Cougar Connection

Fall is here! It's been an exciting month for the Oakton community as we established new routines and settled into the school year. School counselors have focused on seniors in September, helping them review graduation requirements and prepare for their post-secondary goals. The college application season is definitely in full swing now as Early Decision and Early Action deadlines approach. As we move into October, we will look forward to continuing wellness opportunities for students, meeting with students and parents, and planning curriculum lessons and programs.

Have a great October Cougars!

School counselors hosted a virtual Senior Parent Night that covered topics such as post-secondary options, four-year college admissions factors, paying for college, and the transcript request process. To view the recording, please click on this link: https://youtu.be/M_yHzv7Kv0U

School counselors hosted a virtual Freshman Parent Night that covered topics such as graduation requirements, Naviance, academic supports and social-emotional supports for our students. To view the recording, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32ipnClUC-w

Attention all Juniors and Seniors:

We are excited for another year of college visits. All college visits will be in the Career Center (unless otherwise noted). Juniors and Seniors must be registered for visits in order to attend and will be required to sign in for attendance. Students will use this time as a resource to find out about all the amazing things that colleges have to offer.

Instructions to register for visits:

• Log in to Naviance
• Click the colleges tab
• Click Visits
• Register for the college visits of interest.

Registration closes eight hours before the scheduled start time. Please register on-time and check regularly as colleges may change their dates and times for visits. If you have any questions, please reach out to Oakton's College and Career Specialist, Eddie McClam (emcclam@fcps.edu).

As we close the month of September, it is important to recognize Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide prevention is a cause that touches us deeply as we witness the challenges and pressures that our students face. The wellbeing of our students is of utmost importance, and we see our role as not only supporting students, but also providing resources to families and raising awareness. During one of the advisories, we discussed ways students can handle this difficult topic with loved ones as well as offered resources available.

Please visit the new suicide prevention website that has been developed for students and families in FCPS. Some additional resources available to students and families include:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board
• Suicide Prevention Alliance of Northern Virginia
• NAMI Northern Virginia
• Healthy Minds Fairfax
• Hazel Health (Available to High School Students Only)

In addition, we encourage open and compassionate conversations about mental health. Students and families are welcome to schedule a meeting with school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists.

We appreciate your partnership and support!

Oakton Minds Matter (OMM) is a student-led club at Oakton that spreads awareness about mental health and empowers students to improve overall school culture by working to remove the stigma around mental health challenges.

OMM hosted a “You Matter” event the morning on Friday, September 29 where club members and Oakton leadership students partnered together to hand out lollipops to students entering the building and displayed posters with positive, uplifting messages around the building.

This month, we offered an outdoor game brain break for juniors and seniors at Oakton stadium. Students were able to take a break and play outdoor games such as ladder ball, spike ball, corn hole, and more. Due to the weather conditions, freshmen and sophomores will have their brain break on October 5 during return periods.

Take a look at the photos below as students enjoyed the time to be outdoors with their buddies.

Join us for the first Oakton HS Community Book Club read this year: "Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine" by Michele Borba, Ed.D..

According to Amazon: "We think we have to push our kids to do more, achieve more, BE more. But we’re modeling the wrong traits—like rule-following and caution—and research shows it’s NOT working. This kind of “Striver” mindset isn’t just making kids unhappier, says Dr. Michele Borba…it’s actually the opposite of what it takes to thrive in the uncertain world ahead.

Thrivers are different: they flourish in our fast-paced, digital-driven, often uncertain world. Why? Through her in-depth research, Dr. Borba discovered that the difference comes down not to grades or test scores, but to seven character traits that set Thrivers apart—confidence, empathy, self-control, integrity, curiosity, perseverance, and optimism. The even better news: these traits can be taught to children at any age…in fact, parents and educations must do so.

In Thrivers, Dr. Borba offers practical, actionable ways to develop these traits in children from preschool through high school, showing how to teach kids how to cope today so they can thrive tomorrow."

To receive your free copy of the book, please register at this link: https://forms.gle/yf5TJskDASuirtYq9. If copies are no longer available, the link will be closed.

The tentative book club discussion will be in January to allow enough time to read the book. More details will be emailed to book club participants.

Questions? Please reach out to Oakton Social Worker, Rachel Cherian, at rjcherian@fcps.edu or Oakton School Counselor, Elizabeth Chase-Kang, at epchasekang@fcps.edu.

The World Languages Credit Exam assesses reading and writing language proficiency in languages other than English. Students who take the exam may earn up to three World Languages credits for levels one, two, and three for the language of the exam.

The exam is offered one time per school year. A student may participate in the exam two times per language, once per year, between grades 7 through 12. Students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam. The exam is available in 30 languages.

Registration Info

Students may register for the exam with their school counselor until October 5.

All sophomores and juniors are enrolled to take the PSAT test on Wednesday, October 11. Any senior who registered for the SAT will attend school to take the exam. To learn more info about the test and day of procedures, check Oakton's PSAT/SAT School Day Site.

All ninth grade students and seniors not taking the SAT are encouraged to work asynchronously at home to complete any missing work or assignments that need to be completed prior to the end of the first quarter.

The 2023 College Fair will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Approximately 250 colleges and universities will be represented, including two and four-year colleges and US Service Academies. Following the fair, the Two-Night Postsecondary Virtual Event will be held on Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.

Students can register here for these events.

If any students want to take an AP exam in a course that they are not enrolled in, registration is now open. Each exam costs $98. You can use this google form to register. Students currently enrolled in an AP course are automatically registered for the corresponding AP exam and do not need to complete any form. The deadline to register is October 27th. Payment can be submitted through My School Bucks or check made out to Oakton High School. Payment is required before the exam space will be reserved.

My School Bucks Link

Other AP related information can be found in our AP Testing FAQs on the Oakton website. If you have any other questions about AP testing in general, please contact AP Coordinator Kim Stewart at kastewart@fcps.edu.

As part of the FCPS FY 2024 Approved Budget, FCPS is continuing to assess Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) test fees. As in previous years, the fees for the first six AP/IB tests taken for courses in which students are enrolled for high school credit will be paid for by FCPS. Students taking AP tests without enrolling in the corresponding FCPS course are responsible for the test fee(s). AP students must make Opt-Out decisions in October 2023 and parents will be billed a $98 non-refundable test fee in December 2023 for tests that exceed the six FCPS funded tests.

Oakton students received their opt-out letters on Wednesday, October 4th 2023. All Opt-Outs are due by Monday, October 18th 2023 to Mrs. Hendelman in School Counseling. If students need a new Opt-Out form they can see Mrs. Hendelman.

Oakton information will continue to be posted on our AP Exam page here: https://oaktonhs.fcps.edu/academics/testing/ap-exams

Hello, Oakton! I am excited to be joining the Cougar family as one of your School Counselors. I support 9th, 11th, and 12th graders with the last name FP-IN and 10th graders with the last name D-FL. This is my 5th year as a School Counselor with Fairfax County. Prior to Oakton, I was at the elementary level. I received my undergraduate degree at James Madison University and my graduate degree at the University of Virginia. During my time at JMU, I was a member of the Marching Royal Dukes for two years and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! This was an incredible experience I will never forget. My goal as a School Counselor is to create a safe and supportive space where my students feel heard and validated. I am so happy to be here at Oakton and am looking forward to working with everyone!