From the Principal
Family,
Have you been washing your hands for two cycles of the ABC’s? Well you are supposed to. And if you need to go do that now, go ahead. I’ll still be here when you get back. 😊 It is nuts how this thing has taken over everything so quickly. We are doing our best to ensure that everyone is feeling as though they are in a safe space here at South County. We are encouraging our students to continually keep up their hygiene practices, we are working on outfitting every classroom with wipes, and our custodial staff continues to maintain one of the cleanest facilities in FCPS. If you happen to find yourself in our building and you spot one of these super humans, please let them know just how much you appreciate their efforts!
You may have seen the Tweet I sent out over the past weekend about the success our DECA students who traveled to compete in the state competition for DECA. If you didn’t here is a link to the list of accomplishments the team achieved! Our future leaders went and showed who really was the boss as they racked up a host of wins! And we have the hardware to show for it! Way to go Stallions!
I was not able to attend, but I received word from one of my favorite people that the Choral Concert on Thursday evening was INCREDIBLE! I want to give Mr. Antonio Rodriguez and the Stallion Singers a huge shout out for the performance they put on for our community! These students continue to amaze me with the amount of talent they display and have hidden from me as they walk through the hallways. I think that I am just going to start pulling random students to the side and demand that they share with me their talent. If they claim they don’t have one, I am going to challenge them to reflect and get back to me. Because I am not sure that I will believe them with all I continue to see oozing out of the four classes here! I got it, we can do a season of the hit show from back in the day, FAME 2020!
Friday was another big night for the men’s basketball team and our fans as they moved on to the Semi-Finals of the State Championships for 6A basketball with a great win over a talented Washington and Liberty HS. The next game will be Tuesday, March 10th at Robinson Secondary School.
On Saturday I had the opportunity to come up to school to see what was going on at the Teen Job Fair put on by Supervisor Dan Stork, Supervisor Pat Herrity, the Connection Newspapers, and FCPS. It was so nice to see that there was a great turnout and that students were walking away with lots of information and leads. I was really impressed by our South County DECA students who were in attendance to not only help out by guiding our guests around the building, but also presenting two sessions on Best Practices in Interviewing and Resume Writing. They were fantastic. I have included a link to a few pictures so that you too can get a flavor of the day!
Well we are that much closer to next year. I know, “Say it isn’t so!” is what comes to mind. And as we take steps to get closer, we are in the midst of planning at the admin level for courses that will definitely be offered based on the requests that students have made. We call this the staffing season in our neck of the woods and it becomes very important that we get this right. We want to do the best job possible at ensuring we have the right people in front of your students every day. So as your child continues to ponder and reflect on his/her choices, be sure they communicate with their counselors sooner than later to ensure we have time to make changes before all of the best staff are snatched up by other schools. Trust me, you don’t me having to teacher that French class next year. (Non tu ne sais pas…. Trust me, that was all Google Translate there!)
You are invited to attend any of the following Family Engagement Policy open meetings to provide feedback on the draft Family Engagement Policy. Stakeholders can also participate virtually in each of these meetings by using the link and/or number below. Link to join virtually
Dial-in information:1-571-392-7650 and use the PIN: 8210692975 Family Engagement Policy Open Meeting When: March 12, 2020 (9-10 a.m.) Where: Lake Anne Elementary School Cafeteria
Family Engagement Policy Open Meeting When: March 17, 2020 (7-8 p.m.) Where: Gatehouse Café
Family Engagement Policy Open Meeting When: March 30, 2020 (7-8 p.m.) Where: West Potomac High School Auditorium
Translated versions of the flyer will be coming soon.
Here is a health tidbit from the district office and the Fairfax County health Department:
Hand hygiene saves lives! Did you know that proper hand hygiene may prevent up to 80 percent of infectious diseases? Germs get on your hands and on items you touch throughout the day.
Stop the spread: Without realizing it, people frequently touch their eyes, nose, and mouth AFTER touching contaminated objects, such as doorknobs, handrails, desks, and hand-held devices.
What can you do? The first line of defense is handwashing which is easy, cheap, and effective in preventing the spread of germs. When done correctly, handwashing is the single most effective way to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.
Simple steps to practice proper handwashing are:
- Wet hands
- Lather with soap
- Scrub for 20 seconds (Have fun and sing a song)
- Rinse
- Dry
Lead by example! Remember, children imitate what you do. Remind your kids to wash their hands.
Baby Shark Handwashing Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J54zD_nVZco
Well that is all I have for you this week. Thank you all very much for all that you do to help us be better at taking care of your students. Have a wonderful weekend and take care of yourselves. #OneStallion
Gary
From The Testing Office
March Writing SOL for 11th Graders
The Writing SOL for English 11 and English 11 Honors students will take place on March 11th and 12th. We will be operating on a modified bell schedule on those days. Please be sure to avoid scheduling any appointments on those days. Please remind your student to bring their fully-charged school-issued laptop and charger to school on those days. Students will test first thing in the morning, so it is important to get a good night’s sleep prior to the test and eat breakfast the mornings of the tests. I encourage you to discuss the testing with your student. Best wishes to you and your student.
