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Woodson Weekly -
December 10th |
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!
 Woodson's Hockey Team practiced with the NOVA Cool Cats, a local hockey team for kids and young adults with developmental disabilities. Read the full Washington Post story!
Important Upcoming Dates
Monday, December 13th - Senior Class Holiday Social (see story #7)
Tuesday, December 14th - Musical Showcase Concert, 7pm Auditorium
Thursday, December 16th - Pop In To Pop Out Stress Event with therapy dogs during lunches (see story #4)
Monday, December 20th - Friday, December 31st - Winter Break; School Office Closed
Monday, January 3rd - First Day after Winter Break; Even Day
Thursday, January 6th - Religious and Cultural Observance Three Kings Day/Epiphany
Friday, January 7th - Religious and Cultural Observance Orthodox Christmas
In this Issue
NEW News
1. Message from Dr. Floyd
2. PSAT/NMSQT Scores
3. Winter Spirit Week
4. Pop In to Pop Out Stress Event with Therapy Dogs
5. LAST CHANCE - Senior Portraits
6. Senior Class Holiday Social - Monday, December 13th
7. Senior Baby Ads for Yearbook
8. Help Us Thank Woodson Teachers and Staff
9. Winter Break Office Hours
10. FCPS Winter Break Homework Expectations
11. Lightspeed Parent Report on Child's Device Activity
12. Northern Virginia Community College Online Early College Program
13. College & Career Center News
PAST News, but still important
14. New Kiss & Ride Procedures
15. To Our Military Families
16. Flocking Senior Class of 2022
17. Order the 2022 WTW Yearbook
18. How do I check my Student out from School?
19. Laptop Tech Support Hours
20. Woodson's PTSO
NEW News
1. Message from Dr. Floyd
Good afternoon Woodson Community,
Today marks one week from the start of Winter Break! While I am excited for some downtime, I am also very much aware of the different ways families will spend this time off from school. While I have some of the same traditions with my family, I am reminded of other traditions that will not take place this year for a variety of reasons. Whether COVID has changed this season, or distance between family and friends or financial strains loom over these two weeks – we all must remain cognizant that everyone is not in the same place they were just two years ago.
I ask that we keep this in mind as we ask what others are doing over break or for the holidays. I’ve spoken with several students who have struggled with this response, struggled to be as “cool” as their friends (or whatever the “hip” term used these days) and leaving a sense of emptiness and loss when reminded that these two weeks will look different than in previous years.
Our last week prior to break will be another spirit week! The fun of crazy outfits, unusual “not a backpack” ideas and creative participation is a fun way to head off into the Winter Break. I encourage your child to participate, even one day of the week. The themes for next week are in story #3 below.
Next Friday’s Woodson Weekly will be a look into the new year. The school offices will be closed over break, if you need anything please reach out to me (cefloyd@fcps.edu) or Mr. Peters (fjpeters@fcps.edu) who will be monitoring email throughout the time away.
May you all have a peaceful holiday season,
Dr. Floyd
 Ms. Schmauder and Ms. Guerra get in the spirit by celebrating "Twin Day" this week.
2. PSAT/NMSQT Scores
Score reports for the October 13th PSAT/NMSQT administration were released on December 6th. Please note that scores for students testing with accommodations are sometimes delayed.
Students will need to set up a College Board account if they haven’t already done so. Scores can be accessed by logging into the College Board Score Portal. Students should not use their FCPS email to create College Board accounts.
If students need help accessing their scores, they should reach out to their counselor or call College Board (866.433.7728).
 Woodson celebrated Inclusive Schools Week with a Crazy Sock day.
3. Winter Spirit Week
Themes for next week's Spirit Week are:
Monday - PJ/Comfy Clothes Day
Tuesday - Dress like a Tourist Day
Wednesday - Baggy Clothes Day
Thursday - Holiday Sweater Day
Friday - Freaky Friday (students dress like teachers/teachers dress like students)
4. Pop In To Pop Out Stress Event with Therapy Dogs
Woodson Minds Matter club is sponsoring a Pop In to Pop Out Stress event with therapy dogs during all lunches on Thursday, December 16th. The event will either take place outside Door #19 or in the auditorium lobby.
Students can visit with Mack, Frankie (pictured below) and Ruthie Jane as well as pick up some stress relieving fidgets.
Special thank you to the Woodson PTSO grant for funding this event!
5. LAST CHANCE - Senior Portraits
December 13-15, 8:30-1:30pm, last chance for senior portraits will be at Woodson High School in E146 (Chorus Room).
Seniors can go to prestigeportraits.com to schedule their appointments. If they do not have their original scheduling code, they can use the 'search for your school by location' feature. Please know this is a final opportunity to be photographed and appear in the yearbook.
Questions with scheduling please email crocca@lifetouch.com
6. Senior Class Holiday Social - Monday, December 13th
7. Senior Baby Ads for Yearbook
Looking for a personalized, memorable way to recognize your graduating senior? Want to capture memories with the friends you’ve made for a lifetime? Looking for a fun way to recognize your teammates or club members? Parents, siblings, relatives, teachers, coaches, and friends of the graduating Class of 2022 have an opportunity to purchase ad space in the 2022 edition of the yearbook.
There are five ad sizes available at various price points. All ad space is sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Place your order early to reserve ad space for your graduating senior.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING ADS is Wednesday, December 15th. Go to yearbookordercenter.com and type in the code 5278
8. Help Us Thank Woodson Teachers and Staff
The PTSO invites all Woodson families to celebrate and recognize our wonderful teachers and staff this holiday season.
