Woodson Weekly - September 24th


Woodson Weekly

Woodson Weekly -
September 24th


Woodson Weekly is published every Friday to provide the community with important information about school life at Woodson High School.


Vision Statement

We are a school community where all students have purpose and value!


Homecoming

Leadership Class students planning for Homecoming Spirit Week - October 8th-15th


Important Upcoming Dates

Monday, October 11th - School Planning Day; No school for students

Monday, October 11th - PowerPuff Games in Pat Cunningham Stadium and Homecoming Bonfire after the games behind the stadium

Tuesday, October 12th-15th - Spirit Week

Friday, October 15th during 3rd Period - Pep Rally

Friday, October 15th from 4:30-5:15pm - Homecoming Parade

Friday, October 15th from 5-6:45pm - Pre-game Pig-out

Friday, October 15th at 7pm - Homecoming Football Game

Saturday, October 16th from 8-11:30pm - Homecoming Dance

Tuesday, October 19th - Underclass Makeup Picture Day

Friday, October 29th - End of 1st Quarter; 2-Hour Early Release; dismissal at 12:55pm


In this Issue

NEW News
1. Message from Dr. Floyd
2. Health Information Form
3. Transportation Reminders and Updates
4. Math Center is Opening on Monday
5. Homecoming Activities
6. Does your student need a dress or suit for Homecoming?
7. Makeup Picture Day for Underclass
8. National Merit Semifinalists
9. Social Justice Book Club
10. College & Career Center News

PAST News, but still important
11. How do I check out my student from school?
12. Social Emotional Screener Opt-Out Information
13. World Languages Credit Exam
14. To Our Military Families
15. Forgotten Items & Lost and Found
16. Laptop Tech Support Hours
17. Woodson's PTSO


NEW News


1. Message from Dr. Floyd

Dear Woodson Families:

What a beautiful day!  It looks like this weather will hold for the weekend.  I hope families are able to get out and enjoy the cooler temperatures, safely!   Thus far this week we have zero new COVID cases to report.  As such, I encourage everyone to remain vigilant with mask wearing and social distancing as possible. 

One question that has come up a lot is, “have any of the cases we have had seen any connections through the school?”   As far as we can tell, none of our cases have been connected by classes, lunch or music programs. Our only connection was possibly at an outdoor, unmasked event. 

I am encouraged by this week’s data and excited that our community is keeping kids and staff safe.

Enjoy the weekend,

Dr. Floyd


2. Health Information Form

While not a required form, the Health Information Form is important to complete annually to share with us any health conditions that may affect your child during the school day.

Please take a moment to fill out this form or print out a copy from weCare@School and return it to our front office to ensure we have the most up-to-date information to support your child especially if they feel ill and go to the clinic.


3rd Period Activity

Students build tall towers in a team building project during 3rd Period Advisory.


Here Comes the Bus

3. Transportation Reminders and Updates

Please remind your children that masks are required at all times when on an FCPS bus.

Due to how full our buses are, per transportation, we are no longer allowed to issue temporary bus passes to students who want to ride home with a friend. Students may only ride a bus to which they are assigned. If your child needs to ride a different bus home for child care purposes, please complete an exception to ride form. The guidelines for an exception are linked HERE.

Want to know when your bus is approaching your stop?  Here Comes the Bus® app is a school bus tracking app that can simplify morning and afternoon routines for parents and students by giving them real-time bus location and text or email notification alerts, helping them get to the bus stop on time. 

Here Comes the Bus® utilizes our GPS data and an easy-to-use customizable map that works on one or multiple devices, such as a tablet or smartphone.

You will need the FCPS school district code 28982 and a SIS ParentVUE account to access your bus information.

For more information, visit the FCPS Here Comes the Bus site.


4. Math Center is Opening on Monday

Math Center

Math Center is opening on Monday, September 27th!

Math Center Hours & Locations DURING school:

  • Learning Seminars - B208 & B107
  • 5th period Lunch - B208
  • 6th period Lunch - B107

Math Center Hours & Locations AFTER school:

  • 3:00 - 3:45pm Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday - B208

Bring your notes and your assignment!


5. Homecoming Activities

PowerPuff Games and Homecoming Bonfire - Monday, October 11th – Pat Cunningham Stadium

6pm Freshmen vs Sophomores
7:15pm Juniors vs Seniors
Bonfire will take place immediately following the last PowerPuff game behind the stadium

Spirit Week – October 11th – 15th - Each school day will be designated with a specific outfit.  Students are voting on those days now. 

Homecoming Pep Rally – Friday, October 15th at the Football Stadium during 3rd period.

