Woodson Weekly -
September 27th
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Woodson Weekly is published every Friday to provide the community with important information about school life at Woodson High School.
Vision Statement
We are a school community where all students have purpose and value!
 Students in Ms. Adams' biology class compete in a team-building challenge.
Important Upcoming Dates
Friday, October 4th - Homecoming Parade at 4:30pm; Homecoming Game against Westfield HS at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 5th - Homecoming Dance at 8:00 p.m. (see details below)
Monday, October 14th - Columbus Day, student holiday
Wednesday, October 16th - PSAT Day, 2 hour early release
Friday, November 1st - End of First Quarter
Monday-Tuesday, November 4th-5th - Student Holidays
In this Issue
1. Powderpuff Game & Bonfire
2. Parents as Partners - Study Skills
3. AP Test Opt Out Information
4. Homecoming Parade, Game, and Dance
5. Does your student need a dress for Homecoming?
6. Senior Baby Ads in the Yearbook
7. Portrait and School Pic Make-ups
8. Dress Code Reminder
9. PE Uniform Reminder
10. National Honor Society Applications
11. PSAT Day, October 16th
12. Fall Blood Drive
13. FCPS Mental Health Conference
14. World Languages Credit Exam
15. FCPS College Fair and College Night Programs
16. Reserve Your Yearbook
17. FCPS Cares
1. Powderpuff Game & Bonfire
The annual Powderpuff Flag Football game will take place on Saturday, September 28th, at 6:00 p.m. on the main field. Admission is free with a student ID. General admission is $5.00 at the gate. Concessions will be sold during the game.
Players are placed in grade-level teams and are coached by students. The Senior team plays the Juniors, and Sophomores play Freshmen.
This year's theme is "Area 51” which is also the Homecoming Dance theme. Each class wears their team's theme color. This year's colors are as follows:
Seniors are black, Juniors are light blue, Sophomores are purple, and Freshmen are green.
The Homecoming Bonfire will follow the last game. The bonfire will take place behind the stadium, near the Frost MS entrance. There will be a DJ and the concession stand will be open. The Bonfire typically starts around 8:15 p.m. and ends by 9:30 p.m. Students must be picked up by 9:30 p.m.
For more information, please email wtwpowderpuff1@gmail.com.
 2. Parents as Partners - Study Skills
If you were not able to make the first session of Parents as Partners on Study Skills, you can view the presentation on the Parents as Partners page on the Woodson website.
3. AP Test Opt Out Information
On Tuesday, October 1st, an AP Opt Out Form will be mailed via USPS to every student who is currently enrolled in an Advanced Placement course through FCPS. FCPS will pay for up to six (6) AP Exams throughout a student’s tenure in FCPS. Any exam taken beyond six will require a fee of $94 to be paid to FCPS. Students who have exceeded their six (6) AP exams will be billed in December.
The Opt Out Form allows students and families to opt out of any of their current AP exams. Please understand that it is Woodson’s and FCPS’s full expectation that every student enrolled in an AP course complete the course and take the AP exam in May. If a student wishes to opt out of an exam, they must indicate this on the official FCPS Opt Out Form. This is the only way students are able to opt out of an AP exam.
If you have questions about the new AP format, processes, or fees please email our AP Test Coordinator, Kathleen Guinee, at kpguinee@fcps.edu.
 4. Homecoming Parade, Game, and Dance
The 2019 Homecoming football game is on Friday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. against Westfield HS. The Homecoming Parade will start at 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by a pre-game Pigout on the outdoor basketball courts starting at 5:00 p.m. The Pigout is a fun tradition for students to enjoy music and games, and to purchase food from vendors and food trucks.
The Homecoming Dance is on Saturday, October 5th from 8:00-11:30 p.m. in the Main Gym. There will be NO locker access during the dance. A coat check, a lounge, and a free photo booth are available to the students.
Leading up to Homecoming, the students will have the opportunity to participate in Spirit Week. Each day students are encouraged to dress up in themed outfits (see photo above) and participate in games during lunches. This year’s Homecoming theme is Area 51 – “An Out of This World Homecoming”.
Tickets for the Homecoming Dance will be sold during all lunches from September 30th through October 4th. Tickets are $20 through October 3rd. On October 4th, tickets will cost $25. There will be no tickets sold at the door.
5. Does your student need a dress for Homecoming?
Do you know someone that might need one? Parent Liaison Sussy Tomer has dresses, shoes, necklaces, ear rings, clutches!
