Dates to Remember
October 15, Lorton Community Center & Library Grand Opening (insert pdf)
October 24, Diwali, Student Holiday, No School
October 27, Chorus Concert, 7 PM, Gym
October 28, End of 1st Quarter, 2 Hour Early Release
October 31, Professional Workday, No School
Here is this week's news show:
October 14 News Show
This episode contains:
-News Anchors: Lily McGuinness and Jackson Newton
-Editor - Sebastian Stotts and Alex Higgins
-Opening Mental Health Awareness - Chase Blosser
-Pledge -Rupert's 4th Hajar Darwish
-PSA Don't Text and Drive - Yonathan Samuel
-Fruit Candy vs Chocolate - Victoria Eller
-Breaking News 3 - Produced and edited by Victoria Eller and Carleigh Haskins
-Funny Animal Vines - Lily McGuinness
-Teacher Trivia Reveal - Edited by Victoria Eller
-Teacher Trivia Facts - Edited Chase Blosser
-3x4 Challenge - Edited Victoria Eller
-Birthdays -Edited by Hajar Darwish
-Weather - Anchored and edited by Yohana Kebede
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Unity Spirit Week
Next week is Unity Spirit Week as SCMS Unites Against Bullying. We will be recognizing this week with the following themes:
Monday, 10/17 “Kindness Ties Us Together” Wear your favorite Tie or Bow Tie
Tuesday- 10/18 “Be Someone’s Superhero” Dress like your favorite Superhero
Wednesday- 10/19 “Unite Against Bullying”
Wear Orange on National Bullying Prevention Day
Thursday – 10/20 “Pack Up Against Bullying”
Carry your supplies in anything but a Backpack
Friday – 10/21 “Don’t Sleep on being a Bystander”
Wear your Favorite Pajamas
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October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying in FCPS’ Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. Bullying includes cyberbullying. It does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”
For more information on how FCPS handles a bullying situation, please visit the FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention webpage. Our goal is to ensure all students feel safe and welcome at school. If you have questions and/or concerns about something going on at school, please contact the front office, so they can support you, and most importantly, your student.
Parent Resource Center Webinars Address Bullying
On October 27, at 7 p.m., the Parent Resource Center (PRC) will host a “Meet the Author” event with Nalani and Leila Butler, graduates of Hayfield Secondary School, who will read their book Paige Saves the Day. The book addresses overcoming bullying. Register online for this webinar. Adults and children are welcome.
The PRC will also host a webinar on Bullying Prevention on November 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon. Register online.
Digital Citizenship Week
Fairfax County Public School is celebrating a decade of digital citizenship week learning next week, from Oct. 17 - 21! Be on the lookout for resources and information, and what’s happening in schools by searching Twitter for #FCPSdigcit.
This Digital Connections video series helps families like yours start conversations with their kids about using technology safely and responsibly. Feel free to explore! Here is the direct link to the videos: https://www.digitalconnections.org/ For more information about Digital Citizenship in general, go to the FCPS website and look for Digital Citizenship for Families page.
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Federal Impact Aid Survey
Beginning October 18, FCPS will be asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid.
Returning this form is important, because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school. If Sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the box in Section 3. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by November 4. All responses are confidential.
Watch the video to learn more about this process.
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COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS students, teachers, and staff at five locations across the county on October 17, 18, and 19. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information.
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7th Annnual Tour de Mount Vernon
Join Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck for the 7th Annual Tour de Mount Vernon, Community Bike Ride on Saturday, October 22 at 8:30 a.m.- starting and ending at the Workhouse Arts Center. Riders have the option of riding the full 38 mile route or a shorter 19 mile route. The Tour de Mount Vernon brings cyclists on a fun ride through the southern and central portions of the Mount Vernon District including a scenic route through Fort Belvoir. The route consists of paved roads, paved trails and has several challenging sections. Ride monitors and Fairfax County Police help with directions and keep everyone safe. The rides ends with music, famous sweet potato chili, beverages, fun and comradery! For more information and to register click the link! https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/mountvernon/tour-de-mount-vernon-2022
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Free Student Bus Pass Program
There will be communications from FCPS and the Fairfax county government regarding the free student bus pass program. The video is below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nycsQ6H-ql4
Fairfax County Youth Survey – For 8th Grade Families Only
Families of 8th graders:
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The results of this survey are published each year on https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health-humanservices/fairfax-county-youth-survey and are used by school officials, youth leadership classes, youth-serving county agencies, and local non-profits to determine the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs offered in schools and communities. It is also used to identify changing trends and areas of need. The survey is anonymous and no individual information is reported.
Online responses will not be traced back to your child's personal information or linked to a computer, email address, or other electronic identifiers. No personally identifiable information or IP addresses will be recorded. Survey responses will be stored in a secure server which is compliant with federal data security standards. To protect students' anonymity, the responses will be read and analyzed only by the researchers and summarized in a report with no personal identifiers.
The Fairfax County Youth Survey asks questions about risky behavior, mental health, physical health, and safety. There are questions about behaviors related to alcohol, illegal drugs, or misuse of prescription drugs. Additional questions about depression, student stress, bullying and harassment, personal health, and - for students in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade only - sexual behavior, will be included in the survey. Students are also asked about specific protective factors concerning health and safety.
You have the right to preview the survey and may deny permission for your child to participate if you desire. If a student is uncomfortable with any question on the survey, the student does not have to answer that question or may elect to discontinue the survey. While it is hoped that as many students as possible will participate, you have the option of completing the attached form if you wish to opt out your child.
The survey will be administered at South County Middle School during Learning Seminar on November 15, 2022.
A copy of the survey will be available to parents and/or guardians on line at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/youth-survey.
If you do not wish for your child to take part in the survey, please complete the attached form and return it to your child's school counselor no later than November 7, 2022. Translated forms and surveys can be found here.
If you have questions about the survey, please contact Stefan Mascoll, coordinator, Student Safety and Wellness Office, at 571-423-4270.
If you do not wish for your child to take part in the survey, please complete the attached form and return it to your child's school counselor no later than November 7, 2022.
If you have questions about the survey, please contact Stefan Mascoll, coordinator, Student Safety and Wellness Office, at 571-423-4270.
Career Fair- Friday, December 2nd
Calling all SCMS Parents and Guardians! SCMS will be hosting a Career Fair for our students on Friday, December 2nd and we would love to have you participate! The SCMS Career Fair is designed to expose our students to the world of work. We are looking for a wide-range of professionals to share their background, skills, and experiences.
Participants would be asked to have displays and/or items related to their industry/profession and come ready to share your professional experiences with students. Students will have the opportunity to walk around and speak with professionals from various industries to learn more about what types of careers they are interested in.
Participants are asked to arrive at SCMS by 8:30am. Students will attend the expo from 9:05-10:30.
If you are interested, please fill out this link to sign up.
If you would like more information, please contact Mr. Harris (mwharris1@fcps.edu) and Ms. Spingler (mmspingler@fcps.edu)
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