The Mustang Weekly - September 2nd, 2019

THE MUSTANG WEEKLY

September 2nd, 2019

 

A note from Principal Kownacki:

Dear Mustang Community-

Our students and staff had an amazing first week of school! Much of our focus during the first week was to build strong relationships with one another and ensure student success by creating a safe and welcoming environment. It has been a pleasure visiting classrooms and interacting with students in the halls. They are positive, polite, and full of great energy. Be sure to ask what the best part of your students' week was!

 

I look forward to meeting you at Back To School Night on September 5, starting at 6:30 PM. Our staff is excited to share their “WHY” with you and how we can partner with each other to support student learning and growth.

 

I welcome your feedback, questions and suggestions. Please feel free to reach out to me at any time.  I hope to see you at South County Middle School very soon.

 

Sincerely,

Peter Kownacki

pakownacki@fcps.edu

@PAKownacki

703-690-5500

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • 9/5/19 – Back to school Night. Thursday. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. See details below.
  • 9/23/19 – PTSO Meeting. Tuesday. 7:00 p.m. in the SCMS Library. See below.

 

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT:

Last week we mailed home an invitation and information about our Back To School Night on September 5th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. During the evening, you will have the opportunity to join and support our PTSO, preview and receive links to order school related spirit wear, as well as gather information about the SCMS After School Program. Additionally, welcome messages from our administrative team and various school board members will be streaming throughout the evening. The Health and PE Department will offer a special presentation for parents who are interested in hearing information about the Family Life Education curriculum in our library from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m.

PTSO INFORMATION:

  • South County Spirit Wear is now for sale for a limited time!  Visit the PTSO website at http://www.scmsptso.org/ and click "order spiritwear". The store closes on September 9th and items will be delivered to seminar classes approximately 3 weeks later.

 

  • Join us at our first  PTSO meeting on September 23rd at 7pm in the Library!  Come hear from the PTSO, staff, admin and students about the ways you can make a difference at SCMS this year.

 

  • Find out all about the PTSO and join at www.scmsptso.org.  All funds from PTSO memberships go DIRECTLY towards your students and teachers.  Did you know the PTSO funds 100% of teacher appreciation events, the back to school breakfast, teacher and club instructional grants, 7th grade author visit and 8th grade end of year celebration?  Please consider joining and/or making a tax deductible donation.

 

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS:

The Free and Reduced Meals application is now online.  Families must re-apply every year to receive this service.  More information and a link to the application can be found at:  https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs/free-and-reduced-price-meals.  Please also complete the consent to share information (section 4 of the application) as this can allow the school to waive course fees and receive reduced fees for other activities.  If families do not re-apply their number will be inactivated in early October.

 

CELL PHONE POLICY:

In response to a request from the Fairfax County Council of PTA’s (and others) to implement consistent student cell phone restrictions in or schools, we are following FCPS guidelines for cell phone usage.

In Middle Schools, phones must be kept silenced and kept put away for the duration of the school day. Storage may be in a locker, backpack, pencil bag, etc. during the day. Teachers may allow cell phone usage in their classrooms at their discretion. Students are allowed to use cell phones UNTIL 7:25 a.m. (warning bell) in the morning and AFTER 2:15 p.m. in the afternoon. This information will be shared with our students in upcoming Learning Seminars.

FCPS and SCMS are not responsible for the loss of personal devices including cell phones, tablets or personal computers.

 

We encourage you to visit our school website frequently for updates and announcements. For more detailed information on all school matters, please visit our website at http://www.fcps.edu/southcountyms/

 

For further information on planning and events sponsored by the PTSO, please visit their website at http://www.scmsptso.org/

 

Parents of FCPS students may update contact information online through weCare@School http://www.fcps.edu/news/wecare.shtml, a feature of FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard) or by contacting the student information officer at their child’s school to have the contact information updated in the student information system.