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Upcoming Events
Sept. 27 - Oct. 5: Blue Star Welcome Week
October 1: Cultural Observance: Yom Kippur, begins sundown
October 2: Cultural Observance Holiday: Yom Kippur - No School
October 8: SAT School Day and PSAT/NMSQT; No School for 9th grade
October 17: Homecoming Game
October 18: Homecoming Dance
October 18: Saturday School Begins
November 3: "Roar Roundup" Parent-Teacher Conferences, Field House
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September 26, 2025
Learning is ROARing! 🐾
It has truly been a PAWSome week here at FHS, and I had the privilege of seeing exceptional learning in action across the building!
Our English 10 class was deeply engaged, focusing on plot diagrams and critically analyzing key events in their current story. Meanwhile, PBA Prep was well underway in Mr. Rodriguez and Ms. Palacio-Castro's class, where students were diving deep into the history of the printing press for their Performance-Based Assessments.
The aroma of learning was literally in the air as our FACS class was busy making yogurt-based bagels, filling our commons with a delightful smell! In Geometry, students were mastering their analysis of all types of angles. I was particularly impressed in Algebra 1, where the students were actually leading the lesson, demonstrating strong problem-solving skills as they worked through variables, degrees, and exponents. Mr. Peterson's AP Mechanical Physics class took me back to my own high school experience as they used real-world examples to determine velocity and displacement in this dynamic course.
Arts, Innovation, and Community
Adding to our week of achievement, our advanced level Musical Theater Academy students delivered a top-notch show last night as they shared their college audition pieces with family and friends. Their talent and dedication are truly inspiring as they prepare for the next stage of their artistic journeys!
We are also excited to introduce our NEW partnership with NOVA Labs! We have a select group of students who will be headed to NOVA Labs each week to engage in hands-on learning. These students are excited to create innovative solutions to real-world problems, learn industry trade skills, and dare to dream of future possibilities.
Finally, the excitement for the upcoming FHS Science Fair is building! Our Biology students previewed ideas, ranging from metal tarnishing, sunlight ovens, and correlations between wheel size and speed.
It’s clear our Lions are engaged, leading, and learning at the highest level.
Have a great weekend!
National Merit Commended Scholars
Congratulations to our Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 of more than 1 million students who entered the 2026 competition by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Congratulations to the following students:
Peter Choi
Arhan Desai
Kevin Huynh
Priscilla Jang
Laura Johnson
Aniket Nair-Das
Sean Nguyen
Samuel Park
Fiona Rice
Noelle Sackie
Nicholas Schwille
Siddharth Shankar
Ashley Shin
Sheryl Zhang
Included in this issue:
Student Spotlight
- National Merit Commended Scholars
- Musical Theatre & Actor's Studio (MTAS) Preview
Club Spotlight
Staff Spotlight
- Heather Dilatush, Puzzles from Art
Calendar Reminders
- Blue Star Welcome Week, Sep. 27 - Oct. 3
- Yom Kippur, Oct 1-2
- Roar Roundup, November 3
Fairfax Lions Need to Know:
- Moving? Please let us know!
- 2025 SR&R
- Paperless Report Cards
- Community Conversations with Dr. Reid
- School Start Times Survey
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
- Early Check-Out Procedures
- AP/IB Testing Opt-Out
- PSAT/SAT School Day, October 8 - No School for 9th Grade
- Mock SAT/ACT info
- ACE Driver's Ed
- Quick Links
Musical Theatre & Actor's Studio (MTAS) Preview
Earlier this week, the seniors in the Pre-Professional Fairfax Academy MTAS program previewed their audition materials in front of a live audience. Congratulations to Erich DiCenzo and his students on this epic night of monologues and vocal pieces! Well done, students!!
Fiber Friends Club Donation Drive
To the Fairfax Community,
We are the Fiber Friends, a new initiative dedicated to channeling our creativity into serving our local community through our handmade projects. Our primary goal this year is to create and donate our handmade items that provide warmth and comfort to ones in need through partnerships with local homeless shelters and hospitals.
