Principal Updates - December 15

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Important Dates

December 16 - Brain Breaks (11th/12th Grade)

December 22 - January 2 - No School, Winter Break

January 5 - Student Registration Begins for 2026-27 school year (Rising 12th Grade)

January 6 - Religious & Cultural Observance Day, Three Kings Day; Epiphany; ILT Meeting

January 7 - Religious & Cultural Observance Day, Orthodox Christmas

January 8 - Curriculum Night

January 19 - No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; Orthodox Epiphany

January 28 - End of 2nd Quarter; 2 Hr. Early Release

January 29 - Student Holiday, Staff Development Day

January 30 - Student Holiday, Teacher Workday

The FCPS School Year Calendars are available below by school year for your planning purposes.

Attendance Spotlight

Reporting Student Absences

We are committed to partnering with families to promote positive attendance habits. Whenever your child is unable to attend school, please let us know. Reporting absences helps our staff support students and connect them with resources they may need.

Full-day absences can be reported in SIS ParentVUE. Additional ways to report student absences may be found on the Oakton HS website.

Parents may monitor their child’s attendance records in SIS ParentVUE.

Attendance Codes in SIS ParentVUE Explained

Attendance codes in SIS ParentVUE are assigned by school staff to better identify the reasons behind student absences. This allows us to respond thoughtfully and provide appropriate support. Visit the FCPS Attendance Policy webpage to learn more about the codes.

When Your Child Is Sick

It is also important to keep your child home when they are sick. The Can My Child Go to School? webpage provides helpful recommendations on when to keep your child home.

For instance, a child should attend school if they have cold symptoms, as long as they are feeling like they can participate in school activities. However, if they have severe, uncontrolled, or rapid coughing; wheezing; or difficulty breathing, definitely keep them home and contact your health care provider.

General Information

Winter Break

Oakton High School will be closed for winter break from December 22 - January 2. During this time, the main office will be closed. We will be happy to work with you prior to winter break or immediately upon our return on January 5, 2026.

January 5-6

So that all students may fully enjoy, relax, and recharge over winter break, January 5-6 no assignments can be due nor assessments given. New material may be covered and assignments can be given during the class period for students to complete and work on.

Winter Resources for Families

A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.

Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!

We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during the upcoming winter break and on snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.

Curriculum Night

You are invited to Oakton High School’s Curriculum Night!

Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm, with a snow date of Tuesday, January 27.

Please see the flyer above and the Oakton HS website for additional information on the event.

We hope to see you there!

Shape Your Story: Course Selection for Middle and High School Students

Beginning in January 2026, students will meet with their counselors to discuss course selection for next year. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to actively participate in this important process.

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 may contact their student’s school counselor with questions.

Graduation Requirements and Planning

FCPS’ Graduation Requirements and Course Planning page provides information that students and families can preview to make informed decisions while planning for success in high school and beyond. For additional support in tracking these requirements, families can now log into ParentVUE to monitor their student's progress toward graduation.

Reviewing the Program of Studies may also be helpful. Be sure to refer to our course catalog and course selection information.

Senior Deadline for X2VOL Service-Learning Hours

All Service-Learning Hours for Seniors must be submitted no later than April 24^th 2026 to be approved and considered for graduation recognition and awards. FCPS does not have a Service- Learning graduation requirement. Seniors can earn special recognition and distinguishments for their approved hours of Service-Learning. Please see the OHS Service Learning website for more information.

Partners for Safe Teen Driving Presentation

All students enrolled in Classroom Driver Education during the 2025-2026 school year must attend an in-person Partners for Safe Teen Driving (PSTD). The presentation is connected to successful classroom instruction and must be completed to receive a DEC-District 8 card (pink card). The parent-teen traffic safety presentation (PSTD) will be offered multiple times during the school year at Oakton. Students and their parents/guardians should plan to attend the presentation at Oakton at your earliest convenience.

All PSTDs begin promptly. Late admission will not be allowed.

2025-2026 Remaining Dates:

January 12, 2026 6:30-8:00pm
March 16, 2026 6:30-8:00pm
May 18, 2026 6:30-8:00pm

These sessions are intended for Sophomores. Juniors and Seniors can attend a session through Adult and Community Education.

PSTD nights are not available to freshmen.

Please find more information about driver education for parents by accessing this flyer.

Student Services

Student Services Newsletter

Happy December Cougar Families! Check out Student Services December newsletter that highlights:

Underclassmen Academic Awards Celebration
Student Ambassadors Club
Depression Screening for Juniors
December Brain Breaks
Upcoming Course Registration Information for the 2026-2027 school year.

2026 FCPS Gap Year Fair

FCPS’ School Counseling Services and Go Overseas are co-hosting the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at George C. Marshall High School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This event is for high school students and parents who are interested in learning more about the growing array of gap year opportunities. The evening will begin with a presentation in the auditorium from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Immediately following, the program fair will be held in the cafeteria from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with representatives from over 30 programs offering gap year opportunities. Students and their families are encouraged to meet the representatives and learn about the variety of experiences available.

Students are encouraged to pre-register for this event. For more information, visit: USA Gap Year Fairs.

**In the event of inclement weather on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The Gap Year Fair will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the same time and location.

Tutoring Resources for Families

Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.

FCPS also partners 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.

Class Schedule Change Requests

Timeline for Schedule Changes

November 10 - March 27: Any student requesting a schedule change will need to fill out the schedule change request form, with permission from parent, student, teacher, school counselor, and administrator. If approved by the administration, schedule changes will only be processed if there is space available.
April 7 - June 17: There will not be any schedule changes, regardless of space availability. This date aligns with the last day of the 3rd Quarter.

For any questions you may have, contact your child’s school counselor.

Health and Wellness Updates