Important Upcoming Events
May 24 - SOL Reading test: Grade 8
May 31 - Memorial Day Holiday - No School or Check-in
June 8 - Election Day- All Students Virtual Learning Day
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Update on Virtual and In-Person Learning
Dear RCMS Families,
This week marks a milestone as we enter our second 4-day week of in-person learning. Throughout our last two months of concurrent instruction we have worked to provide our students with high-quality learning experiences for both our in-person and virtual students, and promoted continuity in a time of novelty and change.
At this time we’ve reached a point in our concurrent instruction where we are unable to change virtual or in-person preferences. We will not be able to honor additional requests to switch the status of your child from in-person to virtual, or from virtual to in-person learning. This decision supports our concurrent learning, and minimizes the disruptions to our daily schedules and instructional environments.
Grading Update From FCPS- Deadline Extended to June 1st
2020-21 End of Year Grading Flexibility
- Use of NM (no mark) instead of F grade for final mark
- Use of P (pass) instead of a final mark of D/D+
- Final exams used only to raise student grades
Please review the voice-over video regarding the EOY grading flexibility and contact your child's counselor if you have any questions.
Also, students/families may request a mark of P (pass) instead of any passing letter grade as their final mark in any course. If you want to make a request, the form is to be returned to school counselor by June 1, 2021.
SOL Testing Information
All SOLs will be completed in person at Rachel Carson MS on the dates above. If you need to make any changes or updates to your testing intentions, please email our School Testing Coordinator, Lauren Ross (lmross@fcps.edu). The Google Form is officially closed and cannot receive any submissions.
Return to School Family Resource Guide
The information in this guide will help families know what to expect as children return to school. The guide includes steps families will need to take at home in preparation for the return to school. Please take time to review the information!
A Family Guide for 2020-21 Return to School
Tuesday, June 8th is Democratic Primary Election Day- All Students to be Virtual
Tuesday, June 8th, is the Democratic Primary Election. The Fairfax County Electoral Board and the City of Fairfax Electoral Board will be using 165 school facilities as polling locations, therefore all students will have a virtual synchronous learning day (no in-person classes) for students.
ALL students will login to classes and learn from home on this day - in-person students will NOT report to school.
Student Pictures- Pick Up
If you ordered Picture-Day pictures for your student, please see the information below.
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In-Person Students: Pictures for in-person students were distributed through their Panther Time Connections class. If they did not receive it in their class, please have your student check in the main office.
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Virtual-Only Students: If your virtual-only student took a picture and you ordered, you may pick up their packets from school. If you did not order, you may still pick up the proof and order through the information in the proof packet. Please come to Entrance #1, Monday-Friday 7:00a.m-3:00p.m. Please tell us your student's name and that you are picking up their pictures. A staff member will bring them out to you.
If you want to view your student’s picture proofs but do not want to come to school to pick them up, please contact LifeTouch customer Service at 1800-736-4753.
If you have any questions, please contact Assistant Principal Sybil Terry.
The RCMS Book Fair is open!
Spring has sprung! Enjoy the outdoors with a good book.
We are excited to announce that the RCMS Book Fair is open! There are several new titles, including the Virginia Readers Choice Awards. Check it out here:
Bookworm Central
Your purchase helps the school. 15% of all orders are given to the RCMS PTA. Last year the RCMS library used this money to purchase over 150 electronic books for students to read during quarantine.
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Here Comes the Bus Mobile App
Know when your bus is approaching your stop! Here Comes the Bus® app is a school bus tracking app that can simplify morning and afternoon routines for parents and students by giving them real-time bus location and text or email notification alerts, helping them get to the bus stop on time. Here Comes the Bus® utilizes our GPS data and an easy to use customizable map that works on one or multiple devices, such as a tablet or smartphone.
Using the app is EASY! You will need the FCPS school district code 28982 and a SIS Parent Account (contact your child's school if you do not have an SIS Parent Account). Please be sure to follow the detailed instructions here to set up your account.
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Credit Recovery
Credit Recovery is an opportunity for students to recover two high-school course credits.
Each high school will offer credit recovery courses and select standardized test prep classes for its students during two sessions:
· Session 1: June 28-July 16, 2021
· Session 2: July 21-August 6, 2021.
