October 6, 2024

Hello Unity Reed Lions!

This week, we are celebrating Custodial Services Employee Appreciation Week. Our custodians are the unsung heroes of our school, working tirelessly to ensure that our classrooms, hallways, and common areas are clean and safe for all of us. Their dedication and hard work create an positive environment where we can focus on learning and growing. Please be sure to take a moment to show our appreciation for everything they do. Whether it’s a heartfelt thank you, a kind word, or a simple smile, let’s make sure our custodians know how much we value their efforts!

Reminders:

• PSAT Day is this Wednesday, October 9th for students in grades 9, 10 and 11.
• Students in 12th grade do not attend school on this day, and instead, participate in asynchronous assignments from home.

Please see below for important information regarding: PSAT Day, Homecoming Ticket Sales and Guest Forms, George Mason University Direct Admissions deadline extension, No-Cost Mental Health Telehealth Services for PWCS Students, After-School tutoring supports📚, how to purchase your Graduation Cap & Gown (Class of 2025) , upcoming College Fairs and more!

• October 8: Cheer Competition at Woodbridge HS, 6:00pm
  

• October 9: PSAT Day (Grades 9-11); Asynchronous Day for Grade 12, College Fair at Hylton HS

• October 14: NO SCHOOL for students; Staff Workday

• October 17: College Fair at Osbourn Park HS

• October 18: Homecoming Game

• October 19: Homecoming Dance, IBMA College Fair at Gar-Field HS

• October 21-25: Virginia College Application Week (VCAW)!

On Wednesday, October 9th, WSHS students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will participate in the Preliminary SAT (PSAT). The Preliminary SAT, also known as the PSAT/NMSQT® (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), is a practice version of the SAT exam. Earning a high score on the PSAT in your junior year could qualify you to receive a National Merit Scholarship. Approximately $180 million dollars in merit scholarships are awarded to students each year.

• All PSATs will be taken on a PWCS device, as the test is only available in digital format. Please ensure students arrive on test day with their school-issued devices fully charged to include the charger.

• Allow approximately three weeks after the PSAT for score reports to be shared with students. Score reports house valuable information that provides an explanation of scoring, displays your student's areas of strength, recommend courses that may be appropriate for your students, and much more.

• October 9th will be an important but busy day at Unity Reed High School. We thank you in advance parents/guardians for the support around students being here on time and ready to test.

To Do List Ideas:

1. Work on any asynchronous assignments your teacher may have assigned you (check canvas and your student emails)
2. Get on Naviance to help you plan for after graduation, look up scholarships and request letters of recommendation.
3. Work on college application essays.
   
4. Visit a college campus either in-person or virtually! Many colleges have virtual tours available that allow you to see their campus from home.
   
5. Look up available trade schools, military options or other career-related fields.
6. Work on scholarship applications!
7. Order your cap and gown unit! (see link at the bottom of this newsletter)
8. Mark your calendars for Virginia College Application Week (VCAW) October 21-25! This is the week where many of the college application fees are waived for Virginia Colleges.

• Ticket Sales:
• Sold October 10-18, $20 during lunches in first-floor cafeteria (cash only), $30 at the dance.
• Outside Guests:
  • If you plan to bring a guest who is not a student at URHS please complete this form with their information This form is DUE BY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9.
  • Guests must be in good standing with their school for approval.
  • Outside guest tickets Will be sold starting Tuesday, October 14.

• Check out URHS Events Page for more information.

Reminder: Participation in extra-curricular activities and events is a privilege. To participate in school dances, students must be in good standing. This means consistently attending all classes and adhering to all URHS rules and expectations during the school day.

Attendance and Discipline Requirements:

• Students with excessive unexcused absences may not be permitted to attend or participate in extra-curricular activities.
• Students must have fewer than 3 ALL DAY UNEXCUSED ABSENCES between now (September 23) and October 18th to purchase a ticket or attend our Homecoming Dance.
• Reminder, absent notes must be turned in within 5 school days of the absence. Please be sure to turn any attendance notes in to the main office or through ParentVUE at your earliest convenience.
• Students who have committed significant disciplinary infractions resulting in suspension are not permitted to purchase a dance ticket.

Please contact your grade-level administrator with any questions regarding the number of absences to date.

**Looking ahead: Please note this policy will also be in place for Prom. Students MUST HAVE FEWER THAN 8 ALL-DAY UNEXCUSED ABSENCES to be eligible to attend Prom in May**

Don’t miss out on an opportunity for Guaranteed Admission to George Mason University! To participate in the direct admissions partnership with George Mason University, you must give us your consent to share your student’s information with the Office of Admissions at George Mason University by October 11, 2024, at 3 p.m. Complete this form to make sure that your student is included in this exciting opportunity.

Also, here is a link to the updated PWCS webpage about the program: GMU Direct Admissions Webpage. Students will receive and email with the application link on October 28th.

All students will be completing an Equal Opportunity Schools Survey (EOS) on Monday, October 7, 2024. Here's why the EOS survey is important for our school community:

1. Identifying Barriers:

   The survey helps us understand the challenges and barriers that students face in accessing advanced courses and educational opportunities.

2. Promoting Equity:

   By gathering data on student experiences and perceptions, we can work towards ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, have equal access to high-quality education.

