In this issue:
- From The Principal
- Select Digital Resources
- Schoology
- PSAT/NMSQT Testing
- Activity Office News
- From The PTSO
- Stallion Spirit Store
- Emergency Care Information
- Stuff the Bus
- FCPS Cares
From the Principal
Family,
I hope this message finds each of you safe and well. I have to admit that this holiday weekend arrived just in the nick of time! While we have truly enjoyed having our students back in the building, getting this plane built as it taxies down the runway has been a bit of a task. Unfortunately, we are still working out some of the kinks as we continue to find better ways of doing some things in this COVID environment. But what has been in our favor has been the patience and flexibility from all our stakeholders in this Family and I want to thank you all for that. We have received feedback from parents, students, and staff on how we can make each day a little bit better. We have also received feedback on many of the things we have put in place that have gone very well. Thank you for all that you have shared with us, and please know that all of it is welcome and valued as we stand by our commitment of giving everyone a voice in our space!
Students are now knee deep in instruction after a week and a half of relationship building with their teachers, and I have heard that they are ready for it. As I have walked the halls and either had conversations with students in passing or inside classrooms, I have seen and felt the excitement of being back in school from them. They have shared with me their expectations for the year and I have been taking notes and have shared that information with our staff. I hope that you will continue to encourage them to let us know how things are going. We are here to listen and make adjustments where we can. It is after all their school and their experience.
I would like to thank all of our Families who have been able to make it out to our athletic events over the past couple of weeks. It has been nice to see you all out cheering our student athletes and participants and enjoying a sense of normalcy through their extracurriculars. We had a good crowd at the South County - Hayfield football game. The band came out and played the National Anthem alongside the Hayfield band. That was an awesome way to open up the year for the two groups! Don’t tell Hayfield, but I think we were just a tad bit better!
The Cheer Team looked and sounded awesome as well. We have a very talented group of young ladies who have put in a great deal of effort to represent and lead us in supporting our football team as the 13th man on the field! And I dare not forget the always impressive Student Section who showed out in their Hawaiian-Out garb! It was inspirational to see so many students participating and being so involved in the banter back and forth across the field with the spirited Hayfield fans.
And lets not forget the work put in by the Stallion Football Team. It was a great feeling being able to walk away from another school with a great win! The team knocked off some of that rust in a 22-0 victory Thursday night. They played well all over the field and it was truly a full team victory. As Coach Rolander stated at the end of the game to his players, there is still much more work to do, but what a great start!
Back inside the building, we are continually making adjustments to our practices to ensure the safest environment we can for our staff and students. I wanted to give a huge shout out to Coach Tynan Rolander for his efforts along these lines as he has put together a plan to pull his athletes out of the cafeteria during lunch to make more space for all students. The absence of these students in the cafeteria is truly noticeable and appreciated. As we continue along this year, we will work to find even more ways to accommodate students alternatively so that we can ensure safe and comfortable spaces for our students in the building.
In an effort to limit the number of messages you are receiving about COVID cases, the district leadership has asked us to limit the number of notifications we send out and send one per week. Parents may still go to the dashboard to see how South County is impacted by COVID cases in real time as the dashboard will still receive that information as cases are reported to the Health Department.
On the heels of that, you should have received communication from the district informing you that there is now an expedited process to have your child who is fully vaccinated and asymptomatic returned to school when they are paused due to a possible exposure to an individual who has reported testing positive for COVID-19.
FCPS is collaborating with the Fairfax County Health Department to adjust the investigation process and speed up the return to the classroom for fully vaccinated, asymptomatic students.
Our goal is to ensure our students are in the classroom as much as possible, while also keeping our schools safe and healthy for everyone - staff, students, and visitors.
Starting September 7, fully vaccinated, asymptomatic students will be able to return to in-person learning and activities following a simple process that will reduce the time needed to process potential close contacts. That process is outlined in the messaging a student receives when they are paused due to a possible exposure.
