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Hello Mustangs,
It has been another exciting week at South County Middle School! As mentioned last week, students have been receiving HORSE cards for displaying positive behavior. Additionally, our students and families enjoyed the band concert on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, and the Bingo event hosted by our PTSO on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Please keep in mind that tonight is the homecoming game at South County High School. As a reminder, parents/caregivers must attend the game and stay with their student the entire time. Lastly, we will begin introducing students to aspects of our weapons detection system through our Health & PE classes. It is a layered approach, which we will fully operationalize in November (stay tuned for more information). As always, thank you for all you do for our school community, and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, feedback, or concerns. We look forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday!
Justin Simmons | Principal | South County Middle School
UPCOMING DATES
October 13 - No School for Students, Staff Development Day
October 20 - No School, Religious Holiday
October 21 - Federal Impact Aid Form available in ParentVue
October 22 - PTSO General Membership Meeting, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
October 31 - End of Quarter, Two-Hour Early Release
November 6-7 - Picture Days
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Lightspeed Student Online Activity Reports Are Coming to All Families
FCPS provides families with a free service that allows parents and caregivers a way to stay informed about their child's online activity on any FCPS device. Starting Sunday, October 12, all parents and guardians who have access to student records in SIS ParentVUE will be automatically enrolled to receive a weekly Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report.
This report provides a summary of the websites your child visited during the previous week and is delivered every Sunday to your email directly from Lightspeed, our internet content filter.
Each weekly report also includes a link to register for the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides more detailed browsing information. This portal also gives you the ability to pause internet access on your child’s FCPS laptop during non-school hours, such as dinner or bedtime.
Visit the Lightspeed Parent Report page for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
No Cost Meals Available for Students on October 13 at Select Schools
FCPS will be offering lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on Monday, October 13, at participating schools. As a reminder, all FCPS schools will be closed for students on October 13 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. View a list of school sites that will be providing meals for children on October 13.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Lunch and a snack will be served together from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Meals must be eaten on site at participating schools.
- Enrichment activities will be available for children. Participation is encouraged but not required.
- Only children 18 and under may receive meals.
- Each child may receive one lunch and one snack.
We are proud to support our students’ health and well-being, even on days when school is not in session. We hope that many of our families will take advantage of this opportunity. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.
Our Blankets for Veterans Program is Underway!
Each week during Seminar, students make patriotic blankets to donate to Honor Flight veterans. In late spring, the students will meet and greet the veterans at the World War II Memorial and give each veteran a blanket, handmade card, and personalized poster welcoming them to Washington DC.
Here is a short video and article highlighting the program. Small donations through My School Bucks (Donations - Honor Flight Blankets) are always appreciated in the continuation of the program. Anyone who wishes to donate to the program who does not have a student at South County can use this link.
Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia
October 15, 10-11:30 a.m.
- Join us for an informative webinar on Dyslexia Awareness, designed for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) families. This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.
- What You'll Learn:
- Understanding Dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
- FCPS Support Systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
- Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS's Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
- Resources for Families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.
- This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.
- Register here
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Membership
Welcome Back! The PTSO is looking forward to another great year! Become a member and help us provide grants for teachers and students and support all of our great events for the year! Keep up with all we have going on this year at MustangPTSO.org or follow us on Facebook at South County Middle School PTSO.
We are also sponsoring a NO FUSS FUNDRAISER. Please feel free to use this link to donate.
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FCPS Buildings Benefit All Community Members
In addition to our students and teachers, we estimate millions of visits by students and community members to Fairfax County schools through more than 500,000 events. Most of the public meeting and recreational facilities available in the county are FCPS facilities.
FCPS works with the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and with the Fairfax County Park Authority to ensure that school facilities and athletic fields are available to the public after school hours.
The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in November. Vote on Tuesday, November 4. Learn more about registering to vote and make a voting plan.
Inspire Immunization Events for All FCPS Students
Inspire Health Alliance, in partnership with FCPS, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students.
- Immunizations will be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to students or families.
- Registering families will be required to provide insurance information, if applicable, but students without insurance may still participate.
Current event dates are listed below. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year, 4-5 weeks prior to the event, on the public webpage.
Willow Oaks Administrative Office, 8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive, Fairfax, VA:
- Thursday, November 6; 3-6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 18; 3-6:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 19; 3-6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 20; 3-6:30 p.m.
Frost Middle School, 4101 Pickett Rd. Fairfax, VA:
- Saturday, November 15; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
For more information, or to help families schedule an appointment for their student, please visit our FCPS and Inspire Health Alliance Student Immunization Events | Fairfax County Public Schools webpage.
October Community Boundary Review Meetings
FCPS’ October community boundary review meetings will begin on Monday, October 13. Each of the 12 meetings will focus on two pyramids. Our area will be covered at the meeting on Wednesday, October 22, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Hayfield Secondary School, (South County and Hayfield Pyramids) in person or virtual Register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” based on how you would like to participate.
At the meeting, the consultant will present the latest draft boundary map (Scenario 4) and potential changes specific to our pyramid (South County) and the Hayfield Pyramid. Participants will also be invited to ask questions.
If you are unable to attend the meeting for our pyramid, you are welcome to attend any meeting that is convenient. View the full list of October boundary meetings.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
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