Heritage Weekly Update-May 7
The news you need from the Home of the PRIDE!
May 7, 2021
Traduccion en Espanol
-Cuando llegue aqui haga clic en la flecha que apunta hacia abajo y escoja el idioma "Spanish"
The Latest
I hope this Update finds you and those you care about safe and healthy.
First, I want to say THANK YOU to the Heritage PTSO for a wonderful Teacher Appreciation Week!
As we begin looking at wrapping up the current school year, there is still a lot to be done. As you are having conversations with your children, please help remind them that the last day of school isn't until June 4th for our Seniors and June 15th for our 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. Please encourage them to keep working, getting those assignments turned in, and working with their teachers if they are having trouble. We are in the home stretch now, but we do want to finish strong!!
I do also want to call your attention to the new community resource that I added to the bottom of the Update for any of you or people you know who may have need.
Class of 2021 Decision Day slideshow
We are so proud of the Class of 2021! Ms. Fekel just put the finishing touches on our Decision Day 2021 SlideShow, and you can check it out here. No matter what it may be, we are thrilled to celebrate each Senior's next stepit! Thank you to those students who submitted their information, and a huge THANK YOU to Ms. Fekel for pulling it all together!
Graduation Information Page Coming Next Week
Class of 2021 and families, I know you all have a lot of questions. I am working with our Graduation Coordinators, Mr. Totaro and Mr. Siano, and our Senior Class Sponsors, Ms. Lee and Ms. Knapp, on a one-stop shop for information about tickets, parking, the ceremony itself, etc. I hope to have that up and ready early next week and will send you the link.
Course Selection Deadlines
For our returning and future members of the PRIDE, there are a couple of deadlines coming up that I want you to be aware of. More information can be found on our Course Selection Page.
-Friday, May 14th:
- Level-Up Conversation Deadlines (See description below)
- Dual Enrollment Registration Deadline (See Course Information Page for More Details)
-Tuesday, June 22nd:
- Elective Change and Course Level-Decrease Deadline
Attention AP Exam Testers!
APs are just around the corner. See below for important information:
- AP Exam Testers have recently received confirmation emails sent to the email associated with their CollegeBoard Account with testing times, locations, and format information. Students, CHECK YOUR EMAILS! (Parents, please remind them!)
- Digital Testers! AP Teachers are sharing important information regarding how to set up your computer for digital testing. There are steps required PRIOR to your digital testing window and they must be complete in order to access your test. See your AP Teacher for more information to be sure you are ready to go for testing day.
- Additional AP testing information will be sent out in the next days and weeks. Please be sure to read your emails carefully to ensure that everyone is ready for a smooth testing experience.
SOL Testing Update
SOL testing began in April and will continue for the next two weeks. Students taking a math SOL will test the week of 5/10. Distance learning students and select hybrid students will test on the Monday that corresponds to the subject area—these students and their parents will receive an email that includes specifics including bus information. All other in-person students will test on the Wednesday or Thursday of the week that corresponds to the subject area. In person students who are testing must attend A1/B5 for attendance and should wait for dismissal announcement.
If you are testing on a Monday:
- Bring fully-charged Chromebook and charger to test.
- Complete health questionnaire prior to entering building.
- If you requested transportation, be on lookout for email with test location and bus information.
- Be at bus stop 10 minutes early and wait for bus. Bus will come but may be early or late. Busses leave from Heritage at 1:15 PM. If bus rider is not finished testing, a parent or guardian must provide transportation.
- If a student is providing own transportation, they will be allowed to leave when they have finished testing.
Special Permission Reminder
We have several students who attend Heritage on Special Permission, so I am just including a reminder that Special Permission must be applied for every year. The window to apply for the 2021-22 School Year is April 1-June 30th. More information and the link to apply can be found here.
As always, I appreciate your continued trust and support. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us.
ROAR PRIDE!
