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Woodson Weekly -
September 30th |
Woodson Weekly is published every Friday to provide the community with important information about school life at Woodson High School.
Mission Statement
Woodson High School’s mission is to empower our community to reach their individual potential by creating a healthy environment of mutual respect, responsibility, equity, and inclusion.
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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este mensaje en otros idiomas, podrán ver las traducciones automáticas en nuestro sitio web.
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 Students and faculty enjoyed the Woodson tradition - Hey Day!
Important Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, October 4th - Religious and Cultural Observance Day - Yom Kippur begins at sundown
Wednesday, October 5th - Student Holiday and School Offices Closed; Religious and Cultural Observance Day - Yom Kippur
Thursday, October 6th - Deadline to register for World Languages Credit Exam (see #18)
Thursday, October 6th at 7pm at Fairfax HS Auditorium - Paying For College: The Financial Aid Process (see #5)
Friday, October 7th - Pep Rally during 3rd Period, Homecoming Parade, Pig Out, Homecoming Football Game (see #1)
Saturday, October 8th, 8-11:30pm - Homecoming Dance Tickets (see #1)
Monday, October 10th - Professional Work Day/Student Holiday; Indigenous Peoples' Day
Wednesday, October 12th - SAT/PSAT/NMSQT School Day; 9th and 12th graders not testing do not report to school (see #6)
The complete FCPS 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
Woodson's Events & Activities Calendar
Message from Mr. Greata
Dear Woodson Community!
This Sunday is Custodian Appreciation Day and I want to send out a huge thank you to our custodial staff! We honored and thanked our custodians this week for all that they do to keep our building functioning, welcoming, and beautiful. We truly cannot thank them enough.
This past Wednesday we held our annual Hey Day which highlighted all of our different clubs (over 40!), and provided the entire school a chance to gather as a community. As we all jammed out to the sounds of our student rock band, The Flip Flops, students had the opportunity to learn about and join a club as well as help clubs fundraise. At the same time, our faculty was holding court in the gym as they prevailed 41-28 in the annual student-faculty basketball game. Thank you to Dan Schaeffer and Krissy Schnebel and our leadership students for their hard work in organizing this Woodson classic!
I want to recognize Rida Karim, Courtney Butts, Raj Singh, and Opal Cohen, our Student Equity Ambassador Leaders (SEALs). This week our SEALs attended the FCPS Kickoff Celebration. I want to thank our equity leads, John Nah and Brian Annear, as well as assistant principal Paula Disalvo for supporting these young leaders!
Huge shout out to Maria Giuliani, one of our family liaisons, and Eric Henderson, ESOL teacher and head football coach, for organizing an ESOL parent night. After a presentation of important information, we got to know our families over some food before taking them on a tour. The tour was led by Sarah Von Loewe and Christine Ziu, who are members of our Spanish Honor Society with extremely impressive bilingual skills!
It was wonderful seeing all our young Cavaliers last week at the Pyramid Feeder Night football game. We appreciated the parental support in monitoring their children during the game. Our cooperation makes all the difference.
We want all students to feel safe while at school and when attending school sponsored events. We ask that anything deviating from a safe and welcoming environment be brought to our attention so that we may ensure the safety of all students. In such situations, administrators investigate and take appropriate action as outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities.
On a personal note, I want to express how much I have enjoyed getting to know the entire Woodson community over the past few weeks. I have been so impressed at the cohesiveness, excellence, and kindness that I witnessed every single day. As we are all looking forward to Dr. Floyd returning next week, I would like to finish my time by nominating you all for a CAV Kudo!
Thank you and best wishes on a great school year,
Mr. Greata
Acting Principal
 Future Cavaliers from Fairfax Villa ES enjoyed participating in Pyramid Feeder Night last Friday. Principal Dave Gerstner as Blast led the dragons across the field!
