Principal Updates - November 4

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 11/04/2024 05:30 PM EST

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Be sure to follow us on X (@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 2024-2025 school year calendar here.

November 4 - Student Holiday, School Planning Day

November 5 - Student Holiday, Teacher Workday

November 6 - Underclassmen Picture Retakes/Make-up

November 6-8 - World Language Credit Exam

November 7 - Immunization Clinic

November 11 - No School, Veteran's Day

November 12 - Academic Awards (Return Periods)

November 14 - Parent Coffee - Student Supports

November 20 - Senior Portraits (Final Session)

November 27-29 - No School, Thanksgiving Break

Calendar Reminder

Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher workday.

See the complete school year calendar.

In November we recognize:

Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

National Family Engagement Month

This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Strong family support is vital to student well-being and success.

FCPS has many resources designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.

Additionally, every school has a family liaison who will welcome and orient families, and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.

Oakton was thrilled to welcome Ms. Mirtha Mutis Benitez as our new family liaison in October. She can be reached at 703-319-2787 if you have any questions. Ms. Mutis Benitez comes to us from Thoreau Middle School so she is familiar with our school community and many of our students and families.

National Career Development Month

By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment. A core program of CTE courses is offered in every middle and high school. Based on the needs of the populations served, each school determines optional courses to be offered. Learn more about Academies and Specialized Programs.

General Information

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible. The form pops up automatically for you to complete when you log in using a computer, not the phone application.

For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.

Need to Register for ParentVUE?

Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.

Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).

Upcoming Picture Days

Underclass picture day is coming up! Victor O’Neill will be back on Wednesday, November 6 for student picture day. This is available to any student who was absent at the original session, is new to OHS since picture day, or did not like their original portrait. If a student purchased the photo package and would like a new picture, they have to bring the photo package with them.

Pictures will be held in Oakton Hall from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. Students will need to ask their teacher to get their pictures taken, as there will not be a set schedule. Students who Oakton has as missing their picture will receive an email this week reminding them of picture day as well. We will send out information shortly regarding the upcoming senior portrait session on November 20 to senior families only.

Questions about picture day? Email Martha Rodeheaver, Assistant Principal, at myrodeheaver@fcps.edu.

November Parent Coffee

On November 14, 2024 at 9:00am we invite our families to our next virtual parent coffee. A link will be sent out in advance of the parent coffee for those who wish to join. The topic for the month of November is around student and family supports. This session will be led by our Director of Student Services, Jen Hogan. You will hear more about the following supports available to students at Oakton.

Administration
College & Career Specialist
Family Liaison
School Social Worker
School Psychologist
Student Services/School Counselors
Substance Abuse and Prevention Specialist
Systems of Support Advisor

There will be a brief presentation followed by a time of Q&A. The presentation and recording will be posted on the parent schoology page following the meeting.

Vision & Hearing Screening - Parent Volunteers Needed

Parent Volunteers are needed for the 10^th grade Vision and Hearing Screening on November 12 -13, 2024.

Volunteer shifts will be from 8:20 AM – 2:30 PM (2 – 6 hour shifts available). No training is needed.

Also, we welcome volunteers to help provide care for our students and assist with administrative duties throughout the school year. No prior medical experience is necessary.

If interested, please contact Christina Magnotti, Health Room Aide, 703-319-2710 or cmagnotti@fcps.edu.

2025 Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School (SRGS)

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) offers the opportunity for 10th and 11th grade students to apply to attend summer residential Governor’s schools in Academics and Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) – this is NOT for World Language Governor’s School. Students who are accepted into one of the programs will live in residence halls at one of the state colleges in VA for four weeks in the June - late July timeframe. To learn more about SRGS opportunities and the application process, visit the VDOE website.

To be considered for an academic or VPA Governor’s school, students must complete the steps below:

Complete the interest form linked below for either Academics or VPA. The form is a required part of the application process and is due November 6th. No late entries will be accepted. When completing the form, enter a personal email address and do NOT use an fcpsschools.net email address. VDOE cannot send communications to the fcpsschools.net domain.
1. Academic Interest form
2. Visual and Performing Arts Interest form
Complete the application for the specific program you wish to apply to and return to your school counselor who is supervising the Governor’s School application process.
1. Academic applications are due to the school on December 13, 2024.
2. VPA applications are due to the school on January 31, 2025.

Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) Parent Presentation

HIPS is a community awareness program designed to enlighten parents through a unique learning experience encompassing insights into trends and indicators of potentially risky behavior. This allows parents the opportunity to interact with police officers and various props.

This year we are offering two HIPS sessions in collaboration with Madison HS. The fall offering will be at Madison High School on November 7, 2024. The winter offering will be at Oakton High School on February 11, 2025.

More information can be found in this flyer.

If you are interested in attending on November 7 at Madison HS, please register for the event using this link. A registration link for the February 11 event at Oakton HS will come out closer to the event date.

Don’t Miss Out, Order Your Yearbook Today!

The time to purchase a yearbook is now. The 300-page book cost $67 until December 31, at which time prices increase. To reserve your copy, go to yearbookordercenter.com and use the code 4770. Each year, there are a limited number of copies available so don’t miss out.

Yearbook - Senior Ads

The yearbook is now accepting purchases of senior ads. You can get a space to write a congratulatory message to your graduating senior in varying sizes. You can design and order online at yearbookordercenter.com with order number 4770. Payment is available by credit, debit, or Paypal and orders are due by December 13th, however space is limited so make sure to order now.

