 |
|
Woodson Weekly -
March 22
|
Woodson Weekly is published every Friday to provide the community with important information about school life at Woodson High School.
Mission Statement
Woodson High School’s mission is to empower our community to reach their individual potential by creating a healthy environment of mutual respect, responsibility, equity, and inclusion.
 |
|
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 Upcoming Dates
Friday, March 22nd - End of 3rd Quarter
Monday, March 25th - Friday, March 29th - Spring Break, Schools and Offices Closed
Monday, April 1st - Tuesday, April 2nd - Teacher Workdays, No School for Students
Monday, April 1st-Friday, April 5th - Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
Wednesday, April 3rd - Junior Focus Day
Thursday, April 4th - National School Librarian Day
Wednesday, April 10th - Eid al Fitr, Schools and Offices Closed
Woodson's Events & Activities Calendar
FCPS 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
FCPS 2024-25 School Year Calendar
In this Issue
1. Message from Mr. Greata
2. Calendar Reminders
3. No Woodson Weekly or PTSO Wemail Over Spring Break
4. 4th Annual Woodson 5k Community Walk/Run
5. Junior Focus Day
6. Institute for the Arts
7. Family Engagement Survey
8. Updated COVID Recommendations
9. College and Career Center
10. AP Exam Conflicts
11. FCPS News
1. Message from Mr. Greata
Good Afternoon Woodson,
We're proud to announce the exceptional achievements of our students at the Annual Fairfax County Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Three of our students, Maya Moses, Joseph Tso, and Nathan Vailikit were Grand Prize Nominees and Austin Cui, Benjamin Hall, and Matthew Lee were Grand Prize Winners and will be competing in the International Science and Engineering Fair in May. Along with these great achievements, Woodson students received numerous awards and scholarships (too many to list), and I could not have been more amazed at the quality of scientific inquiry. Our students are going to change the world!
As spring unfolds, we're preparing for a significant change—our transition to Carter G. Woodson. This presents us with a unique opportunity to reflect on our values and strengthen our sense of community. To ensure our students remain at the heart of this process, we're forming a student ambassador committee. Today, application forms were sent to students via their Schoology accounts. Please discuss this opportunity with your student to gauge their interest in participating.
A heartfelt thank you to all staff members who participated in our annual Chili Cook-off. The time spent finding the right recipe, preparing the chili, setting up the room, judging, and enjoying the amazing food, made this event a success. A special shout out to Kathy Martin and Jackie O’Brien for all your efforts in organizing this cook off for our staff. And the Chili Champion is … (drum roll)...Mike Kuykendall with his Stir Crazy Beef Chili!
March is also National Athletic Trainer’s Appreciation Month, and we want to acknowledge Chris Hogge and Jen Cooke for the amazing care, expertise, and dedication they pour into our athletic programs. Their work goes well beyond the field of play, and supports both game preparation and recuperation. Thank you for all you do!
A few housekeeping items prior to the break:
-
School offices will be closed all next week (3-25 to 3-29) and there will be no Woodson Weekly or PTSO Wemail
- You may contact administrators through our webpage
- Students will return to the building on Wednesday, April 3rd, which will be an Odd Day
- No homework or major assignments will be due the first two days after the break
Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable Spring Break!
Kevin Greata
Principal
WoodsonConnect@fcps.edu
Audio Version of the Woodson Weekly
2. Calendar Reminders
 |
|
Spring Break is March 25th-March 29th.
The Woodson school building and it's offices will be closed. |
Monday, April 1st, and Tuesday, April 2nd, are school planning and teacher workdays, respectively. There will be no school for students on these days. |
|
 |
3. No Woodson Weekly or PTSO Wemail Over Spring Break
Next week is Spring Break, which means the PTSO Wemail will not go out on Tuesday, March 26th, and the Woodson Weekly will not go out on Friday, March 29th. We will catch back up the week of April 1st.
 Congratulations to Woodson’s Mock Trial Team who competed last weekend in the Virginia State Championships in Richmond, Virginia. Our team of nine dedicated students utilized creativity, intelligence, and vigor to attack a complicated fact pattern, conflicting witness statements, complex evidentiary rules, and the challenges of courtroom procedures in four full mock trials against extremely talented competition. Based on the scoring of real attorneys and collegiate mock trial competitors, our team won two of four mock trials and was ranked as the 10th best team in Virginia. This is Woodson’s highest finish in the State Championships since 2019. Well done! Our Mock Trial Team: Taraneh Doust, Sarah Courtney, Chance Jones, Meredith Phipps, Josie Owens, Jazzy Singh, Franchesca Douchine, Ceyda Bayraktar, and Aritak Waisi.
4. 14th Annual Woodson 5k Community Walk/Run
It’s time to register for the 14th Annual Woodson 5k Community Walk/Run on Saturday, May 18 at 8:30am at Woodson HS. All proceeds benefit Max Pound Foundation which is an organization dedicated to providing vital resources for groundbreaking research in pediatric brain cancer, driving the advancement of safe and transformative treatments, thus empowering children battling this devastating disease.
