In this issue:
- From The Principal
- Schoology
- FLE Opt-Out
- Yearbook News
- TAG Day
- PSAT/NMSQT Testing
- Activity Office News
- SOCO Gold Out
- Stallion Spirit Store
- From The PTSO
- FCPS Cares
From the Principal
Family,
We have made it through another week and we are still settling in. Thank you for your patience as we continue to get our feet firmly planted. Students and staff are truly reconnecting and we are fully engaged in our Family culture. Thank you for sending your students to work with us.
This week we will begin running late busses for students to be able to stay after school to work with teachers or to attend club meetings. Late bus days will be on Wednesdays and Thursdays. In order for students to work with teachers, they must first arrange a time with that teacher ahead of time. Students will be given a pass by their teacher and will then be released to busses which will depart from school at approximately 4:30pm. I hope that students will take advantage of these opportunities.
I wanted to thank the parents who helped to put together the Senior Night for our Golf Team this past week. It was very nice to congratulate our 5 Seniors and to thank them for representing our school so well.
I want to also thank all of our Families and friends who have come out to support our school and our students. Our athletic events continue to be well attended both at home and away, the PTSO’s Fall Craft Fair, and just your support of our teachers through notes and messages. Your impact on our school is without a doubt felt on so many levels.
On behalf of the office of transportation, I want to apologize for any issues that have been created due to a shortage of bus drivers. Transportation is working diligently to ensure every student has a reliable means to arrive to and get home from school. In some instances, this has not been possible. We are continuing to work with transportation to fill any gaps and look forward to no longer having any issues. If you happen to know of anyone who is willing to drive school busses and assist in the South County pyramid, please share this link with them. Bus drivers are being paid $22.91 hourly in FCPS!
The PSAT is quickly approaching and here is some very important information from our Assessment Coach Mr. Chris Bird about the assessment:
The PSAT and SAT School Day will be taking place on Wednesday, October 13. South County will operate on a two-hour early release schedule.
- 12th Grade students who completed the SAT Intent to Test form by September 8 will be taking the SAT School Day and will be dismissed at approximately 12:50 PM
- 12th grade students who will not be testing are encouraged to use this day to participate in civic engagement activities or other prearranged activities off site.
- 10th and 11th grade students will be taking the PSAT/ NMSQT. They do not need to pre-register – there is a test available for every 10th and 11th grade student. They will be dismissed at approximately 12:50 PM.
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9th grade students will receive an asynchronous virtual assignment at home. This asynchronous high school activity will focus on the Academic and Career Plan(ACP), which supports students in planning towards graduation and their postsecondary goals. More information will be sent to 9th grade families in the weeks ahead.
- Students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (Category B services) will continue to receive in-person instruction with a 2-hour early release on October 13.
If you have questions regarding the SAT School Day or PSAT, please contact Chris Bird, School Test Coordinator, at cwbird@fcps.edu or at 703-446-1643.
Well that is all that I have for this week. I look forward to another great week with your students. Please enjoy the remainder of your weekend. Take care and continue to be safe. #OneStallion
Gary
Schoology
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
Family Life Education (FLE) Opt-Out Forms
If you wish to opt your student out of FLE, please fill out the appropriate form and return it to the subschool 1/2 at South County High School.
From the Yearbook Staff
Senior Quotes
Senior quotes are due NO LATER than November 23. Once submitted, they will be looked over by editors. We will not accept links, time stamps, or any questionable material that is not school appropriate. Students can only submit ONE time and cannot change their quotes once submitted. To submit your quote, use the google link below:
https://forms.gle/TgJwBSmRjeLnpso49
Senior Portraits- New Dates
We would like to apologize for the confusion regarding senior portraits. Lifetouch has added more dates for portraits over the next three months. The new dates to get portraits taken (for the yearbook and to buy) are as follows:
October 16, 23,30 - Multipurpose Room - Door #13
November 6, 13, - Multipurpose Room - Door #13
December 1, 2, 3, 11- Multipurpose Room- Door #13
To register, visit https://prestigeportraits.com.
Students will need an eight digit code they received in the mail to register (if you do not have your code, please email jldelinski@fcps.edu).
Students who have previously taken a photo and want to schedule a retake, should email crocca@lifetouch.com
Purchasing Senior Ads and/or
Yearbooks for 2021-2022
Yearbooks and senior ads can be purchased online at https://yearbookforever.com/
Yearbooks for 2020-2021
If you would like to buy a yearbook for the 2020-2021 year, you may bring $85 to Jennifer Delinski in room D108 to purchase a book.
