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Important Dates

March 30 - April 3:  Holidays-Spring Break

April 6:  Teacher Workday

April 10: School Planning Day 

Principal’s Message 

Happy Friday Wolverine Community,

Spring Break begins on Monday.  I hope you all have a restful and rejuvenating time away!  Our offices will be closed over break. 

Our talented West Potomac Period 1 Concert Band is headed to Indianapolis this week to perform in the prestigious Music For All National Festival. Way to go Wolverines! 

I hope you will enjoy seeing pictures from our new unit in our Spanish for Careers Applications course.  The students are learning about the multiple careers in Psychology, the parts of the brain and how each part functions.  Our students engaged in recreating a brain and identifying what each part does.  Thank you to teacher Yamalie R. Figueroa for sharing. 

Thank you to teacher Annie Corbelli for hosting a Literacy Open House last week.  She offered some great resources for all departments. 

In addition, last week we celebrated the National English Honor Society Induction.  We inducted 63 young scholars. Congratulations to all the new members!

Congrats to our Performing Arts Departments:  Last week, WP choir took 4 groups (all 120 choir students!) to be adjudicated at our District Performance Assessment. The students did a phenomenal job – all four groups earned top scores in sight-reading, which is the literacy portion of the assessment, and both of our advanced groups earned superior ratings from all four judges!  The overall rating for each ensemble, determined by the average of performance and sight-reading scores, are as follows:

• Grace Notes (non-auditioned treble): 2 (Excellent)
• Loose Canons (non-auditioned tenor-bass): 1 (Superior)
• Bella Voce (advanced treble): 1 (Superior)
• Harmonics (advanced mixed): 1 (Superior)

Blue Ribbon Award

With the completion of music performance assessments, West Potomac is officially a Virginia Music Educators Association Blue Ribbon School for the 2025-2026 school year! This is the highest designation that a secondary music program can receive in Virginia. To be considered for the prestigious VMEA Blue Ribbon Award, a school must demonstrate superior performance, evidenced by the advanced ensembles of each band, choir, and orchestra earning overall superior ratings at assessment.

Congrats to Symphonic Orchestra, 1^st period band, and the advanced choirs for their hard work and success at assessment! We are all so proud of our students, and VERY grateful for the administrative, faculty, and community support that enables our music programs to grow and thrive. Your support, accommodation, and concert attendance make wins like these possible.

FCPS Superintendent Student Summit- This week many of our students were invited to spend the day with Dr. Reid and FCPS Leadership at the 1^st annual Student Summit.  We are pround of the way all the students represented West Potomac High School. 

Principal Survey- On Monday, April 6, you will receive an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity for you to share anonymous feedback on key aspects of our school, including:

• Instructional leadership
• School climate
• Management (human resources and organizational)
• Communication and community relations
• Culturally responsive and equitable leadership
• Professionalism

The questionnaire will be open April 6 - April 19 and will be collected online. When you receive the email from noreply@fcps.edu, please take a few minutes to complete it. Your feedback is important and helps shape the future of our school. Thank you for your time and participation.

I hope you all have a wonderful Spring Break!

Jessica Statz, Principal

School News

Family Night Grades 9 and 10

All Class of 2028 & 2029 students and families are invited to our 9^th and 10^th Grade Family Night hosted by our Student Services on April 16 at 6pm to explore postsecondary planning, pathways, and resources! Please see flier for details.

Rooted In Community: Hollin Meadows Elementary Earth Day Celebration and Seeding Sale

• Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
• Location: Hollin Meadows Elementary School

Save the date for the First Annual Hollin Meadows Elementary School Seedling Sale and Earth Day celebration on April 25! ! ALL surrounding community members are welcome to join in this event to stock up on vegetable and flower plants, witness the reveal of the bottle cap mural project, and hear about how our school is working toward increasing the time our students engagement with their environment! 

There will be healthy snacks and nature/recycling crafts for all ages! Please bring family and friends to join! All proceeds from donations will go toward support the Get2Green initiative at Hollin Meadows!

AP Testing Volunteer

WPHS Counselors are reaching out for your support with AP Exam administration! AP Exams run Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 15 with both AM (7:45-11:45) and PM (11:45-3:30) sessions. Volunteering to support testing does not entail administering the exam, but includes supporting our students and counselors during the exam.  By utilizing parent/guardian volunteers, we will require less counselors in testing rooms which will allow them to continue to work with students during the school day. Please note that volunteers are restricted from supporting an exam their student is scheduled to take, as well as any AP content they may have taught in the past.

Should you have interest in serving as an AP Testing Volunteer, please sign up using the Sign-up Genius link here. We could not provide these testing opportunities to our students without your support and on behalf of the WPHS staff and students, we thank you for your time in advance!

• What is required of me?  Volunteers are asked to arrive by approximately 7:45 am for the AM session and 11:45am for the PM session, and follow the directions of the lead proctor (School Counselor).  This might include passing out tests, pencils and assisting with bathroom breaks. During the test you’ll supervise the students by circulating throughout the testing room.  At the conclusion of the test you’ll assist the lead proctors in collecting materials. 
• How long will the test run?  Traditionally morning test will start at 8 am and end around 11 to 12 pm. PM exams will being around 12 pm and end from 3 to 4 pm.
• I can help with exams, but I would need to leave a few minutes early, can I still help? YES! Please email Taylor Oakley at tmoakley@fcps.edu if you have signed up for a session but are unable to fulfil the entire slot.
• Am I eligible?  Adult Volunteers may not proctor a test their student is schedule to take, as well as any AP content they may have taught in the past.

