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Important Upcoming Events
December 8-12 - RCMS Bookfair
December 22 - January 2- Holiday-winter break
No school- School Offices closed and will reopen on Monday, January 5- A Day schedule
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Student Services Family Workshops
Student Services offers Family Workshops throughout the school year to support our families using feedback from our Advisory Council. Our first was a presentation on Internet Safety led by Stefan Mascoll with the FCPS Student Safety and Wellness Office. If you were not able to attend, you can view the recording in the Student Services 2nd Quarter Newsletter.
We are excited to announce that Rachel Bailey, former ADHD coach, intensive in-home mentor, and psychotherapist for children, adolescents, and adults, will be presenting our next workshop virtually to Rachel Carson families this Wednesday, December 3th from 9:00-10:00 AM via Zoom. Please join us to learn more about “Growing Resiliency.” Thank you to the caregivers who registered for this workshop. If you did not register and would like to join us, please use this Zoom link. We will be recording the presentation for families unable to attend. We hope to see you virtually tomorrow!
Info from FCPS on the new Western High School
FCPS recognizes that families have many questions, including how FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will affect the new high school's boundary. Please keep in mind that:
- The School Board will vote on the division wide boundary review on January 22, 2026.
- Boundaries for the new western high school will not be defined until late spring 2026.
- Rising 9th and 10th graders within the five western high school pyramids (Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield) may choose to opt in to attend the new school, based on available spots. For the 2026-27 school year, we plan to enroll 500 9th graders and 500 10th graders.
- Parents and caregivers may join optional meetings to hear a brief presentation about the western high school and ask questions. Virtual meetings will be held via Zoom at the following times:
- Friday, December 5, at 9 a.m. Register here to receive a zoom link.
- Friday, December 5 at 5 p.m. Register here to receive a zoom link.
- In addition, families may attend an in-person coffee with the planning principal on Thursday, December 11, at 6 p.m. or on Saturday, December 13, at 10 a.m. Both in-person events will be held at the new high school in the auditorium.
FCPS has posted the presentation for students to the FCPS website, so families may review it together and discuss next steps based on individual circumstances and interests.
FCPS thanks you for your patience as the county moves toward opening the new high school. FCPS encourages you to visit the FCPS website for more information. If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Dave Jagels, the planning principal for the new Western High School, at dejagels@fcps.edu.
Rising 8th Grade Families
SAVE THE DATE: Please join our math department for a Math Night on February 4th from 6-7 PM in the Bickford Theatre at Rachel Carson Middle School. Come learn more about math offerings and course sequencing at RCMS and in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). This presentation is designed primarily for caregivers of (current 7th graders) rising eighth graders. More information coming soon.
AP News
We are pleased to announce that Ms. Liz Scheurer will be joining Rachel Carson Middle School, as our new Assistant Principal, effective December 8, 2025.
Ms. Schuerer comes to us most recently from Herndon Elementary School, where she served as an Assistant Principal.
We look forward to welcoming Ms. Schuerer to Carson MS on December 8th.
Support For Families
In these tough times, we want to help support families who may need some assistance. If so, come next Tuesday, December 9th, to the family bookfair night and between the hour of 6-7pm, we will have our non-perishable pantry items available. The pantry will be in the student services conference room. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Family Liaison Drina Teran drteranalfar@fcps.edu or social worker April Bowman adbowman@fcps.edu.
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
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, the new FCPS mobile app, 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 emergency child care if needed.
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that 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. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School for Supporting Military Connected Students
Rachel Carson is Recognized as a Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School
Rachel Carson Middle School has been named a Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School for its exceptional support of military-connected students and their families. We are thrilled that the school has received this prestigious, three-year designation from the Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children.
This honor recognizes Carson’s commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment, reflecting FCPS’s dedication to ensuring safety and belonging for every student. Congratulations to the Carson community on this outstanding achievement!
We would like to especially thank Ms. Miles and Ms. Chustz, for spearheading this effort and ensuring our staff met all required criteria to compete for this recognition!
