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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.
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Table of Contents:
- Important Dates
- Principals Message
- Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
- School News
- PTSA News
- Student Volunteer Opportunity
- School Fundraisers
- Class of 2024 Fundraisers
Principals Message
Wolverine Community,
I hope your weekend is off to a great start. While a short week of classes for students along with the PSAT/SAT, it was still a busy one. Here are just a few items I wanted to highlight:
- With just a few weeks of the quarter left, this weekend is a great time to review ParentVue/StudentVue to check in on student progress and review any missing assignments. Its also a great time to review schoology classrooms and look at what assignments or assessments are scheduled over the coming weeks and ensure they are on the calendar. Finally, I would encourage a check in on attendance. A reminder that the image below my message summarizes chronic absenteeism for the entire school year and refers to both excused and unexcused. Therefore, if your child is in the green but already nearing the yellow you have already heard from us at the school and we’ll continue to be reaching out throughout the school year. Please reach out to us if you have any questions.
- A reminder West Potomac is a closed campus. That means when students arrive, they cannot leave campus without being checked out by a parent/guardian with our attendance office. This also means that students cannot have food delivered by DoorDash or Uber Eats. Ensuring a safe and secure learning environment is our number one priority. Please remind your child this weekend of this policy.
- Finally, I just want to acknowledge that global events do impact us here in our community and the surrounding area. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to review Dr. Reid’s message sent earlier this week highlighting our commitment to maintain safe and secure schools. If your student or family is struggling, please reach out to our Student Services team as we have resources to assist. If you ever have a concern, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our administrative staff.
Take care,
Kevin McMahon
Interim Principal
 Congratulations to the West Potomac High School Class of 2023 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees who were honored at Thursday evenings induction ceremony and last night at halftime of our home football game. From Left to Right: Jimmy Bennet ’08, April Byrd Mosley ’96 (accepted on behalf of April by her brother), Chrissy Kelly ’92, Sarah Jane Underwood ’12, De’Mornay Pierson-El ’14.
Important Dates
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October 14: Chips & Paint, Class of 2024 Fundraiser
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October 15: College Fair, Eagle Bank Arena, 4-7 p.m.
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October 16 & October 17: Postsecondary Virtual Event, 5-8 p.m.
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October 17: Band & Color Guard Restaurant Night, Panera 4-8 p.m.
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October 18: PTSA Meeting, Speaker – author Ana Homayoun 6:45 p.m.
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October 18: Orchestra Booster Fundraiser – El Paso, lunch and dinner, 6151 Richmond Highway (off Quander)
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October 19: Crew Boosters Restaurant Night, Five Guys, 4-8 p.m.
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October 25: PTSA Restaurant Night, Five Guys, 4-8 p.m.
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October 28: WP Dance Team Fundraiser, Clean Out Your Closets
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October 25: Crew in person sales begin (Hollin Hills Pool)
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October 29: End date for Crew online Wreath Sales
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November 8, 9, and 13: The 2023 World Languages Credit Exam
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
Alcohol & Football
As the cooler weather comes in, the leaves begin to change, we exchange our sandals for boots and Pumpkin flavored favorites, and football becomes the topic of many conversations. Families gather one or more times a week, wearing sport paraphernalia to root for “their team”, often enjoying an alcoholic beverage. Adults may have these interactions in the safety and confines of their own home, at a friend's house, or in a noisy establishment with televisions and a bar. When this routine becomes a habit seen by teens regularly, they may begin to associate alcohol with football. So when they attend their school’s football game, it’s now their night out with friends, and the close association between football and alcohol has already been established for them.
Media ads from various companies showcase their ice-cold brew options with stereotypical attractive people at a bar, appearing cool. When adults attend in-person games, tailgating seems mandatory as part of the full experience. When teens meet up before attending football games, pre-game drinking may be something they consider.
Alcohol.org states that people who watch games at viewing parties, average consumption of 7 drinks and those who tailgated averaged 8 drinks. In a country that values football and has connected football to the consumption of alcohol, it’s easy to see how teens may be conditioned to do the same. If a student is old enough to attend football games, they’re old to have conversations about alcohol safety.
Here are some tips to help:
- Establish clear and consistent boundaries “I will not tolerate…”.
- Explain why adults have the privilege to drink and adolescents are not allowed to drink.
- Do not exaggerate.
- Set a desired outcome for the conversation: Think about what you want your teen to understand before you get into the conversation.
Resources
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FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug
- For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
For further information & support: Contact Elizabeth Knudson, SAPS, LPC, 703.718.2749, eaknudson@fcps.edu
School News
AVID Tutors
- Looking for a flexible and part-time position at West Potomac High School? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2023-2024 school year. AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $18.97 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to Lisa Shields at lbshields@fcps.edu or AVID@fcps.edu
College & Career Center
FCPS 2023 College Fair:
It’s here! The 2023 College Fair will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. 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, 5:00 – 8:00 pm.
Attached is a flyer that details the sessions and schedule. Students and their families are encouraged to register for these events if they plan to attend. Along with registration for the college fair, the Two-Night Virtual Postsecondary Event session details and schedules have been updated on the Look to the Future website.
- Make sure to check out the College & Career Center’s October newsletter. If you happen to miss a newsletter or wish to review information from a previous month, all newsletters will be archived on the WPHS College & Career Center website.
