SCMS/FCPS Opt Out Information

FORMS TO OPT OUT – FCPS

September 16th, 2020

Each year FCPS provides our families with forms that allow them to opt their students out of participation in surveys, the use of student photos, segments of Family Life Education and other school activities.

This News You Choose message will provide you with direct links to the FCPS web pages that explain the opt out policies AND gives you links to the various forms.

General Opt-Out Information

The 2020-21 Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms flier is now online at https://www.fcps.edu/index.php/registration/opt-out-forms

Any parent or guardian who objects to his or her child’s participation in any or all of the following activities should complete and return the appropriate form(s) to South County Middle School:

  • Release of information about the student for the school yearbook
  • Release of directory information about the student to persons and organizations outside FCPS. Please note that we/the SCMS PTSO will not publish a student directory this year.
  • Use of the student’s image, voice, or name in film, video, website, social media or broadcast.
  • Student participation in the school counseling program.
  • Release of information for commercial purposes.

 

Family Life Education Instructional Program Information

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.

Students in grades 7-8 participate in FLE instruction through their health and physical education course. Student receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE Instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all or lessons. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, non-punitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. Instruction occurs at various times for the instructional units during the 2nd and 3rd quarters of the school year. Please contact your child’s Health and Physical Education teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year please print these forms from the FCPS web site: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle. Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to SCMS prior to Family Life Education Instruction. Our fax number is 703-690-5597. You may also scan a copy to your child’s PE teacher OR send an email to your child’s PE teacher stating which lessons you would like your child to be opted out of. The form is not necessary.

 

Detailed grade-level program descriptions (lesson objectives and descriptive statements) are available for each grade level at Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education, Middle School (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle, and High School (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle. In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available online in FCPS 24-7 Parent View https://fcps.blackboard.com/. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media titles online. Grade level-specific lessons and media are also available for review at your child’s school. Grade level-specific lessons are available at the Fairfax County Regional Library in the City of Fairfax (this location does not have media).

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to providing age-appropriate instruction in the very important topics included in Family Life Education. We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices related to the exciting changes and new challenges he/she will be facing in the next few years. For more information or questions regarding the FLE program, please contact Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or email Carrie Reynolds at cfreynolds@fcps.edu.

 

 

 

We encourage you to visit our school website frequently for updates and announcements. For more detailed information on all school matters, please visit our website at http://www.fcps.edu/southcountyms/

 

For further information on planning and events sponsored by the PTSO, please visit their website at http://www.scmsptso.org/

 

Parents of FCPS students may update contact information online through weCare@School http://www.fcps.edu/news/wecare.shtml, a feature of FCPS 24-7 Learning (Blackboard) or by contacting the student information officer at their child’s school to have the contact information updated in the student information system.