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Hello Mustangs,
It has been a great week at South County Middle School. Counselors have finished meeting with our 8th grade (rising 9th grade) students for academic advising. If your student missed it, our counselors will meet with them next week. Additionally, our multilingual language learners (formerly known as English for Speakers of Other Languages - ESOL) will start the WIDA assessment next week. Lastly, it appears there is snow in next week’s forecast, so stay tuned to FCPS alerts in case of delays or closures. As always, thank you for all you do, and please contact us to share any feedback, questions, or concerns. Enjoy your weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Justin Simmons | Principal | South County Middle School
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student.To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
Weekly Math SOL Reviews
Students have recently started completing weekly SOL Review assignments for their math classes. Here is some key information:
- Students are permitted to use their notes, slides and information posted in Schoology, Mathspace textbook and practice questions, and other resources used in class. Students may also ask for teacher support in seminar or after school office hours. They may not collaborate with other students.
- Each review will count as a formative assignment. These assignments are in Mathspace and students should use retries before submitting their task.
Due dates and more detailed information is posted in your student’s Schoology course. Thanks for your support at home!
SEL Screener
FCPS is committed to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning. FCPS approved a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener that students use to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. These skills include achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. These factors are critical to positive academic, social, and emotional success. All students in grades 3-12 have the opportunity to participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. The SEL Screener elevates the voices of our students by making sure their perspectives are considered in decision-making. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students. Division and school level results, which do not include individual student information, may be used by staff to improve SEL and mental wellness practices and to inform strategic plans. Division and school level results may also be shared with the community to describe the needs of our student body and provide opportunities for partnership. Individual students’ Screener data will only be accessible to teachers, administrators, and staff with legitimate educational interests. Results will be maintained in secure files and databases accessible only to these individuals. In partnership with families, staff review this data alongside other information to plan interventions for students with identified needs. Parents and guardians will receive an individualized report regarding their student’s screener results following each assessment window. South County MS will be giving the SEL screener to all students during seminar on Wednesday March 12th. If you do not want your child to take the SEL screener, please complete the attached parent opt-out form and return it to the school no later than Wednesday March 5th. If your child was opted out of the fall SEL screener, he/she will automatically be opted out of the spring SEL screener.
Opt out form
SEL Screener Opt Out Spanish
General Membership Meeting
Our next General Membership meeting will be held on February 26th at 7pm in the front office or you can also join us on Zoom with this link - Membership Meeting Link
Staff vs Student Basketball Game
It is almost time for our annual Staff VS. Student Basketball game. Join us on March 7th! More details coming soon about tryouts. Doors open at 6PM, game starts at 6:30PM. Concessions will be available for purchase. Tickets purchased in advance will include a free drink. Tickets can be purchased here
Basketball 2025
Board Members for 2025/26 School Year
We are currently looking for volunteers to fill three board positions for next year. If this is something you are interested in, please contact us at info@mustangptso.org
Box Tops For Education
Remember to think of South County Middle School when you do your shopping. Remember all you have to do is scan your receipt in the app and select SCMS as your school of choice. Every little bit helps!
Pizza Tuesday
Help Support us on Tuesdays by ordering pizza from Papa Johns and you will get a discount too!
Order online from the Fairfax Station Papa Johns on Silverbrook and use promo code SCMS4010
 🤧 Protect Yourself and Your Community From the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.
The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
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Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
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Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
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Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
Community Information
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
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FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Flu Prevention
- Students Spread Joy
- Investing in our Classrooms
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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