So in the end, the goal is to have as many of our students to be fully vaccinated as possible so that we can keep our students in the building as much as possible. As I have stated previously, we all do have a part to do in this fight. I thank you in advance for your willingness to be a part of this fight against the virus and Stopping The Spread! Finally along these lines, it is so very important that we are continually assessing our children’s health and ensuring that we are not sending our children to school if they are in any way exhibiting symptoms of being sick.
Lastly, I want to share that I have heard your concerns about students who have been paused and what access to learning they do/don’t have while out for a number of days. Please know that I, along with the other principals throughout the district, are working to find better ways to keep the continuity of learning going for those students until they are able to return to us. As easy as it may seem to stream students into the building, there are a number of barriers that make this task tougher than it appears to be. I will share whatever gains are made to you as soon as I am able to. I fully understand the amount of stress students can find themselves under when they are forced to miss school due to events beyond their control. Until that time, please continue to have your child visit their Schoology class pages to stay up to date with what is going on in classes. Teachers have been made aware of just how important it is for our students to be able to have as much information as possible when out. Yet again, I thank you for your patience and understanding. Seems to be a theme here.
Well that is all I have for you this week. Please continue to enjoy the holiday weekend and do me a favor and hug your child for me. I can’t do it without having to go back to my office and disinfect myself! Thank you for your support and I look forward to sharing more good news next week with you. Take care and continue to be safe! #OneStallion
Gary
Consent for Select Digital Resources
SCHS Families, We Need Your Consent for Select Digital Resources:
At South County High School our teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. You can find our school’s list of the resources that require parental consent here: Digital Resources at South County High School. Additionally, you can find more information about approved digital resources in FCPS here: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/digital-resources.
Included on this page is the link to the Parental Consent form where the enrolling parent or guardian will need to indicate whether or not their student is allowed to use the list of digital resources this year. If you need support with filling out the parental consent web form, please access How to fill out the application permission form.
Schoology
We have distributed the majority of laptops to our students, many students are now beginning to access their Schoology accounts. Schoology is FCPS’ newly adopted learning management system which serves as a learning space that enhances face-to-face and distance learning through communication, collaboration, and personalized learning.
All students have a Schoology account where they will access classroom materials, assignments, class/school-based announcements, and much more. All parents/guardians must have a Parentvue account set up first and then the same username and password can be used to access their Schoology Account. Visit the Schoology Parent/Guardian Resource Kit , to learn how to log into your Schoology account and to access basic navigation features.
Below are some additional video resources to demonstrate what parents/guardians can see and do in Schoology – if you are able, please take a moment to view them:
Parents/Families Video: Welcome to Schoology
Schoology Support Video: What do Parents/Guardians See in Schoology
Testing Corner
From: South County High School
Sent to: All Parents of Rising Tenth and Eleventh Grade Students
Subject: PSAT/NMSQT Testing
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is pleased to announce plans to offer the Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) to students in grades 10-11 this fall. The test will be administered on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, and will be free of charge to enrolled FCPS students. A PSAT/NMSQT Testing Notification letter is posted online. The purpose of this letter is to provide general information about the PSAT/NMSQT School Day opportunity.
The PSAT/NMSQT is a standardized test that measures mathematics and evidence-based reading and writing. The test focuses on reasoning skills, knowledge, and comprehension. It is designed to promote college readiness while preparing students for college entrance assessments. Information about test content and format can be found on the College Board PSAT/NMSQT webpage (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/inside-the-test/key-features). The PSAT/NMSQT is co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. While only students in grade 11 are eligible to compete for National Merit Scholarships, students in grade 10 who take the PSAT/NMSQT gain excellent practice for the PSAT/NMSQT in grade 11 and the SAT college entrance assessment.
- Students will NOT need to register for the test in advance – a test will be available to every 10th and 11th grader at South County High School on October 13.
- Information on activities for 9th graders for October 13th will be forthcoming.
