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Important Upcoming Events March 28 - End of 3rd Quarter  March 31 - No School, Eid-al-Fitr April 1 - Student Holiday, Teacher Workday  April 14-18 - Spring Break

A Message From The Principal

As we start another week here at Rachel Carson, we hope that everyone is able to get outside a little more this week and enjoy the nice weather we are having.

Tomorrow afternoon, we are having our school dance after-school from 2:30-4:30pm. The students are excited and we know that they will have a good time. As a reminder, this is a school event, so the same school rules apply to students after-school, as they do during the school day. Please have a conversation with your child around appropriate behavior so that each one of our students has an enjoyable time at the dance tomorrow afternoon.

February Student Recognition

Each month teachers from different departments recognize students for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to making a positive impact at Carson through our SWAG Student Recognition Program. SWAG stands for “Students with Awesome Growth”. Mr. Washington shared why each student was nominated during our February celebration. Congratulations to the following students for having Carson SWAG: Mason, Sammy, Dilan, Ava, Pratheeksha, Ayanna, Elliah, Ella, Angela, Venkata, Sheila, Firas, Aimee, Moris, Melis, Melanie, David, Sharon, Roberto, Emma, Donte’, Jyothi, Anirudh, Mason. Congratulations, Panthers!

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 theFNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.

Please join Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith and me for a joint town hall as we present the proposed FY 2026 Budgets and take your comments. If you would like to ask a question regarding the FY26 Budget, please send an email to Sully@FairfaxCounty.gov with "Budget Town Hall" in the subject.

Detailed information about the FCPS FY26 Budget can be found on our website.

When: Monday, March 10, 2025 

Time: 7 - 9 pm EST

Where: Rocky Run Middle School Lecture Hall

Address: 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151 

*If American Sign Language or language interpretation is needed, please submit your request by March 6th.

SEL Screener

Coming Soon: Author Visit!

Carson MS is partnering with our PTA to sponsor an exciting author visit on April 8. This year, the author visiting Carson MS is New York Times Bestselling Author, Jennifer Nielsen! During her time here, Ms. Nielsen will deliver engaging presentations to ALL students, participate in book chats during lunch with select students, and engage in the evening’s Parent Teen Book Club. April 8 is sure to be a day to remember at Carson!

To get the most out of the author visit, the librarians encourage students to participate in the Jennifer Nielsen Challenge. In this just-for-fun challenge, when a student finishes a book by Jennifer Nielsen, they complete the Google Form posted on the Library’s Schoology Course. Once they have completed the Google Form, students are encouraged to stop by the library to  get a “Sticky Review” from a librarian. They can fill out the “Sticky Review” and then tape it to the book they read in the hallway display outside the library. It is a great way to share their reading with others! Please encourage your child to participate in the Jennifer Nielsen Challenge!

Also, the librarians invite parent / student pairs to sign up for our second Parent Teen Book Club on April 8, 2025 from 7-8:30pm. After choosing one of the five remaining book options (The False Prince is already full!) by Jennifer Nielsen, you and your child will be loaned a copy of the book to read. Then, on April 8, we will come together to talk about the book selection and have some light refreshments. 

Jennifer Nielsen will be at the PTBC event and is excited to participate in our book club discussions! CLICK HERE to learn more and to read about the book choices. Ready to sign up for a fun evening of literary conversations with your middle schooler, fill out the sign up form HERE!

Dear Carson Community:

In cooperation with the Fairfax County Health Department, we are sending this health information letter to inform you that several cases of influenza-like illness have been reported in our school. Children with influenza-like illness have cough and congestion, and may have fever, chills, sore throat, headache, body aches, and feeling tired (fatigue). Illness may be caused by the influenza virus or by other types of viruses.

The Health Department recommends that you and your family members take the following steps to protect yourselves and others from influenza and other respiratory illnesses:

· Vaccinate your child and yourself against influenza this year and every year. As long as influenza is circulating in our community it is not too late to get a vaccine.

· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Teach your children to wash their hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds. Be sure to set a good example by doing this yourself. If soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers may be used.

· Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw tissues in the trash after use. If tissues are not available, cover coughs and sneezes with your upper sleeve

· Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.

· Try to avoid close contact with individuals who have influenza-like symptoms.

· Monitor your child for signs of influenza-like illness.

· Do not send any child experiencing influenza-like symptoms to school. If your child comes to school with the symptoms described above, he or she may be sent home. Keep your child home and away from others until the child has been symptom free and without fever for at least 24 hours without the use of medication (i.e. he or she should not attend school, school functions, sporting or extracurricular activities, or leave the home except to seek medical care).

