Cougar Connection
Oakton HS Student Services Newsletter: September 2021
Welcome Back Cougars
Back to School Info
All students should now have a school laptop. If this is not the case, please let your counselor know. Also, school breakfast and lunch meals are free this year. Learn more here. For the Free and/or Reduced Lunch Application, please apply here.
Schedule Changes
We have finalized our master schedule for the upcoming school year. Our staffing decisions and the number of courses offered are based on the classes students selected during the registration period last school year. To maintain the best possible program for our students and one that is most responsive to their educational needs, schedule changes will be limited to space available.
Timeline for Schedule Changes:
August 19-September 8: School counselors will make requested schedule changes based on space availability
September 20-November 5 (end of 1st quarter): No schedule changes
After November 8: Any student requesting a schedule change will need to fill out the schedule change request form, with permission from parent, student, teacher, school counselor, and administrator. If approved by the administration, schedule changes will only be processed if there is space available.
There will not be any schedule changes, regardless of space available, after the end of the 3rd quarter.
Class of 2022 - Immunization Requirement Reminder
There is a new immunization requirement for rising 12th graders for the 2021-2022 school year. Effective July 1, 2021, all students entering twelfth grade will be required to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) administered at age 16 or older, and prior to the beginning of school. Twelfth grade students cannot begin school in August without proper Meningococcal documentation.
Please provide one of the following documents to Oakton High School as soon as possible:
- An updated immunization record showing that the student has received the Meningococcal vaccine at age 16 or older.
- A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the date the Meningococcal vaccine was given at age 16 or older.
- A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
- A notarized Religious Exemption Form which is available online at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/certificate_religious_exemption.pdf
Immunizations are available from your student's healthcare provider or the Fairfax County Health Department. The Health Department clinic locations and hours are available online or by calling 703-246-2411.
The needed documentation can be provided to the school in one of the following ways:
- Scanned and emailed to the school at OaktonHSOffice@fcps.edu
- Mailed to the school, Attn: Jill Hendelman
- Dropped off in the Main Office, Attn: Jill Hendleman
Please contact Jill Hendelman at 703-319-2810 if you have any questions.
Transportation Information
The Pantry
Family pick up is Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm
Students can access the Pantry every Thursday from 2:50-3:30pm
Families can follow on the Oakton Pantry social media accounts including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
The Pantry cannot run without the support of the generous Oakton community. Donations can be dropped off at the main office and/or ordered through the Amazon Wish List. Thank you for your continued support and generosity!
Student Services Highlights
JumpStart and New Student Orientation
Grade Level Class Meetings
Mental Health Moment
Class of 2022 Updates
Post-secondary Planning with Seniors
All seniors will meet with their counselors individually in the month of September. Each counselor has an appointment calendar that students will use to schedule their 30 minute meeting. During the meeting, graduation requirements and post-secondary plans will be reviewed.
In addition, college application workshops will be offered throughout the fall. The first ones of the year are scheduled after school on September 8 and 22 in the college and career center. Students may register for them here.
Senior Parent Night
We welcome you to attend our virtual Senior Parent Night Presentation on Thursday, September 9th 7:00 – 8:30 pm. Please RSVP to this event using this form. You will receive an email on September 9 with a link to the Zoom session. If you are unable to join us, do not worry. We will be adding the presentation to our website.
You can also use this form to ask general college application questions. We will do our best to answer these questions during our presentation. If you have specific questions about your student, please reach out to their counselor.
College & Career Center Updates
Seniors and juniors, college admissions rep visits will be both in person and virtual this year. Students may register on Naviance for these college visits.
One of the primary resources students and parents have access is Naviance, which is a career and college planning tool. To access Naviance, please click here.
Students, please be on the lookout for email blasts from Mr. McClam with college updates, scholarship opportunities, and more. For more information, please contact Mr. McClam at emcclam@fcps.edu.
Upcoming Events
The PSAT
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is pleased to announce plans to offer the Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) to students in grades 10-11 on October 13, 2021. A PSAT/NMSQT Testing Notification letter is posted online along with translations. All sophomores and juniors will automatically be registered to take the PSAT/NMSQT.
For more information, check out Oakton's FAQs.
The SAT
Oakton is hosting the SAT School Day on October 13, 2021 for seniors wanting to take the SAT. The test is free of charge, but it requires you to locally register for the test through this form by SEPTEMBER 8, 2021. You do not need to register through the College Board for SAT School Day tests (just through the form provided); however, you will need an account to access your score. Information on creating College Board accounts can be found here.
To learn more about the SAT School Day and to get a free practice test, please download your own copy of the SAT School Day Student Guide.
Note that the School Day test at Oakton High School will not have an essay option or subject tests.
National Suicide Prevention Week
Parent Resources
Stay Connected
- Ensure you are receiving email notifications from News You Choose including Principal Update emails that are sent out each Monday at 5:30pm.
- Access ParentVue and Schoology to access student information. For assistance with accessing a ParentVue account, please contact Ms. Jill Hendelman at jhendelman@fcps.edu.
- Follow various social media accounts:
- Instagram: @oaktoncounselors, @oaktonhs
- Twitter: @OaktonHS, @OaktonAthletics
FCPS Health and Safety Document
Free Parent Webinars
- 5 Ways to Stop Anxiety, Power Struggles, & Behavior Issues: A Webinar for Families
- Military-Connected Students and School Transition: A Family Webinar
- How to Improve Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills Without All the Arguments This School Year