Members of the Woodson Community can register for $30 on-line or mail-in registration forms before Friday, May 3. The price increases to $40 after May 3rd.
Woodson students and staff can register for just $20 – only through MySchoolBucks.
Registration will take place up until race time. The event begins and ends outside of entrance #1. Every participant receives a Woodson 5K shirt.
This form contains all of the above links and a link to print off your own mail-in registration form. You can mail your registration form directly to Woodson, Attn: Leadership.
Questions? Email Dan Schaefer at djschaefer@fcps.edu
Ms. Barry's Biology students modeling Natural Selection by trying to eat noodles with different utensils, mimicking Darwin’s study of the finch beaks on the Galapagos Islands. Survival of the fittest!
5. Junior Focus Day
We are thrilled to invite you to Woodson's Junior Focus Day on April 3, 2024, during 1st & 3rd periods. This "in-house field trip" for students is your ticket to explore a world of possibilities in postsecondary education and the college application process.
-
8:10 am: Student Services Welcome & Event Overview
Gather in the Auditorium for a warm welcome and overview of the day's events.
-
8:20 am: Keynote Address by a College Admissions Representative
Be inspired by firsthand insights from a college admissions expert.
-
8:50 am: Breakout Sessions Begin (multiple locations throughout the school)
Dive into three sessions of your choice tailored to help you navigate your post-high school path.
-
11:15 am: Conclusion of Junior Focus Day
The event concludes at 11:15 am, in time for the start of 5th period.
For an early look at the agenda & breakout sessions, please visit our Junior Focus Day Padlet. Stay tuned – we will send out more information closer to the date. We are looking forward to seeing our Juniors there!
Staff participates in the Annual Chili Cook-off in celebration of March Madness.
Congratulations Mike Kuykendall for taking home the Chili Champion title, and a huge thank you to Kathy Martin and Jackie O'Brien for planning and organizing this great staff event. Extra Kudos to Warren Williams and John Scholla for grilling the best hotdogs!
6. Institute for the Arts
Students in all FCPS secondary schools can enroll in the Institute for the Arts. IFTA is a two- or three-week summer Arts enrichment program for students in rising 7th through 12th grades. Students create their own schedules in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance from nearly 60 courses offered. Transportation is provided from around the county. Tuition assistance is available for students who qualify. Check out the Institute for the Arts website for more information or email ifta@fcps.edu.
7. Family Engagement Survey
The FCPS Family Engagement survey is open now.
Parents/caregivers should have received an email invitation with a unique survey link from K12 Insight on March 3. The subject line was: FCPS Family Engagement Survey. Check your junk mail to see if the survey message landed here.
Here is a general survey link that families can use to take the survey.
The survey is designed to gather data for Strategic Plan Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships; and to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools and community.
Students playing in the Woodson Guitar Spring Performance.
8. Updated COVID Recommendations
In accordance with the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) respiratory virus guidance, FCPS and the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) have updated school COVID-19 recommendations.
The COVID-19 isolation period of five days is no longer recommended.
New respiratory virus guidance applies to respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Students who have symptoms of, test positive for, or have been diagnosed with a respiratory virus may return to school when the student is fever-free for 24 hours without fever reducing medication; AND the student’s symptoms have improved or resolved.
Students should follow additional precautions as outlined per the CDC upon resumption of normal activities.
Should I Send My Child to School?
Please refer to the chart on this attendance webpage if your child is experiencing symptoms or illnesses, and you are unsure if they should go to school.
Thank you for helping keep our students and staff healthy.
9. College & Career Center
Resources for College & Career planning can be found on the Woodson College & Career Padlets. All upcoming events with registration links and more detailed info are listed in the Woodson Wide School Calendar. College & Career Center Newsletters are posted HERE.
Questions? Please email cliebmosley@fcps.edu.
March 24 | NACAC Virtual College Fair
March 29 | FAFSA Friday – virtual support for seniors offered by the College Place in Richmond
April 3 | Junior Focus Day
April 10 | Northern Virginia Regional College Fair @ GMU
April 12 | NOVA Info Table All Lunches Café A & B
April 20 | Mark Warner Service Academy Day 2024
April 20 | NOVA Medical Campus Open House
April 26 | NOVA Application Session in the Career Center for Seniors
Over 150 new members inducted into the Woodson Chapter of the National Honor Society on Wednesday night.
10. AP Exam Conflicts
The College Board permits late testing for limited circumstances. Any student who has a conflict with the AP Exam schedule must complete a form to request late testing. Students with 2 exams on the same day are expected to take both tests on the scheduled exam date.
The form to request a late test is available here and in Student Services. The completed form (and payment if required) is due to Mrs. Glover in Student Services no later than Friday, April 5th.
AP Exam dates can be found on the College Board website.
11. FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Updated COVID Recommendations
- Last Chance to Take the Family Engagement Survey!
- April Webinars and Events for Families
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Previous News, but still important, is located on our Woodson website here.
|
