|
English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو
Included in this issue:
Student Spotlight
- Lions Take the Lead Ceremony
- DECA Shines at State Leadership Conference
Program Spotlight
- Women's Lacrosse players visit FHS
Calendar Reminders
- Daylight Saving Time Begins
- Sleep Awareness Week, March 8-14
- Saturday School Dates - Updated!
Fairfax Lions Need to Know:
- Mock SAT/ACT March 7th
- Community Conversations with Dr. Reid
- Family Engagement Survey
- Fairfax County Health Dept. Measles Update
- Special Education Conference Rescheduled to April 18
- MARS Pass Info
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
- Cultural Celebration, March 26
- ANG Silent Auction
- Sophomore Student/Parent College Planning Night
- Fairfax Academy's MCT Fest!
- Rotary Club Music Contest - Deadline Extended!
- Fairfax City Language Arts 123 Contest
- District News / In Case You Missed It
- Quick Links
 |
|
Upcoming Events
March 8: Daylight Savings Time Begins (Spring Forward)
March 9: NHS Induction Ceremony
March 10: Sophomore College Night
March 20: Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr, No School
March 21: MCT Fest, 6pm, FHS Auditorium
March 27: End of 3rd quarter, 2HR Early Release
March 30 - April 3: Spring Break, No School
April 6: Teacher Workday, Student Holiday
April 10: School Planning Day, Student Holiday
|
March 6, 2026
Greetings, Fairfax Families,
As we prepare to "leap ahead" with our clocks this weekend, I am reminded that warmer days and brighter rays are just around the corner. This week at FHS, the energy was palpable as we celebrated excellence in every corner of our campus.
Women’s History Month: Creating Space in Every Place
We kicked off Women’s History Month with an incredible visit from the Professional Women’s Lacrosse League (PWLL). The "future is female" was the theme of the day as we welcomed professional players, local mayors, and visiting students for a powerful panel discussion. The conversation centered on commitment, dedication, and the importance of creating space for oneself in every arena. It was an inspiring reminder of the impact our students can have when they lead with purpose.
Market Days: The Entrepreneurial Craze
The halls were buzzing (and smelled delicious!) during our latest Market Days. Our future business leaders turned the school into a vibrant marketplace with their mini-business pop-up shops. From "walking tacos" to fresh-made waffles, the execution and entrepreneurial spirit were outstanding. It is clear these "Lion" leaders are ready to elevate their ideas into reality!
Lions Taking the Lead & Academic Debates
Today, we had the distinct honor of recognizing 80 "Lions Taking the Lead." These students represent the heart of our community, consistently going above and beyond to support their peers and our school.
The academic fire was also lit in our Spanish IV classrooms this week! Students engaged in a "heated" debate competition—entirely in Spanish—arguing the merits of Books vs. Movies. Seeing our students use their language proficiency to navigate complex arguments is exactly the kind of we PAWSome energy we love to see.
A Night of Talent and Feedback
Our Choral program shared their immense talents with a packed house this week. In a unique twist, the Choir Director put the audience to work! Family and friends were given rubrics to assess and provide feedback to each choir. It was a wonderful way to turn a concert into a collaborative learning experience for everyone involved.
Quarter 3: The Path to the Finish Line
Progress reports were released this week. While they provide a snapshot of current performance, they are also a call to action.
- Success Plans: There is still plenty of time to build a success plan.
- Support Systems: Encourage your student to utilize Lion Time, attend Saturday School, or stay for Late Bus Days to ensure a strong finish to the quarter.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we move through this busy spring season. Let’s make the most of the extra daylight!
Warmly,
Lions Take the Lead Ceremony
Today we celebrated over 80 students at our Lions Take the Lead Ceremony. Students were celebrated for demonstrating Fairfax County's Portrait of a Graduate skills or our PAWS (Promoting Empathy, Accountable Actions, Working Hard, Self Advocacy) attributes! Congratulations to the students again!
Fairfax DECA Shines!!
Fairfax DECA Shines at the DECA State Leadership Conference!
Fairfax DECA earned the highest Blue Chip Chapter Award for their program of work and were recognized with the Top Fundraising Chapter Award for raising $61,640.56 for two charities. In addition, Fairfax DECA was SBE Gold Re-certified, Ishaan Khatri was a Virginia DECA Foundation scholarship recipient, and Deborah McCoy was recognized as a Friend of DECA. Twenty-eight students earned the opportunity to advance to the DECA International Competition.
Lyra McCartney, Ashley Shea and Kaitlyn Baily – Integrated Marketing Campaign
Anya Crowl – Principles of Marketing
Ellen Kim and Jaime Lin - Business Operations Research
Diya Paudyal, Sarisha Adhikari, Sleshma Pant, Hongik (Hailey) Lee, Sinai Alemtaye, and Catherine Rosa Rioja,for Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research.
