Woodson Weekly -
October 4th
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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!
 Senior C.J and Ms. Schmauder rocking their red, white, and blue for spirit day!
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. Homecoming Parade, Game, and Dance
2. PSAT Day, October 16th
3. AP Test Opt Out Information
4. Math & Writing Centers Open
5. FCPS Mental Health Conference
6. Fall Blood Drive
7. Parent Volunteers Needed - Hearing and Vision Screening
8. Parents as Partners - Session 2
9. Resources Night
10. FAFSA Line-by-Line Info Session
11. Senior Baby Ads in the Yearbook
12. Portrait and School Pic Make-ups
13. Vaping Information from the FCHD
14. World Languages Credit Exam
15. FCPS College Fair and College Night Programs
16. Reserve Your Yearbook
17. Woodson Gift Ideas
18. Hurricane Dorian Relief
19. Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities Meeting
20. FCPS Cares
1. 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.
This year’s Homecoming theme is Area 51 – “An Out of This World Homecoming.” There will be no tickets sold at the door.
Parents - We need your help at the Homecoming Dance!
We need parent volunteers at the Homecoming dance coat check! There are 2 shift times available (7:45-9:30 p.m. and 9:30-11:30 p.m.) Please sign up here.
2. 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.
Students may prepare for the PSAT by getting a good night’s sleep prior to the test and eating breakfast the morning of the test. Students need to bring a calculator and two No. 2 pencils to the test. It is also recommended that students bring snacks and drinks, which they may access during the two 5-minute breaks during the test. Electronic devices (cell phones, Bluetooth devices, smartwatches, etc.) must be turned off and put away for the entire testing period.
Students with an approved accommodation for extended testing time must arrange for transportation home from school since they will not finish testing before the buses depart (PSAT with 50% extended time – dismissal at approximately 2:10PM).
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.
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.
Contact Kathleen Guinee, Assessment Coach, at kpguinee@fcps.edu with questions.
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.
 The Cavalcade gets a new look!
4. Math & Writing Centers Open
The Math and Writing Centers are open for business. These centers provide free peer tutoring.
The Math Center is open during even day lunches (B107), 6th return (B107) and after school (3:00 – 3:45) Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (B208). We recommend that students bring their notes and the assignment they are working on to the Math Center.
The Math Center has a Google Site to help students learn more about this important resource. https://sites.google.com/fcpsschools.net/woodson-math-center/home
The Writing Center is in Room E212 and is open during all lunches, after school on Wednesdays, and during 5th and 6th period returns.
The Writing Center's theme this year is Alex in Writing Land, a parody of Alice in Wonderland. “Don’t be late for that Writing Center date!" Students are encouraged to bring assignments for tutoring while they eat their lunches. Please remember that some of the best help in writing happens at the early stages of planning and writing a draft. Make sure to bring the writing prompts, rubrics, and requirements for each assignment.
If you have questions regarding these resources, please contact Valerie Silver for the Math Center at vmsilver@fcps.edu and Karla Eaton for the Writing Center at kmeaton@fcps.edu or mdherndon@fcps.edu.
5. 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.
For more information or to register, go to the Mental Health and Wellness Conference website.
6. 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.
7. Parent Volunteers Needed
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to volunteer with the kids! On October 21st and 22nd, Woodson will be conducting student vision and hearing screenings. The school health aide, Ms. Christina Lugo, is looking for a few parent volunteers to help.
We’d also like to provide light refreshments for our volunteers. Please sign up here if you’re able to help with the screenings or donate snacks:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4FADA923A0FD0-woodson
8. Parents as Partners - Session 2
In response to the Family Engagement Survey administered during the 2018-19 School Year, Woodson is focusing on sharing information with parents to help parents improve their child’s learning and to identify and develop social and emotional skills for students to be successful. In addition, we are looking for ways to maintain two way communication between families and the school.
One way we are engaging families is through monthly parent seminars. In addition to the PTSO meetings (held on the second Tuesday of each month), administrators and counselors will plan and deliver a monthly seminar based on various topics.