In this Issue
NEW News
1. Woodson Homecoming Activities
2. Does your student need a dress or suit for Homecoming?
3. Convertibles Needed for Homecoming Parade
4. Parent Volunteers Needed for Homecoming Dance
5. Paying For College: The Financial Aid Process
6. October 12th - SAT and PSAT/NMSQT School Day
7. FCPS College Fair and Post-Secondary Week
8. DMV Learners Permit Tests at Woodson
9. College & Career Center News
10. Rainbow Fentanyl Information
PAST News, but still important
11. Attendance Procedures
12. School Picture Retakes
13. AP Exams for Students Not Enrolled in AP Courses
14. Free Resources from Tutor.com
15. Class of 2023 News
16. World Languages Credit Exam
17. Substance Abuse Prevention Resources
18. Laptop Tech Support Hours
19. Woodson's PTSO
NEW News
1. Woodson Homecoming Activities
Theme: Disco
Homecoming Bonfire and Power Puff have been rescheduled to Friday, November 18th!
Homecoming Pep Rally – Friday, October 7th at the Football Stadium during 3rd period.
Homecoming Parade – Friday, October 7th, 4:30 – 5:15pm Free (see below flier for parade route)
Pre-game Pig-out – Friday, October 7th, 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.
Admission is free. Students can purchase a wristband for $5 which gets them unlimited turns on the moon bounce obstacle course, one popcorn, one snow cone, one cotton candy.
Homecoming Dance – Saturday, October 8th, 8:00 – 11:00pm
Dance tickets are on sale between the Cafeterias during all lunches and on e-tix. No tickets are sold at the door. The dance attire is semi-formal and tickets cost $20.
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 on Schoology and are due on Thursday, October 6th.
2. Does your student need a dress or suit for Homecoming?
Do you know someone that might need one? We have shoes, necklaces, earrings, clutches!
Students may go to Ms. Treague's classroom in T104 during return periods to see what is available. krtreague@fcps.edu
3. Convertibles Needed for Homecoming Parade
Hey Cavalier Family! The Leadership classes need your help! Do you have a convertible that you are willing to drive in our Homecoming Parade on Friday, October 7th?
Please fill out this Google Form with your contact and vehicle information! Thank you in advance for your help!
4. Parent Volunteers Needed for Homecoming Dance
Seeking parent volunteers in groups of 2-3 to be stationed at key points around the cordoned off outdoor “lounge/rec area” near door 3 (and the rock) during the dance. Two of the four police officers who work the event will also be positioned near this area for the entire evening to ensure the safety of our students.
Shifts: 7:45-9:30pm and 9:30-11:15pm. In addition, 4 parents per shift are needed to run the coat check.
Sign up here to volunteer! Contact Dan Schaefer at djschaefer@fcps.edu with any questions
 Equity Lead Mr. Nah, Equity Administrator Dr. DiSalvo and Woodson SEAL Raj at the FCPS SEALs kick-off event.
5. Paying For College: The Financial Aid Process
PAYING FOR COLLEGE: The Financial Aid Process for the Class of 2023 Seniors and Parents/Guardians.
Thursday, October 6, 2022, 7:00 p.m.
Fairfax High School Auditorium, 3501 Lion Run, Fairfax, VA 22030
Presented by College Access Fairfax. College Access Fairfax is committed to helping FCPS students with the complex task of acquiring financial aid for post-secondary education.
Presentation Topics:
- Understanding financial aid
- How the financial aid process works
- Steps families need to take to secure financial aid
No pre-reservation is required. Spanish & Arabic Interpretation will be available. For more information or questions, contact: cliebmosley@fcps.edu
6. October 12th - SAT and PSAT/NMSQT School Day
Wednesday, October 12th is SAT and PSAT/NMSQT School Day and a 2-hour early release day.
All students in grades 10-11 will participate in the PSAT/NMSQT. No registration is required.
Only seniors who pre-registered for the test will take the SAT School Day.
More details will be shared directly with individual students via their fcpsschools.net email.
Students in grade 9 and those seniors not testing will not be in school on October 12th. There is no need to contact attendance for these students.
Special education students receiving Cat B services will be in school on October 12th.
 Students in Ms. Duarte's Honors Chemistry class doing a demonstration of nuclear reactions with balloons.
7. FCPS College Fair and Post-Secondary Week
High school students and their families are invited to attend the annual FCPS College Fair and Postsecondary Week events.
