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Woodson Weekly -
April 12
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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.
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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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Listen to a 3 minute audio that sums up the written version of the
Woodson Weekly!
Important Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, April 17th - Purple Up! Day
Saturday, April 20th, 10am-5pm - Annual Woodson Football Mattress Fundraiser
Friday, May 3rd - Orthodox Good Friday; Teacher Work Day, No School for Students
Saturday, May 11th - Class of 2024 Prom, Westwood Country Club
Friday, May 17th, 12pm-4am - Relay For Life
Saturday, May 18th, 8:30am - 14th Annual Woodson 5k Community Walk/Run
Monday, May 27th - Memorial Day; Schools and Offices Closed
Tuesday, May 28th 7:30pm - Guiding the College-Bound Athlete Seminar
Friday, May 31st - Last Day of School for Seniors
Thursday, June 6th, 2pm - Class of 2024 Graduation, EagleBank Arena
Monday, June 10th - Sports Physical Night
Wednesday, June 12th - Last Day of School for Underclass; Early Release
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. Month of the Military Child
3. Partners for Safe Teen Driving Seminar
4. Pyramid Art Show
5. Spring 2024 SOL Testing
6. Class of 2024 Events
7. School Health Services Satisfaction Survey
8. 2 Liter Bottles Still Needed for Biology Classes
9. College and Career Center
10. PTSO Needs Survey Participants
11. PTSO Needs 2024-25 Officers
12. Spring 2024 Advanced Placement (AP) Testing Attendance
13. No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for All High School Students
14. FCPS News
1. Message from Mr. Greata
Good Afternoon Woodson,
As April unfurls its blossoms of spring, we also commemorate Autism Acceptance Month. Notably, according to the CDC, one in 44 children in the United States is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. This emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusivity in our school environment. Here at Woodson, we recognize the significance of embracing neurodiversity, acknowledging that each student, including those diagnosed with autism, brings a valuable array of talents and strengths to our community. They enrich our collective experience and remind us of the beauty and richness found in our differences.
Spring is an exciting time of year as students participate in many culminating activities, demonstrating what they have learned and celebrating their accomplishments. One of these exciting events is our Woodson Pyramid Art Show, where we get to experience the stunning array of artwork from our talented K-11 students, showcasing their creativity and hard work. I hope you can join us on April 16 from 6-8 pm in Cav Hall.
Spring also beckons us to lean on our families for volunteers and to seek new parent leadership for the upcoming year. Please consider the following opportunities to get involved with Woodson, with options to suit all levels of availability and interest:
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Mild: The PTSO is participating in an Oklahoma University survey fundraiser. The more people that fill out the survey, the more funds are raised for the PTSO, which will go directly back into our school. The survey collects information about the perceptions of families of high school-aged students regarding shop class, vocational/technical training, and careers in construction. Please take a little bit of time to fill out [this survey] and support our school.
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Medium: We urgently need parent volunteers to help proctor AP exams, running from May 6-17, with shifts in the morning and afternoon. If you can help, please contact Jamie Korpacz and Victoria Powell. Their emails are in the weekly!
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Spicy: Our Parent-Teacher-Student Organization (PTSO) is currently seeking three enthusiastic volunteers to serve as officers on their Board of Directors for the next school year. The PTSO plays a crucial role in supporting both students and staff. Joining this dynamic team is a wonderful way to make a significant impact on our school community. Please consider stepping up and reach out to Co-President Sara Mastro at saralmastro@yahoo.com.
Whether you like your involvement mild, medium, or spicy, your engagement is crucial to our school’s success. Each volunteer, every survey filled, and each new officer adds to the strength and vibrancy of Woodson. Together, let’s continue to build a welcoming and inclusive community where every student thrives.
Thank you in advance for your support and involvement.
Kevin Greata
Principal
WoodsonConnect@fcps.edu
Audio Version of the Woodson Weekly
2. Month of the Military Child
On average, children in military families move six to nine times during their K-12 school career. That’s about three times more frequently than their civilian peers. Between now and April 17th, make sure to stop by Student Services and place a sticker on the map of all the places you have lived and all the places you know your family member has been deployed or stationed at!