Homecoming Parade – Friday, October 15th, 4:30 – 5:15pm Free Homecoming Dance ticket if you drive your convertible in the Homecoming Parade

Pre-game Pig-out – Friday, October 15th,  5:00 – 6:45pm outside Door #7 by the Outdoor basketball courts. This is a community event for students and parents.  Join us for fun, games, face painting, Moon bounce, food trucks, and more before the Hoco game.

Homecoming Dance  – Saturday, October 16th, 8:00 – 11:30pm

Dance tickets are on sale starting October 4th and will be sold between the Cafeterias during all lunches and on MySchoolBucks.  No tickets are sold at the door.  The dance is semi-formal and tickets cost $20. Dance floors will be set up both outside under a tent and inside in the main gym.

Students must get prior approval in order to bring a guest that does not attend Woodson HS. Guest request forms are in the main school office and are due on Thursday, October 14th.


6. Does your student need a dress or suit for Homecoming?

Do you know someone that might need one?  Parent Liaison Sussy Tomer has shoes, necklaces, ear rings, clutches!

Students may go to Mrs. Sussy Tomer’s office, A139 on Mondays-Fridays from 8am-2pm to see what is available.  setomer@fcps.edu or 703-503-4792.


Jada Bromberg USA9

WUSA9 featured a Woodson HS senior on a segment on social media and mental health this week.


7. Makeup Picture Day for Underclass

The underclass picture makeup day is Tuesday, October 19th, from 8:30-2:30pm in the Dance Studio.  


8. National Merit Semifinalists

Five Woodson seniors were named National Merit semifinalists for 2022.  All semifinalists are eligible to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards worth more than $30 million, to be awarded in spring 2022. Semifinalists advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and other requirements including a recommendation from their principal.

Congratulations to Aaron Amartuvshin, Ja-Zhua Cheng, Ilse Eskelsen, Enoch Li, Megan Yi.


9. Social Justice Book Club

We are interested to see what books you might be interested in reading and if you will be joining us.  Take the survey here  

Questions? Please contact Paula DiSalvo (pdisalvo@fcps.edu), Jordan Black (jnblack@fcps.edu), Margie Shapiro (Msshapiro@fcps.edu).


Tag Day

The Marching Cavaliers thank the Woodson community for their contributions on Tag Day!


10. College & Career Center News

The Woodson College & Career Center is located in E 109. My office hours are 7:30 am until 3:30 pm. Students can stop by before or after school, or during LS and lunch if they have any questions, or just to say hello😊 Please join my Course in Schoology. My Access Code is:  3M8B-S8X4-N2H55.  My weekly newsletters and scholarship & enrichment opportunities are posted in Schoology and on my padlets. Both go out on Mondays. College Rep Visits for Juniors and Seniors here at Woodson will continue next week with Purdue University, University of Kentucky, Dartmouth College, University of Alabama, Michigan State, William & Mary, VT, JMU, Shenandoah University & more visiting. Please see instructions on how to view the schedule and how to register here. We are still adding new visits every day! 

Upcoming Events:

  • Senior Café every Wednesday morning from 7:30 – 8:00 am in the Career Center. Senior Café is an informal Q & A drop-in for Seniors to get help with their college and scholarship applications, jobs, resumes, apprenticeships & more.
  • College Application Completion Workshop in the Career Center on Wednesday, September 29th during ALL Lunches. Next workshop will be on Thursday, October 28th.
  • Region 5 Virtual  Financial Aid Night on Wednesday, September 29th, at 6:30 pm for seniors and their parents presented by College Access Fairfax. No need to register, just click on this Zoom link. Additional Financial Aid Night Dates can be accessed in Schoology here. Check out the Financial Aid Night Presentations that College Access Fairfax put together here.
  • FCPS ACE Presentation on Monday, October 4th, 10:15 – 11:15 am for Juniors and Seniors in the Career Center. Come and learn about Apprenticeships, Trade Schools, Workplace trainings and Certifications. Many of the FCPS ACE Programs are sponsored by employers and can be completed while you work. FCPS ACE offers scholarships and tuition payment plans. Seniors, if you do not yet know what to do after high school, this presentation is for you! You can register for this visit in Naviance or you can email me at cliebmosley@fcps.edu. Please see instructions here.
  • Region 5 Virtual Scholarship 101 on Wednesday, October 6th, at 6:30 pm for seniors and their parents presented by College Access Fairfax. Please stay tuned for the Zoom link.
  • Military Recruiter Visits will begin on Wednesday, October 6th with the Army visiting every first Wednesday, the Marine Corps every 2nd, Coast Guard every 3rd, and Navy every 4th Wednesday. I am still waiting to hear back from the Air Force. Please visit my Military Padlet for Recruiter contact info.
  • FAFSA Line-by-Line Virtual Completion Workshops by Access Fairfax on October 16 at 10 am at https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/98942498924 and on November 9th at 7 pm at https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97661177987 (no need to register, just click on the Zoom links to join).
  • ¡ALCANZA! College Fair for LatinX students at George Mason University, In-Person Event | Friday, October 22nd, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET. Seniors, please contact your Counselor to register.

