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 February 6-10 is National School Counseling Week, and highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve academic success and planning for a career.
School counselors work with students in a variety of different capacities, whether it is through classroom lessons, group sessions, or individual counseling. Learn more about the role of school counselors in FCPS.
Calendar
February 06 - March 02 - WIDA Assessments
February 06-14 - Rising Junior Course Selection through English 10 and ELD Level 2
February 07 - Scholarship "Lunchshops" for Seniors, All Lunches, College & Career Center
February 07 - CPP Information Session, 10:15 am, College and Career Center
February 07 - Families Reunite-Immigrant Family Reunification, 6:00 pm, Herndon High School, Room A145
February 08 - Free Tutoring with HUMC, Virtual
February 15 - Financial Aid Support (FAFSA or VASA), 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm, Lecture Hall
February 20 - No School, Presidents' Day
February 22 - NOVA Information Sessions, 6:30pm, Virtual
February 22 - College Partnership Program (CPP), 10:15 am, Library
February 23 - ASVAB Test at HHS, 8:10 – 11:30am, Herndon High School
FCPS Calendar
Photo of the Week
Congratulations to Gillian Bushee Liberty District Champion and Record Breaker in the 3200 and 1600 meter.
Events
WIDA Assessment
Current federal legislation requires that all English learners (ELs) participate annually in an English language proficiency assessment. In the state of Virginia, all divisions use the WIDA Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners®2.0 (ACCESS for ELLs® 2.0) to monitor students' progress in acquiring academic English. ACCESS for ELLs® 2.0 is administered annually to all kindergarten ELs and all students in grades 1-12 with an English language proficiency (ELP) level of 1-5.
ACCESS for ELLs® 2.0 is aligned with the WIDA English language development standards and assesses the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The assessment will:
- Determine students’ English language proficiency level and eligibility for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services and testing accommodations.
- Help students and families understand students’ current level of ELP along the developmental continuum.
- Provide teachers with information they can use to plan for and support student learning.
- Assist in determining whether ELs have attained the language proficiency needed to participate meaningfully in content area classrooms without ESOL support.
Students participate annually in the ACCESS for ELLs® 2.0, even if ESOL services are declined, until they reach the criteria for ELP level 6 and are designated English proficient.
This year, the ACCESS for ELLs® 2.0, the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs®, or the ELP Checklists will be given at Herndon High School from Monday, February 6, 2023, to Thursday, March 2, 2023. Students will receive their testing schedule via E-Mail this week. It will be helpful if you can avoid appointments which may take your child out of school during this time. Also, it will help your child perform his or her best if he or she has had a good night’s rest, a healthy breakfast, and comes to school with a positive attitude. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Dr. Karl Gussow, our Assessment Coach.
Additional information can be found on the FCPS ELP Assessment Parent Notification - WIDA and WIDA Screener page.
Families Reunite-Immigrant Family Reunification
Free Parent Workshop for Herndon High School
- Did you come to the United States, in pursuit of a better life, but had to separate from your children for one year or more?
- Have you reunited with your children but find the situation to be stressful?
- Join other parents in learning ways to cope and improve your relationship with your children.
- Free classes in Spanish at Herndon High School, Room A145,
dinner will be served at 5:30pm
- When: Tuesdays, February 7th, 14th and 21st
- From: 6pm to 8:30pm
- To register fill out this form: https://forms.gle/STM2z3q1VB6ws7vbA
If you are in the process of reunification with your child or children and are interested in participating in this free class, please contact Herndon’s Family Liaison or Maria de Barrios 703 810 2235 mdrottmannd1@fcps.edu, Marta Torres 703 810 2234 mrtorres@fcps.edu. Flyer in English and Spanish available.
Scholarship "Lunchshops" for Seniors
Do you need help searching for a scholarship, which to apply to, how to find the application, or what you need to complete the application? If so, come to the College & Career Center Tuesdays 11:15am – 1:15pm (all lunch blocks) during the month of January! No need to sign up; grab your lunch and make it a scholarship working lunch.
HUMC Free Tutoring Program
TGFT will remain virtual for the start of the 2022-23 school year, with sessions being held every Wednesday. Information regarding the program can be found on our website: herndonumc.org/tgft. As in the past, we offer assistance in all math subjects, chemistry, and physics. We want to help your students be successful this year! Additional information available here.
Class of 2023 All Night Grad Party News & Information:
Buy a ticket for your senior students now! ANG Tickets
Please note that you can also order your Senior’s yard sign and buy raffle tickets for priority graduation seating with the same form and/or on the website.
Upcoming Events
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2/14/23 – Candygrams for Valentine’s Day ~ See the flyer or order online: Candygrams.
- We're also looking for donations for gift cards for the candy ~ if you can help, please use the Sign Up Genius here.