Students can take one course or class per session. Students are eligible for credit recovery courses if they receive a “NM” at the end of the school year. Students who need to earn a verified credit are eligible for a test prep class.
View the Credit Recovery page for details.
Online Registration Dates: Registration Link
Session 1: Monday, April 26, 2021 - Monday, June 21, 2021
Session 2: Monday, April 26, 2021 - Monday, July 12, 2021
FCPS Cares Program
The FCPS CARES Program 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 acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.
Watch this video to learn more
Course Requests for 2021-2022
Course Requests for Rising Ninth Graders: To see the list of courses that your child selected for seventh or eighth grade, please log into your SIS ParentVUE account and click on the course requests tab. Directions for how to view your child’ course requests online in ParentVUE can be accessed at the following link : Online Course Requests in ParentVue . Students can also view their list of courses on the course request tab in SIS StudentVUE.
This list of courses is NOT a schedule, but a confirmation of the courses entered into the student information system. Elective choices are subject to change based on space, teacher availability, and schedule conflicts. Please review this preliminary list of courses. Parents, please contact your child’s base high school if you have questions or concerns about the selected courses.
Daily Bell Schedule
Click here for our current bell schedule:
https://carsonms.fcps.edu/about/bell-schedule
Reporting Absences
If a student needs to miss any class time at all, be it one period or a full day, parents or guardians should always report the details of the absence to the RCMS Attendance Office. Teachers do not have access to mark a student excused for an absence, which is why it is imperative that parents contact the attendance office (instead of, or in addition to, the teacher) when their child is absent so we can mark them correctly.
To report an absence, parents have these options:
- Use the link to our online attendance form (preferred) from the main page of the RCMS website:
- Send an email with full details to: CarsonMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu, or
- Call the attendance line at 703-925-3636 being sure to include the spelling of your student’s last name and reason for the absence.
If your student is scheduled to be in the building that day but, instead, needs to attend classes virtually, it is very important to let us know!
Please contact the attendance office with the methods above so we don't worry why your student is not in the building. Parents will see the “SYC” code in ParentVUE when their student is absent on their assigned in-person day, but attends class online. FCPS eNotify messages will also go out to parents who have not reported their student's absence.
If your in-person student will be picked up early for an appointment, please send them to the front office in the morning with a note stating the time of the dismissal. Students participating virtually who will be missing class due to appointments or otherwise should have parents contact attendance with the times and the reason the student will be missing classes.
For more information on the attendance policies, please visit the RCMS Attendance page.
 FCPS Student Laptop Return Dates
All 7th and 8th grade students will need to return their FCPS issued laptops at the end of this school year. In person students who will be at Carson on Friday, June 11, will return their laptop and charger at the end of the day. Any students who are not at Carson on June 11, including all virtual students, will return their laptops on Monday, June 14 anytime from 9:30 am – 2:00 pm. Stay tuned for more details for the June 14 laptop return date. Students who have been using a personal laptop for their learning this year may return their FCPS issued laptop and charger to the main office anytime between 7:00 am – 2:30 pm starting June 1. Students enrolled in summer programs will receive specific details about laptop return in the coming weeks.
Notifications for In-Person Students
If your in-person student will be picked up early for an appointment, please send them to the front office in the morning with a note stating the time of the dismissal. Students participating virtually who will be missing class due to appointments or otherwise should have parents contact the attendance office with the times and the reason the student will be missing classes.
If your student is scheduled to be in the building on any school day but, instead, needs to attend classes virtually, it is very important to let us know. Please contact the attendance office with the methods below so we don't worry why your student is not in the building. Parents will see the “SYC” code in ParentVUE when their student is not physically present on their assigned in-person day, but does attend class online. FCPS eNotify messages will also go out to parents who have not reported their student's absence.
To report an absence or virtual participation, parents have these options:
- Use the link to our online attendance form (preferred) from the main page of the RCMS website.
- Send an email with full details to: CarsonMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu, or
- Call the attendance line at 703-925-3636 being sure to include the spelling of your student’s last name and reason for the absence.
