Cougar Connection
Student Services Newsletter - November 2019
As a department, we would like to express our gratitude for our Oakton community. We are truly appreciative of the wonderful families, teachers and staff that we work with daily.
Student Services Highlights
National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalists and Commended Scholars
On November 1st, we recognized our National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalists and Commended Scholars with a light reception. Oakton is proud of our 9 semi-finalists and 39 commended students.
Semi-finalists
Approximately 16,000 high school seniors were named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists for 2020. More than 1.5 million juniors entered the program by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which serves as the initial screen of program entrants.
Three types of Merit Scholarship awards will be offered in 2020: National Merit $2,500 scholarships, corporate-sponsored scholarships and college-sponsored scholarships.
Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in spring 2020.
To check out all FCPS students who earned this recognition, click here: https://www.fcps.edu/news/two-hundred-thirty-seven-students-named-2020-national-merit-semifinalists.
Commended Students
About 34,000 high performers throughout the nation are being named Commended Students for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2020 competition for National Merit Scholarship awards, Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2020 competition by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).
For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program click here: https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=424.
World Kindness Day
Underclassmen Awards
Students who were unable to attend can see their counselor to pickup their awards.
Legos & Eggos Brain Break
A special thank you to the cafeteria workers who assisted us with the waffles and the PTSA who helped to sponsor our last two brain break activities. Thank you for supporting our events!
College & Career Center Updates
Welcome Ms. Nancy Evans
Ms. Evans and Ms. Banbury will alternate days in the Career Center and are available to meet with students either by stop-ins or by appointment.
College On-site Admissions
College Essay Workshop
Parent Resources
Gratitude
For more information on the research, check out Harvard's Medical School article: https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier.
NPR also examined this topic: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/12/24/678232331/if-you-feel-thankful-write-it-down-its-good-for-your-health.
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month
Counselor Spotlight
Ms. Katie Warehime
Ms. Warehime has been a School Counselor for five years. This is her third year at Oakton. Ms. Warehime previously worked as an Outpatient Counselor in Pennsylvania. Ms. Warehime holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Education from Shepherd University and a Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Clemson. She also has a certificate in School Counseling from Messiah College and is currently taking classes through the University of Virginia in Leadership.
Ms. Warehime’s “why”, “I have always loved listening to other people’s stories. Working as a School Counselor allows me to hear stories from students, parents, and co-workers. It is never dull, and always fun!”
Upcoming Events
Game Day Brain Break - December 6, 2019
Cocoa & Coloring Brain Break - December 20, 2019
Course Selection for 2020-2021
The tentative schedule for course selection will be:
- Rising Seniors: classroom presentation on January 6/7 and individual meetings with counselors will be January 8-22.
- Rising Juniors: classroom presentation on January 23/24 and individual meetings with counselors will be January 29-February 5.
- Rising Sophomores: classroom presentation on February 6/7 and individual meetings with counselors will be February 10-18.
For Rising Freshmen, we will be making arrangements with the four feeder middle schools. We typically meet with students in large group settings and they meet individually with their middle school counselors.
More information about course offerings will be forthcoming in December. Stay tuned for more details.
Curriculum Night - January 8, 2020
Junior Family College Night - January 29, 2020
More information to come. Snow Date: February 6, 2020.
Hispanic Family Night - January 29, 2020
More information to come.