The Wildcat Weekly - November 30, 2025

Centreville Students, Families, and Community,

I hope you all enjoyed a restful and meaningful Thanksgiving break. It’s always important to take time to relax, recharge, and connect with loved ones, and I hope the long weekend provided that for each of you.

As we settle into the second quarter, I’d like to ask for your support in reinforcing a few key expectations that help us maintain a safe, positive, and productive learning environment. Your partnership truly makes a difference.

First, a reminder that all FCPS schools are closed campuses. Students may not leave campus during the school day for any reason, including to access their cars in the parking lot. This is an important safety measure for all students and staff. Additional information about this division-wide policy can be found in the Student Rights & Responsibilities and FCPS Regulation 2601.39 O.3.

We also want to encourage all students to make timeliness a priority. Over the past few weeks, we’ve noticed an increase in tardies to class. Arriving on time is an essential life skill and sets students up for success both in school and beyond. Once the warning music plays, students have less than two minutes to get to class, so we ask everyone to be especially mindful of this in the coming weeks. Families, we greatly appreciate your conversations at home to help reinforce these expectations.

Finally, we are excited to kick off our Winter Concert Season! We hope to see many of you at our upcoming Band, Orchestra, and Choral performances. These events are a wonderful showcase of our students’ talent and hard work, and they’re always a highlight of the season.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Together, we can ensure that Centreville remains a safe, welcoming, and inspiring place for all Wildcats.

Thank you and Go Wildcats!

Dr. Erik Healey, Principal


Upcoming Events

November 30-December 5 - PTSA Holiday Candle Fundraiser

November 30-December 9 - PTSA Holiday Season Staff Appreciation Fundraiser

December 1 - Class of 2028 Fundraiser, Panera Bread, 4:00-8:00PM

December 2-10 - Centreville High Career Speaker Series

December 3 - ASVAB Test Administration

December 3 - National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, 7:00PM

December 4 - Winter Band Concert, 7:00PM

December 10 - Orchestra Winter Concert, 7:00PM

December 15-19 - Winter Spirit Week

December 18 - Winter Pep Rally

December 18 - Choir Winter Concert, Centreville Auditorium, 7:00PM

 

November 30-December 5 - PTSA Holiday Candle Fundraiser: By popular demand, the fundraiser has been extended to December 5! Shop local and support the Centreville High School PTSA this holiday season! The PTSA holiday fundraiser features 5oz hand-crafted, small-batch soy candles from locally owned business, Flame Pout. Each purchase gives back directly to the CVHS PTSA to help fund student programs, teacher resources, and school events. You can order four different scents tailored for our Wildcat community here. Thank you for your support!

November 30-December 9 - PTSA Staff Appreciation Fundraiser: The PTSA has organized a drive through GoFundMe to provide a special holiday season appreciation event for Centreville staff on December 9.  Please help the PTSA bring some holiday cheer to our hard-working staff and say a huge “Thank You” on behalf of the entire community for all they do to support our students.  During this season of giving, please consider donating via the link provided and help the PTSA reach their goal of $900.  https://gofund.me/38c2c34f5

December 2-10 - Centreville High Career Speaker Series: The 4th annual Career Speaker Series kicks off next week! Students in all grade levels are encouraged to attend to hear about the education and training required, daily responsibilities, successes and challenges in each career field. Students must register using their FCPS email account.

  • Professor of Health Informatics - Tuesday, December 2 from 9:45-10:30am in Lecture Hall register here: Meet Dr. Elashkar, CVHS parent and Professor of Health Informatics at George Mason University. Dr. Elashkar has a compelling clinical background as an OB/GYN physician. Her current research focuses on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the clinical field and public health. If you’re fascinated by science, technology, and the application of AI in healthcare, this talk is essential! Learn how data, tech and medical ethics are shaping the future of your healthcare – and how you can be a part of it.
  • Business Executive & Football Coach – Thursday, December 4 from 9:45-10:30am in Lecture Hallregister here: Mr. Vergara is a CVHS alum and a dedicated leader on the football field and in the boardroom. Learn how his teamwork and discipline as a football coach translated into building and running multi-million-dollar companies. He is the Chief Operating Officer of ML Real Estate, one of the largest real estate teams in northern Virginia. As the Director of Business Development for 5 Keller Williams brokerages, he’s an expert in growth, strategy, and making deals happen on a huge scale.

