Week of September 21

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In This Issue:



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Calendar



September 15-October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 21: Holiday | Yom Kippur (begins sundown 9/20 - sundown 9/21)

September 21: How Local Government Works: Insights from Supervisor Bierman and Mayor LeBlanc, 7:00 pm, Herndon Fortnightly Library

September 26: Grupo Fénix: Live Mariachi Performance for Hispanic Heritage Month, 11:00 am, Herndon Fortnightly Library

October 07: SAT School Day and PSAT/NMSQT 2026

October 12: Student Holiday (School Planning Day for Staff) | Indigenous Peoples’ Day 

October 18: FCPS College Fair, 4 to 6 p.m.,George Mason University Eagle Bank Arena

Herndon HS Calendar of Events

 

 

 



Events



Yom Kippur

Calendar Student Services

Monday September 21, is a holiday and schools and offices will be closed. See the complete school year calendar.


Vision and Hearing Screening

Vision and hearing screening will be held on the following dates for 10th graders during PE classes on September 22 and 23. If your child wears glasses, please be sure that glasses are at school on screening day.

The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation due to difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Prompt follow-up with your health care provider is recommended, as vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning.


Superintendent Community Conversations

Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.


Events at Herndon Library: October 2026

It's still warm out, but fall is on the way! Here is the October events flyer for everything happening at the Herndon Library. 

A reminder about a couple of fun things coming up:


SAT School Day and PSAT/NMSQT Testing Day

SAT School Day and PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) exams will be held at each high school on Wednesday, October 7, at no cost to families. The digital SAT School Day exam is offered to 12th grade students, and the digital PSAT/NMSQT exam is provided to 10th and 11th grade students.

Unscheduled Day for 9th Grade Students

Because of the testing, most 9th grade students will not have school on October 7. Students are encouraged to complete any missing work or assignments that need to be completed prior to the end of the first quarter. 

Ninth grade students with disabilities who receive low incidence special education services will still receive in-person instruction with a two-hour early release on October 7. 

Contact the Student Services team at your child’s school with any questions. Learn more about SAT and PSAT assessments in FCPS. 


Alcanza College Fair - Wednesday, October 14

https://events.admissions.gmu.edu/alcanza-registration/

Latinx College Fair held at George Mason University. We are taking a school bus there. No cost. Lunch is provided. See Mrs. Sotirchos in Student Services for a permission form.

This event was created to get students motivated and excited about their post-secondary plans. The program is open to all students in the DMV metro area to explore their educational opportunities beyond high school. Over 150 colleges from all over the nation will attend Alcanza, and we expect about 2,000 high school students to participate.


College Fair and Postsecondary Virtual Night 

Prepare for your child’s future at College Fair and Postsecondary Virtual Night. The annual FCPS College Fair will be held Sunday, October 18, from 4 to 6 p.m., at the George Mason University Eagle Bank Arena. Approximately 200 colleges and universities will be represented, including two- and four-year schools and U.S. Service Academies. 

The virtual postsecondary night event will be held on Monday, October 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. Both events will help students prepare for the next chapter of their educational journey. Learn more about the College Fair and postsecondary virtual event. 


Save the Date: HHS Homecoming Parade 2026

calendar

🎬 Theme: Hollywood Through the Years

📅 Parade Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026

🕘 Step-Off: 9:30 a.m.

🎥 Presented By: Town of Herndon Parks & Recreation Department

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Information



September: Attendance Awareness Month

Not Feeling Well? When Your Child Can Come to School

School is better when your child is here! But we do understand that some days, they may feel unwell. Learn more about which symptoms are ok at school (like sneezing or sniffles), and when your child should stay home (if they have a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, for example). 

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify our school so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with our public health nurse. Call us as soon as you know your child will be absent and, if possible, let us know how long you think they will be out.

If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to our front office. We are here for you! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.


Our Focus on Academic Growth and Excellence

The FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.

The third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful, including reading on level by third grade. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.


Review and Sign the SR&R by September 30

The FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. This year’s SR&R includes new Universal Grade Matrices, which are at-a-glance charts that make it easier for families to see behavior expectations and school responses for grades K-3, 4-8, and 9-12.

Families, please review the SR&R and discuss these expectations with your child. Be sure to sign the SR&R acknowledgement form by Wednesday, September 30, either by logging into SIS ParentVUE or signing and returning the Signature Sheet to your child’s school.  

Learn more by watching a short video about the SR&R (available in English and Spanish) or visiting the SR&R webpage.


2e Resources - Twice Exceptional Students

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are both gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities. 

Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook.

New information, including printable flyers, has been added under the heading Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS. 

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Resources



Immunization Events for FCPS Students

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. Additional immunization resources are also available.


Virtual Mental Health Services Now Available to Middle School Students

Since 2023, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to offer virtual mental health services to FCPS high school students. These services became available to students enrolled in all FCPS middle schools on July 1. 

Parents are encouraged to contact Hazel Health directly if they are seeking mental health support for their child, have noticed changes in their child’s mood or behavior, or are having difficulty connecting with a therapist in the community. 

To make it easier for families to access services, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to streamline the referral process. Parents can visit the Hazel Health in FCPS website to enroll their child in services or visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.


FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

  • Military Families Find a Community in FCPS
  • Receive FCPS This Week in Other Languages
  • Not Feeling Well? When Your Child Can Come to School

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today. 


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