 Dear Mustang Community -
As many of you saw, it was announced yesterday that I will become the principal of Rocky Run Middle School, effective July 3, 2023. It is bittersweet to leave SCMS at the end of the year, but I could not pass up the opportunity to be closer to my family and work in the school that my children attend. Even though I will be transitioning at the end of the year, I am committed to finishing out this school year on a strong note. I look forward to the spring time at SCMS and all the energy that comes with it! Some of my favorite memories at SCMS are the end of year team events, 8th grade celebration and the Student vs. Staff Basketball game. I insisted on finishing out the school year as the principal of SCMS so that I could celebrate with the students. As I stated in my note yesterday, the FCPS Region 4 team will be in contact with the community to explain the upcoming principal selection process.
This week our Muslim students started observing Ramadan at sundown on Wednesday. Ramadan is a month-long observance in preparation for Eid on April 21. During the month, practicing Muslims will be fasting from dawn until dusk (approximately 6:00 AM until 8:00 PM). We have identified a space where fasting students can congregate instead of going to the cafeteria during lunch. I have been working with our dedicated staff to support our students and recognize potential instructional impact. Please feel free to reach out to me or your student’s teacher or counselor if you have questions about the support structures that we have in place.
I know that I speak for the entire faculty and staff when I say that we are looking forward to Spring Break in a few weeks! Only 5 more school days to go!
As always, thank you for your continued support and please feel free to reach out with any questions.
Peter Kownacki
Principal
South County Middle School
703-690-5500
@pakownacki
Schools and school offices will be closed Monday, April 3, to Friday, April 7. Students will return to school on Monday, April 10, 2023.
News Show March 24
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 CONGRATULATIONS
Our Horse Card Winners this week are: B. Szabo, B. Webb, M. Wurtz, P. Tran, A. Zahn, K. Smith
Meet the Author
Some of our Mustangs were on an FCPS Apple TV Meet the Author program last week with author Jamie Sumner. Tune in to watch our readers:
Channel 99: Saturday 3/25 - 4 PM
Channel 21: Sunday 3/26 - 11 AM
Or you can watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/UPm7lR_Q_aI
Exciting news!
SoCo Summer Strings
(formally Stallion Summer Strings) is returning this summer!
The camp will be hosted at South County Middle School from July 10th-21st from 8:30am-12:30pm, weekdays only.
Camp is open to all rising 5th-9th grade students with at least one year of experience on the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students will participate in two large ensemble rehearsals, an instrument-specific technique class, and a sectional each day.
You can find more information and registration for camp at www.schsorchestra.org/soco-summer-strings. Early registration is from March 1st-June 9th so sign up soon!
Spring Break COVID Test Kit Distribution
If your family is planning to travel or attend large gatherings over spring break, and you would like to ensure your child is healthy before returning to school, please contact us at 703-690-5500 to obtain a test kit in advance of spring break. Please note, testing is NOT required for students to return to school after break. However, you may want to test your student if they are symptomatic or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Update Your Emergency Care Information Via weCare@school
Fairfax County Public Schools provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system, to parents/caregivers who have registered for their own parent account. weCare helps manage emergency medical information by allowing parents/caregivers to enter and update their children’s medical data online at their convenience. That contact information automatically enrolls parents/caregivers to receive critical updates from the district and their child’s school through the eNotify system. FCPS uses eNotify to communicate emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closing and delay, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent by email, text, and occasionally by phone.
Learn more about updating your emergency care information.
No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students Starting April 10
FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist. Teletherapy is available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.
Weekly Math SOL Reviews
Students have recently started completing weekly SOL Review assignments for their math classes. Here is some key information for you to support your student at home:
- Students are permitted to use their notes, slides and information posted in Schoology, Mathspace textbook and practice questions, and other resources used in class. They may also use tutor.com to access support outside of school on these assignments. Students may also ask for teacher support in seminar or after school office hours. They may not collaborate with other students.
- Each review will count as a formative assignment, and will be included within the weekly homework time guidelines for students.
- Reviews open each Monday at 7:00 am and are due every Sunday at 11:59 pm. These assignments are in Mathspace.
- Students who do not show understanding of content will be reviewing questions during class and/or during seminar time.
- More detailed information was given to students during class and is posted in their math Schoology course.
Please check with your student and reach out to your student’s math teacher with any questions!
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