Important Upcoming Dates
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10/31-11/01- 3:15 pm (Cafeteria) Senior Portraits
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11/03/2023- End of First Quarter- (2)Two Hour Early Release
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11/03/2023- Outstanding Employee Awards Nomination Deadline
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11/05/2023- Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back)
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11/06/2023- Student Holiday (School Planning Day)
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11/07/2023- Election Day- Student Holiday (Teacher workday)
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11/06, 10, 17 & 21- Final Senior Portraits
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11/11/2023- Veterans Day
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11/12/2023- Diwali
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11/22-11/24- Holidays (Thanksgiving Break)
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05/01/2024- Deadline for Senior Dues
Message from Dr. Khoshaba
Happy Autumn, SoCo family!
The weather has been absolutely beautiful this week! This time of year always puts me in the best of moods. Cool weather, special holiday clothing, and time with family and friends are a recipe for fun times in the Khoshaba household! Let’s get to our latest updates.
Big news came this week for our Stallion Nation. We received confirmation that we received the Purple Star recognition, which means our school is officially recognized as a military-friendly school that demonstrates a major commitment to students and families connected to our nation’s military. This was the first time in our school’s history that we have received this recognition, although I want to acknowledge that SoCo has done amazing work to support military students and families in the past several years. Here’s the official emblem that we’re going to proudly display on our website and social media accounts:
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Earlier this week, I had a FANTASTIC meeting with our student leaders in the International Night planning committee. They were creative, passionate, and organized as they discussed various details about this event. I work with several student leadership organizations in our school, but this was my first opportunity to brainstorm solutions with this specific group of students. I walked away feeling great about not only the International Night coming up this February, but also about our future. With students like these coming into power positions in the near future, my generation may be able to retire soon after all!
A special recognition goes out to Nayan Nayan Kasperowski, who won the District meet in Cross Country this past week. Nayan is a very talented student-athlete, and he has brought great recognition to himself, his family, and our entire SoCo community! Way to go, Nayan!
Members of the administrative team took a trip to Annandale High School earlier this week. Their Principal, Mr. DeRose, welcomed us with open arms as he shared ways that he celebrated the various cultures of students at his school. Visiting other high schools is a great way for our administrative team to learn new ways of celebrating and supporting our students. Ideas we walked away with ranged from academic strategies to cultural celebrations. Annandale High School was so generous with their ideas, and I look forward to partnering with them again in the near future.
This upcoming week, our Hispanic Heritage club will be celebrating Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. This holiday is a celebration of life and death. While the holiday originated in Mexico, it is celebrated all over Latin America with colorful calaveras (skulls) and calacas (skeletons). The holiday, which is celebrated on November 1 and 2, is like a family reunion—except dead ancestors are the guests of honor. Here’s a display we have in one of our showcases at school:
Early on Friday morning, I had the opportunity to watch our JROTC students perform a flag ceremony at the front of our school. These students were very respectful and dignified as they unfolded our flags and raised them on the flagpoles. Great job, SoCo!
The SOCO Band Department was busy last week with our fall concert and a marching band competition on Saturday. Our fall concert was shared with Hayfield’s Wind Ensemble and we had a packed house to enjoy a great evening of music making. The marching band placed 1st in their class on the day with a great run and had the 2nd highest score on the day. They will be competing in our state championship even this weekend in Lynchburg.
If you wish to check out either/both of these performances, please see the links below:
Fall Concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeG_s5dFKeM
October 21st Marching Band Performance: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uDXdViDT3gcoAbNTePq5xmUclrUZVp6C/view?usp=sharing
*Our show this year is titled “Young Love” and follows what can best be described as a typical high school relationship. The kids have had a ton of fun of putting this together, and as you can hear, the crowd loved it as well. The marching band will give their last performance of the year at the last football game on November 3rd if you want to see the show live*
My Spotlight on Instruction Classroom of the Week is Mrs. Wyman’s French 2 class. Her students prepared fantastic presentations on such wonderful French monuments as The Eiffel Tower, the Royal Palace, and the Concord Palace. Students had the chance to present their information either as a solo or in a group setting. I was able to witness both formats, and I was inspired by their content, public speaking skills, and the research they performed. Some students even made replicas of the areas they studied, which you can see here:
This weekend was one of our busiest yet most successful in recent memory. Friday night we traveled to Bruin Country and played a great game of football against Lake Braddock. We knew they’d put up a good fight and they did, but Coach Pannoni and our Stallions pulled out the victory in the end, 28-20. Great job, SoCo!
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On Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend the new Lorton Police Station and Animal Shelter Dedication Ceremony. Supervisor Dan Storck and his committee did an outstanding job with this event, as we had an array of dignitaries and celebratory events that morning. In addition to the inspirational words given, I was particularly surprised and pleased to see a helicopter fly-over scheduled and performed on time! Very classy! This resource is a huge win for our entire South County community, as there is closer support for the Lorton community, both in terms of safety from the police and the new animal shelter, which is only the second one opened in Fairfax. For all of my pet owners out there, I know you will especially appreciate this resource.
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Finally, the Cheer competition on Saturday morning was another exciting event. As of the writing of this newsletter, I don’t know the results, but our Stallions performed exceptionally well. They were upbeat, athletic, and artistic in their choreographed tumbling and dance performance! The crowd was on fire with Stallion spirit, and we’re all very proud of them for representing us in such an outstanding manner!
I hope you all enjoy your weekend!
Kambar
#OneStallion
Together As One!
