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Woodson Weekly -
October 28th |
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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 FCPS Featured Woodson's Marching Cavaliers in a recent story about Michael, a member of the drumline who is deaf.
Important Upcoming Dates
Saturday, October 29th - Fall Festival 11am-2pm (see #2)
Monday, October 31st - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday
Tuesday, November 1st - Religious and Cultural Observance Day - Dia de los Muertos
Wednesday, November 2nd - Religious and Cultural Observance Day - Dia de los Muertos and Fall Blood Drive (see #4)
Friday, November 4th - Federal Impact Aid Survey Form Due (see #1)
Monday, November 7th - Winter Sports Try-outs (see #15) and Senior Parent Night 6-7pm, Auditorium
Tuesday, November 8th - School Holiday; Election Day
Friday, November 11th - Student Holiday; School Planning Day
The complete FCPS 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
Woodson's Events & Activities Calendar
Message from Dr. Floyd
Hello Woodson Community,
Welcome to a crisp Fall weekend and the end of the first quarter. Report cards and special education progress reports are slated to go home on Thursday, November 10th. Of course, you can always see your child’s grade updates through ParentVUE in SIS. If you need help getting on to ParentVUE, please visit this site.
Parents, do you know what a “senior skip day” is? Has your senior told you it is a school holiday? I’m here to share that it is not actually a school holiday. It is a tradition that is older than time where seniors determine what day they want to skip school. Please know this is not a school sanctioned holiday.
Woodson's Purple Star Designation Award was recently reviewed by the Military Student Support Process Action Team (MSSPAT) and we are honored to earn the award again for the 2022-2023 school year. MSSPAT wrote in their award notice, "On behalf of your military connected and newest students please accept my sincerest appreciation for making your school a welcoming and supportive place."
Please ask your student for the Federal Impact Aid Survey form. FCPS requires a completed form returned to school for every student. See story #1 for details.
Thank you to our PTSO who showered our staff with some spooky goodies! Student leadership made breakfast for staff today. They cooked sausage, eggs, pancakes and more. It was a great way to celebrate the staff on the last day of the quarter.
Have a safe weekend, a safe Halloween, and I look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday, November 1st!
Dr. Floyd
Principal
Congratulations to the Boys Cross Country Team - 2022 Patriot District Champions!
In this Issue
ACTION Item
1. Federal Impact Aid Survey Form due Friday, November 4th
NEW News
2. Woodson Fall Festival on Saturday, October 29th
3. SIS Availability
4. Fall Blood Drive
5. Purple Star Designation Award
6. Woodson Drama Presents - Two Fall Productions!
7. Nominate a Woodson Teacher/Staff Member for an Outstanding Employee Award
8. Woodson Craft Show
9. What You Can Do to Prevent Substance Misuse
10. College & Career Center News
11. Region 5 Scholarship 101 Presentation for the Class of 2023
12. ASVAB Testing Date & Registration Form
PAST News, but still important
13. Attendance Procedures
14. 2023 Virginia Summer Residential Governor's School (SRGS)
15. Parent Advisory Council
16. Winter Sport Tryout Information
17. Parent Volunteers Needed for Hearing and Vision Screenings
18. Parent Volunteers Needed for CPP
19. Schools to Administer Strategic Plan Student Survey
20. Class of 2023 News
21. Laptop Tech Support Hours
22. Woodson's PTSO
ACTION Item
1. Federal Impact Aid Survey
Federal Impact Aid forms are due Friday, November 4th!
Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the boxes in Section 3 and sign/date the form. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by Friday, November 4th. All results are confidential.
Watch the video to learn more about this process.
NEW News
2. Woodson Fall Festival on Saturday, October 29th
Woodson SGA/Leadership is holding its annual Fall Festival this Saturday, October 29th, from 11am - 2pm on the outdoor basketball courts.
This event is designed for younger children (future Cavaliers) and is FREE of charge.
There will be a moon bounce, arts and crafts, pumpkin painting, games, prizes, fun, and snacks (both healthy and not so healthy). Kids are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. We hope you will be able to join us for this family friendly event.
