 Woodson families shared their "fun in the snow" pictures with Dr. Floyd.
Important Upcoming Dates
Monday, February 15th - President's Day, School Holiday
Tuesday, February 16th - New Bell Schedule Begins - 8:20am-2:50pm
Tuesday, February 16th - Return to School Town Hall at 7pm
Friday, March 5th - 2 hour early release
Monday, March 8th - School Development Day, No School for Students
In this Issue
NEW News
1. Message from Dr. Floyd
2. Return to School Town Hall, February 16th
3. Return to School Information
4. Report Cards
5. Monthly Senior Socials - 1st one on February 12th
6. Graduation Announcements
7. PSAT for 10th Graders on April 19th
8. Student Portraits for Yearbook - Deadline TODAY
9. College & Career Center News
PAST News but still important
10. Leadership Class for 2021-2022 - Deadline TODAY
11. Free STEM Program for 9th Graders - Deadline Monday
12. Parents for Safe Teen Driving Seminar
13. World Language Credit Exam
14. College Partnership Program
15. Emotional Wellness Resource
16. FCPS Laptop Tech Support Hours at WTW
17. Parent Technology Help Desk
18. Order the WTW 2021 Yearbook
NEW News
1. Message from Dr. Floyd
Hello Woodson Families:
So, the famous weather predicting groundhog says 6 more weeks of winter… does that mean more snow? It was lovely to see the snow last weekend, to play outside and enjoy the memories of being a kid again. I loved snow days and will forever long for those days. I’m not sure how this new world of virtual access will impact future snow days. We have seen snow with all virtual days but as students return to the building we will see how this is impacted on future snow days. I loved seeing our students out in the snow, feel free to keep sending me pictures.
On Tuesday, February 2nd our School Board approved the return of our students who wish to come back in person! (Please see the chart below.) We will be in touch with those groups next week. Starting Tuesday, February 16th we welcome back our Category B special education students and start the new bell schedule. Students in grades 9 and 12 return Tuesday, March 2nd and students in grades 10 and 11 will return Tuesday, March 9th.
The in-person students will be separated into groups as they were advertised earlier this year. Students with last names A-K (Group A) will attend school in-person on Tuesday and Wednesday; students with last names L-Z (Group B) will attend school in-person on Thursday and Friday. Virtual students (Group C) will attend school virtually Tuesday - Friday. If you have questions about this please contact Woodson's Director of Student Services, Mr. Peters at fjpeters@fcps.edu.
We are excited to see what the next month brings as we get our students safely back into the building! If you have questions, feel free to reach out anytime, cefloyd@fcps.edu.
Stay safe, stay well, stay connected, Cavaliers!
Dr. Floyd
2. Return to School Town Hall
In anticipation of students returning to school in March, Dr. Floyd will host a Return to School Town Hall on Tuesday, February 16 at 7pm. The link to join the Town Hall will be emailed to parents on the morning of February 16th.
The focus of this Town Hall will be in-school procedures. One note, based on data from the CDC and other organizations, temperature checks have been discontinued at building entry. We will continue to check temps for students not wearing a mask or not feeling well. Masks and 6 foot distancing are required and we will constantly remind students to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
THIS JUST IN: We will have 3 lunch shifts and students will eat in the cafeterias or Cav Hall. Breakfast and lunch is provided at no cost and the microwaves will be available, however the social distancing is required and we will need to wipe them down between uses. Cav Hall will be for those who bring their lunch and in each location desks are used and facing the same direction, and will be cleaned after each lunch.
 Breakfast and lunch setup in Cafeteria A.
3. Return to School Information
To view your selection for in-person or virtual instruction for your student, look in SIS ParentVUE under the Student Info menu. Here are instructions on how to find your Return to School intention on ParentVUE
As we prepare to bring our students back for in-person instruction here are some updates.
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Parent Health Commitment Form – Complete in ParentVUE. This needs to be completed by Friday, February 26th. Please see the translated versions
Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
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FCPS Health and Safety Document – FCPS guidance on health procedures
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Return to School – FCPS Website for information on returning to school.
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Woodson's Return to School - Woodson specific information on returning to school.
 Even Maisey enjoyed the snow fun!
4. Report Cards
Report Cards will be mailed on Monday, February 8th. Grades are available to view in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE.