Join our community and turn FCPS purple on PurpleUp! Day, Wednesday, April 17th. Wear purple in recognition of FCPS’ 14,000 enrolled military-connected students.
3. Partners for Safe Teen Driving Seminar
Attention all 10th grade students and their parents. The last PSTD will be Monday April 15th. All new drivers and parents must attend a state mandated traffic safety seminar. The 90 minutes seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will take place in the Woodson Auditorium. If you already attended the seminar, you do NOT have to attend this one. If you miss this seminar you will have to pay $30 to attend the seminar through Fairfax County’s ACE program.
Questions? Please contact David O'Hara at DGOHara@fcps.edu.
4. Pyramid Art Show
Our Annual Woodson Pyramid Art Show and Senior/AP Art Show festivities will be taking place next week!
We invite you to join us in Cav Hall on Tuesday, April 16th from 6-8pm, for the Pyramid Art Show, which will feature lots of fabulous K-11 artwork!
The hand-painted Furniture Silent Auction will also be happening at the reception, along with mini art canvas sales.
5. Spring 2024 SOL Testing
SOL Season – Laptops and Personal Electronic Devices
Students are required to use FCPS-issued laptops for SOL testing. Students are responsible for making sure their software is up to date and their keyboards, screens, etc. are in good working order. To ensure software is up-to-date, laptops should be powered on and connected to the internet before the test date. Updates will download automatically. All hardware repairs must be completed by Tuesday, April 25th.
If students need FCPS laptop technical support at Woodson HS, please submit a ticket using the Student Support Request Page.
Our walk-in hours in Room A112/A114 are:
- Odd Days during Learning Seminar
- Monday - 7:45am - 8:10am
Any other time you should try to make an appointment using a ticket from the Support Portal.
Also, we want to remind families that students may not have access to their electronic personal devices of any kind (phones, watches, etc.) in the SOL testing environment, except in the case of a documented medical need. Please be aware that any personal devices carried into the testing environment will be subject to the school’s established procedures for addressing this as a test security concern.
The SOL Testing Dates are:
Tuesday/Wednesday, April 30 or May 1 – English Reading
Thursday, May 2 - Chemistry, Geosystems, VAUS History
Monday/Tuesday, May 20 or 21 - Biology
Wednesday, May 22 - Algebra 1/Algebra 2
Thursday, May 23 – Geometry
6. Class of 2024 Events
Prom will take place on Saturday, May 11th at Westwood Country Club. Tickets will be $85. Please note that in order for a senior to purchase Prom tickets, all student financial obligations must be met before a student is able to purchase their ticket or a ticket is purchased for them, including parking tickets, library fees, senior dues, course fees and tech fees.
We will have a compiled list of student obligations at the Prom ticket table when they go on sale starting Monday, April 29th.
Celebrate Your Plan Day will be on Monday, May 20th during all lunches (11:20am-1:20pm) in the Auditorium Lobby. What is your plan after High School? Employment, College, Trade School, Military Service, Gap Year...? We want to celebrate you and all of the different post-secondary plans! Celebrate Your Plan Day (formerly known as Balloon Day) has been a Woodson tradition for many years. Seniors will post paper balloons, with their plans written on them, on the windows in the Auditorium Lobby where they will be on display until after graduation. We’ll also have some treats available for seniors as well. We can’t wait to celebrate our seniors!
Graduation for the Woodson Class of 2024 will be on Thursday, June 6th, 2024 at 2:00pm at EagleBank Arena on the George Mason University Campus.
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Please visit our Class of 2024 webpage to see Frequently Asked Questions, Final Exam dates, and so much more! |
7. School Health Services Satisfaction Survey
The Fairfax County Health Department and FCPS School Health Services invite parents/caregivers to participate in a survey on the level of satisfaction with support provided to your school community by School Health Services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and is open until Friday, April 26. Your feedback can help to improve school health services.
