Dear Woodson Families,

As part of FCPS’ ongoing layered safety and security efforts, schools across the division will be increasing the sensitivity of the weapons detection system beginning on Monday, December 15. This is not in response to any specific incident, but rather a way to make the weapons detector even more effective now that students are comfortable with the process.

With the increased sensitivity, we wanted to make you aware that some accepted items like 3-ring binders, laptops, metal eyeglass cases, umbrellas, and metal lunchboxes or pencil cases may be more likely to alert the system. We will continue addressing these alerts with our secondary screening process, which is discrete and away from the weapons detectors to protect student privacy and prevent back-ups during morning arrival.

We anticipate that the system may alert more frequently for a short time as our school adjusts. We ask that families and students are mindful of the metal items they bring to school and only bring what is necessary. Remember that triggering items should be taken out of a student’s bag and handed to a staff member to be passed around before they go through the weapons detector (like they do with their laptops).

A reminder that our weapons detection system is similar to ones that have been used at sporting events and concerts for many years. You can learn more by reading the Frequently Asked Questions on our website. If you have additional questions after reading the FAQs, you can submit them online to our Chief of Safety and Security Office.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support in our shared commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment for students and staff.

Sincerely, 

Kevin Greata

Dear Woodson Parents and Caregivers,

I’m excited to share that Carter G. Woodson High School  has been recognized as Distinguished under Virginia’s new School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF). This rating, based on data from last school year, shows that our school is meeting or exceeding expectations set by the state around student performance.

This new framework places a greater emphasis on standardized test results, alongside student growth, graduation, and readiness measures that vary by school level. 

One thing has not changed: our students are learning and growing, and our teachers and staff continue to do exceptional work every day. This recognition reflects the strength of our entire school community. Our strong performance stands out and is something to celebrate.

We will continue building on this success. Our team is committed to keeping high expectations for learning, supporting each student’s unique strengths, and creating a school environment where every child feels welcomed, challenged, and cared for. We are also grateful for the support we receive from families. Your involvement makes a difference, and it plays an important role in helping our students succeed.

Thank you for being such an important part of our community. Together, we will continue helping every student at Woodson thrive.

Warmly,
Kevin Greata
Carter G. Woodson High School

December 5, 2025

Dear Families, 

We wanted to make you aware that Tuesday, December 9, will be a special election day for the Braddock District Supervisor vacancy on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Carter G. Woodson High School is one of 22 schools that will be serving as a polling place on December 9. We are taking extra safety precautions that will allow citizens to exercise their civic duty while minimizing disruptions to the school day. 

In coordination with the FCPS Office of Safety and Security and the Fairfax County Office of Elections, we have identified an area of our school that will be open to the public during the school day. This location is removed from students and will be monitored by staff the entire day to prevent anyone from entering other areas of the school. 

We will need to make some parking spots available for voters, so if you have a meeting at school on December 9, we encourage you to arrive a little early to find parking. Otherwise, we anticipate that disruptions to the school day will be minimal.

We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we perform this important function for our community. Please feel free to reach out to me directly, if you have any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely,

Kevin Greata

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Carter G. Woodson’s Back to School Night (BTSN) is scheduled for Thursday, September 4th, from 6:00-8:45 pm. This is such a special night for our community and provides an important opportunity for families and teachers to build the connections crucial for the success of their students. We look forward to seeing you and welcoming you in your students’ classrooms. 

In addition to the traditional classroom visits, there are also several programs that are available prior to starting the bell schedule.  Please see the detailed schedule below for the time and locations for sessions for military connected families, multilingual learners, videos from school board members, a presentation about our clubs and more!

Your student’s schedule is available in SIS ParentVUE under “Class Schedule.” Please check your SIS ParentVUE account before arriving at school to make sure you can access your account and view your child’s schedule. If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, or are unable to access your child’s schedule via SIS ParentVUE , you may come to the library beginning at 5:00 pm for assistance and to get your activation key.

To get connected and stay connected, please visit our Family Help Center in the Library,from 5:00 pm until 8:30 pm, where you will be able to request a printed schedule, get assistance logging into  SIS ParentVUE , connect with an interpreter or family liaison, sign the digital consent, or ask any general questions. You will also have an opportunity to get information about the PTSO and purchase spirit wear through our boosters. 

Throughout the evening, staff and leadership students will be available to offer assistance and provide maps. 

We look forward to welcoming everyone Back to School!

