From The Principal
Family,
We are quickly approaching the end of this school year and it is without a doubt moving at a pace that is truly difficult to get a hold of. But we refuse to allow the tail to wag the dog here at South County and we are doing our best to be the decision makers in this process and to continue to do our best to keep you all informed.
Let me say to all of you, thank you for the support that you all provided in the parent coffee meetings. In both the senior and the underclassmen meetings, you all asked great questions. We are working to find the answers to any questions we were not able to answer. For our senior parents, I will be sharing the recording of the meeting in a separate KIT message today.
We knew from the very beginning that the Distance Learning efforts were not an exact replacement for face-to-face instruction. Therefore potential gaps in the availability of content would exist and that is why the Continuity of Learning (online resources) were created at the district level. Continuity of Learning (COL), will take place at all three levels between June 29-July 31. All students have access to this support, which includes centrally created resources and school-based virtual office hours. The Instructional Services Department will be partnering with the principal associations on the final details and that information will be forthcoming.
Families received the following information from our superintendent about summer school opportunities this weekend:
FCPS will provide the following learning opportunities this summer:
Special Education Services – Virtual Extended School Year
FCPS will provide Extended School Year (ESY) to students, grades PreK thru 12, whose IEP team determines that the student qualifies for ESY due to significant regression and lack of recovery of skills that were gained during the regular school year prior to the shutdown.
This summer, ESY services will be provided virtually to students June 29-July 24. The learning will be provided through the continued Distance Learning model. The learning materials will be available online and in printed packets mailed to students.
Virtual Preschool Autism Classrooms
Summer learning for preschool autism students will be done virtually from July 2-30. The learning information will be available online and in printed packets mailed to students. Staff will offer virtual parent coaching sessions.
General Education: High School
Virtual Summer High School Credit Recovery classes will be offered at every high school from July 6-24. The virtual program is designed to allow students to recover credit for a failed course or receive targeted intervention to support future success. The program will be free to all students. Schools will be able to invite students who did not fail a course but who may need extra support.
The Online Campus will be open to all students, to enroll in select courses for new credit. Students will complete a full course and participate in daily synchronous (live) communication with teachers. Students who enroll in the Online Campus pay tuition and FCPS is excited to announce that the tuition has been reduced to $375 for this summer. If you have already registered for a course for this summer, you will be receiving additional information about a refund.
Students may also work with their counselors to seek approval to complete a new course through a college or university or through another public or private school that is accredited by Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) and Virtual Private Schools accredited by VCPE.
In addition, FCPS will offer continuity of learning for students using self-directed digital materials available online. All students will have the opportunity to practice mathematics and literacy skills and participate in virtual office hours with math or language arts teachers for support and connection. This program is free to all students and more information about continuity of learning resources will be provided before the end of the school year.
ESOL Online: Language and Literacy Connections:
Current English Learners grades 7-12.
- Monday, June 22-Tuesday, July 14
- Morning session: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., daily OR Evening session: 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., daily
- For more information and to register, contact your ESOL Teacher or visit: ESOL Summer Learning
In line with the summer school information, I have informed teachers that they should be contacting families that have a student in danger of failing sooner than later so that any parent in this situation can have the conversation and make the appropriate plans for summer school if needed.
Student Item Pick-Up directions have been worked out and we are prepared to share them with you now. Please see below:
ALL South County families will have the ability to pick up hallway and physical education locker belongings on the following days:
What: Pick up hallway and physical education locker belongings.
When:
May 18, 2020, from 2 – 4pm, Last Names (A - D)
May 18, 2020, from 4 – 6pm, Last Names (E – K)
May 20, 2020, from 2 – 4pm, Last Names (L – R)
May 20, 2020, from 4 – 6pm, Last Names (S – Z)
May 22, 2020, 9 – 12pm, All Comers
Where: Driving Directions
1) Enter South County HS through Laurel Crest Drive
2) Take a right turn when you reach the bubble
3) Pick up location: The Bubble
4) Exit to Silverbrook Road
How: SC Family/Student Instructions
1) Families/students will write student Last name, First Name and Student ID# on a piece of paper displayed in the windshield.
2) Families/students will be able to pick up multiple students' belongings at one time.
3) SC staff will place belongings in your trunk. Please pop the trunk if you are able.
4) Families/students will stay in their cars the entire time.
I will be sharing this information on the students’ Class Of pages as well so that they have this information.
On a more celebratory side of things, I wanted to share with you all a couple of efforts that have been shared with me to celebrate our seniors. The first is from the Activities Office. The Activities Office would like to congratulate our seniors who have committed to play a sport at the next level! Their hard work and dedication on and off the field has made the South County community very proud over the last four years! We wish you the best of luck during the next stages of your academic and athletic careers! Please click this link to see our virtual signing montage!
The second is an Instagram page that was created by our students to celebrate some of our seniors who have decided on their next journey in life. Simply search @socoseniors on Instagram to see where some of our students are headed. And if your child is a graduating senior who has made their decision, regardless of whether it is to college, the workforce, or the military, please have them share it on this page. We would love to have them be a part of this!
Lastly, our mathematics department put together a short video of them showing that even though we are apart, we are still in this together. Check this out!
Thank you once again for this opportunity to serve as your principal. As taxing as this time has been, I still feel blessed to have you all as parents and your children as those I serve. I wish you a great rest of the weekend and look forward to chatting again with you soon! Take care and be safe! #OneStallion
Gary
From The Activities Office
It is with great pleasure we introduce to the South County community our new athletics booster president, Mr. Tony Devore. Mr. Devore has been a long-time member of the South County community having graduated four children from SCHS…and still has two more to go! He currently has a freshman son on the JV baseball team and another at the middle school. We are super excited to have him at the helm of this essential function for our athletic programming. Additionally, the booster club still has a few more open positions if you’re looking to get involved – Website Curator, Sponsorship Support and General Membership Co-ed. Please email Mr. Devore if you’re interested – tony.devore@me.com.
Mental Health Resources | 24/7 Emergency Numbers
If you are in crisis, text NEEDHELP to 85511, call 1-800-273-TALK, or dial 911; TTY dial 711
CrisisLink Regional Hotline: 703-527-4077 (CrisisLink is a hotline for individuals in crisis or family/friends seeking guidance for how to help a loved one)
Dominion Hospital Assessment and Referral Line: 703-536-2000
Inova Emergency Services: 703-289-7560
Mobile Crisis Unit: 1-844-627-4747
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE
Mental Health Resources | 24/7 Emergency Numbers
If you are in crisis, text NEEDHELP to 85511, call 1-800-273-TALK, or dial 911; TTY dial 711
CrisisLink Regional Hotline: 703-527-4077 (CrisisLink is a hotline for individuals in crisis or family/friends seeking guidance for how to help a loved one)
Dominion Hospital Assessment and Referral Line: 703-536-2000
Inova Emergency Services: 703-289-7560
Mobile Crisis Unit: 1-844-627-4747
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE
|