8. 2 Liter Bottles Still Needed for Biology Classes
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The Woodson Biology Team still needs 2 Liter soda bottles with the cap for an ecology lab our students will be doing. They should be rinsed out and label removed, if possible, and dropped off by April 19th. Bottles can be dropped off to any science teacher at Woodson. We appreciate your support and donations! |
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.
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
April 30 | Jumpstart2NOVA Info Session for Seniors
May 4 | Trade Union Jobs & Career Fair @ Dulles Expo Center
May 20 | Celebrate Your Plan Day for Seniors Auditorium Lobby All Lunches
May 23 | Work-Based Learning Day in the Career Center – Internships, Jobs & Resume Help
May 28 | NOVA Application Session in the Career Center for Seniors
May 30 | Senior Awards Ceremony in the Auditorium
Junior Focus Day on April 3: Thank you to all our juniors for attending and making it such a success! A huge shoutout to our amazing presenters for sharing their expertise and insights with us throughout the day. Notes/Slides for each breakout session will be posted on our Junior Focus Day Padlet. Stay tuned for updates!
Woodson's Science National Honor Society recycling around the school as part of our Get2Green initiative.
10. PTSO Needs Survey Participants
Dr. Ben Bigelow from the Construction Science Division at University of Oklahoma selected parents and guardians at Woodson to participate in their research titled “Influences and Perceptions of Parents on Construction Careers.” This research is being conducted at the University of Oklahoma.
There is an ongoing shortage of skilled tradespeople in construction and this project seeks to better understand parent’s perceptions, preferences, and motivators relating to career pathways. As primary influencers of the next generation of workers, parental perceptions are vital in understanding how to address the shortage of skilled workers.
This survey is collecting perceptions from parents around the country to identify the best strategies for addressing this issue.
If the Woodson PTSO gets enough participants, they will donate $500 to our PTSO!
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
11. PTSO Needs 2024-25 Officers
The Woodson PTSO is in need of 3 parents that are able to volunteer their time to join the 2024-2025 PTSO Officer Board. If you are interested or would like to learn more about the positions that will be open, please contact PTSO Co-President Sara Mastro at saralmastro@yahoo.com.
The Woodson Math Honor Society helped out at the Wakefield Forest STEAM fair last night. They helped kids build towers out of pretzels and marshmallows.
12. Spring 2024 Advanced Placement (AP) Testing Attendance
AP exams are administered May 6-May 16, 2024. With parent/guardian permission, Woodson HS students are allowed to be released early following a morning AP exam and arrive late before their scheduled afternoon AP exam. All pre-arranged absence forms (no phone calls or emails) are due to Mrs. Little in the attendance office by 3pm April 19th. Please keep in mind that all classes will continue with instruction during AP testing, and that students are responsible for all assignments from each class. AP Excused Absence Forms will be given to students in their AP classes and available in the Attendance Office.
Student Services is also still looking for parent volunteers to help proctor AP exams in May! Shifts are typically from 7:30-11:30am or 11:00-3:00pm, with some variation depending on the exam, and you may sign up for as many shifts as you’d like. A more specific schedule will be shared closer to the AP exam testing window. No experience or training is required…we’ll show you everything you need to know! If you are able to volunteer and help, please contact Woodson school counselors Jamie Korpacz (jlkorpacz@fcps.edu) and Victoria Powell (vpowell1@fcps.edu). Thank you!
April is World Autism Acceptance Month, an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and promoting acceptance, inclusion, and understanding of individuals on the spectrum.
13. No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for All High School Students
Is your high schooler experiencing anxiety, behavior changes, or challenges with peer and family relationships? If so, parents/caregivers can refer their children for weekly therapy with a licensed therapist through Hazel Health. Visit the Teletherapy webpage for information on how to opt your child into this service.
14. FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- School Health Services Satisfaction Survey
- Webinars and Events for Families
- FCPS Is One of the Best Communities for Music Education
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.
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