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Woodson Weekly -
August 18th |
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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 Welcome to Woodson's Class of 2027!
Important Upcoming Dates
Monday, August 21st - First day of school, 8:10am-2:55pm Bell Schedule
Thursday, August 24th, 6:30-8pm, Auditorium - Senior Night for Class of 2024 (#7)
Monday-Tuesday, August 28th-29th - School Picture Days (#8)
Friday, September 1st - School Holiday
Monday, September 4th - Labor Day Holiday
Thursday, September 14th, 6-8pm - Back to School Night
Woodson's Events & Activities Calendar
The complete FCPS 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
Message from Dr. Floyd
Good afternoon, Woodson Community,
Monday morning we will begin the 2023-2024 school year!
Please take time to read this newsletter as it has very important information to help start this year smoothly.
We welcome many new staff to Woodson this year including our acting assistant principal, Bomin Collins (see story #9) and 3 new counselors, Victoria Powell (last names Mas-Ni), Brooke Merinko (last names Bv-Dj), and Angela Harrison our 504 coordinator. Our administrative team and counselors partner with families to ensure a successful school experience. Visit the Administrative Team site and Student Services site to learn more about which administrator and counselor will work with your family and how to contact them.
Many have asked where to find the bus information. It can be located online through the SIS ParentVUE Mobile App, SIS ParentVUE online version and on SIS StudentVUE Mobile App.
SIS ParentVUE Mobile App: Login and select your child, then select Student Info. At the bottom of the screen you will see white text “Additional Information.” Tap on the Additional Information text then scroll down to Transportation and you will be able to view the bus information.
SIS ParentVUE on the computer: Login and select Student Info on the left menu. Then scroll down to Transportation and you will be able to view the bus information.
We encourage students to ride the bus to school. While Kiss and Ride is available, if a student is late, this results in an unexcused tardy whereas a late bus is an excused tardy. Please see story #3 for Kiss and Ride details. These Kiss and Ride procedures are paramount to student, parent, and staff safety. I appreciate your attention to this matter.
Many students have also asked about lockers. Freshmen and Sophomores were automatically assigned lockers. Students and parents can find locker numbers and lock combinations in SIS, under the Student Information Tab. If a Junior or Senior would like to have a locker, please see a staff member in our Student Services Department.
New this year, Woodson has adopted a new parent inquiry email - WoodsonConnect@fcps.edu. If you have questions or cannot find information on our website, please reach out via this email address.
Enjoy the last weekend of summer,
Dr. Floyd
Principal
 Woodson's Dance Team welcomes 9th grade students at orientation.
In this Issue
ACTION Needed
1. Required Back to School Forms in SIS ParentVUE
2. Seniors only - SAT School Day Intent Form Due Wednesday, September 6th
NEW News
3. Kiss and Ride and Parking Procedures
4. Student Parking Passes
5. Student Laptops
6. Attendance
7. Senior Night - Class of 2024 on Thu, Aug 24
8. Underclass School Picture Days
9. Woodson Calendar for ALL Events
10. Follow Us on Social Media!
11. Welcome Acting Assistant Principal, Ms. Collins
12. Woodson Drama in Scotland
13. Order Your Woodson Yearbook
14. Optional Beginning of School Forms
15. Updates to High School Transcripts
16. College & Career Center Information
17. Update Your Subscription Status
18. Woodson's PTSO
ACTION Needed
1. Required Forms for All Students
All students must have the following forms completed each school year. These forms can be completed online through the Online Verification Update in SIS ParentVUE. These forms must be completed by the enrolling parent.
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Emergency Care Form - Update on SIS ParentVUE
Information must be correct and what we will use in case of an emergency. We are asking all parents to review and update via SIS ParentVUE. If you have more than one child enrolled in FCPS, updating it for one student will update it for all of your students. Having the most up-to-date information for all of our students is essential to our ability to best meet all students' needs in the event of an emergency.
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Health Information Form - Update on SIS ParentVUE
A health information form must be on file for all students. By updating “Current Health Conditions” and/or “Current Medical Care Details” in the emergency care form via SIS ParentVUE, this will be updated for the student.
