Husky Highlights Newsletter

Greetings Tuscarora Family,

Thank you, parents, students, and families for coming out to meet the Tuscarora staff during Student Orientation and Back-to-School Night. We appreciate you for taking the time to stop in, meet the staff, and get connected with the school.

Thank you, Tuscarora Band Students and Band Director, McKenzie Durgin, for the lively and energizing music that filled our halls and greeted students as they returned for the first day of school!

I want to specifically highlight a few events:

• Tuscarora Tailgate - Friday, September 13, 2024, 4:18 p.m. - Game Time: This tailgate is a Tuscarora tradition and a fantastic opportunity for families to have some fun, grab some food, and gather for the first home football game of the season.
• EL Parent Night - Tuesday, September 10, 2024, 6:00 p.m.: We welcome all of our EL families to join us for our EL Parent Night. This is a great opportunity for parents to learn more about the resources and supports that are available to support your students' success at Tuscarora HS.

This newsletter is packed with lots of great information to keep you informed and connected with the school.

As always, please reach out to me or any of my staff for assistance.

Pamela Croft

Principal

Pamela.Croft@lcps.org

Don't forget to schedule required immunizations for your rising 12th graders. Students in grade 12 are required to receive the following vaccination prior to the start of school:

Required Vaccinations for All 12th-Grade Students:

• One dose of Meningococcal Vaccine, MenACWY (MenQuadfi, Menveo), given at age 16 or older

The grace period for students to receive this vaccination has been extended to September 30, 2024.

Once your student is vaccinated, please provide the school with the appropriate documentation. For more information, please see LCPS' Immunization Requirements webpage. For more general information about back-to-school immunizations for students of all ages, see this Virginia Department of Health website.

Attention 9th Grade Students!

If you have not yet exchanged your middle school Chromebooks for a refreshed Chromebook, please visit the DDI Office in our school library during your Study Hall block. Exchanges will take place through Friday, September 6th.

Remember, if you bring your Chromebook, you get a refreshed Chromebook. If you bring your Chromebook and power cord, you get a refreshed Chromebook and new power cord.

Thank you, parents, families, and students for your efforts to get to school on time. Please keep the following reminders in mind:

• School Starts at 9:30 a.m.: Instruction begins at 9:30 a.m. Students need to be in their classrooms before 9:30 a.m. in order to be counted as "on-time".
• Early Dismissal Requests: There are three ways to submit early dismissal requests, through email (THSabsentee@lcps.org), through ParentVUE (Use the 'Report Absence' feature in PVUE and select 'Early Dismissal' from the drop-down menu), or send your student to school with a note signed by a parent/guardian.
• 30 minutes notice for Early Dismissals: We request that families provide us at least 30 minutes of notice for early dismissals. It takes us some time to receive the early dismissal notice, locate the student, and bring the student to the front office.
• Students cannot leave the building for lunch. Students are not permitted to leave school campus during the school day to get lunch. Students are also not able to receive any DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub or other food delivery services.
• Attendance Resources: for more information about our attendance policies, please review our LCPS Attendance Resources for more information.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Attendance Office at THSabsentee@lcps.org.

Thank you, students, parents, and families, for embracing the expectations of the Student Personal Device Use policy.

The policy states that "cell phones and earbuds must be silenced and put away during all instructional periods... smart watches are allowed but must not interfere with instruction... High school students must place personal technology devices in a classroom storage location, not on their person or immediately accessible, and must ensure the devices are silenced during instructional time". Instructional time includes class time, study hall, advisory, and Tusky Time.

For those who have not yet reviewed the policy, it is linked here for your review.

Since the implementation of this policy, we have seen a tremendous increase in student engagement. Let's keep up the great work and continue to exhibit RISE!

Welcome back students and families! Your THS Library is excited to hear about your reading this summer and helping students find great new books to read this year!

We welcome our new library assistant Rebeca Arens, a Broad Run graduate. Come say hi to her at the circulation desk.