5. Monthly Senior Socials - 1st one on Friday, February 12th
Each month through the end of the school year, Woodson is planning in-person opportunities to celebrate the Class of 2021. Our first Senior Social will take place on Friday, February 12th (weather reschedule date: Friday, February 19th) from 3:45-4:45pm in the Senior Parking Lot. This month’s theme is “Love.”
These monthly events will take place outside, socially distanced following all CDC guidelines including the mandate to wear a mask during the entire event. If a student experiences any COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days of the event, please stay home.
Students can drive or walk to the event. We will have chairs set up 6 feet apart so that students can visit with each other, listen to music, and enjoy some treats. Students will want to dress for the weather and/or bring blankets.
We are asking parents to provide some individually packaged, store purchased treats for the seniors for this event. Please use this SignUpGenius to let us know you are planning to drop off treats so that we have enough treats for the seniors attending. These treats can be dropped off at the school office between 8am-3pm Monday through Friday.
Seniors must sign up to attend the event. The SignUpGenius link to confirm attendance at the event will be sent to Senior parents and can be found on the Class of 2021 Google Classroom.
If you have any questions, please contact Dr. George Hewan at gkhewan@fcps.edu.
6. Graduation Announcements
Seniors and Parents – It's time to order the official W.T. Woodson High School 2021 graduation announcements!
Please click on or copy and paste the link below into your browser to order the announcements. www.balfour.com
Here is step by step instructions on how to order:
Step 1- Go to balfour.com
Step 2- Type in W.T. Woodson High School under "Shop my School"
Step 3- Select "Announcements"
Step 4- Complete your information
Step 5- Checkout
You can also order other "Grad Essentials" such as Class Rings, Diploma Frames, Souvenir Tassels, 2021 Apparel, etc. on the website. Orders will be shipped home.
If you have any questions please contact Balfour at 703-941-1436 or balfournova@yahoo.com.
 Congratulations to our Girls Swim & Dive Team - Occoquan Regional Champions!
And, congratulations to Coach Susie Hamrock (pictured back row, far right) for being named the 2020 NFHS Mideast Boys Swim Coach of the Year!
7. PSAT for 10th Graders on April 19th
On Monday, April 19th, Woodson High School tenth graders will have the opportunity to take the PSAT 10.
FCPS will cover the cost for any tenth grade student to take this test.
General information about the PSAT 10 test format is available on the College Board webpage (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10).
Monday, April 19th has been designated for independent learning in FCPS high schools, so students who choose to take the PSAT 10 will not miss synchronous instruction or intervention with their teachers.
We will share more details about test day schedules and bus transportation in the coming weeks.
FCPS health and safety protocols for PSAT 10 administration are available online (https://www.fcps.edu/node/41891).
If you have questions about the PSAT 10 administration at WT Woodson High School, please contact our Assessment Coach, Kathleen Guinee, kpguinee@fcps.edu.
8. Student Portraits for Yearbook
Students that did not have their yearbook photo taken by Lifetouch may submit a portrait for the yearbook by TODAY, Friday, February 5th. Please use this flier for instructions on how to submit photos.
If you have any questions, please contact Yearbook Advisor Tessa Weghorst at tmweghorst@fcps.edu.
 Scholastic Gold Key Award winning art portfolio - "Imperfections" by Dakota Brodniak.
9. College & Career Center News
Please follow the Woodson College & Career Center on Twitter and Instagram @wtwcareercenter. The weekly College & Career Center Newsletters are sent out on Mondays. Newsletters can also be accessed here at your convenience. I have virtual walk-in office hours for students during lunch on Tues/Wed/Thu, and Scholarship Fridays for Seniors during lunch every Friday. Students will have to sign in with their FCPS student account.
Upcoming Events and College Fairs – more upcoming events with registration information are listed in the College & Career Center Calendar that students can access through their FCPS Google account.
- Are you interested in joining the ARMY? We have a virtual info session with an Army Recruiter on Monday, February 8th, at 2 pm. Please email cliebmosley@fcps.edu to register.
- Fairfax and DC Area Virtual Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. You may register at this link.
PAST News - Still Important
10. Leadership Class for 2021-2022
Students interested in taking Leadership next school year must complete an application, request a teacher recommendation, and sit for an on-line interview.