Quarter End, Early Release, Student Holiday
As a reminder, Friday, November 3, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. Also, schools are closed for students on Monday and Tuesday, November 6 and 7 for professional workdays. See the complete school year calendar.
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Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a South County High School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.) All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below:
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school.
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 3.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Beskenis at ltbeskenis@fcps.edu
Senior Dues are $100 and help to cover the costs of Graduation and are due by May 1.
The easiest way to pay is through My School Bucks.
Cash or checks are also accepted and can be made out to South County High School and can be given to Mr. Kingston in A125 or Mrs. Hill in Room A119.
Senior Dues need to be paid in order for students to attend prom or the Senior trip to King’s Dominion, or Graduation.
FOOD FOR NEIGHBORS PARTNERSHIP WITH SCHS
This holiday season, let's come together to make a difference in the lives of food-insecure students in our community. Food For Neighbors plans to provide local families with Holiday Meals at Thanksgiving. Visit the FFN website today and learn how you can help students and their families experience the joy of gathering for a holiday meal. Every $50 donation provides a meal for a family. Your generosity can make a world of difference for local students!
Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. To make it easier, the form is now available online in SIS ParentVUE.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
Once logged in to SIS ParentVUE, click “Online Packets” in the top right corner. Then, select “Federal Impact Aid Survey.” Get more information.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey. Find out how to get technical support for ParentVUE.
Within this society’s culture sometimes we avoid talking about topics that make us uncomfortable but can be both lifesaving and changing, such as finances and drugs. Are there things that would have really made a difference in some of your experiences if known when younger, that can be shared with your teenager now? Here’s a few tips for talking about substance use and misuse with your teenager.
Avoid:
- Overgeneralizations/horror stories
Ex: “People who use drugs go to jail and end up homeless.” -That is not true for most people.
- Sharing about how you used to do drugs
Ex: “I smoked in high school, so I understand wanting to experiment.” - The THC content in marijuana is much higher than when you may have used.
Ex: “It’s okay if you do it at home, but not anywhere else.” -This creates a gray area and demonstrates an acceptance for not following rules and established boundaries.
Tips:
- Have a united front or if alone be consistent.
Both parents need to communicate the same message. No good cop, bad cop.
- Recognize addiction in your family.
Speak the unspoken. Share information that could help your teen make an informed decision about “playing with fire” since they’re genetically predisposed.
- Set a desired outcome for the conversation.
What do you want your teen to understand before you start the conversation?
- Focus on their health as important and a concern versus behavior.
Avoid finger pointing literally and figuratively.
- Set firm expectations & boundaries
Clearly explain what is and isn’t acceptable for your household and the associated consequences.
- Keep a “cool head”
- Withhold judgment
- Be direct
- Be prepared for your teen’s reaction.
Resources:
Helpful Info to Quit Vaping: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/free-e-cigarette-quit-program
FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs: https://dl.ebmcdn.net/fcps/courses/ATODParentPresentationRequired103119b/story_html5.html
Knowing the signs of Substance Abuse:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VWGxTZrpCU
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
For further information & support:
Catric W. Marshall, MS., LPC., CCC
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
cwhaleymarsh@fcps.edu
PTSO
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.
The Lorton Holiday Extravaganza & Craft Show
It’s time to spread the word…The South County PTSO is in of Student and Parent Volunteers to distribute flyers promoting the 18th Annual Lorton Holiday Extravaganza & Craft Show. Please, take a moment to check out our sign-up genius and see if you could spare an hour or two!
All students will receive volunteer credits. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0949ACAF2BAAFD0-45077117-publicity
The PTSO is collecting gently used books of all types for the Santa’s Book Emporium.
Books may be dropped off in the bins at Entrance 1 at SCHS or if are unable to get them to the school you may email SCHSCraftShow@gmail.com and arrange to pick them up!
Save this code SCSS4010
EVERY Thursday from now until Jun 2024 Papa John's is supporting a restaurant night to support the ANGP.
We raised $70+ in Sep. Let's keep the momentum
The South County High School All Night Graduation Party (ANGP) Committee has secured a year long (school year) fundraiser with our local Papa John's! EVERY Thursday from now until June, if you use the coupon Code SCSS4010, you will get 40% off your order and the ANGP will get 10% of all sales. This is for our local Papa John's only (Off Silverbrook Rd).
So save this coupon code and use it every Thursday you are in the mood for Pizza! This is a great way to support our local Papa John's AND support the ANGP at the same time!
Enjoy!
Your ANGP Planning Committee
Awareness Month
Disability History and Awareness Month
In Virginia during October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community.
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LGBTQIA+ History Month
LGBTQIA+ History Month is recognized in October nationwide. We acknowledge and celebrate that LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and families are an integral component of our nation. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. To help develop a common understanding of Bullying, below is the FCPS definition.
Bullying in Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”
For more information on how FCPS handles a bullying situation please visit the FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention webpage. Our goal is to ensure all students feel safe and welcome at school. If you have questions and/or concerns about something that is going on at school, please contact the front office so that they can support you and most importantly your student.
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South County ATHLETICS
 Phone: 703-446-1625
OPTION 1- ALL DAY ABSENCE
OPTION 2- LATE ARRIVAL
OPTION 3- EARLY RELEASE
(CALL OR EMAIL FIRST THING IN THE MORNING TO REPORT EARLY RELEASE)
- Handwritten notes are acceptable*
- Call/email/note must come from parent/guardian, NOT the student*
- Please always leave a message, they are checked constantly*
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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Email: 