Sincerely,The Carter G. Woodson Administrative Team

Additional Events:

Time	Event	Location
5:00pm-5:45pm	Military Connected Family  Meet and Greet	Career Center (E109)
5:00pm-5:45pm	Multilingual Learners Meet and Greet	Room C114
5:00pm-7:30pm	Booster Spirit Wear Sales	Library
5:00pm-7:30pm	PTSO Info and Sign Up	Library
5:30pm-5:50pm	Signs of Suicide Preview  (9th & 11th grade parents only)	Library Classroom
5:15pm-5:45pm	School Board Member Videos	Auditorium

Classroom Visit Bell Schedule (includes 10-minute passing between each period)

6:00-6:10 – 1 ^st period

6:20-6:30 – 2 ^nd period

6:40-6:55 – 3 ^rd period (Advisory Period; Includes school-wide presentation)

7:05-7:15 – 4 ^th period

7:25-7:35 – 5 ^th period

7:45-7:55 - 6 ^th   period 

8:05-8:15 – 7 ^th period

8:25-8:35 – 8 ^th period

Good morning, Woodson Community,

I want to provide an update on how our weapons detection program impacted student arrival this morning. I also want to take a moment to share how proud we are of our students, who have been absolutely amazing these past two days, and our staff, who have worked incredibly hard to make this process efficient and safe.

As expected, we saw improvements in both speed and efficiency today. All students were through the towers by 8:15 a.m.—a 15-minute improvement from yesterday. Once again, no students were marked tardy this morning unless they arrived after 8:10am.We anticipate that, with a few additional adjustments, we will be able to resume normal attendance practices tomorrow, Friday, but will make the final decision in the morning.

Here are some observations from today’s arrival:

• Door 10 (Rear Kiss & Ride):No lines throughout arrival.
• Door 14:A short line appeared briefly, during a surge in arrivals; we have identified adjustments to reduce this line.
• Front Entrance:We saw shorter exterior lines, and we have identified additional adjustments to better facilitate, the front and anticipate continued improvement.

We also made use of the auditorium to bring students inside more quickly and out of the weather. This space can accommodate all students if needed in the event of severe weather. With continued refinements and students learning what to remove from their backpacks before entering, we expect the flow to become even smoother and faster. Once optimized, students will simply walk through the Opengate towers and the line will move continuously. 

We deeply appreciate your patience and support as we all adjust to this new security process. Our goal for tomorrow is to have continuously moving lines, students in class on time, and a return to regular attendance practices. I will reach out again tomorrow to update you on our progress.

As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Best regards, 

Kevin Greata

Principal

Good morning, Woodson community,

Today was the first day of our new Opengate weapons detection system. As expected with any new process, the first day was a little slower as students and staff learned the routine. Overall, though, the system performed as anticipated for Day 1, and all students were through the towers by 8:30 a.m. No students were marked tardy this morning. 

To ease congestion, we opened an additional line at Door 1, which helped shorten the longest line at the front of the building. We will continue to use this option moving forward, when needed.

The Office of Safety and Security, who were onsite to support us, confirmed that our first day went smoothly and very much within expectations. Based on their experience at other schools, they advised us that the process typically becomes twice as fast by the second day, and continues to improve each day as everyone becomes more familiar.

It’s important to note that this is not a traditional metal detector system. It is a weapons detection system, meaning that many common items containing metal—such as phones, earbuds, water bottles, and calculators—can pass through without issue. Only a small number of items need to be handed off, and students are already adjusting quickly to knowing what those are. Primarily, they are laptops, large 3 ring binders, eyeglass cases with metal hinges, and foldable umbrellas.

We have already made a few adjustments at the doorways based on today’s experience, and we expect an even smoother process tomorrow and in the days ahead. Other high schools that use Opengate report that within just a few days students move through the system efficiently and arrive to class on time.

We appreciate your support and patience as we all learn this new process together. Our priority is creating a safe and secure environment for all students and staff, and we will continue monitoring closely and making adjustments as needed.

Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.

Kevin Greata

Principal

Dear Woodson Families,

As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment, we will be implementing new weapons detection protocols at Carter G. Woodson High School. Starting on Wednesday, August 20, 2025,weapons detection towers will be located at four student entrances to the building:

• Door 18 (near the auditorium)– Primary student entrance . This is where most students will enter if they arrive by bus or through the front Kiss & Ride. This location was selected because it can accommodate large numbers of students and provides shelter during inclement weather.
• Door 1 (main entrance)– Reserved for adults (staff and families) and for students who are accompanied by an adult. Students will not be permitted to enter through this door during arrival on their own.
• Door 14 (senior parking lot) – Available for student arrival until 8:10 a.m. During the first few days, there will be a short grace period to help students adjust, but once the routine is established, this door will close promptly at 8:10. Students arriving later will need to enter through Door 18 or Door 1 (if accompanied by an adult).
• Door 10 (rear of building)– Open for students arriving from the back of campus until 8:10 a.m., with a brief grace period during the introductory period. Please note that Door 9 will no longer be available for student entry.

