Heritage Weekly Update-January 7
The news you need from the Home of the PRIDE!
January 7, 2022
Traduccion en Espanol
-Cuando llegue aqui haga clic en la flecha que apunta hacia abajo y escoja el idioma "Spanish"
Principal's Message
Happy New Year! We were excited to welcome the PRIDE back on campus this week, even if it ended up being for just two days.
I do hope this Update finds you and those you care about safe and healthy. COVID-19 and it's variants are affecting all of us, but if you are sick or your loved ones are, my wish for you is a quick recovery, as well as comfort for those of you who have lost loved ones.
LCPS sent information out on Monday evening with updates to the quarantine and isolation protocols, based on the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and the Virginia Department of Health. You can read the full message here or below, where I have copied it.
I appreciate everyone's patience and understanding, as Heritage works through the changing guidelines, even as cases are rising throughout the County.
COVID-19 Reminders
I wanted to share a couple of reminders with you now that we are back in school after the Winter Break:
- Please reinforce with your student that they should be wearing their mask properly when required to do so (covering their mouth and nose). It is the best way for them to protect themselves, other members of the Heritage community and their loved ones, and it lessens their chances of being identified as a close contact should someone they have been around test positive for COVID-19.
- If your child tests positive for COVID-19 or they are identified as a close contact of someone who does, please let us know. You can send an email or call our absentee line (hthabsentee@lcps.org, 571-252-2802). Please be sure you are clear about whether your child has tested positive for COVID or if they are a close contact. If they fall into either of those categories, it will also be helpful for us to know the date their symptoms started or the date of their exposure, as well as the date of their positive test.
- Whether your student is sick or not, we will always accept information about vaccinations and boosters. To submit that documentation, please email it to Carol Plumlee, our wonderful substitute nurse (yes, we are still looking for a permanent school nurse, so tell anyone who might be interested).
Course Information Night (Virtual Q&A with Academic Departments): January 24th 7-8pm
Course Information Night is going Virtual. Stay tuned for our Course Information Smore Newsletter full of recorded presentations from all academic departments, elective promotion videos, links for course information, and much more!
Question and Answer sessions (previously scheduled in the library) will be held through GoogleMeet between 7-8pm on Monday, January 24th. GoogleMeet links will be shared closer to the date.
Log in to get all of your questions answered and set a solid foundation for a successful 2022-2023 School Year.
Conference Night Preview
On Monday, January 31, Heritage will host its annual Conference Night from 5:30PM-7:30 PM. We will be all virtual again this year. A link will be shared on Friday, January 14th. Sign-ups for Conference Night will be available through the link until 11:59 PM on Tuesday, January 25th. Please note: in order to give staff a chance to prepare, any requests for conferences must be made through the link by the deadline of Tuesday, January 25th and will not be accepted afterwards.
Heritage Helps
Even as we launch into the new year, many of our student organizations and clubs are collecting items for various local non-profit organizations. I wanted to highlight a couple of them that we have been talking about as a school:
Two of our students, Sanya Sundrani and Sarah Chang, are taking part in the Annual Students of the Year campaign, benefitting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Their first event is a fundraiser at Chipotle on Saturday, January 8th from 5 PM-9 PM. Show the flyer (and below) or use the code 6VREC2J when ordering online to benefit this worthy cause.
The Heritage FCCLA/FBLA clubs are extending their Winter Wear Drive until January 19th. After you clean out the closets or if you pick something up while you are shopping, send in your new or gently used winter coats, hats, gloves, scarves, and more! Donations will be delivered to Mobile Hope for local kids and teens in need. Collection boxes are in the main office as well as in L505. Questions can be directed to Mrs. deButts @ elizabeth.debutts@lcps.org
One of our Senior Agenda Setters Project groups is conducting a toiletry drive to benefit the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter (LAWS). The drive will run from January 10-January 21 and collection boxes will be in the Main Office. Items needed include: full sized toothpaste and mouthwash, baby wipes, face wash, black hair care products, hair ties, shower loofahs, shampoo and conditioner, and face wash.
Please send in or drop off any items you can to help support those in need in our community.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.
Best wishes for all of you in this new year!
ROAR PRIDE!
Jeff Adam
Principal
Heritage High School
#wearethepride
#hhspridestrong
Important Dates
January 8-Fundraiser @ Chipotle (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society)
January 11-EL Parent Meeting @ Best Western in Leesburg
January 24-Course Information Night (virtual)
January 28-End of 2nd Quarter and 1st Semester
January 31-Winter Conference Night (virtual)
Academies of Loudoun information
WINTER ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
2022 Winter Admissions Cycle - For enrollment in school year 2022-2023
All Applicants must have a current PSAT (NMSQT) score - see your school counselor or school testing coordinator for details
2022 Winter Admissions Cycle - For enrollment in school year 2022-2023
Monroe Advanced Technical Academy (MATA) – Pathway Options – 9th, 10th, and 11th grade applicants only
Advanced AET Pathways – 10th grade applicants only
Virtual Tour Of the Academies of Loudoun
Questions? AcademiesAdmissions@lcps.org
For Tomorrow Night's fundraiser (see 'Heritage Helps' above)
LCPS Updated Isolation/Quarantine Guidance
Dear Loudoun County Community,
I want to provide you with an update on the school division’s response to the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance and the impact of COVID-19 on our community.
