 Dear West Potomac Community—
As we embark on a well-deserved Winter Break, I want to take a moment to thank
you for your support of our school during the first four months of this year. We have much to be thankful for at West Potomac and I extend my gratitude
to the entire community – parents and guardians, students, faculty, and
staff – for your dedication to our vision throughout 2016. I particularly thank
our Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) whose academic mission enhances
all parts of the school. The PTSA also sponsored a holiday dessert bar at our
faculty winter celebration this past Wednesday and it is so enriching to
celebrate alongside our amazing parent supporters.
On Friday, students and faculty were treated to
spirited performances from our band, choir, guitar, and orchestra programs during
two annual winter holiday concerts. It is always a pleasure to see the weeks our
students spend learning and rehearsing new music culminate in a festive
performance. It is equally gratifying to see mutual appreciation between the
performers and the audience. Our musicians would not be successful without the
encouragement of their parents and friends, so we thank each you all for your dedication
to the arts. We also congratulate our teachers—Orchestra Director Alicia Day
Javkhlan, Band Director Steve Rice, and Choral Director Kye-Won Kopko, and
Guitar Director Rosemary Gano—for cultivating the talents we see in our
students. Each worked especially hard these last few weeks.
Another exciting part of the week before Winter Break is the return of many
alumni who come to update their teachers and peers about how their West Potomac
experience has prepared them for global challenges in life after graduation. I
visited with several returning alumni in the College and Career Center this
week and am continually amazed at how wise our graduates are and how on-point
their counsel is to current students. We are so fortunate to have a
diverse student body at West Potomac, students from 76 countries who speak 42
different languages. This diversity helps us understand cultural, linguistic,
and religious values and equips each of us to be global citizens.
Like during Thanksgiving weekend, we have discussed the importance of a stress
free and homework-free Winter Break as a faculty this past week. All West
Potomac community members deserve a happy and healthy holiday season. I so hope
that you will have a chance to relax and enjoy time as a family the next two
weeks. On behalf of all
Wolverine Educators, please accept my heartfelt thanks for all you do and for
the gift that you are to our school. I
look forward to seeing you all in 2017!
Sincerely,
Alexander B. Case
Principal
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School News
Fairfax
Wind Symphony Concert at WPHS Dec. 20
You’re
in for a holiday treat Tuesday, December 20, as our own faculty members
Steve Rice and Wendy Sue Rice, along with Joe LaBrie, perform with the Fairfax
Wind Symphony at West Potomac. The concert starts at 7 pm. And it’s free!
College
& Career Center (CCC) News
Upcoming Events
-
March
14, 2017: Mark your calendar for College Planning Night for juniors and
parents. Stay tuned for more information in January.
-
March
16, 2017: Military Service and ROTC Night, 6:30-8:00PM, Edison High School
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March
29, 2017: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Test (ASVAB) opportunity for WPHS
juniors and seniors, 8:30 am in the College and Career Center. Students register to take test in the College
and Career Center.
-
March
29, 2017: Northern Virginia Regional College Fair, 6:30-9:00PM, EagleBank Arena
(formerly the Patriot Center) George Mason University Fairfax Campus
Financial Aid
West
Potomac High School Financial Aid Champion Now Available to assist in
completing the 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and
the CSS Profile. Mr. Dale Schmidt is
available to meet with students and parents/guardians throughout the year in
the College & Career Center. You may also email Mr. Schmidt to schedule an
appointment: drschmidt@fcps.edu. Mr. Schmidt will be
in the CCC from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm January 3, 5, 9, 11, 18, 23, 25 and 31.
Scholarship Information
Scholarship opportunities are
available to FCPS students to review and apply for through Family
Connection. Students can review and
apply for scholarships by logging into Blackboard, Family Connection, Colleges Tab
then Scholarship List bottom of page.
This site is updated weekly and students are ENCOURAGED to review on a
regular basis as deadline dates are critical.
Did
you know scholarships may be available through colleges and universities?
Students searching for scholarships also need to review college websites for
scholarship information. Best practice is
to look under Admissions and/or Financial Aid for each school. If you need help, please come to the College
and Career center for assistance.
Military Service
Interested in a Military career
after high school graduation? Military
Services representatives will be available to speak with interested students
during lunch blocks on the following days.
- US Air Force: 1st
Thursday of every month
- US Army and VA Army National Guard: 2nd
Thursday of every month
- US Marine Corps: 1st
Wednesday of every month
- US Navy: 3rd Wednesday of
every month
College
Test Prep Opportunities
SAT/ACT
Information
SAT/ACT
Prep Classes and Mock Test schedule now available for winter 2017. Come to the
College and Career Center for more information. For more information on
the ACT and to register: www.actstudent.org. For more information on
the SAT and to register: www.collegeboard.org.
Winter/Spring 2017 Mock (Practice)
Tests
WPHS, Gunston Building, Rooms
153/154. Check-in opens at 8:30am;
see below for mock test start times. Cost is $23. Walk-in registration
($28) as space allows. Bring registration, photo ID, pencils, calculator,
snack/water. Note: WPHS student scholarships (need-based)
for mocks and classes are available through the WPHS College and Career Center
Specialist, Liz Carter (eecarter@fcps.edu). Dates with
Applerouth codes at right are hotlinked to the registration page for easy
click-to-register access. Online registration closes at midnight,
the Wednesday before the test.
