Community Update: Week of Oct. 31st
Sharing information for the Wootton High School Community
Safety at School Update
As a nation, we once again face the terrible news that gun violence has led to tragic circumstances at a high school in St. Louis, Missouri. I hope you will join me in expressing our collective sympathy and outrage regarding the loss of more innocent lives. While we cannot ever fully understand why we continue to experience such happenings, we will work together to, once again, chart a path forward during unsettling times.
Events, such as this, can cause anxiety and emotions for students and staff. I encourage students to reach out if they are feeling concerned and unsettled. Counseling Services has been and will remain available to students. Our Counseling Department is ready to support as needed. If students ask to receive this support, staff will allow students to go with a “no questions asked” approach. At school this past Wednesday, we held a wellness event for students, and I hope students took advantage of this time to talk and process with staff from the Bridge to Wellness program at our school. Finally, I want to assure you we are taking proactive steps to prepare for emergency situations. This should be reassuring to know we are continually preparing for the unexpected.
We ensure all doors are properly secured throughout the academic day following student arrival. Our security and building services teams will be doing extra checks, but please help us monitor and keep all doors closed and locked throughout the school day.
We have recently re-trained staff members on emergency procedures and communication processes.
We ensure the front office staff follow all procedures when guests come into the building.
The Maryland Safe Schools Tipline is an anonymous and free reporting system available to students, teachers, school staff members, parents and the general public to report any school or student safety concerns, including mental health concerns. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. (1-833-MD-B-SAFE / 1-833-632-7233).
In closing, it is essential that we share with our entire school community that our school is safe and that we are here for you.
Respectfully,
Doug Nelson
Principal
AP EXAMS 2022-23: EXAM FEES DUE NOVEMBER 1, 2022
AP Exams 2022-23: Exam Fees due November 1, 2022
Step 1: Students join their AP Class Section (It may take up to two business days for exam registration to be updated to SCO.)
Step 2: Parents pay for the exam(s) via School Cash Online by November 1st
Link to more information.
TESTING FOR SEAL OF BILITERACY ON DECEMBER 6th
Juniors and Seniors - Do you speak a language other than English at home? Are you enrolled in a level 4 or higher language class? If the answer to either question is yes, then you are eligible to test for the Seal of Biliteracy. Please review this Seal of Biliteracy document for more information on test eligibility and registration or email Mr. Fetterman. Earning the Seal of Biliteracy earns students a designation at graduation.
Calendar Reminders
MON, NOVEMBER 7 Professional Day – no school for students
TUE, NOVEMBER 8 Holiday (Schools and Offices Closed)
Wootton Patriot Players Present Clue Nov. 17 – 20
It's a dark and stormy night, and you've been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well . . . dead. So whodunnit? Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock, and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist.
To purchase tickets: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/67414
The password for presales is TailGate
Wootton High School Welcomed Representatives from the College Board
Piano Sale Event
MCPS is pleased to inform you of an opportunity to purchase a piano for your family. Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has an agreement with Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., to provide MCPS with new grand, upright, and digital pianos to be used in schools. Schaeffer’s Piano Co. Inc., located in Rockville, Maryland, is the area’s oldest piano store. This agreement also provides MCPS families and staff an opportunity to purchase these and other pianos for considerably reduced prices at an annual piano sales event.
This year’s liquidation sales event will take place November 12–20, 2022, at 105 North Stonestreet Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. In order to provide a safe and healthy
environment and to ensure that proper distancing can be maintained, this year’s sale will be by appointment only with a limited number of appointment times available. All pianos will carry a 15-year transferable warranty. Each piano will come with a bench and one free in-house tuning.
For additional information, you may visit the Schaeffer’s Piano Company, Inc., website at
www.schaefferspiano.com. To make an appointment for the sale, between
November 12–20, 2022, please call the Schaeffer’s Piano Company appointment desk
at 301-424-1147.
Learn About MCPS Curriculum at Virtual Curriculum Night
Nominations Are Open for Teacher, Principal and Supporting Services Awards
Nominations are open for several competitions to honor exceptional teachers, supporting services staff and administrators. The application deadline is Friday, Dec. 16.
Learn more.Bus Transportation Dashboard Updated
Want to know if your child’s route is delayed or canceled? Visit the MCPS Transportation Updates dashboard and type in your child’s four-digit route number. The dashboard has been redesigned, information is now updated every 15 minutes. Canceling a bus route is a last resort, but when it occurs, affected families are automatically contacted by a system ConnectEd email.
If your child’s route is delayed or canceled, here is how we let you know:
- Impacted routes are published the day before or the morning of by 6:15 a.m.
- Information published on MCPS website and ConnectEd message is sent to families
- Department of Transportation continues to identify possible drivers for impacted route
- Bus route information dashboard updated every 15 minutes until 9:30 a.m.
- Updates for afternoon routes
- Bus route information dashboard updated by 1:30 p.m.