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Fairfax County Public Schools entered its sixth week of the 2025-26 school year with new safety measures, plans for a recently acquired high school and a packed schedule of community events.

At Glasgow Middle School, students Owen, DeAnnie, Jared, Alex, Willow and Isla discussed the introduction of weapons-detection systems and the importance of feeling secure enough to concentrate on learning. Principal Lisa Barrow said the systems can give students peace of mind as they enter school, while Chief of Safety and Security Brian Lambert noted that morning screenings also create opportunities for staff to greet every student.

FCPS has also become the first Virginia school division to work with Virginia State Police on Rap Back, a continuous background-check system that sends real-time alerts about criminal activity involving employees, independent contractors and Level 3 volunteers. More than 32,000 people had enrolled, with the division seeking to complete enrollment by the end of October. The program could help establish a model for protecting Virginia’s 1.3 million public-school students.

New high school enters naming process

After acquiring a new high school in western Fairfax County in early September, FCPS is beginning a community-centered naming process under Policy and Regulation 8170.

The School Board plans an October 7 work session on the school’s programming and possible boundary status. The school will appear as new business at the board’s October 9 meeting, beginning a one-month public-comment period. FCPS expects to release details about submitting names through a public hearing, community meeting and survey.

Regional superintendents also met at National Harbor on September 15 to discuss cooperation and support for public education.

That evening, Woodlawn Elementary School hosted the school year’s first Community Conversation. Families and residents raised questions about homework policy, federal funding, handwriting and textbooks.

Additional conversations were scheduled for:

  • September 29, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at McNair Upper Elementary School.
  • October 3, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Annandale Terrace Elementary School.
  • December 5, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Churchill Road Elementary School.
  • December 9, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School.
  • December 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Bull Run Elementary School.

The day concluded with a South Lakes High School field hockey game against Oakton High School.

Longfellow students build academic and lifesaving skills

A September 16 visit to Longfellow Middle School highlighted classroom reflection, athletics and college preparation.

In Nora Oney’s seventh-grade English class, students reviewed teacher feedback, identified strengths in a recent assignment and set goals for their next piece of writing. They will use the same reflection sheet throughout the year to track their reading and writing development.

Eighth graders practiced archery with health and physical education teacher Todd White, while seventh graders learned to pitch golf balls with wedges. Teacher Katherine Shapiro described the planning required to conduct archery and golf lessons safely. Longfellow’s physical education staff also trains other FCPS employees to teach archery.

The school partners with the nonprofit Gwyneth’s Gift each spring to teach hands-only CPR. That instruction recently proved critical when three Longfellow students attended a scouting mountain-bike event with one student’s father. After the father experienced a cardiac emergency, the students used techniques learned at school to save his life.

In an AVID class taught by Elaina Bafaro, students were researching universities as part of the program’s college-preparation work.

Later that day, a visit to Thomas Jefferson Library marked National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Fairfax County library cards provide access not only to books but also artwork, thermal cameras, board games, Launchpads and other materials. Cardholders can borrow as many as 50 items, and the county system includes 14 community libraries and eight regional branches.

Alumni honored at Wolf Trap

At a September 17 Northern Virginia Technology Council meeting, CrowdStrike co-founder Dmitri Alperovitch discussed changes in cybersecurity and their effects on communities. The conversation also addressed how education can prepare students for opportunities and challenges in technology.

That evening, the fourth annual Educate Fairfax Alumni Hall of Fame ceremony at Wolf Trap recognized 11 graduates:

  • Amir Abu-El-Hawa, Annandale High School, 2005 — politics, government and military.
  • Jim Acosta, Annandale High School, 1989 — news and entertainment.
  • Maureen Boland, West Springfield High School, 1986 — education and FCPS leadership.
  • Michele Bolos, West Springfield High School, 1986 — business and nonprofit leadership.
  • Arun Gupta, Lake Braddock Secondary School, 1987 — business and nonprofit leadership.
  • Mark Holbrook, Mount Vernon High School, 1990 — education and FCPS leadership.
  • Meredith Hovan, Chantilly High School, 1997 — philanthropy.
  • Jennifer Montone, Robinson Secondary School, 1995 — news and entertainment.
  • Dennis Scarborough, Annandale High School, 1985 — politics, government and military.
  • Philip Wilkerson, Mount Vernon High School, 2003 — education and leadership.
  • Jennifer Williamson, Fairfax High School, 1990 — business, education and FCPS leadership.

