October 20, 2024

Homecoming week was so much fun, and this week is centered around Virginia College Application Week with various opportunities for our students to engage in on-site admissions, apply to many Virginia Colleges for free, and participate in a Trade Expo. We’re also nearing the end of the first quarter coming up on October 31st.

As we approach the end of the quarter, it’s important for students to keep their grades up and talk to their teachers about any missing assignments or reassessment opportunities. Additionally, attending school every day and getting to class on time is crucial, as every minute counts. This will ensure they finish the quarter strong and are well-prepared for the next one. Let’s make the most of these exciting opportunities while staying on top of our academic responsibilities!

Please see below for important information regarding: Virginia College Application Week and On-Site Admissions from various Universities, upcoming Touch Base Parent Conferences, School Photos which are now available📸, After-School tutoring supports📚 and more!

• October 21-25: Virginia College Application Week (VCAW)!

• October 21: Home Field Hockey and Volleyball Games (JV & Varsity) vs. Osbourn HS at 6:00 PM

• October 22: Competition Cheer District Championship at Gainesville HS, 6:00pm

• October 23: URHS Fall Music Showcase, 7:00PM in our Auditorium, Cross Country Boys Varsity at Patriot HS, 5:30 PM

• October 31: Last day of the first marking period
  

• November 1: Holiday, NO SCHOOL

• November 4: Touch Base Parent Conferences 8:00 - 10:00am, NO SCHOOL for Students, Staff Workday

• November 5: NO SCHOOL for Students; Staff Workday

As we approach the end of the first marking period, I encourage all students and their parents/guardians to stay updated on grades and attendance. This will help ensure students are on track to pass all their classes and graduate on time. For those needing extra help, after-school study hall and tutoring sessions are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Additionally, our 24/7 virtual homework help through Varsity Tutors is a great resource (more details below).

Students can check their grades via StudentVUE, while parents/guardians can use ParentVUE

to monitor both grades and attendance.

If you have any questions about missing assignments or grades, please reach out to your student’s teachers, counselor, or supervising administrator.

This year’s Touch-base will happen on November 4th, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. This event is an opportunity for parents/guardians to come to school to meet individually with any or all of their student's teachers for a brief 3–5-minute conference. No appointments are needed.

During the conference, parents/guardians can expect a current and accurate assessment of their student's grade and progress from each of his/her teachers. Additionally, teachers can discuss strategies for student success in the classroom.

Students will be participating in required crisis management drills this school year. Students will be reviewing earthquake procedures and we will conduct an earthquake drill later this week to include drop, cover and hold, then evacuating the building.

The Unity Reed High School College & Career Center is excited to announce Virginia College Application Week (VCAW) starts next Monday!

VCAW (Oct. 21st-25th) is a week where you can apply to most Virginia colleges, such as VCU, JMU, UVA, Randolph-Macon and Hampton and some out-of-state colleges for FREE.

Throughout the week, there will be Essay/Application Workshops where you can drop by to receive assistance for your application, and On-Site Admissions where you apply and receive the college application decision on the spot!

Lastly, we will also have a Prize Drawing. You will receive a prize drawing ticket for every application you submit during this week and for completing the VCAW Bingo Cards (can be picked up at the College & Career Center).

You can find the links to the list of participating colleges, VCAW Schedule, On-Site Admissions Sign-up form, and Bingo Cards through the link below or the QR code in the flyers around the school.

VCAW Links (link)

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Jung (djung@pwcs.edu).

There will be a Trade Expo on Tuesday, Oct. 22nd from 9-12:45PM. This event provides a unique opportunity for students to explore potential career paths by seeing the equipment used in various professions, asking questions to current professionals, and gaining insights into different career options.

Please register through the link below or the QR code in the flyers around the school. Once the students register, they will be randomly assigned to a timeslot.

Registration Link

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Jung (djung@pwcs.edu).

There will be Financial Aid Information Night on Monday, Nov. 4th from 6-8PM over Zoom with a guest speaker from UVA. This event will cover different types of financial aid (FAFSA, VASA, VTAG, etc.), tips on receiving scholarships, Q&A sessions, and much more, so don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Please register through the link below or the QR code in the flyers around the school.

Registration Link

The event will be recorded, and there will be a separate recording with Spanish voiceover.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Jung (djung@pwcs.edu).

There will be NOVA Information Session on Wednesday, Nov. 13th from 9-10:30AM in the 2nd Floor Group Room.