- PSAT/NMSQT administration begins in the morning, according to regular school start times.
- High school academy courses are not held on October 13; high school academy staff will support base school activities, and all high school shuttles are cancelled on this date.
- FCPS transportation is available to all students who regularly use FCPS bus transportation.
We will share exam day schedules and additional details in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT administration at South County High School, please contact Chris Bird, SCHS School Test Coordinator, at cwbird@fcps.edu or at 703-446-1643.
Activity Office News
All Access Pass
The South County Athletic Booster Club (SCABC) is excited to share with you that we have merged what we formally called "Booster Passes" with the new digital ticketing system, E-Tickets. Now available online is our 2021 - 2022 All-Access passes for the upcoming school year! This pass(es) purchase will give you admission to ALL home regular season athletic events. Please click the link below to check out which package is right for you, your student(s), and family.
All-Access Passes: https://www.etix.com/ticket/m/5817/south-county-athletics
Once you purchase your pass(es), you will receive an eight-digit personalized code to redeem the number of purchased tickets to any scheduled home regular-season event for the upcoming school year. You may redeem your tickets by visiting South County's home E-tickets page - https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/18639/south-county-high-school-athletics
All this information and more is located on South County's Athletic Home Page - www.stallionnation.com.
From the PTSO
Hello Stallion Family! We have a new mission statement and would love to share it with you all! Please click here to check it out!
We also have some upcoming meetings and events and would love for you to join us:
PTSO General membership meeting Monday, September 13 at 7 pm in the school library.
All Night Grad Party (ANGP) meeting Wednesday, September 15 at 7 pm in the school library.
Parent Principal Chat (for freshmen parents & new parents) Friday, September 17 at 9 am in the Cafeteria.
Parent Principal Chat (All parents) Friday, October 1 at 9 am in the Cafeteria.
Fall Festival Craft Fair Saturday, September 25 between 9-2, school parking lot.
Is your student club, group or team looking to fundraise?
The PTSO hosted Lorton Fall Festival & Craft Show on Saturday, Sept 25 offers all student entrepreneurs, SCHS student clubs, groups or teams a special discounted rate of $40. Reserve your booth today! Email SCHSCraftShow@gmail.com for more info or send in your vendor application today:
https://southcountyptso.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/152281
Please help spread the word! The SCHS Swim & Dive Team is hosting the 5th Annual Candy Cane Fun Run during the Lorton Fall Festival on Sept 25! Yea, we know it’s only September, but Santa wanted to visit early since he had to skip in-person visits last year. Please let anyone with kids under 12 know they have the opportunity to participate in the Fun Run and then have a photo taken with Santa. My Yard Greetings has graciously donated a sign set up – Santa will be there and now all we need are kids! Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/167483600959
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter @LortonSCHSCraft or @SCHSCraftShow and Instagram!
15th Annual South County Golf Classic
The South County High School Athletic Boosters and PTSO are hosting our 15th annual South County Golf Classic fundraiser. This year’s tournament will be held on October 4th at Laurel Hill Golf Club. There are many ways to be a part of this community event and have fun while supporting South County High School. We are looking for sponsors, golfers, and volunteers!
Please use this link to be a sponsor and/or register to golf: https://birdease.com/scgolfclassic.
To volunteer, please sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0548afa82da6fe3-14th
We appreciate your support! Please contact pres@southcountyptso.org for questions.
SoCo Merchandise Available at the Stallion Spirit Store Website, Kiosk and Vending Machine!
South County’s Stallion Spirit Store has a variety or ways you can purchase items for the school year. We have a website where you can browse our spirit wear and find a PDF Order Form for download; invoicing for payment on MySchoolBucks will be sent after your order is fulfilled. You can also find our kiosk in the cafeteria during lunches on odd days (5th period) as well as in the gym lobby by way of a retail vending machine!
