Woodson Weekly - July 31st

oneWoodson

In this Issue

1. Message from Dr. Floyd
2. Welcome New Student Services Staff
3. Woodson Pyramid Town Hall Meeting
4. News You Choose for Athletics and Activities
5. Yearbook Pickup... continued
6. Student Services Information
7. Testing Information and Accommodations 
8. First Day of School - Tuesday, September 8
9. Woodson Minds Matter
10. WTW Military Family Network
11. Seeking Theater Mask Coordinator
12. Summer Yearbook Pictures Needed 
13. Mental Wellness Consultations
14. Healthy Minds Blog


1. Message from Dr. Floyd

Happy Friday Woodson Families,

Two weeks from today we will welcome our faculty back for three weeks of professional development signaling the end of summer. It is hard to believe summer is almost over and it is just July 31. 

Amongst the COVID chaos, we have been hiring new staff!   We want to share with you all over the next few weeks who our new faces are at Woodson.  Today we will begin with Student Services staff.  You'll see their pictures and bios below.

Stay safe, stay well, and stay connected as Cavaliers!

Dr. Floyd
Principal


2. Welcome New Student Services Staff!

Debbie Glover

Debbie Glover – Debbie is joining Woodson HS as an Administrative Assistant in Student Services.  She will be assisting with student transcripts and testing.  She comes to Woodson from Annandale HS where she spent the past 6 years as the testing assistant to the Assessment Coach. Debbie was born in Vancouver, Canada and moved to California where she was the City Clerk of Solvang, California for 10 years. With her husband in the US Air Force, she and her family moved around the United States finally setting their roots in Virginia. She enjoys spending time with her family here and in Canada. Debbie is excited to be part of the Woodson HS community.


Hi everyone, my name is Jamie Korpacz and I am one of the new counselors at Woodson. I am from Allentown, Pennsylvania and graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh with my undergrad in elementary education & masters in school counseling. I have been in Fairfax county for 2 years as an elementary counselor and I am super excited to start this new chapter in my career at Woodson! Looking forward to meeting and working with you all this year!

I will be supporting students with the last names A-Cah.

Korcpaz Jamie

Lieb-Mosley Christine

Hi, my name is Christine Lieb-Mosley and I am the new College and Career Specialist at Woodson. I am from Neckarsulm, Germany, and graduated from the Fremdspracheninstitut Heidelberg with a degree in Spanish and English. My husband’s service in the US Army brought us to Fairfax County in 1996,  and I have been at Woodson as the registrar since 2017. Our four children all graduated from FCPS, and our youngest is a Class of 2020 graduate. I am looking forward to serving the Woodson Community as the new College and Career Specialist!


Elle Nguyen - I’m excited to start my 18th year as a school counselor at Woodson High School! Previously I was a counselor at Battlefield HS in Prince William County. I’m passionate about helping others and believe strongly in kindness, community, and teamwork. When not at school, you can find me on the soccer field cheering for my 2 kids! I enjoy the beach, scenic walks & hikes, reading, and being creative.

I will be supporting students with the last names O.Tran - Z.

Elle Nguyen

3. Woodson Pyramid Town Hall Meeting

Woodson will host a Virtual Pyramid Town Hall Meeting, in collaboration with our elementary and middle school families on Tuesday, August 11 from 7-8PM. The purpose of the Town Hall Meeting is to address the recent events across our nation, in addition, to how we can continue to support our students and families moving forward. A secured Blackboard link will be provided to families from each school within the Woodson Pyramid. If you have any questions, please email Dr. George Hewan at gkhewan@fcps.edu.   


4. News You Choose Athletics and Activities

In order to receive updates and information from the Woodson Activities Office, be sure to select your subscription options within the News You Choose preference portal. Visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/subscriber/new?preferences=true to update or opt out. Our Activities Office will send out weekly information on topics such as Yellow and Green Day workout schedules, games and tournaments, ticket sales, spirit wear, etc.. Stay connected by following us! Go Cavs!


5. Yearbook Pickup... continued

Yearbooks may be picked up in the main office from 10am-2:30pm daily. You must bring a photo ID and wear a mask upon entering the school building.

Also, there are a very limited number of books available for sale. The cost is $90 cash (exact change, please) or check made out to W. T. Woodson High School. We cannot accept credit cards.

Questions?  Email Beth Koby at ewkoby@fcps.edu.


6. Student Services Information

Registration: Until our offices reopen, parents will need to complete the registration paperwork that is available online and reach out to the registrar, Christine Lieb-Mosley via email until offices reopen.  Families will be contacted via email or phone for the next steps in the registration process.

Withdrawal: If you need to withdraw your student from Woodson for the 2020-21 school year, please contact Woodson Registrar, Christine Lieb-Mosley, who will schedule a time/date to return the school issued laptop, complete a withdrawal form and other learning materials.