Jeff Adam
Principal
Heritage High School
#wearethepride
Important Dates
May 1-May 15th-Pride Leadership Project Virtual 5K (see below)
May 10th-May 14th-Math SOL Testing (Information above)
May 18th-May 21st-AP Testing
May 19th-Deadline for signing up for the "Class of 2021 Reunion"
May 22nd-"Class of 2021 Reunion"
May 24th-May 28th- AP Testing
June 9th-Virtual End of Year Awards Ceremony link published
June 16th-Heritage Graduation 2021 @ 7 PM
Construction Update
In the next few weeks, we will start to see some significant work begin for the flip of our Media Center and Main Office. I wanted to share with you information to answer some questions that may be on your mind.
- Contractors will all be wearing ID and must conform to LCPS rules about working onsite at schools, including having no contact with students.
- Movers will be here to take out books and everything else from the Media Center beginning May 10th.
- Construction trailers, etc. will be brought in beginning May 10th and placed in the back of the school.
- Contractors will begin by installing floor protector in the Main Hallway from the Entrance to the Loading Dock on May 15th, and demo in the current Media Center will begin on May 17th.
- Work on the current Main Office site will begin in June.
Pride Leadership Project Virtual 5K
- PLP is hosting a virtual 5k event to raise money for the charity Mobile Hope.
- Dates: May 1 and May 15.
- Tickets are available on our website.
- Newsletter Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A7djGAYEvd-RHH1WeaOOYUFtCU2q239L1HtV44qLih8/edit
New Facebook and Instagram
Heritage has a new 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.
Class of 2021 Reunion
Heritage Athletics Update
News
Best of luck to all of our Spring Athletic teams, as contests get fully underway in the coming weeks!
Link to the latest Athletics Newsletter.
Contests
Friday, 5/7
6 PM Away Varsity Softball/Baseball @ Lightridge HS
6:30 PM Varsity Lacrosse v. Tuscarora HS (Boys-Home; Girls-Away)
Monday, 5/10
6/7:15 PM Home Lacrosse v. Park View HS (Girls/Boys)
6 PM Baseball v. Loudoun County HS (Varsity-Away; JV-Home)
Tuesday, 5/11
5 PM Tennis v. Park View HS (Boys-Home; Girls-Away)
6 PM Softball/Baseball v. Tuscarora HS (Varsity-Home; JV-Away)
6/7:30 PM Away Boys Soccer @ Park View HS
6:30 PM Home Girls Varsity Soccer v. Park View HS
Wednesday, 5/12
4 PM Tennis v. Broad Run HS (Boys-Home; Girls-Away)
6 PM Away Track Meet @ Loudoun Valley HS
Thursday, 5/13
6 PM Home Varsity Girls Lacrosse v. Loudoun Valley HS
6/7:15 Away Boys Lacrosse @ Loudoun Valley HS
Friday, 5/14
6 PM Away JV Girls Soccer @ Loudoun Valley HS
6 PM Softball/Baseball v. Loudoun Valley HS (Varsity-Away; JV-Home)
6/7:30 PM Home Boys Soccer v. Loudoun Valley HS
Major Construction Project Coming to Heritage
As some of you may be aware, Heritage is slated for a renovation of our Main Office and Media Center (Library) to build a more secure main entrance at the school. The Main Office and Media Center will actually be swapped over the Summer, and, if everything goes to plan, be ready for the beginning of the 2021-22 School Year. LCPS Construction will be beginning work on the Heritage Library in early May and the Main Office in mid June right after school gets out for the Summer. We are working with LCPS Construction and Safety and Security to continue to provide a safe environment for our students and our staff during the renovation. I will update you as we get closer with any changes to parking, traffic patterns, etc. We are VERY excited to get new and more open and more secure spaces.
Second Semester Bell Schedule (began Thursday, January 21st, 2021)
Second Semester Lunch Schedule
From the All Night Grad Party and PTSO
Class of 2021, the PTSO is working on an End of Year event! Scheduled for Friday, June 11 (raindate TBD), the initial plans call for carnival booths and games, followed by a raffle drawing, and winding down with a movie night. Location is to be determined, as allowed by the COVID regulations in June. Parents who would like to help in the planning and/or the event itself, please email heritagehsallnightgradparty@gmail.com. More information will be shared in the Weekly Update and on the Senior Parents Facebook page, over the coming months.