3. Informed Decision-Making:

   The insights gained from the survey enable school administrators and educators to make informed decisions about policies and programs that support student success.

4. Student Voice: It provides a platform for students to share their thoughts and experiences, ensuring that their voices are heard and considered in the decision-making process.

5. Improving Support: The survey results help us identify areas where additional support and resources are needed, allowing us to better serve our student community.

By participating in the EOS Student Survey, students are contributing to creating a more inclusive and equitable educational environment for everyone, helping us create a school where every student can reach their full potential and thrive.

To learn more about Equal Opportunity Schools, visit:

https://www.pwcs.edu/news/2024/03/pwcs_and_equal_opportunity_schools

Mental health telehealth services are available to PWCS students at NO COST to families through Hazel Health, a well-established telehealth provider. This initiative provides access to mental health care, ensuring students receive the support they need without delay – regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status.

Hazel Health services are:

• Confidential and private
• Through locally licensed therapists
• Available to all K-12 PWCS students
• Offered in 19 languages

Therapists can help students with:

• Anxiety, depression, and stress
• Mood and behavior changes
• Grief and loss
• Social skills, bullying, and peer relationships

All students are invited to take advantage of after-school academic support every Tuesday and Thursday. Whether you need extra help in a specific subject or just a quiet place to work on assignments, our dedicated teachers and peer tutors are here to assist you. Bus transportation is also provided on these days at 4:30 PM. Students can ride if they are staying after school for academic support, activities or athletics.

Additionally, all students have access to FREE one-on-one, chat-based online Academic Tutoring available 24/7 in all core subject areas in English and Spanish through VARSITY TUTORS. Students can access this tutoring platform through the Clever App on their student laptops 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To stay informed about upcoming events specifically for the senior class, please frequently visit the Class of 2025 page and the school website. We have many more exciting events and opportunities planned, and we don’t want you to miss out!

PWCS is hosting a series of college fairs across the county this October. I highly encourage all families to attend at least one of these events with your students to explore the various post-secondary opportunities available after graduation. At these fairs, you can learn about:

• Military College Pathways
• Financial Aid & Scholarships
• Overview of the Common Application sections and necessary steps

Upcoming college fairs will be held at the following locations:

• PWCS College Fairs
• October 9th at Hylton HS from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• October 17th at Osbourn Park HS from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
• IB Mid-Atlantic Region College Fair (focus on students in our IB Programs)
• October 19th at Gar-Field HS from 12:30 - 3:00 PM

Report your child’s absences: Parents should notify the school before, or at the start of, the school day when their child will be absent. Parents must send written or electronic communication citing the reason(s) for the absence to the school no more than five school days following the date of the absence.To report an absence at Unity Reed HS, please call the school at 703-365-2900, submit the note via ParentVUE or have your student submit a written note to the main office. For early dismissals, please call the main office at 703-365-2900.

How sick is too sick for school? For information about when your child should go to school or when they should stay home due to illness, visit the When to Keep Students home webpage. If you have additional questions, please contact our school nurse, Nurse Lawton, at lawtonst@pwcs.edu.

Planning a prearranged absence? We understand that some absences are unavoidable, however we encourage parents and guardians to schedule appointments and trips on scheduled days off for students throughout the school year. View the 2024-25 school calendar website to view days off for students.

We appreciated our families understanding that attending school every day helps our students build a solid foundation for their future in school and in life. Please contact our Attendance Officer, Ms. Gilliam at 571-598-3216 or gilliadb@pwcs.edu; or our School Social Worker, Mr. Jahanian at 571-598-3232 or jahanir@pwcs.edu; if your family or child are in need of resources to have a successful school year.

Unity Reed HS Students are eligible to purchase season passes or annual passes for discounted prices. Season passes are $20 and Annual passes are $50. These passes will get you into ALL HOME GAMES for either the season (if purchasing the season pass) or for the entire year (if purchasing the annual pass). The pass is not eligible for tournaments or post-season events. STUDENT ID WILL BE REQUIRED AT THE GATE IF PURCHASING A STUDENT PASS!

• Weekly LIONS’ ROAR: This will include the latest updates with pertinent information for the upcoming week and will be emailed to students and families every Sunday. This information will also be posted on our school website.

• URHS website: This will be updated more frequently so that we can share the most up to date information with you. In fact, click here to view our school website.

• School Status: This is our messaging system, and it allows staff to send text messages, emails, or make phone calls to families. When an email comes to your inbox with this system, the sender will be listed as School Status or Teacher name. A text message will include the staff member’s full name in the message but will be a random number. This system allows the recipient to respond directly to a message.

• The PRIDE Newsletter: This is a monthly newsletter where we celebrate and highlight the incredible accomplishments of our students, staff, and community at Unity Reed High School. Each month, we will showcase achievements, events, and milestones that make our school proud. Stay tuned for inspiring stories, academic successes, athletic triumphs, and much more. All this information will also be available on our school website for easy access and sharing.

I encourage you to continue to stay in touch with important updates by visiting our website. We are here to support you. Please reach out throughout the school year with any questions, concerns, or to share general feedback, and thank you for being part of our school community, as our STRENGTH is IN UNITY!

Sincerely,

Milagros Polanco
Principal, Unity Reed High School