The College Fair, which will feature admissions representatives from more than 250 colleges and universities from across the United States and abroad, will be held at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena on Sunday, October 16, from 4 to 7 p.m. Postsecondary Week will be held virtually Monday, October 17, to Thursday, October 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. Postsecondary week will feature virtual workshops related to the college admissions process, financial aid, and other postsecondary educational opportunities.
Students are highly encouraged to register in advance for these events.
8. DMV Learners Permit Tests at Woodson
Woodson is pleased to announce that students can take the Virginia DMV learner’s permit test at Woodson. Students will use their school issued laptops and will be given a login just as they do for the SOL tests. If they do NOT have a school laptop, they must contact Mr. O'Hara ahead of time because personal laptops do NOT work for the test. Students will be eligible to test if they are 15 years 6 months or older on the following Tuesdays at 3:15pm in Room C108:
October 18th, December 13th, February 21st, April 25th, May 23rd
Steps to complete the process: You must register in TWO places: ACE (for payment) and DMV for the test ticket.
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Payment: First you must register through the ACE and pay $20.
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Register for this test event at DMV Registration (Internet Explorer 9 or higher or Safari).
- A customer number is not required, but if you have a DMV ID card you must enter the name, DOB and customer number exactly as it appears on your DMV ID card. Otherwise, enter your full legal name and date of birth and leave the customer number field blank.
- Please provide a parent or student’s email to receive registration confirmation, test results, notification of changes to the date and time or cancellation of the test event.
- Before taking the two part knowledge test, please STUDY the Driver’s Manual located on DMV’s web site.
If you have any questions with the process, please contact DMV by phone at (804) 497-7100.
David O’Hara (dgohara@fcps.edu), Driver Education Teacher
 Cav Kudos! These students were recognized for helping Woodson build a great school culture one interaction at a time
9. College & Career Center News
Resources for College & Career Exploration are posted in Schoology in the ALL PARENT COURSE and in the ALL SCHOOL STUDENT & STAFF COURSE. Please sign in with your SIS username and password to access. Please email cliebmosley@fcps.edu or call 703-503-4661 if you have any questions. Newsletters are posted here.
- Please mark your Calendar for the HBCU Historically Black Colleges & Universities Festival on Oct 7 & 8 hosted by Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria. Please visit here to register. The FCPS College Fair is on Oct 16 and the FCPS Virtual Postsecondary Week Oct 17 – 20. The ALCANZA College Fair for Latinx Students at GMU is scheduled for October 19th. Please see your Counselor to register for ALCANZA.
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Attention Class of 2023! Financial Aid Night on 6 Oct 2022 at 7 pm in the Fairfax HS Auditorium. Separate Spanish & Arabic Sessions will be available. This is a Paying for College Presentation that will cover the different types and sources of Financial Aid, and how to apply. For additional Financial Aid Presentations, please visit www.collegeaccessfairfax.org. The FAFSA will open on Oct 1. We recommend that all students file the FAFSA during the month of October.
College Rep Visits for Rising Juniors & Seniors will run until November 18th, 2022. Students, please register in Naviance – Colleges – Research Colleges – College Visits. Next week, we will have Catholic University, Randolph Macon College, Coastal Carolina University, Brown University, University of Minnesota/Twin Cities, Johns Hopkins University & Louisiana State University visit Woodson.
Christine Lieb-Mosley
College and Career Specialist, 703-503-4661
Woodson College & Career Center Padlets
10. Rainbow Fentanyl Information
The DEA has issued a public warning educating the community about rainbow fentanyl. These particular pills are targeted to youth and young adults by its colorful candy-like appearance making them look harmless. Rainbow Fentanyl resembles playground chalk before it is pressed into pills and has been found in 18 states including West Virginia and New York and are sold as low as $17 (Hawaii) per pill making them affordable. In August of 2022 47,000 pills were confiscated at the Arizona border as well as 186,000 “Perc 30’s” or “Blues”, another popular synthetic opioid found in our county.
The trend, as reported by users, is to crush the pills, smoke it off of a piece of aluminum foil, with the theory that it is “safer” than snorting. When burned, it often gives off a distinct odor of burned rubber. While we have not seen Rainbow Fentanyl yet, Perc 30’s or Blues are popular among adolescents and young adults in Fairfax County and the surrounding areas. Fentanyl is also found in counterfeit prescription pills, cocaine, Xanax, and other licit and illicit drugs.
