WPHS News You Choose for 8/21/26

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 08/21/2026 02:17 PM EDT

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Important Dates:

  • August 24 – First Day of School
  • September 2 – Student Services Senior Information Night – 6pm
  • September 3 – First Home Football Game vs. Mount Vernon
  • September 16 – Back to School Night Open House – 4-7pm
  • October 9 – Homecoming Football Game
  • October 10 – Homecoming Dance

Principal's Message

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Wolverine Community,

It was wonderful to see and meet students, parents and families at our New Student Orientation & Wolverine Welcome Open House on Thursday. Our faculty and staff are excited about our students' return to West Potomac High School on Monday morning!

On Monday morning, students report directly to their 1st period where we'll build relationships, create community, clarify expectations, and cultivate our values. Schedules are accessible through SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE. You can access the FCPS website for support with SIS.

Please remember to review the FCPS Cell Phone Policy with your students.  Student cell phones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, etc) must be off and put away during the entire school day including in halls and in the cafeteria during lunches.  As a reminder, this is a new VA State Mandate.. Cell phones and devices WILL BE confiscated during the school day if they are out per the FCPS Students Rights and Responsibilities.  Additionally, please review the FCPS updated personal device use policy - students are expected to use their FCPS issued laptop during the school day.

Finally, I would like to extend a heartfelt appreciation to our PTSA for all they do for West Potomac students and staff. If you have not already joined our PTSA, please do so.  Visit https://westpotomacptsa.givebacks.com to join.  We really appreciate the West Potomac PTSA for always supporting  our students and teachers.

1st Day of School

  • The building will open at 7:50 am Monday morning. Monday is a Silver Day – the Bell Schedule can be found here.  Students will go to the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th
  • A reminder all students should enter at Doors 1, 5, and 19 during arrival and after 8:10am all students must use Door 1. As we have shared previously, the weapons detection machines will be in use at each of these entrances.
  • If you plan to drive your child to school please be sure to review our Kiss and Ride Map!

Student Schedules

  • All students and parents are now able to access schedules via StudentVue and ParentVue. All students will receive a hard copy of their schedule when they report to 1st period on Monday morning.  For any student who needs assistance identifying their 1st period, Administrators and Faculty will be in the halls to assist.

Cell Phone Policy

  • Cell phones are prohibited ALL DAY this year per the new Virginia State mandate. If a student has their cell phone out it will be collected.  Please take a moment to talk to your student about the Cell Phone Policy.

School Meals

  • New This Year! Starting this school year, students will enter their student ID number — not their current cafeteria PIN — at the cash register to receive school meals. Please remind your child of their student ID number, which you can find in SIS ParentVUE. View more updates and reminders for school meals this year.

Student Laptop Distribution

  • Laptop distribution will take place on the first two days of school. Students will pick up their laptop during English class accompanied by their English teacher.

 

Back to School Forms - Opt Out

  • Please take a moment before the new year to visit your ParentVue Account where you can verify/update phone numbers and emails.
    • Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts.
  • Visit this site to learn about the new ParentVue sign in changes effective July 28.
  • Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE
    • Don’t have a ParentVue? Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our Director of Student Servicesr at Kevin McMahon (kjmcmahon@fcps.edu) if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
  • Visit the Parent Digital Consent Application to review your consent/opt out forms. These include annual consent/opt outs so please ensure you’ve reviewed prior to the start of the year. 

Schedule Changes

  • Our West Potomac Schedule Change Policy is always available on our website. It outlines how the last day to change schedules for this school year was June 17 and the limited schedule changes allowed at this time.
  • Students in Honors, AP or Dual Enrollment are required to stay in the class through the end of September. On September 28  the Advanced Academics Schedule Change Packet will be available in Student Services.  Each packet is reviewed and changes are considered based on student, parent, teacher, and counselor feedback along with space availability. 

