Important Upcoming Events May 28 - NJHS Ceremonies begin 5PM May 28-31- SOL Retakes May 30 - Last Day of Late Buses June 6 & 7 - Laptop & Charger collection in PE June 7  8th Grade Dance 5:30-8pm June 10- 7th Grade field day - (8th grade movie day at school) June 11- 8th Grade field day- (7th grade movie day at school) June 12- Last Day of School - 2hour early release

Message from Mr. Stokes  Laptop & Charger collection dates RCMS-101 Registration open  SOL Testing Dates/Retakes Student Services Information Other Schools Are Sharing

A Message From Principal Stokes

Hello Panthers,

Congratulations to our Technology Student Association (TSA) team.  They placed second in Virginia at the recent statewide Technosphere competition.  Students in TSA demonstrate teamwork and understanding of many scientific concepts during collaborative competitions.  Due to the placing of the team, they were invited to the national TSA competition, occurring in June in Orlando, FL.  We’re proud of these students and Ms. Sharma-Chibber (one of our science teachers and the club sponsor).  This is another example of the positive things that so many of our students are doing during and after the school day.  As we close in on the final weeks of school, it is great to see students continue with positive engagement.

Thank you,

Gordon Stokes

Laptops and Chargers Collection Student laptops and chargers will be collected on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7, 2024.  Laptops and chargers will be collected during your child’s regular PE class.  Students who have a final exam on Thursday that requires laptop use can turn in their laptop on Friday, June 7th.  Students who are enrolled in a summer program will return their laptop after the summer program is concluded.  Laptop return information for students in summer programs will be sent to families at a later date. Carson Tech Team

Medication Pickup

The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than 12:15 PM on Wednesday, June 12.Medications left in the health room after that time will be discarded.  It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian.  Medication cannot be sent home with your student. 

 If your child will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, your existing long-term medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program.  Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s). 

If you have any questions, please contact your school health room aide, Zahida Choudhary, at (703) 925-3610 or ztchoudhary1@fcps.edu, or your school public health nurse, Hannah Wilkinson, at (571) 595-6273 or hwilkinson@fcps.edu.

National Spelling Bee - RCMS Student competing

https://www.fcps.edu/news/spelling-her-g-e-n-e-s-carson-middle-school-student-follows-sisters-footsteps-competing

Spelling is in Her G-E-N-E-S: Carson Middle School Student Follows in Sister’s Footsteps Competing in Scripps National Spelling Bee Ankita Balaji will be the only FCPS student competing in the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee. www.fcps.edu

Cancellation: The HIPS Presentation at Oakton High School for May 30thhas been canceled.

Student Services Updates

HS Credit Course Expunge Process

High school credit courses taken in grades 7 and 8 become part of the student’s high school transcript and are included in the calculation of the high school Grade Point Average (GPA) and weighted as such. Virginia state and FCPS regulations permit parents/guardians of a middle school student who has completed a high school credit course to have that course expunged from the student’s record.  

The request to remove a course from the transcript must be made in writing to the middle or high school that the student will attend the following year and prior to the end of the first nine weeks of the school year.

See Request to Expunge High School Courses Taken in Middle School Form. If you have questions or concerns regarding this, please contact your child’s middle school counselor no later than June 14.

Once deleted, the course and grade awarded cannot be reinstated.

Courses taken in the summer session following student promotion from the eighth grade are ineligible for removal from the high school transcript.

Student Intention Forms 

The school year is almost over and we are preparing for the 2024-2025 school year.  If you are moving over the summer and your child is not returning to RCMS next school year, please notify us by completing the Intention Form and emailing Ms. Skold at meskold@fcps.edu  at your earliest convenience. This information will enable us to prepare transcript information so that it is available when requested by your child’s school.

7th Grade Immunization Requirement

The Code of Virginia requires all students to be immunized against certain communicable diseases prior to entrance into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

All students entering 7^th grade will be required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

• To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.       
• As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

ACTION REQUESTED: Please provide one of the following immunization documents to the Student Information Assistant (SIA) or Registrar at your child’s current elementary school as soon as possible:

1. An immunization record showing that the child has received at least one dose of each of the required immunizations listed above.
2. A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the date the vaccine(s) was given.
3. A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.

4.            A notarized Religious Exemption Form 

Immunizations are available from your child’s healthcare provider, the Fairfax County Health Department, or other community resources. 