Questions? Please email me at cliebmosley@fcps.edu.

Christine Lieb-Mosley


This is My Brave

PAST News - but still important


11. How do I check out my student from school?

Please let the Attendance Office know if you need your student to leave school early.  You can notify Attendance 3 different ways:

  • Submit the online attendance form and have your student pick up their pink checkout pass from the Attendance Office (E107) between classes or during lunch.
  • Student brings a note to the Attendance Office before 9:45am. The student will be issued a pink pass to leave class at the appointed time. The note must include the following - student name, date and time of when student is leaving, and reason for early check-out, student ID, parent signature and contact number. 
  • Call the attendance line, 703-503-4800 and select Option 3. After leaving a message, please have your student pick up their pink checkout pass from the Attendance Office (E107) between classes or during lunch.

At the time of dismissal, your son/daughter will bring the pink check-out pass back to the Attendance Office for verification before meeting you outside. 

If returning to school that same day, students must check in at the Attendance office before going back to class, even if it is between classes.

If one of the options above is not followed, we cannot guarantee a speedy checkout, so please make sure you notify the attendance office prior to picking up your son/daughter to ensure you make your appointment or commitment on time.

Due to staff responsibilities at the end of the day, we are not able to honor unannounced early dismissals within 15 minutes of school dismissal.

For full details on Attendance Procedures, please visit the Attendance page on the Woodson website.


Golf Senior Night

Congratulations to the Seniors on Woodson's Golf team!


12. Social Emotional Learning Screener Opt-Out Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) commits to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning (SEL). The School Board has approved a screener to review students’ skills and experiences in these areas. FCPS staff will use the screener to identify strengths and needs for students in grades K-12. The screener provides information regarding students’ experiences and how staff can support their needs.

SEL skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The screener will review these skills, as well as students’ relationships, feelings of belonging, feelings about their school environment, and mood. These factors are critical to positive academic, social, and emotional success.

If you do not want your student to take part in the SEL screener, please return the opt-out form found on the FCPS site to the school no later than Friday, October 1st.

13. World Languages Credit Exam

The 2021 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 16, 17 and 18, 2021.  Thirty languages will be included: American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, German, Greek*, Hebrew*, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese*, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish*, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

*Greek, Hebrew, Portuguese and Turkish will be offered by the Writing Proficiency Test by Language Testing International.  School counselors should register students for these exams by the same process as other languages.

Registration is now open and will close on Wednesday, October 13th at 4:00 p.m.  Late registrations will not be accepted.

School counselors will register students at their individual schools. 

Credit exam information can be accessed at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages


14. To our Military Families

Do you have a family member who is deploying?

Student Services wants to provide support to your student before, during, and after the deployment.  If you feel comfortable, please let your student’s counselor know about any current or upcoming deployments. Thank you!


15. Forgotten Items & Lost and Found

Q - My son/daughter forgot their lunch/homework assignment/laptop.  Where can I drop off items?

A– Forgotten items may be dropped off at the main office on a designated bookshelf.  Please make sure your child's name is written on the item.

Q - My son/daughter lost their wallet (or any item).  Where should I go to see if it has been turned in?

A – You may come to the main office and a Safety and Security assistant will escort you to the Lost and Found room to search for your item.


16. Laptop Tech Support Hours

If students need FCPS laptop technical support at Woodson HS, please submit a ticket using the FCPS Parent/Student Tech Support Portal.

Our walk-in hours in Room A114 are: 

  • Odd Days during Learning Seminar
  • Monday - 7:45am - 8:10am
  • Tuesday and Wednesday - 11:25am - 1:20pm (lunches)
  • Wednesday - 2:55pm - 4:00pm (when late buses start)

Any other time you should try to make an appointment.

Thank you, W.T Woodson HS Tech Support Team


17. Woodson's PTSO

Our mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

PTSO meetings take place the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6pm in the Library at Woodson HS. 

Whether you are a new or returning WTW parent, please get involved in any way that works for you. Here are some quick links to get you started:

Join our PTSO
Make a Donation
Sign up for one of our Volunteer Opportunities
Ask a local business to become a Business or Community Sponsor
Find WT Woodson on FacebookInstagram  and Twitter
Go shopping! Amazon, Office Depot, groceries, etc. Link your accounts and a portion of your sales will go to our school!


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)