Hafasa Hayat – Financial Consulting
Ishaan Khatri, Doniyor Mahmudov and Charles Lagdameo – Community Giving Project
Alejandro Prudencio-Lara and Manav Singh – Community Awareness Project
Kaylee Yuen Allison “Nari” Kim – Financial Services Team Decision Making
Myles McDaniel and Shaan Thyagarajan – Independent Business Plan
Pari Patel and Jason Hom – International Business Plan
Elle Duangmanee and Elinor Suh – Hospitality Services Team Decision Making
Samantha Murphy and Josh Malesky - SBE
We are proud of the 126 dedicated high school students who represented Fairfax with excellence. It was especially rewarding to see 21 freshmen experience the power of mentorship from our outstanding upperclassmen. We are so grateful to the many teachers and business professionals across Virginia who make this event such a memorable experience.
Pro Women's Lacrosse Players visit FHS
Professional Women's Lacrosse Players, Sammy Jo Adelsberger and Jill Smith, from the the California Palms, paid a visit to FHS earlier this week. They spoke with girls lacrosse players from Fairfax, Madison, and Meridian high schools, to discuss their journey and what it's like to be a pro athlete. Thank you also the mayors of the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church for joining in for a panel discussion. What a great way to celebrate opportunities and discuss career goals for women during Women's History Month!!
🗓️Calendar Reminders
Daylight Saving Time Begins (Spring Forward)
Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
Sleep Awareness Week, March 8-14
The National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Awareness Week is March 8 to 14. The observance highlights the critical link between sleep and health, both physical and mental.
A few strategies that can help people sleep longer and sleep better:
✅ Same bed/wake times each day
✅ A calming wind-down routine
✅ A dark, quiet, cool room (60-67° is ideal)
✅ Exercise earlier in the day (not within 2 hours of bedtime)
Read more about sleep health and sleep strategies you can try at home.
Saturday School being held on March 7
Saturday school is being held tomorrow, March 7
No signup required, and snacks are provided, but 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 see the UPDATED dates in bold:
March 14, 21
April 11, 18, 25
May 2, 9, 16, 23
June 6
These dates may change, so keep an eye on this space for updates.
Mock SAT (digital) or Mock ACT (paper) March 7
FHS Academic Boosters is partnering with Applerouth Tutoring to offer the Mock SAT (digital format) and the Mock ACT (paper format) exams again this school year: Saturday, March 7th.
This is a perfect opportunity for students of all grades who haven’t started 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.
March 7th tests:
Mock (digital) SAT registration (limited to 75): Cost $25
Test Time: Saturday, March 7th, 8:00 am – 10:50am
https://guidewelleducation.onecanoe.com/applerouth/school/1008801
Mock (paper) ACT registration (limited to 50): Cost $25
Test Time: Saturday, March 7th, 8:00am – 11:15am
https://guidewelleducation.onecanoe.com/applerouth/school/1008801
Questions: Academicboosters@fairfaxptsa.org
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts with Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
-
Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
-
Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
-
Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
-
Monday, April 20, Westgate Elementary School.
-
Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Family Engagement Survey
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.
Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment.
- Communication.
- Student success.
- Advocacy.
- Family and school partnerships.
- Community partnerships.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.
Fairfax County Health Dept. Measles Update
Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects 9 out of 10 people who are exposed, if unvaccinated or not immune. It has been in the news lately due to cases in Northern Virginia and among people who have traveled through local airports.
If your spring break or summer plans include traveling abroad or to an area in the United States with high measles activity, the Fairfax County Health Department encourages you to ensure your family is protected. Children 12 months and older should have 1 or 2 doses before traveling. Depending on your specific travel plans, your health care provider may also advise you to vaccinate infants 6 to 11 months old. Read more about these recommendations.
Special Education Family Conference Rescheduled
FCPS’ 2026 Special Education Family Conference has been rescheduled to Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Marshall High School.
Updated conference details are now available on the Special Education Family Conference webpage. Please register for the event. If you registered before, please re-register for the new date. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this date change may cause and appreciate your understanding.
Meditation & Reflection Space Pass (MARS)
To revisit consistent practices, we will be revisiting our Meditation and Reflection systems for students (MARS). We are requesting ALL students receive a new temporary pass with a new permission slip in order to miss instructional time.
When the new permission slip is returned, students will receive a permanent MARS pass.
- Students may leave class to meditate.
- Hallway 23 is the dedicated meditation space.
- Students should only be gone 15 mins on the meditation pass.
The library will be open for students during lunch to accommodate those who are fasting.
