Woodson Weekly - November 20th

Thanksgiving

Important Upcoming Dates

Monday, November 23rd - Underclass Pictures (see story below)

Wednesday-Friday, November 25th-27th - Thanksgiving Holidays

Monday, November 30th - Underclass Pictures (see story below)

Wednesday, December 2nd - Senior Portrait Make-up Day (see story below)

Monday, December 21st through Friday, January 1st - Winter Break


In this Issue

ACTION Item
1. Underclass Photos - Sign Up

NEW News
2. Message from Dr. Floyd
3. Attendance for Thanksgiving Week
4. FCPS Laptops and International Travel
5. Senior Portrait Make-up Day
6. LLS - Students of the Year
7. College & Career Center News

PAST News but still important
8. FAQs for New Activities & Athletics Registration Site
9. Nominations Open for Outstanding Employee Awards 
10. FCPS Laptop Tech Support Hours at WTW
11. Parent Technology Help Desk
12. Senior Baby Yearbook Ads
13. Order the WTW 2021 Yearbook


ACTION Items


1. Underclass Photos

There are 2 more opportunities for the underclass students to have yearbook photos taken by Lifetouch - Mondays November 23rd and November 30th from 8:00am until 3:30pm.

Please sign up for a time slot using this Sign Up Genius Link , and we ask that you enter the students name that shows in SIS and not a nickname or parent/guardian name.

On your scheduled date for your yearbook photo, please arrive at Woodson HS and enter the parking lot via Whitacre Road. Then proceed towards the front of the building and around the side to Entrance 5. There will be signs indicating which way to enter and staff will direct you accordingly.

We ask that everyone in the vehicle wear a mask and remain in the vehicle until a staff member motions for the student only to exit and proceed to the Health Check-in table. Once complete, a staff member will direct the student into the Aux Gym, where photos will be taken. Students will exit the building through Door 6.

Parents will receive an email when their student's image is available to view and order. 

If you have questions about scheduling – contact Paula DiSalvo pdisalvo@fcps.edu

If you have questions about Ordering – contact Lifetouch at 410-644-7700

If your student needs to retake their photo – sign up for a new time slot AND bring the Student ID they received with them to exchange for new picture

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Paula DiSalvo pdisalvo@fcps.edu or Dan Checkosky djcheckosky@fcps.edu. 


NEW News


Morning News

The most recent episode from the Woodson Broadcast Studio starts with Ms. O'Brien and Ms. D'Angelo from the main office.


2. Message from Dr. Floyd

Hello Woodson Families,

This week we were scheduled to have about 70 students in the building in front of 11 teachers to pilot the concurrent instructional model.  I’m disappointed this did not happen.  

Our teachers (and administrators) were excited to be face to face again with kids, in the school building – safely.  But alas, the COVID numbers were too high to risk introducing a new group of students to the school as we must minimize the number of individuals in the building for everyone’s safety.  I’m hopeful that we will be able to proceed with the pilot prior to returning on January 26, 2021.  This continues to be the goal. 

If you would like more information on how the decisions to open or close are made, please visit these two sites: https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/reopening-schools-plan-complete-information/health-criteria and https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/fcps-confirmed-covid-19-case-reporting.   (This is updated after 10AM daily as the Virginia Department of Health updates at 10AM.)   

As we look forward to the upcoming long weekend to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, we want to encourage our families and students to disconnect from school and technology during this time.  While we realize some students may have a long-term assignment due after the break, or are working to make-up assignments, no work will be due the first two full days back to school.  Thus, nothing should be assigned on November 23 or 24 that is then due on November 30 or December 1 or 2.  We have also requested that our teachers do not give any major assessments the first two full days back to school. This mirrors our long-standing practice related to no homework during Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks.

As you approach the long holiday weekend, we hope that everyone can relax, decompress, and disconnect from school and all things technology.  We encourage family time together, and we want all of our Cavaliers to come back recharged as there are only three weeks until winter break.  So, let’s refresh our minds and bodies and finish out 2020 Cavstrong!   

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, stay safe, stay connected and stay healthy!

Dr. Floyd
Principal


3. Attendance for Thanksgiving Week

If you know your child will be missing full or partial days of school the week of November 23rd, please call the attendance line to let us know now

The attendance line is 703-503-4800 or WoodsonHigh.Attendance@fcps.edu.


4. FCPS Laptops and International Travel

Do not take FCPS student laptops outside the United States.  If machines are taken outside the country, the cost of any damages/repairs/replacement will be the responsibility of the parent or guardian to cover


Senior Portraits

5. Senior Portrait Make-up Day

Any seniors who were unable to take portraits with Lifetouch over the summer or last week can schedule a sitting on Wednesday, December 2nd from 3:30pm – 8:30pm.

Sign up on prestigeportraits.com using the current code that is on your appointment card.  Pictures will be taken in the Aux Gym.  Students will check in at Door 5 and exit through Door 6.

If you lost your appointment card or have questions, please call Lifetouch at 1-800-445-1189.

For detailed Senior Portrait Day information such as what to wear, visit the Senior Class Information Page.


6. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society - Students of the Year

Woodson junior, Deuce Irvine has been accepted as a candidate in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) 2021 Students of the Year campaign.  Each student participating in the Mid-Atlantic Region’s annual scholarship and fundraising challenge has been nominated for their amazing leadership, passion to find a cure for blood cancers and involvement in the community.

Students of the Year is a national seven-week challenge through which high school student leaders raise funds and awareness for the fight against blood cancers. This year’s campaign begins on January 23rd and culminates with the Grand Finale on March 13th.  The funds raised benefit the LLS mission: to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.


Seniors Parking Lot Painting

Keeping with tradition, Seniors painted parking lot spaces this week.


