Important Upcoming Dates
2022-2023 School Year
Nov 14 4:00-8:00pm: Chorus Fundraiser- Chipotle Lorton
Nov 14 & 15 3:00-8:00pm: Senior Make Up Picture (Multipurpose Room)
Nov 16th 5:00 -7:00pm: FAFSA Completion Workshop
Nov 17, 18 & 19 7:00pm: SCHS Theatre Arts First Show "She Kills Monsters"
Nov 23-25: Thanksgiving Holiday (No School)
Dec 19- Jan 2: Winter Break
Jan 16: Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday- Student/Teacher Holiday
Jan 26: Staff Development Day- Student Holiday
Jan 27: Teacher Workday- Student Holiday
Message from Dr. Khoshaba
Greetings, SoCo family!
I want to begin by wishing everyone a happy Veteran's Day weekend. We’re so proud of our military families for their service to our country.
This week, under the leadership of Mrs. Kat Ohlmeyer, we have celebrated our military in many ways. One of my personal favorites is the Military Wall, which has the pictures of our Stallion military families, their rank and military branch, and their child’s name (if applicable). We also hosted our annual Flag Raising ceremony on Thursday, November 10. These are just a few ways we recognize and honor the service of our military families.
Next week is going to be really special, as our Theater Department host the “She Kills Monsters” production. Mrs. Rumberger and her team have been hard at work for several weeks in preparation for this event, and here are a few pics to help preview the show. As a reminder, the production will occur on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday inside our auditorium at 7:00pm each day. Tickets are only $12 per person, so I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible!
TUTORS
For students in need of academic assistance, our students have unlimited access to live, on-demand, 1-to-1 online tutoring support from Tutor.com through Schoology at no cost to families. Sessions are safe and anonymous with over 200+ subjects covered. Tutors are available 24/7 and tutoring is also available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, and French. Detailed information including FAQs and opt-out instructions are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.
Learn how students can log in and access a tutor by watching a video:
Tutor.com in FCPS: How it Works in English
Tutor.com in FCPS: How it Works in Spanish
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT
On Nov. 21 Hidden in Plain Sight we are pleased to host the Fairfax County Police Department to present Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) to our families. This event will take place in the Oakton High School cafeteria and will run approximately from 6:30pm - 8:45pm.
The purpose of the program is to educate parents on current trends and signs of risky behavior. The following behaviors will be included:
- Alcohol Use
- Marijuana
- Prescription Drugs
- Over the Counter Drugs
- Illicit Drugs
- Mental Health Concerns
- Sexual Behavior
- Other Risky Behaviors
An interactive exhibit will be set up for families to peruse, followed by a presentation and discussion. Please see the flyer below for more information. This presentation is for adults only.
BUY SENIOR ADS!
The opportunity for families to purchase a Senior Ad is still available! The deadline to buy Senior Ads is March 3rd and spots are filling very quickly! There are multiple packages available for purchase, including a full page dedicated to your student! For more information on Senior Ads, please click the link below to visit our Senior Ads website.
https://yearbookforever.com/schools/south_county_high_school_buy_yearbook_10180/5fDWqbvmZI74pMewjabsEAoI
Have a great weekend.
Kambar
#OneStallion
Due to our high volume of absences during the holiday season, we would like to encourage our families to submit any absence, early dismissal, and/or late arrival no later than Friday Nov 18, 2022 by 2:00pm.
Requests submitted after Friday Nov 18, 2022 may delay early dismissal.
We highly encourage our families to submit these requests as soon as possible.
You may report attendance by:
Calling our attendance line: 703-446-1625
Option 1- All Day Absence
Option 2- Late Arrival
Option 3- Early Release
or Email: SouthCountyHigh.Attendance@fcps.edu
Note: Messages are checked constantly throughout the day. If you report your students absence ON that Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving, please know that our phone lines/emails will be extremely backed up and you may get the automatic robo call since we will not be able to get everything put in before 9am when that call goes out. However, be assured, we will get them put in the system as fast as we possibly can. Please DO NOT call/email again if you know you have already done so.
We are mailing home a pre-printed copy of your student’s emergency care card with the information we currently have in SIS. It is of the utmost importance to the safety of your student that this information is as up to date as possible. Please carefully review the information as it appears on the pre-printed form to see if any corrections need to be made.
Corrections can be made through your SIS ParentVue account using the weCare@school link. You can visit https://www.fcps.edu/resources/parent-communication-overview/wecareschool for further information on how to update your student’s emergency care information electronically.
If you do not have a SIS ParentVue account, you can make changes directly on the pre-printed form and return it to the South County High School main office.