October’s Parents as Partners seminar will address Wellness and will take place on Wednesday, October 23rd at 5:30 p.m. in Cafeteria A.
Based on the 2018 Fairfax County Youth Survey, there are many assets which assist in positive student well- being. The parent seminar will feature Dr. DiSalvo, Assistant Principal, Dr. Floyd, Principal, Ms. Parker, counselor and a panel of students to review strategies to help your child balance the demands of high school. More information will be posted on our website with materials posted after the session for those that are not able to attend.
We will begin our session by exploring this recent article that was in The Washington Post on September 26th written by Jennifer Breheny Wallace.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/09/26/students-high-achieving-schools-are-now-named-an-at-risk-group/
 Students in Ms. Kinne's AP biology class investigate the effects of changing environmental conditions on enzyme activity.
9. Resources Night
On Wednesday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in Cav Hall, join us for Resources Night. Learn about tools and online resources which will help you navigate opportunities for your high school student.
Resources discussed will include SIS, ParentVUE, Naviance Student, library resources, and much more. These resources will assist you in finding everything from your student’s grades to paid internships, free special programs, and scholarships.
This is a fast-paced evening that covers a lot of information. Bring a note pad or smart device to take notes and follow along.
Although we invite all of our freshmen parents to this event, everyone is welcome - especially anyone who has not attended in previous years.
For more information, please contact Kathleen Ishii, College and Career Center Specialist at kaishii@fcps.edu.
10. FAFSA Line-by-Line Info Session
On Tuesday, October 29th at 7:00 p.m. in Cavalier Hall, Woodson is hosting a line-by-line information session for parents on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This is the form used to apply for financial aid for college or graduate school.
Understanding exactly what is expected will make completing the FAFSA easier. To learn more about the FAFSA, visit https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa.
11. 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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12. 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.
13. Vaping Information from FCHD
Severe Lung Illness Associated with “Vaping"
Many states, including Virginia, have recently reported cases of severe lung disease among teenagers and young adults with a history of "vaping" (i.e., practice of inhaling and exhaling the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device).
E-cigarettes can contain harmful or potentially harmful substances, including nicotine, heavy metals (e.g., lead), volatile organic compounds, and cancer-causing chemicals. Youth, young adults, pregnant women, as well as adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes. If you use e-cigarette products, monitor yourself for symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breaths, chest pain) and promptly seek medical attention if you have concerns about your health.
For more information, please visit the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) website.
 Students cheering on activities during the fall pep rally.
14. 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 10th 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. Woodson Gift Ideas
It's not too early to start thinking about gift ideas for the holidays. Brighten up your holiday season with a W.T. Woodson ornament or a Woodson car magnet!
These make great stocking stuffers for Woodson students, staff, alumni, and graduating seniors.
Purchase your gifts through MySchoolBucks or at the Woodson main office. If ordering online, you can select school pickup or have the items shipped directly to your home. Ornaments are $10.00; magnets are $5.00.
For more information, contact Celeste Jones at cbjones@fcps.edu.
18. Hurricane Dorian Relief
Dear Region 5 Communities,
Each of the 32 schools in Region 5 of Fairfax County Public Schools are uniting together to support the humanitarian crisis that has occurred in the Bahamas due to Hurricane Dorian. We have all witnessed the devastation from this deadly storm and we want to be able to help. There is an estimated 18,000 children in crisis and many children have lost everything they own. So we are calling each of our communities to action!
Over the next two weeks, we will be fundraising by using a GoFundMe page. The link is below which also includes a link to a video for more information. All proceeds will go to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Our funds will go to water, shelter, food, clothes, backpacks, books, and other school materials.
Please join Region 5 in making a difference. Any amount can be helpful! The fundraiser ends today, Friday, October 4th.
Please click this link to go to our GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/sam3qu-hurricane-dorian-relief
Thank you for supporting this cause!
19. Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) Meeting
The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) will hold its next meeting on October 7, 2019 in room 111 at the Dunn Loring Center located at 2334 Gallows Rd, Dunn Loring, VA 22027. The meeting begins promptly at 7 p.m.
20. 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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