We have multiple opportunities for students to get involved at the library this year:

Project Lit is our reading book club where students choose the books and their copy is theirs to keep as they build their in-home libraries! See our librarian Ms. Carroll for more info or email her at jenna.carroll@lcps.org

Our new Student Library Advisory Committee is a leadership opportunity for students to get more involved in activities and programming in the library. We want to hear student voices in the library! See our librarian Ms. Scheib for more info or email her at elizabeth.scheib@lcps.org.

We are always looking for student volunteers! Come see a librarian for more info.

Unified Mental Health Team (UMHT) has a wealth of information to share. Please see each of the flyers below.

Our county is going through an epidemic. Let’s do our part to make sure none of our neighbors feel alone in their fight against substance use disorder and the stigma surrounding addiction.

Please join us at Morven Park on Saturday, 9/14, at 9am to create a movement in our local community. Together, we will honor those that we have lost to addiction and celebrate those in recovery by walking together at the first-ever Shatter the Stigma 5K Walk - Loudoun Strong community walk event!

Register today to help us reach our participant and fundraising goal! We also encourage you to consider making a personal donation in any amount, posting about the event on social media, and inviting your family and friends to join us, as well.

Funds from the walk are donated to Shatterproof, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming the addiction treatment system.

We would love to have as many community members, representatives from Loudoun County Public School, and local nonprofits, as possible. Volunteers Needed! Click here for volunteer information.

Thank you in advance for your support! Together, we create change!

Welcome Back Huskies-

The School Counseling Office along with our UMHT (Unified Mental Health Team) welcome you back to the 2024-2025 school year. First up: The School Counselors are excited to begin working with our Seniors to prepare them for their post-secondary options. School Counselors will be going into Senior English classrooms on September 11th and 12th to discuss the application process. After the presentation, school counselors will individually meet with their Seniors beginning September 16th.

School Counselors will hold Freshman Convocations during Study Halls in a few weeks. The Convocation is designed to give our new Huskies, the information they need to have a successful school year.

Our UMHT Team is fully staffed, and we welcome Ms. Jazlynn Moody and Ms. SaMone Moore to our team. The ladies have shared their information above.

Please make sure to view the School Counseling newsletter as it updates as we receive information to share with our students and their families.

Parents, below are the links to the requirements for graduation. Please review these requirements with you student. If you have any questions, please contact their School Counselor.

https://sites.google.com/lcps.org/lcpsprogramofstudies2023-2024/graduation-requirements/during-or-after-2018-2019/advanced-diploma

https://sites.google.com/lcps.org/lcpsprogramofstudies2023-2024/graduation-requirements/during-or-after-2018-2019/standard-diploma

ATTENTION PARENTS OF CURRENT FRESHMAN!

Did you know that Tuscarora High School is the only school in LCPS to offer the AVID elective courses that prepare students for college and career readiness, specifically for first-generation graduates and/or those in the academic “middle”?

AVID is looking for current 9th grade students who would benefit from a fully credited and honors level elective course that teaches students organization, time-management, reading and writing strategies, leadership skills, and academic independence.

If your student is currently performing well in Academic level courses but you feel they could succeed in Honors/AP courses with some support OR your student is hesitant or struggles in those Honors/Pre-AP courses, feel free to reach out to Mr. Blair (barry.blair@lcps.org) for more information about the AVID program!

We have plenty of seats in our 9th grade class, but they will fill up on a first-come, first-served basis, so act now!

As we begin the school year, we want everyone to start strong and finish even stronger.

Students please begin planning your weekly schedule. Do not forget to set aside time to complete assignments and seek help when needed.

Recommended Supplies for all mathematics courses

• 3 ring binder

• Dividers

• Pencils

• Color pencils

• Glue sticks

Recommended for math courses Precalculus and above

• Graphing Calculators (we have some for check out in the library but 1st come 1st serve)

HEY YOU! EXCUSE ME, YOU!

YEAH YOU!

JUST INCASE NO ONE HAS TOLD YOU, YOU MATTER TO US!

