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 Hello Mustangs,
We had another great week at South County Middle School. Our students who create blankets and cards for our Honor Flight Veterans were hard at work, and our Battle of the Books team won first place out of 16 schools! Congratulations to them and Ms. Wells-Williams, Librarian, for all the hard work and effort they put into becoming champions! As a reminder, our Staff vs. Students Volleyball Game is tonight (April 25, 2025). Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the game starts at 6:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there! As always, thank you for all you do, and please contact us to share any feedback, questions, or concerns. Enjoy your weekend, and we will see everyone on Monday.
Justin Simmons | Principal | South County Middle School
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Calendar Reminders
April 25 - Staff vs Student Volleyball Game. Tickets can be purchased here!
May 1 - Parent Coffee, 5:00 PM, Lecture Hall
SOL Testing Dates
May 6 - Science (8th Grade only)
May 8 - Reading
May 14 - Math
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TJHSST Techstravaganza
A FREE hands-on STEM fair that attracts thousands of attendees from the DMV area every year. Over 300 TJ student and teacher volunteers engage students in STEM activities, which include lava lamps, banana DNA extraction, robotics, rocketry demonstrations, programming workshops, and other STEM exhibits. The event will take place in-person at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (see map) on Saturday, May 17, 2025 from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Registration is free. Click HERE to register. If you would like to read about last year’s 2024 Techstravaganza, click HERE.
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Staff Appreciation Week
The administration of South County Middle School wants to celebrate the wonderful staff members in honor of Staff Appreciation Week (May 5-9). Already we are providing our wonderful SCMS staff with lunch on Wednesday and desserts on Friday. To support additional surprises and treats throughout the week, please consider providing a donation and/or gift card to support daily teacher raffles. If you can donate, please send your donation to the main office in an envelope marked PTSO, use the Venmo or Zelle QR codes below, or give to any of the PTSO officers. Thank you for your support.
 
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Summer Basketball Camp
South County High School is having a summer basketball camp on June 16, 17, 18, & 20 or June 23-27.
Please use this linkto sign up.
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Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, providing information on their SEL skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the SEL Screener Results Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
Measles
Protect Your Child from Measles: What You Need to Know
Measles cases continue to rise in the U.S. About 1 in 5 people who get measles end up in the hospital. Measles can cause severe complications like a lung infection (pneumonia), brain inflammation (encephalitis), and possibly death, even with medical care. Symptoms of measles typically include:
- High fever (may spike up to 104°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- A rash that appears around 3-5 days after other symptoms begin. The rash typically starts on the face and spreads down the body.
The best way to protect a child from measles is by getting two doses of the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
If you are unsure of your child's vaccination status or your personal vaccination status, talk to your health care provider. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your health care provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources.
School Health Survey
✅ Share Feedback With County Health Department on School Health ServicesThe Fairfax County Health Department and Fairfax County Public Schools School Health Services invite parents/caregivers of FCPS students to participate in a survey on satisfaction with school health room services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and will be open until Monday, May 5.
School health rooms (clinics) are managed by public health nurses and school health aides. Those staff provide care for students who become sick or injured during the school day, who require medications during the school day, and/or who have a chronic health condition that requires management during the school day.
Additionally, the school health room staff:
- Provide health education, communicable disease prevention, and health screenings.
- Work with schools to help address the root causes of population health disparities so that all students have equitable access to educational and health opportunities.
- Ensure that students have care for minor injuries and illnesses, and chronic health conditions, thus helping to minimize health barriers to learning.
Survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of school health room services as well as inform future planning for schools.
Summer Extravaganza
☀️ Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas
Attend the FCPS Summer Extravaganza on Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School and get a jump on summer learning and fun! At this free event, participants can engage in educational and enrichment activities designed to inspire curiosity and growth.
An FCPS Student Program Marketplace will feature student-made goods for sale. Proceeds will support the students’ programs.
Learn about summer programs and resources available from community and business partners. Enjoy face painting, touring a fire truck, student performances, and much more! For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
Increasing Access to Middle School Algebra 1
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence places a focus on successful completion of Algebra 1 by eighth grade. To increase access to Algebra 1 for middle school students, the school division has decided to streamline the criteria for taking Algebra 1 Honors in seventh grade.
With the simplified criteria, Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) scores are no longer a prerequisite when selecting either Mathematics 7 Honors or Algebra 1 Honors. Although it is not a requirement for advanced math, families may still use the test scores to help decide which level of mathematics their child signs up for.
Families of students who took the IAAT this winter will receive their score report by the end of this month. Students who were scheduled for the IAAT but did not get to complete the test will have the chance to opt-in for a makeup test at the end of the year. Parents/caregivers will receive information about this makeup testing opportunity.
Additional information and copies of upcoming family communication can be found on the IAAT webpage.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Protect Your Child From Measles
- Celebrating FCPS Staff and Students
- Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun
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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