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Upcoming Events
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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Happy Halloween! 🦇👻🎃
October 31, 2025
Spooky Spirit, Championships, and ROAR Round Up!
We are absolutely loving the Spooky Spirit here at FHS this week! From "down on the farm" to the GOOD ENGLISH heavy metal rock band, Disney princesses, and even an Elmo—the FHS staff and students showed out today. We even had a resident ghostbuster to keep us safe.
Today, marks the official last day of the first quarter! We cannot wait to see our families here on Monday morning for our ROAR Round Up. This is the perfect opportunity to check in with all of your student's teachers and guarantee a plan for success for the remainder of the year.
Championship Celebrations
The talent at Fairfax High School is undeniable! Please join me in congratulating two of our powerhouse groups:
- Field Hockey: Congratulations to our Girls Field Hockey Team on being named Region Champions! They had a nail-biting victory over Annandale, and we cannot wait to cheer them on next week as they advance to the State Semi-Finals.
- Marching Band & Orchestra: The Band and Orchestra Masquerade was moved by the spirit with a Minion-themed show that was anything but despicable! The Band also showed up and showed out at the highly competitive Bands of America competition, earning a 7th place ranking!
We hope to see you tonight as we celebrate many of our SENIORS at the football game. Have an amazing and safe weekend.
Thank you for a wonderful first quarter. Go Lions! 🦁
Included in this issue:
Student Spotlight
- Boys Volleyball Senior NIght
- Fairfax Quizbowl
Calendar Reminders
- 1st Quarter Ends, 2HR Early Release, Student Holidays, ParentVue info
- Daylight Savings Time Ends;
- Saturday School, Nov. 1
- Roar Roundup, Nov. 3
- Next Principal's Coffee, Nov. 7
Fairfax Lions Need to Know:
- Outstanding Award Nominations Now Open!
- Brand New FCPS App
- Immunization Clinics
- Impact Aid Forms Due
- Changes to MS and HS Report Card Feedback
- Fairfax County Youth Survey on Physical and Mental Well-Being
- Resources for Furloughed Families
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
- Early Check-Out Procedures
- Services for Hearing- and Visually-Impaired Students
- AI Conversation, Nov. 3
- Governor's School 2026
- Governor's World Language Academy 2026
- PTSA & ANG: Craft Fair Donations & Volunteers Needed!
- Quick Links
Boys Volleyball Senior Night
Fairfax Quizbowl Team
Photo Credit: Naveen Kwatra
The FHS Quizbowl team placed 2nd overall in the History Bowl for the JV division (9th/10th grade) at the DC tournament held recently at Georgetown Day School. They were undefeated going into the finals!
Freshman Sauren Kwatra finished 2nd overall in the History Bee at the tourney, against a very stout lineup at the finals table. Other team members are sophomore Bishesh Pokhrel, and freshman Ida Petersen.
Based on these results, both the History bowl team, and Sauren individually, have qualified for Nationals in Arlington next year. Thank you to the Trivia Club sponsors, Mr. Agrawal and Ms. Loomis for your support. Congratulations, Lions!
Well Done, Marching Lions!
 Photo and content courtesy of FHS Bands Facebook page
Congratulations to the Fairfax Marching Lions on finishing 7th out of 29 talented bands representing Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia at the Mid-Atlantic Bands of America Regional Championship in Delaware. Making finals and being invited to compete a second time in the same day (12 hours apart) was an outstanding capstone to the band's marching competition season. You have one more chance to catch the Marching Lions at Friday's nights Senior Night football game! Well done, Lions!
🗓️Calendar Reminders
Quarter End, Early Release, Student Holidays
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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.
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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, at 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, at 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)
This Sunday, November 2, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
Saturday School, November 1st
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Saturday School will be open November 1, from 9am-12pm. Students should enter the building at Door 1 and report to Library. No signup required! Snacks provided. Transportation is on your own. |
"Roar Roundup" Parent/Teacher Conferences, November 3 in the Cafeteria
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.
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. |
📱Brand New FCPS App!
 The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app you can:
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Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from our school and FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
🩹 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
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.
Resources for Furloughed Families
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.Community Resources for Families in NeedThrough partnerships with community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies, Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources.
Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
How to Access or Donate Food to Those in NeedView the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to see where to access food or donate to your local food bank.
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!
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.
Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
Students with sensory disabilities require special services and support to access instruction that is typically presented auditorily (by means of hearing) and visually. FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school site or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
The Virginia Department of Education also provides information about Additional Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
🖥️ 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.
- 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).
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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