3. SIS Availability
ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be down from 4pm on Friday, October 28th through Tuesday, November 9th, at 6am for first quarter grading.
4. Fall Blood Drive
Woodson's Key Club Fall blood drive is on Wednesday, November 2nd in Cav Hall.
Parents, students, teachers, and everyone in the Woodson community are welcome to donate. For more information and to sign up, please contact Marie Phu at mphu@fcps.edu.
Students are required to be at least 16 years of age and weigh at least 110lbs. All students are also required to have a parental consent form signed. Inova needs 250 units a day, just for regular needs in this area, so we are hoping to supply a large amount of those units! The Attendance Office will be monitoring student attendance.
5. Purple Star Designation Award
Woodson HS has been selected by the Military Student Support Process Action Team (MSSPAT) for the 2022-2023 Purple Star Designation Award.
To qualify for a Purple Star, schools must have a staff member designated as the point of contact for military students and families. Schools must also demonstrate their commitment to meeting the needs of military students by providing student/peer transition teams, resources, and programming on issues important to military families.
The Virginia Department of Education’s MSSPAT formed by the Virginia Department of Education, reviewed all school applications for the award. Final approval on awards was made by members of the Virginia Council on the Interstate Compact on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
Getting "Purple Star" status means a school showed a commitment to providing resources and meeting the needs of those military children and their families.
6. Woodson Drama Presents - Two Fall Productions!
Cemetery Secondary
Join us back in the 90’s, as we attend school at Cemetery Secondary, a school for all the cool and creepy students in the area. But today, several students have gone missing! But where have they gone? And has something sinister happened? It’s up to the audience to find out who’s dead, who’s alive, and who’s missing in the entirely original and student-devised Immersive Theatre piece!
Audience members can expect a bone-chillingly good time as they move throughout several rooms in the E-Hall of Woodson. It is recommended that audience members wear shoes they can walk in. This experience contains decorations that some students may find “creepy” or “too totally rad” and it is recommended that audience members are ages 10-100 for this experience.
NOTE - Recommended for ages 10+ There will be a coloring area for students under the age of 10.
The “runtime” of this experience is around 15 minutes.
This immersive experience is done in small audience pods of about 15-20 people, with a rotating start time, it will be “first come, first serve.”
Tickets for this event start at $2.50, but if you can give more all funds raised from this experience go back to supporting Theatre productions, workshops, and events at Woodson High School!
One Man, Two Guvnors
 This year WTWDrama is presenting the fast-paced hilarious farce One Man, Two Guvnors.
This play features British accents, 60’s style rock and roll, and an attack with a cricket bat! Who could ask for anything more!?
If you are looking for a fast paced comedy and a fun night out, full of irreverent comedy, you’ve found the right show! NOTE: This play may not be considered appropriate for students under 13 - contains mild language, slapstick violence and mild suggestive themes.
This performance features a "pay what you can" sliding scale ticket option, ranging from $5-$30. Please pick the price that works best for you. This aligns with our goal to be as equitable as possible and create art that is accessible by all. Tickets can be purchased here! Come out and support the nearly 100 students involved in this production!
NOTE: ALL proceeds from the show go to the WTW Drama department. This helps to fund shows, supplies, special workshops, and education events throughout the year for Woodson Theatre students. If you are a household that would like to see the show and cannot afford the $5 ticket option, please reach out to the WTW Drama Theatre Director, Mr. Rushing, at csrushing@fcps.edu
7. Nominate a Woodson Teacher/Staff Member for an Outstanding Employee Award
The FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards program celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of exceptional school-based and nonschool-based employees throughout the district.
Read about each of the awards:
Outstanding Secondary Teacher
Outstanding Secondary New Teacher
Outstanding School-Based Leader
Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee
Nominate a Woodson HS Teacher/Staff Member
Nominations are accepted from colleagues, supervisors, students, and parents. You do not have to nominate in each category. You may be asked to contribute to completing the nomination packet. The deadline to submit nominations is November 4, 2022.
