Woodson Weekly - April 3rd

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Woodson Weekly - 
April 3rd


Woodson Weekly is published every Friday to provide the community with important information from Woodson High School.


Vision Statement
We are a school community where all students have purpose and value!


We Miss You

Hello Woodson Families,

This week our staff has focused on reconnecting with all of our Cavaliers and teachers have been preparing to finish the school year strong.

On Tuesday, April 14th, we are excited to kick off the rest of our school year and transition to Distance Learning. By now you should have heard from your teachers and have a plan in place if you have work to make up from third quarter.   Students will have until April 24th to complete any make up work from the third quarter and any new material will go on the fourth quarter.

I keep hearing the same message over and over - Woodson staff miss our students a great deal.

Distance learning for Students:

This week teachers were asked to reconnect with students and begin planning for the close of third quarter. Next week, April 6-10, is Spring Break; teachers will not be holding distance learning sessions or holding online office hours.  

Starting on Tuesday, April 14th, teachers will be following Woodson’s Distance Learning Schedule.  Teachers will be live through Blackboard Collaborate Ultra during their scheduled class times on Tuesdays and Thursdays (the links can be found on teacher’s Blackboard pages). Teachers will also post office hours for Wednesday and Friday when they will be available to communicate live as well.  Additional information on the FCPS model for distance learning is available online.  

Each week students have a schedule to follow during distance learning.  Each class has a Blackboard Collaborate Link to use to gain access to that class.  To help students organize themselves, they might want to use this electronic Google document (students must log in with their Google credentials to access this document) where they can house all of their necessary Blackboard Collaborate links. On office hour days, see your teacher’s blackboard site to get the link to the office hours and add it to this document. 

Third Quarter Grade Calculation:

  • The 3rd quarter has been extended to Friday, April 24th to allow teachers time to collect work, give a chance for reassessments and close out the quarter.  Students may complete any missing 3rd quarter assignments up to that date.
  • If a 3rd quarter assignment/assessment was completed by students before Friday, March 13, but not yet entered into the gradebook, the teacher may enter the assignment into the gradebook and count the assignment towards the 3rd quarter grade. 
  • If an assignment was given prior to Friday, March 13 and was due after that date, a teacher may provide the option for that assignment to be completed to improve a student’s grade. A student may not be penalized for that assignment, either for not completing or for less than satisfactory work.
  • Teachers may introduce new subject material during the weeks of April 14-24 but will not assess or use that material to impact 3rd quarter grades.

Fourth Quarter and Final Grade Calculation:

FCPS will finalize their guidance on determining final year grades in the next few weeks.  However, I can share with you now that all students will receive a No Mark (NM) for their fourth quarter grade and that work completed in the fourth quarter can only improve a student’s final grade for the year.  

Seniors!  If you have not seen Dr. Brabrand’s letter to the class of 2020 please click here (Dr. Brabrand’s letter to the Class of 2020).  Know that we echo his sentiments and are committed to working with all of you to ensure that your needs are met.

We will keep you informed as new information becomes available.  Please reach out to your teachers, counselors, and administrators during this time.  We may not be able to be together physically, but we are here to support you any way that we can.   

Be well and stay healthy,
Dr. Floyd


In this Issue

1. Wellness Information
2. 2020-2021 Course Registration
3. Yearbook Info - Yes, it will be published!
4. Congratulations, Mr. Duffield
5. FCPS Resources
6. FCPS Fields are Closed
7. Cancelled: ACT on Saturday, April 4th
8. AP Exam Updates
9. Audible: Free Collection
10. Families Needing Internet
11. Fairfax County Family Services Resources (Translated - Spanish/Korean)


1. Wellness Information

We recognize that some of our students and families may be having financial, emotional, academic or other difficulties during this time. I ask that you please reach out to your child’s school counselor so that we are aware of what may be occurring so that we can help provide resources for you and your family.

Please know that any FCPS parent may schedule a 30-minute phone consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker, for either themselves or their middle or high school student. This consultation provides an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their student’s emotional well-being during their time away from school.  Student consultations will provide support and strategies to students who may be experiencing difficulties with anxiety, mood, behavior, or peer or family interactions during this unprecedented and challenging time.  Information about community resources will also be made available.  To schedule a phone consultation, parents may click the following link: https://forms.gle/WKchwGnv4LkezQwG8.

This service is not intended for mental health emergencies.  If an emergency is suspected or indicated, please call 911.  Additionally, students and families can access mental health support if there is a crisis of emergency during the time of the closure.


2. 2020-2021 Course Registration

The last day to make changes to a students course selection for the 2020-2021 school year is May 1st.  Please contact Woodson Director of Student Services, Josh Peters at fjpeters@fcps.edu if you have any questions.


3. Yearbook Info - Yes, it will be Published!

The yearbook is on schedule for publication and distribution information will be shared once there is a plan. 

It's more important than ever to have a record of this historic 2019-2020 school year! 

It's not too late to reserve your student’s yearbook!!!

Last year’s book sold out!  Order now at https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/5278

The deadline to order online is Friday, April 24th!!!


4. Congratulations, Mr. Duffield

The Virginia Council for Learning Disabilities (VCLD) has selected Woodson Special Education teacher Mr. Rory Duffield as the 2020 winner of the VCLD Teacher of the Year Award.

This award honors teachers beyond the first 5 years of their career who have achieved in areas of teaching, leadership, and/or advocacy for students with learning disabilities at a level that is exceptional among his or her peers.

Mr. Duffield received glowing letters of support for his nomination of this award. We are so happy that he will be commended for the important work he does and his outstanding commitment to the success of children with disabilities!


5. FCPS Resources

FCPS is now publishing daily updates for the FCPS community, highlighting things you need to know such as updates on the FCPS digital learning plan, major county and state announcements, and news articles.

Quick links to resources:

Food Resources

Talking to Students about COVID-19

Fairfax County Resources (Assistance from a Distance) Flyers posted below

Ways to Support Local Organizations

Academics and Continuity of Learning Plan

FCPS cable channels with learning activities are available. Channel 25 includes middle school programming and Channel 99 includes high school programming. This content will also be available online at www.fcps.edu


6. FCPS Fields are Closed

Based on the latest Fairfax County Health Department recommendations related to COVID-19, all FCPS fields are closed at this time. Please refrain from entering any FCPS fields, including ones at Woodson High School.

Thank you for your cooperation.


7. Cancelled: ACT for Saturday, April 4th

The ACT scheduled for any FCPS location on Saturday, April 4th is cancelled.

Any student who was registered to test will receive information direction from ACT. Due to the high volume of closures, communication from ACT regarding this cancellation will likely be delayed.


8. AP Exam Updates

Here are some updates from the College Board regarding Advanced Placement Exams. 

A great resource for learning about this year's AP Exams is Trevor Packer's presentation

Exam Window:  Exams will be given from May 11–22. 

Makeup test dates will be available for each subject from June 1–5.


9. Audible: Free Collection

Audible is offering for free a collection of audiobook playbacks while schools are closed during this COVID-19 crisis. The collection has been handpicked by their editors and is a mix of stories to entertain, inform and engage young people ages 0 to 18. 

To access the free titles, visit https://stories.audible.com/start-listen from any web browser.  


10. Families Needing Internet

Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, Comcast is offering 2 months free to new Internet Essentials customers in response to recent and anticipated emergency measures associated with the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please use this website for more information: https://www.internetessentials.com/


11. Fairfax County Family Services Resources

Assistance from a DistanceAssistance from a Distance

Assistance from a DistanceAssistance from a Distance

Assistance from a DistanceAssistance from a Distance

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)