December 3 - ASVAB Test Administration: The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a free career assessment that provides valuable insight into your skills in areas like math, verbal reasoning, science, and technical fields. Your results can help you:

  • Identify your academic and technical strengths
  • Explore careers in fields such as healthcare, technology, skilled trades, military service, and more
  • Make informed decisions about college, training programs, or career opportunities after graduation

This year, we will offer the ASVAB at Centreville High on Wednesday, December 3. This is a valuable chance for students to learn more about themselves and your future. Plus, students who earn a qualifying score will earn distinguished honors at graduation! 

December 3 - National Honor Society Induction Ceremony: Congratulations to all the students who will be inducted as new members of the National Honor Society! We look forward to celebrating your achievement at the upcoming Centreville High School NHS Induction Ceremony on December 3 at 7:00 PM. NHS will recognize students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and character—earning a place in this organization will be a significant honor. We are proud of your hard work and dedication, and we’re excited to soon welcome you into this distinguished community.

December 4 - Winter Band Concert: Please join the Wildcat Band at the Winter Band Concert on Thursday, December 4th at 7PM in the CVHS auditorium. All of our talented band students from beginners to advanced will dazzle the audience with a variety of band tunes. The concert will also feature student-led small chamber ensemble performances. Finally, don’t miss a special guest conductor on the annual performance of Sleigh Ride! We hope to see you there!

December 10 - Winter Orchestra Concert: Centreville HS will present the Winter Wonder Orchestra Concert on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 @7PM in the CVHS Skip A. Maiden Auditorium.  All seven orchestras will be featured, including the 100-piece Centreville Symphony Orchestra.  Enjoy an evening of classics, contemporary works, and seasonal favorites, including “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Sleigh Ride.”  Join the musicians for a cake reception following the performance, courtesy of the String Orchestra Parent Association (SOPA)!

December 18 - Winter Choral Concert: The Centreville Choral Department will present their Winter Concert on Thursday, December 18 at 7pm! This concert will feature our four choirs -Symphonic Choir, Bella Voce, Treble Choir, and Basso Choir - plus our student-led a cappella groups, Madrigals and Contempo. Our program has grown from 56 students to 97 in only two years, and our many talented and hard-working singers would love to see you in the audience! Kick off the holidays and winter break with CVHS Choir! Admission is free and open to the public.


Wonderful Wildcats

SBVisit

Centreville HS Welcomes Local Leaders for “Take Your Legislator to School Month”: On November 24, School Board Members Seema Dixit and Sandy Anderson visited Centreville High School alongside Delegate Dan Helmer and Supervisor Kathy Smith as part of the Virginia School Board Association’s statewide initiative, “Take Your Legislator to School Month.” This annual effort gives legislators a firsthand look at schools in action, offering them the chance to meet students and staff and to learn more about the programs and priorities that shape public education. The visit provided a wonderful opportunity to highlight the great work happening at Centreville while building stronger connections between schools and policymakers. Our guests also met with a student panel—Seniors Caitlin Goff and Lizzy Asif, and Juniors Jasmin De Paz De Paz, Aidan Kownacki, and Inaaya Malik—who shared their experiences and perspectives on key issues affecting students today.


News from Student Services

Mark your Calendars for CVHS Curriculum Night: It’s hard to believe, but our Student Services department is beginning to plan for the 2026-2027 school year. The Centreville High School Curriculum Night will take place on Thursday, January 8th from 6:30-8:00PM (with January 15th serving as a snow date). The evening will consist of a Rising 9th Grade Presentation from 6:30-7:00, with additional workshops taking place for current families, followed by our Curriculum Fair from 7:00-8:00PM. Students and families will be able to have conversations with teachers from each department about the course offerings so students can make the most informed decisions about their course selections for 2026-2027.


Important Information from FCPS

Help Us Write Centerville’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 Centreville 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! 

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.

Manage Your Child’s Screen Time on FCPS Devices: FCPS offers the Lightspeed Parent Portal to help you manage screen time on your child's FCPS device at home. With a Parent Portal account, you can control your child’s access to YouTube and pause website browsing during after-school hours. Please note that parent controls are active only during after-school hours, defined as Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. (including student holidays) and all day Saturday and Sunday. If you haven't signed up for the portal yet, use the link at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email. To learn more, 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.


Información importante

Ayúdenos a Escribir el Siguiente Capítulo de la Historia de FCPS: Presupuesto del Año Fiscal 2027: Hay una historia que se escribe detrás del éxito de cada estudiante de FCPS, una que trata sobre lo que es posible hacer con los fondos apropiados para contar con maestros de clase mundial, requisitos académicos rigurosos y experiencias educacionales futurísticas. ¡En FCPS, el éxito de los estudiantes comienza con tener un presupuesto robusto!