Effective immediately, LCPS will adopt the CDC and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) recommendations to shorten the required isolation and quarantine periods. The updated guidance also updates the definition of close contact requiring at home quarantine to include fully vaccinated individuals who are eligible for a vaccine booster but have not yet received one. The CDC guidelines are the result of new scientific evidence that most COVID-19 transmission generally occurs one to two days before the onset of symptoms and two to three days after (CDC Media Statement, 27 December 2021).
The new CDC guidance requires people who test positive for COVID-19 to isolate for at least five days. They may return to school or work after five days if they are asymptomatic or have not had a fever in 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Individuals must wear a well-fitting mask for the five days following isolation to minimize the risk of infecting others. Individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 must isolate for at least 5 days from the onset of symptoms or following a positive test result and until symptoms subside. Following the isolation period, individuals must wear a well-fitting mask for five days.
LCPS will institute a five-day quarantine for all individuals identified as close contacts, regardless of vaccination status. Individuals identified as close contacts who are asymptomatic and submit proof of one of the following may be readmitted to school or work immediately:
- A vaccine booster,
- Two shots of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last six months, or
- One shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last two months.
LCPS has created this flowchart to illustrate the quarantine and isolation procedures for students and staff.
Masks are still required. Anyone who enters an LCPS school building, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a face covering until further notice while students are present.
Visit LCPS FAQ about Masks and Mitigations in School.
LCPS wants to remind anyone who has not received their vaccination to make an appointment to be vaccinated. This is especially important with the spread of the Omicron variant. LCPS will host several walk-in COVID-19 vaccine events in coordination with the Loudoun County Health Department and Giant Pharmacy. First and second Pfizer doses are available for anyone age five and older. Only Pfizer boosters will be available for those who are 16 and older.
According to the CDC, current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. Boosters are now also recommended for everyone 16 and older. For additional information about COVID-19 vaccination, visit Loudoun County’s COVID-19 Vaccine page.
We hope this updated guidance will support families and staff as we return to school. We wish everyone a safe and healthy new year.
Best wishes,
Scott A. Ziegler, Ed.D.Superintendent
From Our Theatre Boosters
Looking to join the HHS Pride Productions Booster Association ? Join here
- We have $10 student memberships and family membership levels ranging from $25 - $500.
Early Dismissals
We need your assistance by decreasing the number of visitors coming into the building.
If you know that your student needs to leave school early, please send them in with a note, send an email to HTHAbsentee@lcps.org, or use the Report Attendance feature in ParentVue. You can find detailed procedure instructions on the Heritage High School website by clicking here. Please also note that in-person early dismissal requests cannot be processed after 3:45 p.m.
Class of 2022 Yearbook Baby Ads
Class of 2022 Senior Families, Baby Ads for the yearbook are available now until 3/1. They can be created and purchased at www.yearbookordercenter.com. Yearbooks are on sale at the same website for $67. The price rises on 12/1.
PTSO 2021-2022 Membership Registration Form
$25/Family $10/Staff
This has been a strange couple of years. We all understand that. But PTSO still exists and wants to be here for students, parents and staff.
We do this is by awarding a senior scholarship each spring, as well as assisting our Pride community in a variety of other ways.
We award teacher grants and show our teachers and staff they’re appreciated.
Please consider joining the PTSO to help us support our students and staff however we’re able.
Thank you!
Heritage Athletics Update
Competitions
Saturday, January 8
8 AM Wrestling @ Chantilly HS
3 PM Swim vs. Rock Ridge @ South Riding Rec Center
Monday, January 10
4 PM Track v. Millbrook HS @ Shenandoah U
5:45/5:45/7:15 PM Basketball v. Dominion (Girls-Home; Boys-Away)
Tuesday, January 11
6 PM Wrestling @ Loudoun County HS
Wednesday, January 12
5:45 PM Away 9th Grade Girls Basketball @ Briar Woods HS
5:45/7:15 PM Away JV/V Girls Basketball @ Loudoun County HS
5:45/5:45/7 PM Home Boys Basketball v. Loudoun County HS
Thursday, January 13
3 PM Away Track @ Park View HS
6 PM Away Gymnastics @ Woodgrove HS
Friday, January 14
5:00 PM/6:30/8:00 PM Away Girls and Boys Basketball @ Lightridge HS
Saturday, January 15
9 AM Away Wrestling @ Culpepper HS
6 PM Swim v. Park View @ Ida Lee Rec Center
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Totaro, Heritage Athletic Director, or Mr. Siano, Heritage Assistant Athletic Director.
From the Heritage High School Athletic Boosters:
Support our Athletes and Join Heritage Athletic Booster Club. The Heritage HS Athletic Booster Club recently raised money for:
- New Team Uniforms
- Updates in the Weightroom
- Video Boards in both the main and auxiliary gyms
Memberships start at $30. We are also offering Coaches, Staff and Alumni memberships for $10/year.