Unified Mental Health Team Information
Good afternoon, Students and Parents,
I hope that you are well! I wanted to reach out to provide you with some valuable information regarding mental health supports in our community. We have presented information to our freshman student body this week about who the Unified Mental Health Team members at Heritage are and how students can support each other and find support from our staff. The presentation educates students about resiliency and healthy ways to manage life’s stressors using the Sources of Strength model. Help-seeking behaviors are taught for when students may be experiencing mental health struggles. They are taught to share their concerns with a trusted adult. Our Unified Mental Health Team members include:
Jeffrey Adam, School Principal
Suzanne Eicholtz, Director of School Counseling
Catherine Tannuzzo, School Psychologist
Leslie Saunders, School Social Worker
Megan Marshall, Student Assistance Specialist
Meagen Zawistowski, School Counselor
Zamarit Simpkins, School Counselor
Jay Wareham, School Counselor
Donald Jones, School Counselor
Kim-Marie Brown, School Counselor
Keenan Elder, School Counselor
Sarah Larson, School Nurse
Here are the ways that students and parents can contact any member of the Unified Mental Health Team:
- Phone: (571) 252-2816
- Email: HeritageMentalHealth@lcps.org.onmicrosoft.com
Students, feel free to scan the QR code below to complete the Appointment Request Form, to connect with someone from the UMHT.
Please note that the Appointment Request Form, the phone number, and emails are not monitored outside of school hours. In the event of an emergency, please contact 911 for assistance.
We are looking forward to meeting you in person in the near future, and we are available to help you, whether it's for emotional or academic reasons. Feel free to contact us and let us know how we can help you.
Thank you so much for your attention to this email! It is a pleasure to serve you!
Sincerely,
Ms. Catherine Tannuzzo
Heritage School Psychologist
(571) 252-2816
UHMT Appointment Request Form
Please note that the Appointment Request Form, the phone number, and emails are not monitored outside of school hours. In the event of an emergency, please contact 911 for assistance.
Additional Emotional Support Resources
Class of 2021 (Senior) Information
Graduation 2021
For our Seniors and their families, we are looking forward to Graduation, 2021. We have a few more details, updated below, and I will keep you updated, as more detail fall into place. More than anything, though, I am looking forward to seeing the whole Class of 2021 back together again at Heritage High School for the first time since March, 2020.
Updates:
- Each LCPS graduate, no matter what the school, will receive 5 tickets to be distributed to their guests.
- The graduation ceremony will be held outside at the stadium at Heritage High School on Wednesday, June 16th at 7 PM, rain or shine. In the event of predicted severe weather (thunder, lightning, high winds, or other dangerous conditions) the graduation ceremony could be moved up earlier in the day on the 16th to avoid the onset of the weather. However, families would be notified by 8:30 AM on the 16th of any change of that nature and the reasons for it.
Senior Slide Show
We need submissions for our Senior Slideshow for the Reunion event! If you have pictures of our seniors from their four years at Heritage, please submit them here.
New Last Day for Seniors
The last day for all Seniors will be Friday, June 4th. This is a change for all LCPS Seniors. Those members of the Class of 2021 who are involved in the PRIDE In Our Community projects will still use the last dates discussed with Mr. Hummer.
Senior Cap and Gown Picture Day
Seniors, if you didn't get a chance to take Cap and Gown photos before, we have arranged a special day just for that purpose. Monday, April 19th, 2021, Victor O'Neil Studios will be here to take Cap and Gown photos. If you ordered your Cap and Gown by February 8th, it should be delivered to your home by then. VOS will also have shared Caps and Gowns that students can use. Shared clothing is sanitized between each user. A sign-up link will be sent out from Heritage as we get closer to the date.
Senior Fee
Don't forget to pay your Senior Fee:
The Balfour site is set up, so you can go ahead and begin ordering your caps and gowns.
https://www.balfournova.com/
- Click on caps and gowns.
- Click on Heritage High School
- Create a new account if they don't have one already.
- Complete the order.
