Greetings, SoCo Family,

This past week has been very busy. I’ve had the pleasure of observing incredibly gifted teachers (like Mrs. Blesi and Mr. Chiprut), watch outstanding athletic events (like Volleyball, Field Hockey, and Football), meet with parents at our first community meeting with our Superintendent, Dr. Reid, and connect with colleagues at several meeting this week.

While I’m feeling like I’m always on the go, my enthusiasm and school spirit remain high! Go Stallions!

Things to Keep in Mind

1. This Monday, Sept. 26 is a holiday (Rosh Hashanah) for students and a Teacher Workday for staff.
2. Student drop-offs and -pick ups remain an area that needs improvement, so let’s try to do our best to improve this process for everyone. Please keep these thoughts in mind.
   • Slow down. We’ve had a few cases where students are nearly hit by parents speeding out of the lot.
   • Please refrain from parking in the students’ assigned spaces in the morning. When their spots are taken, they park in someone else’s spot, and the ripple effect is mind-boggling.
   • We’ll have less congestion in the lot if the Kiss and Ride is used more. Please use that area if at all possible.
3. DECA is selling Chick fil-A sandwiches after school on Green-day Fridays. Here’s a flyer that you can enlarge for more information.
4. Unfortunately, we are dealing with cases of students handling and using illegal drugs. It’s becoming a huge concern in our community, state, and country. To combat this, we need to pull together. We’re hosting a presentation for parents entitled, “Opioids, Tentanyl, and the Teenage Brain” on Nov. 1 here at SCHS. More information can be found here.
5. We’re monitoring grades, attendance, and discipline records closely. You can expect an instructional section from me in future letters. In the meantime, continue to engage your student with questions about the workload of their classes, the grading practices as they understand them, and their organization of studying for tests and completing projects.
6. Your student’s picture will soon be available to you online. Please be on the lookout for an email from Victor O'Neill Studios. If you do not see it in your inbox, check the spam/junk folder.

Any student who has not had a chance to order, it’s not too late! Just visit: vosphoto.com/uc

Use your student’s ID when prompted for the online code.

For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com

Have a wonderful weekend!

Kambar

#OneStallion

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:

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.

FCPS will be running the PSAT/ NMSQT and the SAT School Day test on Wednesday, October 12.  October 12 is a 2-hour early release day for high schools and secondary schools.

• Students receiving Category B special education services receive a normal instructional program. 
• Grade 9 students do not attend school this day
• The PSAT/NMSQT will be offered  to all students in grades 10 and 11 at no cost. No additional registration is necessary. The PSAT/NMSQT provides an opportunity to measure student readiness for college and provides practice for the SAT college entrance exam.
• Grade 12 students interested in taking the SAT School Day were required to fill out the Intent to Participate Google form sent to families in August and September. Students who completed the form received a confirmation email the week of September 12^th.

• Grade 12 students choosing not to take the SAT do not attend school this day.

If you have questions about the SAT School Day or PSAT/ NMSQT administration at South County High School, please contact Chris Bird, SAT School Day Coordinator, at cwbird@fcps.edu

Transportation

FCPS transportation is available for all students participating in SAT School Day and PSAT. Regular bus routes will be provided in the morning and after the early release. Families of students requiring alternate transportation arrangements due to accommodated testing will be contacted directly by the SAT School Day Coordinator. If you know your student will need alternate transportation requirements due to accommodated testing, please reach out to Chris Bird, SAT School Day Coordinator, as soon as possible.

SAT School Day and PSAT  Pre-Survey

At the beginning of the exam session, students see a voluntary pre-survey that asks questions about a variety of topics. You may opt out of this pre-survey for your student. You may view the pre-survey questions and access further information about this option on the SAT and PSAT Pre-Survey Opt-Out Policy webpage at https://www.fcps.edu/node/36639.  

If you choose to opt your student out of the pre-survey, please notify Chris Bird, SCHS SAT School day Coordinator, by Friday, October 7, 2022, and include your student’s full legal name and FCPS ID number in the email.

Please be sure your student knows they should not answer the pre-survey questions at the beginning of the test.

Graduation Date!

Class of 2023, please save the date for graduation!  We are excited to celebrate our senior class on Friday, June 9, 9:30am at Eagle Bank Arena.  At various times throughout the year, we will send out senior newsletters with a great deal of information.  The first one will come out in October.