The Medical Examiner from the Virginia Department of Health recently released its 1st quarter data for 2022 stating 483 people have died from fatal fentanyl overdoses in the state. For Fairfax County data and additional information on youth substance use, please see the Fairfax County Youth Substance Trends webinar linked below.
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists (SAPS) provide Tier 1 support throughout FCPS. Each high school pyramid is assigned a SAPS who conducts brief interventions, psychoeducation, and presentations to students, staff, families, and community members. Topics of discussion include alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) as well as current trends on substances. For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
For further Information & support:
De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil), MSW, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, dsmcneil@fcps.edu
DEA Rainbow Fentanyl Press Release
DEA Fentanyl Gallery
Narcan Training (English & Spanish)
Fairfax County Youth Substance Use Trends
PAST News, but still important
11. Attendance Procedures
Attendance is critical to student success in the classroom.
If your student will be absent from school, a parent/guardian must notify the attendance office. Below is a quick guide for reporting all-day absences, late arrivals, and early check-outs from school.
12. School Picture Retakes
Underclass photo makeups will take place on Friday, October 14th. Senior portrait dates are Monday-Tuesday, November 14th and 15th.
Scheduling information will be sent out in the coming weeks. For questions about ordering, please email underclass@vosphoto.com or seniors@vosphoto.com.
13. AP Exams for Students Not Enrolled in AP Courses
Woodson HS offers AP tests for students not enrolled in AP classes based on seat availability/test room capacity.
Non-enrolled students wanting to take the AP test will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The cost for each exam is $96.00.
Registration forms are available in Student Services. The deadline to register is Friday, October 21st.
 Families gathered to learn more about Woodson at our ESOL Family Night.
14. Free Resources from Tutor.com
FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 2022-23 school year. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.
Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
15. Class of 2023 News
Want to know all the important news and upcoming events for the Class of 2023? Visit the Senior Class News website for everything you need to know.
16. World Languages Credit Exam
The 2022 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on Thursday, November 3rd, Wednesday, November 9th, and Thursday, November 10th.
Thirty (30) languages will be included: American Sign Language (ASL), 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.
Registration opens on Tuesday, September 6th at 8:00 a.m. and closes on Thursday, October 6th at 4:00 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.
School counselors will register students for the exam. Visit the FCPS Credit exam information page for more information.
 Woodson students worked with 4th graders at Canterbury Woods ES to plant fall crops.
17. Substance Abuse Prevention Resources
Did you know that FCPS has a resource for students who may have concerns regarding substance use?
Each school pyramid has a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist (SAPS) assigned to provide substance abuse prevention, education, and intervention services. Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists are part of the FCPS Office of Student Safety and Wellness.
Your Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist is: De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil)
Key roles of a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist:
- Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug education for students, parents, and the Fairfax County Community
- Intervention services upon violation of the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook or suspected substance use involvement
- Assessing a student’s level of substance use and, if appropriate, making referrals to the Fairfax Community Service Board for additional services or other community resources as appropriate
- Group and individual prevention services for students, staff, parents, and the Fairfax County community
- Most importantly, building positive relationships with students to provide support and encouragement
Resources:
Free Virtual Parent Support Group
Free Online Narcan Training for Opioid Overdoses
Free Lock Boxes for Medications & Firearms
Spiritual Support by Phone for Adults
Spanish Podcast: Tips on How Parents Play an Important Role in Substance Abuse Prevention
Juvenile Court Parent Support Group
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
For further Information & support contact De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil), MSW, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, dsmcneil@fcps.edu
18. 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
- Wednesday - 2:55pm - 4:00pm (when late buses start)
Any other time you should try to make an appointment using a ticket from the Support Portal.
Thank you, Woodson HS Tech Support Team
19. 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. Whether you are a new or returning WTW parent, please get involved in any way that works for you.
2022-23 PTSO Board -
Miklos Kiss - President
Lena McGinn - VP Membership
Diane Raffaele - Secretary
Kyle Durbin - Treasurer
Jill Battaglia - Communications
PTSO website https://wtwoodsonptso.ptboard.com/annlist
We look forward to a great school year!
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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