Principal Updates - December 4
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Be sure to follow us on Twitter (@OaktonHS), and Instagram @oaktonhs ! Be sure to check out our Oakton Accolades section on our website as we celebrate student achievement!
Important DatesYou can access the FCPS 2023-2024 school year calendar here.
November 30 - December 6 - SOS, 9th Grade
December 4 - Youth Survey (10th/12th Grade)
December 7 - Chanukah begins (Evening Religious and Cultural Observance Day)
December 8 - Bodhi Day (Religious and Cultural Observance Day)
December 11 - December Parent Coffee - Student Supports
December 18-January 1 - No School, Winter Break
January 3 - Curriculum Night, Save the Date
General Information Fairfax County Youth SurveyThe Fairfax County Youth Survey was administered to 10th and 12th graders today, December 4th in Cougar Connect. The make-up date is Friday, December 8th for any students who are absent. Opt-out forms were emailed out in October. If you opted your student out, you will received a confirmation email on Wednesday, November 27th. If you have any questions, please email Sal Olivo, Assistant Principal, at [email protected].
More information on the youth survey can be found here.
Make-up/Retake Day Images - Now ViewableTo see any make-up/retake day images, please visit the Victor O'Neill Studios webpage. When prompted for the online code, use your child's student ID. For questions regarding school pictures, please email: [email protected].
December Parent CoffeeOn December 11, 2023 at 12:00pm we will host a lunchtime virtual parent coffee surrounding the various supports available for students at Oakton High School. This will include: school counselors, clinicians, systems of support advisor, substance abuse prevention specialist, college and career specialist, and the center.
The zoom link will be sent the morning of the meeting. A recording and the presentation will be posted on Schoology for any interested families who are unable to attend.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming SoonOne of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices.
The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.
In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.
Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact your child’s school.
Course Registration 2024-25After winter break, Oakton students will be registering for the courses for the 2024-25 school year! Below are different ways students and parents can learn about the course offerings and when each grade level will register.
Curriculum Night: January 3, 2024, from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM. During this time, you will be able to learn more about all the courses offered at Oakton. You can also find information about our classes, explained by our teachers, through our course offerings website (this site will go live the week of December 11). Additional information can be found on our academic advising and course offerings page (all links will be updated by December 15).
Registration: The dates below may be adjusted as needed. All students will have presentations from the counselors and then an individual meeting to confirm the classes they wish to enroll in.
It is incredibly important that students sign up for the classes they want to take. We base our staffing decisions on these initial numbers. Deadlines to register for courses is March 6, 2024.
Rising Seniors - Class of 2025
- Classroom Presentations: January 4 & 5 through Social Studies classes
- 1:1 Registration with counselor: January 8 – 25 through English classes
Rising Juniors - Class of 2026
- Classroom Presentations: January 29 & 30 through Social Studies classes
- 1:1 Registration with counselor: January 31 – February 14 through English classes
Rising Sophomores - Class of 2027
- Classroom Presentations: February 15 & 16 through Social Studies classes
- 1:1 Registration with counselor: February 20 – March 1 through English classes
Rising Freshmen - Class of 2028
Counselor Presentations:
- January 9 – Carson Middle School
- January 11 – Franklin Middle School
- January 12 – Thoreau Middle School
Deadlines for course selection will be determined by the middle school; dates will vary by school.
Attendance RemindersThe holiday season is almost upon us! With that, we recognize that many families may have travel plans that could impact school attendance. The FCPS 2023-2024 calendar can be found here for your reference.
We ask that, if possible, please let us know of any planned absences as soon as you can. That will help our attendance office staff manage the increase in calls that we typically see around this time. Please see our Attendance Procedures and Forms page for our online attendance form, attendance line, and our prearranged absence form (found at the bottom of the page).
For future travel planning, the 2024-2025 school year and the 2025-2026 school year calendars have already been released and can be found here.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s administrator.
Assignment/Assessment Blackout DatesTo ensure that our students are able to take a break and fully enjoy their upcoming winter break, January 2 and January 3 have been designated as assignment and assessment blackout dates. This means that no assignments will be due, nor assessments given on those days. Please note that new material can be covered and assignments completed in class on these days can be graded. This policy helps us to ensure that students can have a break from school work during the days off.
