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Important Dates
October 5: No School, Yom Kippur
October 10: Student Holiday/Staff Development Day - Indigenous Peoples' Day
October 11: Community Conversation with Dr. Reid
October 12: PSAT/SAT Day (10th-12th Grade)
October 13: DIGPINK Volleyball Game
October 24: No School, Diwali
October 28: End of 1st Quarter; 2 Hour Early Release
October 31: Student Holiday/Teacher Workday - Happy Halloween
General Information
Buy Your Yearbook and Senior Baby Ads Today
Yearbooks and senior baby ads are on sale now! Last year sold out, so don’t risk it – buy early! Yearbooks are currently $67 for the base package, and senior baby ads come in a variety of sizes and prices. To buy a yearbook or a baby ad, visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and use code 4770! Questions? Email jsmorrison@fpcs.edu.
Community Conversation with Dr. Reid - Save the Date
Please save the date for a very special event! Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS superintendent, will host a Community Conversation at Oakton High School on Tuesday, October 11 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This event will be a unique opportunity to help Dr. Reid get to know the Oakton Pyramid school community and learn more about her vision for our district.
Language interpretation will be provided, as available, as well as child care and light refreshments. Please register here to attend.
DIGPINK Volleyball Event - October 13
Dig Pink is a volleyball event for athletes, coaches, parents, and communities to unite in a collective effort to raise awareness and fundraise to support metastatic breast cancer research through the Side-Out Foundation. Oakton High School will host crosstown rival Madison High School on October 13 for a memorable, inspirational, and impactful experience. The gym will be full of players and spectators wearing pink, Oakton High School teams and clubs will perform, and funds raised through the sale of baked goods and raffle tickets will support the Side-Out Foundation. The buzz, electricity, and energy in the gym will be palpable and unforgettable!
The Side-Out Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Fairfax, VA that was established in 2004 by the volleyball coach at West Springfield High School to make a significant and measurable impact on the lives of metastatic breast cancer patients and their families. Link to the story about the Side-Out Foundation: https://side-out.org/about-us/
 AVID Tutors Needed
Attention families - are you or someone you know looking for a flexible and part-time position at Oakton High School? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2022-2023 school year. AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use higher order questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $18.42 per hour and must either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to Karen Huffman at kshuffman@fcps.edu
 Testing Updates
AP Exam Registration for Non-enrolled Students
If any student wants to take an AP exam in a course that he/she is not enrolled in, registration is now open. Each exam costs $96. You can use this google form to register or paper copy on our website. Students currently enrolled in an AP course are automatically registered for the corresponding AP exam and do not need to complete any form. The deadline to register is October 28th. Payment can be submitted through My School Bucks or check made out to Oakton High School. Payment is required before the exam space will be reserved.
My School Bucks Link
Other AP related information can be found in our AP Testing FAQs on the Oakton website. If you have any other questions about AP testing in general, please contact Assistant Principal Martha Rodeheaver at myrodeheaver@fcps.edu.
PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day: October 12
Current Oakton-enrolled sophomores and juniors are eligible to take the PSAT/NMSQT on October 12, 2022. Only Oakton seniors who have registered for testing may participate in SAT School Day. All freshmen and unregistered seniors will participate in asynchronous activities at home.
Learn more about PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day On October 12th here.
Seniors who wish to register for the SAT test on October 12 had to complete the intent form by September 7, 2022.
Student Services Updates
Student Services Newsletter
Happy Fall Cougars! Check out October’s Student Services Newsletter that includes information about upcoming parent and student events as well as highlights the month’s activities with wellness initiatives, Senior Parent Night, Freshman Parent Night and important testing updates.
Community Book Club
Greetings Oakton Parents and Guardians! Oakton Student Services is excited to announce our community book club. Our first read will be, How to Raise an Adult by Julie Lythcott-Harris. "In How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success.” (Amazon)
We anticipate beginning in mid-October through mid-January. We will then discuss the book as a group with an in-person conversation led by School Social Worker, Rachel Cherian.