RCMS Library Curbside Checkout
At RCMS, outside Door #1
11AM-2PM every Monday (excluding holidays)
Books can also be returned at these times.
Curbside Library Book Checkout is now in operation. This service will be held every Monday, unless otherwise noted. Please check the Library page on our website for further details: RCMS Library
Students can reserve books ahead of time through the Destiny Discover online library catalog by placing them on hold, then pick them up at the next curbside checkout.
If you are cannot make it to the regularly scheduled curbside checkout time, please contact Mr. Treakle to make other arrangements.
Questions? Contact one of your librarians: Mr. Treakle or Ms. Donovan
We look forward to seeing you at curbside checkout!
VIP Summer Camp at Carson is back!
Details can be found here: VIP CAMP INFO
To register please click VIP CAMP REGISTRATION
Questions? Ask Mr. Pawlowski at ajpawlowski@fcps.edu
VIP Registration closes on Friday, May 28th
SEE YOU AT CAMP!!!
Who to Contact
If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of Who to Contact. This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact to be redirected to their email address: RCMS Staff Directory.
Other Schools are Sharing....
Chantilly Summer Theater
Chantilly High School is thrilled to offer the Chantilly Summer Theatre program this July! This program is open to ANY rising 8th – 12th graders, and the performance offers a multitude of opportunities for student technicians and performers. This is a great way for students to get back on stage, or behind the scenes. You do not have to go to Chantilly High School to participate. This link provides all the information regarding the summer program; if you have any questions, feel free to email: chstheatrecamp@gmail.com.
"Camelot and Camelittle" by Stacey Lane
CAMP DATES: July 5-17, 2021 Monday-Saturday (NO camp on July 10-11)
WHERE: Chantilly High School Auditorium
Times: 9am-1:00pm
Performances: July 16 and July 17 @ 11am
Tuition: $200.00 per participant
Auditions: June 5th @ Chantilly High School
Oakton High School Dance Team Tryouts
Oakton High School’s Dance Team tryouts are coming up soon! Tryouts will be May 24-June 4. To find out more information about the team and tryout process, students should fill out the Tryout Interest Form. If you have any questions, contact Coach Karen Rowley at oakton.danceteam@gmail.com.
Oakton High School Robotics Team
The Oakton High School robotics team is hosting a STEM Open House Saturday, May 29th from 1:00-4:00 pm. Activities including driving a robot, making DIY gadgets, learning about our robotics team, and more! CDC and FCPS regulations will be in place, so make sure you bring a mask and socially distance. Please help the team plan for the event and keep everyone safe by indicating your arrival time on this sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f4fa4a9292-oakton; Any questions regarding this event can be directed to Gwen Harter and the Robotics Business Team at cougar.robotics.business@gmail.com.
Westfield Rising 9th Grade students
You are invited to visit the school for an in-person mini orientation on May 24th from 1-3 P.M. At this event, future Bulldogs will have a tour of the building, learn how to join extracurricular activities, and meet current faculty and students. This will be a fun opportunity to ask questions and become familiar with the high school environment.
The event is free and transportation will be provided. Busses will leave from each middle school at 12:45 and return at approximately 3:15. All participants will be required to wear a mask at all times and due to social distancing requirements, the number of participants is limited to 225. If you would like to attend, please fill out the form at this link: https://forms.gle/WDwTGrqCbgyNn5B47 Parents must be able to pick up their child from Rachel Carson Middle school at 3:15PM.
Westfield High School Boys Basketball
Westfield will be conducting Basketball workouts for rising freshman on Mondays, from 1:30 to 3pm and Wednesday’s from 5pm to 6:30pm.
Please refer to Westfield's school website for emergency care forms to be completed in advance, and submitted when attending the workout session.
South Lakes Boosters present:
Rising Seahawks (Non-Contact) Football Camp 2021. July 19-23, 9am-2pm at South Lakes High School, Reston, VA. The cost for Rising 9th graders is $150.00. Contact Coach Hescock with any questions or concerns at: jrhescock@fcps.edu. All drills are non-contact.
Fall Sports at South Lakes High Start on Monday August 2nd. (Boys and Girls golf will begin on July 29th) Please reach out to the coaches for more sport- specific information.
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