 Hello Mustangs,
We have had another fantastic week at South County Middle School. It was inspiring to speak with some of our Civics students this week as they finalized their Concerned Citizens Projects. The level of engagement and thoughtful solutions they presented were impressive. As always, thank you so much for your support, and please let us know if you have any questions, feedback, or concerns. Enjoy your weekend!
Justin Simmons | Principal | South County Middle School
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UPCOMING DATES
Monday, March 25-Friday, March 29 - Spring Break
Monday, April 1-Tuesday, April 2 - Teacher Workdays, No School for Students
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FCPS Principal Evaluation
On Monday, March 18, South County Middle School parents/guardians will be sent an email containing a link to complete the online FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the VDOE-mandated Performance Evaluation Program for principals and offers parents/guardians an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various topics related to our school. These topics include how the principal demonstrates/impacts instructional leadership, school climate, management, communication and community relations, culturally responsive and equitable leadership, and professionalism within the school.
The questionnaire will be administered between March 18 and April 5. When you receive an email from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. Your feedback matters!
Ramadan
As stated in the FCPS News, students will need parent/guardian permission to utilize the prayer room during instructional time. During Ramadan (March 11 – April 9), the preferred location for prayer (B106-Orchestra Room) will be available to students from 1:20-1:40p. Again, parent/guardian permission will need to be given and teachers will know if students in their class are participating. Please contact Jenny Payne (japayne2@fcps.edu) for any additional information or questions.
Meditation and Silent Reflection Sign-up
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Attendance
We are excited to share an upcoming attendance update for your student(s). Next week, you will receive an email detailing their current attendance record. We believe that strong attendance is one of the keys to unlocking your child’s full potential in middle school. That is why we want to work together to support your student’s success. This report will include total full-day absences, absences by class period, and tardies by class period. Let us work together to ensure a successful and fulfilling middle school experience for your student – remember, you can always view their daily attendance in ParentVue.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
This year, spring break is March 25-29. We will be eager to welcome your children back to school on Wednesday, April 3, after two teacher work days. Student attendance is very important. Every day, our teachers will be teaching, and students will be learning. Studies have shown that just two absences per month can cause students to fall behind. Let’s finish this school year strong. Visit FCPS’ website for attendance resources.
NJHS Snack Food Drive Announcement
NJHS, on behalf of LCAC, is sponsoring a snack food drive. If you are willing to donate, please deposit items in boxes located in the front lobby, the top of the stairs, or by the cafeteria. Items desired are: trail mix, small bags of chips, sweet snacks such as, Rick Krispie Treats and fruit snacks, small drinks, granola bars, and protein bars. Collection will start on March 1st and end on March 22nd.
Young Scholar and Techstravaganza
Students who were identified in elementary school as being a Young Scholar and are currently a member of our SCMS Young Scholars Schoology Group have been invited to attend Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 18 between 10AM - 4PM. This event is planned by TJHSST students and incorporates hands-on activities and mind-blowing activities. If your student has a passion for STEM, this opportunity allows them to embark on their own STEM journey.
To learn more about Techstravaganza, click here. If you are interested in attending with your family, please email Dana Gorman, Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, at dwgorman@fcps.edu by March 7 and include the words “Techstravaganza” in the subject line of your email.
April is the Month of the Military Child
South County Middle School invites our military students and their families to a celebration breakfast on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 8-9am. FCPS defines military students as those with a parent or stepparent who is active-duty military, serving in the reserves or National Guard, or recently retired from service.
This will be a time for us to celebrate and honor the sacrifices made by our military students, and the commitment of their families. We want to provide an opportunity for our military families to connect with each other and with our school community, as well as introduce our Military Family Life Counselor and celebrate our Purple Star School status.
Please RSVP using this google form. If you are unable to attend but would still like your military student to participate, please email Melissa Shaffer mjshaffer@fcps.edu.
 ✅ Take the Family Engagement Survey!
FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey is now open. Survey partner K12 Insight emailed a link to families on March 3 and again on March 6. Please participate! Your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS practices to best support our students.
The survey is available in 10 languages. Parents/caregivers may stop by the front office to fill out a paper survey or complete the survey online. Please check your email for the survey invitation or use this survey link. Get more information on the Family Engagement Survey webpage.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Take the Family Engagement Survey!
- New Regulation on Meditation and Reflection Spaces
- Solar Eclipse Resources
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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