Husky Highlights Newsletter
January 2022
"We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day."
Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Principal's Message
Happy New Year! I am so excited to ring in 2022 with you. I hope you had a wonderful winter break.
I would like to express gratitude to the students, families, and community members who took their time and resources to recognize staff. The celebrations are greatly appreciated and created an environment that warmed all of our hearts. An extra special 'thank you' to our performing arts students, their families, and the teachers, who practiced tirelessly to present the Tuscarora community with beautiful performances in December. It was a fantastic way to welcome the holiday season.
As we return to school this week, I have a few important reminders.
- Please continue to be safe by following the Covid-19 mitigation protocols. More information about the updated protocols are included in this newsletter.
- As this quarter comes to a close at the end of January, please take the opportunities during Study Hall, Tusky Time, and before/after school to work with teachers to make up missing work, retake assessments, or seek any needed support.
As always, please connect with me or my staff and let us know how we can support you. I am excited to see the Husky family again and I look forward to the many successes and accomplishments of our Huskies in 2022.
Pamela Croft
Principal
Thank You PTSO and the Tuscarora Community
Thank you!
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
UPDATED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS (as of January 4, 2022)
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.
***Please note that these times can feel uncertain and the situation can change rapidly. Please check back to the Loudoun County Public Schools website (lcps.org) for the most up-to-date information about the Covid-19 protocols.
Updates from Content Departments
Making Mathematics Count!
Algebra 1 and Geometry students will take the second administration of the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment in January. The data from this assessment is used to measure students' readiness for learning specific content/skills and to measure students' academic growth since the Fall administration of this test. Please contact your student’s teacher for the specific date(s) of testing.
As we close out the second quarter and the first semester, please be reminded that students should turn in any missing assignments and/or assessments. Teachers are available during study halls (except 4th block) to assist students. Also, please reach out to our Math Honors Society sponsors, Mrs. Schlitzer or Mrs. Domingue, if students would like to have a peer tutor.
As we kick off 2022, please be reminded to engage in self-care. Take care of yourself, mind and body. Do not overload your schedule, instead, be sure to make time to properly rest and rejuvenate.
English News!
Happy New Year! The English teachers hope that your top 2022 New Year’s resolution was to read more books!
Did you know:
- Students “who read at least 20 minutes a day are exposed to almost 2 million words per year.”
- “Reading could help reduce mental decline in old age by up to 32%.”
“Reading fiction can make you a better decision-maker.”
“Reading increases emotional intelligence.”
“Reading can reduce stress by up to 68%.”
“Reading stats show that 50% of people who read before bed report sleeping better than non-readers.”
“86% of people with an annual household income of $75,000 a year read at least one book every year.”
Taken From: Rakicevic, M. “21 Captivating Reading Statistics and Facts for 2021.” Comfy Living Blog. 23 Feb. 2021. https://comfyliving.net/reading-statistics/ Accessed 12 December 2021.
Social Science Updates
***Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society is offering tutoring for Social Science courses every Tuesday morning starting at 8:15am in room 203. No need to sign up ahead of time, just show up and tutors will be available. Individual history tutors are also available during study halls. Please email Mrs. Lane at stefanie.lane@lcps.org if you are interested.
The History Department has been working on exciting PBL (Project Based Learning) activities. Mr. Bednarski, Mrs. Hess and Mrs. Lane’s AP World Modern courses completed Autopsy of Empires projects where students researched empires and presented about their achievements and their decline.
In Mrs Gallagher’s AP Human Geography Class students are learning about cultural holidays during each unit of study. They are currently learning about Yaldā.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Athletic Updates
Happy Winter Husky Nation!
Information regarding what is needed for upcoming Spring Seasons:
Forms needed include a current VHSL Physical dated after May 1, 2021. The online registration is open for the entire year at the athletic website. Please visit www.huskyathletics.info to access the online registration and for schedules and general information.
Covid Updates Regarding Athletics:
UPDATE ON STUDENT-ATHLETE AND STAFF VACCINES
LCPS announces that we are suspending screening testing requirements for non-vaccinated student-athletes and staff indefinitely while we continue to work with the State’s Virginia School Screening Testing for Assurance (ViSSTA) program for testing services. We had previously announced the extension of the deadline to December 8.
We have enrolled in/been paired with the state’s VISSTA program, which prioritizes diagnostic take-home tests, staffing and processing over screening tests. While we are providing diagnostic tests on demand for students that are symptomatic or identified as close contacts through this program, the rollout for screening tests is incomplete, largely due to ViSSTA program’s high demand for staffing.
We will continue to monitor the progress of the VISSTA and other diagnostic testing programs, and keep the community informed of any updates for testing requirements for non-vaccinated student-athletes and staff.
