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Dear Parents and Guardians:
On Monday, August 26, our students will start the 2019-2020 school year. The start of every school year is special, but the incorporation of laptop computers as a tool for learning has the potential to be transformative for our students and their learning. Like any new initiative there may be challenges, but I am confident we will overcome them by working together.
We successfully issued over 1400 laptops this summer. That leaves approximately 1200 laptops to be issued. We have a plan to issue those laptops to students over the first two days of school.
Our enrollment is below 2600 students. This has implications for the numbers of faculty and staff members we will have for the school year. I will update you on our overall enrollment in the coming weeks.
As always, regular attendance is important to academic success. You can help by ensuring your student is in school each day throughout the school year.
We are looking to increase participation in our National Honor Society and Beta Club. Both groups do wonderful work in our school and community and have some of our most talented student-leaders among their members. The National Honor Society’s pillars are scholarship, leadership, community service, and character. The National Beta Club’s pillars are achievement, character, leadership and service. Both organizations are highly regarded in high school and college, build skills for college and beyond, and provide an opportunity to earn a scholarship. We have over 600 - 10th, 11th, and 12th graders with a 3.5 or greater cumulative GPA. These students will receive an email in the coming weeks informing them they are eligible to join the National Honor Society and National Beta Club. I encourage you to work with your student and encourage him/her to join.
Please continue to stay engaged with your student. Monitor ParentVUE or use your student’s StudentVUE account to keep up with his/her current grades. Join the PTSA. Contact your student’s teacher, and/or counselor, and/or administrator when problems or concerns arise. An engaged parent is a contributor to student’s academic success.
Finally, we look forward to seeing you at Back to School Night on Thursday, August 29 at 7:00 pm. Senior Parent Night (see News and Information below) starts at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium.
Sincerely,
Anthony E. Copeland, PhD
Principal
Twitter: @westfield_hs
Webpage: https://westfieldhs.fcps.edu/
Senior Parent Night -August 29, 2019
The Student Services counseling staff will be hosting another information session regarding post-secondary planning for your seniors. The counselors will discuss the 2 and 4 year college admissions process and other post-secondary options. This event will take place at Westfield High School on August 29 before Back to School Night begins from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm in the Auditorium. This presentation is geared for parents of seniors. The school counselors will meet in person with each senior during the first few weeks of school to provide information and support for their post-secondary planning.
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID)?
AVID is a national system that is designed to increase the number of students who enroll and persist in 4-year colleges. Its mission is to prepare all students for college readiness and success in a global society.
AVID students enroll in rigorous classes such as Honors, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate, and receive support in an academic elective class called AVID. The class is taught within the school day by a trained AVID teacher with assistance from AVID-trained tutors. In FCPS, AVID is available at 23 secondary schools and one elementary school.
AVID Components include:
- Emphasis on writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading (WICOR)
- Study skills instruction
- Motivational activities
- Career & college exploration
Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Tutors: Job Description
The AVID College Readiness System is designed to increase the number of students who enroll and succeed in higher education and in their lives beyond high school.
AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 middle or high school students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). The class is led by a trained teacher and may include 2-4 tutorial groups (depending on class size). These groups use higher order questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.
Tutors may work 1 to 25 hours per week (depending on tutor availability) in select Fairfax County public schools, earning $17.19 per hour. Candidates must be college graduates, or currently enrolled in college. They should possess excellent rapport with middle and high school students and be willing to serve as positive role models. Comfort with higher-level math is especially needed, though not required.
Interested applicants should send a resume to Bridget Wright at BMWright@fcps.edu.
Do you enjoy working with middle and high school students? Would you like to make a difference in someone’s life? Become an AVID tutor!
- Competitive pay
- Flexible hours
- Impact student achievement
- Work in an FCPS classroom during the school day
If interested, please send resume to:
Bridget Wright
Resource Teacher, College Success Program
Phone: (571) 423-4416
Email: BMWright@fcps.edu
Fax: (703) 279-5211
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