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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。
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Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@OaktonHS), and Instagram @oaktonhs ! Be sure to check out our Oakton Accolades section on our website as we celebrate student achievement!
 Important Dates
You can access the FCPS 2023-2024 school year calendar here.
February 12-16 - Kindness Week (Led by Cougar Leadership students)
February 14 - Capitol Hill Field Trip (12th grade students); Happy Valentines Day!
February 17 - Instruction 2 Industry Career Fair Exhibition (see below)
February 19 - No School (Presidents' Day); Spring Sports Tryouts begin
March 5 - No School for Students (Virtual School Planning Day - Primary Day)
March 11 - Religious and Cultural Observance Day, First full day of Ramadan
March 22 - Last Day of 3rd Quarter
March 25-29 - No School, Spring Break
General Information
Oakton Accolades
The Oakton Accolades page has been updated to reflect many student and school accomplishments for the month of January. Be sure to check it out!
Kindness Spirit Week
The Oakton community is invited to participate in Kindness Spirit Week. Below are the activities and spirit days planned for next week. In addition students filled out paper hearts today (February 5) during Cougar Connect with someone in the Oakton community they were thankful for. Those will be compiled into a display in the hallway for students to see.
- Monday, February 12: Dream of Kindness - PJ Day; Lollipops at Door 1 & 6 before school
- Tuesday, February 13: Fueled by Kindness - Wear Purple; Positive Post-it Notes will be on desks throughout the building for as students arrive
- Wednesday, February 14: Love Yourself - Wear Pink and Red; Happy Valentines Day!
- Thursday, February 15: Team Kindness - Wear Favorite Team Jersey; Candy Grams distributed (on sale this week through February 8)
- Friday, February 16: We are Oakton - Wear Oakton Merch; Free hot chocolate in the canteen in the morning (while supplies last)
School Climate Survey - Students
Oakton High School, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education, is offering the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions to all of our students and staff this month.
The purpose of the student survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment. In order to get meaningful data we would like as many students to participate in the survey as possible. Students had two previous opportunities to participate during Cougar Connect meetings.
At this point, we are still under 50% for total student participation. Students will have another opportunity on Thursday during Cougar Time 7 to complete the survey. If you have not opted your child out, please encourage them to take the survey.
Course Registration 2024-25
Course registration for the 2024-2025 school year has begun! Below are different ways students and parents can learn about the course offerings and when each grade level will register.
Students and parents can find information about many of our classes, explained by our teachers, through our course offerings website . Additional information can be found on our academic advising and course offerings page.
Registration: All students will have presentations from the counselors and then an individual meeting to confirm the classes they wish to enroll in. The dates below may be adjusted as needed.
It is incredibly important that students sign up for the classes they want to take. We base our staffing decisions on these initial numbers. Deadlines to register for courses is March 1, 2024.
Rising Seniors - Class of 2025
- Classroom Presentations: January 4 & 5 through English classes
- 1:1 Registration with counselor: January 8 – 25 through Social Studies classes
Rising Juniors - Class of 2026
- Classroom Presentations: January 29 & 30 through English classes
- 1:1 Registration with counselor: January 31 – February 14 through Social Studies classes
Rising Sophomores - Class of 2027
- Classroom Presentations: February 15 & 16 through English classes
- 1:1 Registration with counselor: February 20 – March 1 through Social Studies classes
Rising Freshmen - Class of 2028
Counselor Presentations:
- January 9 – Carson Middle School
- January 11 – Franklin Middle School
- January 12 – Thoreau Middle School
- January 22 - Jackson Middle School
Deadlines for course selection will be determined by the middle school; dates will vary by school.
Spring Sports Tryout Information - Feb. 19
Tryouts for spring sports will start on Monday, February 19th (note: this is a school holiday) and will run for 3 days. Athletes must attend 3 days of tryouts to be considered.
BEFORE students can tryout they must have a current VHSL physical on file dated after May 1, 2023 as well as the online registration filled out.
On Thursday, February 15, students may have their paperwork checked in the gym lobby during Cougar Time 7 or Cougar Time 8 to ensure they are ready for tryouts.
Athletes should check back for timing of individual tryout times for each sport on our Oakton Athletics site.
Monday, February 26th there will be a parent meeting/ “meet the teams” pep rally followed by individual break out sessions with Coaches.
Wednesday, February 28th will be team photos after school (schedule TBA)
Please email individual coaches with questions.
Learner Permit Testing Dates
If you would like to sign your student up for their learner's permit driving test, please see this document for dates and registration information. This also includes resources to help students prepare.
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:
- Wednesday, January 31, 6:30pm in the Auditorium (Rescheduled from January 16 Snow Day)
- 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.
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
Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo Events
In February, school divisions across the region will team up with Virginia Ed Strategies to host the annual Instruction 2 Industry Career Expo event. This Northern Virginia regional event will allow high school students to connect virtually and in person, with more than 60 local industry professionals from in-demand career fields.
