Woodson Weekly - December 18th

Leadership Food Drive

Woodson Leadership thanks our community for the donations to the Food Drive.


Important Upcoming Dates

Monday, December 21st through Friday, January 1st - Winter Break - School Main Office will be closed.

Tuesday, January 5th - School Resumes


In this Issue

ACTION Items
1. For IN-PERSON Learning Students ONLY

NEW News
2. Message from Dr. Floyd
3. SIS and FCPS 24-7 Blackboard Blackout Dates over Winter Break
4. Winter Break Office Hours
5. FCPS Laptops and International Travel
6. Last Chance for Senior Portraits - January 6th
7. Thank You Cards and Letters Needed for Deployed Service Members and Veterans
8. College & Career Center News

PAST News but still important 
9. Athletics News
10. Frost MS Library Virtual Book Fair
11. FCPS Laptop Tech Support Hours at WTW
12. Parent Technology Help Desk
13. Order the WTW 2021 Yearbook


ACTION Items


1. For IN-PERSON Learning Students ONLY

As we prepare to bring our students back for in-person instruction here are some updates.  Starting after winter break, we will be sending out information each week leading up to the start of in-person learning.  These emails will contain important information and/or action items. 

  1. Parent Health Commitment Form – Can be filled out in ParentVue after the 1st of the year.  This needs to be completed prior to your child starting in-person learning. Please see the translated versions
     Amharic, ArabicChinese, FarsiKoreanSpanishUrdu, and Vietnamese.
  2. FCPS Health and Safety Document – FCPS guidance on health procedures
  3. Return to School – FCPS Website for information on returning to school
  4. Lunches – we are still working on the exact schedule.  What we do know is that students will be eating in our cafeterias with all health and safety protocols in place such as 6ft distance, hand sanitizing/hand washing, cleaning of surfaces, and flow of traffic.

NEW News


2. Message from Dr. Floyd

Dear Woodson Families,

Winter break has arrived!  

Just as a reminder, students will be out of school from December 21, 2020 through January 3, 2021. Students return to all virtual learning on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

During the break, our main office will be closed while our staff enjoys time off with family.

Students are encouraged to relax and enjoy the winter break, perhaps even read a book, as they will not be assigned any major school work during this time. I hope this time away from school is an opportunity for your family to reconnect and to only use technology to connect.  Faculty and staff will also be on winter break and have been encouraged to enjoy this time with their families.

As such, faculty are not expected/required to check email or respond to communication during this time.  If there is an emergency, please email your student’s administrator as they will be checking email at times over break.

2020 has certainly been a challenging year all the way around.  I’m grateful to lead such a resilient community as Woodson.  I appreciate the flexibility and understanding of our families and staff during this very trying time. I am hopeful that 2021 will bring many reasons for joy and excitement for our students, families and staff. I wish our community a wonderful, joyful, and relaxing break.  See you in 2021!

Warmly,

Dr. Floyd
Principal


3. SIS and FCPS 24-7 Blackboard Blackout Dates over Winter Break

SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will go offline for system upgrades from Friday, December 18th at 5pm through Monday, December 21st at 6am.

In addition, Blackboard FCPS 24-7 will go offline for upgrades and continued support maintenance from Friday, December 18th at 5pm through Wednesday, December 23rd at 5pm.


4. Winter Break Office Hours

The Woodson administrative offices will be closed from Monday, December 21th through Friday, January 1st.

Offices will re-open on Monday, January 4th at 7:30 a.m.


5. 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


6. Last Chance for Senior Portraits

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Seniors who have not yet taken their portraits will be mailed a new postcard from Lifetouch. It will contain a new unique code, different from the old postcards you received, that the student will use to register for an appointment. 

Each individual student must log in to schedule and then confirm their own appointment.  Please visit prestigeportraits.com to schedule and then confirm the appointment selected. If you lose your appointment card or have questions, please call the Customer Care Line of 410-644-7700  or email Answers@Lifetouch.com.


All about plaid

Woodson staff get in the winter holiday spirit by sharing themed selfies each day.  This theme is "Going Mad about Plaid."