Woodson OUTSTANDING TEACHER Award Nomination Form
Woodson OUTSTANDING NEW TEACHER Award Nomination Form
Woodson OUTSTANDING SCHOOL-BASED LEADER Award Nomination Form
Woodson OUTSTANDING OPERATIONAL EMPLOYEE Award Nomination Form
 The Woodson Buddies club celebrates at their annual Halloween party.
8. Woodson Craft Show
The 29th annual Woodson Craft Show is returning this year on Saturday, November 5th, from 10am-4pm.
This exceptional show features handmade arts and crafts with a diverse selection that include: fine art, gourmet foods and confections, fabric art and crafts, jewelry, fiber and textile crafts, knitted, crocheted, needle felted and macrame items, acrylic art flow, pottery, wreaths, pet accessories, birdhouses, hand painted home decor items, bath and body products, as well as hundreds of holiday collectibles/decorations.
We have many new exhibitors as well as some returning favorites.
Admission for Shoppers is ALWAYS FREE! *All proceeds benefit the W.T. Woodson Crew Team.
 Students using starch and iodine molecules to simulate cell transport in Ms. Barry's biology class.
9. What You Can Do to Prevent Substance Misuse
Did you know that October is National Substance Abuse Prevention Month?
It’s true- youth are more inclined to listen to their peers than their parents. This is part of the way the brain develops. When a baby is born, their brain’s sole responsibility is keeping them alive. As they grow into adolescence, finding their tribe becomes important. Think of your top three happiest memories. What were you doing? How did you feel? Who was there? Each of these memories was likely a shared experience. You were laughing and smiling with loved ones, maybe food was even involved. Now think of your three worst memories. What was going on? How did you feel? Who was there? In each of these memories, you likely were alone or felt alone.
Substance use becomes a problem for some because they either are alone or felt alone. Connection has been shown to be important in our everyday lives- again think of your happiest memories. Fairfax County’s “Three to Succeed” describes protective factors that youth need to achieve their higher selves. If a child has at least three of these protective factors, they are more likely to succeed in life: having high personal integrity, having community adults to talk to, performing community service, participating in extracurricular activities, having teachers recognize good work, and having parents available for help. What you notice is five of the six protective factors involve connection with someone else, while the first protective factor describes connection with oneself.
Here’s Some Helpful Resources:
Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Youth
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Substance Use Prevention & Encouraging Healthy Brain Development
REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses
FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS.
For further Information & support contact De’Ja Ruffin (McNeil), MSW, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, dsmcneil@fcps.edu
10. College & Career Center News
Please see College & Career Events listed below. For more info and registration links, please visit the live Calendar. Newsletters, Scholarships, Enrichment Opportunities & more can be accessed in the Woodson College & Career Center Resources.
Interested in Pipefitting, Welding, Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Construction, Service & Maintenance) Apprenticeships?
Please join us for an Info Session in the Career Center on Thursday, November 3rd at 2:15pm. For more info, please visit: https://602training.org/apprenticeship-home. To register for the visit, please fill in this Google Form (or come by the Career Center). This info session is open to all grade levels but targets seniors. The application for 2023 is due on 30 November 2022.
11. Region 5 Scholarship 101 Presentation for the Class of 2023 & their Families
Wednesday, November 9th, 7:00 p.m. – Woodson High School Auditorium
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. Please visit College Access Fairfax for additional Scholarship 101, Paying for College and FAFSA/VASA Completion Events.
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Scholarship 101 Presentation Topics:
- Search and find scholarships
- Tips for a successful scholarship application
- Scholarship Scams & more.
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12. ASVAB Testing Date & Registration Form
The ASVAB will be administered at Woodson High School on Thursday, November 10th at 8 am. If you are interested in taking the exam, please sign up via the Google Form linked below. Deadline to register is Tuesday, November 1st.
If you are unfamiliar with the ASVAB, visit the website below for more details!
PAST News, but still important
13. 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.
14. 2023 Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School (SRGS)
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) offers the opportunity for 10th and 11th grade students to apply to attend summer residential Governor’s schools in academics and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA). Students who are accepted into one of the programs will live in residence halls in one of the state colleges in VA for four weeks in the June - late July timeframe. To learn more about SRGS opportunities and the application process, visit the VDOE website and view the promotional video.
