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Upcoming Events
October 28: Band/Orchestra Masquerade Concert, 7pm, Auditorium
October 31: End of 1st Quarter; 2HR Early Release
November 3 & 4: Student Holidays - School Planning Day and Teacher Workday for staff
November 3: "Roar Roundup" Parent-Teacher Conferences, CAFETERIA (new location)
November 7: Principal's Coffee, 7:30-8:30am, Career Center
November 10: Winter Sports Tryouts
November 15 & 16: Holiday Craft Show
November 20, 21 & 22: FX Players Presents: Matilda, the Musical
November 26, 27 & 28: Thanksgiving Break; FCPS buildings and offices closed.
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October 24, 2025
Quarter Countdown: Finish Strong and Celebrate Success!
Next week marks the final push as we close out the first quarter! We encourage all students to take full advantage of the opportunities available to review work and improve grades. Our primary goal is to ensure you have the additional access and supports needed to be successful.
Please remind your student to make a plan to utilize these resources:
- Saturday School (available this Saturday, 9:00-12:00)
- Assessment Center (on Wednesday and Saturday for test make-ups; must be pre-arranged with the teacher)
- Lion Time (Tuesday and Thursday next week)
- Learning Lounge (after school on late bus Wednesday)
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Varsity Tutors (accessible through Schoology)
Community and Athletic Highlights
This week was a wonderful celebration of our community spirit!
The Fairfax Pyramid Choir Concert was a true highlight. It is always so exciting to invite our future Lions onto campus, and the talent of our children is undeniable. The night culminated with elementary, middle, and high school students singing together, and it simply brought so much JOY.
On the athletic front, the Cross Country team ran the trails of Burke lake in their district final, our Cheer Team displayed their PAWSome skills this week at the district cheer competition, and we are thrilled to be supporting our Field Hockey team as they compete for the district championship TONIGHT!
Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we finish the quarter strong. Go Lions!
Included in this issue:
Student Spotlight
- AVID Field Trip
- Cross Country
- Pyramid Concert
Calendar Reminders
- 1st Quarter Ends, 2HR Early Release, Oct. 31
- Student Holidays, Nov 3-4
- Roar Roundup, Nov. 3
- Next Principal's Coffee, Nov. 7
Fairfax Lions Need to Know:
- Outstanding Award Nominations Now Open!
- Moving? Please let us know!
- Important Drop-Off Information
- Immunization Clinics
- Impact Aid Forms Due
- Changes to MS and HS Report Card Feedback
- SIS ParentVue End-of-Quarter Closure
- Fairfax County Youth Survey on Physical and Mental Well-Being
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
- Halloween Spirit Week!
- Early Check-Out Procedures
- AI Conversation
- Governor's School 2026
- Governor's World Language Academy 2026
- Yearbook Sales
- October Community Boundary Review Meeting
- Mock SAT/ACT
- PTSA & ANG: Donations Needed!
- Quick Links
AVID Field Trip
Cross Country
Pyramid Concert
🗓️Calendar Reminders
Quarter End, Early Release, Student Holidays
Friday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter, and a 2 HOUR Early Release for students. Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 3, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 4, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.
"Roar Roundup" Parent/Teacher Conferences, November 3 in the Cafeteria (New Location)
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 Cafeteria.
The cafeteria will be set up with rows of tables, organized by department, with teachers sitting in alphabetical order within each department. They will have signs posted so you know who's who.
Lines will form in front of each teacher; when it is your turn, step forward and sit down, and 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!
Save the Date: Next Principal's Coffee, Nov. 7
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Join us for coffee and conversation with the Principal on Friday, November 7th, from 7:30-8:30am in the Career Center, L106. Visitors, please sign in at the main office. |
🏆Nominations Now Open for Outstanding Fairfax High School Staff Awards!
Each year, FCPS looks to honor several staff members for outstanding excellence in their roles:
Outstanding Teacher (has at least 3 years of experience)
Outstanding New Teacher (within their first three years)
Outstanding Principal (have completed three or more years as a building Principal)
Outstanding School Leader (has completed at least 1 year as an Assistant Principal, Director of Student Activities, or Director of Student Services)
Outstanding Professional Employee (Counselor, Psychologist, Social Worker, College & Career Center Specialist, Systems of Support Advisor (SoSA), School Based Technology Specialist (SBTS), Technology Support Specialist (TSSpec), Instructional Coach, Assessment Coach, Special Education Department Chair, Assistant Director of Student Activities (ADSA), Athletic Trainer, Safety & Security Specialist)
Outstanding Operational Employee (Administrative and Office Assistants, Finance Technician, Student Services Registrar, Custodial Staff, Operating Engineer, Food Service Staff, Instructional Assistant, Family Liaison, Safety & Security Assistant)
We believe that our staff is truly exceptional and that the work we do for our students deserves celebration beyond our school. Our Fairfax High School winners will be submitted for consideration at the pyramid, region, and division levels.