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
Cultural Celebration, March 26
Tickets are ON SALE now for Fairfax High School’s annual sold-out event: Cultural Celebration 2026!
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Food and Cultural Tables 5:30 PM | Cultural Celebration (Global Talent & Fashion Show) 6:30 PM
Join us for an incredible trip around the world featuring fiery Latin dances, the beat of the Korean drums, the majesty of the Chinese Dragon dance, Uyghur traditional dancing, global fashions, tasty treats from near and far, and MUCH MORE!
TICKET INFO: Online tickets are now on sale. Tickets may sell out prior to the event, so reserve yours today!
Pre-Sale Online Ticket Prices: Adults $8 | Students $5 (FCPS Employees are free)
Door Ticket Prices: Everyone $10
Don't miss out! Tickets are flying faster than a K-pop dance move, so click this TICKET LINK or the QR code in the flyer to grab yours now!
ANG Silent Auction
Start the Bidding!
The FHS All Night Grad Silent Auction is Live at: https://app.galabid.com/fhsangsa2026/items - until 9pm on March 16th.
Try your luck at the 50/50 raffle and bid to purchase gift cards to local restaurant favorites, event tickets or one of the 50+ other items available from local vendors! From family-friendly activities to nights out on the town, jewelry to artwork - there’s something for everyone! And this year our auction site has two new features to make bidding easier - 1. a buy it now opportunity to avoid missing out on an item you really want and 2. a max bid function. With max bid, you can set how high you are willing to bid on an item and not have to worry about tracking the activity to make sure you are the winning bidder.
Senior parents, this is the only place to obtain VIP Parking and Seating for graduation. You can try your luck at the raffle or make the winning bid to secure your VIP status.
Bid generously to support the Fairfax High Class of ‘26 so that ALL our seniors can celebrate safely the night of graduation! Since ANG was created more than 35 years ago, no FHS student has been involved in a drug or alcohol related traffic incident the night of graduation.
If you’d prefer to make a tax deductible donation to help keep ticket prices affordable please click here: https://fairfaxhs.givebacks.com/store/items. [Please note: the “donate” option offered at auction checkout by GalaBid supports the online auction site NOT Fairfax High Seniors!]
Please share the links with friends, family and neighbors and bid before the auction closes at 9pm on March 16th!
Sophomore Student/Parent College Night
 Class of 2028, please plan to attend…
Sophomore Student/Parent College Planning Night
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
6:30 pm
FHS Auditorium
Presenter: Erin Slater, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina Greensboro
This is an informative and fun program specifically designed to help 10th graders and parents/guardians plan for college. You will learn about what colleges are looking for, how to choose a school, and the college admissions process. The presentation includes a mock admission exercise. Come learn how Admissions Officers make their decisions!
You will not want to miss this important event!
For more information or questions, contact: Ms. Maureen Kim, FHS College & Career Center Specialist, at 703-219-2204, or MHKim@fcps.edu.
Note: This is an in-person event and will not be recorded. If you have a conflict on March 10, you can attend the same program at Woodson High School on March 11 @ 7:00 pm.
This event is sponsored by FHS PTSA and the Student Services Department
Fairfax Academy's Music & Computer Technology program presents: MCT Fest!
Get ready for MCT Fest! 🎧
Join us for an unforgettable showcase on March 21st @ 6PM at Fairfax High School! MCT Fest features live original music, created by the talented students of Fairfax Academy's Music & Computer Technology program. Don’t miss this chance to see the future of the music industry in action—Hope to see you there! Get your TICKETS!
Rotary Club Music Contest - Deadline Extended!
The Rotary Club of Fairfax is sponsoring a Youth Music Contest for all current FHS students.
CASH Prizes:
- First Place - $1000
- Second Place - $500
- Third Place - $250
DEADLINE EXTENDED to March 13th!
Rotary Club 25-26 Music Application
Questions, contact barrygrotaryclub7610@gmail.com.
Language Arts 123 Competition
The City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts is holding their Annual Language Arts 123 Competition.
This year's Theme is “Freedom of Speech”.
Guiding Question: In America we are guaranteed freedom of speech – but what does that really mean?
Participants have two options to address this topic:
- Write an essay about whether (or not) considerations of political correctness, perceptions of racism or other forms of unjust discrimination, public decency, or simply common courtesy limit our freedom to speak as we think…
- Write a short story demonstrating how speaking with complete freedom positively or negatively influenced someone’s life.
Submit entries online: https://www.fairfaxva.gov/Fun-Facilities/Contests-and-Grants/Language-Arts-123-Competition
District News/In Case You Missed It
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- School Board Adopts Budget
- New Date for Special Education Conference
- Celebrating Our Schools
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Quick Links
 |
|
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:
|
