Important Upcoming Dates
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Feb 2 6:00pm: PAC Meeting- Library
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Feb 2, 3 & 4 7:00pm: Student-Directed One-Act
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Feb 7 at 6:30pm-Cafeteria: SCHS Community Forums
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Feb 16- May 4- 3:00pm-4:15pm: Mastering the Algebra 1 SOL
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Feb 20-Presidents' Day/Student /Teacher Holiday-Schools closed
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March 2- 2-Hour Early Release
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March 3-Student Holiday/School Planning Day
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April 3-April 7-Spring Break
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April 13-End of 3rd Quarter-2 Hour Early Release
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April 14-Teacher Workday/Student Holiday/Orthodox Good Friday
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April 21-Eid al Fitr/Student/Teacher Holiday-Schools closed
Message from Dr. Khoshaba
Happy Weekend, SoCo family!
I have several positive things to share with you, so let’s dive into this week’s newsletter.
We’ve had several murals updated around our school. These updates to our school are important, as they display of Stallion pride for this year’s students, as well as for classes of students in the future. I believe that artwork not only helps us better understand ourselves, but it also helps to motivate and inspire others who see it. I hope you enjoy these pictures, and I’ll have more to share in the coming weeks.
Students are in the process of signing up for classes for the 2023-24 school year. If you haven’t already done so, please talk with your student about their interests, and please keep the following in mind:
- The student’s interest level. Avoid signing up for classes you aren’t interested in, even if they have added weight for the GPA.
- The amount of homework (HW). Honors has 30 minutes of HW per night, AP may have 45-60 minutes per night. If you take five AP classes, that’s a lot of HW, especially if you are involved with music or sports
- Consider other things you want to do (hobbies, times with family). Students need to budget their time so they can enjoy all aspects of their lives.
We had our annual Curriculum Fair this past Tuesday night for rising freshmen. It was so nice to see the families enjoy the information shared in the auditorium, followed by conversations with the staff in the cafeteria. When the panel of teachers spoke to the audience in the auditorium, two themes developed for how students can be successful in high school: stay organized and students need to communicate their needs with their teachers. I certainly agree with both concepts. A special shout out goes to ALL of the staff in attendance that night, both in the auditorium and the cafeteria. These Stallions gave up time with their families to help future Stallions feel more comfortable. The spirit of generosity and compassion continues to be on full display in Stallion Country!
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This past Wednesday, the Gymnastics team had their senior night, and it was another evening filled with great memories. I was so impressed with the athleticism of our students. The rotations, flexibility, and strength of these athletes was second to none!
Lastly, this is a friendly reminder that we start Marking Period 3 this Monday, January 30.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Kambar
#OneStallion
Register Now to Attend a Community Forum!
Check out the schedule of Community Forums and register for the one that is most convenient for you. The one here at SCHS is on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30pm. Community Forums will provide every resident an opportunity to participate in and influence the direction of FCPS’ Strategic Plan, prior to its completion and formal adoption by the School Board.
Hispanic Leadership Association scholarship fundraising week
Monday kicked off our Hispanic Leadership Association scholarship fundraising week. Help us help a South County High School HSA senior .
Visit our Double Good Popcorn page to purchase gourmet popcorn to assist us with this endeavor:
https://popup.doublegood.com/s/7e0gp93w
Unexcused Tardy Policy Reminders
- As we approach the beginning of third quarter, we wanted to remind you of the school’s tardy policy.
- Students are expected to be in class by the time the bell rings for the start of class.
- Tardies do reset at the beginning of each quarter so all students will start at 0 on January 30th (the first day of the third quarter)
- Students who have five or more unexcused tardies in that quarter will have a conference with the Dean of Students and consequences are as follows. Parents will be contacted via email regarding the conference.
- Conference #1: Warning
- Conference #2: Afterschool Detention (3-4:30pm)
- Conference #3: Saturday School (8am-12pm)
- Conference #4: AIA (Partial Day In School Suspension)
- Conference #5: Discipline Referral to Administrator.