En FCPS estamos ahora desarrollando el Presupuesto del Año Fiscal 2027, el cual será presentado a la Junta Escolar por la Superintendente, Dra. Michelle Reid en enero. 

Durante este proceso, estaremos compartiendo con usted la historia del presupuesto. Los distintos capítulos de la misma explicarán el impacto que tiene recibir crónicamente fondos insuficientes, por qué contar con fondos suficientes beneficia a todo el Condado de Fairfax, qué está en riesgo cuando nuestras escuelas no reciben el apoyo que necesitan, y más. ¡Le invitamos a que siga esta historia y sepa cómo puede ayudar a nuestra comunidad a escribir un nuevo capítulo de su historia!

Preparativos para el Invierno: El tiempo de invierno llegará pronto. El tiempo de invierno llegará pronto. Mire este video para ver cómo deciden cuándo hay que cerrar las escuelas debido al clima. El sitio web de FCPS es generalmente el primer lugar donde publicaremos cuando haya un cierre de emergencia por el clima. Otros canales de comunicación serán usados lo más pronto posible incluyendo correo electrónico, texto, medios sociales, y estaciones de noticias. Aprenda más sobre cómo se comunican los cambios de horario. Asegúrese de planificar para la temporada de invierno. Asegúrese de que su información de contacto esté actualizada en SIS ParentVUE, marque el sitio web de FCPS, y planifique para el cuidado de niños si es apropiado.

Mantenga a Su Hijo Bien Abrigado Durante las Actividades al Aire Libre: Estaremos atentos a las bajas temperaturas, los avisos y advertencias de viento helado y los avisos meteorológicos que pueden impedir que los niños estén al aire libre. Sin embargo, asegúrese de que su hijo esté vestido apropiadamente con un abrigo y otra ropa de clima frío para que pueda disfrutar cómodamente de su tiempo al aire libre. El Servicio Meteorológico Nacional ofrece algunos consejos para mantenerse seguro durante el tiempo frío. Si necesita ayuda para proveer a su hijo de ropa para el clima frío, por favor llame a la Planificación de Servicios Coordinados del Condado de Fairfax al 703-222-0880. El personal multilingüe puede ayudarle con cualquier dificultad que se le presente, como la alimentación, el alojamiento, el empleo, la asistencia financiera, la atención sanitaria y otras necesidades.

El Sistema “Volunteer FCPS” Ayuda a que los Miembros de la Comunidad se Conecten con las Escuelas: En FCPS, la seguridad y protección de todos y cada uno de nuestros estudiantes es nuestra mayor prioridad. El nuevo sistema de administración del voluntariado, Volunteer FCPS, les permite  a los individuos buscar oportunidades de voluntariado en toda la división escolar, o en su escuela local, y registrarse para participar en ellas. El sistema “Volunteer FCPS” es la forma en que proveemos un ambiente seguro, consistente y acogedor en todas nuestras escuelas. Toda aquella persona que esté interesada en ser voluntaria para FCPS debe:

  • Crear un perfil en “Volunteer FCPS”. 
  • Registrarse en las oportunidades de voluntariado que encuentre en “Volunteer FCPS”.
  • Registrar su entrada y su salida de las escuelas usando el kiosko para visitantes, EN CADA visita, sin excepciones.  

Actualizaciones Recientes a los Niveles de las Oportunidades de Voluntariado: Dada la increíble respuesta que hemos recibido de nuestra comunidad, FCPS ha pausado temporalmente la exigencia de la toma de huellas dactilares para la mayoría de los voluntarios del Nivel 3. Aquellas personas cuyas huellas dactilares ya hayan sido tomadas, serán procesadas como elegibles para tomar oportunidades de voluntariado de Nivel 3. ​​​​​​​Las oportunidades de participar como chaperones de paseos escolares serán ahora clasificadas como Nivel 2 (Éstas no requieren una revisión detallada de antecedentes que incluya la toma de huellas dactilares). 

Para garantizar la continuidad de la seguridad, todos los nuevos voluntarios están obligados a firmar una Declaración Voluntaria de Voluntariado. Esta declaración es una confirmación legal de que usted no tiene un historial de delitos violentos, crímenes físicos o sexuales contra niños, o crímenes contra la moral (como deshonestidad, fraude, actos que sean inmorales en los estándares sociales). Los individuos pueden completar la orientación del voluntario visitando la página web de “Volunteer FCPS”. Visite la sección de Preguntas Frecuentes de “Volunteer FCPS” para que conozca los niveles de voluntariado y cuál de ellos le conviene más según sus intereses.

