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Woodson Weekly -
September 15th |
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, Acting Principal Mr. Greata!
Important Upcoming Dates
Saturday, September 16th - Religious and Cultural Observance Day - Rosh Hashana
Monday, September 18th, 6:30pm - Parents for Safe Teen Driving Seminar, Auditorium (#3)
Friday, September 22nd - Cav Kickoff Dance rescheduled (#5)
Saturday, September 23rd, 9am-12pm - Senior Parking Lot Painting
Monday, September 25th - Yom Kippur Holiday
Friday, September 29th - SEL Opt-Out Deadline (#6)
Thursday, October 4th - World Languages Exam registration deadline (#14)
Monday, October 9th - Student Holiday, Staff Development Day
Wednesday, October 11th - PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day; Early Release (# 7 No school for 9th graders and 12th graders not registered for the test.)
Woodson's Events & Activities Calendar
The complete FCPS 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
In this Issue
NEW News
1. Message from Mr. Greata
2. Underclass Pictures Available Online
3. Partners for Safe Teen Driving Seminars
4. Woodson Math Center
5. Cav Kickoff Dance Rescheduled
6. Social Emotional Learning Screener Opt-Out Information
7. October 11th - SAT and PSAT/NMSQT School Day
8. National Merit Semifinalists
9. AP Exams for Students Not Enrolled in AP Courses
10. Senior Baby Ads for Yearbook
11. College Fair and Postsecondary Virtual Events
12. College and Career Center
PAST News but Still Important
13. Attendance
14. World Languages Credit Exam
15. Schedule Change Request Process
16. Free Tutoring from Tutor.com
17. A Great School Year Starts With Mental Wellness
18. Class of 2024 Yard Signs
19. Woodson Career Day - Looking for Speakers
20. Order Your Woodson Yearbook
21. Woodson's PTSO
NEW News
1. Message from Mr. Greata
Dear Woodson Community:
I was so grateful to see all of our families at Back to School Night yesterday. What a fabulous evening! It is so important to our staff that we connect with families and lay the groundwork for a strong partnership at the beginning of the year. It makes all of the difference for the rest of the year. I would like to thank all our staff that were involved in the planning and presentation of the evening. And a huge shout out to our leadership students for providing directions, assistance, and spirit!
Woodson was rocking on Wednesday, as our whole community gave Dr. Carlyn Floyd the send off she deserves. Dr. Floyd was paraded throughout the entire school, as students and staff lined the halls and cheered her on. Dr. Floyd’s impact on the Woodson community, both as the Director of Student Services and as the Principal, cannot be understated. She has built a culture and community that supports one another in our pursuit of what is best for all students. Her impact will forever reverberate the halls like echoes of Wednesday’s parade. We all wish her the best in her new position and look forward to seeing her at games, performances, and other Woodson events!
On a personal note, I want to thank you all for such a warm welcome back to Woodson! I am thrilled to join this community again and have been touched by all of the well wishes and welcome backs. I look forward to working with the incredible Woodson staff each and every day on behalf of our students.
This week, the Fairfax County School Board sponsored a Forum Request to initiate a name change for Woodson High School and to consider Dr. Carter G. Woodson as a new name. Today begins a period of public comment which includes an online feedback form and two community meetings. All information about the name change process, as well as additional historical information can be found on the Woodson High School Renaming webpage.
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. I invite you to learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month at this site.
L’Shana Tovah to our Jewish community celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year! Rosh Hashanah is one of Judaism’s holiest days and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection that ends with Yom Kippur. This evening is an FCPS religious and cultural observance and there are no student activities this evening.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Mr. Greata
Acting Principal
WoodsonConnect@fcps.edu
 Farewell, Dr. Floyd!
2. Underclass Pictures Available Online
Student images are now online. Parents - be on the lookout for an email from Victor O'Neill Studios with your child's image. If you do not see an email in your inbox, check the spam/junk folder.
Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late! Please visit: vosphoto.com/uc, use your child's student ID when prompted for the online code.
For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com
3. Partners for Safe Teen Driving Seminars
Attention all 10th grade students and their parents. All new drivers and parents must attend a state mandated traffic safety seminar, Partners for Safe Teen Driving. Please mark your calendar for the Woodson seminars for 2023-2024. Seminars will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will take place in the Woodson Auditorium.