To kick off the Book Club, the first 25 families that register will receive a free copy of the book, one book per family.
If interested, please register here for planning purposes. More information will be sent mid-October.
Questions? Please reach out to School Social Worker, Rachel Cherian, at rjcherian@fcps.edu.
Mindful Parenting Workshop: October 19
6:30 – 8:00pm in Oakton High School Lecture Hall
Are you prematurely greying because parenting is stressing you out? Do you find yourself losing your temper around your kid(s) more often than you care to admit? You are NOT alone. Parenting is a tough job, but there are ways to navigate the challenges with more ease and joy—mindful parenting to the rescue! Join mindfulness coach and mother-of-three Erin Sonn, for a mindful parenting workshop to practice simple, accessible strategies for cultivating emotional attunement and a mindful presence with your kid(s). Mindfulness connects you to present moment experiences, which can enhance your delight in caregiving, as well as soothe your child(ren), because they know they are seen and heard. Learn how “showing up” for your child(ren) positively affects their brain development and creates safe spaces for them to take risks, build resiliency, and thrive.
RSVP using the following link: https://forms.gle/QwZSFeGE39GPynv2A
Student Yoga Sessions
Throughout the year, Oakton will offer yoga sessions during return periods for students to relax and reenergize.
Students can sign up for the October 4 session using the following link: https://forms.gle/mR8Y82bvu6zZNGXC8
Upcoming Yoga Dates
October 4 & 25
November 1 & 28
December 6
January 10 & 31
February 14 & 21
March 6 & 20
April 17 & 24
May 22
June 6
Underclassmen Academic Awards Celebration
November 3 during 3rd period
On Thursday, November 3, Oakton will recognize 835 students who have earned an Academic Award. Academic Awards are based on last year’s high school GPA (4.0 and higher). First time award recipients will receive an academic letter and a pin. Returning recipients will receive a pin to be placed on the academic letter they received in a previous year. Recipients will receive an invitation to this event on Monday, October 3 via email. This is a student only event.
National Merit Commended & Semifinalist Ceremony
November 10th during return period
On Thursday, November 10, Oakton will recognize 76 students who have been recognized by College Board as a National Merit Commended student and 11 students who have qualified as a Semifinalist. These students participated in a nationwide competition conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corp., by taking the PSAT last October. 50,000 highest scorers nationwide qualified for this designation and of those high scorers, 16,000 were designated Semifinalists. Recipients will receive an invitation to this event on Tuesday, October 11 via email. This is a parent and designated student only event.
Schedule Changes
Open schedule change requests are now paused until the end of first quarter. At that time, we will consider schedule changes again if there is a demonstrated need.
World Languages Credit Exam
The 2022 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 3, 9, and 10, 2022. 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 6, 2022, at 8:00 a.m. and closes on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.
Credit exam information can be accessed at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages.
If you would like to register your student, please reach out to your school counselor.
Service Learning Updates
Service Learning Enrichment Opportunities
In an effort to highlight enrichment experiences that can connect service learning for students, FCPS has put together a brief one page document with various enrichment experiences. All of these experiences are posted in the Naviance Enrichment Database, but we also wanted to highlight them for our community in case any students might be interested.
Service Learning and X2VOL
All students at Oakton are encouraged to use X2VOL via their Naviance account to record and continue to record all Service Learning completed throughout the school year. Students may access information and help for X2VOL via Naviance using the following link https://help.x2vol.com/knowledge/for-naviance-schools
Health and Wellness Updates
Substance Abuse and Prevention Specialist - Red Ribbon Week
Please see this handout with background and information on Red Ribbon Week.
Health and Safety Guidance Document
The FCPS Health and Safety guidance document has been updated for this school year. Please see this site for more information.
