RCMS Updates - Week of December 2, 2019


RCMS Front

Important Upcoming Events

December 5 - Parent Coffee, RCMS Library, 9:00-10:00AM

December 6 - Anchor Day

December 6 - RCMS vs. Hughes Basketball Games, 5:15PM

December 9-13 - Book Fair (see hours below)

December 3-January 3 - Winter Break

January 6 - School resumes (A Day)


Principal's Message

Please see the latest message from Principal Stokes here


RCMS Parent Coffee

Parents, we invite you to join us for our December Parent Coffee,  December 5, 2019 from 9:00-10:00AM in the library. 

Rachel Carson Middle School is hosting parenting specialist, Rachel Bailey, for a parenting workshop about raising children with high self-esteem in a high pressure culture. As a parent, you want your children to feel good about themselves and meet their full potential. But how can we raise children with healthy self-esteem when they compare themselves to others and believe they aren't doing or being enough (no matter how successful they actually are)?  In this workshop, you'll learn exactly what to DO and SAY so that children believe in themselves -- and thrive -- even in a culture where high-pressure standards seem unattainable.

For more information, you may visit Rachel Bailey’s website at http://www.rachel-bailey.com


Attention All Basketball Lovers…..

Come out to Rachel Carson and support our students as they take on Hughes Middle School this Friday night!

There are 4 games with doors opening at 5:15 and the last game ending around 8:45.

Come cheer on both the Rachel Carson & Hughes Step teams!

Tickets will be sold at the door for $5.00.  There will also be snacks, drinks and pizza for sale.

All students need to be picked up by 9:00 PM -- please plan accordingly!


Book Fair

December 9-13, RCMS Library

Open Daily 7:15AM-2:30PM

Evening Hours:

Tuesday, December 10, 6:00-8:00PM

Wednesday, December 11, 6:00-9:00PM

Mark your calendars for the PTA-RCMS Book Fair!  This is a great place to come to grow those personal libraries, and books always make great gifts!  Students who wish to make a purchase will be allowed to visit the Book Fair during school hours.  In addition, we invite families to visit during the posted evening hours.  If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up here. All proceeds benefit the RCMS library. See you there!


Deadline for AAP Level IV Referrals

This is a friendly reminder that the deadline for referring students in Grades 2-7 for AAP full-time Level IV consideration is due no later than January 9, 2020.  Parents are welcome to submit early, but no late referrals will be accepted.  We advise parents not to wait for pending abilities test scores if they would like their student screened. While the Grade 2 screening pool casts a starting point for screening some students, test scores are only one factor in the eligibility decision. 

If you would like more information about Level IV AAP services or the screening process for Level IV, there are two parent presentations available on the AAP public website.  Referral can be submitted to Brenda Humphrey at any time up through January 9. 


Holiday Sweet Shoppe

Service Hours for Students

The PTA Hospitality Committee is sponsoring a  Holiday Sweet Shoppe for RCMS staff on Thursday, December 12.  This is an event our staff looks forward to every year!  The PTA is requesting donations of homemade treats.  All items should be dropped off on December 12, by 7:30AM in the main office.  Participating students are eligible for 2 service hours.  Please see donation details at Holiday Sweet Shoppe Sign-Up


8th Grade Parents: Volunteer to Chaperone for the Finance Park Field Trip through VolunteerHub Parent Access:

We are in need of volunteers to help facilitate the 8th grade field trips to Finance Park.  This is an amazing opportunity for our students and we need your help. This is not your typical field trip.  You arrive at the facility (Frost MS) at 7:45AM, one hour ahead of the students to receive training.  Once the kids arrive, you are stationed in a storefront to facilitate the decision making with them. Your volunteer commitment ends at 1:00PM.

This is a real life simulation where the kids "play an adult" for the day. They are given a salary and a credit score and create a monthly budget.  They move throughout the park paying bills and making economic decisions!  It is a wonderful experience for them and for the parent volunteers! 

We need volunteers the following dates:

  • January 7, 2020  Explorers Team
  • January 8, 2020 Voyagers Team
  • January 9, 2020 Wolves Team
  • January 13, 2020 Xtreme Team
  • January 14, 2020 Yellow Jackets Team
  • January 22, 2020 Dolphins Team

If you are available to help with your student's team, please complete the Volunteer Hub below:

 VolunteerHub Parent Access & Instructions

 Thank you for your interest in volunteering for your student’s field trip to JA Finance Park® Fairfax County!

Sign up to volunteer for this unique experience at: https://www.myja.org/parents/fairfax

Logging In for the First Time:

Navigate to myja.org/parents/fairfax and click the green “Sign Up to Volunteer” button.

  1. At the bottom of the page, click on “Create New Account.”
  2. Choose a username and password that you will be able to remember, and click “Next.”
  3. Fill out your profile, completing all boxes that are indicated as required by the asterisks.
  4. On the confirmation page, click “Next” to view available slots for upcoming dates.

Finding and Registering For Your School:

    1. In the top right corner, click the magnifying glass to open the search bar.
    2. Enter the name of your student’s school: Carson Middle School
    3. Identify which date your student will be visiting JA Finance Park.
    4. Unsure? Contact your child’s Civics teacher.
    5. Click “More” to see additional details on the volunteer experience. Or if you’re ready, click “Sign Up.”
  • Read Junior Achievement’s Volunteer Conduct Standards Form & Social Media Policy and agree to it using the check box at the bottom of the screen.
  • Registration complete! Check your email for a confirmation message containing the event’s details.

We look forward to welcoming you to JA Finance Park!


Absences Add Up!  Schedule Family Travel During School Breaks

Fairfax County Public Schools is required to keep track of student participation in school, through attendance reporting to the state of Virginia.

You may have received:

  • one or more phone calls, emails or texts.
  • a chronic absence letter in the mail, indicating that your student  has accumulated 5 or more excused and/or unexcused all-day absences
  • a letter in the mail requesting that a doctor note be provided when your student has accumulated an excessive amount of excused and/or unexcused all-day absences
  • electronic messages when your student did not arrive in class on time (tardy) or when the school was not notified that the student would be absent.
  • electronic messages when your student’s absence was considered unexcused, even when reported in advance.

It is vital that parents access the school attendance phone line or attendance e-mail when they know that their students will miss school. Knowing the reason why students are absent helps school personnel understand if a specific reason (such as illness or family hardship) is keeping them out of school. 

When parents know that their students must be out for a specific period (four or more days in a row), students should come to the front office to pick up a prearranged absence form. This must be done at least three to five days in advance of the absence. This gives administrators and teachers time to consider the work, tests, and projects the student may need to turn in upon their return to school. Parents should avoid end-of-semester or end-of-course exam periods, state testing periods; etc., when making plans. Please make every effort to arrange travel during school breaks.

Absences add up, and research indicates that missing 10 percent of the school year, for any reason, can have a negative impact on student success. Learn more about FCPS’ attendance expectations.


Join the RCMS PTA!

The RCMS PTA supports the school with funding for technology purchases, spirit events, student enrichment programs, staff development, staff appreciation events, and much more!  Go to www.rcmspta.org (use school code: 3MA6NU) to join the RCMS PTA.

To stay up to date on PTA news, please go to our website, likeus on Facebook and subscribe to RCMS PTA News You Choose emails.


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.

From Westfield HS: Westfield High School will host a community showing of the movie Angst, a documentary featuring interviews with kids and young adults who suffer, or have suffered, from anxiety and what they've learned about it. We invite all families in the Westfield Pyramid to attend on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 6:30PM in the Westfield Auditorium.