ASBC 21st Annual HBCU Festival:
The ASBC 21st Annual Historically Black College & University (HBCU) Festival is a hybrid event being held November 17-18, 2023. This event is open to all high school students and will be held at The St. James Sports Complex in Springfield, VA. The festival is dedicated to connecting high school students and their families to HBCUs, and scholarship opportunities. Approximately 80 colleges and universities will be represented during the two-day event. Students and their families are encouraged to register here.
SENIORS ONLY: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA usually opens on October 1st for college bound seniors to complete. The federal government is still working on revising the FAFSA & it will not open until December. DO NOT complete the current FAFSA application. Seniors & parents, check your email for a financial aid newsletter from Mrs. Young.
PTSA News
The WP PTSA invites you to a special evening, Wednesday, October 18th featuring nationally recognized counselor and educational consultant, Ana Homayoun, author of Erasing the Finish Line
- Ms. Homayoun is an academic advisor and early career development expert. Her new book offers a groundbreaking new way of thinking about education for parents, educators, workplace managers and policymakers deeply invested in the personal and professional development of future.
- Ms. Homayoun’s work has been featured on Good Morning America, ATLANTIC, CNN and MSNBC, and in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Fast Company, SF Chronicle, among others, and she is a frequent guest on NPR.
- Seating is limited. We ask that you please RSVP for this so that we can better prepare and communicate if there are any time changes. https://docs.google.com/.../1FAIpQLSclZHLozFy08c.../viewform
About Erasing the Finish Line
- The world our children are growing up in is socially, economically, and politically unpredictable and ever-changing. How do we help kids navigate a high-tech, pandemic-adjusted world? What fundamental skills help young people adapt, persevere, and thrive?
Learn more about her work at www.anahomayoun.com.
Win a Family Photo Session by Renée C. Gage:
- Final Week to Enter to win a Renée C. Gage Family Portrait Session Raffle plus 8x10 linen print.
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Renée is a local Master Photographer who has specialized in capturing families, children, expectant mothers, and professionals with her camera for over twenty years. In 2020 and 2021. Two of Renée’s images won the prestigious “Best Portrait of a Child” award from the Virginia Professional Photographers Association and “Ascend” was named Top 50 Portraits of a Child in the United States. IG: @reneecgagephoto www.reneecgage.com
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Raffle ticket: $10.00 for 1 entry. Or $25.00 for 3 Entries. To purchase please visit https://westpotomacptsa.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true.
- Winner of Raffle will be announced at the October 18th PTSA meeting, WPHS Library at 6:45 PM
 It's Five Guys time again!
- Thank you to everyone who supported our first Five Guys Night of the year in September, your participation helps the PTSA raise money to directly support our mission at West Potomac. Come out and join us for our next Five Guys night on October 25th from 4:00-8:00 PM at either the Quander Road or Hybla Valley location. Five Guys will donate 20% of the proceeds back to the PTSA. Thank you for your support!
 WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL PTSA MEMBERSHIP – EASY TO JOIN
- Your membership dues are used to directly benefit our Wolverine teachers and students.
- At the site, you can purchase memberships, make tax-deductible donations, and purchase WPHS car magnets (new design). If you want to learn more or join our PTSA this year, please visit this link
WPHS WOLVERINES' CAR MAGNETS HAVE ARRIVED - New 2023 Design. $10.00
- Add a touch of WPHS Wolverines spirit to your car, refrigerator, etc with this 5 X 5 Full Color magnet. Purchase at this link.
School Fundraisers
Band & Color Guard - Restaurant Night - October 17
Mark your calendars for the West Potomac Bands and Color Guard first Restaurant Night of the year.
- October 17, 4-8 p.m.
- Panera Bread
- 6670 Richmond Highway, Alexandria
- Use code FUND4U when ordering in person or online.
- We will receive 25% of all sales.
- Keep your kitchen clean, eat clean, and support the Band in one delicious trip!
Back by Popular Demand! Orchestra Booster Fundraiser at El Paso on Wednesday, 18 October, El Paso Restaurant (6151 Richmond Highway, off Quander) from 11am to 10pm. Enjoy your favorite Mexican food with your family and friends by ordering in or taking out – just mention this fundraiser and show this flyer on your phone!
  CHRISTMAS PLANNING IN OCTOBER?!?!
- Why not get a jump on the season ... AND help West Po Crew with critical fundraising to support our coaches, equipment, and regatta fees!
- We are selling fresh holiday evergreens handcrafted from the boughs of trees grown high in the Cascade Mountains. They’re full, fragrant, and rich in color—perfect for your front door or above the mantel. They also make great gifts! Your support makes a big difference. Click the link below to place your order! https://sherwoodfundraiser.com/wpcrew
- Remember the ONLINE sale closes October 29! Why so early? This gives our vendor, Sherwood Forest, enough time to send the items by Thanksgiving.
- For LOCALS: You've got options!
- You can shop our BOOTH SALES, which will run on Saturdays and Sundays from November 25th through December 17th (earlier if we sell out) at Hollin Hills Pool. We'll sell two sizes of wreaths, plus garland.
- Want even more products to choose from? Order ONLINE!
- Note: If you order online AND the items you want are available for “Local Delivery”, please choose this option! This means your order comes to the team, and we'll bring it to you. Why does it matter? For some reason, we make more money this way!
Class of 2024 Fundraisers
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