The purpose of these FREE career exploration events is to provide students with opportunities to prepare for tomorrow’s workforce today.
The in-person Career Expo and Job Fair event will be held on Saturday, February 17, from 1-4 p.m., in the North Hall of the Dulles Expo Center.
Students should register today on the Instruction 2 Industry Events Page
 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series
Looking for a job or volunteer opportunity? All students are invited to attend the 2024 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair Series and Career Building Workshops sponsored by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity with FCPS kicking off Saturday, March 2nd from 11am to 1pm at Chantilly High School and on Saturday, March 9th at West Springfield High School from 11am to 1pm. At each fair, students will have the opportunity to engage with employers offering part-time, full-time, seasonal, and volunteer positions. During the fairs, students will also be able to attend career-building workshops like Resume Building and Interviewing 101. Most positions at the fair are geared toward students age 16+, but some opportunities for younger students may be available with parental consent. Registration is free here and at the fairs. For more information, or to register, please visit the Teen Job Fair webpage.
Testing Updates
WIDA Testing
WIDA testing will begin on Monday, January 29- February 29 with more than 180 students at Oakton scheduled to complete the four-part WIDA. Federal law requires that all Level 1-5 English Learners (ELs) participate annually in an English Language proficiency assessment. WIDA Access for ELLs consists of the following parts: Reading, Listening, Writing, and Speaking. Students will take the four parts of WIDA over 3 test sessions. This assessment determines a student’s English language proficiency level, eligibility for ESOL services and testing accommodations. It also provides teachers with information they can use to plan for and support students’ learning. Students and parents/guardians will be notified of testing schedules via email.
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
Oakton High will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on Thursday, March 21, 2024. This is a new date from the originally scheduled date of February 13, 2024. NAEP reached out late last week to reschedule the administration of this test. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. NAEP is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents/guardians, policymakers, and the public. Families of students selected to participate will be notified via email.
Student Services Updates
Student Services Newsletter
Happy February Cougar Families! Check out this month’s Student Services Newsletter that highlights Junior Family College Night, course registration information, summer school, and upcoming events. One event is the US Service Academy and ROTC Night on February 13 at 7pm. Madison HS is hosting representatives from Military Academies and ROTC Programs as well as a representative from Gerry Connolly’s Office who will talk about the nomination process.
Timeline for Schedule Changes
Please see the timeline below regarding schedule changes for the 2023-24 school year.
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November 6 - March 22: 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
Senior Service Learning Hours and X2VOL
The last day for Seniors to submit Service Learning hours to X2Vol for approval will be April 19th at 3pm. All Seniors must have submitted any hours prior to this date if they wish to have them approved for graduation awards and recognition. Please see the information provided below regarding graduation awards and recognition tied to Service Learning in FCPS. If you have any questions please reach out to Kimberly Stewart, our Service Learning Liaison, with your questions kastewart@fcps.edu. This date is for Seniors ONLY. All other underclass students may continue to submit Service Learning hours in X2VOL. Oakton High School Service Learning information can be found HERE.
Service-Learning for Graduates
Service Learning Hours Cord: 40 hours
This is separate from government. Students can use the hours that they used for government, but they will need a total of 40 hours from the past 4 years in order to earn a service cord at graduation.
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Note to Underclassmen: Hours/Reflections will be recorded by the student on x2VOL website.
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Note to current Seniors: You will not get the actual cord until graduation rehearsal.
Civics Seal Application: 50 hours
This is an application approved by the state of VA, and requires 50 hours of service, as well as a B average in History/Government. It will allow students to be eligible to receive a civics seal on their diploma.
- Please talk to your Social Studies teacher for more information.
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.
Class of 2024 Information
Senior Letter
An updated senior letter was emailed out on January 26. That information has also been uploaded to the Oakton website and can be found here. This letter includes many updates from the September senior letter. It also provides more information on how to pay senior dues and order a Class of 2024 t-shirt.
Health and Wellness Updates
2023-2024 Health & Safety Guidance for Schools
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.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Summer Camp and Learning Opportunities
- Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools
- Check Schoology for Teacher-Referred Tutoring
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
PTSA Updates
The Oakton PTSA Winter Fundraiser is underway. Your contributions, membership and donations to the PTSA go a long way in helping the PTSA provide for funds, events, and opportunities for the students and the teachers. Help us help our community by becoming a member, donations, and participation in our monthly meetings. Click here for your memberships and contributions.
Have any ideas or concerns, email us at oaktonhsptsa@gmail.com.
The Oakton PTSA is looking for parent volunteers for the following positions:
- ANGP Party Chair
- Secretary
- Hospitality Chair
Please email us at oaktonhsptsa@gmail.com.
For our announcements and updates ,the Oakton PTSA website.
Oakton Pantry
General Information
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
 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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