What's Bruin in the Den

Bruin Family,

My apologies for the delay in getting the newsletter out. It has been a while and a lot has been going on at the school. We concluded Senior Exams today and are so looking forward to the Memorial Weekend Holiday before we move into our final two weeks of school.

I want to share that although school is coming to an end, it is still important for your child to attend school and their classes as we are required to maintain accurate daily attendance. Your child may have received a notification indicating they are exempt from their final exam due to having a year-long “A” average in their course; having received a Pass Advance on an End-of-Course SOL which results in an automatic 100 as their final exam grade; or an exam exemption because your child received a Pass End-of-Course SOL. These exam exemptions are one-time use only for the period of the exam. If they have classes, they are expected to be present.

From an SOL perspective, we have concluded our regular SOL test sessions and are now in the expedited re-take window for the students who scored between 375-399. Students eligible for the re-take have been notified and should present themselves to test. Please help us by ensuring your child is in school.

Seniors will be attending specific programs next week and are otherwise done for the year.

1. Senior Awards Ceremony beginning at 9 a.m.
2. iT Awards beginning at 11:30 a.m.
3. Graduation Rehearsal at 1-4 p.m. in Gymnasium. Seniors enter via Door 4.
4. Senior Picnic and Sunset from 4:30-8 p.m. at the stadium.

Wednesday

1. Senior Graduation Rehearsal at 8:00 a.m. Seniors enter via Door 4.

2. Senior Panoramic in Gymnasium. Class of 2024 to be in graduation regalia.

Thursday

1. Class of 2024 Commencement Ceremony at EagleBank Arena, 2:00 p.m.

Please visit https://forestparkhs.pwcs.edu/our_school/for_students_and_parents/class_of_2024 for more Senior Class information.

Next week we will begin our exam reviews for our underclassmen. The schedule for the remaining weeks can be found at https://forestparkhs.pwcs.edu/news/2024/05/fphs_end_of_year_schedule.

In terms of other special events, our music programs are in the midst of their end of year performances and our Spring athletes are wrapping up their respective seasons. They have all performed well and players have received District and Region recognitions. Our athletics office will be publishing their spring highlight newsletter once all the information has been collected.

As the year ends, we are working feverishly to collect all school issued laptops and other technology from our students. Please assist us by ensuring your child returns their device and power supply. We are issuing receipts to students for returned devices. If your child is attending summer school, he/she will need to turn in their current school issued device. They must inform us that they are attending summer school and we will then issue another device to them. Once summer is complete, the device must be returned for updates.

A reminder that rising 12th grade students must have their meningococcal vaccine to date in order to begin school in August. Your child will not be permitted to attend school without this required 12th grade vaccination. Also, all high school students must have their required immunizations up to date. If not, they will not be able to attend school until addressed. Please contact our school nurse if you have additional information.

Finally, as the year ends, I must share that the Food Services Office has made several attempts to communicate and collect outstanding cafeteria balances this year. Currently, the outstanding balance is at $28,654.19. I am asking families to make every effort to address this by June 15. Senior families will need to have fees paid prior to graduation practice on May 28. After this date, the matter will be turned over to an agency contracted by PWCS to address outstanding obligations. Forest Park has also made attempts to collect other outstanding obligations from this and prior years. We will continue to send letters to families so that the matter can be rectified.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

Sincerely,

Richard Martinez

Principal

Senior Yard Signs are available to all graduating seniors while supplies last! Each sign is $20, and families can buy additional signs for a friend or additional family members who want to show BRUIN PRIDE for their senior. This fundraiser is going to support and benefit all classes for future events and activities.

Yard Signs must be purchased with CASH or ONLINE PAYMENT (on studentquickpay.com) prior to pickup. Please bring your emailed receipt or cash to the front office when picking up. Parents can pick up signs from 8 a.m - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday in the front office. Students who are picking up their sign must pick it up after school. Signs are not permitted on the bus due to safety reasons.

May 24: Advisory Picnic

May 27: Holiday- No School

May 28: Senior Awards and IT Awards

May 30: Graduation (Early Dismissal for Underclassmen)

June 7: Last Day of School

Highlights:

• April 25, 2024, was the Department Awards ceremony. Many students were recognized by departments and college book awards were awarded.

• The last day for students to make changes to their schedule is June 3, 2024. After June 3, students will not be able to change their class.

There will be 3 great guest speakers. Mrs. Juba will be speaking about a great job program for students. Mr. Webster will be speaking about social activities that students can participate in and Ms. Emery will discuss the College Steps Program that supports students as they transition into college. This is the last SPIN MEETING of this school year.

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Attention all families of rising seniors,

The state of Virginia requires ALL rising seniors be appropriately vaccinated with a Meningitis (ACWY) vaccine at the start of their senior year. If your student has already received one dose of the vaccine (usually around middle school), the second dose is required after age 16. If they have not received any doses of the Meningitis ACWY, one dose of the vaccine is required after age 16.

Please call your medical provider ASAP for a vaccine appointment.

Vaccine statements for Meningitis in other languages:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/mening.html

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