Principal’s Message: March 2026

Dear Fairfield Families,

As we shake off the final days of winter—including our most recent "traditional" snow day on

March 3rd—it is a pleasure to see the campus of Fairfield Area High School beginning to bloom

with spring energy. March is always a pivotal month in the "Home of the Knights" We are

officially in the home stretch of the third marking period, and our students are working harder

than ever to reach their full potential.

�� Important Dates & Reminders

 April Makeup Day: Please note that due to our closure on March 3rd, our scheduled

makeup day will be Monday, April 6th.

 Scheduling for 26-27: Our counseling office is currently in the thick of scheduling for

the next academic year. Please review the course selection guides with your students to

ensure they are on the right path for their post-secondary goals.

 Testing: Over the next several months…HS students will be participating in SAT’s, AP

Tests, Keystone Tests, and Finals…communication will continue to flow to student

through Student Square.

�� Celebrating Our Knights

It’s been a busy season for our student body. From the upcoming performances of the High

School Musical on March 6 th and 7 th to the FFA Spirit Week, our students continue to prove that

being a " Knight "means striving for excellence in all arenas. A special congratulations to our Mason Dixon FFA members for their recent successes in regional competitions!

Go Knights!

Mr. Brian W. McDowell Principal, Fairfield Area High School

Would you like to take your family to HERSHEYPARK this year at a HUGE discount? If so, please remember to turn in your Hersheypark discount ticket order form and money to your school office by Tuesday, March 10th! (Note: Order form attached if needed.)

Fastnacht Celebration:

On Tuesday, February 17th, the foreign language club celebrated Fastnacht Day by selling fastnachts and hot drink varieties to their peers. 

One of the most exciting Fastnacht traditions is the famous “cutting of the ties.” Traditionally, women symbolically take over town halls and celebrate by cutting off the ties worn by men — a playful way of turning the tables for the day! 

We are wrapping up our winter sports postseason here at Fairfield and are proud of the accomplishments of our student-athletes.

Our independent bowler, Kaylee Borne, advanced all the way to the regional tournament. Our girls’ wrestler also qualified for and competed at her regional tournament. In swimming, our independent swimmer will compete at the PIAA State Championships on March 14th at Bucknell University in the 100 breaststroke after a strong performance at the district meet.

On the boys’ side, 285-pound wrestler Caleb Tyler earned his 100th career win at the regional tournament and placed 2nd overall, qualifying him for the PIAA State Tournament in Hershey from March 5th–7th.

As we celebrate our winter athletes, we are also beginning our spring sports season, with the first official day of practice on March 2nd. Despite the rainy weather, our teams have been working hard indoors to prepare for the upcoming season.

We congratulate all of our winter postseason qualifiers and wish them the best of luck. We also look forward to an exciting and successful spring season for all of our athletes.

National FFA Week Celebration

Help us as we celebrate agriculture and the LARGEST youth organization in America!!!!

February 23-27 2026

Monday the 23 rd : America Monday &

FFA AG Olympics for FFA members during IL

Show your patriotism for our great nation!

Tuesday the 24 th : Farmers Day Off

Wear your favorite pajamas

Wednesday the 25 th : National Blue and Corn Gold Day

Support the National FFA true colors, or FFA Apparel!

Thursday the 26 th : Camo/Carhartt Day

I can’t see you!!!

Friday the 27 th : Farmer Friday

Dress as a farmer

2026 “Empower”

Get ready, because on March 20, NHS is hosting an exciting 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and sign-ups are officially open. This fast-paced event is all about competition, teamwork, and having fun on the court, and this year, spots are limited, so don't wait. There will be three age group brackets including middle school, high school, and adults,meaning students, your little siblings, and even your parents can get in on the action. Each bracket will crown its own winner, and prizes will be awarded to the top teams in every division. If you’re interested in playing, you must see Ms. Phelps to get signed up. With a limited number of teams allowed this year, registration will be first come, first served, so make sure you sign up as soon as possible. Start building your teams, mark your calendars for March 20, and get ready for one of the most exciting NHS events of the year. Don't miss your shot to compete and be part of the action!

Freaky Friday High School Spring Musical 

We are excited to have 40 students involved in the cast and crew in this upcoming musical event on March 6th & 7th, 2026

Showtimes are Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Click here for the flyer for more information. Tickets may be purchased online or cash at the door. Concessions, candy grams to cast and crew and raffle baskets are cash only. Hope you see you there. It is going to be a great show!

High School Music Department Music in the Parks Information.

A letter was sent home with students regarding our Music in the Parks field trip on May 1st. Money and field trip forms are due by March 17. All checks are payable to FASD Music. 

High School Band Guest Clinician

On Wednesday, February 18th, Dr. Joe Cernuto, the Director of Bands at Millersville University, visited Fairfield to work with our High School Band! Dr. Cernuto also serves as an adjudicator with Music in the Parks, so it was incredibly beneficial to receive feedback from an insider as we prepare for our field trip in May. 

March is Music in our Schools Month

For more than 40 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools and communities across the nation.

We appreciate the support of our school board, administrators, students, parents and community members. The inclusion of music in our schools is vital and helps our students achieve the qualities featured in the Profile of a Graduate.

SAT - TUESDAY MARCH 10h

ADAMS COUNTY CAREER FAIR (10th grade) MARCH 11th

SCHEDULING INFORMATION SESSION MARCH 26th at 6PM (during parent conferences)

The 2026/2027 Course Selection Book is now active on the FASD website.

Ms. Mathews has been meeting with 9th, 10th ,and 11th grade students currently in English for transcript audits and advisement based off of future plans.Course Selection will be held in March for underclassmen

Students, stay informed! Regularly check the Schoology Counseling Group and Student Square for your graduation year to stay up to date on important updates and reminders .

Submit Records: Copies of your child’s records can be emailed to 📧 ebaughk@fairfield.k12.pa.us or dropped off at the main office .