RCMS Updates - Week of September 9, 2019


RCMS Front

Important Upcoming Events

September 16 - Late Buses Begin

September 20 - SCA Movie Night, 7:00-9:00PM

September 26 - Parent Coffee, RCMS, 9:00AM

September 26 - PTA Meeting, RCMS, 6:30PM


Carson MS Honored at School Board Meeting

As a recipient of the 2019 Virginia Index of Performance Award, Rachel Carson Middle School will be honored at the September 12 School Board Meeting, which will take place at Luther Jackson Middle School at 7:30PM.  Principal Gordon Stokes is looking forward to representing RCMS for this presentation.  If you would like to view on television, please tune into the FCPS Red Apple 21 channel (check your local TV listings).


After School Program and

Late Buses Begin September 16

After School Activities & Late Buses start on Monday, September 16.  Late bus days are Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

The after school activities list is posted on the RCMS website, please read each activities description carefully.  If you have any questions email Mr. Pawlowski at ajpawlowski@fcps.edu

If you are picking your child up during after school activities, please pick them up in Kiss & Ride.  Do not park in the bus lanes! Students must be picked up no later then 4:45 pm on late bus days, no exceptions!  If you are unable to be here by 4:45 your child will be put on their late bus.

There are no late buses on Tuesdays or Fridays.  Students should take their regular bus home or be picked up at the end of the school day in Kiss & Ride.


2019-2020 Parent Coffee Events

Parent Coffee and BTSN Recap

We invite you to join us for our first Parent Coffee of the year, scheduled for Thursday, September 26, from 9:00-10:00AM in the cafeteria.  For those families who were unable to attend our Back to School Nights and for those who would like more information, we will be presenting an overview of numerous topics.  We realize you may still have questions about what to expect this school year, so we will take this opportunity to share information about upcoming programs and supports, including: A Guide to Middle School; Grading and SIS Parent Vue; and The ACT Program for 7th Grade Students in November.

Parent Coffee Schedule - SAVE THE DATES:

-Topics of Interest/Rotations & Stations: December 5, 9:00-10:00AM

-Digital Citizenship/Technology: February 27, 6:30-7:30PM

-Mental Health & Wellness/Testing Information: April 2, 9:00-10:00AM

We hope you can make it!


Credit Exam For World Languages 2019

Do your children speak languages other than English?  If they can read and write proficiently in a language other than English, FCPS offers our World Language Credit Exam where students can earn up to 3 high school credits in a World Language.  These credits can be applied towards the Advanced Diploma for the State of Virginia graduation requirements.  For more information, see below and have your child sign up via the google link located here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5l299YGMM7QE-YzpuaOfhgdw_Gz7_HcF1VDPfuE6wFgSILg/viewform.

Exam Information:

Date of exam: November 13, 2019

Time: 1:45 PM

Location: Rachel Carson MS Library

Registration dates are September 4-October 9, 2019.  More information and available languages can be found here:  https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages

If you have questions you may contact your child’s school counselor.

Very Important: All registrations must be completed by October 9, 2019 at 4:00PM. Late registration will not be accepted

Helpful Resources:

*FCPS Credit Exam Website:

https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages

*Questions about graduation requirements or course planning?  Click here: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning

 


AMC 8

Students interested in participating in the AMC 8 must register by Friday, September 27.

The AMC 8 test date at Carson is Tuesday, November 12, from 2:20 to 3:30PM.  There are no late buses on the test date. Students must be picked up at 3:30PM. Please consider carpooling due to the large number of students participating in this competition.

Since the AMC tests must be ordered ahead of time, students must sign up to participate. The deadline to sign up is Friday September 27.

What is the AMC 8?

The AMC 8 is an optional math test being offered to RCMS students who wish to participate in a math competition. More information about this math competition and practice problems can be found at: http://www.maa.org/math-competitions/amc-contests/amc-8

“The AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills.”  (www.maa.org).  

How do you sign up for the AMC 8?

Students, not parents, must register for the AMC 8 Test.

Students will need to log into their FCPS Google account before accessing the sign-up form. On the form students must enter their student information (name, grade, math teacher, math period, etc.). Students will receive an email confirmation (sent to their fcpsschools.net account) after submitting the form and successfully signing up for the AMC 8.

Students must sign up online RCMS AMC 8 Registration Webpage

Please contact Mrs. Cahill (agcahill@fcps.edu), Mrs. DeBaldo (nadebaldo@fcps.edu), or Ms. Joyce (eajoyce@fcps.edu) if you have any questions.


AAP Parent Referrals for Students New to Fairfax County Due October 7, 2019

AAP Level IV services are available to students in grades 3-8.  Students may be found eligible for full-time placement in AAP Level IV Center classes through a central selection process and receive a highly challenging instructional program in science, social studies and English.  Multiple criteria are reviewed by a central selection committee to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. More information about AAP services available at the middle school level may be found on the FCPS public website at:  https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/advanced-academics.  If you have any questions, you can contact Brenda Humphrey at bahumphrey@fcps.edu.  

Parents or guardians of seventh grade students, who are new to Fairfax County Public Schools since January 2019, may initiate the full-time AAP Level IV screening process by completing and submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form to Brenda Humphrey at bahumphrey@fcps.edu  no later than October 7, 2019.  No late referrals will be accepted.

Seventh grade students who are not new to FCPS may apply in the winter for AAP entry in eighth grade.  Those referrals are due January 6, 2020.


SCA Movie Night

On Friday, September 20, the SCA is hosting a movie night featuring Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Bring a blanket to sit on as the movie will take place in the courtyard under the stars. Admission is free and no outside food or drink is allowed. This year all attendees will be given a free food and drink ticket, while supplies last. Doors open at 6:15PM with the movie starting promptly at 7:00PM. All students must be picked up no later than 9:00PM.


Mental Health and

Wellness Confererence

The sixth annual FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference will be held on Saturday, October 5, at Fairfax High School from 8:00AM-4:00PM, sponsored by Inova. The morning session will focus on social and emotional learning, with a keynote address given by Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. A special session for high school students, the Our Minds Matter Teen Summit, will take place in the morning as well. Attendees are encouraged to stay for Inova’s Act on Addiction Summit, which will be held from 12:30 to 4:00PM.

Participants in this conference will be able to choose from a wide variety of breakout sessions, and there will be many resource tables available, representing public and private offices and agencies providing services within our schools and community. Lunch will be provided courtesy of Inova.
More information is available at the Mental Health and Wellness Conference webpage.


Join the RCMS PTA!

The RCMS PTA supports the school with funding for technology purchases, student and family spirit events, student enrichment programs, staff development, staff appreciation events, and much more!  Go to www.rcmspta.org (school code: 3MA6NU) to join the RCMS PTA and we hope to see you at an upcoming meeting on Thursday, September 26!

You can also stop by our PTA table at the Back-To-School Nights to join in person (cash or checks accepted) and to learn more about the RCMS PTA.

 


Other FCPS Schools are Sharing....

Tune in here to find out what other schools are sharing about activities and events that may be of interest to you.