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Upcoming Events
November 20, 21 & 22: FX Players Presents: Matilda, the Musical
November 26, 27 & 28: Thanksgiving Break; FCPS buildings and offices closed.
December 8: Religious/Cultural Observance: Bodhi Day
December 16: PTSA Meeting, 7pm, and ANG Meeting, 8pm - both in the Library
December 22 - January 2: Winter Break, No School
January 5: School resumes, FHS Blue Day
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November 21, 2025
Happy Friday, Fairfax!
This week at FHS, we have been proudly highlighting the many things we have to be thankful for as a school community. Students and staff have been sharing their gratitude with special cards and PAWSome certificates.
We were delighted to serve our students and staff a Thanksgiving meal alongside our amazing cafeteria staff. We want to thank them for their tireless efforts and commitment to providing nutritious meals each day to your students. I was also able to prepare a meal for our MLL parents who have joined our English Language Program at FHS. We shared turkey and international cuisine as we learned from one another.
Celebrating Excellence and Engagement
- Academic Honor Roll: Fairfax High also recognized 962 A/B Honor Roll recipients with a certificate and a celebratory snack attack this week. This massive celebration of scholarship demonstrates our students' dedication to excellence in Quarter 1! This was a 24% increase from last year.
- The FX Players' Matilda: Our talented FX Players invited over 1,600 elementary and middle school students to matinee showings of Matilda. Laughter, smiles, and applause filled the air, truly demonstrating the power of our performing arts program to connect with our future Lions. You still have time to catch Matilda! There are public shows tonight, Friday at 7:00 PM, and Saturday at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
- Attendance: We are excited to share a continued commitment to being in school every day and always on time. We are proud to report that Fairfax High School's absenteeism rate is down 2.8% from last year. Being present is the number one factor in student success, and this positive trend reflects our entire community's commitment to prioritizing daily attendance.
We hope to see you tonight as the Fairfax Lions take on West Springfield @ West Springfield at 7:00 PM for ROUND 2 of the PLAYOFFS.
Thank you for your partnership as we head into the Thanksgiving break. Go Lions! 🦁
Included in this issue:
Student Spotlight
- Honor Roll Students
- Matilda Show for ES and MS students
Staff Spotlight
- Our Awesome Cafeteria Staff!
Calendar Reminders
- Thanksgiving, Nov. 27
- Saturday School, Nov. 22
Fairfax Lions Need to Know:
- Second Late Bus Day Added
- Action Required for Google Tools
- Feed the Den Food Drive
- Student Services Updates
- FCPS Budget
- Weather Closings
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
- Matilda The Musical - this weekend only!
- Volunteer FCPS Updates
- ACE Classes Black Friday Sale
- Apply Anytime for Free & Reduced-Price Meals
- Monitoring Support for Your Child in ParentVUE
- SEL Screener Parent Reports Now Available
- Quick Links
Congrats to our Honor Roll Students
We were proud and excited to celebrate 962 Honor Roll recipients!! 🦁💙🎉 These are students who received all As and Bs for 1st quarter.
Congrats, Lions!!
Matilda!
Fairfax hosted over 1600 elementary and middle school students who came to see the FX Players perform Matilda the Musical! This weekend only - get your tickets here: https://www.fxplayers.org/
Cafeteria Staff Serves Thanksgiving Lunch
We are SO Thankful for our fabulous Cafeteria Manager, Helen Kim, and her awesome Cafeteria Staff, who go above and beyond every day!! Principal Aye and the Admin Team helped serve Thanksgiving lunch to students this week.
🗓️Calendar Reminders
Happy Thanksgiving!
Schools and offices will be closed Wed. - Fri., November 26 to 28. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Classes will resume on Monday, December 1, Gray Day for FHS. See the complete school year calendar.
Saturday School being held Nov. 22
Saturday School IS being held Nov. 22nd. No signup required, and snacks provided! Transportation is on your own. Students should enter the building at Door 1, check in at the Security Desk, and report to the Library.
Please Note: There is NO Saturday School on Nov. 29th due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.
🚌 Second Late Bus Day Added!
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A second late bus day was added to the schedule, so our late bus days are now Wednesdays AND Thursdays. Students must be signed in with a teacher, coach or club and receive a bus pass from them in order to ride the late bus. |
💻 Action Required! Update Your Permission for Google Tools
Google recently made changes to how educational applications are managed and accessed on the Chrome Browser and Chromebooks. Many applications are moving from the Chrome Web Store to the Google Play Store.
To ensure your student(s) can continue accessing all approved instructional tools, FCPS has updated its digital consent platform to include both the Chrome Web Store and the Google Play Store.
Please review and provide your consent for these two new options through our easy-to-use Parent Digital Consent system:
- Additional Google Services – Chrome Web Store
- Additional Google Services – Google Play Store
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting safe and effective digital learning experiences for all students.
For questions or support, please visit FCPS’ Family Technology Resources page or open a ticket with our Technical Support desk.
