Dear South Lakes High School Community,

As we enter this season of reflection and gratitude, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for each member of our South Lakes family.

To our dedicated staff: Thank you for your unwavering professionalism, your daily commitment to creating positive, meaningful learning experiences, and the countless ways you show up for our students. Your work is seen, shapes the culture of this school and ensures that every young person who walks through our doors is met with high expectations, compassion, and opportunity. I am truly grateful to lead alongside such talented and dedicated educators.

To our incredible students: You are the heartbeat of South Lakes. Your brilliance, your creativity, your leadership, your humor, and the many talents you bring into our classrooms and activities each day make this community vibrant and inspiring. Thank you for your hard work, your resilience, and for reminding all of us why our work matters.

To our families and the Reston community: Thank you for welcoming me so warmly as one of your own. From my first days here, you have embraced me, supported me, and shown me what makes South Lakes and Reston so special. I am deeply grateful to be a part of this community and to serve your children.

As we move into the break, I encourage all families to take time to pause, reconnect, and be thankful for the big and small blessings in your lives. Moments of joy, rest, health, laughter, growth, and love are the things that sustain us.

Please note that our campus will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. All offices will reopen on Monday, December 1, 2025. I hope this extended weekend provides everyone a chance to recharge and return refreshed for the weeks ahead.

In this season of gratitude, I’m reminded each day how fortunate I am to serve as your principal. Thank you for being an extraordinary school community.

Wishing you all a restful and thankful weekend.

With gratitude,

Carlos Seward

We value your feedback. Share your observations, suggestions, questions and celebrations with me here.

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.

2026 SLHS All Night Grad Party (ANGP) 

Sign up to receive emails about the 2026 All Night Grad Party (ANGP). You'll get updates about ANGP tickets, lawn signs, planning meetings, fundraisers, volunteer opportunities, party reveals, and more... Sign up here!

Help Us Write South Lakes High School’s Next Chapter: Fiscal Year 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 South Lakes 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.

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. 

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 the Technical Support desk.

Lightspeed Parent Portal Allows Parents to Manage Student Screen Time

FCPS has introduced new parent controls in the Lightspeed Parent Portal to help families manage screen time on FCPS-issued devices. Through the portal, parents can control their child's access to YouTube and pause web browsing during designated After-School Hours while students are off the FCPS network.

These controls are active Monday - Friday from 3:30 PM to 6:00 AM (even on student holidays) and all day Saturday and Sunday. They do not affect district filtering policies during the instructional day. 

Parents can register for the Lightspeed Parent Portal using the link provided in their weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email. 

For more information about the Parent Portal, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website.

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.

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.

Make Sure Your Children Are Up-to-Date on Immunizations

Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!

Starting Tuesday, November 18, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. Visit the How To Submit Immunization Documents webpage for step-by-step guidance on how to check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information 

Participation is voluntary. Additional Immunization Resources are available online. Parents or guardians may schedule an appointment for their student.️