 Dear Mustang community-
We wrapped up another amazing week at SCMS! This past Monday, on October 11, we celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day. It was a time for us to recognize and honor the beautiful traditions and cultures of Indigenous People, not just in America, but around the world. This week also concludes Hispanic Heritage Month. I have to admit that I will miss the awesome Hispanic Heritage music that played during our passing time. It was hard to not dance all through the halls!
Next week FCPS celebrates Digital Citizenship Week and SCMS celebrates Bullying and Harassment Prevention Week. Students will participate in a lesson on Thursday during 3rd period learning seminar to learn about bullying behavior and what we have planned for our spirit days. I can’t wait to see the creativity (hats, socks, jerseys, etc) from students and staff. We will join with many schools around the nation to celebrate Unity Day on Wednesday. We hope to see many students and staff wearing orange in support. Thanks to our amazing student services team for organizing the spirit week.
We hope that you are able to get outside and enjoy this beautiful fall weather. As always, our teachers, counselors and administrators are here for you if you need anything. Please let me know if you have any questions!
Sincerely,
Peter Kownacki
Principal
South County Middle School
Twitter @pakownacki
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DATES TO REMEMBER
- Picture Make-Up Day - October 21
- PTSO Fundraiser, Fusebox, October 26 & 27
- End of Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release - October 29
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Food Delivery Services
As a continuation from last school year, FCPS is providing FREE breakfast and lunch every day for students. We ask that you do not order food to be delivered here to the school for your student. We will NOT be contacting or delivering the food to the cafeteria or to your child.
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School Supplies to Bring
Every Day
Please make sure your student brings the following to school each day:
- Mask
- Fully charged laptop
- Laptop charger
- Reusable water bottle
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COVID Vaccination
The Fairfax Community Vaccination Clinic is operating a large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the former Lord & Taylor store at Tysons Corner Center. Operating hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.
Read more about the Fairfax CVC online. To find an appointment visit vaccinate.virginia.gov or call 877-VAX-IN-VA.
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Parent Vue, Schoology, & Google Access
SIS & Schoology Parent Access
We are almost through the first quarter 3 weeks to go! We encourage you to visit your parent accounts to see the work your student is doing.
SIS ParentVue- This is where you will find all grades, attendance and general student information.
Schoology- This is where you will find classroom activities and directions. Feedback on assignments may be provided but it is not the gradebook.
Your username and password are the same for both accounts.
Google Assignment Access
FCPS endeavors to protect students by having a “walled garden” for all Google Apps. This means students can not use their fcps accounts to sign up for social media or share/contact anyone outside of fcps.
Unfortunately, this also means that parents/guardians cannot view Google Assignments, Slide Decks, Docs, etc in Schoology. If you encounter a message about “private access” it is a Google item that is linked into Schoology.
We advise that you sit down with your student and go through those items together, with them logged into Schoology and Google. It is a great way to have a conversation about what they are exploring at school.
Student Services
Bullying & Harassment Prevention Week
The students will be participating in bullying and harassment prevention week beginning October 18th.
The students will also be able to participate in a South County Middle School competition for bully-free logo that will be used next school year.
There will also be a spirit week that week:
- Monday, October 18: Hats and socks off
- Tuesday, October 19: Super Hero
- Wednesday, October 20: Orange out
- Thursday, October 21: Arm up against (Army and camo)
- Friday, October 22: School spirit (“all in this together”)
Immunizations
Effective July 1, 2021 all students entering 7th grade were required to have one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), and Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY).
Many students, 7th & 8th graders, are still missing required immunizations.
If you received a letter or an email regarding your student’s immunizations this is why. Please provide one of the following documents to South County Middle School as soon as possible:
- An updated immunization record showing that the student has received the missing immunization(s).
- A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the date the vaccine(s) was given.
- A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
- A notarized Religious Exemption Form which is available online at:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/certificate_religious_exemption.pdf
You can either drop the form off in the main office or you can scan and email to Maureen Carlstrom at mcarlstrom@fcps.edu.
Immunizations are available from your student's healthcare provider or the Fairfax County Health Department. The Health Department clinic locations and hours are available online at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/immunization/school or by calling 703-246-2411.
If you received a notice you will need to provide documentation of all required immunizations or as many as possible by January 4, 2022.
Students who have not completed all immunization requirements by the January 4th deadline must provide a documented plan of completion from the Health Department or a Healthcare Provider. The deadline may be extended on a case-by-case basis dependent upon each student’s specific identified plan. Per Regulation 2101, students who do not provide documentation of having received at least one dose of each required immunization will be excluded.
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Please support the PTSO in their fundraising efforts on October 26 & 27 at Fusbox, an Asian eatery. 15% of takeout sales will be given to SCMS PTSO, as long as you mention SCMS when ordering.
FuseBox Oct 2021.pdf
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Masks
It has come to our attention that we are handing out a number of masks to students as they enter the building and during the day. While we don’t mind and will provide students with masks if they need them, for the protection of our students and staff, we cannot continue to do this at the rate that we are doing so. Please strongly encourage your child to keep their masks on them. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
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South County Library’s Makerspace
Cleaning up around the house? Consider donating unused supplies to the South County Library's Makerspace! We could use any of the following:
- Yarn & Knitting supplies
- Hot glue guns & Glue sticks
- Macrame String
- Felt & Fabric
- Duct Tape (all colors)
- Scrapbooking supplies
- Pipe cleaners
- Jewelry supplies (i.e. clasps, jump rings, beads)
- Cotton filling/stuffing
- Construction paper
- Craft/popsicle sticks
- Googly eyes
There will be a bin in the Main Office for you to drop off supplies. If you have any questions or need more information, email Mrs. Howard (echoward@fcps.edu) or Mr. Van (mjvanwambeke@fcps.edu). Thanks for supporting Library programming!
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South County High School Parade
South County High School will be having a parade for homecoming on Thursday October 21 at 4:30pm at Laurel Hill. Anyone is welcome to go and we want your students to come. Contact mattgowel@gmail.com or 1571157@fcpsschools.net if you would like to get your club or organization involved!
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