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Dear Whitman Family,
As we enter the midpoint of April, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the progress we've made and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for our school community.
First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you for your dedication and resilience during these challenging times. Whether you're a student adapting to new learning environments, a parent juggling multiple responsibilities, or a staff member going above and beyond to support our students, your efforts do not go unnoticed.
As we transition into the latter half of the semester, let's remain focused on our goals and committed to our shared mission of fostering academic excellence, personal growth, and community engagement. Let's continue to support and uplift one another, celebrating our successes and learning from our setbacks.
In the spirit of growth and renewal, I encourage you to take advantage of the resources and opportunities available to you. Whether it's seeking out academic support, exploring extracurricular activities, or engaging in meaningful conversations with your peers, now is the time to challenge yourself and expand your horizons.
As we look ahead to the remainder of the school year, let's approach each day with enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to learn and grow together. Together, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve great things.
Thank you for your continued dedication and support. Here's to a successful and fulfilling April!
Warm regards,
John Flowers
Principal
We are excited to extend an invitation to our upcoming PTSA meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, April 16th at 7:00pm. This will be a Zoom Meeting. We encourage you to register in advance using this link:
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0qde2qqz0qEtcu_aRErN5LVCxptAFdGth5
The PTSA plays a crucial role in fostering a strong school community, and your participation is invaluable. This meeting provides an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow parents, teachers, and students, discuss important school matters, and contribute ideas for enhancing our educational environment.
This month's meeting will focus on volunteer and donation needs for all the the end of school year activities including Teacher Appreciation, 8th Grade Formal, and Student Activity Days.
If you would like to sign-up to volunteer or donate please use this form:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D45AFAC229-49042295-whitman
Join us in shaping the future of Whitman! Your voice matters. Take a moment to share your insights and perspectives in our brief survey. Whether you're a dedicated staff member, a supportive parent, an enthusiastic student, or an invested member of the community, your input is crucial in defining the essence of Whitman. Let's work together to ensure a vibrant and inclusive environment for all.
Click HERE to complete the survey
 
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) School Health Services invite parents/guardians of FCPS students to participate in a survey requesting feedback on the level of satisfaction with School Health services provided to the school community. The survey will be open to families beginning on April 15, 2024 and will be open until April 26, 2024. The survey should take approximately five minutes to complete.
Parents are encouraged to offer their feedback as survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of School Health services as well as inform future planning for schools.
Click HERE for the survey
 
 
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with children’s physical and mental health. Mental health disorders such as ADHD and anxiety are the most commonly diagnosed in children, which commonly occurs together. Anxiety are feelings of worry, apprehension or dread that something bad is going to happen. Children diagnosed with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, or be overly active. Early diagnosis and appropriate services for children and their families can make a difference in the lives of children with mental health disorders.
Anxiety related triggers are lonely and frightening emotional responses related to situations, persons, places or objects. Today’s sources of stress for our students include: increased coursework and graduation requirements, extracurricular activities, household responsibilities, and social media. Social media has been a great way to increase connection and communication, but for our young people it contributes to shorter attention spans and information overload. Signs of anxiety include appearing worried, irritable or nervous, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, along with physical symptoms such as sleeping problems, headaches, and stomach aches. It is understandable for a parent to be worried because figuring out what to do is hard. Here are five simple ways to respond to your child or teenager with anxiety:
- Recognize warning signs.
- Guide your child to take a few deep breaths to slow things down.
- Make sure your child understands you are available if they need to talk.
- Acknowledge your child’s feelings and avoid downplaying situations or issues.
- Help them come up with ways to deal with the situation next time.
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: 571.423.4270.
Sources & Resources
The Anxiety Toolkit for Teens
Talk, They Hear You
Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences
For Further Information & Support:
Beth Mohaupt, NCC, LPC, CIMHP
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
For MV pyramid schools
ejmohaupt@fcps.edu
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