From the Principal
Family,
We have continued to rock and roll both inside and outside of the building this week. But before I go into this week, I want to step back in time to capture a couple of missed items.
Please join us in celebrating the creativity and accomplishments of the 42 South County students who competed against other high schools in the Science Olympiad regional competition Saturday, Jan. 25, on the Virginia Tech campus. Having prepared for months to take on specific problem-solving challenges in the sciences ---- biology, chemistry, physics and earth science --- and also in engineering, these students demonstrated critical thinking, team work and outstanding initiative in preparing for this competition and on competition day. The team has qualified to continue on to the State Tournament March 28. We are extremely proud of these students and have been so impressed not only with their love for science, but also with their maturity and consideration for each other. We are especially proud of our freshmen, who were in many cases learning scientific concepts they won't formally learn until they are seniors and who strongly competed with upperclassmen.
Last week when golden voices of the South County Chorus blessed the community with a fantastic concert lead by our incredible choral director Mr. Antonio Rodriguez! I have been by the choral classroom many times and I have to say that the harmony that spews out into the hallway is joyful and magnificent. This was true yet again last Saturday as our students put on an outstanding display of selections for everyone to enjoy.
Stepping into this week, we another Fine Arts Group made a huge splash! The Theater Department students won Regionals in the One Act Plays for their show Conflict. Our Thespians have been lighting it on fire since I’ve been here and personally I think we got snubbed last year. But this year, Mrs. Rumberger and her students put their proverbial foot in it and earned the accolades they undoubtedly deserve. We are so proud of the work that they have done and wish them the best as they move on to states!
We had a number of individual track athletes (20 total) on both the men’s and women’s side to advance to the states. The men’s and women’s 4x200 teams are on their way, the men’s 4x800 are moving on, and we have two young ladies headed to the show in the 55 meter dash. We are proud of all of these athletes and look forward to rooting them on in the next round.
One of our rock star freshman gymnasts won the Regional "All-Around" in gymnastics. What a bright future she has, and we will all be watching as she moves on to states to further put her talents on display.
We have 4 swimmers and one diver who will be making the splash at states as well. (You see what I did there? Splash? Come on.... that was pretty good there! LOL)
Outside the sports lines on the adult side of things, the faculty spent our faculty meeting still working on getting better in the classroom. The staff, led by our Multi-Systems of Support team, engaged in work in Tier I and II students and providing them with strategies that will help to make them more successful in the long run. We also shared our mid-year data around our 9th grade cohort students as well as students who have been identified as needing just a little more support in the classroom. We are continuing to find ways to find ways for our young Stallions and we will not stop!
Also we have two of our staff members who were selected as Outstanding Employees and were finalists at the South County Pyramid level. These individuals were Jeremiah Caven (Outstanding Leader) and Ilan Chiprut (Outstanding Secondary Teacher). We have already received word that Mr. Chiprut has moved on to be a finalist at the Region level. Keep your fingers crossed as he competes with other outstanding teachers across the entire county. We Got This!!!
The College Partnership Program (CPP) teamed up with the South County MAC Scholars program to speak with students about the need to stay connected with peers who are moving in the right direction and how to better use the human resources around them to ensure success. Mrs. Vera Woodson, South County Business Teacher and MAC Scholars team member, was the keynote speaker at the CPP meeting. Students were very engaged and walked away with valuable information they will be able to apply today and far into the future.
In the community news, in case you haven’t heard, the Lorton Library will be closing for renovations on April 1. 1, 2020. The library is expected to be closed for 21 months. The book drop will close as well on the 11th. All materials checked out from the Lorton Library at the time of closing will have an extended due date. All library materials may be returned to any Fairfax County Public Library branch. While the Lorton branch is closed, students and families can visit other nearby library branches such as Kingstowne Sherwood Regional, and Pohick Regional.
On March 7, 2020, South County HS will again serve as one of the hosts for the 2020 Fairfax County Teen Job Fair and Career Building Workshop. The fair at South County will run from 2:00pm – 4:00pm. You can find the link to the flyer here.
Vaping continues to be a huge concern all across the nation, let alone Fairfax County. INOVA is sponsoring a webinar on the subject to provide families with more information on the dangers of vaping on Tuesday, February 18, 2020 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. You can find a link to the flyer where you can register for the webinar or register to attend the face-to-face session here. Please participate so that we can all be more informed about this epidemic that is unfortunately consuming many of our youth’s lives. Here are two other videos (video 1 video 2) that one of our concerned parents shared with me.
Well, that is all I have (like that wasn’t enough). Thank you for your continued support. We can see the light at the end of this tunnel and we are surely in stride. Run with the Stallions and be a part of the best high school experience in the county! #OneStallion
Gary
Yearbooks
Buy your YEARBOOK today. Yearbooks cost $75 until the end of March. Get yours now before the price goes up. All sales are online at www.yearbookforever.com
SENIOR ADS FOR YEARBOOK
Senior ads for yearbook are on sale at www.yearbookforever.com until March. Space is limited. Get yours today to congratulate your senior on a job well done. (Ads can be bought for individuals, best friends, or school group of seniors- friends, seniors on teams, clubs, etc.).
Attention Senior Parents:
To order the official 2020 South County High School graduation announcements please go to http://www.balfour.com. Balfour is our vendor for those products.
Please contact Balfour with any questions 703-941-1436 or balfournova@yahoo.com.
Do you have a child interested in the Arts? Don’t miss out on registering for Fairfax County’s Institute for the Arts starting on February 3rd! Classes are first come first serve!
