Important Upcoming Events
April 25 - PTA Meeting, RCMS Library, 6:30PM
April 27 - Carson vs. Lanier Futsal Games, Lanier MS, 6:30PM
May 3 - NJHS 8th Grade Members Service Hours Deadline
SOL Testing Dates
Both 7th and 8th grade students will be taking the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests in May. The schedule is below and can be found on our website. It is important that your child attend school on these days. If possible, please avoid scheduling trips or appointments that would take your child out of school during this time period. It is also important that your child have a good night’s rest and a healthy breakfast before testing.
The Virginia Department of Education requires students in grades 3-8 across the state to take the SOL tests. SOL tests measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills detailed in the Virginia Standards of Learning. Content areas that will be tested are shown for each grade level below.
 *8th graders enrolled in Geometry or Algebra 2 take their Mathematics SOL test on 5/13, then take Reading on 5/15.
*8th graders enrolled in Pre-Algebra or Algebra 1 take their Mathematics SOL test on 5/15, then take Reading on 5/13.
The purpose of SOL testing is to provide information about student achievement to the parent, school, school division, and state. In most cases, test scores are available for parents at the end of the school year. More information will be shared in May.
SOLs and RAMADAN:
This spring, the SOL non-writing window will have a significant overlap with Ramadan, the Muslim holy month marked by daily fasting from sunrise to sunset. Only two days at the end of the expedited retake window fall completely outside this religious observance.
- Ramadan 2019 begins the evening of Sunday, May 5 and ends with Eid-al-Fitr on Wednesday, June 5.
- The middle school SOL non-writing window begins Monday, May 6, with all retakes completed by Friday, June 7.
- Here is a link for additional information: https://www.fcps.edu/node/37645
- All testing at Carson begins at 7:40AM.
If you have questions about these state assessments, please contact your child’s counselor or our Assessment Coach, Maureen McLoughlin at mamcloughlin@fcps.edu.
PTA Meeting-Guest Speaker
Please join us for a brief PTA Meeting this Thursday April 25th at 6:30pm to be immediately followed by a special guest presentation. Sarah Giff will give a talk entitled, “Positive Parenting: Helping your Child or Teen Manage Stress.” This presentation is designed to give an overview of how teens experience stress and anxiety, and how parents and caregivers can help. Sarah will discuss evidence-based ways to support your teen throughout stressful times, signs that you and your teen may need some additional help, and resources to guide you through the process.
Sarah Giff, MA is a doctoral student in GMU's Clinical Psychology program. As a therapist trainee at the GMU Center for Psychological Services and the DC VA Medical Center, she specializes in teaching coping skills for anxiety to children and adults. In addition to being passionate about working with patients, Sarah conducts research focused on identifying ways that family members can support patients’ mental health recovery. She recently was awarded a graduate research training fellowship from the National Institute of Health to support this work. Prior to attending GMU, Sarah earned undergraduate degrees in Psychology and History at Villanova University, and worked as a research assistant at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
We hope you can join us for this helpful presentation that all families can benefit from!
8th Grade Celebration Tickets Now on Sale
 NEON NIGHTS will be here before you know it! Online ticket sales began Monday, April 8; ticket price is $20. Ticket prices will increase to $25 on May 28. In-person sales will only take place for 3 days in late May, so don't wait! 8th Grade Celebration Tickets
This year's 8th grade celebration will be held on June 12, 2018 from 6:30-9:00PM. This fun-filled, festive send off for our 8th graders will include a DJ, karaoke, inflatables, photo booth, and plenty of refreshments! It's sure to be a night of fun and friends that students won't want to miss!
ESOL Department Box Tops Collection
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The ESOL Department will continue collecting Box Tops for Education through June 1. Students may drop them off in the box located outside the Library. |
Other FCPS Schools are Sharing....
From Crossfield ES: To celebrate the 30th anniversary, Crossfield is throwing open its doors to invite the community in for a STEAM event featuring hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics related activities and fun. This drop-in event is Saturday, May 4, from 10-2 with Food Trucks, Rocket Launches, an Inflatable Planetarium, and more. Bring your family and friends.
From Oakton HS: Rising Oakton High School Freshmen Cougar Color Guard Evening Interest Meetings and Spin Clinics: Sabers and Rifles and Flags – OH MY! Pass this to rising Cougar Freshmen so they can find out how they can make 125 life-long friends in music, art, and pageantry before the first day of school as a part of a great team. Let them join the Cougar family quickly by being part of the award-winning Oakton High School Color Guard and Marching Cougars, and build their confidence - no experience necessary. Join us April 29th at 6:00-7:30 p.m. at OHS Door #6 and April 30th at 7:30 p.m. at OHS Door #6 to learn basic skills and how to represent Oakton High School under the Friday Night Lights and in region-wide competition.
Want to learn or perfect skills to be part of the Cougar Color Guard, or just learn how to spin flags, rifles, and sabers to impress friends and neighbors? Join us on Saturday afternoon May 18th from 9:00-11:00 a.m. at OHS Door #6. No experience necessary: grab a friend and get ready to spin! Open to all students in the Oakton Pyramid 6th-12th grade - spread the word!
Coach Strebeck will provide information and answer questions. Go to https://www.oaktonbands.org/colorguard/ and learn more about this great opportunity. Contact Coach Strebeck (mrstrebeck@fcps.edu) for more information.
From Oakton HS:
OHS Dance Team 2019-20 Tryouts: If you love to dance and want to be involved in your school, come tryout for the Oakton High School Dance Team! Tryouts will be held April 22-25 and April 29-May 2, 2019 for the 2019-20 team selection. Not sure if you have all of the skills for dance team?? Come to tryouts anyway! You will have the opportunity to learn skills there, and dancers are often selected based on potential ability to pick up the needed skills! Go to http://oaktonathletics.org (Fall/Dance/Varsity) for a Tryout Packet.
From Westfield HS: Westfield HS will host a Parent Coffee for parents of rising 9th graders on Friday, April 26, at 9:00AM in the Lecture Hall. Get a chance to meet the Principal, Assistant Principals, and Counselors and get your questions answered about the transition from Middle School to Westfield HS. Questions may be emailed in advance (to be answered at the Parent Coffee) to: Snwilliams1@fcps.edu.
From Oakton HS: The Oakton High School Athletic Training Program is offering an opportunity for students to receive a sports health screening and pre-participation physical (PPE) on Monday May 13, 2019 from 5:30-8:00PM. . To register visit https://www.fcps.edu/athletic.preparticipation.screenings and follow the links for sports physicals.
From South Lakes HS: Are you an 8th grader interested in joining the South Lakes Dance Team? There will be auditions for the fall dance team on May 7, 8, and 9 at South Lakes High School in the auxiliary gym from 3:15-5:30PM. There will also be a required interest meeting on April 25 at South Lakes in room 263 at 3:15PM to find out about how auditions will be conducted. If you have any questions about the dance team, please contact Ms. Marinucci at South Lakes High School.
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