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2/16/23 – Thursday – Honeygrow, 12100 Sunset Hills Rd #R12, Reston, 20% benefits ANG
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Donut Fridays! We’ll be selling donuts in the gym lobby from 7:30 am to 8:05 am on these Fridays: Feb. 24, Mar. 24, and May 5.
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3/21/23 - Tuesday - 11 am to 9 pm - Aslin Tap Room - 767 Elden Street - proceeds all day and Guest Cicerones in the evening.
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Community Casino Night at The Breeze - TBD – we have lost our Team Lead volunteer – If you’re interested in helping, please email hhsang2023@gmail.com.
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4/9/23 to 5/7/23 - We’ll be having another Pampered Chef fundraiser ~ stay tuned for details!
We’re happy to accept donations at any time, from friends or family or your place of business: https://herndonang.org/donations
https://herndonang.org/, hhsang2023@gmail.com
Strategic Plan: Make Your Students’ Voice Count!
Strategic Planning is in process and will incorporate feedback from school staff, families, students, and community partners and organizations. Please encourage your students to participate in this unique opportunity to share their voices.
FCPS is currently seeking secondary students in grades 7-12 who are interested in participating in a Strategic Plan focus group. This focus group provides an opportunity to share feedback in a small group with other FCPS students and a trained facilitator. FCPS is hosting four virtual focus groups for secondary students in February and March:
- February 9, 3:30-5 p.m. or 5:30-7 p.m.
- March 16, 3:30-5 p.m. or 5:30-7 p.m.
Interested students should check their email for a form to sign up for the focus groups. Students will be asked to provide their student ID, so their parents/caregivers can be identified and contacted to ask for consent to participate.
If you have any questions about the student focus groups or you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please contact strategicplan@fcps.edu.
Register Now to Attend a Community Forum!
Check out the schedule of Community Forums and register for the one that is most convenient for you. Community Forums will provide every resident an opportunity to participate in and influence the direction of FCPS’ Strategic Plan, prior to its completion and formal adoption by the School Board. Learn more about our strategic planning process.
From the Library
Last week, the American Library Association recognized the best children’s and young adult literature of 2022 with their Youth Media Awards. You can get all of the details through the link, but some of the highlights were Sabaa Tahir’s All My Rage as the winner of the Printz Award; Vincent Turado’s Burn Down, Rise Up as the winner of the Pura Belpre Young Adult Award; and Victory. Stand! by Tommie Smith and Derrick Barnes as the YALSA Award for Excellence in NonFiction. 2022 was an outstanding year for books and other media!
Are your students conducting research in their classes? We work with many classes to help them find reliable information and learn how to use information ethically. Please remind your students that there are fantastic research supports available through their HHS Library course on Schoology and that they can always reach us at hhs_library@fcps.edu with any questions.
Our Global Citizen Book Club meets monthly. All students are welcome, whether they have attended a meeting in the past or not. The next meeting will take place on Monday, February 13 from 3:00 to 4:00 in the library. Students can join the book club’s Schoology group at F4BT-W6TC-5G8JD for all of the details.
Instruction 2 Industry: A Career Expo for High School Students
During the week of February 13-16, 2023, the Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce and school divisions across the region, are hosting a Career Fair with panel discussions. Industry experts, in multiple fields, will be speaking on their professional journeys and providing valuable insight into how to achieve your own success. A virtual, but live, event, Instruction 2 Industry, is free to all Northern Virginia high school students. For more information about the schedule and to register for the event, visit the Instruction 2 Industry event page.
Financial Aid Support (FAFSA or VASA)
Attention Seniors! Need assistance completing your FAFSA or VASA? Financial Aid Specialist will be available to help student and family complete their FAFSA or VASA application. Students are strongly encouraged to submit their FAFSA by March 1st.
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February 15th; 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm in the Lecture Hall (SPANISH liaison available)
Please click HERE for a detailed list of required documents needed to complete the financial aid application.
Eating Disorder Parent Information
Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. While no one knows for sure what causes eating disorders, a growing consensus suggests that it is a range of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors. Eating disorders are not fads or phases, and can have serious consequences for health, productivity, and relationships.
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a webpage with detailed information and resources to be provided to parents and guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools. This information may be found at the following link: https://www.fcps.edu/node/37440.
Presidents Day (Holiday)
As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 20, for the Presidents Day holiday. Learn more about Presidents Day in Britannica.com.
Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 21. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
College Partnership Program (CPP)
Application open for 9th/10th graders
The SY 2023-24 application is open now through March 10, 2023, for 9th and 10th graders to apply for Herndon’s CPP group. CPP is an FCPS College Success Program designed to support students who are from populations that are traditionally underrepresented in college, such as first in the family to attend college in the U.S., economically disadvantaged, students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners, and immigrant students. The application is available at www.tinyurl.com/CPPAPP2023 with a deadline of 11:59pm March 10, 2023. Click HERE for further details. 9th and 10th grade students may attend a Herndon information sessions on either:
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February 22nd; 10:15am in the Library Stonewall Room
Students are asked to sign-up at http://tinyurl.com/CPP2023infoHHS . Questions can be directed to Mrs. Peirce or to the student’s counselor.
