Important Upcoming Dates
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09/11/2023- Commemoration/Patriot Day
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09/15-09/17- Rosh Hashanah
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09/15-10/15- National Hispanic Heritage Month
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09/28/2023- Late Buses Starting
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09/29/2023- SR&R Sign & Return Signature Sheet
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10/02/2023- Make up Picture Date (Auditorium)
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10/07/2023- Homecoming Dance @SCHS
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10/31-11/03- 3:15 pm (Cafeteria) Senior Portraits
Message from Dr. Khoshaba
Warm greetings, SoCo family,
If I heard it once this week, I heard it a thousand times that EVERYONE enjoyed the four-day school week! While we can’t always have that schedule, we can find time to celebrate the great things happening inside the walls of Stallion Country. Let’s get to it!
I had another opportunity to run my Office on Wheels project, which allows me to take my office supplies on a cart and park in one of the halls to interact with staff and students. This week I saw Beth Miller's English class working on defining a community and identifying elements within it. The ideas these students identified were SO advanced, and I was proud to interact with them as they completed their chart papers. Our instructional focus as a school this is year is on John Hattie’s High Yield Strategies, and specifically on Increasing Student Engagement and Building Student Self-Efficacy. Ms. Miller is clearly already a master at both, so I may need to lean on her for future staff development training opportunities!
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I also had the chance to begin my classroom observations, and my very first one of the year was with Ms. Fischer's Studio Art class. This week, they were working on graffiti projects. Ms. Fischer, a REAL artist in every sense of the term, did a spectacular job of breaking down this project into manageable steps. She modeled her techniques under a camera that projected onto the board. I was so impressed with her teaching skills and how well the students responded to her. Here’s a quick pic I snapped of her objective on the board, which is what the students were replicating in their art workbooks.
At SoCo, we emphasize the need to display student work in the hallways, and one of our most successful teachers with doing that is Ms. Gannon. Her Hexagonal Thinking project from Government class displays the various ways that our students.
Sitting with students at lunch is one of my favorite things to do. Hearing their stories about their favorite teachers and subjects, answering questions they have about a program or event, and sharing my hopes for them are at the top of the list of what we typically talk about. This past week saw an added surprise, as I was pleasantly surprised when they asked me to share my story with them. How cool are SoCo students? Very!
Lastly, congratulations to our Boys Volleyball club for having more than 60 students show up to an interest meeting. I know that starting an organization can be difficult for a variety of reasons, so seeing that many students express an interest is heart-warming.
I hope all of you enjoy your weekend!
Kambar
#OneStallion
Together As One
September 11 National Day of Service
With the upcoming 22nd anniversary of September 11, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
All FCPS students are encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Middle and high school students can learn more about service learning by logging into their Naviance account to access x2VOL.
Get started this fall with two great opportunities: Public Lands Day (September 23) and Volunteer Fairfax’s VolunteerFest (October 21). Information on service projects can be found on the Volunteer Fairfax website.
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You’ve been Tagged!
Saturday was Tag Day … the biggest fundraiser for the year for the South County High School Performing Arts Department. It takes thousands of dollars more than the fees that are charged for each group to run a complete band, orchestra, choir, or theater program. To keep our fees low and keep the performing arts in our schools, we depend on contributions from our incredible community.
Student teams came to your door this Saturday asking for tax-deductible contributions to “Support the Arts.” Thank you to everyone who donated to our Performing Arts department! But … if you weren’t home, you were tagged, or a “door hanger” was left on your door.
If you would still like the opportunity to donate to our Performing Arts programs, please include a donation in an envelope and either drop it off at the school or mail it to us. If you prefer credit card or PayPal, visit www.schsbands.org, and click DONATE in the left menu (please include a note that the donation is for Tag Day). Either way, don’t forget to keep the tag as the receipt for your tax deductible donation.
Thank you again for your support of our Performing Arts Department! We look forward to seeing you at our music and theater productions here at SCHS.
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It’s Cookie Time! 🍪
Help Support South County DECA by ordering Frozen Cookie Dough from Mrs. Fields! All profits directly support student costs on field trips, competitions, and leadership conferences. Bit.ly/DECACOOKIES or the attached QR code.
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Family Life Education (FLE) Opt-Out Forms
If you wish to opt your student out of FLE, please fill out the appropriate form and return it to Mrs. deKanter in the SCHS Athletics Office.
Have You Completed These Important Forms?
