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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
如果您想以其他语言阅读此新闻时讯，请访问我们的网站。
이 소식지를 다른 언어로 읽으려면, 우리 웹사이트를 방문하시기 바랍니다.
.يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
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Important Dates
You can access the FCPS 2023-2024 school year calendar here.
October 9 - Student Holiday, Staff Development Day, Indigenous Peoples Day
October 11 - PSAT Day (10th/11th Grade); SAT Day (12th Grade - Registration was required); Unscheduled Day (9th Grade; non-testers)
October 16-18 - Senior Portraits (3rd Opportunity)
October 23 - Partners for Safe Teen Driving Presentation (10th grade)
November 1-2 - Religious and Cultural Observance Days, All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos
November 2 - Underclassmen Portraits Make-up Opportunity
November 3 - End of 1st Quarter; 2 Hour Early Release
November 6 - Student Holiday, School Planning Day; Winter Sports Tryouts begin
November 7 - Student Holiday, Teacher Workday
 General Information
Partners for Safe Teen Driving Presentation
All students enrolled in Classroom Driver Education during the 2023-2024 school year must attend an in-person Partners for Safe Teen Driving (PSTD). The presentation is connected to successful classroom instruction and must be completed to receive a DEC-District 8 card (pink card). The parent-teen traffic safety presentation (PSTD) will be offered multiple times during the school year at Oakton. Students and their parents/guardians should plan to attend the presentation at Oakton at your earliest convenience.
All PSTDs begin promptly. Late admission will not be allowed.
2023-2024 Dates:
- Monday, October 23, 6:30pm in the Auditorium
- Tuesday, January 16, 6:30pm in the Auditorium
- Tuesday, March 19, 6:30pm in the Auditorium
- Wednesday, May 29, 6:30pm in the Auditorium
These sessions are intended for Sophomores. Juniors and Seniors can attend a session through Adult and Community Education.
PSTD nights are not available to freshmen.
National Honor Society 2023-2024 Membership Application Now Available
The NHS Membership Application is now available to complete for all qualified students who received an invitation to apply. Only students in 11th and 12th grade with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher are eligible to apply. Current members DO NOT need to reapply for membership. All applications for consideration must be submitted no later then October 13th at 3:00pm. Eligible students were given directions on how to complete the application last Wednesday September 27th during our information assembly. All questions or concerns should be directed to Mrs. Kimberly Stewart at kastewart@fcps.edu.
The 2023 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 8, 9, and 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 opened on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 8:00 a.m. and closes on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted. To register, students must see their school counselor.
More information can be found here.
Yearbooks and Senior Baby Ads
Yearbooks and senior baby ads for the 2023-2024 school year are now on sale! You can purchase yearbook packages and senior baby ads at www.yearbookordercenter.com using the code 4770. Standalone yearbooks are also available via MySchoolBucks. Prices start at $67 and will increase throughout the year, so buy early to save. Don’t wait – the last two years sold out. Questions? Email jsmorrison@fcps.edu
 Testing Information
SAT Information
On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Oakton 12th graders will have the opportunity to participate in the SAT School Day. FCPS will cover the cost for any twelfth grade student to take this test. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day.
Registration for the SAT on October 11 is now closed.
PSAT Information
On October 11, 2023, Oakton will offer the digital PSAT/NMSQT to students in grades 10-11. Students in grades 10-11 will be automatically registered and must test on an FCPS device. Students who wish to test with accommodations can learn more about the process and requirements on our PSAT/SAT page.
AP Testing Opt-Out Letters
As part of the FCPS FY 2024 Approved Budget, FCPS is continuing to assess Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees. As in previous years, the fees for the first six AP/IB tests taken for courses in which students are enrolled for high school credit will be paid for by FCPS. Students taking AP tests without enrolling in the corresponding FCPS course are responsible for the test fee(s). AP students must make Opt-Out decisions in October 2023 and parents will be billed a $98 non-refundable test fee in December 2023 for tests that exceed the six FCPS funded tests.