AP Art Show Reception

Join us in celebrating the creativity and vision of our Advanced Placement Studio Artists at the AP Senior Art Show, on view April 8–16 in the Springbank Arts building. The exhibition will culminate in a closing reception on Thursday, April 16 from 5:30–7:00 PM—an evening of art, music, and light refreshments.

Please note: this collection includes artworks that explore mature themes; viewer discretion is advised, and select pieces may be viewed in a private setting for those interested.

Book Drive

Please consider donating books to our Book Drive on April 11th. Please drop off your book donation to Room 447.

PTSA News

• The busy spring season is just revving up and Teacher Appreciation Week will be here before we know. We're planning now so we can really show our hardworking teachers and staff how much we appreciate them. Help us plan a fantastic lunch by clicking HERE to contribute towards the celebration!

• Mark your calendars, our final PTSA meeting of the year will be April 14 at 6:30 pm in the school library.

• Scholarship Opportunity: The Virginia PTA scholarship program is now open for applications. The due date for applications is April 1 and multiple $500 scholarships are awarded each year. Click HERE to learn more about this program and the requirements.  

• Volunteer Opportunities: The PTSA is looking to fill two volunteer positions.1) News You Choose Coordinator: help gather info for PTSA updates and other committees who want to include their info in this weekly newsletter. This is an easy, low lift way to help out. Contact us at ptsa.westpotomac@gmail.com with questions.  2) Test Prep Chair: we love to be able to offer our test prep program to our students, but we need a new chair person who is willing to take over to ensure continued success! See the info below in the Test Prep section and contact Marilyn Aboff at marilynaboff@yahoo.com, if you'd like to learn more.

SENIOR NEWS

SENIOR TRIP- April 24th:  Busch Gardens Williamsburg Grad Nite. If your senior has paid to attend make sure they have also registered at the following link: Trip Registration: Kaleidoscope Adventures. 

PARENT CHAPERONES ARE NEEDED, please contact Ms. Gervacio if you are able to help (agervacio@fcps.edu).

SENIOR DUES -  $85 fee includes your student's cap/ gown/ tassel and end of year senior activities.  You may pay at  www.myschoolbucks.com  or visit the finance office for cash or check payment. If you have a student receiving free or reduced school meals and have a Consent to Share form on file, please see Ms. Kinsey or Ms. Firesheets in the finance office for information on reduced dues.   

SENIOR YARD SIGNS - Still interested in purchasing a Class of 2026 yard sign to celebrate your senior?  We have placed our final order, available while supplies last. 

LINK TO PURCHASE: https://westpotomacptsa.givebacks.com/sho

CHECK OUT OUR SOCIAL MEDIA and SCHOOL WEBSITE

Website: https://westpotomachs.fcps.edu/seniors-class-2026 

JOIN our Instagram page! “WestPo2026” 

https://www.instagram.com/westpo2026?igsh=MW15bTkyZzhvd282bg=

 JOIN our Facebook page! “West Potomac HS-Class of 2026 Parents & Families"

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16grajRVw8/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Senior Administrator:Brian Valentine (bvalentine@fcps.edu)

 Senior Class Sponsors: Virginia Lintot (vmlintot@fcps.edu), Aimee Gervacio (agervacio@fcps.edu), Mariam Younossi (myounossi@fcps.edu)

Parents Committee Co-Chairs: Emily Wild (emilywild7717@gmail.com) and Sandy Forti (sandyforti@gmail.com)

Test Prep News!

Next Mock Test Dates 4/18 and 5/9/26 REGISTER HERE

Most students will show a strong preference for either the SAT or ACT format. This preference usually results in students naturally testing the SAT equivalent of 100 points higher on their preferred test. Sponsored by PTSA, mock tests are offered through Applerouth to help students determine their preferred format and establish baseline test scores – not to mention the benefits of practice. Sophomores can make their junior year less hectic by determining test preference late in their sophomore year!

Is Summer Test Prep a Good Fit?

There has been some interest in summer SAT test prep and, if there are at least 6 students who will enroll in the summer prep class, Applerouth is ready to add the class to West Po test prep events. If you are interested in a summer session, please contact PTSA Test Prep Chair Marilyn Aboff at marilynaboff@yahoo.com by April 3, 2026. See draft schedules below and state target official test date preference in interest email.

Rising Juniors, summer classes are perfect for those who are planning to pack their Junior year with AP classes and extra-curricular activities. Take some stress out of the year by prepping over summer and testing early fall of Junior year! Completion of Algebra 2 prior to taking the official test is a must.

Rising Seniors, summer prep is a great way to boost your score before the college applications are due!

Draft Summer Schedule Options:

• Prep for 8/22/26 official SAT, start 7/25 with sessions Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays or Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Usual start time 9am.
• Prep for 9/12/26 official SAT, start 8/1 with session Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays or Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Usual start time 9am. All sessions on Saturdays only starting 8/15/26.

News Articles from Applerouth:

Test Optional Colleges 2026: What the Class of 2030 Early Data Really Shows

Key Takeaways

• Many colleges remain test optional in 2026, but score submission is rising — especially in highly selective early pools.  
• In competitive admissions environments (5–15% admit rates), strong SAT or ACT scores can strengthen positioning even when not required.  
• Test optional policies create flexibility, but applying without scores may limit strategic options at top-tier institutions.

 What Are Average SAT Scores — and What Do Colleges Really Want in 2026?

Key Takeaways

• “Average” SAT scores are less useful than a school’s middle 50% score range (25th–75th percentile).
• Test-optional policies can inflate reported averages because more students with strong scores submit.
• A “good” score is the one that is competitive for your target schools, alongside GPA and course rigor

 Scholarships available through the College and Career Center

 PTSA Test Prep Chair – Marilyn Aboff, marilynaboff@yahoo.com

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