Partners for Safe Teen Driving PresentationAll students enrolled in Classroom Driver Education during the 2023-2024 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.
2023-2024 Dates:
- Tuesday, January 16, 6:30pm in the Auditorium
- Tuesday, March 19, 6:30pm in the Auditorium
- Wednesday, May 29, 6:30pm in the Auditorium
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.
Yearbooks and Senior Baby AdsYearbooks and senior baby ads for the 2023-2024 school year are now on sale! You can purchase yearbook packages and senior baby ads at www.yearbookordercenter.com using the code 4770. Standalone yearbooks are also available via MySchoolBucks. Prices start at $67 and will increase throughout the year, so buy early to save. Don’t wait – the last two years sold out. Questions? Email [email protected]
Student Services Updates Student Services NewsletterHappy December Cougar Families! Take a look at the December newsletter because it has a lot of valuable information. Learn more about what counselors have been working on such as the Signs of Suicide Program, Freshmen Curriculum, and Academic Award Recognition. Review the opportunities in the College & Career Center such as the HOBY Program and scholarships. Learn more about the Course registration process for the 2024-2025 school year and testing updates. Finally, check out upcoming events including the Student SEL Results, Gap Year Fair, Coursera information, and family webinars through the county.
2024 Gap Year FairFCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas are co-hosting the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at George C. Marshall High School from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This event is for high school students and their families who are interested in learning more about the growing array of gap year opportunities. Student registration will open on November 20, 2023, on USA Gap Year Fairs.
SOS InformationDuring November and December, Oakton’s school counselors, social workers, and school psychologist will be presenting an optional depression awareness program and screening for ninth grade and eleventh grade students. The evidence-based prevention program is called Signs of Suicide (SOS) and it teaches students how to identify warning signs of suicide and depression and how students can reach out if they are worried about themselves or a friend.
For more information, please visit www.mindwise.org/parents/
Eleventh grade presentation and screening: November 13 – November 16
Ninth grade presentation and screening: November 30 – December 6
All ninth and eleventh grade parents and guardians received an email about the program and parents and guardians may opt out their child(ren) from the presentation.
Questions? Please reach out to your child’s counselor.
Timeline for Schedule ChangesPlease see the timeline below regarding schedule changes for the 2023-24 school year.
- November 6 - March 22: 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 22: There will not be any schedule changes, regardless of space availability. This date aligns with the last day of the 3rd Quarter.
To find out who your child's school counselor is, please visit our website.
Testing Updates College Board - SAT Fee WaiverIn late October, College Board rolled out a new online system for students to directly apply for Fee Reduction Waivers for SAT testing. All students who meet College Board’s SAT fee waiver–eligibility criteria can receive SAT fee waiver benefits from College Board by completing a fee waiver request form. Learn more about the fee waiver–eligibility criteria here. Students will need to have a College Board account.
SAT School Score Reports Available to StudentsStudents who participated in the School Day SAT will have access to SAT score reports on Wednesday, November 1. Students who participated in the SAT on October 26 will have access to scores on November 16. Students can access scores via their College Board accounts. A video tutorial for accessing and understanding SAT scores is available on the College Board website.
If you experience issues accessing your SAT score report, contact the College Board Student SAT help line at 866-756-7346.
Digital PSAT Scores and National Merit Scholarship InformationStudents who participated in the Digital PSAT on Wednesday, October 11, can access their scores via the College Board BigFuture School App or their College Board accounts. A video tutorial for accessing and understanding Digital PSAT scores is available on the College Board website.
Eleventh grade students who participate in the PSAT may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and can find information on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation website. Families may reach out to their student’s school PSAT coordinator if they have questions regarding digital PSAT score reporting or the National Merit Scholarship Program.
