Important Upcoming Dates
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Jan 16: Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday- Student/Teacher Holiday
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Jan 19 6:00pm: Marijuana Awareness- Library
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Jan 26: Staff Development Day- Student Holiday
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Jan 27: Teacher Workday- Student Holiday
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Feb 2 6:00pm: PAC Meeting- Library
Message from Dr. Khoshaba
Happy New Year, SoCo family!
I hope all of you had an enjoyable Winter Break. I spent a lot of time with my family. One of the most memorable experiences was our time in Mexico. We saw beautiful sanctuaries for various wildlife, depicted here:
The best part was the food and fellowship with family. I came away with a greater appreciation for the gifts in my life.
Now, onto business!
Congrats to Boys and Girls Basketball teams! I saw the boys play this week at Woodson and the girls at home vs. Robinson. Both had fantastic play on the court! I also enjoyed my talks with several parents, especially my brother in name, Samuel.
In addition to the regular seasons games, congratulations to the Boys Varsity Basketball team also for winning the George Long tournament over the Winter Break. Here’s the news article for more details. https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/12/29/south-county-boys-hold-off-washington-liberty-win-george-long-tourney/
We have a new mural posted in our school that went up Wednesday night. It’s located around the corner from the Attendance Office, and it screams Stallion pride!
We are continuing to be proactive in our fight against drugs, so we’re hosting another workshop for parents on Jan. 19 at 6pm. The learning targets for that night will be:
- Recognize risk factors for substance use to increase focus on prevention in households.
- Increase ability to converse with adolescents and teenagers about substances with relative ease.
- Identify different types of THC (marijuana) and its related paraphernalia.
To end my message on a positive note, like many of you I’ve been identifying some resolutions I’d like to make for this new year. My goal is to appreciate the people in my life more. Here’s an uplifting message about how special people in our lives can impact us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cZb3bpfMP4.
Have a great weekend.
Kambar
#OneStallion
Parent Advisory Council
This is a friendly reminder that our third (of four) PAC meetings will be on 02/02/2023. This meeting will provide me with your perspective about what is going well and what needs to be improved at SoCo. If you are interested in attending, please register here. If you have questions that you would like addressed, please post them here so we can do our best to have a response at the meeting: https://forms.gle/oPstQ8dj8YMWSZcM6.
The council will meet in person from 6:00pm-7:00pm in the Library.
National Mentoring Month
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are.Learn more about Mentoring Month.
#MentoringAmplifies #MentoringMonth
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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
High School Academy Open Houses
FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January.
A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses that can prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, and/or internships with local businesses.
Learn more and find the calendar of Academy Open Houses
Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ inclement weather procedures will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will use the flexibility provided by the Virginia General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction, following the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule (includes a two-hour delay).
FCPS’ website is generally the first mode of communication during emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan ahead for the winter season. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in weCare@school, bookmark the FCPS website, plan for childcare, if appropriate, and know what items your child may need to take home before a weather event.
Tutor.com Testimonials
Are you wondering what experience other FCPS families have had with Tutor.com? Read some comments below:
- “As a parent, I logged in for the first time to see what my student could expect here. The tutor I chatted with was very helpful with my questions and gave me some great tips to try with my child. Next time, I will log in with my child and hopefully match with a tutor that will help him realize learning can be done in different ways.” -Elementary school parent
- “My child used tutor.com last night and said her math tutor was EXCELLENT. She was happy and so now I'm happy, too, as she's been grinding it out solo in the hardest math.” -High school parent
Unless they have been opted out, students can access Tutor.com through Schoology. Every session is personalized to meet students’ needs from remedial to advanced levels. Sessions focus on conceptual learning and critical thinking—not quick answers.
Learn more on FCPS’ Tutor.com webpage.
New Year’s Resolutions
In December, many people will head to their local Target or Michaels to find a new planner. The crisp, fresh feeling of new paper to write new and improved goals gets some of us excited. When thinking of your goals consider making them SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound), this method breaks your goals down into specific objectives and makes it easier for you to track your progress. What goals would you like to share with your child, to show them examples of healthy adult introspection? Introspection, looking within, is necessary to learn how to manage stress in a healthy manner. What regular coping skills can be implemented into your daily/ weekly routine? Some goals may be physical, spiritual, financial, or emotional. Would it be easier to have serious conversations over a family dinner? Or maybe regular family dinners, spark joy and connection that’s often missing.
Research has shown that family therapy is the best treatment option for young people who misuse drugs and alcohol (SAMHSA). Many people use drugs to manage life’s hardships when they feel disconnected from themselves or others. The opposite of addiction is connection, and young people benefit from connection with their families. Families who have a common mission based on autonomy and openness instead of secrecy and silence thrive. Families teach young people how to manage stress when they communicate honestly and openly with one another. Learning how to manage stress early in life could be a major factor in whether or not a young person decides to use drugs.
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
Sources & Resources
Why Small Conversations Make a Big Difference
SMART Goals Quick Overview
Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Youth
For further Information & support:
Catric W. Marshall, MS., LRIC., CCC
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
cwhaleymarsh@fcps.edu
Athletic All-Access Pass
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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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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