From The Principal
Family,
“I am doing the best I can.” That is all that I can ask from our students and staff right now as this way of living is really starting to weigh on us all. I want to thank all of you who have sent messages of thanks for the efforts of teachers and staff our way. Those messages continue to make the tough days easier. I want to send to you a huge thanks as well for being the best parent community a principal can ask for. And it isn’t just for the praise when you feel it is due, it is also for bringing the tough conversations and issues my way too. We are supposed to be modeling what it means to be lifelong learners for our students and that means that sometimes we are taught some things while we are also doing the teaching. So thank you for being who you are, and for your continued support.
That does not mean we need to do a whole lot more learning! So “X” out of that email you were preparing to send with a new lesson. 😊
Thank you to the many Families who were able to come up to the school to collect items that were left in lockers this week. It was nice to be able to have some short conversations with students I have not seen in such a long time. We still have more items to distribute. I have already sent a message to all students to their fcpsschools.net email accounts about this. If your child was not able to make it to school last week, or if they came and we were not able to provide them with their belongings and they believe they are at school, please ensure they check their email for a message from me. Within that message is a form that will allow them to communicate with us some information that will help us to better facilitate locker item distribution.
So we have gotten some updated information on “Pink Card” distribution for our students who completed Drivers Education. Here is that information:
What: Distribution of Pink Cards for Driver’s Education (Round 1)
Who: 10th grade students who passed drivers education and attended PTSD (Parent Teen Safe Driving) night.
When: May 29, 2020, 10 – 1pm
Where: South County Football Stadium Ticket Booth
How:
- Curbside pick-up for students/families
- Students/families must remain in the car
- Students/families must have a sign prepared in the window with first name, last name, student ID and teacher name.
Round 2: (TBD)
Please click this link to see the requested traffic flow and location for distribution.
I shared with you all that we are not the entity who is responsible for the distribution of refunds for parking passes. Here is the latest information I have received about parking pass refunds. FCPS's Department of Finance Services is near completion of its student fees reimbursement processes. It is anticipated that Financial Services will begin distribution of these refund checks on or about June 8th.
The South County HS library would like to have your input on what you'd like to see the SCHS library promote for summer reading this year. Please share your thoughts by answering the brief questions linked HERE. Please provide your input by Friday, May 29th. Thank you in advance for your participation.
We will be sharing a plan for textbook and library book collection in the near future. Please have your student take the time to collect any books or items that he/she should return to the school so that when that time comes, they are able to locate and turn them in easily.
Families who have not paid their FCPSOn fee have until May 30th to do so via MySchoolBucks.
A few weeks ago, I shared that I, along with the rest of the administrative team were working on an unfortunate issue where we had a student to create a video where a racial slur was used in it. As I stated in my message to you, we would continue to work with school staff; internal and external; and the families to come up with ways to begin healing our school community. In working with the family of the video creator, I received a heartfelt apology from the student where he shared with me that his intentions were not to offend any person of any race. However, he understood how offensive and hurtful his words were to so many. In short, his apology, in my opinion, was sincere and meaningful. Further, he understood that his apology was just the first step in assisting with our healing of our school following his poor judgement and actions. Currently he and his family are working with county staff to take further steps to repair the harm he has done, and I will be working with him along the way. The individual who posted the video and his family are also engaged in this work. It is my intention to have many more students to engage in dialogue on a broader scale within the walls of South County that will move us closer to bridging any gaps that hinder us from better understanding and respecting one another.
Well, that is all that I have for you at this time. I hope that each of you have a restful and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend, and that you are able to enjoy this beautiful weather. Here is another expression of our love for our students from the Student Services Department.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o4N24Fp8cw&feature=youtu.be
#OneStallion
Gary
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
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