West Potomac HS Weekly News

 

  • Important Dates
  • School News Update
  • PTSA Updates
  • College and Career Center
  • SAT/ACT Test Prep

 

Important Dates:

February 8:    Advanced Academics Virtual Meeting, 7:00 PM (RSVP Link Below)

February 10:  PTSA Chick-Fil-A Pop-Up Drive Thru Fundraiser (Pre-order Event)

February 11:  Rising 11th Gr. Question/Answer Academic Advising Virtual Town Hall              6:00 PM - (RSVP Link Below)

February 18:  Rising 10th Gr. Question/Answer Academic Advising Virtual Town Hall –      6:00 PM (RSVP Link Below)

February 15:  Holiday, President’s Day


Student Activities/School News Updates:

 

West Potomac Academy Open House

West Potomac Academy invites you to attend its virtual open house on Monday, February 8th from 6:15pm – 7:30pm! Come learn about our courses, meet Academy teachers, and connect with current students! Please register by completing this short form, and a link will be sent to you prior to the event: https://forms.gle/fwSFAjUdGntxxwPj6 We encourage you to visit our website in advance to plan which four programs you would like to visit: https://westpotomacacademy.fcps.edu/ We look forward to welcoming you to West Potomac Academy!

 

2021-22 Academic Advising and Course Selection Process Underway.  Rising 10th -12th Grade Families, during advisory this week your students were introduced to the 2021-22 Academic Advising and Course Selection Process.

 

Below are several resources to support you and your family with this process.

Academic Advising and Course Selection Parent/Guardian Overview (14:56)

Virtual Curriculum Website

10th-12th Grade Course Offerings Sheet

Instructions on how to select classes in StudentVue

 

In order to support any questions, you may have about this process, I’ve scheduled grade level parent/guardian Town Halls.  You can RSVP and submit any questions you might have via the following links.

 

There will also be an Advanced Academics Meetings on February 8, at 7pm.  If you are interested in learning more about the variety of advanced academics offered at West Potomac you can RSVP here. Questions?  Please reach out to your child’s high school counselor or Kevin McMahon, Director of Student Services at (kjmcmahon@fcps.edu)

 

A common question this past week was helping clarifying the differences between an Advanced Placement (AP) course and a Dual Enrollment (DE) Course.  Here is a brief overview with links to additional resources:

 

Dual Enrollment (DE) courses are taught at WP and other FCPS high schools by an FCPS teacher and students who participate can earn both High School and College Credit.  Students who wish to take a dual enrollment course must meet the criteria set by the college or university for admission into the course.  Currently there is no tuition for DE courses at NOVA.  Dual Enrollment Course options available to WPHS students can be found here.  Complete instructions on how to register on the NOVA side (required in addition to requesting course on WPHS side) can be found here but does require a student to login with their FCPS google account. 

 

The Advanced Placement® (AP) Program is a challenging academic program taught by FCPS teachers and approved by the College Board to offer motivated high school students with college-level academic courses in the major subject fields. AP classes emulates introductory college courses, preparing students for selective universities and colleges.  At the successful completion of the course, enrolled students will take an AP Test, at many colleges and universities, a high enough AP score will earn the student college credit.  The best resource to see the many AP courses offered at WPHS to Rising 10th-12th Graders would be our course offerings sheet for 21-22

 

 

FCPS Grading policy – Parents/Guardians/Students, under recently revised FCPS grading policies, all test re-takes must allow the student to receive the higher grade of the two scores.  If you are having problems with this policy or other grading issues, it is imperative that you reach out to your teacher and to Ms. Millard so that any issues can be resolved accordingly.

PSAT for Sophomores, April 19th – The PSAT for Sophomores at West Potomac is currently scheduled for April 19th at school.  Stay-tuned for further info.

The West Potomac Chorus Boosters invite all to participate in our fundraising drive for scholarships and program activities.  We are selling handmade music note masks in WP colors, water bottles, and magnets.  Donations can also be made online.  Fundraising link is live!  Contactless deliveryFor a limited time, we are offering a free mask with every mask or water bottle purchase.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A4DA4AB2AA31-westpo

We also invite chorus parents to join the Boosters. For information, please contact Denise Theunissen, Chorus Booster President at Dgt2224@yahoo.com.