Thank you in advance for supporting the Entrepreneurship & Marketing program as well as the Work and Transition program here at South County. The students from these programs typically work the Spirit Kiosk at lunches to build customer service skills as well as count inventory, review financial records and create promotional plans. These work-based learning opportunities allow students to connect classroom lessons to actual scenarios.
Update Your Emergency Care Information Through weCare@school
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring that the climate in all FCPS facilities is safe and secure. In support of this goal, FCPS provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system, available to FCPS parents and guardians who have registered for their own Parent account.
weCare helps manage emergency medical information by enabling parents to enter and update their children’s medical data at their convenience online. Contact information provided automatically enrolls parents to receive eNotify communications from the district and their child’s school. eNotify is the communications tool for FCPS emergency, attendance, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent via email, telephone, and text messages.
Get more information about updating your emergency care information.
Most Requested Items
If you plan to donate to the Stuff the Bus food drive on September 11 and October 9, please consider giving items from this list. Because the average size of a family seeking food assistance is four people, the sizes indicated are preferred to reduce food spoilage. Additionally, donating items that are high fiber, low sugar and low sodium not only feed hungry people but also contribute to their overall health and wellness.
- Cooking oil
- Corn Flour Maseca
- Bag (dry) beans, peas or lentils (16 oz.)
- Rice - brown or white (5 lbs. or smaller)
- Canned fruit in light syrup or juice (20 oz. or smaller)
- Healthy hot and cold cereal (42 oz. or smaller)
- Healthy snacks (e.g. raisins, granola bars)
- Canned tuna, salmon or chicken (15 oz. or smaller)
- Canned tomatoes - low sodium, no salt added (29 oz. or smaller)
- Soup - lower sodium (19 oz. or smaller)
- Canned pasta (16 oz. or smaller)
- Macaroni and cheese
- Peanut butter (40 oz. or smaller)
- Fruit jam (32 oz. or smaller)
- Instant potatoes (16 oz. or smaller)
- Pancake mix (32 oz. or smaller) and syrup
- Canned vegetables - low sodium, no salt added (29 oz. or smaller)
Stuff the Bus Donation Locations
Donate to Stuff the Bus at any of these locations on
Saturday, September 11, 2021.
Braddock | Benefitting ECHO
Braddock District Supervisor’s Office 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015
Oaks Community Center 5708 Oak Leather Drive, Burke, VA 22015
Dranesville | Benefitting LINK
McLean Government Center 1437 Balls Hill Rd, McLean, VA 22101
Great Falls Grange 9818 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066
Fairfax City | Benefitting Food for Others
Providence Elementary School 3616 Jermantown Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Van Dyck Park 3720 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030
Fairfax County | Benefitting Food for Others
Fairfax County Government Center 12000 Government Center Parkway Fairfax, VA 22035
Hunter Mill | Benefitting CHO
Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office 1801 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston, VA 20190
Patrick Henry Library 101 Maple Ave E, Vienna, VA 22180
Lee | Benefitting United Community
Island Creek Elementary School 7855 Morning View Lane Alexandria, VA 22315
Mason | Benefitting ACCA
George Mason Regional Library 7001 Little River Turnpike Annandale, VA 22003
Belvedere Elementary School 6540 Columbia Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041
Mount Vernon | Benefitting LCAC
Laurel Hill Elementary School 8390 Laurel Crest Drive, Lorton, VA 22079
Providence | Benefitting Food for Others and Falls Church Community Services Council
Providence Community Center 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031
James Lee Community Center 2855 Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042
Springfield | Benefitting Koinonia
West Springfield Governmental Center 6140 Rolling Road, Springfield, VA 22152
Pohick Regional Library 6450 Sydenstricker Road, Burke, VA 22015
Sully | Benefitting WFCM
Sully Government Center 4900 Stonecroft Boulevard Chantilly, VA 20151
Centreville Regional Library 14200 Saint Germain Drive Centreville, VA 20121 • Canned beans or peas (29 oz. or smaller)
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. See how you can acknowledge an FCPS employee who has gone above and beyond.
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