|
In this week’s WPHS News You Choose:
- Important Dates
- Principal Message
- PTSA News
- School News Update
- College and Career Center Updates
- SAT/ACT Prep News
- Quick Links/Additional Resources
Important Dates
-
November 23 - 25: Student Holiday
-
December 5th: Revive Training at 5:30 in rooms 316 & 317 & PTA Board Meeting at 6:30 in the library
-
December 10: Mock ACT and SAT offered by Applerouth
-
December 19 – January 3: Student Holiday
-
January 7: Applerouth SAT Prep Class Begins
-
January 16: Student Holiday
Principal Message
Happy Thanksgiving Season!
I am hopeful that you will have time with family and friends in all the coming weeks. As I prepare to host Thanksgiving with my family in a few days, I find myself very reflective this year on the overwhelming feelings of gratitude. Beyond health, home, family, and friends, I am grateful for my West Potomac community. I am grateful for my faculty and staff who come together daily and sacrificially give to our kiddos and one another. It goes far beyond teaching and learning and goes deep into caring and loving. I am grateful for my students who give me hope, joy and purpose. I am grateful for my parents who choose to partner with me in every way to make sure that every Wolverine is receiving all that they need to be successful. I am grateful that WE ARE WEST POTOMAC, and THIS IS US!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Dr. Millard
PTSA News
Save the date for the next PTSA meeting on December 5th after the Revive training. The PTSA continues to look for ways to support our teacher and students. Next week the PTSA will sponsor a celebration for the four advisory classes which participated in a Veterans Day Project, “Operation Gratitude”, writing letters of appreciation to our Veterans.
There are so many ways to help our PTSA this holiday season!
Poinsettia Sale:
Nothing screams the holidays like bright red Poinsettia plants and do we have some gorgeous ones for you! The PTSA will be taking online pre-orders for these beauties from November 14-Dec. 1 with pickup on Dec. 3. The location is TBD and will be sent out closer to the date. Make sure to place your order early as these sold out FAST last year. These make the perfect gifts for clients, dinner parties, housewarming, office decoration, churches, pre-schools and your own home! Thank you in advance for your support of the PTSA!
Amazon Smile
Did you know that your Amazon shopping during this holiday season benefits the PTSA as well? Just make sure to list "West Potomac High School PTSA) as the Charity under "Charity List" and Amazon will give back 0.05% to our PTSA for all qualifying purchases! And since Amazon shopping is a part of most of our routine (no shame😉), it's the easiest way to help the PTSA!
Please join the PTSA today if you've not already done so. It's quick and easy -- just click here.
PTSA DIRECT DONATION: Click Here
School News
On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, 95 students were inducted into the West Potomac High School National Honor Society. We are excited to see how these students will accomplish the pillars of NHS this year.
 Congratulations! Go Wolverines!
 President—Mike Mears; Vice President—Sydney Dockter;
Secretary—Somayya Chaudhry Treasurer—Abigail Beatty
Seniors!
It’s finally time to order your CAP and GOWN for the Class of 2023 Graduation Ceremony on June 7, 2023. You must answer all the questions for the submission to be complete. You must be logged into your school gmail account to complete the survey. The form is set to collect your school email address and send a copy of your responses to you. It would be a good idea to save that email! You will only be allowed to complete the form one time to avoid duplicates in the data.
You will need to know the following information to complete the form:
- Student ID
- Advisory teacher
- Weight (in pounds)
- Height (in feet and inches)
The survey will CLOSE on Thursday, December 8. Every Senior must complete the survey by that date.
LINK TO FORM: https://forms.gle/FdFUo2BJ7T77bJSp8
Questions? Please contact Christina Cashman, Senior Administrator, at chcashman@fcps.edu
Substance Abuse Prevention: Alcohol & The Holidays
The holidays usually involve family time, games, movies, food, and possibly drinks. Alcohol consumption has increased during the pandemic and when ABC stores were deemed essential it didn’t help lower those rates (ABC News, September 29, 2020). Many people are still trying to figure out how to navigate our “new normal” and are still reeling from the consequences of so much isolation and loss. Increased alcohol consumption is one of those consequences to our communities. If you choose to drink, I invite you to drink responsibly this holiday season and talk with your child about the dangers of underage alcohol and substance use.
Questions to consider when drinking with your family:
- What message am I sending if I drink in excess around my underage child?
- Have I had conversations about responsible drinking with them?
- Are the conversations I have about alcohol realistic?
- Do my conversations with others reinforce alcohol use as a coping skill during stressful times?
- What messages am I sending my underage child if I allow them to drink with me or another adult in the house?