Monday, September 18th
Wednesday, November 15th
Monday, February 12th
Monday, April 15th
Questions? Please contact David O'Hara at DGOHara@fcps.edu.
4. Woodson Math Center
The Woodson Math Center is opening on Wednesday, September 20th.
Peer math tutors will be available after school Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:00-3:45pm in B208.
Look for the Math Center Flag. Tutors are excited to help students!
5. Cav Kickoff Dance Rescheduled - September 22nd
The Cav Kickoff dance has been rescheduled for Friday, September 22nd, immediately following the home football game versus Alexandria City.
The cost of the dance is $1 and it will take place in the outdoor basketball courts near door 9. This annual tradition celebrates the opening of school and is a great way to finish off a Friday night of cheering.
The dance begins at 9:15pm or at the end of the football game (whichever comes first) and ends promptly at 11:00pm.
Admission is collected at the door.
6. Social Emotional Learning Screener Opt-Out Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) commits to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning (SEL). The School Board has approved a screener to review students’ skills and experiences in these areas. FCPS staff will use the screener to identify strengths and needs for students in grades K-12. The screener provides information regarding students’ experiences and how staff can support their needs.
SEL skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The screener will review these skills, as well as students’ relationships, feelings of belonging, feelings about their school environment, and mood. These factors are critical to positive academic, social, and emotional success.
If you do not want your student to take part in the SEL screener, please return the opt-out form found on the FCPS site to Student Services no later than Friday, September 29th.
 Genetics and Biotech students engage in hands-on cheese making to explore biotechnology applications.
7. October 11th - SAT and PSAT/NMSQT School Day
Wednesday, October 11th is SAT and PSAT/NMSQT School Day and a 2-hour early release day.
All students in grades 10-11 will participate in the PSAT/NMSQT. No registration is required.
Only seniors who pre-registered for the test will take the SAT School Day.
More details will be shared directly with individual students via their fcpsschools.net email.
Students in grade 9 and those seniors not testing will not be in school on October 12th. There is no need to contact attendance for these students.
Special education students receiving Cat B services will be in school on October 11th.
8. National Merit Semifinalists
Twelve Woodson seniors were named National Merit semifinalists for 2024. All semifinalists are eligible to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards worth nearly $28 million, to be awarded in spring 2024. Semifinalists advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and other requirements including a recommendation from a high school official.
Congratulations to: Zoe Eng, Anahat Goraya, Benjamin Hall, Gemin Kim, Nathaniel Kurland, Seth Lifland, Abbey Moran, Finnian Murphy, Joshua Park, Zahra Ramakdawala, William Jacob Ryman, Stephen Wolf.
 Dissecting a banana in Mr. Jeffry's Human Anatomy & Physiology class.
9. AP Exams for Students Not Enrolled in AP Courses
Woodson HS offers AP tests for students not enrolled in AP classes based on seat availability/test room capacity.
Non-enrolled students wanting to take the AP test will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The cost for each exam is $98.00.
Registration forms are available in Student Services. The deadline to register is Friday, October 27th.
10. Senior Baby Ads for Yearbook
Deadline: January 27, 2024
Celebrate your senior with a baby ad in the yearbook! Visit www.yearbookordercenter.com and type in Woodson’s code – 5278. Select the option to “Start your Ad” and create your own ad celebrating your 2024 grad.
The photo below is a half-page baby ad.
11. College Fair and Postsecondary Virtual Events
 High school students and their families are invited to attend the annual FCPS college fair and the postsecondary virtual nights. The college fair will feature admissions representatives from more than 250 colleges and universities from across the United States and abroad. The fair will be held at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena on Sunday, October 15, 4-7 p.m.
The postsecondary virtual nights will be held on Monday, October 16, and Tuesday, October 17, 5-8 p.m. The virtual event will feature workshops related to the college admissions process, financial aid, and other postsecondary educational opportunities.
Students are highly encouraged to register in advance for these events.
12. College & Career Center Information
IMPORTANT DATES – for more information, registration links & additional events, please visit the live Calendar below.
