Table of Contents
- Senior Celebration
- In-Person Graduation - June 22 & 24
- Summer Assignments
- PFHS Hall of Fame Award Winners
- Scholarship Recipients
- Artist Guitar Ensemble Performance
- Tech Tips
- Notes from Counseling
- Message from the PTSO
- Behind the Wheel Notice
- Updated Food Sites
- Please donate to Panthers Help Panthers
- Help Support School Supply Kits
- Sources of Strength
- Panthers Helping Panthers
- LCPS Human Resources
- PFHS Unified Mental Health Team
- Subscribe to the Roar Magazine
- Watch Feature Friday!
- @PFAnnouncements
- Read the Roar
Dear Potomac Falls Families,
I wanted to thank all of you for your support and understanding as we have gone through quite a strange and difficult time. This is unprecedented but you have been patient, understanding and supportive and we genuinely appreciate that. I also want to congratulate all of our seniors on reaching graduation. Even though it is not what you expected or planned – we wish you the best in all of your future endeavors. And to all of our returning and new students and families. I wish you a safe and restful summer and look forward to greeting you all in the fall!
Sincerely,
Dr. Wolfe
Senior Celebration
LCPS has partnered with Herff-Jones to produce our virtual celebration. Theycreated this senior celebration from the photos and messages students uploaded. The link to view our virtual celebration is potomacfhs.stageclip.com. The video went live at 2:00 PM on June 9th, but you can still view it. Thank you for your continued dedication and patience on this important 2020 Celebration.
In-Person Graduation 2020
Previously, you received notice from Dr. Williams that we now have clearance to hold face-to-face ceremonies per our Governor's Phase One Blueprint. Since then, we have been working diligently as a team to develop a plan that ensures safety for our staff and school community, is aligned with LCPS standards, and celebrates the students in the Class of 2020. I've outlined how the process will work here at PFHS below.
- Ceremonies will take place on Monday, June 22 and Wednesday, June 24 in our temperature-controlled Auditorium.
- Distancing guidelines will require that we do not have hand-to hand contact and safe measures will be in place for diploma distribution.
- Students will be assigned a thirty-minute window (some time between 9 am and 4:30 pm) during which they will walk across the stage and receive their diploma.
- Students will be permitted to have 5 family members attend with them (6 people total).
- Students and their family members must arrive ten minutes prior to their 30-minute window and expect to wait up to 30 minutes to get across the stage and get their diploma.
- Students will have their name called, turn their tassels, receive their diploma and have a picture on our main stage.
- Professional photographers will be in attendance to take a formal stage photo for purchase.
- If there are family conflicts with the week of June 22 and 24, we will work to host a make-up ceremonyon July 1.
You will be provided maps, details and additional safety measures soon. If you choose to forgo the ceremony, you can schedule a time to pick up your diploma through your counselor.
Invitations including your assigned timeslot will be emailed directly to the student at their LCPS Gmail address. Please check your inboxes! As we know that not all of your friendsand familywill be able toattend, we will be streaming it live athttps://live.myvrspot.com/st?cid=ZWFjZG.
Summer Assignments
It's very important - especially in these chaotic times - torefresh and expand what we learnedover the summer. Several of our classes have posted summer assignments. You can access them from our Summer Assignment page.
Just a friendly reminder that all students will have a math summer assignment in preparation of their upcoming class in the fall. Please refer to the PFHS summer assignment link to access the summer assignment. The link has directions on how to download or print the assignment.
Congratulations to the 2020 PFHS Hall of Fame Award Winners
These students were selected by members of the Faculty as exemplary figures of the student body, representing strong academic, athletic, and extra-curricular traits as well as a level of school spirit and pride. We congratulate those who have been nominated for this honor.
Nasma Al-Hamadi
Mary “Mason” Delaney
Michael “Mick” Hoyle
Nina Malley
Daniel McCurdy
Molly Lum
Ashley Pandelides
Morgan Watson
Each member of this year’s Hall of Fame will receive an individual plaque designating this honor. Their names will also be added to the growing list of names of Potomac Falls Alumni who have held this honor.