During the first weeks of the year, caregivers receive many forms to complete. Several of the most important ones are below:
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Digital Resources Consent: Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent/caregiver consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Digital Resources - Parent Consent page. This page also includes directions on how to provide permission.
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Student Rights and Responsibilities: This document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when they log in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage.
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Opt-Outs: The Opt-Out Booklet is online or available from your child’s school. It contains information on:
- Parents’ rights to inspect and consent or opt out before their child participates in certain surveys.
- Parents’ rights to inspect instructional materials.
- Rules regarding student records and disclosure of student information (including photo/video of students) and the right to opt out.
- Parents’ rights to opt out of the Social Emotional Learning Screener, physical exams not required by state law, career or social emotional counseling, Library Equity Access Pass Project, and/or Tutor.com.
- The process by which complaints may be filed if parents or students believe their rights have been violated.
Paper forms can be signed and returned to school.
🩹 The Importance of Up-to-Date Immunizations
Immunizations are required for public school entry and help keep students protected from serious diseases. While COVID-19 vaccinations are not required, many other immunizations are. Check with your students’ healthcare providers now to make sure they are up to date on their immunizations. Immunization records can now be updated online in SIS ParentVUE through the Online Verification Update form. To access that form, click Online Packets in the top right of the screen after logging in to SIS ParentVUE. Caregivers can obtain an activation key letter to activate their SIS ParentVUE account by contacting [the main office].
Statewide Outbreak of Meningococcal
One of the required immunizations for students entering 7th and 12th grade is the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY). The Virginia Department of Health is currently tracking a statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease. MenACWY can provide protection against the bacteria responsible for this outbreak.
Visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of immunization clinics or contact your family’s healthcare provider. Appointments are required for most clinics.
Remember to request documentation of your child’s immunizations to provide to their school. Get more information on immunization requirements and the necessary documentation.
😷 2023-24 Health and Safety Guidance for Schools
Although the COVID-19 hospital transmission level (previously the COVID-19 Community Transmission level) for Fairfax County is currently low, COVID-19 cases have risen in Virginia during the last few weeks, and flu season will soon be upon us. Be sure to review FCPS Health and Safety Guidance for the best ways to prevent the spread of disease and to find out when students should stay home from school.
🧪 STEAMOLOGY STEM Fest Offers Hands-On Activities for Students
Students are invited to participate in STEM FEST on Saturday, October 14, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South County High School. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade can participate in robotics demonstrations, coding experiments, and more. High school students are invited to volunteer. Visit the STEAMOLOGY website for more information.
Students Are Learning Every Day
As you plan upcoming trips and other family events, please remember the importance of sending your child to school every day. Review the FCPS School Year Calendar and try to plan any time away during long breaks from school.
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent (missing 18 days or more) in kindergarten and first grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of third grade.
Read more about how families can help form good attendance habits.
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PTSO
Our PTSO has been busy this summer planning multiple events for the upcoming school year. One of the primary ways you can support our school is by joining our PTSO membership. Please click the QR code below to begin this process. We appreciate everyone who is able to participate!
South County High School PTSO is partnering with Seasonal Roots, a local online farmers market, to bring healthy, delicious food to our community, to support local farmers and artisans, and to raise money to support the All Night Grad Party for our seniors!
Seasonal Roots is an online farmers market that delivers “dirt to doorstep” to families in Maryland and Virginia. Each week the market offers more than 150 items that are all grown and produced locally, sustainably, and ethically. Market items include fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, vegan specialties and more.
As part of this fundraiser for ANGP - new customers can join Seasonal Roots for 50% off the membership fee (a $25 savings!)
PLUS for every new customer who signs up, a $20 donation will be made to South County PTSO! WIN-WIN for everyone! Be sure to use promotional code SOCOANGP at https://www.seasonalroots.com/socoangp.
How to Access Free Resources from Tutor.com
All FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Student participation is optional and parents/caregivers can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Get more information on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services webpage.
Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
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Rosh Hashanah
Friday, September 15, is a half-O day in recognition of Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete school year calendar.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Fairfax Fiesta Fairfax County's inaugural Hispanic Heritage Celebration, the Fairfax Fiesta, is taking place on Saturday, Sept. 23, from noon to 5 p.m., at the PARC at Tysons (8508 Leesburg Pike). The free event, presented by the Fairfax County Government and Celebrate Fairfax!, aims to provide an extraordinary experience for all ages and backgrounds. Learn more about Fairfax Fiesta.
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South County ATHLETICS
Important SoCo and FCPS Resources
How to Stay In Touch
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