Veterans Day Presentations

To honor the tradition of military family connectedness at Oakton High School, United States history teachers are seeking staff and community members who are veterans or active-duty personnel interested in speaking with students about their service experiences on Tuesday, November 12^th and/or Wednesday, November 13^th.

This celebration of Veterans Day is a wonderful opportunity for students to better understand the sacrifices made by veterans, active-duty military personnel, and their families. Additionally, students benefit from learning about the military as a potential career option. School appropriate service artifacts are welcomed and encouraged.

Zoom or Google Meet options available if currently out of the area.

If you or someone you know might be interested, please complete THIS FORM and we will follow up with additional details.

Class of 2025 - Senior Portraits

Unlike grades 9-11, seniors sign up for a picture session with Victor O’Neill at a time that works for them. Our final sessions will be held in October and November.

June 20-21; 24 (Session 1)
August 26-28 (Session 2)
October 15-17 (Session 3)
November 20 (Session 4 - final opportunity)

If you have questions about senior portraits in general, please email Victor O'Neill studios at seniors@vosphoto.com. Please kindly include your Senior’s First and Last Name and “Oakton Class of 2025” when emailing, for faster assistance. If you have other senior portrait or scheduling questions you can email Martha Rodeheaver, Assistant Principal, at myrodeheaver@fcps.edu.

All seniors are highly encouraged to sit for photos. These photos will be used for their yearbook photo. Sitting for the photos does not obligate a family to purchase the photos once you review the proofs.

Partners for Safe Teen Driving Presentation

All students enrolled in Classroom Driver Education during the 2024-2025 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.

2024-2025 Dates:

October 28, 2024 6:30-8:00pm
January 21, 2025 6:30-8:00pm
March 19, 2025 6:30-8:00pm
May 19, 2025 6:30-8:00pm

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.

Student Services Updates

Academic Letter Awards Celebration

November 12 during Cougar Time

On Tuesday, November 12, Oakton will recognize 900 students who have earned an Academic Award. Academic Awards are based on last year’s high school GPA (4.0 and higher). First time award recipients will receive an academic letter and a pin. Returning recipients will receive a pin to be placed on the academic letter they received in a previous year. Recipients received an invitation to this event via email on October 30. This is a student only event.

Schedule Changes

Please see the timeline below regarding schedule changes for the 2024-2025 school year.

August 8 – September 6: School counselors will make requested schedule changes based on space availability.
September 9 – November 8 (end of 1^st quarter grading window): No schedule changes
After November 12: 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.
After March 28: There will not be any schedule changes, regardless of space availability. This date aligns with the last day of the 3^rd Quarter.

Testing Updates & Information

2024 WIDA Alternate ACCESS Scores

2024 WIDA Alternate ACCESS scores are now available. Families can access score reports through SIS ParentVUE. If you do not have a ParentVUE account, your child’s score report will be provided by Oakton HS in the coming weeks.

PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day Scores Available

PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day scores were released to students on Thursday, October 24. Those students who participated in make-up testing will have access to score reports by November 7. Students may access their scores through the BigFuture School mobile app or their College Board account. During Advisory on Friday, October 25, students were provided a lesson to help understand their SAT and PSAT/NMSQT scores and the National Merit Program.

Health and Wellness Updates

Fall Immunization Clinic at Oakton High School

Oakton High School will host a School Site Immunization Clinic on Thursday, November 7^th in collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). Only students enrolled at Oakton High School may participate in the clinic.

The following immunizations will be offered during school hours at the School Immunization Clinic:

Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccine
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine

Find additional information for each vaccine.

If you would like your child to receive immunizations as part of the School Site Immunization Clinic, you must first provide:

Permission via a signed Adolescent Vaccine Clinic Consent Form, which can be found in the Middle and High School Clinics section on this webpage.
A copy of their immunization records (if available).
A copy of the front and back of their insurance card (if applicable). Insurance is not required.

Please bring your signed consent form to our front office by Friday, November 1^st, in order for your child to participate. If your child is insured, please submit a copy of the front and back of your child’s insurance to our front office as well. You may contact our school’s public health nurse, Lorie Jreige at ljreige@fcps.edu with any immunization questions.

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

No-Cost Virtual Therapy for High School Students

Virtual therapy sessions are available to FCPS high school students at no cost to provide them with a safe space to address concerns such as:

Mood/behavior changes, motivation, grief/loss
Anxiety, worry, fears
Social skills, bullying, peer and family relationships
Academic stress

You may refer your child by calling 571-749-2940 or by contacting our school counselor, social worker, psychologist, or director of Student Services. [Find contact information for Oakton staff on this webpage.

Visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information.

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:

Calendar Reminders
Resources for Families
Complete Impact Aid Survey

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

PTSA Updates

Thank you, Dear Parents, for your support for The Monthly Teachers and Staff Breakfast! Your efforts are truly appreciated. Thank you for supporting the PTSA and our wonderful school faculty and staff!

Congratulations!! to our 900 Academic Award Winners and their parents! You make us proud! The Oakton PTSA will be participating by sponsoring Donuts! Way to go Cougars!

Stay Connected

Follow ' oaktonhs_ptsa' on Instagram to keep abreast of what's happening at the PTSA. Become a member, Join the mailing list and/or donate to the PTSA at PTBoard - Oakton High School PTSA.

Want to be part of PTSA? We are looking for an ANGP Chair (All Night Grad Party), Webmaster, Business Chair, Hospitality Chair and Treasurer. Email us at oaktonhsptsa@gmail.com.

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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