Fairfax High School PTSA













Click to Join Fairfax PTSA!

Join the PTSA Board!

The Fairfax High School PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) is looking for parents to serve on the Board during the 2023 - 2024 school year.  Our goal is to have the Board reflect our school community and classrooms. Involvement is a big part of your student’s success and what better way than to be at the center!  You will be surrounded by community members who are engaged in all aspects of Fairfax High School.

Positions available include:  President, Vice President, Treasurer, Hospitality and Web Master. Meetings are currently on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Everyone welcome, no previous experience necessary.

Please contact the nominating committee at  Susan@skares.com  if you are interested or want to find out more information.



Why FHS PTSA? PTA ValuesCollaboration: We will work in partnership with a wide array of individuals and organizations to broaden and enhance our ability to serve and advocate for all children and families.Commitment: We are dedicated to children’s educational success, health, and well-being through strong family and community engagement, while remaining accountable to the principles upon which our association was founded.Diversity: We acknowledge the potential of everyone without regard, including but not limited to: age, culture, economic status, educational background, ethnicity, gender, geographic location, legal status, marital status, mental ability, national origin, organizational position, parental status, physical ability, political philosophy, race, religion, sexual orientation, and work experience.Respect: We value the individual contributions of members, employees, volunteers, and partners as we work collaboratively to achieve our association’s goals.Accountability: All members, employees, volunteers, and partners have a shared responsibility to align their efforts toward the achievement of our association’s strategic initiatives.
PTA's mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children. Every Child, One Voice

Mission

The Parent Teacher Student Association PTSA welcomes ALL parents to create a supportive community. The PTSA supports the ENTIRE school community, including students, staff, and parents. Help us continue to provide excellent programming and fund student activities and teacher grants - join the PTSA today.

National PTA Mission Statement & Values 

About Us

The Parent Teacher Student Association keeps you informed and involved at FHS! Membership dues directly support FHS students and teachers, funding school functions like guest speakers, Teacher Appreciation and student scholarships and awards. Let us help you get connected with the things that your student enjoys and build a supportive community.Join us at PTSA meetings the 3rd Tuesday of the month to add to the conversation, hear valuable updates and a report from our principal.All parents can get involved at Fairfax. Volunteer opportunities are year-round, daytime, evenings and weekends!Fairfax PTSA is a 501(c)(3) organization so your donation is tax deductible.

Click HERE for 2022 - 2023 PTSA Meeting Schedule

UPCOMING PTSA & FHS EVENTS 

 

 

PTSA Meeting

All FHS parents are invited to the next PTSA meeting, March 21 from 7-8pm in the FHS Library. Hear all the exciting updates from this month and help plan the rest of the semester!



ANG Meeting Tomorrow Night: ZOOM Call


The All Night Grad Meeting will NOT be at the high school this month. Senior and Junior parents are encouraged to zoom in on Wednesday, March 22 at 7pm. Graduation is just 2 1/2 months away!  For those not aware, the All Night Grad celebration will be held at the St. James on the night of graduation and is open to all seniors.  It is a 30+ year tradition, hosted by senior parents with support from the PTSA and is a great way to celebrate your seniors with their classmates in a safe environment.  For more information, see  https://www.fairfaxptsa.org/about-all-night-grad .


Join the All Night Grad Zoom Meeting tomorrow at 7pm-

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81673461454


This is an important call/meeting!  The big fundraising portion of the year is winding down and we're getting into the details of the party.  We need volunteers.  Take a look at the sign ups and pick your favorite or be prepared on Wednesday to ask questions so that you pick what's right for you.  

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EA9A62FA7F58-allnight


ANG Tickets Are ON SALE:   https://fairfaxhs.memberhub.com/store/items/499302 Purchase your student’s ticket before the price goes up! If we have money in the bank now we can plan for more fun activities on June 7- don’t wait!


Senior Yard Signs Are ON SALE: 

Double Package: https://fairfaxhs.memberhub.com/store/items/499060 Other ticket/yard

sign/donation packages are available on  https://fairfaxhs.memberhub.com/store .




Parent and Student Volunteers needed April 14 and 15

Each year the Northern Virginia International Plastic Modelers Society holds their Modelers Classic at FHS. The All Night Grad Committee provides concessions to fundraise for the Class of ’23 celebration- this is the last fundraiser of the year! You can help in 2 ways:


1) Donate food and beverage items to be sold at the event and/or


2) Volunteer to setup concessions and assist vendors on the 4/14 school holiday, staff the concessions stand on Saturday 4/15 and break down/clean up after the event.


