Important Upcoming Events March 14 - RCMS vs. LHMS Basketball game at South Lakes High School March 20 - Parent Workshop March 21 - RCMS vs. Stone Basketball game at  Westfields High School March 25 - 29 Spring Break - No School April 1 & 2 - No School for students - Staff Development

Message from Mr. Stokes Tardy Sweeps RCMS Wellness Week/Spirit week SOL Testing Dates Summer Programs Other Schools Are Sharing

A Message From Principal Stokes

Greetings Panther families,

On Monday, March 18, RCMS parents and 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 and 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.  If you would like to preview the questions contained in the survey, please click on the attached PDF. 

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.

I appreciate any time you can spare to share your voice.

Sincerely,

Gordon Stokes

Principal, Rachel Carson Middle School

RCMS Tardy Sweeps

At Carson MS we pride ourselves in setting expectations that cultivate the Three Rs in students’ learning experiences – Ready, Respectful and Responsible.  A particular area of focus for us is student on-time arrival to class. Over the next several weeks we plan to conduct hallway tardy sweeps to remind and reinforce the importance of on-time arrivals to all classes. Once the bell rings, students who accumulate two instances of unexcused tardies to class during hallway sweeps will be assigned a future date of after school detention. Please continue to share the importance of being prepared and arriving before the bell to class. Your student’s daily schedule and attendance including tardies can be viewed on ParentVue under the attendance tab.

From the PE Department

Human Growth and Development will be taught through PE classes the school week of March 18-22 through PE classes.  If your child has opted out of all or some of these lessons, they will be instructed by their PE teacher on their alternative assignments.  You may still choose to opt out your child of all or specific lessons. You may opt out through your ParentVue account in SIS or email a paper form to your child's PE teacher.

Opt out forms may be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/node/31710  Please email your child’s PE teacher if you have any questions.

SOL Testing Dates

All students will take the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in May. Testing will begin first thing in the morning (at 7:30 am) to ensure students have adequate testing time before lunch. Please see the testing dates below to ensure your student attends school on the testing day.

With parent/guardian permission, student rapid retake SOLs will occur the week of May 28th. If you have any questions or concerns, please email David Dewett, Testing Coordinator at dmdewett@fcps.edu.

Carson school counselors have concluded one-on-one meetings with 7^th grade students to provide academic advising.  Please review your child’s course requests in SIS ParentVUE (directions below) or ask your child to show you their course requests in SIS StudentVUE. 

RCMS Wellness Week

We are excited to celebrate Carson’s annual Wellness Week Monday, March 18th through Friday, March 22nd.  Each day we will focus on wellness and learning different coping strategies to deal with stressful moments that occur when life presents us with changes, pressures, and challenges.  

We will have different activities throughout the week during lunchtime and a lesson on Coping Skills and Spheres of Control during Panther Time.  We are excited to have two therapy dogs named Gracie and Max visit our classrooms during Panther Time on Wednesday and to play songs throughout the week during class transitions related to the daily themes.  

Families can read more about Student Wellness Tips and Strategies linked here on the FCPS website.  The website includes quick tips to lift your mood and ways to bring balance into your life.

Lightspeed Classroom Management Tool

Our school will be using a new classroom management tool that will help teachers better connect with student devices during classes. The new tool will provide teachers with a number of helpful features:

• Easily view student screens in real time from the teacher console to see which students may need guidance or support.
• Focus student attention on a particular website on their device to minimize distractions.
• Pause student access to the internet to focus on other classroom tasks.

We believe this classroom management tool will allow us to maximize class time to support your student’s learning while at school. 

FCPS Summer Learning and Fun

Career and Technical Education

CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Visit the CSA webpage to register.

Institute for the Arts Camps

IFTA is a two- or three-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9 (graduation requirement), music, and theater. Visit the IFTA webpage to register. 

Self-Directed Economics and Personal Finance

Summer is a great time for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course requirement. During the self-directed course, students work independently to complete the requirements. Students must register by Friday, May 24. For more information, see the Summer Learning information page.

Summer Online Campus

Take advantage of the opportunity to earn a high school course credit via this summer’s online campus program. Registration ends Friday, June 7. Math, health and physical education, career and technical education, English, science, social studies, and world language courses are available to eligible students.