 

 

PTSA UPDATES:

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Chick-Fil-A Pop-Up Drive Thru Fundraiser:  Wednesday, Feb 10th:  4:45 – 5:45 PM. Sandwiches and meals will be sold via paid pre-orders only.

Pre-order link:  https://westpotomacptsa.new.memberhub.store/store

 

Pick-up location:  Waynewood Recreational Pool Parking Lot - 1027 Dalebrook Drive, Alexandria, VA.  Pre-order Deadline - Sunday, February 7 at 10:00 PM.   Please see flyer for additional info. February 10th WP PTSA CFA.pdf

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Special Thank You!  Thank you to our corporate sponsors: Burke & Herbert Bank, Safeway, Hollin Hall Automotive, The Moery Group, Toppers Pizza, and Applerouth.


Nominating Committee – A Nominating Committee has been formed to work on a slate for the 2021-22 PTSA Executive Board.  Please forward any nominations to any or all of the following Nominating Committee members:  Felicia Moore, fbmoore96@gmail.com; Kendra Chambers, kendrajanedc@aol.com; Elise Bengston, elisenbengtson@gmail.com.

National School Counseling Week – We are coming to the end of National School Counseling Week.  Thank you, counselors, for all you do for our students and families! The PTSA will be celebrating you when the staff returns to school.

Class of 2021 - Senior Yard Signs:  The first order of signs sold out.  The Senior Celebration Committee is gauging interest for a second order.  Please email marasteng@yahoo.com if you are interested in getting a yard sign. Please put “Senior Sign” in the subject line.

Lights, Camera, Save! - Burke & Herbert Bank video contest - Burke & Herbert is sponsoring a video contest for teens ages 13-18 years old.  Create a 30-second video promoting a positive money management message and submit it by March 1.  Top prize - $5000 in cash!  Many other cash prizes available from $50-$2000. Click here for more info -

https://www.burkeandherbertbank.com/burke-herbert-bank-encourages-financial-readiness-youth-contest/

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SAT and ACT Test Prep

 

Free Online Applerouth Webinars* - Register Here!

  The Impact of COVID-19 on College Admissions and Testing for the Class of 2022 & Beyond  02/07/21, 5:00pm, Duration: 1h 00m   Help Your Student Thrive: Strategies to Reduce Anxiety, Increase Motivation, and Study Smarter  02/11/21, 8:00pm, Duration: 1h 00m   Motivating Neurodiverse Kids to Do No-Fun, Boring and Tough Stuff: From remote learning to household chores, helping children and teens get started, persist and finish tasks  02/16/21, 8:00pm, Duration: 1h 00m   SAT vs ACT: The differences, the timelines, and the expectations of colleges  02/18/21, 8:00pm, Duration: 1h 00m

 

*All webinar registrants get an emailed copy of the webinar a few days after the scheduled event, in case they can't attend that exact evening.

 

Check out Applerouth’s “Back-To-School Bookshelf” with their most popular handouts and information on the SAT and ACT – including test accommodations!

 

SAT & ACT TEST PREP MOCKS AND GROUP CLASSES – 2020/21

View full schedule and Register Here. Upcoming event dates:

SAT CLASS - 3/6/21

ACT CLASS – 3/13/21

Mock SAT – 2/6, 2/27, 3/6, 4/10, 5/8

Mock ACT – 2/6, 3/13, 4/17, 5/15 (note date changes for April and May)

 

SELF-DIRECTED CLASSES OFFERED THIS YEAR ($125.00)

The test prep program is offering self-directed online test prep created by Applerouth. This is an excellent course that covers all the content offered through the usual group class as well as tips and strategies for the official tests. Mock test results provide a solid study guide. Applerouth tutors are available to assist self-directed students with any questions during the course. One mock test is included in the self-directed class. Class licenses expire 7/31/21. Register at PTSA's MemberHub Store.

 

Questions? Contact Marilyn Aboff, marilynaboff@yahoo.com.

Scholarships - WPHS student need-based scholarships for mocks and classes are available through the College and Career Center Specialist, Liz Carter, eecarter@fcps.edu.