Families of Advanced Placement Students
This week, your student should have received the Bulletin for AP Students and Parents as well as a letter from the SCHS Testing Office regarding the upcoming AP exams in May. The bulletin and letter contain valuable information regarding scheduling, deadlines, and how to get their AP scores. Please review this information over with your AP student. If you know now that your student has a conflict with one of their AP exams, please see Chris Bird in the Student Services Office (D107-06) by Monday, March 9th or email him at cwbird@fcps.edu. Arrangements can be made to schedule a later exam date, if the request is made to College Board in a timely fashion. However, there may be a fee associated.
From the College and Career Center
Military Night at West Springfield High School
March 12th 7:00-8:30 PM
This event is a fair setting featuring U.S. service academies, ROTC programs, congressional representatives, senior military colleges, and enlistment recruiters. It is open to all FCPS students and their families interested in learning more about military education and service options. Registration is not required.
College Night at South County High School
March 18th 7:00-8:30 PM
A panel of college admission counselors will be sharing recommendations and insights on the college search process, community college options, admissions factors, affordability and financial aid, and managing the application process and making a final decision. The program is best suited for juniors and their families, and registration is not required.
South County MAC
South County MAC provides FREE tutoring on select Saturdays for all core subjects. Our next sessions are March 14 and 28 from 10 am- 1 pm in the SCHS library. South County MAC events are open to all SCHS and SCMS students and parents! We invite parents and students of all backgrounds and demographics to join and attend MAC events. If you are interested or for additional information regarding MAC please contact us at SouthCountyMAC@gmail.com.
Yearbooks
“YEARBOOK SENIOR ADS! SPACE IS RUNNING OUT.
We only have four pages of Senior ad space left and the deadline is approaching. If you would like your senior to be recognized in the ad section of the yearbook- act fast. The deadline for all ads is March 27, but space is assigned first-come, first-served. Ads can be bought for individuals, friends, teams, etc. Yearbook senior ads can be bought at www.yearbookforever.com. Contact Jennifer Delinski at jldelinski@fcps.edu with questions.”
Yearbook sales. 75 books left for presale.
There are only 75 more yearbooks available for the pre-sale price of $75. Once these are sold, there are a limited number of yearbooks that are sold at the end of the year for $85 apiece. Get your book not to guarantee you have one and to save some money. Yearbooks available at www.yearbookforever.com. Contact Jennifer Delinski at jldelinski@fcps.edu with questions”
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.
From the South County Theatre Boosters
Burgers, Fries, and Shake Perhaps?
Join Us on March 16th Right Before St. Patty’s Day for A Fun Afternoon of Socializing and Good Food With Your Theatre Friends and Family
20% of Each Sale Will Go to South County Theatre and Will Help Raise Funds for Our Spring Musical Into the Woods!
Look Forward to Seeing You There!
March 16, 2020
4pm to 9pm
8971 Ox Road, Lorton, VA 22079
Please Identify yourself as part of South County Theatre Boosters
at time of purchase.
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!
NO Morning Attendance Callouts During SOL Testing:
Virginia Daily Attendance Notification Policy morning attendance calls, texts, and e-mails will be suspended during the AP, IB and SOL testing windows for middle and high schools. Students involved in testing are often in designated testing sites within the school during the normal attendance-taking time, so morning attendance notifications will be suspended.
Evening attendance notification will continue as normally scheduled. Elementary schools are not impacted by this attendance suspension. Following are the dates for the morning notification suspension:
- SOL writing testing for middle and high school: March 2–18, 2020
- SOL non-writing testing for middle and high school: April 27-June 5, 2020
14th Annual Golf Classic
The South County High School Athletic Boosters (SCHSAB) announces the 14th Annual Golf Classic to be held on Monday, June 1, 2020 at Laurel Hill Golf Club in Lorton, Virginia. Call your friends and rally a team to come together and enjoy an afternoon golfing at our hometown club, Laurel Hill Golf Club. To register, click here: https://birdease.com/scgolfclassic
The Golf Classic is an important event that funds and sustains our state of the art athletic programs and fields. The Boosters work hard to provide the best atmosphere for our athletes and competitors to excel. Help us lead the charge to be the best in Fairfax County Public Schools. Did you know that the Boosters are a huge part of keeping our fields in such pristine condition? The funds raised by the Boosters help maintain and sustain all the fields both turf and grass, as well as team uniform replacement and equipment. We can’t do it without YOU! Thank you for YOUR SUPPORT!
If you are unable to participate and wish to make a donation, this link also offers the opportunity for you to show your support through sponsorships. Do you own a business or know someone who does? Please consider supporting our efforts through a funding a Sponsorship. To Sponsor the SCHSAB, click here: https://birdease.com/scgolfclassic and follow the Sponsorship button for giving opportunities. Companies and corporate giving are welcome!
Come Golf with us at the 14th Annual Golf Classic! For more information about the tournament or to register to play please click here: https://birdease.com/scgolfclassic
For more information on playing golf at the Classic or a sponsorship opportunity, please contact Mike Hickman at michael_a_hickman@yahoo.com or Dan Clarke at danimalcl@aol.com
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
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
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
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 March 14th News You Choose will be March 12th at noon. Please send all submissions to DBoullianne@fcps.edu.
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