - 8:15AM), only staff and buses should be entering and exiting the flagpole-side of the building. As the multiple signs indicate, there is “NO STUDENT DROP OFF” at door 1 including on Seahawk Drive. This is to ensure the safety of all, students and staff. Your cooperation is most appreciated.
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Last Chance for 2025-2026 Schedule “LEVEL” Change
Starting May 5, students may request a course level change for the 2025-26 school year. The request window will close on May 16.
This will be your only opportunity to request a change in course level for next year. An example of a level change is English 10 to English 10 Honors. No elective changes will be made. Please reach out to your Counselor to request a change.
For more information, including how to reach your student's counselor, please visit the https://southlakeshs.fcps.edu/student-services.
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Plan Now! Physicals for 2025-2026 Athletic Participation
New Physical Form for Athletics: A new law that becomes effective on July 1, 2025, requires students to submit to the school principal or designee a signed Preparticipation Physical Evaluation form completely filled in and properly signed, attesting that the student has received a physical examination, was found to be physically fit for athletic competition no more than 14 calendar months prior to the date on which the health care official signed the report, and that the student’s parents consent to the student’s participation.
The new physical form can be found here. We continue to encourage students and families to get their annual physicals in the months of May, June, and July, as this will ensure students’ physicals are valid through all seasons of the following school year.
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Summer Internship Opportunities for Students
FCPS is launching a Summer Internship Program. This six-week, paid, in-person opportunity is for FCPS high school students or recent alumni enrolled in post-secondary education. This program is designed to provide valuable hands-on work experience, professional development, and project-based learning across various FCPS departments.
Interns will support professional staff in their selected department with projects and participate in weekly professional development workshops on topics such as personal finance, communication skills, resume writing, and networking. Interns will shadow staff completing mission-critical projects that prepare the division for the upcoming school year.
Learn more about this internship program, which supports FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation.
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SY2026 Required Immunizations for Rising Seniors
All students entering 12th grade are to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school.
To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 16 or older.
Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and health care providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time. Additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and the Fairfax County Health Department.
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Online Driving Permit Test Prep
Online Driving Permit Test Prep Offered by ACE Nearly 35,000 students have been educated by FCPS ACE’s Driver Education program in the last decade, preparing them to be safe, responsible drivers.
In Virginia alone, 17% of all accidents are caused by distracted driving, amounting to over 21,000 accidents that could have been avoided. The Virginia DMV reports that driver education plays a significant role in safer driving by young drivers, with some studies showing that it can reduce accident rates by up to 20%.
ACE now offers one of the only online permit test prep courses authorized by the state of Virginia. Learn more about driver education and FCPS ACE Driver Education courses.
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 FCPS Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Public Hearing
The School Board will hold a public hearing on final budget adjustments on Tuesday, May 13, at 6 p.m. Sign up to speak by Monday, May 12, at 4:30 p.m.
 Phase 2 Community Boundary Review Meetings
Families, staff, and community members will soon be able to explore and visualize potential boundary scenarios using a customized Boundary Explorer Tool. The tool will be accessible from the FCPS website. You are also invited to participate in another series of community meetings in order to review and reflect on the initial draft scenarios before the start of summer break:
- Thursday, May 15, 6:30-8 p.m., Oakton High School
- Friday, May 16, 6:30-8 p.m., Robinson Secondary School
- Monday, May 19, 6:30-8 p.m., Herndon High School
- Friday, May 23, 7-8:30 p.m., Lewis High School
- Wednesday, May 28, 7-8:30 p.m., Annandale High School
- Thursday, May 29, 6:30-8 p.m., Whitman Middle School
- Friday, May 30, 6:30-8 p.m., Chantilly High School
- Friday, June 6, 6:30–8 p.m., Glasgow Middle School
Each meeting will be hybrid, meaning that you may attend in person or via Zoom. Childcare for in-person participants and language interpretation/ translation for all participants will be available as needed. Registration links will be shared soon. Another round of community meetings will be held in the fall.
Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review page for more information.
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FCPS Cares
Do you know of a South Lakes 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.
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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.
Varsity Tutors
- FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. 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.
No Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students
- Virtual therapy sessions are available at no cost to FCPS high school students 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.
In order for students to participate, caregivers must give permission for FCPS to share basic demographic information with Hazel Health in ParentVUE. They must also provide consent for their student to access therapy services.
Students may then be referred by a guardian or designated school staff member. Refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or contacting an FCPS school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services.
Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.
Free Webinars and Events for Families
In April, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:
Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit their webinar webpage.
Upcoming Family Academy Events
You are an important part of your child's education! The FCPS Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. Browse Family Academy offering
Helpful Links
South Lakes High School Website
Follow The Lakes on Social Media!
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Be sure to follow us on Instagram (@south_lakeshs) and X (@southlakeshs)!!
Follow South Lakes HS on Social Media: Stay connected with South Lakes High School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and keep up with everything going on at The Lakes! Links: Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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JOIN THE PTSA TODAY!
Our next, and last for SY2025, PTSA meeting will be on Wednesday, May 17, 2025 at 7:00pm in the College & Career Center. We are welcoming our rising 9th grade families. Please help us pass on the news and look forward to their participation.
For more information please visit the South Lakes PTSA website.
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