Please make any necessary corrections by December 1st, 2022.
If you would like to set up a SIS ParentVue account, please visit https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/parent/ and fill out the parent support request form. Once your request is received, someone from the school will reach out to you with the information you will need to set up your account.
Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid forms were sent home with students a few weeks ago. We would like to thank you everyone who completed and returned the form.
If you have not had the chance to do so, please complete the form and have your student return it to Subschool 3/4 over the course of next week.
Strategic Planning
Students will soon be shown a short informational video at school and be asked to complete a survey providing feedback on their experience at school. This feedback will be used to help inform FCPS leadership as they work on planning for the future of the school system. Parents are invited to view the survey questions and get more information.
Families who do not want their child to participate in the survey can opt their child out electronically through SIS ParentVUE or by returning a paper opt-out form to our school.
FCPS Strategic Planning that Reaches All
The strategic planning process is a community-wide effort. There will be many opportunities to share feedback or participate in a community meeting. We want our community to stay informed and be involved. You can help!
If you are an active member of a community organization or group who people look to for information, please consider signing up to be a key communicator during the strategic planning process. FCPS key communicators should have an interest in sharing information about the school division and encouraging involvement. Key communicators will:
- Receive regular updates including news, information, future events, and engagement opportunities.
- Share the information they receive with their group in a timely manner.
- Encourage group participation in engagement and feedback opportunities where appropriate and possible.
If you or someone from your organization would like to serve as an FCPS key communicator during the strategic planning process, please submit this form by Monday, November 28.
Congratulations to the South County Marching Stallions on two great performances at the state championship event this Saturday! The Marching Stallions placed first in group Group 3, with a clean sweep of all captions (Best music, visual, general effect, colorguard, and percussion). In finals competition, the Stallions placed 6th out of 34 bands on the day, with a score of 90.7. Way to go marching Stallions!”
Students in Need of Coats?
Mrs. Kanamori, our Family Liaison, has winter coats in all sizes from S- XL for our students. If you know of a student in need, please send them to Student Services or contact Mrs. Kanamori at 703-446-1640.
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FAFSA Completion Workshop at South County November 16th 5-7pm
Senior Families – College Access Fairfax will be at South County to offer support in filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on Wednesday, November 17th from 5-7pm in the library. Registration is not required. Parents and students who bring the required documents to the workshop will receive one-on-one assistance completing and submitting the FAFSA online.
FAFSA Completion Workshops are offered from October through February at high schools throughout Fairfax County. Dates and locations for more FAFSA Completion Workshops are available at https://bit.ly/3DIM47V. For those unable to attend any of these opportunities, recorded presentations are available at https://collegeaccessfairfax.org/resources/ under the CAF Virtual Library.
Additional resources to support the financial aid process, including step-by-step instructions available in multiple languages, are available on the SCHS website at https://southcountyhs.fcps.edu/student-services/college-and-career-center/financial-aid.
The Fairfax County Youth Survey will be given to all 10th & 12th grade students during Advisory on November 22, 2022. See the attached letter for more information. Use the link to access the letter in another language. A paper copy is available upon request.
If you wish to opt your child(ren) out of the survey, please complete the form and return it to Ms. Turner at rturner@fcps.edu.
CHORUS FUNDRAISER
Join Chorus for Dinner on Monday, November 14th at Chipotle Lorton
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Order Online and Pick Up in the Store with Order Code: D6N98P2
Tickets for All Night Grad Party (ANGP)
are on sale!
The night is meant to celebrate your student and their fellow classmates in a fun and positive environment. We can’t wait to celebrate the Class of 2023 at the All Night Grad Party!
Theme: Final Stampede
Date: Friday, 9 June
Location: St. James Sports Complex (Springfield)
$50 per child – prices go up next month
Follow the link to purchase a ticket, sign the waiver, and emergency contact form: https://southcountyptso.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/24432443
The following registration information MUST be completed and agreed to by a parent/guardian. This waiver and the purchase of a ticket allows entrance into the South County All Night Grad Party.
The ANGP is needs volunteers to make this a successful event for the students. Please use the link to volunteer: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0545aea723a3f58-2023
Dear Parents and Rising Seniors Class of 2023:
Victor O’Neill Studios is our official school photographer, they are excited to see you on the following date(s) for your senior portraits at the school:
November 14 & 15 for Senior Formal Yearbook Portraits Session C & D
**These are the final dates for senior portraits at the school**
The attire for the school’s yearbook pose will be in the traditional Tuxedos and Drapes. We will provide the Tuxedo and Drapes. In addition to the yearbook session we also offer sessions that include casual/personality portraits and cap and gown portraits. Please follow the link below to choose your session type and appointment time.