If you pre-ordered a book last year but did not pick it up, please see Jennifer Delinski in room D108.
Summer Pics
The yearbook is looking for pictures for the summer section. Specifically, we need pictures of students working summer jobs, going on summer trips, participating in summer camps or summer sports activities. Please email any pictures you may have to Jennifer Delinski at jldelinski@fcps.edu
Picture Retakes
Underclassmen-- Picture retakes will be on October 28 during advisory.
TAG Day
You’ve been Tagged!
Saturday, September 18th was Tag Day … the biggest fundraiser for the year for the South County Performing Arts Department. It takes thousands of dollars more than the fees that are charged for each group to run a complete band, orchestra, choir or theater program. To keep our fees low and keep the arts in our schools we depend on contributions from our incredible community.
Student teams came to your door asking for tax-deductible contributions to “Support the Music.” Thank you to everyone who donated to our Performing Arts department! But … if you weren’t home, you were tagged, or a self-addressed envelope was left on your door. There's still time if you would like the opportunity to donate to our Performing Arts programs, please include a donation in the envelope and drop it off at the school or mail the it to us. Either way, don’t forget to keep the tag as the receipt for your tax deductible donation.
Thank you again and we look forward to seeing you at all of our music and theater productions here at SCHS.
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 eleven-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.
Senior Ads in Fall Sports Program
Celebrate your Senior participating in Football, Field Hockey, Cross Country, Volleyball, Golf, Cheer, Dance, or Marching Band with a Senior Ad in the Fall Sports Program! The deadline has been extended to September 27! Please contact Elena Jordon at 703-302-0197 for more information.
Gold Out Events
SOCO Field Hockey Gold Out
South County vs. Alexandria City
Thursday- September 30, 2021
Freshman & JV @5:45; Varsity @7:15 P.M.
South County High School Gym
Adults: $6.00 Students: $5.00
Sponsored by: Krafft Service Corporation
SOCO Volleyball Gold Out
South County vs. Woodson
Senior Night
Tuesday- September 28, 2021
JV @ 6:15; Varsity @7:30 P.M.
South County High School Stadium
Adults: $6.00 Students: $5.00
Childhood cancer FACTS: did you know …
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Childhood Cancer is the #1 killer of American children by disease under the age of 19- more than all other childhood diseases combined.
- Every day 43 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer- over 15,000 per year.
- 1 in every 285 U.S. children will develop cancer before their 20th birthday; 1 in every 5 of these children will die at the average age of 8 years old.
- Childhood cancer rates have increased by 24% over the past 40 years.
- There are more than 12 major types of childhood cancer and over 100 subtypes.
- Only 4% of all Federal government cancer research funding goes to study pediatric cancer- childhood cancer non-profit organizations are critical.
- 96% of all Federal funding for cancer research goes to adults yet children makeup 20% of our population
- In the last 20 years, only 4 cancer treatments have been specifically developed and approved for children.
- Childhood treatments require very different drugs than adult protocols, yet most use a variation of adult drugs due to a lack of research and trials.
- Because of the treatments they had as children, more than 99% of childhood cancer survivors with have a chronic health problem and 96% will have severe or life-threatening conditions.
Awareness + Funding + Clinical Research +
New Drug Development + Trials =
Our Children’s Lives Saved
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.
From the PTSO
It was wonderful meeting new parents and guardians at the Parent Principal Chat last week. If you missed it, no worries as we have another one for all parents and guardians next month (details to follow in a later email).
To learn more about the PTSO and get connected, please click here to visit our website.
Other ways to connect:
Our app: Look for "Membership Toolkit" in the Apple Store or Google Play Store. This is an amazing app that allows you to look at any email the PTSO sends out plus their calendar of events.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SoCoPTSO
PTSO general page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthCountyHighSchoolPTSO/
PTSO Military Connections on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2103122980014708/
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 click here to be a sponsor and/or register to golf.
Please click here to volunteer and/or donate a gift basket.
We appreciate your support!
All Night Grad Party (ANGP)
The ANGP planning has begun and we have several volunteer opportunities available. If you would like to get involved with ANGP or have any questions about the ANGP or a committee position please email the chairs at angp@southcountyptso.org. Click here to sign up for ANGP Committee.
Want to support an ANGP fundraiser? Go to SCHS PTSO MembershipToolkit here and scroll down for our store. We currently have 2021 White House Ornaments, class and student driver magnets, graduation lawn signs, and Flock a Friend available to purchase. You can also make an ANGP donation.
Join the SCHS Class of 2022 Facebook group to get information on upcoming events. This group is for parents of SOCO 2022 parents only.
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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