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Upcoming Events
Oct. 12: School Planning Day; Student Holiday
Oct. 13: CollaBOOret, 7pm, PJ Skidoos
Oct. 15: PTSA After School Fundraiser @ FHS
Oct. 16: Improv Competition, 7pm, Auditorium
Oct. 18: College Fair, 4 to 6pm, Eagle Bank Arena
October 19: Virtual College & Postsecondary Fair
Oct. 23: Pyramid Night
Oct. 29: Band/Orchestra Masquerade Concert, 7pm, Auditorium
October 30: Last Day of Q1; 2HR Early Release
Nov. 3: Election Day Fundraiser @ Daniel's Run
May 1: PROM! Info TBA
June 2: GRADUATION! 8:30am, Stalnaker Stadium
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Included in this issue:
Staff Spotlight
- October is National Principals Month
Calendar Reminders
- National Bullying Prevention Month
- Disability History & Awareness Month
- Calendar Update: Eid al-Fitr Holiday now March 9
- Saturday School Info
Fairfax Lions Need to Know
- Superintendent Community Conversations
- Transportation Survey
- Immunization Events for FCPS Students
- National School Lunch Week
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
- Peer Tutors
- News from Student Services
- FAFSA Opening
- Moving On to Life Resource Fair
- Postsecondary Opportunities for HS Students
- Quick Links
October 9, 2026
Dear Fairfax Families,
We have some incredible news to celebrate this week! The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) officially released its School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF) ratings, and Fairfax High School is thrilled to announce that we have been named a DISTINGUISHED school for the second year in a row.
Not only did we maintain our Distinguished rating, but our overall score grew by an additional two points over last year. We were particularly excited to see the hard work of our students and staff pay off in our "passion push" focus areas within the 3E Domain (Enrolled, Employed and/or Enlisted). This data point in particular highlights that our Lions are not just crossing the graduation stage, but are graduating with a concrete, meaningful post-secondary plan for their futures. Congratulations to our entire school community—this recognition belongs to all of us!
Academic Supports for Student Success
Now that progress reports have been distributed, we want to ensure every family knows how to access the wide variety of academic support options available at Fairfax High School. We are committed to giving every Lion the tools, time, and assistance they need to thrive:
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Lion Time: On Gray Days, students can make a plan to visit two classes where they need extra help by securing a pass from their teacher ahead of time. Lion Time is strategically built into our schedule to allow students dedicated time to relearn, redo, retake, accelerate, and demonstrate mastery in a variety of ways.
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Late Bus Days & The Learning Lounge: Every Wednesday and Thursday, FHS provides late buses to support students attending after-school activities, clubs, athletics, or our Learning Lounge. The Learning Lounge is a fantastic space to receive targeted support across all content areas, with both teachers and peer tutors available to help students meet their academic goals.
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Saturday School: Saturday School is open for students who want a quiet, supportive environment to catch up on assignments, study, or receive assistance. Students can report directly to the Library from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. No advance sign-up is required (please note: transportation is on your own).
Upcoming October Dates: October 10, 17, 24, and 31.
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Peer Tutors: Students can now request one-on-one academic support from trained peer tutors across a variety of subjects. Our peer tutors are 10th–12th graders with strong academic backgrounds who volunteer their time to help fellow Lions grow. Meetings can be scheduled during Lion Time or after school. (Note: Response times may vary based on request volume and tutor availability). Students can submit a request using the student form located on Schoology (only students can access the form).
Thank you for your ongoing partnership, trust, and commitment to our school community. Enjoy the crisp fall weather and have a PAWSome weekend.
There is no "ROAR" without all of us working together!
Warmly,
Staff Spotlight
October is National Principals Month
October is National School Principals Month. At FCPS, we honor all our school Principals and Administrators, and recognize their hard work.
Here at Fairfax High School, we are fortunate to have such a strong, supportive Administrative team that works hard and advocates for all of us EVERY day.
Dr. Georgina Aye, Principal, High School
Sean Miller, Assistant Principal
Administrator for Freshmen Academy (Class of 2030)
Brian Plancich, Assistant Principal
Administrator for students in Grade 10 (Class of 2029)
Berneatta Barnes, Assistant Principal
Administrator Grade 11 (Class of 2028)
Troy Ketch, Assistant Principal
Administrator Grade 12 (Class of 2027)
Andrea Cook, Administrator, Fairfax Academy
Supervisor for CTE, Fairfax Academy, and Fine Arts
Megan Ciccarello, Assistant Principal
Supervisor for Special Education
Ashley Anderson, Director, Student Services
Nancy Melnick, Director, Student Activities
Thank you for all you do for our students and school community!
🗓️Calendar Reminders
National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. To help develop a common understanding of Bullying, below is the FCPS definition.
Bullying in Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”
For more information on how FCPS handles a bullying situation please visit the FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention webpage. Our goal is to ensure all students feel safe and welcome at school. If you have questions and/or concerns about something that is going on at school, please contact the front office so that they can support you and most importantly your student.
Disability History and Awareness Month
In Virginia during October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community.
Calendar Update: Eid al-Fitr Holiday March 9 📆
Calendar Change: Eid al-Fitr
FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place.
Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff.
Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place on this day.
A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings.
Saturday School will be held Oct 10
Saturday School is held from 9am to 12pm in the Library. Breakfast will be available. No transportation provided. Enter at Door 1 and sign in at the security desk.
See the dates below for first semester. Keep an eye on this space for any changes or updates!