The honorees’ careers span public service, education, nonprofit work, business, journalism, national security and philanthropy.

Sponsors included Apple Federal Credit Union, Burke & Herbert Bank, Cigna Healthcare, Cox Business, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, Guernsey Inc., I-66 Express Mobility Partners, Kaiser Permanente, Moseley Architects, Ricoh USA and Samaha Associates.

Employees and families raise budget concerns

Franconia Elementary School hosted the fall’s first Employee Conversation on September 18. Staff members discussed federal funding, the budget and class sizes.

More employee sessions were scheduled for September 30 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., November 18 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and December 10 from 6 to 8 p.m., with locations and other details to be announced through Employee News.

Back-to-school activities were also held at Annandale High School, Garfield Elementary School and Bull Run Elementary School. On September 19, Chantilly High School hosted Fairfax High School for varsity football, along with performances by student and junior community dancers and the marching band.

Weekend events spotlight inclusion, culture and education

A September 20 Special Needs Conference and Resource Fair at Northern Virginia Community College brought together families, educators and community partners. The event was hosted by the 7Q Foundation in partnership with All Needs Planning and connected with Goal 2 of the FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.

Later that morning, Providence Day and a back-to-school event at Marshall High School featured elected officials, county partners and the school’s cheer squad.

The Nottoway Tribe of Virginia Powwow followed that afternoon at the Surry Parks and Recreation Center near Richmond. Through dancing, drumming, crafts, demonstrations and food, the gathering presented the tribe’s history, living traditions and contributions. Its theme was Indigenous Resilience, emphasizing gratitude, cooperation and strength through community.

On September 21, the 17th annual Asha Jyothi 5K Fun Run/Walk took place at Fairfax Corner. Founded in 2003, the volunteer nonprofit supports education and health initiatives abroad and in Fairfax County. Its Educate-Innovate program has invested millions of dollars in local schools to expand STEM opportunities.

Electric school-bus fleet grows to 48

A solar and electric school-bus celebration at Louise Archer Elementary School marked the launch of an FCPS solar initiative and the arrival of 17 electric buses. The additions are expected to bring the division’s electric fleet to 48 vehicles by the end of 2025.

Both projects support the division’s Joint Environmental Task Force goals, which include improving school energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and preparing students to become sustainability leaders.

New boundary maps due in October

A Community Boundary Review meeting at Madison High School provided an update on the comprehensive review, explained how public feedback is influencing the work and outlined upcoming steps.

Revised draft maps incorporating comments gathered in the spring and input from the Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee were expected to appear in the Boundary Explorer Tool in October. FCPS scheduled a series of meetings to present the maps and collect more feedback:

  • October 13, 6:30-8 p.m., Robinson Secondary School — Centreville and Robinson pyramids.
  • October 14, 6:30-8 p.m., Herndon High School — South Lakes and Herndon pyramids.
  • October 15, 6:30-8 p.m., Langley High School — Oakton and Langley pyramids.
  • October 16, 6:30-8 p.m., McLean High School — Madison and McLean pyramids.
  • October 17, 6:30-8 p.m., Falls Church High School — Marshall and Falls Church pyramids.
  • October 21, 6:30-8 p.m., Annandale High School — Justice and Annandale pyramids.
  • October 22, 6:30-8 p.m., Hayfield Secondary School — South County and Hayfield pyramids.
  • October 24, 6:30-8 p.m., Mount Vernon High School — West Potomac and Mount Vernon pyramids.
  • October 27, 6:30-8 p.m., Fairfax High School — Woodson and Fairfax pyramids.
  • October 28, 6:30-8 p.m., Chantilly High School — Westfield and Chantilly pyramids.
  • October 29, 6:30-8 p.m., Lewis High School — Edison and Lewis pyramids.
  • October 30, 7-8:30 p.m., Irving Middle School — Lake Braddock and West Springfield pyramids.

Child care will be offered for in-person participants, with interpretation and translation available as needed.

Volunteer backlog prompts provisional approvals

FCPS launched Volunteer FCPS with the Samaritan platform on August 1 to modernize volunteer registration. High demand has since led to process changes.

All volunteers must register in the system before a principal can authorize them to begin. Level 3 volunteers are generally expected to complete fingerprinting before participating, but schools may grant provisional approval when background-check delays conflict with urgent needs.

Volunteers can use Fieldprint locations instead of traveling to Gatehouse or arranging virtual appointments. They must continue signing in at a school’s visitor kiosk for every activity and may contact their school’s volunteer point of contact for help.