Visit the FCPS IFTA website at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning-programs/camps-and-institutes-institute-arts-ifta
or follow IFTA on social media!
Attendance Office
Early Dismissals
Please send a note with your student in the morning to give to the Attendance Office first thing upon arrival. They will receive a pass for an early dismissal at that time.Phones calls should be reserved for sickness, late arrivals, and unscheduled events. Not only does this ensure your student will be dismissed on time but it also does not interrupt instructional time for other students as the pass is delivered.
Thank-you for your assistance!
South County Drama Department
Auditions for the spring musical, Into the Woods, are fast approaching! Go to southcountydrama.org to review all audition information. Have questions? Please contact Molly Rumberger at mdrumberger@fcps.edu.
Optional Audition Workshop on February 13th from 3-5pm.
Springs Sports Tryouts
February 24, 2020
The activities office would like to remind all families of those interested in trying out for a spring sport that their child must have:
- On file a VHSL physical form and concussion education signature page. This can be turned in to the activities office.
- An emergency care form turned in to the head coach of the program.
- The Activities Office
- We looking forward to your child’s participation!
- 2020 South County HS Spring Sports are as follows: Baseball, Softball, Crew, Outdoor Track & Field, Soccer (Boys & Girls), Lacrosse (Boys & Girls). Tennis (Girls & Boys) Email address for all head coaches can be found here: https://southcountyhs.rschoolteams.com/page/3190.
- *All tryout information and forms can be found by clicking this link: https://southcountyhs.rschoolteams.com/page/3349
South County Athletic Boosters Club
South County Community!
The South County Athletic Booster Club would like to invite any and all interested community members to attend our February boosters meeting on February 18, 2020 @6:30pm, in Health Room F110. The club will be discussing the following major initiatives and we want to get you involved!
- Current open positions in the club for the 2020 – 2021 school year.
- Annual SCABC Golf Class at Laurel Hill – June 1, 2020
- Weight Room Renovation Project
- Stadium Scoreboard Upgrade Project
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Denise Perez, SCABC President & Brett Garner, Director of Student Activities
Mulch Sale/Spring Fundraiser
South County High School will be sponsoring a mulch sale with delivery scheduled for Saturday, March 28th, 2020.
For more information click 2020 SC Mulch Fundraiser
This Fundraiser benefits South County's Baseball, Boy's Soccer, and Wrestling Teams.
South County Crew
Save the date! February 29, 2020
Ergathon 2020; Row Across the USA
ERGATHON 2020 - Row Across the USA Join South County Crew on February 29th, 2020 as we attempt to row across the roughly 4000 kilometers of the United States in celebration of the 2020 Olympics!
South County Crew Club members and CrossFit Lorton invite you to the Row Across the U.S.A challenge where every participant will have the opportunity to row up to 10,000 meters in an hour with an overall cumulative goal of 4000 KM.
The first 100 participants to register before February 17th, 2020 will receive a free t-shirt with the promo code EARLYBIRD. Registration fee is $35. Earlybird registrants will also have the opportunity to reserve their time slot. Please go to https://tinyurl.com/ergathon2020 to register. Walk-in registrants are also welcome.
South County Crew is a national award-winning club that is completely self-funded. We rely on South County Stallion families and our community to help support our program. Come out, have some fun in what we affectionately call The Pain Cave, on the ergs with us and help us raise funds for our Spring 2020 Season. If you are unable to come row with us, please consider making an in kind donation in lieu of rowing at
https://sc-crew.org/southcounty/fundraising/.
For additional information or sponsorship opportunities please contact: Terry Dover at sococrewfundraising@gmail.com
GLORY DAYS
Please save your itemized receipts when you dine with our friends at Glory Days from now through April 5, 2020. SoCo Crew will receive a donation when you send these receipts to our fundraising chair, Terry Dover. Please click here for details.
Golf Club Donations Needed
The Physical Education department is currently taking donations of your used golf clubs. We are looking to add a golf unit in the spring and are looking for your wedges, 9 irons and 8 irons only. Please contact Erich Gunderman @ cgunderman@fcps.edu to arrange a drop-off.
Thank you for supporting SCHS PE Department
Lorton Community Action Center
Get in the game for a great cause! 13th Annual Monopoly Tournament to benefit Lorton Community Action Center. GO and make a difference in your community! Saturday, March 7, 2020/9am-2pm/Moose Lodge-9612 Fernedge Lane/Lorton, VA 22079/703-339-6688. Table sponsorships available from $300, $500 and $1000.
To register or sponsor a table click here.
The 2020 Spring into Action Gala is LCAC's annual spring gala which is the biggest fundraiser of the year. This year, the gala will be held at the Harbour View event center on Saturday, April 18, 2020 from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM. The evening includes a silent auction, cocktail hour with an open bar and passed hors d'ouevres, plated dinner and dessert, live music and more.
To register or sponsor click here.
Important Upcoming Dates
February 17 Holiday/President's Day
March 3 Student Holiday/School Planning
March 7 Teen Job Fair and Career Building Workshop
April 3 Third Grading Period Ends
April 6-10 Spring Break
April 13 Student Holiday/Teacher Work Day
May 25 Memorial Day
June 8 Graduation/No School
June 12 Last Day of School/ 2 hour school day
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FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of our South County HS Staff. Just click FCPS CARES. |
Submission Deadline for February 22nd News You Choose will be February 20th at noon. Please send all submissions to DBoullianne@fcps.edu.
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