First Semester Dates:
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Oct 10
Oct 17
Oct 24
First Quarter ends Oct 30
Oct 31
Nov 7
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Nov 14
Nov 21
Dec 5
Dec 12
Jan 9
Jan 23
Second Quarter ends Jan 28
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Superintendent Community Conversations 🎤
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Tuesday, December 1, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
(note date change)
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
Transportation Survey
Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School
The FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are asking families to share their experiences traveling to and from their child’s school. The feedback will help inform the Fairfax County School Board’s annual assessment of traffic and pedestrian safety near schools.
The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss-and-ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns.
Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15.
Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.
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 available.
National School Lunch Week, Oct. 12-16
Celebrating the Power of School Lunches
Multiple studies show that school lunches are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school lunches consume more fruit, vegetables, and fiber than their peers.
This National School Lunch Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) reminds families that they are dedicated to providing delicious, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.
Want to know what’s for breakfast or lunch? View the Nutrition Services menus.
Fairfax Lions Nice to Know:
Peer Tutors
At Fairfax High School, students can now submit requests for help from peer tutors in a variety of content areas.
Peer tutors are students in grades 10-12 with specific academic strengths who volunteer their time to help other students grow their skills. Students may request to meet with a tutor during Lion Time or after school. Please know that request response times may vary depending on the number of requests received and peer tutor availability. The peer tutor request form can be found at https://fcps.click/peertutor (only students can access the form).
Questions, email Systems of Support Advisor, Dr. Mason Phillips, at mphillips1@fcps.edu.
News from Student Services
Signs of Suicide Screener
All middle and high schools in FCPS teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. All schools use an evidence-based program called Signs of Suicide (SOS). The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help.
SOS has been used by thousands of schools over the past few decades. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.
Through the program, students learn:
- that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help
- how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friendt
- to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend
- who they can turn to at school for help, if they need it
We encourage you to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful
resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. If you would
like to view the SOS lesson materials, we will be hosting a viewing session on
Monday, November 2nd during the Roar Roundup from 10 to 10:30 am in the Student
Services Conference Room. You can also view this parent video or visit this site to learn
more about how you can continue this important conversation at home.
At Fairfax High School, the SOS lesson and accompanying screening
will occur, November 9 to November 12 during PE classes for 9th graders and US VA History classes for 11th graders.
We recognize that you may have opted your child
out of this program through the Parent Digital Consent tool (PDC). If you did not
complete an opt out using the PDC and would still like to do so you can opt
your child out of this lesson by Friday, November 6, 2026.Please use this form (https://forms.gle/Pj43ponzP77uAakT8 to do so.
Questions, please contact your student’s counselor.
AP Opt Outs
As part of the FCPS Approved Budget, the fees for the first six AP/IB tests taken for courses in which students are enrolled for high school credit will be paid for by FCPS. Students taking AP tests without enrolling in the corresponding FCPS course are responsible for the test fee(s).
FCPS encourages all students to take AP/IB tests for courses in which they are enrolled. However, students will have the opportunity to opt out of the test(s) by filling out an Opt Out form to be provided by the school. To assist in the decision-making process, students will be provided a report with their previous tests and current AP/IB course enrollment on Friday, October 9 during Lion Time.
Regardless of FCPS opt out decision, students enrolled in any AP course must register for their associated AP test(s) in AP Classroom by October 30th. Instructions for this process have been provided by AP classroom teachers. Students who register after this date may incur a $40 late registration fee. Students who do not register by March 12th will not be able to take the exam(s) and applicable assessed exam fees will not be refunded.
AP students must make Opt Out decisions by October 30th. Student accounts will be billed in December for tests that exceed the six FCPS-funded tests. The nonrefundable fees are $99 per AP exam.
2027 AP Testing - Reference the College Board AP exam dates site for dates of AP Exams.
College Fair
Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.
Location: Eagle Bank Arena at George Mason University (4500 Patriot Cir, Fairfax, VA 22030)
The College Fair is designed to connect high school students with opportunities in postsecondary education. It is one of the largest College Fairs in the region. It features 200 colleges and universities from around the nation and representatives from the U.S. Service Academies. Each year the College Fair draws thousands of students and their families.
Virtual Postsecondary Night
Dates: Monday, October 19, 2026
Times: Sessions are at 5, 6, and 7 p.m.
A virtual event featuring live and pre-recorded sessions!
Join us and learn how to be better prepared for the next chapter of your educational journey. Find events online. Prior registration is not required. All students and their families are welcome to participate in one or all of the virtual sessions. The virtual session links will be published one week before the start date.
FAFSA Opening
Federal Student Aid Form Open
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form allows you to be considered for federal student aid. In addition, states and colleges use FAFSA information to award their own grants, scholarships, and loans.
The 2027-28 FAFSA is now open.
Free Financial Aid and Scholarship Information Sessions
College Access Fairfax, in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, will present virtual information sessions on the financial aid process for post-secondary education and scholarship information.
Sessions include:
Click on a date to participate. Visit College Access Fairfax for more information
Moving On to Life Resource Fair
Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair
Students with disabilities and their families are invited to attend the Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair, which will be held Thursday, November 19, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., in the cafeteria at Fairfax High School.
The fair is designed for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities who will need continuing support after leaving FCPS. It is an opportunity to connect with agency and vendor representatives to gather information about services for adults in need of ongoing support.
The exhibitor fair includes information on supported employment options, day support programs, recreation/leisure activities, residential provider options, travel training supports, advocacy, and funding.
Agency representatives will be available to share information on adult service providers, employment and training programs, Medicaid, Social Security, and residential options. Register to attend the resource fair.
Postsecondary Opportunities for HS Students
Preparing for Life After High School
To help Virginia students get ready for college, job training, or entry-level work, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SHEV) have developed resources and gathered important information to share with Virginia families.
Middle and high school students and families can learn more about preparing for college or a career by visiting the following websites:
Each site contains information on preparing, applying, and paying for college, as well as information on degree options and labor market career projections.
Quick Links
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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:
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