Please register through the link below or the QR code in the flyers around the school.

Registration Link

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Jung (djung@pwcs.edu).

Parents/Guardians: Be on the lookout for an email from Victor O'Neill Studios. If you do not see it in your inbox, check the spam/junk folder.

Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late!

• Please visit: vosphoto.com/underclass
• Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.
• For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com

All students are invited to take advantage of after-school academic support every Tuesday and Thursday. Whether you need extra help in a specific subject or just a quiet place to work on assignments, our dedicated teachers and peer tutors are here to assist you. Bus transportation is also provided on these days at 4:30 PM. Students can ride if they are staying after school for academic support, activities or athletics.

Additionally, all students have access to FREE one-on-one, chat-based online Academic Tutoring available 24/7 in all core subject areas in English and Spanish through VARSITY TUTORS. Students can access this tutoring platform through the Clever App on their student laptops 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In our ongoing commitment to academic excellence and college and career readiness, we are thrilled to announce a fantastic resource available to all sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Starting now, students will have access to Khan Academy’s Official Digital SAT Prep through Clever.

We believe that this initiative will significantly contribute to our students’ success, not only in their SATs but also in their future academic and career endeavors. Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our students’ education.

To stay informed about upcoming events specifically for the senior class, please frequently visit the Class of 2025 page and the school website. We have many more exciting events and opportunities planned, and we don’t want you to miss out!

Unity Reed HS hosts various ongoing College & Career events which is updated in real time to include:

• College Rep Visits
• Monthly money for college workshops
• Monthly college application, financial aid and scholarship workshops

Report your child’s absences: Parents should notify the school before, or at the start of, the school day when their child will be absent. Parents must send written or electronic communication citing the reason(s) for the absence to the school no more than five school days following the date of the absence.To report an absence at Unity Reed HS, please call the school at 703-365-2900, submit the note via ParentVUE or have your student submit a written note to the main office. For early dismissals, please call the main office at 703-365-2900.

How sick is too sick for school? For information about when your child should go to school or when they should stay home due to illness, visit the When to Keep Students home webpage. If you have additional questions, please contact our school nurse, Nurse Lawton, at lawtonst@pwcs.edu.

Planning a prearranged absence? We understand that some absences are unavoidable, however we encourage parents and guardians to schedule appointments and trips on scheduled days off for students throughout the school year. View the 2024-25 school calendar website to view days off for students.

We appreciated our families understanding that attending school every day helps our students build a solid foundation for their future in school and in life. Please contact our Attendance Officer, Ms. Gilliam at 571-598-3216 or gilliadb@pwcs.edu; or our School Social Worker, Mr. Jahanian at 571-598-3232 or jahanir@pwcs.edu; if your family or child are in need of resources to have a successful school year.

Unity Reed HS Students are eligible to purchase season passes or annual passes for discounted prices. Season passes are $20 and Annual passes are $50. These passes will get you into ALL HOME GAMES for either the season (if purchasing the season pass) or for the entire year (if purchasing the annual pass). The pass is not eligible for tournaments or post-season events. STUDENT ID WILL BE REQUIRED AT THE GATE IF PURCHASING A STUDENT PASS!

• Weekly LIONS’ ROAR: This will include the latest updates with pertinent information for the upcoming week and will be emailed to students and families every Sunday. This information will also be posted on our school website.

• URHS website: This will be updated more frequently so that we can share the most up to date information with you. In fact, click here to view our school website.

• School Status: This is our messaging system, and it allows staff to send text messages, emails, or make phone calls to families. When an email comes to your inbox with this system, the sender will be listed as School Status or Teacher name. A text message will include the staff member’s full name in the message but will be a random number. This system allows the recipient to respond directly to a message.

• The PRIDE Newsletter: This is a monthly newsletter where we celebrate and highlight the incredible accomplishments of our students, staff, and community at Unity Reed High School. Each month, we will showcase achievements, events, and milestones that make our school proud. Stay tuned for inspiring stories, academic successes, athletic triumphs, and much more. All this information will also be available on our school website for easy access and sharing.

I encourage you to continue to stay in touch with important updates by visiting our website. We are here to support you. Please reach out throughout the school year with any questions, concerns, or to share general feedback, and thank you for being part of our school community, as our STRENGTH is IN UNITY!

Sincerely,

Milagros Polanco
Principal, Unity Reed High School