Sign up here to support our FHS seniors! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D48A4AC2AA02-2023 Please drop off donations (labeled ANG!) in the front office the week of 4/10-4/14, delivering fresh foods Friday afternoon between 3-5 pm if possible. Any unsold packaged snacks will be used by our counselors for students during Wellness Week April 24-28! Thank you for your time and support of All Night Grad ’23!


Parent Volunteers Needed

Fairfax High School is seeking parent volunteers to help proctor the AP exams being administered May 1-18 th . We have many opportunities available to give our students a great exam session. Email or sign up for a time you can work during the school day even if it’s not the whole session. Please note that you cannot proctor an AP exam that your student is scheduled to take and you cannot be in the same room with any family member. If you have any questions, please email Leslie Trieu at latrieu@fcps.edu . https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A44ABA92AA0FE3-fhsaptesting1



FCPS-FCPD Youth Substance Use Presentation 3/21 at 10am

FCPS is dedicated to providing parents and community members with the most accurate and up-to- date information on youth substance use, prevention, addiction, interventions and available supports. Please join us and our partners from the Fairfax County Police Department and Community Services Board as we discuss these topics as well as the ongoing opioid crisis. 

Attendees will walk away with an understanding of:

 Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid.

 What you can do as a caregiver.

 How to identify and connect with community resources.

A virtual presentation in partnership with FCPS Parent Resource Center will be held on Tues, March 21 from 10:00-11:30am. All sessions are for adults only.



Asian Festival on Main 2023

FHS families are invited to attend the Asian Festival on Main 2023. This event will be held at Old Town Fairfax on May 21, 2023 from 12PM to 6PM. Student volunteers are also needed to support the festival, organized by Old Town Fairfax Business Association (nonprofit) and supported by Fairfax City. More information is available on our website  https://asianfestivalonmain.com or sign up to help here: https://asianfestivalonmain.com/getinvolved/#volunteers .



Upcoming events:


UPCOMING FHS EVENTS 

 


Anonymous Tip Line Puts Safety First

If you or your child have concerns or information relating to feeling unsafe in any way at school, we encourage you to reach out to a member of the security or administrative team so that we may quickly address the issue. 

Students and parents may also utilize the FCPS Office of Safety and Security  safety tip line,  which you can access anonymously  online , by text (888-777; Keyword TIP FCPS), or by phone (571-423-2020).


If your tip is an emergency and immediate assistance is necessary, please dial 911.


Students, staff, and community members should report school safety issues such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, the existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Tip line users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.


Concerns that do not impact the safety of our schools—concerns or information about programs, regulations, or policies—can be sent to the  FCPS ombudsman online , at 571-423-4014, or  ombudsman@fcps.edu .



Important Information for Parents

Did you know that we are still in an opioid epidemic? Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others (NIH). 


The opioid epidemic began with an increase of prescribing these highly addictive medications in the early 1990s.The increase of these medications in society created the issues of overuse and misuse that contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis. In 2010, there was a similar influx of continual problematic opioid use. As a result of the rising opioid overdoses in the community, Fairfax County developed the Opioid Task Force in 2017. Fairfax County created the Substance Abuse Prevention Program in response to the need for prevention education in the schools in 2018. This effort placed Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists in each pyramid.


Opioid abuse is now the leading cause of unnatural death in Fairfax County according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.  It is in our community and often goes unnoticed. In 2017, over 100 deaths were attributed to opioid overdose in Fairfax County.  Over 1,200 opioid overdose deaths were reported in the State of Virginia. The 2021 data from the first and second quarters indicate there has been a slight decline since the COVID-19 pandemic. How does this affect our families? 


Prescriptions in the home are one of the primary ways children gain access to opioids (i.e. OxyContin), and other addictive and harmful medications, such as benzodiazepines (i.e. Xanax). You can make a beneficial impact on this issue by not saving medication for future use, properly disposing of unused medication, and not giving your prescriptions to children. You can access drug disposal boxes at designated locations throughout the county. For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.


Resources:

Safe Disposal Medication Sites:   https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/drug-disposal

Truth Initiative Student Opioid Story:  https://youtu.be/FiqPh38dtd4


Narcan Training (English & Spanish):  https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/heroin-opioids/revive

Fairfax County Youth Substance Use Trends: https://youtu.be/FiqPh38dtd4  

Rainbow Fentanyl:  https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2022/08/30/dea-warns-brightly-colored-fentanyl-used-target-young-americans  


For further information & support:

De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil), MSW

dsmcneil@fcps.edu

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

Welcome Parents! 2022.pptx

Fairfax City state of the schools report 

Every summer, Fairfax City Schools publishes the State of the Schools Report. Please click below to learn more about our school board, our schools and our community!


https://www.cityoffairfaxschools.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1662463&type=d&pREC_ID=1810804

2022stateoftheschools-2.pdf