Additional Summer Learning Opportunities

Please go to the following website Summer Learning information page to learn about these summer opportunities:

• Credit Recovery Academy/ Extended Learning
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
• Self-Directed Economics and Personal Finance

VIP Camp: July 1 - August 1

Online Tutoring

This is a reminder that all students in FCPS have access to Tutor.com.  This a free service where students have 24/7 access to an on-line tutor.  Students can connect with someone about nearly any school subject.  We encourage all families to take a few minutes to review the basics of Tutor.com and log-in to try out this great resources.  You can go directly to tutor.com or review the FCPS overview page at:  https://www.fcps.edu/family-resources/tutoring-options-fcps/tutorcom-online-tutoring-services

Tutor.com - Online Tutoring Services We are excited to share a great opportunity that is available to all FCPS students! Your child now has unlimited access to 24/7, on-demand, online tutoring support services through Tutor.com. www.fcps.edu

Attendance Tip: Scheduling Family Trips or Events

Good attendance is an important life skill that will help students succeed in school and beyond.

When scheduling trips or family events, try to use weekends and school holidays, and refer to the FCPS Calendar when planning. 

Watch this video with tips on understanding our school calendar and visit our Attendance webpage for additional information. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Spring Track & Field Information

We are very excited to announce Spring Track & Field interscholastic competition at the middle school level!  This program will start in March, but students and parents will need to complete several steps prior to participating in middle school sports, including:

• A completed  FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). The exam must be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Please note that the form must be dated on or after May 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year. 
• If the student turned in a physical form to participate in Fall Cross Country, you do not need a new physical or form,  however, please complete pages 1 and 4 only of the form above.
  
  
• A NEW completed MS Sports Participant Registration form, which also requires parents and athletes to review the FCPS Student-Athlete Athletic Health Education Program.
• Student-athletes in FCPS are required to be covered by medical insurance.  If your student is not covered by another plan, here is an  option to consider.
• Each student-athlete and a parent/guardian will complete a registration process that includes the state-mandated concussion education program and Emergency Care Card information before the student participates in middle school sports.  
• All of the above must be completed before athletes are eligible to practice or participate. 

Please submit all forms to the Athletics Coordinator in the RCMS main office.

Please see important details about the program on our website.

We look forward to an exciting season!

Mr. Barrows will communicate with students about activities through email and Schoology and will also be in lunches where a daily schedule will be shown on the projector. We try our best to communicate any changes such as cancellations immediately though email and Schoology. Late buses will be offered Monday-Thursday. Late buses are different than your regular bus number. Please make sure students know their late bus number prior to staying after school. You can find your late bus number in SIS and it will say RCLR (Rachel Carson Late Run).

here is the Q2 After School Schedule

Riley Barrows

Other Schools Are Sharing

Chantilly High School

Charge Ahead Freshman Orientation Registration & Payment links

Chantilly High School is offering three Freshman Orientation options.  The choices to attend a 1-Day session are either August 6, 7, or 8 from 9:00-1:00 PM.  Students will get a chance to get to know us, ease any anxiety, and learn how to navigate high school life here as a CHARGER.  It’s so fun and you don’t want to miss out!  The cost is $50 per student via MySchoolBucks which includes a Class of 2028 t-shirt, snacks, and a Chick-Fil-A Sandwich.  Registrations are on a first-come first-serve basis until July 28.  Register today to secure your spot.

Payment via students
www.myschoolbucks.com

South Lakes High School

South Lakes High School is presenting an IB information session for rising 9th graders on Wednesday, March 13, from 3:15pm to 4:15 pm. Students will learn about the IB Middle Years, Diploma, and Career-related programs from the people who really know the ins and outs of the IB program at South Lakes High School – our fabulous IB students.  Interested 8^th grade students should sign up here. https://forms.gle/xf3sKCsL2jxiUoRm8.  We look forward to meeting our future Seahawks!

We have many IB ambassadors here at South Lakes who are ready to welcome your students.

Marie Turner

IB DP Coordinator

South Lakes High School

ClickHERE for information about Chantilly HS Sports

Link to Purchase: Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks

2023-2024 Yearbooks are available for purchase. Reserve your copy today by purchasing through MySchoolBucks!

We have a limited number of surplus, once we reach our sales limit yearbooks will be sold out. Sales are on a first come first serve basis.

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact.  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address: RCMS Staff Directory.

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171 |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or CarsonMS.Attendance@fcps.edu 
Web | Twitter

Join the RCMS PTA today!  

Click here