· Consult with your child’s health care provider regarding possible use of medication that treats influenza if your child has a chronic medical condition, an illness that weakens their immunity, or who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy.

We encourage you to put this information into practice to help your child stay healthy and to prevent others from getting sick. If you have questions regarding this information, please contact your health care provider or the School Public Health Nurse, Ms. Tracy L. Engle BSN, RN at 571.459.8731 or by email at tengle1@fcps.edu.

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.

2024-2025 Yearbooks are available for purchase. Reserve your copy today by purchasing through MySchoolBucks! Link to Purchase: Yearbook Sales - 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.

Save the Date RCMS Family Workshop on March 13^th at 7PM: "Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College.” 

Rachel Carson Middle School is excited to host The College Funding Coach® for an interactive webinar: "Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College" on March 13th @ 7 PM immediately following the March PTA meeting. 

Learn how to save and pay for college without sacrificing your retirement. Whether your child is heading to college soon or you have years to plan, this event is for you! This workshop will educate you on how to make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Don’t miss out! 

Don’t miss out—Register for your link to join the Rachel Carson Middle School Workshop!

Summer 2025 Online Campus Courses

Registration for the Summer 2025 Online Campus courses starts Friday, February 14, 2025, and ends Friday, June 6, 2025. Courses are open to middle and high school students who meet prerequisites.

Courses may be cancelled if they are under-enrolled. If a course is cancelled, students will be notified using the registration contact information and a full refund will be given.

We encourage students wishing to enroll in a summer course to enroll as soon as possible.

College Partnership Program

The application process for the College Partnership Program (CPP) is now open.  Interested 8th Grade students need to apply now to participate as a 9th grader in high school. See FCPS web site for more information about this program and the support it provides to students.

Applications are due February 28, 2025: CPP Application

For more information, visit the FCPS CPP Website.  

Questions: Contact Nina Ghafori, School Counselor

Student and Family Resources

Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs. 

RCMS Course Selection Events 2025-26 School Year

It is time to think about the 25-26 school year and January will begin our course selection season! 

Please check our Academic Advising & Course Selection website for more detailed information about dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and more! 

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter the 25-26 classes they want into SIS during school. Counselors will also meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions. Parents can see the classes students selected in Student or ParentVue. Parents who do not have a ParentVue SIS account should request one here so that in March they can verify the classes their student has selected. We are looking forward to helping your child select classes for the upcoming school year !

School-life balance is an important consideration as students strive for academic and personal success. Families are welcome to contact their student’s school counselor with questions. More information will be shared soon.

Academy Open Houses

🗓️ Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begin in January!

FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in January.

A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.

Learn more and view the calendar of Academy Open Houses. families are encouraged to visit the RCMS Website for more information.

The dates for Carson's Spring SOL testing are as follows:

Testing will take place first thing in the morning.  It is critical that students be in attendance and on-time for their designated test days.  If at all possible, please avoid or reschedule absences/appointments for the morning of your child’s test dates.  Also make sure that your child brings a fully-charged laptop on test days. 

Contact Jessica Arrowood, school test coordinator, with any questions (jkarrowood@fcps.edu).

The dates for High School credit Final Exams are as follows:

Spring Pictures are Coming! Picture Day Date(s): March 06 - 07, 2025 Picture Day ID: EVTMJG7RN

Dear Carson Families and Community Members,

It’s that time of year we provide opportunities for students to explore careers. On Thursday April 10, 2025 from 1:00-2:00 PM, Student Services will hold our annual Career Day. This year's event will be in person.

 If you enjoy your occupation, have a story to tell about your career journey, and can relate well to middle schoolers in a classroom setting, please join us to speak with our 8th grade students.

We are hoping to have speakers of various careers and education levels volunteer their time, sharing their experiences. 

If you are interested or would like more information, please click on the Google Form by February 1, 2025.

Thank you for supporting our students! 

________________________________________________________________________

Family Workshop Recording

We recorded December’s Family Workshop featuring guest speaker, Rachel Bailey, focused on helping students manage anxiety.  Caregivers learned how to respond effectively to their child in the moment when they are feeling overwhelmed or anxious. They also learned how to foster children's resilience so that they don't experience as much anxiety and stress to begin with.  To view the recording of the workshop, please click here.  A copy of the slides shared during the presentation is  located here. Enjoy

Tutoring Resources for Families

Is your family looking for resources to help support your child’s academic success? FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of district employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to be hired as a tutor by parents. FRC maintains this list, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource.

FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.

Private School Request

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2025-2026 school year, please complete the "Private School Request Form" and the "Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79" and submit them to the Student Service’s Office or to your counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal.  Please note these requests are due at least 2 weeks prior to the due date.