Actualizaciones de los Permisos Exigidos para Usar “Google Tools”: Recientemente, Google hizo cambios sobre cómo pueden ser administradas y al acceso de las aplicaciones educacionales, tanto en el navegador “Chrome”, como en las laptops “Chromebooks”. Muchas de estas aplicaciones han sido movidas de la página “Chrome Web Store” a la tienda de aplicaciones “Google Play Store”. Para asegurarnos de que los estudiantes puedan continuar accediendo a todas las herramientas instruccionales aprobadas, FCPS ha actualizado su plataforma digital de consentimiento para incluir tanto a “Chrome Web Store”, como a “Google Play Store”.

Por favor, revise y dé su consentimiento para el uso de estas dos nuevas opciones a través de nuestro, fácil de utilizar, Sistema Digital de Consentimiento Parental:

  • Servicios Adicionales de Google – Chrome Web Store
  • Servicios Adicionales de Google – Google Play Store

Gracias por su continuo apoyo a nuestro esfuerzo para crear experiencias educacionales seguras y efectivas para todos nuestros estudiantes. Para enviarnos preguntas o solicitar asistencia técnica, por favor visite la página web de Recursos Tecnológicos para las Familias  o abra un ticket de servicio con nuestro servicio de Soporte Técnico.

Los Padres Pueden Decidir por Cuánto Tiempo se Usan los Dispositivos de FCPS: FCPS ofrece el Portal para Padres “Lightspeed” para ayudarle a usted a manejar el tiempo que pasa su hijo en casa frente a la pantalla de alguno de los dispositivos de FCPS. Al tener una cuenta en el Portal para Padres “Lightspeed”, usted puede controlar el acceso de su niño a YouTube y pausar la navegación en páginas web durante las horas después de terminadas las clases. Por favor, sepa que los controles parentales sólo están activos durante las horas después de clases, definidas de lunes a viernes, desde las 3:30 p.m. hasta las 6 a.m. (incluso en los días feriados estudiantiles) y sábados y domingos durante todo el día. Si todavía no se ha registrado en el portal, use el link que aparece al final del email que recibe con su Reporte “Lightspeed” de la Actividad Online del Estudiante. Para conocer más, por favor visite la página web del Portal “Lightspeed” para Padres en la página web de FCPS.

Evaluación del Aprendizaje Social y Emocional: Reporte para Padres: Los estudiantes entre los grados 3ro y 12vo, tomaron el mes pasado la Evaluación “SEL” (siglas en inglés de “Social and Emotional Learning”), proveyéndonos con información acerca de habilidades como el logro de metas, el entendimiento y manejo de las emociones, el establecimiento y mantenimiento de relaciones personales, y la toma de decisiones responsables. La evaluación también les pregunta a los estudiantes qué tan valorado, incluido y apoyado, les hace sentir la comunidad de su escuela. Los resultados individuales de la evaluación SEL de cada estudiante estarán disponibles para las familias la semana del 17 de noviembre, en la sección de Documentos en SIS ParentVUE. Para aquellas familias que no tengan una cuenta activa en ParentVUE, los resultados les serán entregados por la escuela. Para encontrar asistencia entendiendo los resultados individuales de su estudiante, o para hallar ideas de cómo apoyarle en casa, por favor revise la Guía Familiar o comuníquese con el personal de su escuela.

Oferta de “Black Friday” de FCPS ACE: ¡Ahorre 20% en las Clases de Preparación para el permiso de Aprendiz de Conductor y para el Examen SAT!: ¡Es la temporada de aprender! Y usted puede ahorrarse 20% al registrarse en cualquiera de las cientos de clases ofrecidas a través de FCPS ACE, desde las  6 p.m. del jueves 27 de noviembre, hasta las 11:59 p.m. del domingo 30 de noviembre! Regístrese en tantas clases como quiera en educación para adultos, cursos de preparación para el examen SAT o de educación de conductores para su adolescente (incluyendo prácticas de manejo), e incluso puede regalarselas a sus amigos y familiares. Visite www.fcpsace.org para que encuentre todos los detalles. Esta oferta no puede combinarse con ningún otro descuento y no se aplica sobre compras hechas con “gift cards”.