Fairfax County Health Department

Low Cost Healthcare Resources

Health and Community Resources

Happy Spring Panthers!  Take a look at Student Services’ newsletter to learn more about upcoming events including standardized testing. There are also several summer events including Tech Adventure and Institute for the Arts Camp.   

Rising 7th Graders can register for RCMS-101!

Greetings Rising 7^th Panther Families!

Registration for our summer jumpstart program, RCMS-101 is open now and closes June 5th.

Please click on the link below to register for one of the 2 session dates.

Session A- August 5th & 6th from 8:30-12:30

Session B- August 7th & 8th from 8:30-12:30

(Both sessions contain the same content but are separated due to the number of participants) Click the link below to register:

https://forms.gle/qXwMZo7nfge9F2XQ6

Please note, RCMS-101 is a voluntary summer program, not mandatory.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact Monique Berkeley – mtberkeley@fcps.edu

We look forward to working with your students soon!

Save the Dates!

Allergy Season

Allergy season is upon us! Tree pollen has been moderate to high, and we are seeing a lot of uncomfortable students in the clinic. Signs and symptoms of allergies include congestion, sneezing, itchy eyes nose and throat, runny nose, fatigue, cough. If your student has known seasonal allergies, it is time to start them back on their allergy medication as directed by your physician."

Sincerely,  

Hannah Wilkinson, BSN, RN 

Public Health Nurse III 

• New Regulation on Meditation and Reflection Spaces

FCPS has developed Regulation 1502 to ensure all students and staff have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school division. The regulation provides guidance for schools on how to manage requests for silent reflection during instructional and non-instructional time, and for students to leave school for religious activities.

These spaces are for individuals to engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, inclusive of their religious or non-religious beliefs. Parents/caregivers must provide written permission for students requesting to miss instructional time on a regular basis. Families are encouraged to contact [the principal/family liaison/their child’s teacher] regarding accommodations. View Regulation 1502. Visit FCPS' Guidelines for Religious Activities webpage for more information.

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.

The Virginia Department of Education has set the passing score for SOL tests at 400. Students who earn between a 375-399 qualify for a rapid retake of the respective SOL test, with parent/guardian permission. Rapid retake SOL tests will be administered May 28^th through May 31^st. We are asking that all parents/guardians complete this google form to indicate your preferences for rapid retakes for your student as soon as possible. Should your student qualify for the rapid retake, you and the student will be notified, however retakes can only occur with parent/guardian permission.

Please reach out to your student’s teacher(s), or the school testing coordinator, David Dewett, Testing Coordinator at dmdewett@fcps.edu. with questions regarding the SOL exams and/or rapid retakes.

Mason Math Odyssey Enrichment Camp at GMU

July 8, 2024 - July 12, 2024

Mason Math Odyssey enrichment camp (MMO) is a place for rising 6th - 9th graders who are curious about math to learn about beautiful mathematics concepts typically not taught in K-12 curriculum. Students will engage in fun and friendly team competitions that will help build mathematical maturity while honing problem solving, collaboration, and communication skills. Camp participants will embark on an exciting mathematical journey through space and time to learn about some of the greatest mathematical discoveries from ancient times to this day, get exposed to some of the fundamental mathematical concepts from the areas of geometry, topology, number theory, probability and algebra, as well as mathematical modeling, and compete for a chance to win the camp trophy. As part of the daily agenda, students will be immersed into one of the mathematical themes through guest lectures, hands-on activities, and group projects featuring Olympiad-style problems as well as simple mathematical puzzles and culminating in a peer and instructor judged presentation.

Where: In-person – GMU Fairfax Campus

Dates: July 8, 2024 - July 12, 2024

Time: 9am - 3pm (drop off and pickup windows TBD)

Cost: $490 includes all materials, activities, and daily lunch!

Registration Deadline: Friday, June 4, 2024

 More details: Mason Summer Day Camp | GMU College of Science.

Contact: Jennifer Lawler jlawler@gmu.edu

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

Thursday, May 30th last day for Late Buses!

Other Schools Are Sharing

For more information on the Oakton HS Dance Team click HERE

Oakton High School

8th grade students at Rachel Carson who are interested
in joining cross country at Oakton HS,  there is an Interest Meeting for
rising freshmen on Monday, June 3 at 6 pm in the Oakton HS Cafeteria.

Click the link below for Oakton High School Team meets/events:

https://oaktonsports.net/2024/05/13/cross-country-interest-meetings/

Click here to register for the Oakton Field Hockey Camp

Click here for more information about registration for the Oakton Junior Dance Team Camp.

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

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 
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Join the RCMS PTA today!  

Click here