Info to consider:
“One-third of Fairfax County students (33.7%) reported drinking alcohol at least once in their lifetime, ranging from 18.8% of eighth-grade students to half of twelfth-grade students (49.4%). One in seven students (15.2%) reported drinking alcohol in the past month, ranging from 4.5% of eighth-grade students to 27.7% of twelfth-grade students.” (FCPS Youth Survey 2020)
“Female students reported higher rates of alcohol use in their lifetime (36.1% compared to 31.2% of male students), in the past month (17.1% and 13.1%, respectively), and binge drinking in the past two weeks (7.3% and 6.5%, respectively)” (FCPS Youth Survey 2020).
Resources:
Holiday Stress
Helpful Info to Quit Vaping
FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
Substance Abuse Prevention (Spanish)
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.
Revive Training
West Potomac is hosting REVIVE! Training (Narcan) on December 5 right before the PTSA meeting that evening. The training is for anyone (regardless of age) who wants to learn about spotting signs of an overdose and how to administer Narcan. Students, parents, and community members are welcome to sign-up. Participants will receive a free dose of Narcan.
 
College and Career Center Updates
Reminder: Junior & Sophomore Wolverines Interested in the U.S. Naval Academy:
Major Rocky Dobson will visit the College & Career Center on Tuesday, 11/22 from 9:00 am-9:30 am. He is the Blue & Gold Navy Officer assigned to WPHS as a resource to students throughout the application process for the U.S. Naval Academy. Current midshipmen will also attend the visit to share their experiences and answer questions regarding the student experience. For students interested in the U.S. Naval Academy as an option after high school, this is a great opportunity to learn about the academy and its application process.
Registration for this event will close on Monday, 11/21 at 9 am. A google link to register was emailed to each junior and sophomore students’ fcpsschools.net account on 11/4 at 11:00 am. Students should see that email to register.
ASVAB Test:
The ASVAB will be administered to interested seniors and juniors in the College & Career Center on December 12th from 8:30 am – 11:30 am.
Students who would like to take the ASVAB must register NO LATER THAN Tuesday, November 22nd at 4:00 pm. There will be NO EXTENSIONS of this deadline as the tests must be ordered several days in advance.
Please see the 11/2 email sent to all seniors, juniors (fcpsschools.net account) and parents/guardians with detailed registration instructions, link and study guide resources attached.
Northern Virginia Community College Application Bootcamp:
The NOVA application for the Fall, 2023 semester is open! Seniors can complete their applications on the Northern Virginia Community College website.
Seniors who have questions or may need additional assistance in completing their application should mark their calendars for the first NOVA Application Completion Bootcamp. Seniors will need to bring their computer, social security number or permanent residence number, & questions. Students must also have a personal email account.
Seniors ONLY can sign up for this event via Naviance> College Rep Visits. Registration is required.
Date: 12/2/2022
Time: 10:00 am – 11:15 am
Location: WPHS Career Center
November/December Events:
11/22: U.S. Naval Academy Info Session at WPHS
12/2: Northern Virginia Community College Application Completion Bootcamp
12/12: ASVAB Test
Don’t forget to follow the College & Career Center on Twitter: @wphsccc & Instagram: @westpoccc
SAT/ACT Test Prep Upcoming Events
Walk-In registration for mocks ($28.00) available as space allows.
Mock SAT Date: 12/10/22 Saturday Time: 9:00am - 12:45pm Sign Up Mock ACT Date: 12/10/22 Saturday Time: 9:15am - 1:30pm Sign Up SAT Group Class First Mock Test: 12/10/22 Sessions: 01/07/23 - 02/25/23
Meets: Saturday (Full Schedule) Max Class Size: 15 Sign Up
The Digital SAT is coming, but will it affect your testing plan? Current juniors don’t need to think about it at all! But, if you’re a sophomore (or younger), you’ll want to know about the digital test.
With the release of the first full-length digital adaptive SAT on College Board’s new testing app, Bluebook, students and educators can now get a clearer sense of the SAT of the future.
FREE Online Applerouth Webinars – All start at 8:00pm unless otherwise noted
Navigating the College Admissions Process 11/21/22 Sign Up Applerouth's College Night for Juniors: How to Get on Track for Early and Regular Decision 11/30/22 Sign Up Your PSAT Scores Are Back: Now What? 12/07/22 Sign Up SAT vs ACT: The differences, the timelines, and the expectations of colleges
12/13/22 Sign Up
Questions? Contact Marilyn Aboff, marilynaboff@yahoo.com
Scholarship questions? Contact Karen Young, CCC Specialist, kbyoung@fcps.edu
FCPS News /Quick Links
Quick Links:
|