The Social Science and Global Studies Department would like to welcome our students for the 2024-25 school year!

We would also like to welcome our new department member - Mrs. Lukacs who will be teaching Government and Economics.

We are excited to see everyone this week.! If you have any questions, please reach out to your Social Science teacher. Additional information about elective courses can be found on the Tuscarora Website: https://www.lcps.org/o/ths/page/social-science

The Loudoun Education Foundation partners with Lewis Parker to offer The Willowcroft World Language Fluency Scholarship. This Scholarship funds up to $8,000 for students’ enrollment to a summer immersion language program.

The Willowcroft World Language Fluency Scholarship window is open August 22-October 17
More information and the application are available here. Students apply online at LoudounEducationFoundation.org

Credit Through Testing (CTT) Overview

Students may register for the CTT through the Language Assessment Reporting System (LARS). The link is found under the Student Opportunities portal in LCPSGO. A confirmation ticket will be sent to the student and the parent/ guardian email on file.

Loudoun County Public Schools allows students with the ability to comprehend and communicate in languages other than English, to earn high school credits through State-approved world language assessments. The Credit Through Testing (CTT) exam measures students’ language proficiency in order to award one, two, or three high school world language credits.

The Credit Through Testing (CTT) exam is designed to assess students’ first language proficiency and is available for students in grades 9 through 12 only, whose first language is not English. The exam requires a student to read and comprehend exam instructions and writing prompts in the first language. The student must be able to write two well-developed essays in the exam language, each consisting of at least three cohesive paragraphs on two topics.

The Credit Through Testing exam is offered each November. Students may take the exam two times per language while in high school. For SY 2024-2025, the following 27 languages will be available for assessment using the State approved Rubric. These represent where 50 or more students in grades 9-12 speak the language as a first language at home: American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese/Mandarin, Farsi, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Kannada, Korean, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, Tamil, Telugu, Turkish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

*Latin will be offered this SY 2024-25 through ALIRA.

Registration for the exam will vary by school. Students may sign up online or request information on where to sign up for the Credit Through Testing Exam at the Counseling Office or the Department of World Languages and Cultures at the school.

• Registration opens on Thursday, August 22, 2024

• Registration closes on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Tuscarora will be giving the PSAT to all students in grades 9 - 11 on October 9, 2024. This year, all students will be taking the digital version of the PSAT 8/9 or the PSAT/NMSQT. The Digital PSAT measures the same skills and knowledge as the paper test, so students can prepare for it the same way they would prepare for the paper version; however, students should preview the digital test experience and practice interacting with the available tools.

The College Board’s website provides information and practice opportunities for both the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT/NMSQT.

Additionally, the PSAT 8/9 Student Guide and the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide are great resources for sample test questions, test-taking advice and tips, and an overview of the digital testing experience.

Students must bring their fully charged LCPS issued device to school on the day of the test. Loaner devices will not be provided. Students taking the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT/NMSQT will have access to a Desmos calculator as part of the digital test format. They should not bring a calculator.

More information can be found here: https://www.lcps.org/o/lcps/page/psat.

We are excited to be holding our ’24-25 Annual Community Tailgate Friday, September 13th, 4:30 PM at Fortune Field. Our football team will be playing Loudoun County High School and it will be a White Out. The purchase of a game ticket includes admittance to the tailgate activities and dinner prior to kick-off.

Tuscarora athletic teams, clubs, and student council will be represented and encouraged to participate in the tailgate. The tailgate is a fun tradition and brings all Tuscarora families together to kick-off the school year and celebrate our first home football game.

As you can imagine, it takes a lot of time and effort to pull this community event together and rely on our generous Husky parents to pull this off. If you want to make a donation or sign-up to be a volunteer, please go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D49ADAF2AAA8-51009597-tuscarora

For more information about volunteering, please contact Stacey Scott at 703-727-8221or staceyscott75@hotmail.com or Adrianna Duggan at 703-587-5773 or adrianna@adriannaduggan.com.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you at the Tuscarora Tailgate on September 13th!

