West Potomac High School Weekly News

 

Happy Snowy Friday West Potomac!

We are on the road to returning to school and are excited to welcome those who are in person back.  I wanted to make sure students have an opportunity to meet with me and ask questions.  See the information below to sign up for a link that was sent out to in person students last week. 

Ms. Millard will offer student town halls for 9th/12th graders on Monday Feb. 22nd at 9 am and for 10th/11th graders at 1 pm. Please complete WPHS Student RTS Town Hall to receive a BBCU link emailed to your fcpsschools.net email account.

As a reminder, Feb. 25th and 26th are both asynchronous days for all students in FCPS as they will be teacher prep days for the return to school.

 

Take Good Care,

Ms. Millard

 

 

 Important Dates

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

 

Important Dates:

February 23:       Rising 10th grade Academic Advising Virtual Town Hall, 6 p.m. (Rescheduled from 2/18.)

February 25:  Lunch & Learn with Mrs. Carter - Financial Aid and Scholarships

March 1:  PTSA Virtual Membership Meeting, 6:30 p.m.

March 2:  9th and 12th grade students who chose “In-Peron” return to WP. Days based on last name.

March 5:  Two-Hour Early Release for Students

March 8:  Student Holiday, Staff Development Day

March 9:  10th and 11th grade students who chose "In Person" return to WP. Days based on last name.

March 10:  College Planning Night for Juniors and Parents, Class of 2022, 6:30-8:00 p.m.


Student Activities/School News Updates:

 

World Language Credit Exam - Each year FCPS offers the World Language Credit Exam that assesses proficiency in a variety of languages.  Students who take the exam may earn up to three pass or fail credits in the language.  The Fall 2020 assessment was postponed to this Spring.  Please visit this link (scroll down to Spring 2021) to learn more.  If you would like your child to participate, please contact your child school counselor.  The deadline to contact your counselor and enroll is next Friday, February 28th

 

2021-22 Academic Advising and Course Selection:

February 23, 6:00 p.m.:  Rising 10th Grade Question/Answer Academic Advising Town Hall

The originally scheduled February 18th 10th Grade Academic Advising Town Hall has been postponed to Tuesday, February 23rd due to the weather-related school closure on the 18th.  Mr.  Kevin McMahon, Director of Student Services, will answer questions during the town hall that have been previously submitted and any other questions you might have.  A link will be emailed to those who have RSVP’d on Monday, February 22.  To register:  RSVP LINK .  Please note that if you are unable to attend on Tuesday, the session will be recorded and sent out on Wednesday, February 24.  

  

As a reminder, on March 1st academic advising appointments begin with school counselors for our Rising 10th graders. 

 

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

 

 

Parent Series on the Teenage Brain and Substance Use:  Did you know that secure attachment (the biological urge to connect with other human beings) is a protective factor against mental illness and substance abuse?  Secure attachment helps a child or parent feel loved, safe, and helps them manage their emotions in a healthier way. As parents and guardians of teenagers, you can help them form secure attachments and develop healthy relationships and one of the best ways to celebrate love for your child is to be a positive, supportive and consistent person in their life.

 

Listed below are links to the Parent Series I presented on the Teenage Brain and Substance Use. Please take a minute and check them out when you can. As always, if you have a question or want to refer your student please feel free to reach out to me - Elizabeth Knudson, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist for West Potomac Pyramid

eaknudson@fcps.edu

 

Links:

Video 1: The Teenage Brain: Building Connections https://youtu.be/5UQkCbKUWPI

Video 2: Drugs and the Teenage Brain https://youtu.be/RCyO1Yl-m9I

Video 3: Current Drug Trends in Teens  https://youtu.be/mXHwcMzHta8

 

 

Support the West Potomac Orchestra – Wolverine Pride Gifts

Wolverine Cotton Throw and limited Wolverine Key Ring available for purchase.  For questions or to order, contact Rebecca Losee at craig.rebecca@verizon.net  See attached flyer for additional info. WP Orchestra. Cotton Throw and Key Ring Fundraiser.pdf

 

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.

 

 

Calling all WP Wolverine Football Fans!  Countdown 'til game time is here! Wolverine Fan Masks for Sale - $15Masks will also be available for purchase at home games. You can also complete this Google Form to purchase: https://forms.gle/ZoivXjmtYcNNagFj7

 

Support the West Potomac Dance Team: Stock up on the popular WP reusable face masks - order by Sunday, February 21!  Masks are $10 each and feature the "WP" claw logo on one cheek and "Wolverines " on the other.  See the attached flyer for a photo and order details.  Purchase a few for your student and consider donating one or more masks to other WP high school students.  Go Wolverines!

WP. Dance Team Mask Order Fundraiser. Feb 12 2021.pdf

 

PTSA UPDATES:

________________________________________________________________________

 

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


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 –

WPHS – February 2021 College and Career Center newsletter.

Check out this month’s College and Career Center newsletter for lunch and learn sessions, college information sessions, financial aid help, test prep programs, career information sessions, selected scholarships and other opportunities. Please reach out to Mrs. Carter, College and Career Specialist with any questions, eecarter@fcps.edu.

Feb '21 - WP College and Career Center Updates_.pdf

February 25th Lunch & Learn (11:15-11:50 a.m.) Financial Aid and Scholarships (review)

Mrs. Carter will be available to answer questions on financial aid and will also review how to search for scholarships. Plan to attend and learn about financial aid award types and more new scholarships!! Please complete this form no later than Wednesday, February 24th by 3:00 pm. in order to receive email with link to join.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd7MXWFMohw0CQ7FtVgouBd6DUX1wwps10orsp2oP58UXDtQg/viewform

Scholarship Tip Sheet - 2.19.21 NYC.pdf

College Planning Night for Juniors and Parents, Class of 2022 - March 10, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Session will be held virtually with panel of college admissions representatives presenting information on the college admissions review process, college search process-finding the right fit, application sources: Common Application and Coalition Application, SAT/ACT tests, community college option and financial aid/scholarships. Plan to attend and learn more about the college admissions process! More detailed information coming soon!

 

SAT and ACT Test Prep

 

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

View full schedule and Register Here. Upcoming event dates:

 

SAT CLASS - 3/6/21                                          Mock SAT – 3/6, 4/10, 5/8

ACT CLASS – 3/13/21                                      Mock ACT –3/13, 4/17, 5/15

 

Need Flexibility? SELF-DIRECTED ONLINE CLASSES AVAILABLE

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.

 

Free Online Applerouth Webinars* - Register Here!

 

Navigating the College Admissions Process - 03/02/21, 8:00pm   What Parents Need to Know Now: SAT and ACT - 03/08/21, 7:00pm   How to Supercharge Your Students' Executive Function - 5 Key Strategies for Parents and Educators - 03/10/21, 8:00pm

*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.

 

More Resources available on the Test Prep Program Web Page

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.