Congratulationsto the following students for their recent scholarship awards!
Northwest Federal Credit Union Scholarship
Hannah Bulmer, Christopher Newport University: $5,000
Committee for Dulles Community Outreach
Nyla Mpofu, Virginia Tech: $2,000
The PFHS Panther Award
THE most prestigious award given at Potomac Falls High School. The Panther Award honorsone member of the senior classwho represents theideal student. The recipient possesses academic strength,intellect,honor, dignity, generositytowards others,whilealwaysmaintaining a positive attitude and an abundance of school spirit.
Heeran Karim, University of Virginia
Artist Guitar Ensemble Performance
The PFHS Guitar Department would like to share the Artist Guitar Ensemble's virtual ensemble performance of what would have been this year's senior song, "Under the Bridge" by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Included is our traditional shout out to seniors who are recognized just before the performing of this selection in the concert. It signifies both the close of one chapter of their lives, but also the beginning of the next chapter. The students and Mr. Wells hope you enjoy!
Tech Tips
Chromebook Hardware Issues:
If you are experiencing hardware issues with your Chromebook you will need to schedule an appointment using this link https://bit.ly/DDI-REPAIR. The drop off location is in Ashburn @ 43711 Partlow Road. The staff at the Technology Support Center will give you another Chromebook that you will keep. You will not get your Chromebook back. The Support Center can be reached at 571-252-2112.
Lost Charger:
A new charger can be ordered through this link https://bit.ly/MySchoolBucks. You will need to create an account if you do not already have one. Student Chromebook Adapters are currently $25.74. Here are instructions https://bit.ly/LCPSTechPurchase for placing an order.
Seniors & those Leaving LCPS:
You've worked hard on all the files you've created in LCPS Google. Save them by using Google Takeout. You can access it via LCPS Go. Watch this video to see how to do it! If you didn't already, please return your Chromebook & chargerby signing up for a dropoff appointment athttps://bit.ly/DDI-REPAIR.
Notes from Counseling
Attention Seniors: A copy of your immunization record is now available in ParentVue and StudentVue under the documents tab. Please download it for your records. It will only be available until June 30, 2020.
SENIORS: If you meet the requirements below, please contact your school counselorno later than June 15with the necessary documentation.
Board of Education's Excellence in Civics Education Seal
The Board of Education's Excellence in Civics Education Seal is awarded to students who meet each of the following four criteria:
§Satisfy the requirement to earn a Modified Standard Diploma, a Standard Diploma or an Advanced Studies Diploma
§Complete Virginia & United States History and Virginia & United States Government courses with a grade of "B" or higher
§Complete 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities, such as volunteering for a charitable or religious organization that provides services to the poor, sick or less fortunate; participating in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or similar youth organizations; participating in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC); participating in political campaigns, government internships, Boys State, Girls State or Model General Assembly; and participating in school-sponsored extracurricular activities that have a civics focus. Any student who enlists in the United States military prior to graduation will be deemed to have met this community service requirement.
§Have good attendance and no disciplinary infractions as determined by local school board policies.
Message from the PTSO
As a PTSO Board we are grateful to have been able to serve our Panther community during this unprecedented time. Contagious enthusiasm has been our theme from the start and we intend to finish strong in support of every member of our Panther community. We do this not only in spite of the current events, but even more fervently because of them.
- It is our pleasure to provide refreshments for our teachers during the curbside drop-off/pick-up days.
- We want to recognize the class of 2020 with a small token of our support and appreciation at the in person celebration on June 22nd and 24th.Congratulationson an incredible finish to a challenging year! Look for a small gift as you leave with your diploma!!!
We also want to recognize the two PTSO members who attended the most meetings this school year: Graciela Olivares and Kimberly Nelson. THANK YOU for your consistent and positive support throughout the year! We are happy to presentyouwith the $50 gift card we promised at the start of our membership drive.😇
Next year stands to be an unusualstart for all of us... as we prepare this summer tohold elections in the Fall, most of our board is willing to serve another term... if elected. Please consider becoming a member again or anew! Our greatest strength comes from the support of our members!