Students may go to Mrs. Sussy Tomer’s office, A139 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am-2:00pm to see what is available. setomer@fcps.edu or 703-503-4792.
6. Senior Baby Ads in the Yearbook
Looking for a personalized, memorable way to recognize your graduating senior? Want to capture memories with the friends you’ve made for a lifetime? Looking for a fun way to recognize your teammates or club members?
Parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, coaches, and friends of Woodson’s graduating Class of 2020 have an opportunity to purchase ad space in the 2020 edition of the yearbook!
There are many ad sizes available at various price points. Orders are being accepted now, and all ad space is sold on a first-come, first-served basis. So place your order early to reserve ad space for your graduating senior!
Visit www.YearbookOrderCenter.com and enter job number 5278. Choose “Buy a Yearbook Ad” to begin the process.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING BABY ADS is Sunday, October 13th!
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7. Portrait and School Pic Make-ups
Senior portrait make-ups will be October 21st-28th.
Look for a postcard in your mailbox after October 4th for your appointment date and time. You can always call LifeTouch at 800-445-1189 to make or change at appointment. Be sure your senior gets their picture taken in this time window to be included in the yearbook!
Underclass portrait make-ups will be on Tuesday, October 22nd.
8. Dress Code Reminder
Parents, summer seems to be hanging around and so does summer clothing. Please be reminded of the following SR&R regulation around appropriate dress. We have had to ask some students to cover up or change clothes, please review this at home. Bolded below is the areas of most frequent clothing issues.
“All students are expected to dress appropriately for a K-12 educational environment. Any clothing that interferes with or disrupts the educational environment is unacceptable. Clothing with language or images that are vulgar, discriminatory, or obscene; or clothing that promotes illegal or violent conduct, such as gang symbols, the unlawful use of weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or drug paraphernalia; or clothing that contains threats is prohibited. Clothing should fit, be neat and clean, and conform to standards of safety, good taste, and decency. Clothing that exposes private areas or an excessive amount of bare skin is prohibited. Examples of prohibited clothing include, but are not limited to: sagging or low-cut pants, tube or halter tops, studded or chain belts, clothing constructed of see-through materials, and head coverings unless required for religious or medical purposes. A principal may provide additional examples to his or her school community that are approved by the regional assistant superintendent. Discussion about dress code violations shall be held privately and maintain the dignity of the student. Parents of students requiring accommodation for religious beliefs, disabilities, or other good reasons should contact the principal. Students not complying with this code will be asked to cover the noncomplying clothing, change clothes, or go home. Repeated infractions will result in disciplinary action.” https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/SRR1920.pdf
9. PE Uniform Reminder
All students taking PE and Personal Fitness are required to change clothing for their PE class. Students must wear a gym uniform. Loaner uniforms will only be given out on the first 2 days of the week.
If your student needs a uniform, they can purchase one through their PE teacher at the beginning or end of class. Costs are Shirts: $2.50, Shorts: $6:25, Bag: $5, Hoodie: $15, Sweat Pants: $12. Payment by check is made payable to W.T. Woodson HS.
10. National Honor Society Applications
Applications to join the National Honor Society are available in Ms. Dragan's classroom, A145.
Applications are due Friday, October 4th to Ms. Graybill in the Student Services Office, where there is a box for students to drop off their completed applications. Students interested in applying must have a 3.5 GPA, be an active member of the community, and have previous leadership experience.
Students will be notified of their acceptance within 3 weeks of applying. If you have specific questions, please contact Sara Dragan (srdragan@fcps.edu) or Kara Sweeney (kmsweeney1@fcps.edu).
 Students preparing to broadcast the Woodson morning news show.
11. PSAT Test Day, October 16th
In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and across the United States, students in grades 10 and 11 will take a Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) on Wednesday, October 16th. FCPS will provide the PSAT/NMSQT to tenth and eleventh graders without cost. Only students in grade 11 are eligible to compete for the National Merit Scholarship; however, taking the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 10 provides students practice.
9th Grade students will participate in a career readiness program and executive function activities. Seniors are encouraged to use this day for college visits, college applications and post graduate opportunities.
Additional information about PSAT/NMSQT test content can be found at the following webpage: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/inside-the-test/compare-specifications.
The total time for the PSAT/NMSQT is 2 hours and 45 minutes, and students with disabilities with testing accommodations may require additional time.
Lunch will be a grab-n-go at 12:25 p.m. and students will be released at 12:55 p.m. on this day.