- Consequences from there could include: Full day in school suspension, Parent/Student Meeting, loss of school privilege (could include parking privileges, Stallions in Good Standing cafeteria privileges, activities/events, etc.)
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Dean of Students, Kaitlyn Price (kaprice1@fcps.edu).
SEL Screener Spring Notification and Opt-Out
NOTIFICATION OF TESTING
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) commits to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional
learning (SEL). The School Board has approved a screener to review students’ skills and experiences in these areas.
FCPS staff will use the screener to identify strengths and needs for students in grades K-12. The screener provides information regarding students’ experiences and how staff can support their needs.
SEL skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. The screener will review these skills, as well as students’ relationships, feelings of belonging, feelings about their school environment, and mood. These factors are critical to positive academic, social, and emotional success.
All students in grades K-12 will participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. For students in grades K-2, teachers will complete a survey on their observations of students' skills and experiences. Students in grades 3-12 will reflect and report on their own skills and experiences. Screener data will only be accessible to teachers, administrators, and staff with legitimate educational interests. Results will be maintained in secure files and databases accessible only to these individuals. Screener results will be used with other data to inform practices for SEL skill development and mental wellness. Screener data will also help staff plan interventions for students with identified needs. Parents and guardians will receive an individualized report regarding their student’s screener results following each assessment window in SIS ParentVUE. School staff will be available to discuss results with families on planned support.
Schools will set specific dates for testing in each class. If you do not want your student to take part in the SEL screener, please return the opt-out form below to the school or complete the opt-out via your SIS ParentVUE account.
More information, including a short video about the SEL screener in FCPS and the screener questions, can be found on the SEL Screener webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43892). Please contact your student's school counselor or the school's test coordinator with questions.
Fairfax County Social Emotional Learning Screener- OPT-OUT REQUEST FORM
If you wish to opt your child out of participating in the SEL Screener, please complete this form and return it to your child’s
teacher by 02/17/2023.
PLEASE NOTE: You do not need to return this form unless you do not want your child to participate in the SEL screener this year.
CHILD’S NAME____________________TEACHER____________________
Parent/Guardian Signature_____________________ Date_____________
SEE ATTACHED FORM
The SCHS Theatre Arts Department is proud to present the annual student-directed one-acts! This year’s performances feature over ten short plays all directed by junior and senior theatre students. We have over 100 students participating in these performances and you don’t want to miss out! Performances are on February 2, 3, and 4 at 7 pm! But remember there will be different plays on each night so you’ll want to catch all three evenings! Tickets are $8 per night and can be purchased at schstheatre.com, directly at this link, or at the door. If you have any questions, please contact Molly Rumberger at mdrumberger@fcps.edu.
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The South County High School Math in Action Team will be hosting: Mastering the Algebra 1 SOL: Thursday After School Program from 3:00 to 4:15. All Algebra 1 Students will be taking their End of Course SOL Exam on May 10, 2023. Teachers will work with small groups of students reviewing skills and concepts to help prepare students for the SOL Exam. This is a great opportunity for Students to reinforce their Algebra 1 Skills. Late busses are available on Thursdays and leave the school at 4:30.
Dates: Thursday, February 16, 2023 - Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Please note, there will not be classes on Thursday, March 2 (early release day), Thursday, April 6 (spring break), and Thursday, April 13 (early release day).
Registration Dates: Friday, January 20 to Friday, February 2
Questions: Please contact Tracy Birrell, tabirrell@fcps.edu, or 703-446-1853 for questions.
Registration Link: Mastering the Algebra 1 SOL
See attached flyer
FAFSA Help
2023-24 College Financial Aid Forms Are Available; College Access Fairfax Is Here to Help
It’s time for high school seniors and their families to complete college financial aid forms. Most colleges require that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) be completed by Wednesday, March 1, to receive the maximum financial aid possible in fall 2023. Some schools have even earlier priority deadlines, so check the individual college’s financial aid office website for deadlines and specific forms to complete. To begin the FAFSA, you will need to create a FSA ID.