7. College & Career Center News

Please follow us on Twitter and Instagram @wtwcareercenter. The weekly College & Career Center Newsletter is emailed to students and parents on Mondays. It is also saved in Naviance under Document Resources – College & Career Center News for you to access at your convenience. Don’t know how to navigate Naviance? Please click on the Show Me How Tab on the Naviance homepage. 

We concluded our virtual college visits this week. If you missed a visit, please reach out to me for info material and to put you in touch with the college representative. Beginning on November 30th, we will have military liaisons and recruiters visit on Monday afternoon. The schedule will be included in the weekly newsletter.

Please email me at cliebmosley@fcps.edu if you have any questions!


PAST News - Still Important


8. FAQs for New Activities & Athletics Registration Site

FCPS activities and athletic programs has transitioned to a new online student registration system.  This new system offers a host of benefits for schools and community members including:

  • One stop shop for registering your student for athletic programs and many common activities occurring throughout the school year
  • Electronic submission of the emergency care card and weight room waiver- only have to fill these out once!
  • A new home for the state-mandated concussion education program.

Frequently Asked Questions-

  1. If I already turned in paperwork (Emergency Care Form and Concussion Ed), do I need to submit again through the Registration site?  Yes. We need to have everyone resubmit their information and training through this new portal.
  2. When registering my student, the physical date I see is a date from last year or it is not there at all. Do I need to turn one in again?    If you have not turned in a sports physical that is dated after May 1, 2020, to cover this 2020-21 school year, then yes, you still need to turn one in. Either scan the completed physical to the Athletic Trainer, Chris Hogge at chogge@fcps.edu, mail it to Woodson, or drop it off in the Main Entrance of Woodson. Once received, and once we upload the dates into the system, the current 2020-21 physical date should show.
  3. What if my student changes their mind about which sport to try out for?  If your student decides they want to try out for an additional sport that was not originally selected on their registration, you will need to log back in and update/add the sport.
  4. When do I need to submit the online registration by? Online Activity Registration is required before the first day of try-outs for your specific sport/activity. However, paper copies of the Emergency Care Form will be expected for out of season work outs for this school year only. In the future, we anticipate using this portal for all ECC submissions.

If you have any further questions, please contact Chris Hogge, athletic trainer at chogge@fcps.edu or Alexa Pugnetti, administrative assistant at alpugnetti@fcps.edu.


Painting Senior Parking Spots

More scenes from the Senior parking lot painting event.


9. Nominations Open for Outstanding Employee Awards

Nominations are now open for the Woodson Outstanding Employee Awards! These nominations are the beginning of the process that will end in the recognition of the Fairfax County Outstanding Employee Awards in an amazing celebration in June.  We definitely want one of our staff members to be one of the representatives!! To submit a nomination for a Woodson Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination at https://tinyurl.com/y5uksqay.

You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is to complete the form by explaining how the employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria noted. The link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.  

1. Outstanding Teacher/librarian: At least (3) three years’ experience.
2. Outstanding New Teacher/librarian: less than (3) three years’ experience.
3. Outstanding Leader: At least one year in position. Example of positions eligible - Assistant Principal, Director of Student Activities, or Director of Student Services.
4. Outstanding Professional Employee: At least one year in position. Example of positions eligible -  Safety and Security Specialist, Technology Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist,  Psychologist, Social Worker, SOSA.
5. Outstanding Operational Employee: At least one year in position. Example of positions eligible - Administrative Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service, IA's, Parent Liaisons.

Nominations for Woodson Teachers & Staff are due by Friday, November 24th.  Please feel free to nominate in one category or all of them it is up to you!  Be as detailed as possible as your nomination will be used to complete the nomination packet for the selected staff member to move forward in the county nomination process.  If you have any additional questions about the categories or which category a specific staff member should be nominated in, please e-mail me at drbrooks@fcps.edu


10. Laptop Tech Support Hours

If parents or students need FCPS laptop technical support at Woodson HS, the following must be completed:

  1. Submit a ticket using the FCPS Parent/Student Tech Support Portal,
  2. Schedule an appointment to come on-site, and
  3. Complete a health screening questionnaire prior to arriving. 

Our onsite laptop tech support hours by appointment only are:
Monday - 1:30 - 3:00 pm and 5:00-7:30 pm
Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 am - 12 pm and 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Friday - 9:00 am - 12 pm

Thank you,
W.T Woodson HS Tech Support Team


11. Parent Technology Help Desk

To support families who are working with their children during distance learning, FCPS launched a new Parent Technology Help Desk. The number is 1-833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). It will be answered by staff 7 a.m.to 11 p.m., seven days a week. If the help desk is unable to solve the issue on the phone with the parent or guardian, they will enter a ticket on the parent’s behalf and the request for help will be transferred to the appropriate FCPS team. 

Parents or guardians who need help in a language other than English should let help desk staff know, and a interpreter will join them on the line. (FCPS also has existing parent information phone lines, available in eight different languages, that can assist with general questions about FCPS.)

FCPS has also set up an online portal to allow older students and parents and guardians to request technology help directly. 

Get more information about the new Parent Technology Help Desk


12. Senior Baby Ads for Yearbook

Senior Baby Ads

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 2021 have an opportunity to purchase ad space in the 2021 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.


13. Order the 2021 WTW Yearbook!

The WTW yearbook is ready for orders!

I can’t imagine a more significant time to purchase a relic of history and to celebrate our Woodson Cavaliers! 

To purchase a yearbook or to make an adorable ad for your graduating senior, go to https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/ and type in the code 5278. You can create an ad, buy a yearbook, or submit photos all in one place!

Please contact tmweghorst@fcps.edu if you have any questions!


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)