Records Request: Until our offices reopen to the public, there are no office hours. However, if a family has a transcript or records requests, they should email the registrar throughout the summer.


7. Testing Information and Accommodations

Some students with documented disabilities are eligible for accommodations on College Board exams. Students cannot take the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, PSAT/NMSQT, or AP Exams with accommodations unless their request for accommodations has been approved by Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD).

The accommodations request and documentation for fall test dates must be received by Monday, August 3. Please contact WT Woodson’s Assessment Coach, Kathleen Guinee (kpguinee@fcps.edu) for more information.


8. First Day of School - Tuesday, September 8th

At their July 9 business meeting, the Fairfax County School Board approved delaying the start of the 2020-21 school year to provide staff members additional time to plan instruction and schedules, provide professional staff development, and finalize transportation and other operational details.

The revised calendar delays the first instructional day for students by two weeks, from Tuesday, August 25, to Tuesday, September 8. Other employee work schedules will remain unchanged and the revised calendar provides adjustments for additional staff development and planning time between Tuesday, August 25, and Thursday, September 3.

View the revised 2020-21 school year calendar


9. Woodson Minds Matter

Woodson Minds Matter is a student-led movement to change school culture around mental health. They are accepting applications for the 2020-2021 leadership board NOW through August. Are you interested? Apply using this link! 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hfc0VrxuKKthQJsZ6IIHTvehMY26bahbCxsa5-k7jJA/viewform?edit_requested=true

Woodson Minds Matter

10. WTW Military Family Network

Calling all current and new military families!  We are restarting our military network effort for the upcoming school year. Our mission is to foster a community of military members at WT Woodson High School. This year will be particularly difficult for new students and families to make connections due to the continued pandemic crisis we face.

Current military families, that would like to  be part of our “Connections” effort by being a buddy to a new military family or by sharing neighborhood information --or --new families that would like to join our network, please send and an email to: wtwmilitarynetwork@gmail.com

We will be in touch soon!


11. Seeking Theater Mask Coordinator

The PTSO is seeking one parent to help coordinate volunteers to sew special see-through masks (basically larger masks with plastic windows) for theater students and faculty. It is vital for theater students to be able to see as much of a face as possible. If you are interested in this effort, please contact Miklos Kiss at miklos.kiss@cox.net.


12. Summer Yearbook Pictures Needed

The 2021 yearbook needs your help!

Work on the 2021 yearbook has already begun. We want to cover how Woodson students are living their lives in quarantine (and phased reopenings). We need photos of YOU making the best of your spring and summer. Are you…

  • Playing lots of video games?
  • Sitting with friends around the fire pit (keeping social distance, of course)?
  • Trying some new projects in the kitchen?
  • Keeping fit?
  • Zooming a lot with friends?
  • Training your quarantine puppy?

Whatever you are doing, yearbook needs photos!

You can share your pictures with the yearbook staff via eShare.  You can do this two easy ways.

  1. Go to www.HJeShare.com and enter the school code: wtwoodson
  2. Download the HJeShare app for iPhone or Android at the App Store or Google Play. Again, the school code: wtwoodson

Either place will give you instructions on uploading your images and letting the yearbook staff know who is in the pictures!

While we cannot guarantee that all shared photos will be published, if you don’t share, your great pictures can’t even be considered! Start sharing today!

Contact Beth Koby, yearbook adviser, if you have problems. ewkoby@fcps.edu


13. Mental Wellness Consultations

The FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will continue to offer mental wellness consultations throughout the summer. If you have concerns about your child’s well-being or if your child would like to speak with a school psychologist or school social worker, please request a consultation.  Our FCPS mental health providers are available to help families get needed support through a 45-minute phone consultation or through secure video conferencing. Appointments are open to all FCPS families. 

Consultations are offered in two ways:

  • Directly to parents of students in any grade level. This consultation provides an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social-emotional, behavioral, or academic functioning. Information about community resources will also be made available.
  • Directly to students in middle or high school. This consultation provides support and strategies to students who may be experiencing difficulties with anxiety, mood, behavior, or peer or family interactions; as well as academic challenges such as organization, time-management, or adjusting to a new school.

We encourage parents to take advantage of this service. Click here to request a consultation. You may also leave us a message at 571-423-4276.


14. Healthy Minds Blog

Healthy Minds is a blog for parents, educators, and community-based providers who are interested in supporting student mental health and wellness. 

As a part of the Healthy Minds Fairfax initiative, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services develops posts with timely information for all.  Recent topics have included social and emotional learning, countering stigma and racism, and building resilience to handle challenging times.  Healthy Minds includes tips and strategies for increasing wellness and resiliency, as well as fostering success at home, school, and in the community. 

New content is posted weekly.  Visit the Healthy Minds Blog.


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)