12. Fall Blood Drive
Mark your calendar for the upcoming fall blood drive on Friday, October 18th, in the Aux Gym. To sign up, go to Room A232 or visit the tables between cafeterias during lunches. Parents we welcome your participation, if you would like to sign up, just email potential times to amwilliams@fcps.edu!
The Key Club is sponsoring the drive. Students are required to be at least 16 years of age and weigh at least 110lbs. All students are also required to have a parental consent form signed. Inova needs 250 units a day, just for regular needs in this area, so we are hoping to supply a large amount of those units! The Attendance Office will be monitoring students’ attendance.
13. FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference
The sixth annual FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference will be held on Saturday, October 5th, at Fairfax High School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., sponsored by Inova and Kaiser Permanente. The morning session will focus on social and emotional learning, with a keynote address given by Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. A special session for high school students, the Our Minds Matter Teen Summit, will take place in the morning as well.
Attendees are encouraged to stay for Inova’s Act on Addiction Summit, which will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
Participants in this conference will be able to choose from a wide variety of breakout sessions, and there will be many resource tables available, representing public and private offices and agencies providing services within our schools and community. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Inova.
For more information or to register, go to the Mental Health and Wellness Conference website.
Student Mental Health and Resiliency
Many students struggle with emotional and behavioral issues that can affect their learning and overall wellness. If you have any concerns about anxiety, peer relationship problems, depression, or other social and emotional issues your child may be experiencing, please contact your school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor. They are available for consultation and support.
Visit the Mental Health and Resiliency and Student Wellness: Tips and Strategies web pages to learn about mental health resources and fostering resiliency in your child.
13. World Languages Credit Exam
The 2019 Credit Exam for World Languages will be administered November 6 – 8, 2019. Students who take the credit exam will now have the opportunity to earn up to three credits, based on demonstrated proficiency.
Thirty (30) languages will be assessed via the FCPS Credit Exam, including: American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali/Bangla, Chinese/Mandarin, Farsi/Persian, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit/Samskritam, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Greek, Hebrew, Portuguese and Turkish languages will be tested using the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), which is a timed test and has a format distinct from the FCPS World Languages Credit Exam. More information on the WPT is available here: Writing Proficiency Test.
Registration is open and closes on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.
Students interested in registering for the exam must see their school counselor.
Credit exam information can be accessed at: Credit Exam for WL.
15. FCPS College Fair and College Night Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools high school students and their families are encouraged to attend the 2019 College Fair on Sunday, October 20, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., at Fair Oaks Mall, and College Night on Monday, October 21, 7 to 9 p.m., at Hayfield Secondary School. Both events provide opportunities for college-bound students and their families to gather information from a variety of schools.
Approximately 300 colleges and universities are represented, including two- and four-year colleges, international colleges, and military academies. Additionally, College Night features workshops related to the college admissions process, standardized testing, and financial aid.
Interpreters will be available during College Night, but these services must be requested in advance by contacting Susie Statham at sstatham@fcps.edu or at 571-423-4429. Students are highly encouraged to register in advance for these events. Upon registration, each student will receive a unique bar code, which will allow colleges to scan the student’s information instead of having to fill out an information card for each college or university.
Details and registration are available online.
16. Reserve Your Yearbook
Did you know that last year’s yearbook sold out? Did you know that the 2020 yearbook will never be cheaper than it is today?
Order your yearbook now, before the crush of the school year!
Place a senior baby ad
Where did the time go? Place your special pictures and messages in the 2020 yearbook to treasure the memories forever.
Go to https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/5278 for sizes, prices and how-tos.
17. FCPS Cares Program
Recognizing Woodson staff who go above and beyond!
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of our Woodson staff. https://www.fcps.edu/careers/employee-recognition-programs/fcps-cares-program
Mental Health Resources | 24/7 Emergency Numbers
If you are in crisis, text NEEDHELP to 85511, call 1-800-273-TALK, or dial 911; TTY dial 711
CrisisLink Regional Hotline: 703-527-4077 (CrisisLink is a hotline for individuals in crisis or family/friends seeking guidance for how to help a loved one)
Dominion Hospital Assessment and Referral Line: 703-536-2000
Inova Emergency Services: 703-289-7560
Mobile Crisis Unit: 1-844-627-4747
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE
Merrifield Center Emergency Services: 703-573-5679; TTY dial 711 (The Merrifield Center of the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board, offers a range of clinical programming. Emergency Services, staffed 24 hours per day, seven days per week, works with people in psychiatric crisis who need immediate attention.)
Plan D Nova https://www.plandnova.org/ (a website for Northern Virginia teens who suffer from depression: #breakthestigma)
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