 Hello Mustangs,
As a reminder, spring break is next week! Before the break, we want to thank the entire school community for your unwavering support. We are also thrilled to announce that the American School Counseling Association has awarded our counseling department the prestigious RAMP designation. This designation recognizes schools that deliver a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program, and it is a testament to our counselors' dedication to student success! 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
Wednesday, April 10 - No School, Eid al-Fitr
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PE Spirit Wear
Please consider sporting some new South County Spirit Wear and helping the PE department fund new equipment! The online store is open now and closes Friday March 22nd before Spring Break! All orders will be delivered at school in April 😊
SCMS Spirit « Order School Stuff
College Partnership Program
Do you have a student in the 8th grade who wants to go to college? If so, they should consider applying to the College Partnership Program (CPP), which offers support as students explore the idea of going to college! While the original deadline to apply is March 15, 2024, SCMS 8th grade students can apply until March 22, 2024.
CPP offers programming to help prepare students and families from 9th grade all the way through applying to and enrolling in college, including:
- Academic counseling;
- College visits;
- Help with completing college and scholarship applications;
- Monthly meetings;
- Parent education sessions;
- SAT preparation classes;
- A summer overnight experience on a college campus; and
- News and information related to colleges and careers via Schoology.
All students are eligible and encouraged to apply to this program, and are expected to meet the following requirements:
- Maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher in core classes
- Attend CPP activities
- Are willing to pursue advanced coursework
- Demonstrate leadership in school or community activities
The goal of the program is to systematically mitigate the impact of barriers to access and opportunity, and support students who are from populations that are historically underrepresented on college campuses. This includes students who are the first in their family to attend college in the U.S., English language learners, students who are economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities.
Students can click HERE to apply, as the application will only work for a student’s fcpsschools.net account.
All applications will be submitted ONLINE ONLY.
Student Laptops
Effective after spring break South County Middle School will start charging students for broken assigned student laptops. This will apply to damage above superficial wear and tear of the device.
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Laptop
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$444
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LCD Screen Replacement
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$80
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Keyboard Replacement
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$14
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Laptop Fan
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$6
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Top/Bottom Cover
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$30
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Palm rest/Keyboard (all in one)
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$52
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Screen
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$89
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Please remind and work with your students to ensure that they are being responsible users of the school equipment. Middle School students can be very rough on the equipment and we need them to be more responsible for their assigned laptops. As a reminder you are able to opt your student out of the FCPSOn laptop program if you choose to.
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 Community Forums on Middle School Start Times
Fairfax County Public Schools is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. Prismatic Services, Inc., an educational consulting firm, will lead the forums. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Please attend the event that works best for your schedule:
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Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School.
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Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
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Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
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Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.
Registration is not required but does help with planning. Click one of the dates above to register. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.
Updated COVID Recommendations
In accordance with the updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) respiratory virus guidance, FCPS and the Fairfax County Health Department have updated school COVID-19 recommendations.
The COVID-19 isolation period of five days is no longer recommended.
New respiratory virus guidance applies to respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Students who have symptoms of, test positive for, or have been diagnosed with a respiratory virus may return to school when the student is fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication; AND the student’s symptoms have improved or resolved.
Students should follow additional precautions as outlined by the CDC after resuming normal activities.
Should I Send My Child to School?
Please refer to the chart on this attendance webpage if your child is experiencing symptoms or illnesses, and you are unsure if they should go to school.
Thank you for helping to keep our students and staff healthy.
April 8 Solar Eclipse Safety Update
There has been an update to the original Solar Eclipse guidance that was shared in the March 8, 2024 InfoGram. Schools should continue to encourage indirect viewing (solar projectors, pinhole projectors, watching the NASA livestream). Direct viewing with ISO 12312-2 approved glasses is also a safe option. It is important that any glasses used have this specific label on them. The use of sunglasses or other dark eye coverings are not approved.
We continue to encourage schools to inform their communities of proper eye safety during the eclipse. Please see references on the Solar Eclipse Resources FCPS website link.
El propósito de estos seminarios web es apoyar y capacitar a los padres para que establezcan relaciones sanas y seguras con sus hijos (*apego) respondiendo de manera positiva y efectiva a las necesidades de sus hijos.
Parte 1 Añadir a tu calendario
- ¿Qué es el apego?
- Los diferentes estilos de apego y cómo impactan el futuro social y emocional de un niño.
- ¿Qué influye en el tipo de apego que desarrollamos con nuestros hijos?
Parte 2 Añadir a tu calendario
- ¿Cómo puedo ayudar a mi hijo a sentirse seguro en nuestra relación padre/hijo?
- Cuatro de los desafíos más comunes que puede presentar mi hijo durante el desarrollo emocional.
- Estrategias para responder a estos desafíos sin afectar el desarrollo de un apego seguro.
Presenter: Northern Virginia Family Service
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Date: 5 de Abril
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Time: 10 - 11:30 a.m.
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Format: Virtual
Register for this event
Creando Una Relacion con mi Hijo
Creating a relationship with Child
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