UPDATED COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
- Case: Anyone who tested positive. Must isolate 5 days from symptom onset or positive test date if asymptomatic. Ex: Symptoms start on 1/5/22, can return on 1/11/22. Must wear a well-fitting mask at all times days 6-10, and may attend practices and competitions but may not participate until after day 10. Based on the 1/5/22 symptom/test date, they can remove their mask on 1/16/2022. Symptomatic individuals may return after 5 days of isolation if symptoms are improved, and they have been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- Infectious period: The period of time someone is deemed infectious. This begins 2 days before symptom onset, and lasts 10 days beyond symptom onset. Ex: Symptoms begin 12/4/21, they are infectious starting 12/2/21. They are infectious until 12/15/21. Any interaction between those dates may produce close contacts.
- Close Contact: Anyone deemed to be within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes around an infectious case. If there are multiple cases in one scenario, the 15 minutes is cumulative among all cases present. LCPS will institute a five-day quarantine for all individuals identified as close contacts unless the student-athlete or staff member meets the following criteria listed below. Individuals identified as close contacts who are asymptomatic and submit proof of one of the following may be readmitted to school or athletic participation immediately:
* A vaccine booster
* Two shots of the Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months
* Two shots of the Pfizer vaccine within the last 5 months
* One shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine within the last 2 months.
Individuals not meeting the criteria above must quarantine for 5 days, wear a well-fitting mask at all times days 6-10, and may attend practices and competitions but may not participate until after day 10. Based on 1/5/22 positive test date, they can remove their mask on 1/16/2022.
TicketSpicket is our exclusive online ticket provider. Please follow this link to purchase tickets for all Tuscarora Athletic Events: TicketSpicket
Remember to search for the home venue to purchase tickets for Husky events. (Ex. If a game is at Heritage you will look for tickets by typing in Heritage on the school lookup)
*ALERT* The physical form has changed and must be competed on the new form: 2021 VHSL Physical Form
Our social media sites are @TuscaroraHusky on twitter and TuscaroraHusky on Instagram. We encourage you to follow those to receive immediate updates when they occur.
If you have other questions please email Athletic Director Tony Tallent; tony.tallent@lcps.org or Assistant Athletic Director William Moses; william.moses@lcps.org
Below is the Spring Coach contact information.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Library News
Before winter break, the library hosted the teen librarian from Rust Library to make a traditional Finnish ornament. We are looking forward to his return early January for another special event!
The library concluded its first ever in-school book fair! It was a success! To continue your support of the THS library, the virtual book fair continues online for the remainder of the school year. To access online book fair and order, use the link: bit.ly/thsbookfair
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Important Information from School Counseling
Rising 9 Night
AP/DE Night
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
PEER News
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Key Club
Key Club would like to thank the Tuscarora Staff for donating 50 gifts and numerous gift cards to the Head Start Holiday Toy Drive. The toy drive supports preschool aged children who attend LCPS Head Start programs around the county. Your generosity is amazing.
Key Club also has an ongoing food drive, where you can donate non-perishable goods to Mr. Bednarski’s or Mrs. Hess’s room to support Loudoun Hunger Relief. You can also seek out a Key Club member now through February to donate your extra coins where all collected funds are donated to charity.
Model UN Updates
The Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations General Assembly where students are able to cultivate important skills and grow their knowledge of global issues.
Model UN members for 2021-2022 include:
Eshal Farooq
Alper Kutlug
Carlin Lacques
Macy Singleton
Anastasia Stoltz
Ellington Thaggard
Congratulations, Huskies, for engaging in this empowering experience.
News from the SCA
THS’s Student Council held a successful Power Buff Volleyball game between the juniors and seniors.
The juniors took the win this year!
We were able to donate 1,161 pounds of food and $140 to Loudoun Hunger Relief. We are so proud of our students for giving back this season!
SCA Food Donations
Power Buff - Junior Class
Power Buff - Senior Class
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Latest from the Testing Office
PSAT Scores are available. Please see this link for more information about understanding your score report.
The ACCESS for ELs testing window opens January 18th. We are required by state and federal law to annually assess all EL students (program levels 1 - 4) in their English language proficiency. The test provides information about students’ English language abilities in school. EL students will receive more information in their school email about testing dates, times, and locations. All ACCESS testing will take place during the school day.
❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️
Notable Dates
Holiday - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Monday, January 17, 2022
Rising 9 Night (virtual) - for families of rising 9th graders in 2022-2023
- Thursday, January 20, 2022; 7:00PM
AP/DE Night (virtual)
- Thursday, January 27, 2022; 7:00PM
End of Quarter 2
- Friday, January 28, 2022
Moveable Student Holiday (Teacher Workday)
- Monday, January 31, 2022
Holiday
- Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Holiday - Presidents' Day
- Monday, February 21, 2022
Tuscarora High School
Website: lcps.org/Tuscarora
Location: 801 North King Street, Leesburg, VA, USA
Phone: 571-252-1900
Twitter: @TuscaroraHS