2017 Dates Mock Tests Class Code
Sat-1/7, 9:00a SAT
Mock M233473
Sat-1/7, 9:00a ACT
Mock M232586
Sat-2/11, 9:00a SAT
Mock M233474
Sat-2/11, 9:00a ACT
Mock M232587
Sat-2/25, 9:00a SAT
Mock M239185
Sat-2/25, 9:00a ACT
Mock M239196
Sat-3/18, 9:00a SAT
Mock M233475
Sat-3/18, 9:00a ACT
Mock M232590
Sat-3/25, 9:00a SAT
Mock M239184
Sat-3/25, 9:00a ACT
Mock M239197
Sat-5/6, 9:00a SAT
Mock M239187
Sat-5/6, 9:00a ACT
Mock M239198
Winter
2017 Test Prep Classes
Register online at Applerouth.com with class code.
NEW CLASS JUST ADDED:
Due
to high demand, we have added another SAT prep class beginning Saturday,
December 17. The class runs through March 4, 2017, and targets the March 11
SAT test. Click the class code below to reserve your spot while seats are still
available.
Start
Date End Date Class
Class Code
Sat-12/17/16 Sat-3/4/17 SAT
(prep for 3/11 official SAT) SAT2912
2017 Classes:
Start Date End Date Class Class
Code
Sat-1/7/17 Sat-4/1/17 ACT (prep for 4/8 official ACT) ACT2914
Sat-2/25/17 Sat-5/20/17 SAT (prep for 6/3 official SAT) SAT3027
Sat- 2/25/17 Sat-6/3/17 ACT
(prep for 6/10 official ACT) ACT3028
Online registration closes at midnight, the Tuesday before class
starts. Spring prep class schedule will be posted as soon as available –
mid-March start; targets prep for June official tests.
PTSA
Program Manager – Marilyn Aboff, marilynaboff@yahoo.com
Liz Carter, WPHS College & Career Center, eecarter@fcps.edu
Activities
News
West
Potomac Sports over Winter Break, December 27-30:
Basketball
Boys' Team December 27-29, Holiday Tournament
in Charlottesville
Girls’ Team December 28-30, Holiday Tournament in Falls
Church
Wrestling
Varsity December 28-29,
Spartan Slam Tournament at Broad Run, 9 am
For
the most current news in West Potomac athletics, please check the athletics website.
Click to edit this placeholder text.
Parent
Teacher Student Association Updates
Thank You, Volunteers!
Thank you to all the volunteers who contributed their time and
desserts for the West Potomac Staff dessert bar. It was wonderful and
appreciated by all. Thanks for showing the staff and teachers how much their
work is appreciated.
Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who help make the PTSA a
successful organization that supports our school and staff all year long. We
couldn't do the things we do without your time and talents. Have a wonderful
holiday.
PTSA
Meeting Update
There will not be a general PTSA
membership meeting in January. The next PTSA meeting is February 13, and the
topic is Academic Advising/Graduation Requirements.
Citizen Town Hall Meetings with School Board Rep
Mt. Vernon
School Board Representative Karen Corbett Sanders will be holding Citizen Town Hall Meetings this winter. These citizen town halls are to hear from community members about key issues facing our schools in Mt.
Vernon and the school system. Please plan on joining her at one of these sessions:
Monday, January 9, 7:00 p.m.
Saratoga Elementary School cafeteria
8111 Northumberland Rd, Newington, VA 22152
Tuesday, January 17, 7:00 p.m.
South County High School cafeteria
8501 Silverbrook Rd, Lorton, VA 22079
Fundraising
Information
Beyond
the Page Zombie Camp
In
advance of our late-January production of Night
of the Living Dead, our world-famous theatre department will host a Zombie Drama
Camp for students in 3rd-8th grades on Saturday,
January 7, 2017, from 10 am to 2 pm. Campers will
sing, dance, and learn how to do hair and makeup at this fundraising event, which
supports the hard-working WPHS
theatre students performing at the Edinburgh, Scotland, Fringe Festival
this summer. Zombie Camp cost is $50; $40 per
additional siblings. Space is
limited. Sign up at www.westpotomactheatre.org or Zombie Camp Registration.
Junior
West Potomac Dance Team Forming this Winter
Want to be part of the
WestPo Dance Team but not yet in high school? Here's your
chance!
K - 6th graders can
sign up now for the Winter Junior West
Potomac Dance Team being formed for a two-day dance
workshop Jan. 17
and 18, 4:30 - 6:00, held in the WestPo
dance studio. Dancers will perform the following day, Jan. 19,
at a varsity basketball game; 7:00 arrival
time, game starts 7:30. Dancers will sit with the varsity dance team and dance
with them at halftime! $40 fee includes workshop, T-shirt and admission
to game for your dancer. To reserve a spot, please contact Heather at ROVERSEHG@VERIZON.NET.
Easiest
Fundraisers Ever
Did you know that you can help the West Potomac
PTSA earn money simply by shopping at your favorite grocery and online
stores? By taking a few
minutes to register your accounts, the PTSA could earn hundreds of dollars to
be used toward programs that benefit all of our kids. Here’s all the
information you need:
-
Amazon
Smile – Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of
your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the PTSA. Amazon Smile is the same as
Amazon. Same products, same
prices, same service. All
you have to do it log into smile.amazon.com and designate West Potomac High PTSA as
the group you would like to help and the school will start earning money. Just remember to log into AmazonSmile
when you shop, instead of Amazon.com.
- Giant
A+ - Just log onto www.Giant.com/aplus to designate West Potomac, ID #02263, using your
Giant Card or call the A+ Hotline at 1-877-275-2758 for assistance. If you registered in
the past, please verify that West Potomac is still your designated school. Don’t forget to encourage your friends
and family to register too.
-
Harris
Teeter - The next time you shop
at Harris Teeter, give the cashier the West
Potomac PTSA Account number 3602 and
your VIC card will start earning money for the school. The PTSA will
receive 5% of the purchase price of Harris Teeter brand prodcuts.
If you have any questions about these programs,
please contact Monica Mulvihill at monijeff@cox.net.
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