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Edison High School Weekly
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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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Important Dates
Edison School Wide Calendar
January 26: Student Holiday
January 30: Pyramid Choir Concert 7pm in Main Gym
January 31: Global STEM Challenges Program Information Night for Rising 9th graders at 6:00 p.m
February 1: Theatre Arts - Mandatory Parent Meeting, 6:30 PM
February 3: Edison Academy Open House, 10:00 AM- 12:00 noon
February 29: Presentation on Trends in the Drug Culture 6 pm (Parents Only)
March 25-29: Spring Break
June 5: Graduation, 7:30pm, EagleBank Arena at GMU
June 12: Last Day of School
The complete FCPS 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
In this Issue:
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Global STEM Information Session for Rising 9th Grade
- FAFSA Application Completion Workshop
- Edison Academy Open House
- Mandatory Meeting for Parents of Addams Family Cast
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Parent Presentation on trends in the drug culture (For Guardians Only)
- Tracking Your Child's Attendance
- In Case You Missed It
- January Celebrations
A Message from Mrs. Burke
Dear Edison Families,
As we approach the start of the third quarter on Monday, we're eagerly anticipating what promises to be a fantastic quarter. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the parents who joined us for the PTSA meeting on Tuesday evening. It was a truly insightful and productive discussion on the subject of school safety, and I am grateful for the questions and support that were shared. We were honored to have some very special guests in attendance, including Mr. Ray Lonnett, our new regional assistant superintendent, Mrs. Marcia St. John-Cunning from the Franconia District school board, Mr. Kyle McDaniel At-Large School Board Member, Mr. Tom Vaccarello Chief Safety and Security Officer FCPS, Mr. Justin Dellow EHS security specialist, Officer Ashraf our SRO, and Officer Wallace FCPD. Please keep an eye out for an e-notify with a form to gather additional questions, as we weren't able to address all of them during the meeting.
We're thrilled to announce the upcoming Battle of the Birds basketball doubleheader, taking place tomorrow. Please see below for all the details. With an expected large turnout, be sure to plan accordingly and arrive early! The event has sold out the past two years, so don't miss out on the action. After the game, head over to the Audrey Moore Rec Center and show your support for our swim and dive team.
Have a great weekend,
Amanda Burke
Principal
ajburke@fcps.edu
Follow us on instagram @edisonhseagles
EDISON EAGLES!
Saturday, January 27th, Edison will host Hayfield Secondary in a Varsity Basketball Double Header- Girls @ 12:30 and the Boys @ 2:00 pm!
We are expecting a very large crowd, so please plan on coming early!! For the past two years, we have sold out, so please make arrangements to arrive early!!
If you or your student plans to come, please take the time to discuss the relevant information below:
- We are asking Edison fans to enter at door 13, and Hayfield fans will enter through door 6.
- Please see the map below, Edison fans will sit across from the benches, and Hayfield fans will sit behind the benches.
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No outside food or drinks are allowed. The concession stand will be open.
- We cheer for Edison and not against our opponent. All cheers should be positive.
- The Gymnasium will open at 11:30 a.m.
- All students must pre-arrange for transportation and plan to leave immediately after the game. Students who are not picked up within 30 minutes of the end of the game may not be allowed to return for subsequent games.
- Students are expected to be in the stands and not hanging out by the concession stand or bathrooms.
- We welcome all members of the community to attend our games, but parents are needed to attend and monitor middle and elementary-aged students. All attendees, regardless of age, are expected to behave responsibly.
- Whistles and similar noisemakers are prohibited.
- Representatives from the Fairfax County Police Department, the Edison Administration, and the Edison Security Staff will monitor the activities of our patrons in the parking lot, at the ticket gate, and inside the Gym to promote a safe and secure environment for both Edison fans, our visitors, and guests.
- Anyone caught trying to enter the game without paying will be removed and can be banned from attending future games.
- Our goal is to create a positive community event. Any behaviors that take away from this goal may result in being removed from the game and not being allowed to attend future games.
Eagle PRIDE!
1. Global STEM
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Interested students and families are encouraged to attend an in-person information session. This session will occur on Wednesday, January 31, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. in the auditorium of Thomas A. Edison High School. Please enter through Door 17, located in the front of the building. In this session, students and families will learn about the program and how to request to enroll for the 2023-24 school year.
About the Global STEM Challenges Program
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The Global STEM Challenges Program is a three-year program. It provides a student-centered, collaborative learning environment. This dynamic program prepares high school students to succeed in college and careers. Students engage in engineering design and use math and science to solve problems. They develop Portrait of a Graduate skills.
Teachers collaborate across Science, Math, and Engineering courses to integrate learning goals. Teachers adjust the sequence of course content to connect to a real-world problem.
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Students collaborate on teams to explore solutions to Grand Challenges in Engineering. They investigate topics like sustainable food production connected to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Student teams use their critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills to design solutions. Students develop prototypes and defend designs in front of teachers and community members. Collaboration and exploration of real-world problems are core to this program.
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Students enrolled in the Global STEM Challenges Program learn that there is not a single “right” answer to real-world problems. They also learn that mistakes are often helpful steps in the learning process.
Students have three class periods of integrated mathematics, science, and engineering every other school day.
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In a three-year time span, students complete honors-level content requirements of Biology, Chemistry, Geometry, Algebra II, and three Engineering courses. They complete International Baccalaureate (IB) Physics and an IB Math Course. Students also have the opportunity to earn a tenth credit in Computer Science, which is embedded throughout the program.
