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Useful Links/Information

FCHS Bell Schedule

Schoology

SIS ParentVUE

FCPS School Year Calendar

Important Dates 12/3 - Academic Resource Presentation (6:15 pm, Virtual, see announcement/zoom link below) 12/5-12/7 - FCHS Spotlight Theatre Presents Between the Lines (see announcement below) 12/10 - FCHS Band Winter Concert (7:00 pm, Auditorium) 12/11 - FCHS Orchestra & Guitar Winter Concert (7:00 pm, Auditorium) 12/22-1/2 - Winter Break

Attendance Matters!

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR TEEN HAVE GOOD ATTENDANCE?

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation.
• Help your teenage maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep without distractions from phones and video games.
• Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day or in the morning or at the end of the school day so they don't miss a full day of school.
• Don’t let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick. Call the school to report that your child is sick.
• Find out if your child feels engaged by his/her classes and feels safe from bullies and other threats. Make sure he or she is not missing class because of behavioral issues and school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, work with your school.
• Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors if necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
• Stay on top of your teen’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
• Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs and after school tutoring, if needed.

Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your teenager behind in school.  

We continue to remind parents and legal guardians that if your child has accumulated 10 or more missed days of school, they need to attend the after-school sessions to make up the time and catch up on their assignments.

• Students should report to the main office and ask for the Deans to check in for attendance recovery (IPFIT). The program runs from Wednesday to Thursday, 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM. On Wednesday, transportation is provided, but on Thursday, students must arrange their own transportation.

From the Spotlight Theatre Company

Come see Falls Church Spotlight Theatre Company's production of Between the Lines: A New Musical!

Performances are December 5th & 6th at 7:00 PM and December 7th at 3:00 PM.

Tickets can be found here 

Between the Lines is a story of a girl who is adjusting to a new school and new life in her junior year. When it isn't going well, she finds herself sucked into a children's fairytale book - figuratively and literally. Can she find her way back to a better reality?

FCHS Theatre ★ Jags Against Hunger 

This week! Show your Jaguar Pantry donation confirmation email at concessions, or donate in person with items or cash, to get free popcorn.

Every contribution helps FCHS students thrive.

Donate now -> PTSA Jaguar Pantry  Buy Tickets -> Between the Lines

Graduation Status Now Available in ParentVUE & StudentVUE

A new Graduation Status section is now available in ParentVUE and StudentVUE. The Graduation Status is a tool that helps parents and students monitor and track their progress in meeting graduation requirements. This feature includes progress towards the Standard or Advanced Studies diploma for high school students and middle school students who have enrolled in one or more high school courses. This new graduation status section is available in addition to the course history and unofficial transcript options in ParentVUE and StudentVUE. To view the graduation status section, please take the following steps:

1. Login to your SIS ParentVUE Account
2. Go to “Course History” for your middle or high school student
3. Go to “Graduation Status” and toggle “on” 

For questions about graduation requirements, please contact your school counselor. Additional information about ParentVUE is available on the following website:  https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/student-information-system-sis-fcps/sis-parent-account-overview 

Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener last month, providing information on skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported. 

Individual student SEL Screener results will be available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE the week of November 17. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be shared by our school.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to school staff.

Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS. 

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.

Volunteer FCPS Helps Community Members Connect With Schools

The new volunteer management system, Volunteer FCPS, allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities at our school or across the school district. 

Volunteer FCPS is how FCPS provides a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. Anyone interested in volunteering with FCPS must:

• Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS. 
• Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS. 
• Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk on EVERY visit – no exceptions.  

Recent Updates to Volunteer Opportunity LevelsDue to the overwhelming response, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities. ​​​​​​​

Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a comprehensive background check that includes fingerprinting). 

To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal confirmation that you have no history of violent felonies, physical or sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude (dishonesty, fraud, things that are immoral by society’s standards).

Visit the Volunteer FCPS website to complete a volunteer orientation. View Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the volunteer levels.

Action Required! Update Your Permission for Google Tools

Google recently made changes to how educational applications are managed and accessed on the Chrome Browser and Chromebooks. Many applications are moving from the Chrome Web Store to the Google Play Store. 

To ensure your student(s) can continue accessing all approved instructional tools, FCPS has updated its digital consent platform to include both the Chrome Web Store and the Google Play Store.

Please review and provide your consent for these two new options through our easy-to-use Parent Digital Consent system:

• Additional Google Services – Chrome Web Store
• Additional Google Services – Google Play Store

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting safe and effective digital learning experiences for all students. 

For questions or support, please visit FCPS’ Family Technology Resources page or open a ticket with our Technical Support desk.

Manage Your Child’s Screen Time on FCPS Devices

FCPS offers the Lightspeed Parent Portal to help you manage screen time on your child's FCPS device at home. With a Parent Portal account, you can control your child’s access to YouTube and pause website browsing during after-school hours.Please note that parent controls are active only during after-school hours, defined as Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. (including student holidays) and all day Saturday and Sunday. 

If you haven't signed up for the portal yet, use the link at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email. To learn more, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website.

BAND AIDES: Citrus Sale Fundraiser Falls Church High School Band's annual Citrus Sale fundraiser is now open through December 15. Order fruits and other goodies to be shipped directly to your door. The website also has an option for donations in lieu of or in addition to regular orders. Please share the link with friends, family, and neighbors.

Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

No-Cost Mental Online Therapy for All High School Students

Is your student experiencing anxiety, behavior changes, or challenges with peer and family relationships? Do they seem withdrawn or uninterested in their usual hobbies? 

Parents/caregivers can refer their children for free weekly therapy with a licensed therapist through Hazel Health. Visit the FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for information about this service.

Student Bus Passes Offer Free Transportation

All Fairfax County middle and high school students can get a Student Bus Pass SmarTrip card to ride the Fairfax Connector and Fairfax CUE buses for free! With the pass, fares are free from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, all year. Learn more about the Student Pass and access the application, which can be returned to the front office.

Additionally, our students can ride Metrobus for free. Visit the Fairfax County website for details and approved Metrobus routes and to access the application. 

Children 12 and younger ride for free on the Fairfax Connector with a paying adult.

Bus Discount Program for Adults

Fairfax Connector’s Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP) provides 50% off fares for low-income residents ages 18-65. Learn more about the TRIP program and how to apply.

PTSA Particulars

The Falls Church HS PTSA supports the entire FCHS community and encourages everyone to be involved. Visit our website to learn more.

1. Become a member today
2. Join our active private Facebook group
3. Read the weekly JagMail emails we send using FCPS News You Choose
4. Become a