All other doors will remain locked and monitored by staff during arrival to ensure students are entering through the appropriate checkpoints. 

Directions for Students

Students will walk through the towers with their backpack, but they will need to remove some metal items, such as their laptop, large 3-ring binders, metal glasses cases, small lunch boxes, and foldable umbrellas. 

Supporting On-Time Arrival

We are asking for your partnership to help students arrive at school a few minutes earlier than usual. This will ensure they have adequate time to pass through weapons detection and still get to class on time. This is especially important at our Kiss & Ride, which tends to be light in traffic before 8:00 a.m. but becomes much more congested between 8:00–8:10 a.m. Arriving just a few minutes earlier will help ease traffic flow and support a smooth, timely start to the school day for everyone.

More Information

After the start of the day, there will be weapons detection towers at door 1 throughout the day. 

If you would like additional details about the Opengate weapons detection towers, you may visit the  CEIA website ..

Kiss and Ride Procedures for the 2024-25 SY

Traffic in the morning can be hectic and unpredictable, please plan to arrive before 8AM (this allows students to get to class at or before 8:10am). 

Please note, as indicated on the map and explained below, if you are driving on Whitacre Rd, the Kiss and Ride you are to use is off Whitacre Rd.  If you are coming off of Pickett Rd, the Kiss and Ride entrance that you will use is off Pickett Road. Please do not attempt to access Entrance 1 via Whitacre Road. 

Please read the following procedures for parking and Kiss and Ride indicated by the map below.

1 - Bus and staff entrance:This is the first entrance off Whitacre Road into the Woodson property.
2 - Senior parking lot:The second entrance off Whitacre Road into the Senior lot is for Senior student parking only.
3 - Whitacre Road Kiss and Ride:The third entrance off Whitacre Road is the entrance to the Kiss and Ride loop by the tennis courts. Drop off students BEFORE 8AM at Door 9, not before (only in front of) Door 9. For safety reasons, only drop off students in front of Door 9, not before.
4 - Junior parking lot:The last entrance off Whitacre Road, which is also the stadium entrance. When looking at the stadium, the Junior lot is on the left.
5 - Pickett Road Kiss and Ride:If you are coming to Woodson from 236,use the Pickett Road entrance, NOT Whitacre Rd. This will allow you to drop your child(ren) off at Door 2. Only staff can access the front lot from Whitacre Road.  Only staff can access Kiss and Ride at the front of the school fromWhitacre Road.

DO NOT park at the shopping center across the street; they will tow your car. 

Remember, students are expected to be in class at 8:10am, not walking in the doors of the school. If they are tardy due to a late kiss and ride drop off, it is an unexcused tardy (UNT). If your child(ren) use the school bus and the bus is late, students are marked excused tardy (EXT) in SIS attendance.  

Please know that school staff and the SRO are not permitted to direct traffic which is why it is even more important that students are at school by 8:00am, to ensure any backup of traffic does not cause your child(ren) to be unexcused tardy (UNT) for class.

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we launch this important safety initiative. Together, we can ensure that arrival runs efficiently while keeping our focus on student learning.

Dear Carter G. Woodson Families,

As we get ready for the first day of school on Monday, August 18, I wanted to share an important update about FCPS’ cell phone policy .

Starting this school year, cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) with the exception of lunch time in designated lunch spaces . Cell phones and personal devices can no longer be used during passing periods, which is a change from FCPS’ previous cell phone policy. In addition, cell phones are no longer permitted to be used as an instructional tool (across all grades). Phones and other personal devices can be stored in a locker or backpack during the day. 

This policy helps strengthen engagement, learning, and positive social behavior in the classroom. If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call our front office at 703-503-4600 .

You can support your student by talking with them about the cell phone policy and reminding them that cell phones and personal devices may only be used during lunch time in designated lunch spaces. Thank you for working with us to set expectations for your student.

Students who require access to personally owned devices as an accommodation, as documented in their 504 plan or individualized education program (IEP), will continue to have access. If parents/guardians, multi-disciplinary team members, or other persons with knowledge of a student, believe a student requires access to personally owned devices as an accommodation, they shall make the requests for such accommodations through their respective multi-disciplinary team (i.e., 504 Committee, IEP Team, English Language Committee, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support [MTSS] Team). More information can be found in the SY 25-26 Student Rights & Responsibilities Family Guide , specifically on page 24.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me at @email  or 703-503-4600 . More information will also be available during our Open House on August 15, 2025 from 9-11am or our Back to School Night on September 4, 2025 from 4-7pm.  I look forward to seeing you there. Go Cavs!

Sincerely,

Kevin Greata