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Student's Rights & Responsibilities Signature Page
All students will review the SR&R in the first week of school. Every year, FCPS requires parents/guardians to review, sign, and return the SR&R parent/guardian signature page acknowledging awareness of online access to and/or the opportunity to receive a printed copy of the FCPS SR&R Guide for Families. Please acknowledge the SR&R on SIS ParentVUE.
The SR&R Booklet, can also be found on the FCPS website, along with updates to the SR&R for the 2023-24 school year.
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Parent Digital Tool Permission
By completing this digital form in SIS ParentVUE, you provide permission for your child to use the FCPS-approved online tools listed as part of an instructional program.
2. Seniors Only - SAT Intent to Participate Form
Senior parents/students: Please refer to the email sent on Monday, August 14th regarding SAT School Day.
This year, the test will be administered on Wednesday, October 11th.
To guarantee participation in SAT School Day exams, students must submit their online intent form by Wednesday, September 6th.
Your student will need to use an @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form.
FCPS sites cannot accept walk-ins on the day of the exam.
If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at Woodson High School, please contact Kathleen Crosson at kpcrosson@fcps.edu .
NEW News
3. Kiss and Ride and Parking Procedures
 In order to maximize traffic flow and safety of all on campus, we need everyone to arrive before 8AM (this allows students to get to class at or before 8:10AM).
Please note, as indicated on the map and explained below, if you are driving on Whitacre Rd, the Kiss and Ride you are to use is off Whitacre Rd. If you are coming off of Pickett Rd, the Kiss and Ride entrance that you will use is off Pickett Road. Please do not attempt to access Entrance 1 via Whitacre Road. This is VERY important for the safety of all students, staff and other drivers.
Please read the following procedures for parking and Kiss and Ride indicated by the map above:
1 - Bus and staff entrance: This is the first entrance off Whitacre Road into the Woodson property.
2 - Senior parking lot: The second entrance off Whitacre Road into the Senior lot is for Senior student parking only.
3 - Whitacre Road Kiss and Ride: The third entrance off Whitacre Road is the entrance to the Kiss and Ride loop by the tennis courts. Drop off students BEFORE 8AM at Door 9, not before (only in front of) Door 9. For safety reasons, only drop off students in front of Door 9, not before.
4 - Junior parking lot: The last entrance off Whitacre Road, which is also the stadium entrance. When looking at the stadium, the Junior lot is on the left.
5 - Pickett Road Kiss and Ride: If you are coming to Woodson from 236, use the Pickett Road entrance, NOT Whitacre Rd. This will allow you to drop your child(ren) off at Door 2. Only staff can access the front lot from Whitacre Road. Only staff can access Kiss and Ride at the front of the school from Whitacre Road.
DO NOT park at the shopping center across the street; they will tow your car.
If you have never used the lots at Woodson High School, please do a dry run prior to the first day of school.
Remember, students are expected to be in class at 8:10am, not walking in the doors of the school. If they are tardy due to a late kiss and ride drop off, it is an unexcused tardy (UNT). If your child(ren) use the school bus and the bus is late, students are marked excused tardy (EXT) in SIS attendance.
Please know that school staff and the SRO are not permitted to direct traffic which is why it is even more important that students are at school by 8AM, to ensure any backup of traffic does not cause your child(ren) to be unexcused tardy (UNT) for class.
Thank you for your assistance with this very important safety matter.
4. Student Parking Passes
Parking passes for the 2022-23 school year will be available for purchase online starting at 11am on Monday, August 21st. The cost for a full-year parking pass is $200.00.
Parking is free the first week of school while parking passes are purchased. Enforcement will begin on Tuesday, September 5th. Purchase your parking pass on the Woodson website.
 5. Student Laptops
Student laptops will be distributed during 1st period on Monday, August 21st.
Students who did not return their device prior to Friday, August 11th will need to return their device to the Library on the first day of school after 1st period. At that time, they will be issued a laptop for the new school year.
Students will only be issued a laptop upon receipt of their previous device.
Questions? Email WoodsonTechTeam@fcps.edu.
6. Attendance
Attendance is critical to student success in the classroom.
Parents/guardians must contact the attendance office (703-503-4800) to report attendance; emails and online forms will no longer be accepted to notify our school of your student’s absence. Woodson is not monitoring or accepting any absences submitted via email. Due to an excessive number of forgeries, the online attendance form is currently disabled.