To begin our work, we are launching a yarn donations drive. We are gratefully accepting donations of:
- New or gently used yarn of any color and weight
- Knitting needles and crochet hooks of any size
- Other crochet/ knitting accessories
With these materials, our students/members will work together to create items such as:
- Warm blankets for shelters
- Hats, scarves, and mittens for those without a home in the winter
- Small stuffed animals for pediatric hospital patients
Why get involved with us?
By joining Fiber Friends, you can earn service hours for the hours you spend creating, learn a new skill or two, and make a direct, positive impact on the lives of our community members in need.
How you can contribute:
Donate supplies! Drop off at A120 or the front office.
Student, join our meetings, and come craft with us! No experience is necessary, we are happy to teach beginners. Our next meeting is on October 1st at A120. We hope to see you there!
Questions may be directed to our Sponsor, Ms.Tiffany (katiffany@fcps.edu) or our President Maryam (1748944@fcpsschools.net)
We are very excited to build a caring and creative community together. Thank you for your support!
Heather Dilatush, Puzzles from Art
Heather Dilatush, our Studio Art teacher, will be showing her magnetic puzzles at Art on the Avenue in Del Ray, Alexandra, on Saturday, October 4, from 10am to 6pm. Her booth is titled Puzzles from Art because they are her painted artwork that is a puzzle that looks great solved, unsolved or in process. Come out and enjoy this family friendly street festival!
🗓️Calendar Reminders
💙⭐Blue Star Welcome Week, Sep. 27 - Oct 3
Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate, and schools are a primary way they get integrated into their new location. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community.
Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices. Throughout the week, FCPS will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 27 - October 5, 2025, and throughout the year! We will be celebrating our Military-Connected students and families at our Oct. 3 home football game. See you there!!
Yom Kippur, Oct 1-2
Wednesday, October 1, will be an evening-only observance day for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. There is school that day, but important events will not occur after school. Thursday, October 2, is a holiday and schools and offices will be closed. See the complete school year calendar.
🦁 Save the Date - Roar Roundup November 3
Fairfax High School is excited to welcome back mini-Parent/Teacher Conferences.
The ROAR Round Up will be hosted on Monday, November 3, from 8:30 am-11:30 am, in the Field House.
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.
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.
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.
More info to come! See you there!
🚛 Moving? Please let us know!
Have you moved? Please contact our Registrar, Ms. Deborah Dennis, 703-219-2202, or dadennis@fcps.edu, to update your information.
2025 Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R)
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Tuesday, September 30.
🖥️Paperless Report Cards
We’re excited to offer you a more convenient option for receiving your child’s report cards: Go Paperless!
By choosing to go paperless, you'll be able to:
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Access report cards directly in ParentVUE with just a few clicks.
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Reduce wait time in seeing your child’s report card.
Here's how you can opt-in:
- Log into ParentVUE, click on "My Account," and select “Go Paperless.”
- All parents/guardians living with the student at the same address must have an active SIS ParentVUE account to opt-in.
- Once selected, the “Go Paperless” option will apply to all associated students, no matter their grade level.
- If you’ve already opted for paperless for your secondary students, it will automatically apply to any younger siblings at the elementary level too!
🎤 Community Conversations
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations are being held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:
⏰School Start Times Survey
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of beginning the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.
Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’ consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. A new School Start TImes Survey is open through Tuesday, September 30. It includes two options that are designed to support student well-being, align with research, balance transportation logistics, and minimize costs. Staff, parents and caregivers, students, and community members may provide input on the two options by taking the survey. Find more information about adjusting school start times.
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
📝 Need to pick up your student early? Please follow our Check-Out Procedures
If you need to pick up your child early from school, please have them drop off a check-out note to their subschool. They will be issued a pink pass allowing them to leave school early. Forms can be found on the school website, or students can pick them up in the subschool:
Grades 9 and 11: Subschool 3 & 4, room D127
Grades 10 & 12: Subschool 1 & 2, room A114
Please see the attendance info on our school website for all the details.
