 Dear West Potomac Community—
What a wonderful first day! We were delighted to have all 2,600 students on campus today as we launched a great school year. As administrators walked the building, we noticed our faculty at classroom doors greeting students, opening activities aimed at building relationships and exciting students about course content, and explicit teaching of school systems (like our new attendance push and when it is acceptable—and not—to use electronic devices in classrooms).
Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 7th, is a blue day, meaning we will meet periods 2, 3, 4, and 6. Please also note that each day we have a small block of time called Wolverine Time (WT). This is our embedded school-wide intervention period. Students’ base locations for WT is their third period class, however, as the year goes on students may make arrangements to visit other teachers to make-up missed classwork or a quiz or otherwise review and get ahead with their studies. Over the first two weeks of school in WT, students are setting goals, learning school systems, and working through back-to-school administrivia like essential forms collection. If you have not sent in your Emergency Care Card or your Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) acknowledgment, we ask that you do so tomorrow. A recap of all the possible forms you may choose to send in follows this message.
Transportation ran fairly smooth both during arrival and dismissal today. Students did a great job remembering their bus numbers and working with school staff to find buses in the afternoon line-up. We took good notes on what we can continue to work with FCPS Transportation to optimize (such as academy bus locations) and are committed to seeing all students arrive and depart on time. Thank you for your flexibility during this first week.
Please note we are again serving breakfast in two places before the start of school this year: the cafeteria for students whose classes are located in the Springbank and Quander buildings and at a mobile kiosk in the gym lobby for students whose classes are located in the Gunston building. A second chance to access grab-and-go breakfast is the cafeteria during the passing time between first block and Wolverine Time/third period. We want all students fed, on-time, and ready for learning each day. During lunches, a great new opportunity is the barbeque grill line next to our senior courtyard. Each day, fresh items like burgers, hot dogs, chicken, and ribs are prepared fresh as part of an innovative pilot by the FCPS Energy Zone team that runs our cafeteria.
Should you have any questions, concerns, compliments, or observations, please don’t hesitate to let the associated teacher, counselor, or administrator know. Our contact information is on the school website. We remain quite excited that our students have returned and know it is a great time to be a West Potomac Wolverine!
Sincerely,
Alexander B. Case
Principal
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Forms Reminders
Each year, there are forms that we are required to have on file for every student as the year starts. These include an Emergency Care Form and Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) parent signature form. Most forms are available online at FCPS' new website, however, we have cross-linked and posted each to our forms website. Additionally, if you wish to opt-out of any of the below school programs and services, please complete the form (linked on our website) and submit to the main office as we start the school year.
1. Family Life Education
2. High School Directory
3. High School Graduation Photos
4. High School Military Recruiter
5. High School Counseling
Emergency Information Updates
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring a safe and secure climate in all its facilities. In support of this goal, FCPS provides the weCare online emergency care information service for parents and guardians who have registered to access FCPS 24-7 Learning (also known as Blackboard). Parents should use weCare to update their information annually at the start of school and thereafter whenever changes to the health or contact information (such as your phone number or e-mail address) occur during the course of the school year. We will try to update the information you provide us on hard-copy Emergency Care Cards as well, but your online updates are the most critical and timely ways to strengthen our connection between home and school.
Address Updates
Though we strongly encourage updates to parent emergency contact information in WeCare and will work to process information submitted to us on hard copy Emergency Care Cards as quickly as possible, we do need to reiterate that any parents or guardians who need to submit a change of address can only do so by seeing our registrar, Ms. Leslie Dorsey in Student Services. To change an address, Student Services must receive an updated deed or lease and two recent bills. Thanks for your assistance in this matter.
Free/Reduced-Price Meals Additional Benefits
If your child qualifies for the Free and Reduced-Price Meals program, you may also be eligible for other free or reduced fees. Some examples are a reduction in student fees, classroom fees, and test/application fees. Click on the link above and complete the “Consent To Share Information For Benefits for Other Programs” form if you are interested in receiving additional eligible benefits.
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