Oakton students will receive their opt-out letters on Wednesday, October 4th 2023. All Opt-Outs are due by Monday, October 18th 2023 to Mrs. Hendelman in School Counseling. If students need a new Opt-Out form they can see Mrs. Hendelman.
Oakton information will continue to be posted on our AP Exam page here: https://oaktonhs.fcps.edu/academics/testing/ap-exams
AP Exam Registration for Non-enrolled Students
If any student wants to take an AP exam in a course that he/she is not enrolled in, registration is now open. Each exam costs $98. You can use this google form to register. Students currently enrolled in an AP course are automatically registered for the corresponding AP exam and do not need to complete any form. The deadline to register is October 27th. Payment can be submitted through My School Bucks or check made out to Oakton High School. Payment is required before the exam space will be reserved.
My School Bucks Link
Other AP related information can be found in our AP Testing FAQs on the Oakton website. If you have any other questions about AP testing in general, please contact AP Coordinator Kim Stewart at kastewart@fcps.edu.
Student Services Updates
Student Services Newsletter
Fall is here! Check out the October Student Services Newsletter to learn more about our programs from September including Senior Parent Night and Freshman Parent Night. The newsletter also addresses our wellness initiatives such as Suicide Prevention Month information and Brain Breaks and upcoming events such as the Fall Community Book Club.
Fall Community Book Club
Join us for the first Oakton HS Community Book Club read this year: "Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine" by Michele Borba, Ed.D..
According to Amazon: "We think we have to push our kids to do more, achieve more, BE more. But we’re modeling the wrong traits—like rule-following and caution—and research shows it’s NOT working. This kind of “Striver” mindset isn’t just making kids unhappier, says Dr. Michele Borba…it’s actually the opposite of what it takes to thrive in the uncertain world ahead.
Thrivers are different: they flourish in our fast-paced, digital-driven, often uncertain world. Why? Through her in-depth research, Dr. Borba discovered that the difference comes down not to grades or test scores, but to seven character traits that set Thrivers apart—confidence, empathy, self-control, integrity, curiosity, perseverance, and optimism. The even better news: these traits can be taught to children at any age…in fact, parents and educations must do so. In Thrivers, Dr. Borba offers practical, actionable ways to develop these traits in children from preschool through high school, showing how to teach kids how to cope today so they can thrive tomorrow."
To receive your free copy of the book, please register at this link: https://forms.gle/yf5TJskDASuirtYq9. If copies are no longer available, the link will be closed.
The tentative book club discussion will be in January to allow enough time to read the book. More details will be emailed to book club participants.
Questions? Please reach out to Oakton Social Worker, Rachel Cherian, at rjcherian@fcps.edu or Oakton School Counselor, Elizabeth Chase-Kang, at epchasekang@fcps.edu.
Timeline for Schedule Changes
Please see the timeline below regarding schedule changes for the 2023-24 school year.
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September 11-November 3 (end of 1st quarter grading window): No schedule changes
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After November 6: Any student requesting a schedule change will need to fill out the schedule change request form, with permission from parent, student, teacher, school counselor, and administrator. If approved by the administration, schedule changes will only be processed if there is space available.
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After March 22: There will not be any schedule changes, regardless of space availability. This date aligns with the last day of the 3rd Quarter.
To find out who your child's school counselor is, please visit our website.
Service Learning Opportunities
Volunteer Fairfax
Volunteer Fairfax is a resource that can be used to find out about service-learning opportunities in the community. Service learning is a great way for students and families to engage with local nonprofits and volunteer. More information about Volunteer opportunities on this day can be found on Volunteer Fairfax’s website.
Disclaimer: Opportunities offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
Upcoming Opportunities
Instruction 2 Industry: Employability Skills
During the week of October 16-19, 2023, school divisions across the region are hosting employability skills webinars during the school day. Sessions cover Communication Etiquette, Resume Writing, Elevator Pitches, and Job Interviewing. A virtual, but live, event, Instruction 2 Industry, is free to all Northern Virginia high school students; recordings will be posted after for viewing if unable to participate during scheduled times. Classes may choose to participate as a whole class with one registration or as individual students which will each require their own registrations.