Specific ticket information will come in the October newsletter but save the date for Tuscarora’s Homecoming Dance on October 19, 2024 from 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm.

Homecoming week, October 15th - 18th, will consist of spirit days, hall decorating, and a pep rally!

New Ticket Partner: Card and Mobile Payment with GoFan

For the upcoming school year, LCPS is pleased to announce that we will be using GoFan for mobile ticketing athletic events beginning this school year. GoFan is the most used mobile ticketing platform for high schools in Virginia and is our official VHSL digital ticketing partner. This will drive consistency for our communities across schools and with both regular and postseason events. Ticketing information can also be found on our district and individual school websites.

Fans are encouraged to buy tickets online prior to reaching the facility, however, credit card payments will be accepted on site.

BEFORE THE EVENT

1. Purchase your ticket on the GoFan app (icons linked below) or by visiting the LCPS GoFan page

• You can also visit gofan.co and search your respective school.
• Favorite your home school for easy access
• LCPS will now also can take card or mobile payment at our event gates.

2. Once you purchase your ticket online, you will get an order confirmation email and click on the “VIEW TICKET” on your mobile device. Within the app, select Tickets to view your ticket order.

3. Pay attention to the important information shown on the confirmation screen!

AT THE EVENT

1. Before arriving at the gate, access your confirmation email or view the ticket in the mobile app and click on the “VIEW TICKET” on your mobile device.

2. Show your mobile device to gate personnel, who will validate your ticket for admission.

• DO NOT Validate your ticket prior to arriving at the gate. Staff members will validate your ticket.

3. Tickets CANNOT be printed. You must use your mobile device to access your ticket(s).

LCPS can now take onsite card payments, Apple & Google Pay

• Cash App and PayPal available by having digital card option saved to mobile wallet.
• Add Cash App to Apple Pay
• Add Cash App to Google Pay
• Add PayPal to Apple Pay and Google Pay

HOW TO GUIDES

Additionally, you can visit the GoFan How To Guide to access videos for assistance, or can access these quick links below for step by step instructions.

• How to Buy Tickets
• How to Transfer Tickets

Can’t use your tickets?

If you cannot use your tickets, you have the option to transfer those tickets to a friend or another fan.

For more information on how to transfer GoFan tickets, CLICK HERE. Have more questions or need fan support? Submit a request

Online tickets are issued subject to the Rules and Regulations of LCPS Athletics office. Breach of any of these Rules and Regulations or any unacceptable behavior likely to cause damage, nuisance, or injury shall entitle event staff, school administration and/or school safety to eject you from the venue. The venue reserves the right to refuse admission should patrons breach any Rules and Regulations of the athletic event.

Loudoun Recovery Festival

Saturday, September 7, 2024 - 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

EL Parent Night

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 - 6:00 p.m.

Tailgate

Friday, September 13, 2024 - 4:18 p.m. - Game Time

Shatter the Stigma 5K

Saturday, September 14, 2024 - 9:00 a.m.

Fall College Planning Night

Thursday, September 19, 2024 - 7:00 p.m.

Back to School: Why Attendance Matters - Youth and Family Workshop

Thursday, September 26, 2024 - 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Holiday - Rosh Hashanah

Thursday, October 3, 2024

Student Holiday - Staff Professional Development Day

Friday, October 4, 2024

PSAT

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

Holiday - Indigenous Peoples' Day

Monday, October 14, 2024

Hispanic College Planning Night

Wednesday, October 16, 2024 - 7:00 p.m.

Homecoming Game

Friday, October 18, 2024

Homecoming Dance

Saturday, October 19, 2024 - 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

End of the First Grading Period

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Student Holiday - Teacher Workdays

Wednesday, Thursday, October 30 - 31, 2024

Student Holiday - Diwali

Friday, November 1, 2024

Student Holidays - Staff Professional Development Days

Monday, Tuesday, November 4, 5, 2024

Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Fair

Saturday, November 9, 2024 - 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.