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Centreville Students, Families, and Community,
It was another fantastic week in Wildcat Nation! I want to take a moment to highlight the incredible support from our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), whose efforts benefit all areas of our school. I’m especially grateful for the bagels they provided to the staff this week and for the opportunity to join their meeting on Tuesday night. If you have not done so already, please consider joining the Centreville PTSA.
As I continue to immerse myself in the Centreville community, I am excited by the many accomplishments we're achieving. As I shared at the PTSA meeting on Tuesday, our success as a school will depend on delivering high-quality instruction to all students, fostering a positive and supportive school culture, and cultivating a collaborative environment. This week, I saw evidence of all three.
During a visit to the science classrooms, I had the chance to interact with students as they created population graphs, explained the role of ATP in transferring energy within cells, and prepared for their December SOL exams. The talent, dedication, and spirit of our students were on full display this week at the Winter Orchestra concert, the wrestling match, and the traditional Gingerbread Competition in our Student Government classes.
I also witnessed the collaborative efforts of our English 10 CT team as they worked through standards, aligned practices, and ensured consistency in developing students' skills.
We will finish out this calendar year with our Winter Spirit Week. Students are encouraged to dress for each day’s theme. Over the winter break, we want our students and staff to enjoy a mental wellness break and have time to safely connect with family and friends.
Thank you and Go Wildcats!
Dr. Erik Healey, Principal
Upcoming Events
December 16-20 - Winter Spirit Week
December 16 - CVHS Student & Staff Blood Drive - 8:15 AM - 2:15 PM, Room 116
December 19 - Winter Choral Concert - 7:00 PM, CVHS Auditorium
December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break
January 10 - Electives Fair, ROAR
January 14 - PTSA Meeting - 7:00 PM, CVHS Library
January 15 - Curriculum Night - 6:30 PM
December 16-20 - Winter Spirit Week: The CVHS Student Government Association is sponsoring our Winter Spirit Week during the last week of school prior to Winter Break. We encourage all our students and staff to participate.
- December 16: Pajamas and Stuffed Animal Day
- December 17: Adam Sandler Day - Dress like the actor
- December 18: “Pay it Forward” Day - Spread kindness and holiday cheer
- December 19: Ski Out - Wear white or your favorite ski gear. Please note ski masks are not allowed to be worn in school.
- December 20: Holiday Out - Wear your favorite holiday sweater or headgear
December 16 - CVHS Student & Staff Blood Drive: The CVHS Student Government Association (SGA) has partnered with INOVA to host a blood drive during school at Centreville. Students who wish to participate must be 16 years old, at least 110 lbs, and have a signed parent permission form. Permission forms can be picked up in the SGA Room (Room 116). Sign-ups begin on December 9 during all lunches. Please reach out to our SGA Sponsor, Ms. Cable, if you have any questions.
December 19 - Winter Choral Concert: CVHS Choirs will present their annual Winter Concert on Thursday, December 19 at 7pm in the CVHS Auditorium. The program features music from around the globe performed by our three curricular choirs: Centreville Chorale, Bella Voce, and Symphonic Choir, as well as our two student-led a cappella groups: Contempo and Madrigals. CVHS Choir alumni and current LMS & RRMS choral students are welcome on stage for the final song. Come kick off Winter Break with our thriving and growing choral department!
January 10 - Electives Fair: The Electives Fair for rising 10-12 grade students will be held on Friday, January 10. Students will be able to attend three informational sessions on electives of their choice. This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about courses of interest prior to course selection.
January 15 - Centreville High School Curriculum Night: Students and families are invited to attend Centreville’s Curriculum Night on January 15 from 6:30-8:30 PM. During our Open House format, staff representatives from each academic department will be available to answer any questions about our courses. We will also hold two special information sessions for Rising 9th Grade Course Registration Information (6:30-7:15 PM) and Rising 10th-12th Grade Course Registration Information (7:30-8:00 PM). Please reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions.
Wonderful Wildcats
Important Information
Senator Pekarsky’s High School Youth Leadership Program: This program gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to visit Richmond during the VA General Assembly's legislative session and learn about political leadership on the state level. Students will be able to observe committee hearings and floor debate, take a tour of the state capitol, participate in panels with lobbyists, advocates, and political leaders, as well meet lawmakers and their staff. This is a great opportunity for students considering a future career in government, politics, or law - but all are encouraged to apply. Please note that this is a free program and students will be provided with transportation, lodging, and meals at no cost to them or their families.
The application is open to junior and senior students until Tuesday, December 27th at 6:00pm. Spots are limited, so students should expect to be notified about their status following the closing of the application.
Here is the link to the application, which also includes more information about the program: https://forms.gle/LMoqa8q5iYAgHyXV6
For questions or concerns, please email Kat Thames, Chief of Staff for Senator Pekarsky: [email protected].
Student and Family Resources: Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Preparing for Winter Weather: Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made. 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, 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 for childcare if needed.
Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost: FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. 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.
Middle School Start Time Study: At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 AM.
The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. Some of the options would impact high school start times. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent. Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.
Community Meeting on Comprehensive Boundary Review: If you did not get a chance to attend one of the recent community meetings on the Comprehensive Boundary Review, please consider attending the final meeting in this first phase of the boundary review process. The Region 1 meeting will take place Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m.,in the Madison High School cafeteria. Register today. If you are unable to participate, stay tuned for details about virtual Community Boundary Review Meetings coming early next year. View FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information. Sign up for FCPS’ School Boundary Review newsletter as well.
News from Student Services
CVHS Academic Advising Timeline 2025-2026: It is hard to believe, but it is time for us to begin planning for the 2025-2026 school year. Below are key dates and information to support students and families through the course selection process:
January 6: Academic Advising materials available online
January 8-9: CVHS Core Days - Teachers will spend time during their classes to discuss course options with students based on their current course and what students need to consider as they make their decision.
January 10: Academic Advising Video & Electives Fair for students
January 15: CVHS Curriculum Night - 6:30-8:00 PM
January 16: Initial Course Entry - ROAR
As students choose courses, it is important to remind them to consider the following:
- Current academic strengths and habits.
- Graduation requirements (high school students).
- Interests and career and postsecondary goals.
- Personal well-being.
- Extracurricular activities and other commitments that may impact students’ time and energy.
School-life balance is an important consideration as students strive for academic and personal success. Families are welcome to contact their student’s school counselor with questions.
Graduation Requirements and Planning: Careful consideration is essential when planning next year's courses. We encourage our students and families to review the Graduation Requirements and Course Planning webpage to make informed decisions while planning for success in high school and beyond. Reviewing the Program of Studies may be helpful as well.
Academy Open Houses Begin in January: FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in January. A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses. Learn more and view the calendar of Academy Open Houses.
News from Student Activities
CVHS Alumni Highlighted by ESPN: An article from ESPN highlights our very own Kobie Turner who is a 2017 graduate of CVHS and mentions retired CVHS choir director, Lynne Babcock who inspired him to pursue music education. He plays football for the Los Angeles Rams and is exceling on and off the football field. Go Wildcats!!!
News from PTSA
PTSA Holiday Donation Drive: This is the last week to support the PTSA's Holiday Donation Drive! As a community we are a little under 10% of the way towards achieving our goal. To those who have already donated, THANK YOU! For those who have not had the opportunity yet, please consider giving to the PTSA program that most resonates with you! Please see the below flier for details.
PTSA Membership and store: https://centrevillehsptsa.givebacks.com/
PTSA Website: https://sites.google.com/view/cvhsptsa
6001 Union Mill Road, Clifton, VA 20124 | Main Office: 703.802.5400
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