Please note that we cannot accommodate last-minute check-outs after 2:30pm. Questions, please call the subschools listed above. Thank you for your cooperation!
2025-26 AP/IB Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees
As part of the FCPS Approved Budget, the fees for the first six AP/IB 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/IB 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 to be provided by the school. To assist in the decision-making process, students will be provided a report with their previous tests and current AP/IB course enrollment during Lion Time on Thursday, September 25, and must be returned to the Student Services Office (L107) by October 31.
AP students must make Opt Out decisions by October 31st. Student accounts will be billed in December for tests that exceed the six FCPS-funded tests. The nonrefundable fees are $99 per AP exam.
2026 AP Testing
Reference the College Board AP exam dates site for dates of AP Exams.
PSAT/SAT Day
All high schools will administer the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Standard PSAT/NMSQT and SAT school day testing requires approximately three hours to administer. A two-hour early release is scheduled for all high school and secondary school students on PSAT/SAT Day to provide staff development or to allow teacher-directed time.
High school academy courses will not be held on October 8, 2025, and all high school shuttles are canceled for the day. High school academy staff will support based school activities.
12th Grade - Students who signed up to take the SAT will be in school. Seniors who have not signed up for the SAT will also have an unscheduled school day. Seniors are encouraged to complete any missing work as well as work on their college applications if applicable.
If your student has decided to NOT take the SAT, please have them complete this Google Form. They will need to be logged into their fcpsschools.net account.
10th & 11th Grade - Students are expected to be at school to take the PSAT/NMSQT. If your student is not taking the PSAT/NMSQT, please make sure to notify the appropriate attendance line. Students are already pre-registered by FCPS.
Early Checkout- If you'd like your student to be dismissed early at 11:30 a.m., please fill out the provided form. The deadline for submitting the early dismissal form is noon on October 7, 2025. Parents and guardians will not be permitted to enter the building or check out their student until after 11:30 a.m.
9th Grade - Unscheduled day for most students and they will be at home. Ninth grade students are encouraged to complete any missing work or assignments that need to be completed prior to the end of the first quarter.
**Please note that students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (students receiving low incidence special education services) will continue to receive in-person instruction with a 2-hour early release on October 8.**
If you have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT administration or alternative activities, please contact Leslie Trieu latrieu@fcps.edu.
Mock SAT (digital) or Mock ACT (paper)
FHS Academic Boosters is partnering with Applerouth Tutoring to offer the Mock SAT (digital format) and the Mock ACT (paper format) exams twice this school year: Saturday, November 1st and Saturday, March 7th.
This is a perfect opportunity for students who haven’t started their testing to become familiar with the format in a stress-free environment at FHS for only $25. Students will receive detailed score reports to help them determine which areas they need to study.
Students taking the Mock SAT must bring a fully charged computer.
NOVEMBER 1 TESTS:
1. Mock (digital) SAT registration (limited to 75): Cost $25
2. Mock (paper) ACT registration (limited to 50): Cost $25
MARCH 7 TESTS:
1. Mock (digital) SAT registration (limited to 75): Cost $25
2. Mock (paper) ACT registration (limited to 50): Cost $25
Questions: Academicboosters@fairfaxptsa.org
🚗 ACE Driver's Ed
When it's time for your teen to learn safe driving, trust FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE) for comprehensive driver education programs. FCPS ACE offers affordable and convenient courses taught by certified instructors that cover all the required classes for teen licensure.
Enroll your student today in:
- Behind-the-Wheel Training
- Partners for Safe Teen Driving
- DMV Permit Testing
- Learner’s Permit Test Prep
- Classroom Driver Ed (Summer Only)
Convenient classes are available at your child’s high school. Spaces fill up quickly, so register today or call 703-658-1201. For additional details, email drivered@fcps.edu.
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