Young Scholars Updates
Ready to tackle the move to middle school? Elementary and middle school Advanced Academic Program (AAP) staff presented a helpful virtual presentation just for you! We discuss the similarities and differences between Full Time services and Honors courses as well as the programs and models beyond middle school.
During RCMS Curriculum Night, January 15 at 5:00, you will have an opportunity to hear from our Math Department Chair and she will share specific details to help guide you through selecting the best math course for your child. Additionally, math teachers will be available on this night to answer any individual questions you may have regarding math course options.
Please reach out to Carson MS AART, Carrie Guild at cjguild@fcps.edu, with further questions.
National Family Engagement Month
November is National Family Engagement Month! This month is a time to celebrate and recognize families as a child’s first and most important teacher and partners in learning. Strong family-school partnerships have a lasting impact on student success.
🖥️New Parent Controls in the Lightspeed Parent Portal
FCPS has enabled new parent controls within the Lightspeed Parent Portal to support families in managing screentime on FCPS devices at home. Parents can now manage their child's access to YouTube and pause web browsing on district-issued devices, during designated "After School Hours" while students are off the FCPS network.
These parental controls are only active Monday-Friday from 3:30 PM to 6:00 AM, and all day on weekends and student holidays when students are off the FCPS network. Parental controls do not interfere with district filtering policies during the instructional day. Parents can register for the Parent Portal using the link provided in their weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email. For more information on Parent Portal, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website.
Some helpful Lightspeed Parent Portal Resources are below:
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Early Dismissal Procedure
Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone.
To request an early dismissal please send a note, 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. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.
All early dismissals must be before 1:45pm.
Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.
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The Carson Bookfair is Coming!
The book fair is coming! We are excited to partner with a local business, Bookworm Central, for the 2025 book fair. All students will come through with their English classes sometime during the week of December 8-12. There is no pressure to buy anything, but students are welcome to purchase any time during shopping hours. We will have one additional family shopping night, and will have a variety of books for the entire family, from babies, through grown-ups. Because this is a school fundraiser, there will be NO sales tax! Books make wonderful gifts for family, friends, and teachers.
Rather than sending your child to school with cash, consider using Bookworm Central’s eWallet option. eWallet allows you to create a cashless/cardless payment option for your child to use at Carson’s Book Fair, Dec. 8-12. While you set a maximum amount a student may spend, your card will only be charged for the actual amount spent. Your funds will not be rolled over into book fair credits, and you will not lose unspent funds! Click HERE to learn more and to set up your account. Many Carson families used it last year and were really happy with it!
Book Fair Hours:
Monday, December 8: 7:05- 2:30
Tuesday, December 9: 7:05- 2:30 AND 6:00-8:00 *Family Shopping*
Wednesday, December 10: 7:05- 2:30
Thursday, December 11: 7:05-2:30
Friday, December 12: 7:05-12:45
The Carson Book Fair is coming to the library during the week of Dec. 8-12, and we still need a few parent volunteers! Please review the following Sign-Up Genius and sign up for a slot if you are able. It is so much fun to volunteer at the Book Fair! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4FAAA822A0FA7-60233853-rcms#/ Current FCPS students are NOT allowed to sign-up. If you volunteer to work the book fair and have not yet become an official FCPS volunteer, please visit https://volunteer.fcps.edu/custom/501/organization_details/566 and start the process to be a General Volunteer at Carson. It should be quick and easy. Thanks for your consideration.
Private School or Program Application Process
Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.
If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 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 child’s counselor. Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal.
Please visit our website at RCMS Private School Requests for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.
Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil (ajtawil@fcps.edu) with questions.
The Power of Restorative Justice Practices to Support Students and Families in Schools and at Home: Part 2
The second webinar on Restorative Justice will be Friday, December 19th from 10:00am-11:30am. The link to register is below to share. We will cover Tier 3 Restorative Justice in this session.
The Power of Restorative Justice Practices to Support Students and Families in Schools and at Home: Part 2
December 19, 10-11:30 a.m.