Feed the Den Food Drive, Nov 5 - 26
FHS is holding a Feed the Den Food Drive from November 5 - 26.
All proceeds get donated to Fairfax Food Pantry!
Families, check in with your students - it's a grade-level competition! Items should be dropped off in the front office, and labeled with your student's GRADE. Canned Products Only, please! Thank you for your support 🙏💙
Student Services Updates
♦ Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Now Available
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, we will share copies with you directly.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
♦ Save the Date! Community and Curriculum Night
The Academic Advising process for the 2026-2027 school year is almost underway. Please take some time to review the information below about important dates and information.
You are encouraged to sit down with your student and review their graduation requirements and courses for the next school year. More information to come!
Jan. 12: Curriculum Night (6-8) - Families are encouraged to attend to meet FHS staff and faculty, learn about electives, and college and career preparation. Throughout the night, tables will be set up to learn about different course offerings.
- Rising 9th Grade Info Session (Auditorium - 6:15 to 6:45pm)
- Rising 10th-12th Grade Post-Secondary Info Session (Auditorium - 7 to 7:45pm)
Jan. 13: Course Information Fair (Lion Time) - Students will be provided a list of classes to visit for more information.
📓FCPS Budget
Help Us Write Fairfax High School’s Next Chapter: FY 2027 Budget
There’s a story behind the success of every FCPS student — a story about what’s possible with the appropriate funding for world-class teachers, rigorous academics, and future-ready learning experiences. At FCPS, student success starts with a strong budget!
FCPS is currently developing the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget, which is for the 2026-27 school year. In January, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will present a proposed budget to the School Board.
During this process, we’ll be sharing FCPS’ budget story with you. The different chapters will explain the impact of chronic underfunding, why strong funding benefits all of Fairfax County, what’s at stake when Fairfax High School and other FCPS schools don’t get the support we need, and more.
We invite you to follow along and learn how you can help write our next chapter!
Weather Closings
 ❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
FX Players Presents: Matilda the Musical
Fairfax High School's theatre department, The FX Players, presents: Matilda the Musical. Performances are November 20, 21, and 22 at 7:00 PM and November 22 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $10 for students, and $15 for adults. They can be purchased at www.fxplayers.org starting November 1.
Inspired by the novel by writer Roald Dahl, the Tony Award-winning Matilda The Musical revels in the anarchy of childhood, the power of imagination, and the inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Matilda is a little girl from England with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers. She's unloved by her cruel parents, but impresses her schoolteacher, Miss Honey. During her first term at school, the two forge a bond as Miss Honey begins to recognize and appreciate Matilda's extraordinary personality. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing. The school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves to punish those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts and could be the school heroine! Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, children and adults alike will be touched by the heartfelt story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.
🙋 Volunteer FCPS
Volunteer FCPS Helps Community Members Connect with Schools
The new volunteer management system, Volunteer FCPS, allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities at our school or across the school district.
Volunteer FCPS is how FCPS provides a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. Anyone interested in volunteering with FCPS must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk on EVERY visit – no exceptions.
Recent Updates to Volunteer Opportunity Levels
Due to the overwhelming response, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities.
Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a comprehensive background check that includes fingerprinting).
To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal confirmation that you have no history of violent felonies, physical or sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude (dishonesty, fraud, things that are immoral by society’s standards).
Visit the Volunteer FCPS website to complete a volunteer orientation. View Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the volunteer levels.
🚘📝 ACE Black Friday Sale
FCPS ACE Black Friday Sale: Save 20% Off Driver’s Ed and SAT Prep Classes!Save 20% when you register for any of the hundreds of classes offered through FCPS ACE from 6 p.m. on Thursday, November 27, through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 30!
Register for as many classes as you want — adult learning courses, SAT prep courses or driver education classes for your teen (including Behind-the-Wheel) — and even gift them to friends and family. Visit the ACE website for details.
This offer cannot be combined with any other discount and does not apply to gift card purchases.
Apply Anytime for Free & Reduced-Price Meals
Families are encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meals at any time during the school year.
If your income changes — for example, due to a furlough, layoff, or job loss — you may become newly eligible. Once approved, your benefits stay active for the rest of the school year and for the first 30 days of the next school year.
Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals or attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school receive free breakfast and lunch every school day. It’s a great way to make your food budget go further and save time from packing meals. Learn more about FCPS Food and Nutrition.
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local CommunityFairfax 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.
Find more community resources available to families.
Monitoring Support for Your Child in ParentVUE
All FCPS schools use an approach called Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to make sure every student gets the help they need to learn.
MTSS helps school teams deliver high-quality instruction for all students and provide extra time, support, and interventions as needed. Families are partners in this process. We will share information about your child’s individual learning, needs, and progress.
You may view your child's intervention plans and progress in SIS ParentVUE. Expect progress to be updated quarterly, with report card due dates.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener last month, providing information on skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results will be available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE the week of November 17. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be shared by our school.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to school staff.
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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