 |
|
Edison High School Weekly
|
| |
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.
|
Important Dates
Edison School Wide Calendar
February 29: Presentation on Trends in the Drug Culture, 6 pm (Parents Only)
March 2: Athletic Booster Bingo Night, 5:00 - 9:00 PM
March 5: Primary Election Day, Student Holiday
March 25-29: Spring Break
April 1-2: Student Holidays
May 18: Senior Prom
May 27: Memorial Day Holiday
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:
- Parent Information on Eating Disorders
- West Potomac Academy Open House
-
For Parents Only - Parent Presentation on Trends in the Drug Culture; February 29, 2024
- Family Engagement Survey
- Career and Tech Ed Classes Prepare Students for the Future
- FAFSA Updates for Seniors and their Parents
- Fairfax County Teen Job Fair
- In Case You Missed It
- Reminders: Attendance, Checkng Out Early, Food Delivery
- February Celebrations
- Athletic Boosters
1. Parent Information on Eating Disorders
The Code of Virginia, 22.1-273.2, requires Virginia Public Schools to provide, on an annual basis, parent educational information regarding eating disorders for students in grades five through twelve.
According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023),
Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives.
There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a web page with detailed information and resources to be provided to parents and guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools. This information may be found at Eating Disorders.
 2. You are Invited to West Potomac Academy’s Open House
on Wednesday, February 28th from 6-8 PM. West Potomac Academy is a Governor’s Health and Medical Sciences Academy and offers outstanding opportunities and classes with career interests in health and medical sciences, communications and arts, social services, and industrial trades. These are advanced career elective choices that incorporate the latest industry technology and instructional techniques. Come tour our classrooms, meet our teachers and support staff, hear from current students, and learn about our specialized classes and programs!
Please note: For classes in our Gunston Building, follow signs for the Kiss & Ride and Academy and enter in door 21. For classes in our Springbank Building, enter the main entrance and follow to the parking lot by door 5. Questions? Contact: Nora Covert, Academy Counselor 703-718-2752 nkcovert@fcps.edu www.westpotomacacademy.fcps.edu
3. 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
4. Family Engagement Survey to Open March 3
FCPS is partnering with independent research firm K12 Insight to administer a Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Sunday, March 3, to Friday, March 22. Your feedback is critical in helping FCPS to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs throughout the district. Survey topics include:
|
|
 |
- Welcoming environment
- Communication
- Student success
- Advocacy
- Family and school partnerships
- Community partnerships
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive the survey link via email from K12 Insight. A public link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available in our front office. Please stay tuned for more information.
5. 🩺 Career and Technical Education Courses Prepare Students for the Future
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. Hear from students how CTE courses and Academies are helping them explore and prepare for careers while still in high school. One student has earned more than 20 industry certifications in two years!
Watch this video to learn more about opportunities in Fairfax County Public Schools’ CTE and Academy programs.
6. FAFSA Updates for Seniors and Their Parents/Guardians
There have been several technological challenges with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) since its launch on December 31, 2023. The latest news is that colleges will not get FAFSA summaries from the U.S. Department of Education until mid-March at the earliest. As a result, colleges won’t be able to give students financial aid award letters based on their FAFSA information until late April to May, at best. Students who applied to a college that uses the CSS Profile may receive financial aid information sooner.
Different media outlets are reporting a growing list of colleges that will push back deadlines for students to accept offers of admission into May and even June. The American Council on Education has a database of colleges and universities that have extended their deadline to commit to enroll. We recommend that all information obtained by a secondary source be confirmed directly with the college or university.
If you are a caregiver or student with questions or persistent issues filling out the FAFSA, consider scheduling a free appointment with our partners at College Access Fairfax. Email Appointments@CollegeAccessFairfax.org. All FAFSA help provided by your school or College Access Fairfax is free.
7. 💼 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair
Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs and Career-Building Workshops will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at Chantilly High School, and Saturday, March 9, at West Springfield High School.
Student registration is free and open to all teens in Fairfax County seeking employment, volunteer opportunities, or tips on building their resume. Business registration is also free and open to any organization providing positions for students.
8. FCPS Cares - Recognize Edison Employees!
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Edison HS School. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!
|
9. Reminders: Attendance Procedures, Checking Out Early, and Outside Food Deliveries
 Attendance is checked daily each period and for full-day absences. By State regulation, calls and emails are sent to parents in the morning and afternoon via an automated attendance system from FCPS. We cannot control the content of the message, or the time that they are delivered.
If you receive a call indicating an individual class absence, please have your student verify with the teacher before calling the attendance office.
Students may not call or check themselves out.
For full details on attendance procedures, please visit Attendance Policies
Checking Out Early?
Please follow the guidelines for “day of” checkouts on our website. Plan for appointments and contact the office in advance. All early dismissals need to be submitted by 9:30 AM in order to be processed in time.
For unplanned early check-outs, parents will need to come into the main office with their picture ID. It can take up to 30 minutes for a student to be released without prior notice.
Please consider keeping your student home if they have an appointment and are leaving within the first hour of school. We try to get through the many daily messages we receive immediately on arriving at school, but our attendance office may not have heard or read your message for an early release before your arrival. This will ensure your student will be on time for the appointment.
Outside Food Delivery
By regulation, students are not allowed to order food for delivery during the school day. If a driver from Grub Hub, Uber Eats, Door Dash, etc., tries to deliver a meal, they are turned away. If by some chance food is delivered for a student by a meal service, we confiscate it and do not return it.
Also, keep in mind that all high schools in Fairfax County are "closed campuses." This means that students are not allowed to leave Edison High School at any time during the day. Only a parent or guardian can sign a student out of the building.
10. 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:
- Upcoming Webinars and Events for Families
- How Students Benefit from CTE Courses
- Supreme Court Decision Regarding TJHSST
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
11. We Celebrate in February
- Black History Month
- Career and Technical Eduation Month
- Love the Bus Month
- School Board Appreciation Month
- February 15: School Resource Officer Appreciation Day
- February 19: President's Day Holiday
- February 27-March 3: Public Schools Week
 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.
Useful Links
|