Catch Up on Your Child’s Classwork in Schoology

  • Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.
  • A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:
    • Your child’s classes.
    • Your child’s upcoming assignments.
    • School, class, and group announcements.
  • Parent accounts will be available after Monday, August 18. To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology

New Textbooks and Consumable Student Workbooks for ALL students in Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2

 

  • The Fairfax County School Board recently adopted new math basal resources for math courses.
  • The approved textbooks for Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 in FCPS are SAVVAS enVision.
  • All students enrolled in Algebra 1 (including Algebra 1 Part 1), Geometry, and Algebra 2 will receive a hard copy of the SAVVAS textbook and a consumable student workbook associated with the course they are enrolled in.
  • All students will have access to the accompanying digital resources through their school Google fcpsschools.net account beginning August 28 (students must be logged into their fcpsschools.net account to access and teachers will guide students in how to access these resources).
  • We anticipate SAVVAS textbooks and workbooks to arrive to WPHS during the later half of September and they will be distributed to students through math classes.
  • Please note that financial obligations will be associated with damaged and/or lost textbooks. Families are responsible for replacement costs to include replacement of lost consumable student workbooks if lost during the school year. Replacement costs will be listed in your student’s math course syllabus.

Family Information Line Available in Nine Languages

 

Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.

 

We are very excited to welcome all Wolverines at 7:50 am Monday morning.  Remember use doors 1, 5, and 19 to enter and PHONES AWAY all day! 

 

In community,

 

Jessica Statz, Principal. 

 

 

Crossing Guard Update

  • Beginning this school year, Fairfax County will no longer assign crossing guards to our school. As always, we encourage students, families, and drivers to use extra caution when traveling to and from school, follow all traffic laws, and remain alert to pedestrians and other vehicles. Because traffic patterns may be different, please allow a few extra minutes when arriving at or departing from school.

 Registrations / Withdrawals

  • Do you know someone who recently moved into our community? Please encourage them to contact Leslie Dorsey to schedule a registration appointment.  She can be reached at 703-718-2551 or ladorsey@fcps.edu 
  • Moving? Please Let Us Know! Please notify our Student Services office if your student(s) will not be returning to West Potomac for the 26-27 school year. If your student needs to unenroll from WPHS for next school year, please contact Leslie Dorsey at ladorsey@fcps.edu Registrar and submit the Intention for Next School Year

Updated Cellphone Policy: No Phones or Devices During Lunch for High School Students

  • Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime.
  • Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smartwatch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.
  • This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.

New Student ID Cards Coming This Fall 

  • This fall, every FCPS student will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a divisionwide effort to modernize school transportation, improve communication with families, and strengthen student safety while traveling to and from school. 
  • Every student who rides the school bus will need to tap on and tap off the bus every day using their new student ID card. Families can help by reinforcing this new habit with their child.
  • All students at our school will need to wear their student ID cards throughout the school day. We will be handing out the new student ID cards the first few weeks of school. More details will be shared soon.
  • Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.

Download the FCPS App Today!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 

With the app, you can:

  • View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
  • Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
  • Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
  • Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
  • Access key links. Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.

No need to log in, just download and go! Learn more about the FCPS mobile app.

Back-to-School Immunization Requirements

  • Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:
  1. Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
  2. If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
  3. Request records from your health care provider. Some may charge for copies.

Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date. 

  • All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. 
    • To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.

As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time. 

Where to Receive Immunizations

  • If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events. 
  • FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
  • If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster. 
  • Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.
  • Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekend clinics are available in July and August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.
  • Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.

Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!

  • According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals. 
  • Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. 
  • The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
  • Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.

 

🎲 UNPLUG THE LUNCH HOUR! 🎨

Help Us Bring Offline Fun to the West Potomac Cafeteria!

New this year!  All FCPS students will not have access to cell phones, earbuds or other personal devices during the entire school day- to include passing time and lunch.  Help us give West Potomac students a break from their screens during lunch and encourage real-world connections, friendly competition, and creativity!

 

To make this happen, we need YOUR help to build our West Potomac Games Library.

 

📦 What We’re Looking For:

Got extra games sitting in your closets that are looking for a second life? We are accepting new or gently used donations of:

  • Card Games: Uno, Monopoly Deal, Phase 10, Standard Playing Cards
  • Board Games: Connect 4, Chess/Checkers, Battleship, Jenga, Guess Who? (Quick 15–20 min games work best!)
  • Craft Supplies: Coloring books, colored pencils, sketchpads, origami paper, yarn/string for friendship bracelets
  • Puzzles & Brain Teasers: Rubik's cubes, small 100–300-piece puzzles, word search/sudoku pads

⚠️ Please make sure donated games have all their essential pieces intact!

 

📍 Drop-Off Details

  • Where: West Potomac Main Office (Look for the "Unplugged Lunch Donations" bin!)
  • When: Any time before school starts
  • Who: Open to all parents, alumni, and community members!

💙 Thank You for Supporting Wolverine Community Spirit!

Questions? Contact Janet Babic- jmbabic@fcps.edu

 

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