Important Upcoming Dates
2022-2023 School Year
August 29 and 30- Underclassman Pictures
September 2 and 5 - Labor Day Holiday
September 7 at 6:00pm Auditorium- Senior Parent Information Night
September 21 6:30-7:30pm- Dr. Reid visiting SCHS
September 30- Sign & Return SR&R
Message from Dr. Khoshaba
Feeling the Stallion Spirit!
This past Friday was one of the most incredible feelings of school spirit I've ever seen or felt! I want to begin by thanking everyone who had any part in making the Kick-off Celebration or the football game come together. If I miss recognizing anyone, please blame my mind and not my heart.
The Kick-off Celebration began in the parking lot at 4:30. Thanks to our Director of Student Activities, Mr. Wooten, we enjoyed games of Cornhole, listened to a live DJ, and enjoyed camaraderie of various school-sponsored tables. I especially enjoyed seeing members of the administrative team getting "cooled off" in the dunk tank. Special recognition goes out to Mr. Caven, Mrs. Tolen, Mr. Mimms, and Mr. Wooten for agreeing to serve our student body in this most unique way. Watching our students cheer and laugh at all of these stations warmed my heart!
Then IT happened! As the crowd was still entering the stadium, the Stallion football team took the field. But what I saw next was something I've NEVER seen: A horse comes galloping onto the field with his rider waving our SoCo flag! I can't remember the last time I was so excited! For the next two quarters, I enjoyed watching our football team do what it does best: play some hard-nosed football! Coach Rolander and his coaching staff have done an outstanding job of preparing our team for this season!
Ditto our Cheerleaders! These talented athletes, coached by an amazing team lead by Mrs. Edmonds, did an outstanding job of getting the crowd involved with chants as they encouraged our football team to continue scoring time and again!
During the half-time show, I thoroughly enjoyed watching our Marching Band perform! Mr. Engdahl and his team of directors put on a show that can rival Broadway! From the musically and rhythmically talented players to the Color Guard, their performance was PERFECT!
Of course, when SoCo hosts a "party," we do it right! The SoCo Dance Team performed as well. I don't know about any of you, but I never would have had the courage to dance in front of thousands of people when I was in high school. These talented Stallions and their coach, Mrs. McIntire, earned everyone's respect with their performance Friday night.
Last but not least, our Stallion fans in the stands were filled with school spirit! The Hype Squad in particular were especially geared up, and I laughed as I heard their clever chants throughout the night. As teenagers sometimes do, a few times they got a little "too hyped," but I was proud of them for following our directions to keep their feet on the floor. Literally!
All in all, this was an amazing night of seeing our talented Stallions perform! I was so impressed that I took several videos of this amazing night, sending it to my family and friends. All of them were equally impressed. I encourage those of you who have been in SoCo a while to really reflect on how special this evening was. This does NOT happen everywhere! Students are not always so respectful or so talented. SoCo is an amazing hub for gifted students! I feel blessed to be part of the team.
I'll close by saying thank to all of the parents who stopped me to say hello or welcome me to our school community. Every "hello" is so genuine, and I count each as the blessing that it is.
And to my friends who worked the concession area, Bravo on a night well done! Your lines were constant all night, and everyone enjoyed the refreshments you prepared.
Special recognition goes out to the people who weren't on the field but had important roles to fill. Thank you to Officer Cottom and his team for keeping us safe, the friendly ticket taker staff, my AMAZING administrative team and their school spirit, and our hard-working custodians who had the unenviable task of cleaning up after the huge crowd left. These individuals never ask for fanfare, but they deserve a round of applause for their substantial contributions.
Every one of these aspects last Friday night had to come together, or else it would not have been as special as it was.
Thank you, Stallion family! I'm impressed!
Kambar
Senior Parent Information Night
Student Services has some upcoming events for both students and their families to assist you in your post-secondary planning.
For Parents/Guardians:
Senior Parent Information Night is coming up on Wednesday, September 7th at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium. We will discuss the nuts and bolts of post-secondary planning including:
- College selection and admissions timelines
- College application components
- Process for sending important documents such as official transcripts, counselor and teacher recommendations, and test scores when applicable
- Options available through Northern Virginia Community College
- Financial aid resources
- Brief overview of post-secondary options such as military enlistment, employment, and trade and technical education
We welcome any follow up questions at an informal parent Q&A on Thursday, September 15th at 9 a.m. in the cafeteria. (Please note that the Q&A is meant for general questions, and we ask that specific questions related to your senior be directed to their individual counselor.)
For Students:
Seniors will participate in group meetings with their counselor to go over college and career planning topics and important Senior To-Dos for this fall during Advisory. Seniors with last names A-Mon will meet with their counselors on September 6th and last names Moo-Z will meet on September 8th. Students should check in with their Advisory teacher at the beginning of the period before being dismissed to their designated locations. Counselors will also be following up with seniors throughout the fall to discuss individual plans.
Other:
In the meantime, seniors and parents can work on completing two important forms that help your counselor craft any required counselor recommendations. They are the "Request for Counselor Recommendation (Student Form)" and "Parent Input form" at this link: https://southcountyhs.fcps.edu/student-services/post-secondary-planning. Thank you to those of you who already submitted them last spring and over the summer.
We are extremely happy to have your child in our school with us this year!
FCPS’ updated Student Rights & Responsibility booklet is now available online and in the ParentVue section of the Student Information System (SIS). The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior, and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Each year, we ask parents to review, sign, and return the SR&R to their child’s school. In ParentVue, you may now download and digitally sign the SR&R. Every parent/guardian with a ParentVUE account will see the SR&R upon login to ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgement has been completed.
Once you log on, you will see the following message:
 Your name in the digital signature box must match the parent/guardian’s first and last name in SIS exactly before the signature will be accepted.
Please take a moment to log into ParentVue in your child’s SIS account to access the SR&R. Signatures are due by September 30, 2022.
Please contact us if you are having difficulty accessing the booklet.
Digital Resources at South County High School - Parent Consent
This has been a busy week of getting technology to our students, laptops have now been distributed to the majority of our students at this time. As students begin using their laptops in classes and accessing various digital tools, it is important that we share that some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. We now need every family to complete and submit the Digital Resource Parental Consent Form.
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.
Underclassman Pictures will be on Monday and Tuesday (August 29 &30).
Dr. Reid visiting SCHS
Please save the date for a very special event! Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS superintendent, will host a Community Conversation at South County High School on September 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m. This event will be a unique opportunity to help Dr. Reid get to know our school community and learn more about her vision for our district.
Language interpretation will be provided, as available, as well as child care and light refreshments. Please register to attend https://forms.gle/dcesq3A4eke3pSAq6
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application Available
Families will need to apply for Free and Reduced-price meals, which they have not had to do since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.
- The application is now available on the webpage.
- Paper applications will be available at schools (except ones designated as a CEP school) at a date to be determined.
- Approved FRM eligibility letters may also be used to provide additional benefits.
Please know that we will not share your data or personal information with anyone else. See FCPS’ Trust Policy.
For the past two years, the federal government has provided no-cost meals to all public school students without the need to complete the annual Free and Reduced-Price Meal application. The extension of the no-cost meals benefit to all students is expected to expire at the end of this school year, meaning families must submit an application and be approved to be eligible for free and reduced-price meals for the 2022-23 school year. Learn more about the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program online.
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