NOVA Virtual Information Sessions for FCPS Families
NOVA will present to FCPS seniors and their families; learn about the opportunities, degrees, certificate programs, numerous services and resources designed to connect seniors to NOVA. Click HERE for NOVA flyer.
ASVAB Test at HHS
(Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)
Sophomores, juniors and seniors have the optional opportunity to take this career exploration test on Thursday, February 23rd; 8:10am – 11:30am at Herndon High School. Students must register by February 15th at http://tinyurl.com/Feb23ASVAB . The ASVAB is the most widely used multiple aptitude test battery in the world and is administered by a military representative. The test is available to all students, regardless of whether or not they have an interest in a military career. It assesses a student's ability to learn new skills and is a predictor of success in training and education programs. The Career Exploration Program offers more than just a test. It includes an interest inventory and other activities and resources designed to help students explore the world of work and gain confidence in making career decisions.
From the PTSA
Scholarship Opportunity
The PTSA is proud to offer two $1,000 scholarships for graduating seniors. For the application and details, visit Naviance, College Tab, Scholarship Search. Questions? Email herndonptsa@gmail.com.
Speaker Series
Please join the PTSA for part two of the Speaker Series on March 9 at 7pm in the HHS lecture hall. “Transgender Inclusivity in Schools”
Ær Queen (they/them) is a trans non-binary and autistic General Music teacher at Braddock Elementary School in Annandale, Virginia. This is their 8th year teaching General Music, and they are a proud alum of Shenandoah Conservatory where they earned their Bachelor of Music in Music Education.
Ær is passionate about helping educators view the importance of gender inclusivity in schools through the first-person lens of a practicing transgender teacher, and they have presented at numerous conferences throughout the United States. Ær works on being intersectional and anti-racist in their teaching practice and was recognized as a quarterfinalist for the 2022 and 2023Grammy Music Educator AwardsTM.
Academic Advising and Course Selection for 2023-24
Academic Advising Season has begun! Starting in January 2023, students will meet individually with their school counselor to choose their courses for the 2023-24 school year. It is so important that parents and students are informed of their academic options. Families are encouraged to talk with current teachers for their recommendations for next school year. Just like last year, students will choose classes via their SIS Student accounts. After the students choose their courses via their accounts, they will meet with their counselor to confirm the selections. In January, parents can view the course selections via their SIS Parent account. If you do not have an active account, please contact Student Services to obtain a login.
It is important for students to choose a course load that will challenge them and help prepare them for their post-secondary endeavors while also allowing for balance with their extracurricular and personal commitments. We take academic advising and course selection seriously and encourage students to seek input from current teachers, school counselor, and their parents as they make course selections. It is important that your student base their choices on their strengths and interests and with their post-secondary plans in mind.
The timeline for academic advising and course selection can be found here (English, Spanish).
Rising Junior Events Academic Advising and Course Selection
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February 06-14 - School counselors will meet with rising juniors and sophomore ELLs Level 1 & 2 individually through their English 10 and ELD Level 2 classes to discuss graduation requirements, academic opportunities and course selection options. The schedule is available here.
Photo of the Week
Congratulations to Jasmine Robinson Liberty District Champion in Shot Put.
Support
How to Talk About Alcohol Safety
Stores have been packed with holiday savings, credit cards have been charged, and food has been consumed. The holidays are often a time for family and friends to come together and create lasting memories with one another. The matching holiday pajamas leave a lasting impression on social media, but what impression does your relationship with alcohol leave on your child. Although difficult, conversations about alcohol safety are necessary. When consuming alcoholic beverages around young people, consider the message you would like for them to receive. Have you caught yourself saying any of the following: “I need a drink,” “a drink would help me relax,” or “wine helps me sleep better at night”. These statements could inadvertently cause your child to believe that alcohol is a suitable replacement for healthy coping strategies.
It’s never too early to have age-appropriate conversations with your child about alcohol. About 10% of children say they have tried alcohol and that number increases to 50% by the time they are 15 (SAMHSA). Early and frequent conversations about alcohol and other drugs tend to be more effective than having “the talk” once. If you choose to not have the conversation with your child as a parent, they will still have the conversion with their peers. Silence communicates as loudly as a verbal conversation, so it’s up to you to decide what message is explicitly shared.
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
Sources & Resources
For further Information & support: Diana Vera, MSW, dpvera@fcps.edu
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, Herndon Pyramid
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