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- PTSA Meeting: September 16, 7:00 pm (detail below)
- Holiday: September 21 (no school)
- Homecoming Football Game: September 25, 7:00 pm
- Homecoming Dance: September 26, 7:00 pm
Dear Jag Families,
As we work together to support a successful school year, please review these key academic and attendance updates:
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Academic & Attendance Recovery Program: Beginning September 23rd, the deans and the NHS tutors will be available every Wednesday and Thursday in Room 1081 (3:00–4:30 PM) to support our Jags in recovering their lost time and improving their academics. If you received a recent notification that your student is failing a class, please encourage them to use this resource or stay after with their classroom teacher. Quick reminder: Wednesday, we have late buses. However, on Thursday, the student must provide their own transportation.
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Doctor Appointments: Please bring your child to school before or after appointments whenever feasible. Full-day absences add up quickly and make it much harder to catch up.
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Family Vacations: Please plan travel around the school calendar. Vacations during instructional time are unexcused, and teachers are not required to offer makeup work or retakes for unexcused absences.
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Tardy Process at FC: Late-arriving students must stop at a JSOT Station or the Main Office to sign in. Teachers will log unregistered tardies as period absences.
We appreciate your support in keeping our Jags present, engaged, and on track!
FCHS Deans of Students,
Ileana Rios (A-Log) and Mrs. Martin (Loh-Z)
Jaguar students will participate in our Activities Fair on Wednesday, September 16, during 4th Period in the Main Gym. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about how to get involved at Falls Church through various programs, including Activities, Athletics, Clubs, Honor Societies, Performing Arts, Student Leadership, Student Government, and more!
Activities Fair Flyer
BUY TICKETS HERE: https://fcps.click/fchshomecoming2026
Get ready to GLOW CRAZY at the 2026 Falls Church High School Homecoming Dance! Join us on Saturday, September 26 from 7-10pm in the FCHS Cafeteria (Door 9) for a night of music, dancing, neon, and Jaguar spirit. Come ready to glow, dance, and celebrate with your friends! Students must present their school ID and valid ETIX ticket for entry. Outside guests must complete the required guest approval process prior to the dance. Students are expected to follow all FCPS and Falls Church High School rules and expectations while attending the event. Additional information regarding arrival, guest procedures, and dance expectations will be communicated to students before the event.
Join our first PTSA meeting of the school year!
We cordially invite you to attend our first PTSA meeting of the 2026-2027 school year! Please join us this Wednesday, August 16, at 7 p.m. in the FCHS Library. A virtual option is also available.
We'll hear from Principal Dr. Ben Nowak and meet our Teacher/Staff liaison John Bertha. In addition to reviewing our plan for the year, we will also host a “FCHS 101” discussion for new (or returning parents) who want to better understand the school and our community.
In-person in Falls Church HS Library - Enter through Door 7
Virtual meeting link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83392505104 Meeting ID 833 9250 5104
The Aug. 3 meeting minutes and presentation link can be found in our SY 2026-27 folder.
FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible.
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.
September is Attendance Awareness Month. Some of the ways parents can help their children create healthy routines and a habit of getting to school on time every day include:
- Setting a regular bedtime and morning routine. (Need help? Download this checklist in English or Spanish.)
- Laying out clothes and packing backpacks the night before.
- Talking to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning, if they seem anxious about going to school.
- Developing back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Avoiding medical appointments or extended trips when school is in session.
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.
Even though FCPS has launched a new bus navigation system, some aspects like the new FCPS My Ride mobile app are still in development. Families should still use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to track the location of their child’s bus. This app is still compatible with the new system.
FCPS will notify families and schools when the new app is ready to download and use. In the meantime, everyone should reinforce with students that they need to tap on and off the bus with their student ID cards.
Did you already download the new app? That’s okay! The new app is in the final stage of testing, so some features are not yet fully functional. At this time, you should refer to Here Comes the Bus for the most accurate information.
As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, the health and well-being of our students continues to be one of our priorities. Staying up to date with your child's flu vaccination helps:
- Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
- Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
- Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.
Upcoming Flu Shot Events
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will be taking 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.
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.
Learn more about SAT and PSAT assessments in FCPS
Make sure you are receiving the weekly FCHS News & Announcements email by signing up through News You Choose.
Join the Falls Church High School PTSA Facebook page and join the PTSA organization.
Instagram: @fallschurchhighschoolfcps
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