Just use this link to sign up!
THANK YOU for supporting Heritage HS Athletics!
Activity Buses
Heritage has begun to offer Activity Buses on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 5:15 PM. This bus will allow students to stay after for activities and will drop students at various places throughout the Heritage Attendance Zone. You can find a list of the Activity Bus stops on our webpage or by following this link.
Mental Health Resources for Students
The Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) Mental Health Resources website offers comprehensive mental health services, support and resources provided by our Unified Mental Health Teams (counselors, psychologists, social workers, school nurses, and student assistance specialists) who can assist and direct families to the right level of services or interventions.
Available information includes:
How to contact your school’s United Mental Health Team
Resources for parents
Suicide prevention resources
LCPS mental and behavioral health services
Resources for families of LGBTQ+ students and families
Community resources
To access the mental health website created by the Department of Student Services, please visit: www.lcps.org/MentalHealthServices
School Pictures
To order pictures for Grades 9-12, just go to www.vosphoto.com, click order portraits and use your students' ID number as the access code or choose "Seniors" under "Order Portraits."
Arrival/Dismissal
As you know, I have sent multiple communications regarding the changes in our arrival and dismissal procedures. We have settled on the new winding path through the parking lot for both (picture below). When driving on campus, please keep in mind the following:
- Follow directions of school staff that are present in the parking lot.
- Remind your student to wait at the front of the school for you to pick them up.
- Keep your speed slow and watch for pedestrians.
- Be kind to other drivers, student and adult.
- Pull up to the front of the pick-up/drop-off zone and within the white striped area.
- Do not cut through parking spaces and rows.
- Do not encourage your student to come to you in the middle of the parking lot or at another location.
- Do not move cones or signs.
- Do not block cross intersections in parking lot
- Do not switch drivers/passengers while in the pick-up line.
- Do not use your cellular phone while in the Parking Lot.
- Do not cut through parking spaces.
Facebook and Instagram
Heritage has an official Facebook page (https://business.facebook.com/Heritage-High-School-VA-108558541340022/) and a new connected "official" Instagram account (HeritageLCPS). The PTSO is still running their "Heritage Parents" page, but we will use these new Heritage accounts to spread the word about the awesome things going on at Heritage.
Bell Schedule
The Bell Schedule has been posted to the website. You can find it here.
Doors open at 8:30
Unless they are involved in an activity, students will not be allowed to enter the building until 8:30 AM, as we cannot provide adequate supervision until that time.
Masks/Face Coverings Information
Masks/Face Covering Update
On Thursday, August 12th, Dr. Ziegler issued an updated statement on masks. You can find the message here. A more detailed description of the approach LCPS and Heritage are taking to masks and health mitigation can be found here. I have repeated some of the information here, as we will be following the guidelines set forth by LCPS.
When will face coverings be required?
Face coverings must be worn at all times, indoors, with the exception of during the following activities:
- Eating or drinking
- During recess, PE or other outdoor recreational/extra-curricular activities
- For team practices and games indoors, participants will wear masks while on the sidelines, but may remove them during play
- When receiving medical attention
More information on masks in facilities
Face coverings are required in all LCPS facilities when shared in areas of the buildings, including but not limited to break rooms, kitchens, restrooms, hallways, stairwells, lobbies and meeting rooms. They are also required while in personal work spaces, except when in a room, office, or cubicle with walls 7’ or higher, with the door closed
Masks in Physical Education Classes
Masks will be required for students who are waiting in line or participating in direct physical education instruction (i.e. Health/Drivers' Education), but they will not be required when students are participating in physical education activity. Physical Education teachers will prioritize activities that allow for physical distancing when PE is held indoors.
Other Health Mitigation Efforts
Cafeteria
Students are permitted to remove masks for eating and drinking in our cafeterias. They will, however, be expected to wear masks while entering and exiting the cafeteria, waiting in lines or socializing. At Heritage, we are going to expand our eating areas into the Courtyards and half of the Auxiliary Gym which will allow for at least 3 ft. distance between students during their lunch time. We will be limiting the number of students who can sit at a table to provide the spacing in line with LCPS and Virginia Department of Health guidance.
Arrival/Dismissal
Arrival will be naturally staggered because of bus, driver, and car rider arrivals. Staff will be at the Main Entrance monitoring student entrance, reminding students about distancing and masking. Just as last year, thermal cameras will monitor temperatures as students arrive, and students with elevated temperatures will be addressed per LCPS protocols. At dismissal, students will be allowed to leave school from the exit door nearest their last block class. allowing for less congestion in the hallways.
Limiting students in bathrooms
We will continue to utilize eHall Pass to limit the numbers of students in a restroom at once.
Behind the Wheel
Need "Behind the Wheel"? If interested, contact Mr. Soroush by email: ebi.soroush@lcps.org.
Heritage Mission Statement: The Heritage Community works together to foster continuous personal and academic growth of the whole student in a caring and engaging environment
Heritage Vision: Heritage High School readies all students for future success. Graduates are respectful of others, invested in their communities, and prepared for a changing world.