Appointments are open for booking one session at a time, future sessions are not yet available to book.
https://pickatime.com/vosphoto/SouthCounty2023
If you have any questions please email : seniors@vosphoto.com
(please reference school name)
Thank you!
See Attached Flyer
The SCHS Theatre Arts department’s first show of the year, She Kills Monsters¸ will be performed on November 17, 18, and 19 at 7 pm. This show is definitely worth seeing! This show consists of Dungeons and Dragons, fantasy, monsters, and more! Please note the show is rated PG-13 due to language, content, and choreographed violence. However, younger audience members might be able to handle the content of the show. Please reach out to Molly Rumberger at mdrumberger@fcps.edu should you wish to learn more about the subject matter. Tickets are $12 and are now on sale! You can purchase tickets at schstheatre.com or directly at this link. A full synopsis of the show is included on our ticket links so you can learn more!
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Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) program is an IN-PERSON interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, mental health concerns, eating disorders, risky sexual behaviors and more.
This is a hands-on learning adventure for
PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ONLY! We guide you through a presentation that opens your eyes to what is right in front of you. This program begins with a setup of a teenager’s bedroom which includes close to 100 “red flags” that indicate risky behavior. Parents are encouraged to touch everything and identify our red flags. Times have changed since we were teenagers… do you think you can find them?
Presented by: PFC Meg Hawkins
Nov 21 & 22
5:30 PM Review Teenage Bedroom
6:30 PM Presentation
South County HS- Silverbox Theatre
Please Register for Free using these links:
Link for November 21 -
https://bit.ly/hipsoco1121
Link for November 22 - https://bit.ly/hipsoco1122
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See Attached Flyer
See Attached Flyer
Holiday meals are a special time when families come together.
Can you help make the holidays special for a local family struggling with food insecurity? Since 2016, Food For Neighbors has been providing holiday meals to students in middle and high schools throughout Fairfax and Loudoun counties. For every $50 donated to the Food For Neighbors Holiday Meals Program, they will provide a $50 grocery store gift card for a local family to purchase a nutritious and delicious meal this season. To donate, visit FFN Holiday Meals Program.
Hunger is an unwelcome guest during the holidays and with your generosity, families throughout our community will experience the joy of gathering around a table together to enjoy a nice meal. Thank you for your generosity!
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Hello! We hope you are all enjoying the sunny weather this week!
As a Parent Teacher (Staff) Student Organization (PTSO), one of the questions we are asked is, “what do my membership dues pay for?” Membership dues, one of our biggest sources of financial support, are used to support a wide variety of South County High School programs to include the Welcome Back Breakfast and Staff Appreciation lunch for teachers and staff, the Honor Roll program, Classroom and Club Support, Scholarships, Science Fair and so much more! Would you please consider joining and being part of a team that supports our Stallion family?
We are also looking for committee chairs. Please click on the links below. We appreciate your support.
PTSO Membership:
Committee Chair Sign Up:
For American Education Week we celebrate ALL who work in our South County High School community: our bus drivers, cafeteria workers, counselors, support staff, teachers, leadership and more! Learn more from the National Education Association. Want to recognize someone from our school who goes above and beyond? Submit a nomination to FCPS Cares.
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National Family Engagement Month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. More than 35 years of research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in the education of their child. Strong parental and family support is vital to the well-being and success of students. FCPS has many resources for families designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.
The national standards for family-school partnerships include welcoming all families, communicating effectively, supporting student success, speaking up for every child, sharing power, and collaborating with the community.
The following resources are available to all FCPS families. Visit the links below to learn more about workshops and classes for families, digital and printable resources for early childhood, mental health, military families, special education, multilingual and wellness topics.
Parent Education Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)
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Family Liaisons
Did you know that every school has a family liaison? Family liaisons will welcome and orient families who are new to the school and community, and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can also help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.
If you have questions or would like more information, ask your school office to connect you with your family liaison or visit the Family Liaison webpage for a list of region representatives.
In an annual planning process, FCPS uses input from the community to help develop the school year calendar for the following year. The Calendar Survey will be sent to parents/caregivers, FCPS employees, and students in grades 7-12 next week.
Our framework for creating the calendar is available online to ensure transparency, as we work to build a calendar that is inclusive and equitable.
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Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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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.
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Athletic All-Access Pass
Important SoCo and FCPS Resources
How to Stay In Touch
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
Quick Links
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