Below is a quick guide for reporting all-day absences, late arrivals, and early check-outs from school.
7. Senior Night - Class of 2024
Our Senior Night for students & their families is going to be next Thursday, August 24, 2023, 6:30 – 8pm in the Woodson Auditorium.
The focus of our Senior Night this year will be on NOVA and 4-year colleges. We have Yoma Miller, Associate Director of Admission at Christopher Newport University, as our keynote speaker. Yoma will give us an insight into the college admissions process and share her expertise on how to find the college that’s right for you, what colleges are looking for, the College Essay, Testing, Financial Aid & more. Our NOVA Representative, Eunice Torkornoo will present information about NOVA, how to apply, their transfer programs, associate degrees, and career studies certificates.
8. Underclass School Picture Days
Underclass school Picture Days are coming Monday August 28th & Tuesday August 29th. Images will be available to view and purchase approximately two weeks following our school's picture day.
Save time and pre-order online. For questions about ordering school pictures please email underclass@vosphoto.com.
 Woodson's Marching Band learns the new fall show during Band Camp.
Did you know Woodson has an integrated calendar where you can find ALL school events? From the Odd/Even calendar to sports events, testing schedule to club meetings, this calendar has all you need to know!
You can select a category of events you want to see and then filter to target events that interest you. Categories include - Senior Class, Testing, 3rd Period, Athletics, Fine & Performing Arts, etc.
Bookmark this link to quickly access Woodson's events!
10. Follow Us on Social Media!
For the most up to date information on activities and ongoing events at Woodson, please follow us on Instagram at @woodsoncavalry AND @wtwoodsonhs.
You can also follow your class at: @wt_woodson2024 OR @wt_woodson2025 OR @wt_woodson2026 OR @wt_woodson2027. Athletics can be followed at @woodsoncavathletics.
And, follow the Woodson PTSO on Facebook!
11. Welcome Acting Assistant Principal, Ms. Collins
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Bomin Collins as Acting Assistant Principal at Woodson HS. Mrs. Collins will serve as an Administrator for the Class of 2026, students with last names Mas-Rom, and will directly supervise the English, Library, and ESOL departments.
Mrs. Collins is an experienced leader and educator who joined FCPS in 2011. Previous roles include Director of Orchestras at Cooper MS and Langley HS from 2011-2014, Longfellow MS from 2014-2020, and Woodson HS from 2020-2023. During her tenure, she has served as fine and performing arts department chair and a new teacher mentor. She was selected as the 2019 Outstanding Teacher of the Year at the school- and pyramid-level, and her orchestra programs have received international recognition.
A former ESOL student and a proud alumna of FCPS (Cooper MS/Langley HS), Mrs. Collins holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from Boston University, and Master of Music Education and Master of Education Leadership degrees from George Mason University, where she received her Administration and Supervision endorsement.
Mrs. Collins is a passionate and student-centered leader who believes in every student’s potential. She recognizes and values the benefits of building relationships, collaborating with the community to promote an engaging learning environment, and a commitment to continuous, data-driven improvement that keeps diversity and inclusion top of mind.
Outside of school, you can find Mrs. Collins spending time with her family, which includes her husband KC, daughter Evelyn, and an old English Bulldog named Pumpkin. She enjoys coffee, music, pools and beaches, and trying all kinds of food! She is thrilled to be a part of the Woodson community and looks forward to connecting and collaborating with students, staff, and families in her new role.
 12. Woodson Drama in Scotland
WTW Drama made the trip to Edinburgh Scotland this summer, for only the second time this decade, where they had the international premiere of an original play called “The Yassification of Jesse James by the Coward Samantha Clementine.” The cast and crew of the show featured 17 hard working Woodson students.
Woodson was one of twenty-five American high schools selected for this opportunity after a competitive application process. The trip lasted around two weeks and Woodson regularly played to sold out houses.
Be on the lookout for an exciting fall season of plays from WTW Drama this year!
13. Order Your Woodson Yearbook NOW
Purchase your yearbook at the lowest price of the year!
Yearbooks for the 23-24 school year are available to order starting TODAY, Friday, August 18th.