College Board Testing AccommodationsStudents who have an IEP or 504 do not automatically have College Board accommodations. If you are scheduled to take an AP exam, SAT, or PSAT this year (or anticipate doing so next year) you need to apply for College Board Accommodations. Students who have been approved in previous years do not need to apply again. All of the paperwork is to be given to Shelley Wiederhold, special education department chair, at [email protected]. You must complete the following form to allow us to communicate on your behalf with the College Board:
Paperwork should be delivered to Oakton High School to the attention of Shelley Wiederhold at [email protected].
If applying for AP Exam accommodations, please submit your request for us to apply no later than December 7, 2023 for the May 2024 administration.
Please note that having an IEP or 504 does not automatically guarantee approval for College Board Accommodations.
Vote for the Marching Cougars - Metallica Competition
The Oakton HS Marching Cougars have entered their fall marching band show into the Metallica Marching Band Competition! To see the video submission check out the QR code above. We would love your support of the program. To vote for Oakton HS, text #HSOAKTON to 833-609-0330! If Oakton wins the Fan Favorite high school category, the program would receive $10,000 in prizes. Voting closes December 31!
Service Learning Service Learning During the Holiday SeasonAs the holiday season gets underway, we want to remind and encourage all students to log any service-learning hours into the X2VOL system for proper verification and approval. As students give of their time to serve the community, we want to ensure that they remember to log these hours into X2VOL. Directions and information on how to log hours into X2VOL can be found HERE. If students and families are looking for opportunities and ways to give back this holiday season please visit the Volunteer Fairfax website or click HERE for more FCPS opportunities. If you have any questions regarding the definition of service learning for students in FCPS please see more information HERE.
We want to remind our students that while we truly appreciate and need donations for important causes throughout our community, donations do not count as service hours. Students must help organize, sort, deliver, collect, or prepare donations to receive service hours.
Volunteer FairfaxVolunteer Fairfax is a resource that can be used to find out about service-learning opportunities in the community. Service learning is a great way for students and families to engage with local nonprofits and volunteer. More information about Volunteer opportunities on this day can be found on Volunteer Fairfax’s website.
Disclaimer: Opportunities offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
Health and Wellness Updates 2023-2024 Health & Safety Guidance for SchoolsBe sure to review FCPS Health and Safety Guidance for the best ways to prevent the spread of disease and to find out when students should stay home from school.
Emergency ResourcesCrisis 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
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- How FCPS Announces Weather Closings
- Keeping Your Child Warm
- Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Safety and Security Updates Safety DrillsBelow is a list of safety drills that we will be practicing this school year.
- Fire Evacuation Drills - Two within the first twenty school days, then one per month
- Lockdown Drills - Two per school year; one in the first twenty days of school
- Bus Evacuation Drills - Two per school year; to be held within the first thirty school days of each semester
- Tornado Drill - To be held in March
If you or your child have concerns or information relating to feeling unsafe in any way at school, we encourage you to reach out to a member of the security or administrative team so that we may quickly address the issue. Students and parents may also utilize the FCPS Office of Safety and Security safety tip line, that you can access anonymously online, by text (888-777; Keyword TIP FCPS), or by phone (571-423-2020).
If your tip is an emergency and immediate assistance is necessary, please dial 911.
Students, staff, and community members should report school safety issues such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, the existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Tip line users may identify themselves or remain anonymous.
Concerns that do not impact the safety of our schools—concerns or information about programs, regulations, or policies—can be sent to the FCPS ombudsman online, at 571-423-4014, or [email protected].
Oakton PantryPlease consider making the holidays a little brighter for our students in need. Our Holiday Wish List is ready and can be found here. Full details are included on the Sign Up. Thank you in advance for your generous support!
We are so grateful to all of the individuals and groups who support the Pantry with their donations! These contributions will make it possible for us to send students home with extra groceries for the 2-week winter break. Special shoutouts to Mummies for Mouths, OHS sophomore Devan, DECA, and Savya for their generous support!
General InformationThe Oakton Pantry is available to any Oakton student or neighbor who is in need. We stock non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, and household supplies.
For assistance: [email protected]
Volunteer/Questions: [email protected]
Donate via PayPal
Most needed items: website
Parent Resources Parent Information LineParents 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 CenterThe 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 CaresDo 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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