For more information about the schedule and to register for the event, see Event Flyer.
College Fair and Look to the Future Events
The annual FCPS College Fair will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Approximately 250 colleges and universities will be represented, including two and four-year colleges and US Service Academies. Following the fair, the Two-Night Postsecondary Virtual Event will be held on Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Both events will help students be better prepared for the next chapter of their educational journey. Students may REGISTER HERE.
Volunteers are needed for the College Fair. SIGN-UP TODAY to help make this event a success for students and their families.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
- Attend Superintendent Reid’s Community Conversation
- Free COVID-19 Tests
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
Health and Wellness Updates
2023-2024 Health & Safety Guidance for Schools
Although the COVID-19 hospital transmission level (previously the COVID-19 Community Transmission level) for Fairfax County is currently low, COVID-19 cases have risen in Virginia during the last few weeks, and flu season will soon be upon us. Be sure to review FCPS Health and Safety Guidance for the best ways to prevent the spread of disease and to find out when students should stay home from school.
Emergency Resources
Crisis Link Regional Hotline 703-527-4077
Crisis Text Text NEEDHELP to 85511
Dominion Hospital Emergency 703-536-2000
INOVA Emergency 703-289-7560
Merrifield Center Emergency 703-573-5979 TTY dial 711
Life Threatening 911
Safety and Security Updates
Safety Drills
Below is a list of safety drills that we will be practicing this school year.
- Fire Evacuation Drills - Two within the first twenty school days, then one per month
- Lockdown Drills - Two per school year; one in the first twenty days of school
- Bus Evacuation Drills - Two per school year; to be held within the first thirty school days of each semester
- Tornado Drill - To be held in March
Anonymous Tip Line Puts Safety First
If you or your child have concerns or information relating to feeling unsafe in any way at school, we encourage you to reach out to a member of the security or administrative team so that we may quickly address the issue. Students and parents may also utilize the FCPS Office of Safety and Security safety tip line, that you can access anonymously online, by text (888-777; Keyword TIP FCPS), or by phone (571-423-2020).
If your tip is an emergency and immediate assistance is necessary, please dial 911.
Students, staff, and community members should report school safety issues such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, the existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Tip line users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.
Concerns that do not impact the safety of our schools—concerns or information about programs, regulations, or policies—can be sent to the FCPS ombudsman online, at 571-423-4014, or ombudsman@fcps.edu.
PTSA News & Information
PTSA Board and Committee Chair Volunteers Needed
The PTSA is looking to fill the following volunteer positions for the executive committee for the 2023-2024 school year. Without a President and Vice-President, the Oakton PTSA cannot continue it's work.
In addition, the PTSA is searching for volunteers to be the Chair for the following committees to be a part of the Oakton PTSA team for the coming school year 2023-2024.
Those who are interested in the above positions should email Oaktonhsptsa@gmail.com with desired positions.
Oakton Pantry
The Oakton Pantry is available to any Oakton student or neighbor who is in need. We stock non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, and household supplies.
For assistance: ohsfood@gmail.com
Volunteer/Questions: oaktonpantry@gmail.com
Donate via PayPal
Most needed items: website
Amazon Wish List
The Barker Family and Three Fox Vineyards & Brewery have been generous supporters of the Oakton Pantry since our inception 7 years ago. We are so incredibly grateful to once again be the recipient of their generous grant.
Pantry usage continues to increase as does the cost of food and it is a regular challenge to keep our shelves stocked. This grant will be used immediately to ensure that we can continue to support more than 100 students and families a week. Thank you so much!
 Parent Resources
Parent Information Line
Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.
Parent Resource Center
The FCPS Parent Resource Center offers a wide variety of information and resources to support the success of all students. This includes monthly workshops and webinars. More information can be found on the FCPS website, including registration information.
FCPS Cares
Do you know an Oakton High School or FCPS employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.
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