Last year, our yearbooks sold out!!! Reserve your copy now at the early-bird price of $70. Go to www.yearbookordercenter.com and enter Woodson’s code, 5278.
Don’t miss out!
 Leadership Officers assist during the 9th grade orientation while Dr. Floyd presents.
14. Optional Back to School Forms
There are additional forms that are available for Parents/Guardians to complete. Please fill out any that apply to your student and email to Darlene Sheppard at dmsheppard@fcps.edu.
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FCPS Privacy and Opt Out Forms
The 2023-2024 Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms booklet details parents’ rights regarding FCPS policies. These forms should be printed out and turned in ONLY IF YOU WISH YOUR CHILD TO BE OPTED-OUT.
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Military Connected Student Form
In accordance with the Code of Virginia (§22.1-287.04), local school divisions are required to identify students who have a parent in the United States uniformed services. Completing this form allows Virginia localities to maintain reliable and accurate data for potential grant funding and to receive services to meet the needs of uniformed services-connected students.
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FCPS Free and Reduced Lunch Forms and Consent to Share Information
Families must submit an application and be approved to be eligible for free and reduced price meals for the 2023-24 school year.
Eligible families are encouraged to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application before the first day of the 2023-24 school year. More information is on the FCPS website, including forms to apply for Free or Reduced Lunch.
If your children are eligible for free and reduced lunch, they may also be eligible to participate in several fee-based programs (class fees, senior dues, parking fees, etc.) at either no cost or a reduced cost if you provide a consent to share information form. You can scroll to the bottom of the FCPS page to access “Consent to Share Information."
15. Updates to High School Transcripts
For all enrolled high school students in the 2023-24 school year and beyond, high school course titles will now reflect:
- An HN (Honors) for any course that has a 0.5 additional weighting.
- An AV (Advanced), AP (Advanced Placement), DE (Dual Enrollment) for any course that has a 1.0 additional weighting
The new AV label was created to address several college-level courses that previously had a 1.0 additional weighting without a designation. Read more about transcript updates.
16. College & Career Center Information
Attention Class of 2024: Our Senior Night for students & their families is going to be next Thursday, August 24, 2023, 6:30 – 8pm in the Woodson Auditorium. The focus of our Senior Night this year will be on NOVA and 4-year colleges. We have Yoma Miller, Associate Director of Admission at Christopher Newport University, as our keynote speaker. Yoma will give us an insight into the college admissions process and share her expertise on how to find the college that’s right for you, what colleges are looking for, the College Essay, Testing, Financial Aid & more. Our NOVA Representative Eunice Torkornoo will present information about NOVA, how to apply, their transfer programs, associate degrees, and career studies certificates.
Other postsecondary options such as Trade Schools, Apprenticeships, Employment & Military were presented at our Junior Night on Jan 11, and during our first annual Junior Focus Day on May 18th. Please come by the Career Center or email Mrs. Lieb-Mosley at cliebmosley@fcps.edu if you have any questions, or need help exploring these options.
Woodson College & Career Center Newsletters, Scholarship & Enrichment Opportunities, Resume Building, Military Resources & more can be found on the Woodson College & Career Padlets. Questions? Please email cliebmosley@fcps.edu. Upcoming Events can be accessed in the live Calendar below. College Rep Visits for Juniors & Seniors will begin on Sept 5, 2023.
17. Update Your Subscription Status
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To continue receiving these emails at this email address: no action is needed.
Note: If you have more than one email address you would like this information to go to, you will need to subscribe each email address separately by going to the subscriber preference page.
To unsubscribe: Go to the Subscriber Preferences Page. Once you enter your email address, you can check the box next to [SCHOOL] News and Announcements and then click "submit" to stop receiving emails from us.
Thank you for updating your subscription status!
18. 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.
PTSO meetings take place the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Library at Woodson HS.
Whether you are a new or returning WTW parent, please get involved in any way that works for you. Here are some quick links to get you started:
Join our PTSO
Make a Donation
Sign up for one of our Volunteer Opportunities
Ask a local business to become a Business or Community Sponsor
Find WT Woodson on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Go shopping! Amazon, Office Depot, groceries, etc. Link your accounts and a portion of your sales will go to our school!
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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