To be considered for an academic or VPA Governor’s school, students must complete the steps below.
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Complete the Woodson Intent form and FCPS interest form below. You will choose one program’s interest form, either Academics or VPA. The forms are required parts of the application process and are due November by 11th. No late entries will be accepted. When completing the form, enter a personal email address and do NOT use an fcpsschools.net email address.
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Complete the application for the specific program you wish to apply to and return to the WTW school counselor supervising the Governor’s School application process.
- Academic applications are due to the school on December 2, 2022
- VPA applications are due to the school on January 31, 2023
Please Note:
- Students who already attended Governor’s School may not reapply.
- VPA students should not start their application until they are invited to an adjudication appointment (early December).
Please contact School Counselors Elizabeth Walter (ehwalter@fcps.edu) or Elle Nguyen (menguyen@fcps.edu) with questions.
 Woodson senior, Noah presenting at the county-wide Superintendent's Advisory Committee meeting held in Cav Hall this week.
15. Parent Advisory Council
Woodson HS is looking for parents to serve on their Parent Advisory Council (PAC) this year. During these meetings we will have a time where Dr. Floyd, administrators and teacher leaders will share ideas and happenings around accomplishing the school's mission and upholding our vision. We will look at the Youth Survey and Parent Engagement Survey results to guide our work. We will also have a time when parents can ask general questions related to the school.
If you are interested in being part of this council, please let me know by completeing this form. Meetings will take place in person at 7pm on the following dates:
Thursday, November 3rd
Monday, January 23rd (snow date Monday, January 30th)
Monday, March 27th
Interested parents should plan to attend all three sessions. If you have questions that you would like to have addressed by the PAC, please complete this form and we will do our best to have a response prior to the first meeting in November.
16. Winter Sport Tryout Information
Winter sport tryouts begin on Monday, November 7th. Winter sports include basketball, swim & dive, wrestling, rifle, gymnastics, and indoor track.
In order to participate, there are 2 items that need to be completed prior to the first day of tryouts.
1) Sports Physical
Completed and turned in to Athletic Trainer Chris Hogge (chogge@fcps.edu)
2) Activity Registration
This is an online submission - it encompasses the Emergency Care Form and Concussion Education Training.
17. Parent Volunteers Needed for Vision and Hearing Screenings
10th Grade Parents: Vision and Hearing screenings for 10th graders will happen during P.E. periods on Wednesday, November 9th and Thursday, November 10th.
If you are interested in volunteering, please use this Sign-Up Genius or reach out to Amanda Yanchus, Public Health Nurse at ayanchus@fcps.edu. Training will be provided.
18. Parent Volunteers Needed for CPP
Woodson College Partnership Program is looking for parent and community volunteers!
College Partnership Program (CPP) is an FCPS program whose goal is to increase the number of students, particularly first-generation and traditionally underrepresented students, to enroll and succeed in college.
The Woodson CPP is looking for community members to come speak to our students about their college and/or career path on November 17th from 9:00-11:15am.
If you are interested in sharing your path to success with our students, please reach out to Alaina Proffitt via email aproffitt1@fcps.edu by November 7th.
 Students in genetics and biotech look at fruit flies to cross for a genetics lab.
19. Schools to Administer Strategic Plan Student Survey
Opportunity for Students to Help Inform FCPS’ Future
You may have heard FCPS is developing a Strategic Plan that will serve as the school division’s roadmap for the future. We encourage every parent/caregiver, student, employee, and community member to participate in this important work.
The first engagement opportunity will be an optional survey, which will be open to students in grades 3-12. Knowing what is important to students will be very helpful to Dr. Reid, as she leads the planning of FCPS’ future. All schools, including ours, will schedule a date and time during the school day to administer the survey between November 2-18. If you would prefer that your child not participate, you may opt your child out of taking the survey. Please visit FCPS’ website for more information.
20. 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.
21. 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
22. 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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