You may submit this form more than once.
You do not have to nominate for all categories.
You are asked to write at least a paragraph explaining how your nominee meets or exceeds the criteria for the award.
If your nominee is chosen as the Fairfax HS winner, you will be asked to complete the nominator statement form that is included in the official packet for consideration in the next round of the competition. Thank you for celebrating the wonderful work done at FAIRFAX by highlighting some of our amazing staff members!
To nominate a Fairfax HS staff member, click here or scan the QR code below:
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All nominations must be submitted by 8:00 am on Monday November 10, 2025. Eligibility and award criteria are listed on each nomination page of the nomination form. If you have any questions, please contact Ginny Cate at vmcate@fcps.edu. |
🚛 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.
🚗 Important Drop-Off Information
Parents/Guardians and students are reminded that during bus arrivals and departures, please stay clear of the bus loops.
We are now using entrance 21 for bus arrivals in the morning. All other drivers should NOT this as a drop off area for your students.
During the afternoon dismissal, please refrain from using the entrance 1 bus loop for pickups. Also, do not park in fire lanes while waiting to pick up your student.
The only drop off and pick up area is the front of the school (KISS & RIDE) loop by the flag poles.
Thank you for your cooperation to make this a safe school year.
🩹 Immunization Clinics
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Immunization clinics will take place from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Willow Oaks Administrative Center on:
- Thursday, November 6
- Tuesday, November 18
- Wednesday, November 19
- Thursday, November 20
A clinic will also take place at Frost Middle School on Saturday, November 15, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year.
Participation is voluntary. Parents or guardians may schedule an appointment for their student. Learn more about immunization resources.
✅Impact Aid Forms Due
Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or submitting the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type “Federal Impact Aid Survey” in the Issue Description section. You may also call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
💯Changes to MS and HS Report Card Feedback
With the first quarter of the school year ending on Friday, October 31, families can expect student report cards to be available the week of November 10.
FCPS has revised the way teachers provide feedback on report cards, so you may notice some new comments. Specifically, comments have been revised to provide more detailed feedback for students and families.
Also, teachers will now include a Work Habits mark each quarter for each student. This scale provides feedback on students’ time management, organization, assignment completion, and overall effort in class. This is meant as feedback to families and will not appear on a student’s transcript.
View the Middle and High School Grading and Reporting webpage for more information
SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Fairfax County Youth Survey on Physical and Mental Well-Being
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The survey is given each fall to all students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. It provides information about a variety of topics related to our students that influence their physical and mental well-being, from sleep, physical activity, and nutritional habits to protective factors, substance use behaviors, and symptoms of depression.
The 2025 Fairfax County Youth Survey will be taken by students between Monday, November 10, and Friday, November 21. Parents and caregivers will hear about plans to administer the survey from their child’s school. They will also be able to opt their student out of participating in the survey, if they so choose.
Visit the Fairfax County Youth Survey webpage for more information and to review the opt-out forms and translations of the parent letter.
✨ Providing students with access to the necessary emotional, behavioral, mental, and physical health services to support their successful engagement in school is part of the FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
🎃Halloween Spirit Week, Oct. 27-31👻
Join in on our Halloween Spirit week!
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Monday, 10/27 - Dress like Candy Corn! Orange, yellow and white
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Tuesday, 10/28 - Wear Flannel!
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Wednesday 10/29 - Black Out! Dress like Wednesday Adams
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Thursday 10/30 - Twin Day!
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Friday 10/31 - Wear a Costume to School!
📝 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!
When Should Your Child Stay Home?
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. So when should your child stay home? Visit the FCPS website for helpful ideas regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify our school and your child’s [teacher or teachers] so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with our public health nurse. Call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and tell school staff why and for how long.
🖥️ AI Conversation
How AI Is Shaping Teaching and Learning
Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI, a conversation with division leadership, which will take place Monday, November 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., at West Springfield High School. Attend to:
- Learn about the opportunities and challenges of AI in education.
- Explore how AI can support FCPS student achievement and workforce readiness.
- Engage in a thought-provoking panel and keynotes.
- Help shape the future of innovation at Fairfax County Public Schools.
Agenda details will be shared with registered participants in the coming weeks. Contact DITEvents@fcps.edu with any questions.
2026 Virginia Summer Residential Governor's School (SRGS) and World Language Academy
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) offers the opportunity for 10th and 11th grade students to apply to attend summer residential Governor’s schools in Academics and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). Students who are accepted into one of the programs will live in residence halls in one of the state colleges in VA for four weeks in the June - late July timeframe. To learn more about SRGS opportunities and the application process, visit the VDOE website.