THANK YOU to all of the Panther Community for your support of the Panthers Helping Panthers Donation Drive! We are making strides to help our fellow Panthers with food insecurity thanks to your generous and timely donations! It's not too late to help!
You can still send your contribution to:https://squareup.com/store/potomac-falls-ptso
Please follow us on Twitter and Facebook to get timely updates, and contact us anytime at our email:PFHS.ptso.president@gmail.com
~The PTSO Board
Dawn, Linda, Sarah, Tara, Jen, Jen, Linda and Melissa
FOLLOW PFHS 
Behind the Wheel Notice
At this time, all BTW operations for LCPS are still suspended– However, we have gotten approval to exchange paperwork. Please complete thissurveyto request signedDEC-8’s and TDL’s in the mail and allow at least a week for processing and receipt. We monitor and evaluate this decision regularly based on information from DOE, DMV, and the Governor’s Office as it’s made available. LCPS will resume in-car instruction when it is safe to do so.
Updated Food Delivery Spots
The Interactive map is located at:https://lcps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=615171005a9a4ccf8f38c86b387632a0
The School Nutrition Services homepage has important meal information including the school sites where meals can be picked up:https://lcpshealthycafe.org/
The Transportation Concern Registry link athttps://lcps.webforms.issuetrak.com/concernregistry/
or from the Transportation homepage.Or email directly to:HCTBLoudoun@LCPS.org
Ifyou have an issue with Here Comes the Bus® or an LCPS bus, please share it with Transportation through: theLCPS Here Comes the Bus® site.It has FAQs with links, videos, help guides (in English plus Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic and Farsi.
Please Donate to Panthers Help Panthers
The Student Support Team at Potomac Falls has been working to identify families who are in need of support during these difficult times.
Many of our families are now food insecure.
While our cafeteria staff has been heroic in providing meals to students, this service does not cover all of the need.
The Panther Donation Drive is accepting donations by credit card in $25 amounts for the purchase and delivery of grocery store gift cards to our food-insecure families.
Social distancing prevents the acceptance of food donations or donations by cash or check.
Please donate through the Potomac Falls PTSO's Panthers Helping Panthers online payment portal:https://squareup.com/store/potomac-falls-ptso/
Thank you for supporting our families during these difficult times.
Help Support School Supply Kits
To continue supporting the Continuity of Education in Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) during COVID-19 closure, LCPS and the Loudoun Education Foundation (LEF) have partnered to mail school supply kits to LCPS students who may lack access to basic school supplies, to include all LCPS Title I elementary and middle school students. School supply kits have been customized to align to the specific needs of instructional learning guides/mailings.
The LEF is currently fundraising for this initiative and donation information can be found on thisflyer. The red “Sponsor a $25 Kit” button will redirect you to theLEF donation webpage. Under gift designation, please select “School Supply Kits.”
Please direct all inquiries to Veronica Cuadrado Hart, EL Family and Community Engagement Coordinator (veronica.cuadrado@lcps.org).
Paralleling efforts, including the mailing of books and educational magazine subscriptions, are forthcoming through a collaboration between the Office of Teaching and Learning and Instructional Programs.
Sources of Strength
The PFHS Sources of Strength peer leaders put together some wonderful social distancing advice and activity resources! Students and families are encouraged to access these resources and can find them here:https://www.lcps.org/Page/228325. During this time of uncertainty and fear, let’s make a collective effort to spread hope, help and strength!
Panthers Helping Panthers
As we navigate through this new experience together, the parent liaisons at Potomac Falls High School want you to know that we are available to help. If you find you are food insecure and need help, please reach out to our parent liaisons at Helen.Chang@lcps.org or Judy.Schmid@lcps.org. We will try to provide as many resources and assistance as we can to ensure our students remain safe and healthy during this time away from school. Thank you and stay healthy!!
Click here to subscribe today!
