Dear South Lakes Students, Families, and Community,

Welcome to the official start of the 2026–2027 school year!

Each week, I will share our newsletter, “News from The Lakes,” with students, families, staff, and members of our community. This weekly communication will celebrate the amazing things happening throughout South Lakes High School, provide important updates and reminders, and highlight opportunities for students and families to get involved.

News from The Lakes will serve as a conversation starter for families; creating opportunities to talk about upcoming events, student experiences, activities, accomplishments, and the many ways our students can make the most of their time at South Lakes.

As we move closer to the first day of school, I will continue to share the many opportunities available to our students and families to help them build meaningful connections and find their place within our South Lakes community.

We are especially excited to welcome our newest Seahawks during Freshman and New Student Orientation on August 20, followed by our Open House for all students and families. These events provide a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, become familiar with our school, meet members of the South Lakes community, and begin the new year together.

There is so much to look forward to in 2026–2027, and I am excited about what we will accomplish together. At South Lakes, we remain committed to creating a school community where every student feels known, supported, challenged, and connected; and where every student has the opportunity to thrive.

In the meantime, continue to enjoy the remaining weeks of summer. Thank you for your continued partnership, support, and belief in South Lakes High School and our students.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

With Gratitude,

Carlos Seward

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

Each year, FCPS Students compete in a variety of academic and activity-based competitions. For the 2025-2026 school year, we would like to recognize class of 2027, Alden Walcott, for her being State Runner-Up in the category of Speech, Serious Dramatic Interpretation.

Congratulations Alden!

We are excited to share that Abigail Woo, South Lakes HS class of 2027, is currently participating in this year's FCPS Summer Internship Program!

Abby is interning with Employee Services-HR Welcome Center in the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

From more than 800 applicants, Abby earned a spot in this highly competitive program, which has doubled in size this year to 40 interns working across FCPS departments. The program supports FCPS Strategic Plan Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow's Innovation by providing authentic work-based learning experiences that prepare students for future careers.

Congratulations Abby!

South Lakes High Math Department is hosting a free Freshman (Class of 2030) Summer Math Camp. It is a great way for incoming freshmen to meet future classmates and math teachers, become familiar with the building, and get ready for their next math class.

It runs from Tuesday, August 11, 2026 through Thursday, August 13, 2026 at South Lakes High School. Registration is now open! Click this link to register… Freshman Summer Math Camp Registration Link.   

No Phones or Devices During Lunch for High School Students

Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime.

Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smart watch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.

This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.

PSAT/SAT School Day Accommodations

Request PSAT and SAT School Day Testing Accommodations and Multilingual Support

FCPS high schools will give the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) to 10th and 11th graders on Wednesday, October 7. That same day, 12th graders will participate in SAT School Day. 

Because these exams are operated by the College Board, students do not automatically receive testing accommodations or multilingual support. Families can view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about College Board accommodations on the FCPS website. 

If you have a student with disabilities in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade this school year, please review the accommodations request process and return forms to the high school by Monday, August 3.  

If you have a multilingual learner (ML) in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade this school year, please review the ML support request process and return forms by Thursday, August 27, if you wish to request ML support for the October 2026 PSAT/NMSQT or SAT School Day. 

Find out more about SAT and PSAT assessments in FCPS. 

South Lakes HS and FCPS Student Activities and Athletics now use FinalForms, a secure online forms and data management service for students registering for athletics and activities. 

High school parents should have received an email invitation from FinalForms to confirm their accounts and begin registering for athletics. This email was sent to the parent email account associated with student ParentVUE accounts. 

If you have not received this email, please reach out to our Activities Office:

• DSA, Andrew Duggan, amduggan@fcps.edu
• ADSA, Sierra Traynham, kstraynham@fcps.edu
• AA, Becky Slaight, raslaight@fcps.edu

For more information on Fall sports tryouts, please visit our website HERE.

If you do not have a ParentVUE account, please contact your child’s school.

For ParentVUE technical assistance, contact the FCPS Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals

According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals. 

Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch at no cost for their children. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. 

The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible children continue to receive meals at no cost.

Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.

"The Lakes -- Podcast"

Billy Watts, our Assessment Coach, and resident genius, has created the first ever South Lakes High School Podcast, entitled "The Lakes!" The podcast will feature stories, interviews, and advice for students, parents, educators, and community about all things South Lakes High School. 

Check out what's new this week on the first ever SLHS podcast "The Lakes" - available on Apple, Spotify, or Amazon Podcasts. 

Download the FCPS App Today!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

With the app, you can:

• View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
• Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
• Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
• Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
• Access key links. Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.

No need to log in, just download and go! Learn more about the FCPS mobile app.

New ParentVUE App

New ParentVUE Mobile App Launching July 28

On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app will become available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.

In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.

Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.

New Student ID Cards and Bus Navigation System

New Student ID Cards Coming This Fall 

This fall, every FCPS student will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a division-wide effort to modernize school transportation, improve communication with families, and strengthen student safety while traveling to and from school. 

Every student who rides the school bus will need to tap on and tap off the bus every day using their new student ID card. Families can help by reinforcing this new habit with their child.

All students at our school will need to wear their student ID cards throughout the school day. We will be handing out the new student ID cards the first few weeks of school. More details will be shared soon.

Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.

Back-to-School Immunization Requirements

Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:

1. Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
2. If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
3. Request records from your health care provider. Some may charge for copies.

Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date. 

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th Graders

Several immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grades. 

• All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 
• To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
• To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
• To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 and 12, but can be given as early as 9 years old. 
• As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
• All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. 
• To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.

As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time. 

Where to Receive Immunizations

If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events. 

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.

If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster. 

Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.

Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekend clinics are available in July and August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.

Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.

Become Unskippable: Fentanyl and Overdoses

How to Talk With Your Teens So They Won’t Skip What You Say

Strong communication is key to supporting your student's mental health. FCPS provides guidance on how to have short, impactful conversations with your teen about difficult subjects such as fentanyl and overdoses.

Learn more about how to have conversations with your child in a way that will make you unskippable.

No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for High School Students

Mental Health Teletherapy 

Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide a safe space to address concerns such as: 

• Mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss.
• Anxiety, worry, fears.
• Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships.
• Academic stress.

Students can be referred by a guardian or designated school staff member. You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or by contacting an FCPS school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services. Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information

Mental Health Services

Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services

Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized youth mental health services designed to help your child succeed. The CSB has individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports that include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services, and other services. 

Contact CSB Entry and Referral to get started by calling 703-383-8500 or emailing csb@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

Additional Mental Health Resources

FCPS has resources available to support your child’s mental health. During after-school hours, parents and students who need additional support can use the 988 Lifeline to get free, confidential guidance from trained crisis counselors on how to best help someone experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis. You can call or text the number. 

Recent reports have shared an 11% drop in suicides among young people since the rollout of 988. Please note, the hotline is not only for those experiencing suicidal ideation (or thoughts), it is also available for any mental health or substance abuse-related crisis and those with a loved one experiencing those crises or suicidal thoughts. 

And as always, if your concern is an emergency, you should call 911.