High School isn’t the same as elementary school where we had organized gift-giving and room parents. Please take time throughout the school year, and especially now in the holiday season, to recognize and thank the educators and support professionals that work with our children. Simple notes of appreciation, emails of gratitude and letters in support of teachers, counselors, principal, and/or support staff have enormous, meaningful impact.
Additionally, Woodson PTSO is collecting gift cards to raffle at the Annual Holiday Party for the Teachers and Staff on Thursday, December 16th. Parents, families and students are invited to donate gift cards; please send donated gift cards to the front office in an envelope addressed to “Attn: Celeste Jones, Holiday Party Raffle Prizes.”
We kindly ask that we receive all donations by Wednesday, December 15th. Please contact Celeste Jones at cbjones@fcps.edu for more information.
9. Winter Break Office Hours
The Woodson administrative offices will be closed from Monday, December 20th through Friday, December 31st.
Offices will re-open on Monday, January 3rd at 7:30 a.m.
 Liana, Ariana, and Alex resented their “Empire Autopsy” of the Safavids in Mr. Wright’s AP World History class on Monday.
10. FCPS Winter Break Homework Expectations
As we move toward Winter Break, we want to communicate the guidelines we have shared with our faculty regarding schoolwork over the break:
FCPS has adopted the policy of limiting the work being assigned over extended breaks. Specifically, teachers are not to assign homework or projects that are due on the two school days following an extended break. There should also not be any assessments on the two days following extended breaks. This does not preclude teachers from assigning long-range assignments in the weeks before the break and tasking students to use their own time management skills to determine if they need to work during their holiday. Teachers should ensure that assignments are not due immediately following the break. Faculty must use their professional judgment to make determinations of reasonableness and efficacy.
If you have questions regarding specific assignments in a particular class, we always encourage students and families to reach out directly to their teachers for clarification and information.
11. Lightspeed Parent Report on Child's Device Activity
FCPS has new tools to help parents and guardians know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided by Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, at no cost to families. You may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited.
If you want more detailed information, sign up for the Internet Use Parent portal and log-in anytime to see more detail about your child’s browsing and “pause” access to the internet during non-school hours. Find out more and sign up for these services on our website.
 The Woodson Band directed by Aaron Morgan performing at their Winter Concert last night.
12. Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Online Early College Program
NOVA will offer select college courses this Spring 2022 with free tuition to Fairfax County high school juniors and seniors. Courses are twelve weeks, virtual, asynchronous classes and will begin February 1, 2022. Students must meet placement requirements and understand there may be textbooks or other material fees associated with courses. Students will need access to a computer and the internet. The online courses are not intended to replace any 2021-22 classes for which students are already registered at their high school. The program provides an accelerated opportunity to earn transferable college only credits. Details about the Online Early College Program can be found here.
Additionally, NOVA will be offering Early Online College courses for juniors and seniors during the 2022-23 school year. All high schools should advertise these opportunities during academic advising. Additional information will be provided to high school directors of student services at their December 15 meeting to assist with marketing and answering questions.
13. 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. Please join my Course in Schoology – Access Code 3M8B-S8X4-N2H55. The College & Career Center newsletters are posted here.
Upcoming Events – please visit my Upcoming Events & Opportunities Padlet:
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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.
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Military Recruiter Visits every Wednesday during All Lunches: Recruiter Visits will resume after the winter break with the Army visiting on Jan 5th, 2022 Please see my Military Padlet for Recruiter contact info and upcoming events.
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Seniors, have you filed your FAFSA? Please check out my Financial Aid Padlet for information on Financial Aid, the FAFSA, and the CSS Profile. Let’s get the FAFSA out of the way before winter break!
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Virtual Scholarship 101 Presentation by College Access Fairfax on December 11th, 10 am – 11:30 am. Learn how to apply for scholarships, including tips on applications, websites, and other sources of scholarship information. Registration is not required. Please check out my Scholarship Padlet for additional resources & opportunities.
Questions? Please email cliebmosley@fcps.edu
 Students got very creative for "anything but the backpack" day!
PAST News - but still important
14. New Kiss & Ride Procedures
Many thanks to our parents who have helped alleviate our bus driver shortage by driving their students to school. Due to this added volume, Woodson’s Kiss & Ride procedures will change on Wednesday, December 1st.
All vehicles entering school property from Whitacre Road must use the Kiss & Ride loop in the back of the building at Door #9 (by the tennis courts.) Only faculty and staff will be able to access the entrance close to Door 16 for parking in front of the building.
The Kiss & Ride loop for Doors 1, 2, and 3 are only accessible by entering school property from Pickett Road.
This change is necessary because there have been significant safety concerns with the current flow of Kiss & Ride traffic.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. The safety of our students, staff and visitors is our primary goal.
15. 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!
16. Flocking Senior Class of 2022
The PTSO is looking for a senior parent volunteer to take over the Senior Flocking for the Class of 2022.
There are 350ish flamingos available from last year's flocking initiative, so only yard signs would need to be funded.
If you are interested in this opportunity to celebrate the Class of 2022, please email woodsonclass2021@gmail.com.
17. Order the 2022 WTW Yearbook!
Let’s celebrate our Woodson Cavaliers in 2021-2022! 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!
18. 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.
 Ms. Hagan-Bowerman, Ms. Burke, and Ms. Edwards decided to triplet on Twin Day.
19. 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
20. 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 Facebook, Instagram 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)
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