Come join this webinar to learn about Restorative Justice Practices in FCPS! You’ll learn about what’s available to students and families in schools and how RJ Practices support students and families feeling empowered and connected to their school communities. We will also share how you can implement a simple restorative justice practice to create connection in your family.
Register here
This is the link to the webinar page in general.
Please complete the Federal Impact Aid Online Survey
The Impact Aid Program is a federal program designed to directly compensate local school districts that have been financially impacted by federal activities. The program’s mission is to reimburse local school districts for local revenues lost due to the presence of federally owned, and therefore tax exempt, property.
FCPS is pleased to announce that the Federal Impact Aid Survey is now available electronically through your ParentVUE account. For families that do not have access to ParentVUE, please set up a ParentVue account here.
- The electronic version of the Federal Impact Aid Survey is open now to parents in ParentVUE. Please take the survey now.
- Paper copies have been handed out to students to bring home if you did not complete it online. Please complete the forms and return to school at your earliest convenience.
Graduation Status Now Available in ParentVUE & StudentVUE
A new Graduation Status section is now available in ParentVUE and StudentVUE. The Graduation Status is a tool that helps parents and students monitor and track their progress in meeting graduation requirements. This feature includes progress towards the Standard or Advanced Studies diploma for high school students and middle school students who have enrolled in one or more high school courses. This new graduation status section is available in addition to the course history and unofficial transcript options in ParentVUE and StudentVUE. To view the graduation status section, please take the following steps:
- Login to your SIS ParentVUE Account
- Go to “Course History” for your middle or high school student
- Go to “Graduation Status” and toggle “on”
For questions about graduation requirements, please contact your school counselor. Additional information about ParentVUE is available on the following website: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/technology/student-information-system-sis-fcps/sis-parent-account-overview
Additionally, a resource guide with frequently asked questions (FAQ) for the Graduation Status section is available for school counseling professionals on the Graduation Requirements site.
Full-Time AAP Referral Window Reminder for Families
Parents/caretakers who would like their student to be screened for Full-Time Advanced Academic Program services may submit the Full-Time Referral Form (translations linked below) to their local school’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) or principal no later than December 15, 2025. Late referrals will not be accepted.
The following sample communication is designed to be included in your school’s News You Choose/school email newsletter to remind families of the December 15, 2025, deadline. This communication should be shared with families by Monday, December 8, 2025.
Full-Time Referral Form (PDF)
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
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; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
Paperless Report Cards
We’re excited to offer you a more environmentally friendly and expedient option for receiving your child’s report cards: Go Paperless!
By choosing to go paperless, you'll be able to:
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Access report cards directly in ParentVUE with just a few clicks.
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Reduce wait time in seeing your child’s report card.
Here's how you can opt-in:
- Log into ParentVUE, click on "My Account," and select “Go Paperless.”
- All parents/guardians living with the student at the same address must have an active SIS ParentVUE account to opt-in.
- Once selected, the “Go Paperless” option will apply to all associated students, no matter their grade level.
- If you’ve already opted for paperless for your secondary students, it will automatically apply to any younger siblings at the elementary level too!
Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night - January 15, 2026
Carson Middle School will be hosting a Curriculum Night for rising 7th grade families (current 6th grade students) at Carson MS on Thursday, January 15, 2026, from 5:45 PM to 7:15 PM. This evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 7th grade student with the transition to middle school. Families will have the opportunity to explore elective course offerings and hear from a variety of staff about the courses and programs offered to 7th grade students. If inclement weather occurs, the event will be rescheduled for Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Eating Disorders
According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA 2023), Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental and physical illnesses that can affect people of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights. In the United States, 28.8 million Americans will suffer from an eating disorder at some point in their lives. There is no single cause of an eating disorder. Rather, it is a complex combination of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors that converge and set off an individual’s predisposed genetic vulnerability.
In collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department, FCPS has developed a web page with detailed information and resources to be provided to parents and guardians of Fairfax County Public Schools. This information may be found at Eating Disorders.