Please visit our website for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations – Rachel Carson Middle School Private School Requests

Going Green at Carson

Get2Green leads, Ms. Bickford and Ms. Walsh, are thrilled to announce that Carson MS is starting a food sharing and food scrap collection program to reduce food waste in our cafeteria and to help families with food insecurities in our community. When you are helping students pack their lunches, encourage them to only pack what they need and will eat. If your child buys lunch, encourage them to take part in the food sharing and food scrap collecting process when appropriate. Students who bring their lunch may participate too. The food sharing table and food scrap collection containers are on the right side of the stage. A big “thank you” goes to the PTA who is paying for Composting Crew to pick up our collected food scraps each week. We also want to acknowledge the Going Green Club members who are gathering donated food each lunch and putting it in the fridge each lunch period. Lastly, thanks to Ms. Clark for creating a Sign-Up Genius to organize families to pick up the donated food each Friday and bring it to the Cornerstone food collection warehouse in Sterling each week. A student can earn an hour of service for participating in this food transportation with their parents. Any family in the Carson community can sign up. Detailed directions are on the Sign-Up Genius. Together WE can make a difference. 

TJ Information

The TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will be hosting their 12th annual invitational science fair on April 5th, 2025 and welcome 5th-8th grade students to participate. Admission to the science fair is completely free. 

Participants will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on April 5th, 2025. We help students prepare for this fair by holding multiple sessions to teach them important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, creating an experimental diagram, etc.

Our first interest/brainstorming session is October 11th, 2024 at 6:00 pm. We will be holding this session both in-person at TJHSST and virtually through zoom. During this session we will go over the goals and guidelines of this fair and introduce students to a multitude of project ideas. All interested students should sign up using the form at the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0Y0oodU11TzBUfWFnU5lsxoWaqixuX50fxVNv5A5DxcmRvw/viewform?usp=sf_link 

Feel free to also check out our website at tjsciencefair.wordpress.com or email us at tjhsstsciencefair@gmail.com

Sincerely,

TJ Investigative Science Outreach

Other Schools Are Sharing

South Lakes IB Information Night Presentation   Please visit the South Lakes website or click here to view the International Baccalaureate (IB) presentation that was given at South Lakes on 2/19.

Rising 9th Grade Chantilly Chargers

Hello!  We are starting to gear up for the summer!  Chantilly High School is offering 3 sessions of Charge Ahead for our rising 9^th graders.  The program is led by our upper classmen, leadership students and Chantilly staff.  The dates are August 5^th, 6^th, or 7^th from 9:00am-1:00pm.  Each session is a half-day, parents must arrange transportation to and from the school. This is not a mandatory activity for incoming freshman. This program is beneficial for students to understand how the day-to-day experience looks as a Charger! 

We want to find out if there is any interest for a Wednesday afternoon session from 1pm - 5pm for our rising 9^th graders!  Click on this link for your feedback.

Thank you for your time!

Go Chargers!

Rising 9^th Grade:

***Please subscribe to your child’s base high school News You Choose messages for the most up-to-date information about 9^th grade transition. You can enroll here. Unsure what school your child will attend in 9^th grade? Click here to access the FCPS boundary locator.***

Parents and caregivers can report up to two consecutive full-day absences using ParentVUE. For absences longer than two days, please contact CarsonMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu

All Day Absences: The Attendance feature in ParentVUE is the FCPS secure web solution for reporting all day absences.

Partial Absence: To report late arrivals, or to update already submitted attendance, please contact CarsonMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do not request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal please send a note with your child, or complete and print an Early Dismissal Request Form for your child. Your child should bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to school in order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass.

All early dismissals must be before 2:00pm.

• Learn more about attendance reporting through ParentVue

Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy and Storage Pilot

Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day for emergencies only, please call Rachel Carson Middle School main office - 703-925-3600.

Registration is now open for Spring Track!  Please register before April 11th in order to participate in the required practices before the first meet. Registration will CLOSE on May 7th at 2:30pm. All requirements for competing in middle school sports must be completed before students may participate in Track & Field practices or meets.

Greetings Panther families!

Click the link for the  Q3 After School Schedule. Each activity is hyperlinked with a description and information about each club. In order for students to participate in our after school program, parents must fill out the After School Registration Form (This form gives your child permission to participate in after school activities, it does not sign them up for specific activities) 

Late bus numbers are different than regular bus numbers. Please check SIS to find your child’s late bus number, it will say RCLR (Rachel Carson Late Run).

If you have questions about our after-school program, please contact  Riley Barrows, rtbarrows1@fcps.edu. 

After School Program Specialist

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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