A funding opportunity is available for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA; the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) program. Visit the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website for help in determining which aid option is right for you.
There are several College Access Fairfax recordings, virtual workshops, and resources available for viewing College Access Fairfax website. College Access Fairfax’s Financial Aid Champions also provide help completing the financial aid forms. To request a one-on-one appointment, please email appointments@collegeaccessfairfax.org.
Families can also contact their high school's college and career specialist or school counselor if they need additional help.
Have Your Say in Our Future!
Strategic planning Community Forums kick off on Monday, January 30, at 6:30 p.m., at Stone Middle School. Check out the schedule of Community Forums and register for one that is convenient for you. There will be one in-person event in each magisterial district and several virtual events.
Participating in a strategic planning Community Forum will give employees, parents/caregivers, students, and community members a chance to help shape the school division’s future. At each event, participants will review student achievement, access, and perception data, and identify both strengths and challenges within the data. Input from the forums will be analyzed by our consultant, Performance Fact, Inc., and shared with the Core Planning Team for potential inclusion in FCPS’ new Strategic Plan.
Childcare will be provided at in-person forums. Language interpretation will be provided, as available, at all events. Please register today.
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We Want Your Feedback! Draft 2023-24 School Year Calendar Options
Your feedback is important! FCPS is seeking community feedback on the draft calendar options for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years. Please share your thoughts by filling out this form. The form will be open through Tuesday, January 31, 1 p.m.
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 How to Talk About Alcohol Safety
Stores have been packed with holiday savings, credit cards have been charged, and food has been consumed. The holidays are often a time for family and friends to come together and create lasting memories with one another. The matching holiday pajamas leave a lasting impression on social media, but what impression does your relationship with alcohol leave on your child? Although difficult, conversations about responsible alcohol consumption and safety are necessary. When consuming alcoholic beverages around young people, consider the message(s) you would like for them to receive. Without noticing you may find yourself saying any of the following: “ I need a drink,” “a drink would help me relax,” or “wine helps me sleep better at night”. These statements could inadvertently cause your child to believe that alcohol is a suitable replacement for other healthy coping strategies.
It’s never too early to have age-appropriate conversations with your child about alcohol. According to SAMHSA, about 10% of children have indicated they have tried alcohol before and that number increases to 50% by the time they are 15 years old. Early and frequent conversations about alcohol and other drugs tend are more effective than having “the talk” once. Avoiding the conversation with your child as a parent decreases the opportunity to ensure your position is understood. Our youth will still have the conversion with their peers. Silence communicates just as loudly as a verbal conversation. It’s up to you to decide what message is explicitly shared.
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 You Should Talk With Your Child About Alcohol and
Other Drugs
Talk, They Hear You
FCPS SAPS Program
For further Information & support:
Catric Marshall, MSMHC., LRIC., CCC
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
cwhaleymarsh@fcps.edu
Does Your Child Refuse to Go to School?
Each year, nearly 5% of youth experience school refusal. This refers to a child refusing to go to school on a regular basis or remain in school throughout the day due to significant emotional distress. School refusal includes kindergarten students with relatively mild separation anxiety and more severe cases where a student misses weeks or months of school because of debilitating anxiety or depression. Read how to get your child back to school in the Healthy Minds Blog or learn more about attendance policies.
Edison Academy invites you to attend our in-person Open House event on Saturday, February 4, 2023 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (snow date is Saturday, February 11). We are located at 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA. Our entrance is located at Door #13. You will have the opportunity to tour our state-of-the-art facilities, meet our instructors and current students, and learn more about our incredible courses! Please feel free to contact Cassandra Deedy at (703) 924-8101 or cjdeedy@fcps.edu if you need any additional information. Thank you and we’ll look forward to meeting you on February 4th.
See Attached Flyer
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FCPS Academy Videos/Open Houses
- Marshall Academy
- Open House January 25, 1:30 to 3 p.m
- Falls Church Academy
- Open house: Virtual January 26, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Edison Academy
- Open house: February 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Fairfax Academy
- Open House: February 7, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Athletic All-Access Pass
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
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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