7. Thank You Cards and Letters Needed for Deployed Service Members and Veterans

America’s Adopt a Soldier® program is celebrating the 10th year of its National Care Letter Campaign to honor deployed service members and veterans in state homes and hospitals. Writing letters of appreciation would be a great activity for students and families to engage in during the winter break. Now more than ever, veterans in veterans’ homes and hospitals are feeling isolated. Many have no family or family nearby and eagerly await visits from volunteers. However, these visits have not been possible due to health and safety restrictions resulting from the pandemic.  

Cards and letters will be accepted through Tuesday, December 29, and should be mailed to:

America’s Adopt a Soldier
5400 Shawnee Road, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22312

For more information visit: www.americasadoptasoldier.org or call 703-278-3718.


8. College & Career Center News

Upcoming events after the winter break (registration is open): 

Exploring Post-Secondary Options through the College & Career Center: A Webinar for Students and Their Families: Preparing for life after high school requires research, exploration, and planning. Student success is individualized based on achieving goals and determining the best fit and match in postsecondary planning. Discover a student's potential by exploring options now! This webinar will focus on: Higher Education Options, Financing Your Plans, Apprenticeships, Military Opportunities (Enlistment vs. ROTC), Testing (SAT/ACT), Gap Year Experiences. Join Tisa Frederick and Carla Shaw, FCPS College and Career Specialists for this important webinar on Thursday January 14, 2021 6:30-8 p.m. Register for Exploring Post-Secondary Options through the College & Career Center: A Webinar for Students and Their Families. 

Transition IEP Workshop: A Webinar for Families - Join FCPS Career and Transition Services to learn the importance of the IEP Transition Plan for effective postsecondary planning in middle and high school. We answer questions such as these: What should parents be looking for? What questions should you ask the school team? What questions should you ask your student? What role does the IEP play in increasing self-advocacy? How do IEP goals support postsecondary planning? Thursday, January 14, 2021 10 a.m. – noon. Registration opens 12/14/2020. 

Please follow the Woodson College & Career Center on Twitter and Instagram @wtwcareercenter. The weekly College & Career Center Newsletter will be emailed to students and parents today. Newsletters are also saved in Naviance under Document Resources – College & Career Center News for you to access at your convenience.


PAST News - Still Important


9. Athletics News

Welcome back to sports!  Our goal is to continue providing athletic opportunities for our students in the safest possible manner.  To that end, we ask for your help in a couple of critically important areas.

Please, do not send your child to practice or workouts if:

  • He/she complains of not feeling well and/or has any of the following:
    • Feeling feverish and/or having chills (if documented temperature/fever of 100.4F or greater)
    • A new cough not due to another health condition
    • Fatigue (more tired than usual)
    • Nasal congestion or runny nose
    • Headache
    • A new sore throat not due to another health condition
    • New chills not due to another health condition
    • New muscle pain not due to another health condition or that may have been caused by a specific activity such as physical exercise
    • New loss of taste or smell, new onset of poor appetite or poor feeding Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
  • He/she has been exposed to an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 or displays signs or symptoms associated with COVID-19
  • He/she has been tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting results OR another family residing in the same house has been tested and is awaiting results

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recently recommended the following: “During times of substantial COVID-19 activity VDH strongly advises athletes to wear masks at all times during group training, competition, and on the sidelines.”

Beginning Friday, December 11th, students participating in FCPS athletic programs, to include in-season practices and competitions as well as out-of-season workouts, are required to wear masks during all aspects of athletic participation in all sports with the exception of wrestling, gymnastics and swim and dive.

With everyone’s help, we look forward to a successful season!


10. Frost MS Library Virtual Book Fair

It’s a great time to shop for the holidays and support the Frost MS Library at the same time!

Visit the Frost Bookworm Central Virtual Book Fair and help students discover favorite authors, series, and games, all season long.

Stocking up for winter reading has never been easier:

  • Find the same titles you’d find at our in-school Book Fair
  • Orders ship direct to the address you provide
  • FREE shipping on orders over $30
  • All purchases benefit the Frost Library 

Visit our Book Fair Homepage to get started. And don’t forget to share the link with friends and family at a distance!


Mad about Plaid

Woodson staff get in the winter holiday spirit by sharing themed selfies each day.  This theme is "Holidays with our Furry Friends."


11. 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


12. 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


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)