Application forms and more information are now available on The Class of 2022, 2023, or 2024 Google Classroom.
Applications should be submitted no later than TODAY, Friday, February 5th.
For more information, please contact Mrs. Schmauder at plschmauder@fcps.edu.
11. Free STEM Program for 9th Graders
Building Leaders for Advancing Science and Technology (BLAST) is a FREE educational program of the Virginia Space Grant Consortium, designed to ignite a passion in students who already show an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Our hope is that the BLAST 3-day residential, on-campus experience, which is packed with demonstrations and collaborative activities led by college faculty, will inspire students to envision a career in a STEM field and motivate them to expand the number of STEM-related classes they take in higher grade levels.
Applications are being accepted online through Monday, February 8th.
 Scholastic Gold Key Award winning photograph - "Dusk At Nubble Lighthouse" by Luke Gibson
12. Parents for Safe Teen Driving Seminar
The next Parents for Safe Teen Driving Seminar is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10th from 7-8:30 p.m.
This presentation is required in order to obtain a drivers license before the age of 18. This will be a virtual presentation to be held through Google Meet. This presentation is for all 3rd quarter Driver Education students as well as 1st and 2nd quarter students who missed attending the first two PSTD presentations.
The Google Classroom with the Google Meet link with be provided to all 3rd quarter students at the beginning of the quarter. The 1st and 2nd quarter students who still need to attend can email Mr. O’Hara at dgohara@fcps.edu and you will be added to the 3rd quarter PSTD class Google Classroom.
13. World Language Credit Exam
The 2021 Credit Exam for World Languages will take place in March of 2021. Students who take the credit exam have the opportunity to earn up to three (3) credits, based on demonstrated proficiency.
Thirty (30) languages will be assessed via the FCPS Credit Exam. In order to offer the test in all languages while maintaining a safe testing environment, some languages will be tested online and some will be tested in person.
- These languages will be tested online between March 2, 2021 and March 10, 2021: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
- These languages will be tested in person on March 13, 2021 and March 20, 2021 (Saturdays): Amharic, ASL, Bengali, Farsi, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Somali, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Credit exam information is available at Credit Exam for WL.
Registration opens Monday, February 8th, at 8:00 a.m. and closes at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 26th. All students must register for the exam through their school counselor by February 26, 2021. Late registrations will not be accepted.
 Scholastic Gold Key Award winning drawing & illustration - "Portrait" by Taylor Shea.
14. College Partnership Program
The College Partnership Program (CPP) is designed to assist students who are traditionally underrepresented in college (i.e. first generation, African-American or Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, English learners, students with disabilities or economically disadvantaged) in exploring, applying and enrolling in college. In accordance with FCPS’ goal to eliminate gaps in opportunity, access, and achievement for all students, CPP focuses on academic advising, college visits, parent engagement and preparation beyond high school.
The CPP is now accepting applications. Students can only apply online with their FCPS G Suite account. Applications are due by Friday, March 19th.
There will be a virtual information session for students and parents on Monday, March 1st at 3:15pm. Please email Ms. Jamie Korpacz at jlkorpacz@fcps.edu with questions or to get the information for the virtual info session.
15. Emotional Wellness Resource
You or your staff may be hearing from parents who are concerned about their child’s emotional well-being. This one-pager (https://bit.ly/38k8Xyz) from Healthy Minds Fairfax provides easy-to-digest information and would be a valuable resource for your school community.
Please consider sharing it with them in your next newsletter and/or during a virtual parent meeting. If you have questions or need additional resources, please let us know.
16. Laptop Tech Support Hours
If parents or students need FCPS laptop technical support at Woodson HS, the following must be completed:
- Submit a ticket using the FCPS Parent/Student Tech Support Portal,
- Schedule an appointment to come on-site, and
- Complete a health screening questionnaire prior to arriving.
New 2021 Laptop Tech Support Hours
Our onsite laptop tech support hours by appointment only are:
Monday - 1:00 - 7:30 pm
Tuesday and Wednesday - 1:00 - 2:30 pm
Thursday and Friday - 9:00 am - 11:30 am
Thank you,
W.T Woodson HS Tech Support Team
17. 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.
18. 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, 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)
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