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Woodson Weekly is published every Monday to provide the community with important information about school life at Woodson High School.

Vision Statement

Carter G. Woodson High School is a community that embraces diversity in a culture of improvement and success that promotes academic curiosity and individual mental and physical growth. 

Message from Mr. Greata

Dear Families,

As we gear up for an exciting new school year, I wanted to send a quick heads-up on a few important operational updates. You will receive a formal welcome back letter with full details via eNotify tomorrow, but here is a quick "bottom line" look at what to expect:

• FCPS-Issued Devices Only: Following a July 16 School Board vote, all students must use FCPS-issued devices for digital activities during the school day. Personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and smartphones will not be permitted unless specified in an IEP/504 plan or approved for a specialized course. Please help us out by making sure your student brings their charged FCPS device to school every single day.
• Football Game Security & Clear Bag Policy: To keep Friday nights safe and fun for everyone, we are implementing weapons screening technology at all varsity football games this fall. We are also enforcing a standardized clear bag policy (only clear bags up to 12"x6"x12", small clutches, or inspected medical/diaper bags are allowed). Please leave backpacks, purses, and outside food/drink at home, plan to arrive a little early, and remember that middle school students and younger must be accompanied by an adult.
• New MealViewer App for School Menus: Keeping track of breakfast and lunch menus is now much easier. The new MealViewer platform lets you check daily meals, view nutrition and allergen details, and even set up alerts for your child's favorite dishes. Printable menus remain available online as well.
• Updated ParentVUE App: Be sure to download the updated ParentVUE mobile app to quickly access your child's schedule, attendance, and records right from your phone. The old app will only work until December. 

For additional back-to-school resources and updates, feel free to check out our updated Cavalier Comeback Kit.

Thank you for your partnership as we roll out these changes to ensure a safe, efficient, and welcoming school year for all our students. Keep an eye on your inbox tomorrow for our complete Welcome Back letter!

Short on time?  Check out our 3-5 minute Weekly Wrap-up podcast on Spotify or Apple!

Cavalier Come Back Kit

Time flies! Summer is wrapping up, and we are getting ready for the first day of school! The Cavalier Come Back Kit for the new year is being updated as we type. Keeping checking back over the next few weeks.

 Important Dates for 2026-2027

FCPS 2026-2027 School year calendar

Thursday, August 20 - 4-7pm - Freshman and New Student Orientation

• 4:00pm-5:00pm - Freshman/New Student Orientation
• 5:00pm-6:00pm 
  • Building tour for new students
  • Freshman Orientation
• 6:00pm-7:00pm
  • Freshman can walk the building
  • Freshmen parent presentation

Friday, August 21 - Cav Kick-Off - 8:30am-10:30am

• Whole school open house for students and parents in all grades to walk the building, find classroom and meet their teachers.
• There will be shuttle buses from the following schools:
  • Canterbury - 8:00am
  • Fairfax Villa - 8:00am
  • Little Run - 8:15am
  • Mantua - 8:00am
  • Olde Creek - 8:15am
  • Wakefield Forest - 8:00am

Monday, August 24 - First Day of School

Thursday, September 3 - Cav Carnival and Woodson Pyramid Night - 4:30pm-7pm

Thursday, September 17 - Back-to-School Night 6pm-9pm

Cav Carnival and Woodson Pyramid Night

Come celebrate the new school year and Woodson Pyramid Night on Thursday, September 3^rd at the Woodson Football Stadium!  At our annual Cav Carnival we will have games, face painting, prizes, and finish with running of the field.  All community members are welcome.  Students K-6 get in free with a paying adult. Carnival Games start at 4:30pm, running of the field at 6:45. Our football game will start at 7:00pm against the Edison Eagles.  

Woodson Cav Carnival September 3, 2026 4:30pm-6:30pm

New Cellphone Policy Starts July 1

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 smart watch) 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 ParentVUE Mobile App Launching July 28

On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app will become available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.

In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. Although enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.

Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. If you need assistance, submit a Parent Support Request.

Student Services

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:

• Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
• If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
• Request records from your healthcare provider. Some may charge for copies.

Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date and ready for the first day of school! 

Required Immunizations for Rising 12th Graders

Several immunizations are required for students entering 12th grade. 

• 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.

Other local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD

If your children qualify for Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM), they may also be eligible for:

• Waive student course fees, reduced student parking pass, and waive senior fees.

• Information about scholarships, classes, and services from non-FCPS agencies and organizations.

To receive these additional benefits, you must give written consent allowing FCPS staff to share your children's meal eligibility status with administrators, school counselors and the school's finance technician. This information will not be shared with any other parties.

The Consent to Share is available