Emergency Resources
Crisis Link Regional Hotline 703-527-4077
Crisis Text Text NEEDHELP to 85511
Dominion Hospital Emergency 703-536-2000
INOVA Emergency 703-289-7560
Merrifield Center Emergency 703-573-5979 TTY dial 711
Life Threatening 911
Safety and Security Updates
Anonymous Tip Line Puts Safety First
If you or your child have concerns or information relating to feeling unsafe in any way at school, we encourage you to reach out to a member of the security or administrative team so that we may quickly address the issue. Students and parents may also utilize the FCPS Office of Safety and Security safety tip line, that you can access anonymously online, by text (888-777; Keyword TIP FCPS), or by phone (571-423-2020).
If your tip is an emergency and immediate assistance is necessary, please dial 911.
Students, staff, and community members should report school safety issues such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, the existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Tip line users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.
Concerns that do not impact the safety of our schools—concerns or information about programs, regulations, or policies—can be sent to the FCPS ombudsman online, at 571-423-4014, or ombudsman@fcps.edu.
PTSA News & Information
PTSA Meeting Dates
The PTSA is pleased to bring back in person monthly membership meetings. Meetings will be held at Oakton High School in the library from 7 pm to 8 pm on the following dates:
- 10/19/2022
- 11/16/2022
- 12/14/2022
- 1/18/2023
- 2/15/2023
- 3/15/2023
- 4/19/2023
- 5/17/2023
Please keep the dates on your calendar and hope to see you there. The PTSA will send an email for mini grant applications soon for staff and students.
Class of 2023 All Night Grad Party (ANGP) – Volunteers Needed!
The purpose of ANGP is to provide Oakton HS graduates with a safe, drug-free, and alcohol-free event to celebrate the night of their graduation. Traditionally the party usually starts around 10 PM and lasts until 3 – 4 AM. The party is held at a location such as Launch Trampoline Park and features food, games, prizes, entertainment and more. Planning the party is a committee effort and we need volunteers!
Ideally the committee is comprised of parents with students in all grades, that way a steady stream of volunteers know how to plan the party in future years and senior parents aren’t trying to juggle the party and their own family plans graduation weekend. If you volunteer when your child is a freshman, sophomore, or junior, you will appreciate having someone else step forward when your own student is graduating!
We need help with all aspects of party planning, from logistics to fundraising, booking vendors, coming up with a theme, confirming the location, and ticket sales.
If you’d like to help, please send an email to 2023angp@gmail.com.
Oakton Pantry
Thank you to everyone who continues to donate so generously to the Pantry. We are incredibly grateful for your support. Because of you we are able to keep the doors open and provide regular snack packs and groceries to students in need.
For any questions about the Pantry, please send an email to oaktonpantry@gmail.com. Students interested in joining the Pantry Club should send an email to oaktonpantryclub@gmail.com.
 Parent Resources
Parent Information Line
Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.
Parent Resource Center
The FCPS Parent Resource Center offers a wide variety of information and resources to support the success of all students. This includes monthly workshops and webinars. More information can be found on the FCPS website, including registration information.
September 2022
Gang Prevention: A Webinar for Families and Community Members (Presented in Spanish)
Topics Include:
- What is a gang and why do youth join gangs?
- Common gang activities
- Risk factors associated with gang involvement
- Protective factors that reduce gang involvement
- Supports available in Fairfax County and FCPS
Presented by:
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Stefan Mascoll: Coordinator Student Safety and Wellness, Fairfax County Public Schools
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Liliana Janssen-Checa: Program Manager of Youth Initiatives, Northern Virginia Family Service
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Francisco Klockner Gonzalez: Gang Prevention Coordinator, Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court
September 27, 2022 6-7:30 p.m.
Dads: Stop The Power Struggles & Get The Respect You Want
As Dads, we want to be respected so our kids don't make the same mistakes we made. But how do you discipline and motivate kids who don't respond to consequences?
Celebrate Calm Founder, Kirk Martin, will give dads practical strategies to:
- De-escalate situations and stop common power struggles.
- Get your kids to actually listen to you.