September 20 Senior Support every Wednesday morning
September 26 NOVA Info Table during All Lunches Cafeteria A&B
October 4 Military Recruiter Lunch Visits Wednesdays through May
October 6 Senior College Application Workshop All Lunches
October 11 PSAT/SAT Day
October 15 FCPS College Fair @ GMU
October 16&17 FCPS Virtual Postsecondary Nights
October 24 Senior College Application Workshop All Lunches
November 2 NOVA Info Visit for Juniors & Seniors
November 3 Woodson Career Day
November 13 Onsite Admissions University of Mary Washington
November 15 Onsite Admissions Radford University
November 20 Senior College Application Workshop All Lunches
November 28 ASVAB Test
November 29 Junior Information Night
January 30 FCPS Gap Year Fair @ Marshall HS
February 13 U.S. Service Academy & ROTC Program Info Night @ Madison HS
March 13 Sophomore College Night
April 3 Junior Focus Day
Please visit the live Calendar below for more information & events, registration links, and our College Rep Visit Schedule for next week. Students must go to Naviance to sign up for the College Rep Visits and then create their own E-Hall Pass to the Career Center. Visit Notes and Rep Contact Info can be accessed on our College Rep Visits Padlet. Are you looking for scholarships & extracurricular opportunities? Please read the Woodson College & Career Center Newsletters. Resources for Resume Building, Military Options, Apprenticeships/Trade Schools and more can be found on the Woodson College & Career Padlets. Questions? Please email cliebmosley@fcps.edu.
PAST News but Still Important
13. 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.
14. World Languages Credit Exam
The 2023 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on Wednesday-Thursday, November 8, 9, and Monday, November 13, 2023.
Thirty 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 is open and will close on Thursday, October 5th at 4:00 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted. Contact your counselor to register.
 Students in Mrs. Aitchison’s honors biology class measure the zone of inhibition to see how effective common disinfectants are.
15. Schedule Change Request Process
The schedule change request window for this year is now through Friday, September 22nd.
During this time, students may complete the schedule change request form, which is available for pickup in Student Services, to request a change to one of their classes. This form requires the student to document the reason for the request and what they have done to get extra help in the class, if needed. Teacher feedback on the request and signature, as well as parent signature, is also required. Once the form is completed, students should return the form to their counselor in Student Services. Students should see their counselor in Student Services to discuss potential schedule change requests, or contact them if they have any questions or need any assistance.
16. Free Tutoring from Tutor.com
 All FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Student participation is optional and parents/caregivers can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Get more information on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services webpage.
Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
17. A Great School Year Starts With Mental Wellness
All FCPS high school students can access virtual therapy sessions with licensed counselors from Hazel Health at no cost.
Hazel’s therapists — who specialize in working with teens — can help students address mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss, anxiety, peer and family relationships, and academic stress.
For high schoolers to participate in teletherapy services, caregivers must:
Students must be referred to therapy by a caregiver or designated school staff member.
Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.
18. Class of 2024 Yard Signs
The 2024 yard signs are here! Please email woodsonangp@gmail to order. You will receive an email confirming your purchase, and where and how to pick up your order.
Attention Freshman, Sophomore and Junior Parents!
Do you have fun planning and organizing fun events? Ready to volunteer for a spectacular Woodson HS event? Your mad skills are needed for the Woodson All Night Grad Party at The St. James!! Underclass parents are needed to help senior parents focus on this big year. Then one day, underclass parents will do the same for your soon-to-be senior. Everyone wins! Questions? Send an email to Katie Clinton at woodsonANGP@gmail.com.
19. Woodson Career Day - Looking for Speakers
Passionate about your work? Interested in sharing your career path with students? Please consider speaking at our 2nd annual Portrait of a Graduate Career Day on Friday, November 3rd from 8:30am-12:10pm!
On this day we are looking for guest speakers to share what they do, how they got started, successes, challenges, and what they learned in high school that they are still using on a daily basis.
If you are available November 3rd and would like to know more about the day please email Katherine Stransky at kbstransky@fcps.edu. If you have already decided to speak that day please complete the speaker form linked here.
20. Order Your Woodson Yearbook NOW
Purchase your yearbook at the lowest price of the year!
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!
21. 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 online. The link to join will be sent out in the PTSO WeMail on Tuesday afternoons.
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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