If you think your child may be showing signs of a possible eating disorder, please contact your doctor, school Public Health Nurse (Hannah Wilkinson, RN, at HWilkinson@fcps.edu / (571) 595-6273), or one of the resources listed on the Eating Disorders page.
Eating Disorders flyer
Scoliosis Information and Fact Sheet
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. A spine affected by scoliosis has a sideways curve, making it appear more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line. Untreated scoliosis can lead to limited motion, back pain, deformity, and in extreme cases, impaired function of the heart and lungs. Early detection and treatment may prevent scoliosis from progressing. Please follow this link for more information.
If you have any concern that your child may have scoliosis, make sure that your child is screened by a health care provider. For additional resources and information, please contact the school Public Health Nurse (PHN), Hannah Wilkinson, at HWilkinson@fcps.edu or (571) 595-6273.
Online Verification/Update packet and Parent Digital Consent
Parents, we need your consent for your student to use digital resources! Teachers will use a variety of digital resources to help students learn during the 2025-26 school year. These digital resources have been vetted and approved by FCPS. In order for students to fully access these tools, we must have your consent on file. Please provide your consent for your student to use these resources through the Parent Digital Consent System. You can find step by step directions for how to fill out the consent application here. If you have any problems with this process, reach out to our School Based Technology Specialist, Megan Carr at mgcarr@fcps.edu
Please also complete the Permission to retest for state assessments located in the digital consent application. It is important for us to have the most up-to-date phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations) for students. The enrolling parent* will be able to access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account.
*The enrolling parent is the natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian with whom the student lives the preponderance of the school week and who enrolled the student in school (See Regulation 2240).
Support Your Child’s Success by Checking SIS ParentVUE
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child. Contact TBD if you need a code.
Once you have activated a SIS ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same SIS ParentVUE account. You may also access SIS ParentVUE using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
📊 New Automated Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report Coming Soon
Beginning the week of October 12, the weekly Lightspeed Parent Reports will be sent automatically to all parents and caregivers with SIS Records Access. This change streamlines the process, and parents will no longer need to manually sign up for the service.
These reports allow parents and caregivers to stay informed of their child's online activity on FCPS devices. The report's features, including the link to the Parent Portal for more details and the ability to pause internet access during non-school hours, remain the same.
Visit the Lightspeed Parent Report page on the FCPS website for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
📱We Are a Phone-Free School!
Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office. Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy, which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school.
FCPS CARES submissions
Want a quick way to thank an employee? Submit an FCPS CARES nomination! Families, colleagues, and students are all welcome to submit a nomination. A submitted CARES is automatically sent to the recipient and their supervisor and also is posted on the public FCPS website. Please consider recognizing our amazing staff to let them know their hard work is appreciated!
Going Green at Carson
Get2Green leads, Ms. Bickford and Ms. Walsh, are thrilled to announce that Carson MS is starting-up our 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. Mojado-Ligan 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.
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Greetings Panther Families,
Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows, rtbarrows1@fcps.edu
After School Weekly Schedule
Other Schools Are Sharing
Oakton High School
Click HERE for information regarding Curriculum Night 2026!
Rising 9th Graders (Current 8th) Mark Your Calendars - HS Curriculum Nights
Academic advising season is coming up soon. We will share more detailed information later this month. In the meantime, please review the curriculum night dates and times for our feeder high schools and add them to your personal calendar. For additional information, please visit the Rachel Carson Academic Advising website.
- Chantilly HS - Wednesday 1/7/26, 6-8 PM (snow date: 1/14/26)
- Westfield HS - Tuesday 1/13/26, 6-8 PM (snow date: 1/20/26)
- South Lakes HS- Thursday 1/8/26 6:30-8PM
- Herndon High School- Thursday 1/8/26 6:30PM
- Oakton High School- Thursday 1/8/26 4:30-6:30 PM (snow date: 1/27/26)
*Check HS websites for most updated info and sign up to receive the HS News You Choose
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.
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