- Stop the defiance and disrespect without yelling or threatening.
- Motivate kids who don't try hard or quit. Handle the chaos at home after a long day at work.
- Connect with your partner again even when you disagree and have grown apart.
October 6, 2022 6:30-8 p.m.
Register for Dads: Stop The Power Struggles & Get The Respect You Want
The Social Emotional Learning Screener - What Every Family Needs to Know
Social and emotional learning competencies are foundational skills for success in school and beyond. Students will participate in the SEL Screener in the fall and spring this year. The screener provides valuable information that guides planning and learning opportunities for families, staff, students, and school communities.
Join us in an informational session to learn more about SEL in FCPS, the role of the SEL Screener, and how families and schools might partner to foster skills over time.
Highlights include:
- Learn about SEL in FCPS
- Unpack the SEL Screener: What it is and how it's used?
- Understand student results
- Explore ways to continue conversations about SEL at home
Presented by:
Lisa Phifer, FCPS Educational Specialist, Trauma Informed SEL, and Jaynie Van Sant, FCPS Social and Emotional Learning Systems Specialist
October 7, 2022 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for The Social Emotional Learning Screener - What Every Family Needs to Know
Promoting Digital Wellness
Access to technology provides limitless opportunities to connect with others, explore diverse perspectives, share and build upon ideas, get involved in the community, and find opportunities. However, many kids are online almost constantly, which poses a number of challenges that impact youth wellness.
Highlights will include:
- How the attention economy makes technology irresistible
- How adolescent development impacts youth technology use
- How schools and families can build the skills needed to navigate the complexity of online life
Presented by Tammi Sisk, FCPS Educational Specialist, Educational Technology, and Bethany Demers, FCPS Educational Specialist, Mental Wellness
October 14, 2022 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for Promoting Digital Wellness
Meet the Author Series - Paige Saves the Day
Paige is a happy kid with a unique fashion sense and creative imagination. Despite being bullied because of the things that make her different, she enjoys using her creativity to entertain her family and friends with stories in which she and her dog, Peppermint, are Super Heroes who always save the day!
Join us as the authors, Nalani Butler and Leila Butler, read Paige Saves the Day and share their experiences with families.
Children are welcome to join with their families for this very special webinar and book reading.
October 27, 2022 7-8 p.m.
Register for the Meet the Author Series - Paige Saves the Day
Manejando el estrés serie de 3 partes
Part #1: Manejar los momentos estresantes de la vida 28/10/22 at 10 a.m.
- ¿Qué es estrés?
- Diferencia entre estrés agudo y estrés crónico.
- Síntomas del estrés en adultos.
- Cómo los síntomas del estrés afectan las habilidades de crianza.
- Síntomas del estrés en niños .
- Cómo el estrés afecta el rendimiento escolar en los niños.
Part #2: Estrategias de manejo del estrés 16/12/22 at 10 a.m.
- ¿Qué es el autocuidado?
- ¿Por qué es importante el autocuidado?
- Cómo practicar el autocuidado.
- Técnicas de relajación
- Gestión del tiempo
Part #3: Apoyando a sus hijos durante tiempos estresantes 17/3/23 at 10 a.m.
- Construyendo Resiliencia
- Reestructurando nuestro pensamiento
- Cómo reparar la relación con nuestros hijos.
Presented by:
- Aynalem (Nalem) Valdes, MS.Residente en Consejería de Salud Mental en Servicios Familiares del Norte de Virginia, Centro Multicultural
- Ana Stevenson, MS. Trabajadora Social Clínica Licenciada en Servicios Familiares del Norte de Virginia ,Centro Multicultural
Registro Manejando el estrés serie de 3 partes
FCPS Cares
Do you know an Oakton High School or FCPS employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.
Translate our Website
Our Oakton HS website can be translated into multiple languages! To do this you will see a globe, flags and the word "language" in the top left corner of our website. Click there and you will be able to select your preferred language.
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