To be considered for an academic or VPA Governor’s school, students must complete the steps below.
1. Complete the interest form linked below for either Academics or VPA. The form is a required part of the application process and is due November 5th. No late entries will be accepted. When completing the form, enter a personal email address and do NOT use an fcpsschools.net email address. VDOE cannot send communications to the fcpsschools.net domain.
2. Attend our school interest meeting which will take place on October 28th, during Lion Time B. Attendance at the meeting is optional but strongly encouraged. Please complete THIS interest form with your fcpsschools.net account by October 24, if you plan to attend.
3. Complete the application for the specific program you wish to apply to and return to Ms. Haddock (Student Services L111) who is supervising the Governor’s School application process.
- Academic applications are due to the school on December 12, 2025.
- VPA applications are due to the school on January 28, 2026.
Questions, please contact Ms. Haddock: tdhaddock@fcps.edu.
Governor’s World Language Academy 2026
Students who are interested in applying to the Governor’s Summer Language Academies should speak with their World Languages teacher by Friday, October 31 to indicate interest.
- Full Immersion Academies: French, German, Spanish; June 21-July 12 at Washington & Lee University.
- Partial Immersion Academies: Latin, Japanese; June/July (exact dates and location to be determined)
Eligible applicants are non-native speakers, current juniors and mature sophomores, in a level 3 or higher class.
The Japanese Academy does not require prior Japanese knowledge. Applicants must have at least 2 years of any World Language class, and be a current junior or mature sophomore.
Questions should be directed to your World Languages teacher OR World Languages Department Chair Ms. Kate Tiffany (katiffany@fcps.edu).
📖 Yearbook Sales have Started!
Yearbooks are on sale now! The number of books are always limited and the only way to reserve yours is by ordering online!
Visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter school code 5671 to be directed to Fairfax’s ordering portal. Don’t miss out on the best keepsake to remember your high school years for decades to come.
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.
📍October Community Boundary Review Meetings
FCPS’ October community boundary review meetings will begin on Monday, October 13. Each of the 12 meetings will focus on two pyramids. Our area will be covered at the meeting on Tuesday, October 28, at Fairfax High School. Register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” based on how you would like to participate: In Person or Virtual.
At the meeting, the consultant will present the latest draft boundary map (Scenario 4) and potential changes specific to our pyramid and the [Insert the pyramid your school is partnered with]. Participants will also be invited to ask questions.
If you are unable to attend the meeting for our pyramid, you are welcome to attend any meeting that is convenient. View the full list of October boundary meetings.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
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 1st tests:
Mock (digital) SAT registration (limited to 75): Cost $25
Test Time: Saturday, November 1st, 8:15am – 10:50am
www.applerouth.com/events/group-classes Event Code: PSS4555FE
Mock (paper) ACT registration (limited to 50): Cost $25
Test Time: Saturday, November 1st, 8:00am – 11:15am
www.applerouth.com/events/group-classes Event Code: PAS455600
March 7th tests:
Mock (digital) SAT registration (limited to 75): Cost $25
Test Time: Saturday, March 7th, 8:15am – 10:50am
www.applerouth.com/events/group-classes Event Code: PSS4555FF
Mock (paper) ACT registration (limited to 50): Cost $25
Test Time: Saturday, March 7th, 8:00am – 11:15am
www.applerouth.com/events/group-classes Event Code: PAS455601
Questions: Academicboosters@fairfaxptsa.org.
From the PTSA: Craft Fair Donations Needed!
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The Class of 2026 is thrilled to host our All Night Grad (ANG) Celebration. ANG is an unforgettable, fun, drug- and alcohol-free event designed to keep our students safe on the night of graduation! |
How can YOU help?
All Night Grad (ANG ‘26) is working concessions at the Fairfax City Holiday Craft Show, November 15 & 16 at Fairfax High School. ALL the concessions and 50/50 raffle proceeds benefit the Senior Class ANG celebration, held the night of graduation. This fundraiser is the best way to defray the cost of ANG and keep ANG ticket prices low.
However, we need assistance - from many parents and students - to pull this off!
Junior parents are highly encouraged to assist since you will be running the event for your kids next year! All students can get volunteer hours for their support, plus it's a lot of fun. Volunteers also receive FREE entry to the craft fair! There are three ways to help:
Questions? Email us at ANG@fairfaxptsa.org. Thank you for supporting the Class of 2026 and providing a safe space to celebrate on graduation night!
Quick Links
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Do you want to celebrate a Fairfax employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way? Or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone. |
throughout the year:
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