As before, the Senior Fee will be collected at the Balfour website. Balfour is our vendor for caps and gowns. Here's what Seniors in the Class of 2021 will be charged:
Cap and Gown-$50
Senior T-Shirt-$15
College Application/Search Resources
The HHS School Counseling Department has been busy. You can check out the college resources, including information about virtual college visits by going here.
Senior Class Sponsors
If you have questions, don't forget to reach out to your AMAZING Class Sponsors, Ms. Knapp (jacquelyn.knapp@lcps.org) and Ms. Lee (cathy.lee@lcps.org). If you have any questions about Senior-stuff, they are a great resource!
Update on Spring Standards of Learning Assessments (SOLs)
The following information went out to the LCPS Community on Wednesday. Please contact your child's counselor if you have questions about which SOL assessments your child may have to take this year.
"Parents/Guardians and Students:
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requires that state and federal assessments be delivered under secure, standardized testing conditions in the presence of school personnel and may not be administered remotely to students. Students in any instructional model (100% distance or hybrid) must attend school in person to participate in Standards of Learning (SOL) testing. To support students’ health and safety, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) will ensure that health mitigation procedures are in place and social distancing is observed. Transportation will be provided to students who reside within a bus zone.
LCPS will be administering the Spring Writing SOL test to students enrolled in grade 8 Reading and English 11 March 1-March 26 and the Spring Non-Writing SOL tests to students in grades 3-12 May 3-May 28.
Students enrolled in a high school level course must accrue standard credits by passing a course and verified credits by passing an SOL test or board-approved substitute tests toward graduation.
While we encourage all students to participate in assessment, we understand that some families may have concerns about the in-person testing requirement. Parents who do not wish for their student to participate in state and/or federally mandated assessments may indicate their refusal by emailing their student’s School Testing Coordinator. A parent refusal form can also be found on the LCPS website.
Questions regarding assessment administration or requirements may be addressed to Leigh.Bennett@lcps.org, Supervisor, Assessment Services."
Visitor Protocols
Contacting Heritage Faculty and Staff
Behind the Wheel
The Behind the Wheel program in LCPS has restarted, as of 9/21/2020.
If interested, contact Mr. Soroush by email: ebi.soroush@lcps.org.
PTSO and Booster Clubs
Congratulations to the PTSO on their new website! You can view it here.
If you are interested in our other Booster clubs, as well, more information can be found at their websites:
Yearbook Site
https://sites.google.com/lcps.org/hhsjourneyyearbook/home is the address.
Check it out to find out more about Senior baby ads, picture uploads and purchasing your copy of the Yearbook!
Cameras
Reporting Student Absences
The Book Bus is Coming!
See this flyer for more details!
Troubleshooting Guide
School Hours
Mondays are designated as asynchronous days, but students are expected to engage with their work.
The Heritage Main Office Hours will be from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday-Friday.
Heritage is on Instagram!
We finally have established an account on Instagram! Follow us @roarpridehhs!
For our 9-12 graders
LCPS COVID-19 Hotline
Community members are welcome to call 571-252-6499 with any questions about the status of school operations, current schedules, and the latest information on other topics. The hotline will operate between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Community Resources
Here is a list of Community Resources, as well, should you or someone you know need them:
HEALTHWORKS FOR NORTHERN VIRGINIA
PHONE: 703.443.2000 ext. 4688 | FAX: 703-771-4120
163 Fort Evans Road NE
Leesburg, VA 20176
CATHOLIC CHARITIES ST. LUCY FOOD PROJECT
703-443-2481
316 E. Market St. Leesburg
Monday-Thursday 9:30am-12:00pm
1st & 3ed Saturday 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
SALVATION ARMY SATURDAY MEAL DISTRIBUTION
4:00PM at Shenandoah Office Bldg. Parking lot
102 Heritage Way, Leesburg.
LOUDOUN HUNGER RELIEF
703-777-5911
750 Miller Dr., Suite A-1, Leesburg
Wed/Fri/Sat 10:00 am- 12:45 pm
TREE OF LIFE FOOD PANTRY
540-441-7920 Delivery service only
to areas 20175 & 20176
Leesburg deliveries Saturday only
Dinner Night: Tuesday 6:00pm-7:00pm
850 Edward Ferry Rd. NE, Leesburg.