 Dear Mustang Community-
I hope that each of you enjoyed a restful and relaxing winter break. It was exciting to welcome the students and teachers back to school on January 3. Their energy and enthusiasm is a constant reminder about how cool it is to work in a middle school. One exciting thing that happened over winter break is that there was a small “cold fire” in the library. While we are completing the clean-up and inventorying the collection, the library will remain closed. The safety of students and staff is my top priority, and we will not open the library until it is determined to be safe. If all goes according to plans, we hope to open the space early next week. The librarians have created a capsule collection of undamaged books for students to check out. In addition to these books, please make sure your student(s) are reading. While we wait for our library to be fully operational, please visit the newly reopened Lorton Library, or access ebooks through South County Middle School Library’s ebook collection or through MyOn, an ebook collection. Our library is also a valued space for manyy students. We have an alternative location for quiet lunch in A186 until the library space reopens and we have moved our programming like Battle of the Books and makerspace to locations outside the library.
Even though 2023 just started, we are already starting to plan for the 2023-2024 school year. We look forward to welcoming 6th grade students to tour SCMS on January 17 and January 23. We will also hold a virtual curriculum night presentation, which will be held on Zoom on Wednesday, January 18, starting at 7:00. Lastly, we will hold an in-person elective fair on Monday, January 23. These events are specifically targeted to rising 7th grade students and families, but current 7th grade families are always welcome! Throughout the month of January, I will be zipping up my heavy winter coat to visit each of our feeder elementary schools in the coming weeks to meet with the future Mustangs about picking classes . These visits are some of my favorite aspects of the job! Similarly, representatives from South County High School will be visiting our 8th graders during the last week of January to discuss high school transitions.
As always, thank you for your continued partnership and please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions. I look forward to seeing you at SCMS soon.
Peter Kownacki
Principal
South County Middle School
703-690-5507
@pakownacki
 CONGRATULATIONS
Our Horse Card Winners for week #13 are M. Echevarria Santiago, K. Sahar, A. Cunningham, R. Rojas Solorzano, A. Lanter. Not pictured D. Askins
Family Life Education
Family Life Education (FLE) is coming! 8th grade students have FLE through Health class from January 16-20 and 7th graders are February 20-24. As a reminder, FCPS provides a comprehensive, sequential FLE program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms are available online for Middle School (7-8). Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Middle School (7-8). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in Schoology. Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the City of Fairfax Regional Library (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressed with your Mustang’s PE teacher or the FLE Administrator, Miranda Hendershot, mehendershot@fcps.edu or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or fle@fcps.edu.
8th Grade Parents
Is your 8th grader interested in leadership experiences in high school? Then the Leadership class at SCHS may be for them!
Leadership is an elective class (this is NOT a club) that focuses on understanding leadership, assessment of leadership styles, planning and organizing skills, relationship building and problem solving. Leadership works with administration, staff and students to create events and activities to better the school atmosphere! To be considered for the class an application and interview is required. Completion of this process does not guarantee admittance into the class, but it necessary to be considered.
The application process includes:
1. Completion of interest form (we will be coming to the middle school to give more information)
2. Completion of Google Application
3. Two (2) Teacher Recommendations--list the teacher names in the application and a form will be sent to the teachers
4. Interview
Applications are available on their team (Green, Pink, or Tie Dye) Schoology Course and will be open through January 13th.
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
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