Watch this video to see the program in action.
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 Photo taken by Rachel Bouallegui, ESOL Teacher, during our snow days
2. FAFSA Application Completion Workshop
Saturday, January 27, 10:00 AM - 12:00 Noon
EHS Lecture Hall
Parents and students who bring the required documents to the workshop receive one-on-one assistance completing and submitting the FAFSA online. Student’s must bring their computer and required documents found here: https://collegeaccessfairfax.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/What-to-Bring-to-Complete-2023-24-FAFSA-English.pdf
More information here: https://collegeaccessfairfax.org/
3. Edison Academy Open House
You are cordially invited to attend our in-person Open House event on Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (snow date is Saturday, February 10). Please come to Edison HS and enter at Door 13 (the Van Dorn Street side of the building). You will have the opportunity to tour our state-of-the-art facilities, meet our instructors and current students, and learn more about our incredible courses! Please feel free to contact Cassandra Deedy at (703) 924-8101 or cjdeedy@fcps.edu if you need any additional information. We look forward to meeting you on Saturday, February 3rd.
Other Academy Open Houses can be found here: calendar of Academy open houses.
4. Mandatory Meeting for Parents of "The Addams Family" Cast
If you have a student who is part of The Addams Family, please come to our MANDATORY parent meeting on Thursday, February 1 at 6:3 PM in the Black Box Theater (Mr. Walker's classroom).
We will be discussing rehearsal schedules, expectations for the students and of course ways that you can help our spring production be successful. If you have any questions, contact president@edisontheatrecompany.org
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5. For Parents Only - Parent Presentation on Trends in the Drug Culture; February 29, 2024
Many challenges and responsibilities come with being a parent, and having to address a difficult topic with your child, such as drug culture, trends and identifying signs of substance use, can be stressful. Drugs and drug paraphernalia is now being disguised as common everyday items out in plain sight, to go unrecognized by parents or other adults. Substance Abuse Prevention Program want to provide you with information so you will be able to recognize drugs and drug paraphernalia and also the signs of drug use to equip you to have real and meaningful dialog with your child concerning these issues.
Join us on February 29th, 2024 @ 6:00pm at Edison High School where we will be hosting a parent presentation to provide information on the trends in drug culture. After the presentation there will be time to ask questions or to receive more information. The trends in drug culture have created innovative ways to hook your child and we are here to arm you by providing information concerning these topics that will assist in effective communication with your child. Also, a Narcan Training with be provided by a member of the Community Services Board.
Shawn Elliott, BS, QMHP-C Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Sbelliott@fcps.edu
6. Tracking Your Child's Attendance
Edison High School is committed to providing our students with a high-quality education. Academic success relies upon excellent school attendance. Students who come to school on time every day are building critical life skills they will use the rest of their lives. Like strengthening a muscle, building positive attendance habits early on makes a difference for our students today and for our adults of tomorrow. Attending school regularly helps students feel better about school and themselves.
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To assist families with tracking their child’s attendance, we will be
sending out attendance report card emails starting at the end of 2nd quarter that allows you to see if your child is in good standing, at risk of being chronically absent, or is chronically absent. These emails are meant to help you be more aware of where your student stands regarding their attendance. While we don’t grade on attendance, it can have a direct correlation to how a student performs in class. |
In their April 20, 2023 business meeting, the Virginia Board of Education decided to not suspend chronic absenteeism as part of school accreditation determinations for 2023-24, based on 2022-23 student outcomes. The Board’s rationale was a desire to send a strong message to schools, families, and students about the importance of regular attendance for student success. The Board decision means that schools with Level 3 (red) in any indicator—including chronic absenteeism—based on end-of-year data will receive “Accredited with Conditions” designation.
Edison High School ended the last school year at 21% warning status for chronic absenteeism, just four percentage points from the chronic absence status level. Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, regardless of reason. For a school, no more than 15% of their students can be absent (for any reason) for more than 10% of the school year. Most school years have 180 days, 10% = 18 days. Not only is attendance important for student achievement, but the state of Virginia requires attendance at school.
Support is available:
Edison High School staff is committed to supporting attendance. Additional resources can be found online at http://www.fcps.edu/attendance. We know that parents are the experts on their own child and our school team is here to partner and help solve attendance-related concerns. The System of Support Advisor, School Counselors and School Social Workers and Psychologists are available to provide that support at 703-925-8000. You can find all these support personnel on our website.
Parents and students have asked how attendance is reported to colleges and who sees attendance data. All colleges as well as some scholarships and summer programs request a transcript. On the transcript the attendance data is reported.
Also, please remember to call your school to report all absences. Edison High School has a system for checking students in and out and for reporting absences. Please visit our site to learn how to report accurate and timely attendance.
7. FCPS News - In Case You Missed It
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- FCPS Receives $16 Million to Buy More Electric Buses
- Science Fair Judges Needed
- How Families Can Help Fight Opioid Misuse
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
8. We Celebrate in January:
- New Year's Day
- Three Kings Day/Epiphany
- Orthodox Christmas
- Martin Luther King Day
- Orthodox Epiphany
- End of 2nd Quarter
 Edison Athletics Booster Club will offer six scholarships to graduating Edison High School seniors that have participated in varsity Edison Athletics as a player. Applicants will be judged on athletic accomplishments, community service, coach’s recommendation, and written essay. Financial need is not a determining factor. Each scholarship award will be in the amount of $500. Scholarships (checks) will be made payable and sent directly to the recipient’s college or technical/vocational school.
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