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Important Upcoming Events February 4: Math Night for 7th grade families February 5 : Second semester begins February 16 - Holiday- George Washington's Birthday - No School February 17 - Teacher Workday - No School February 18 Religious or cultural Observance

Principal's Message

We hope that everyone stayed safe during the recent winter weather and hopefully got the chance to catch up on a few things that you normally may not have gotten to. We wanted to let you know that due to school being closed yesterday, Monday, February 2nd, the county has made a slight adjustment to the end of quarter grading timeline and the start of the second semester. The end of the second grading quarter will now be Wednesday, February 4th. The 3rd quarter and second semester will now start on Thursday, February 5th. Students should be able to view their second semester schedules in ParentVue/StudentVue on Wednesday, February 4th at 4:00pm. We look forward to a fresh start, as we kick off the second semester on Thursday, February 5th!

Thanks and stay safe,

Principal Washington

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School Counseling Week- Thank you to Our Counselors!

National School Counseling Week (Feb. 2–6) is a time to recognize the vital role Carson school counselors play in supporting students’ academic growth, emotional well‑being, and future planning. This week, we celebrate the many ways counselors help students succeed and encourage you to take a moment to thank your school’s counselor(s). To learn more about the impact of this essential profession, visit: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/role. Please take a moment to reach out to your student's school counselor to say thank you for the work they do every day.

clryder@fcps.edu

epschires@fcps.edu

rpcopeland@fcps.edu

nbrammer@fcps.edu

A big thank you to our amazing team of counselors here at Rachel Carson: Ms. Brammer, Ms. Copeland, Ms. Ryder, and Ms. Schires. - we appreciate all you do!

FCPS Student Experience Survey

On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, students will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey during Panther Time. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

FCPS believes it is important to hear from our students about what they are doing well and where they can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as they work toward meeting plan goals.

The survey is voluntary. The survey is designed to protect students’ privacy and is confidential. Students can skip any questions they do not want to answer and can stop taking the survey at any point. To preview some of the questions on the survey, visit the Student Experience Survey Preview.

If you would like to opt your child out of the survey, please complete the Student Experience Survey electronic opt-out form.

If you have any questions about the Student Experience Survey, please contact Elizabeth Scheurer, assistant principal, at eascheurer@fcps.edu

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day. Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Prepare for Winter Weather

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.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

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.

Attendance Matters

Please review the attendance updates below. 

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 2pm. Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

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.

Parent Teen Book Club: You’re Invited!

Greetings Carson Families,

Are you looking for a way to connect with your teen? Would you like to get involved in the Carson community? Do you love to read? If you answered “YES” to any of the questions, please consider signing up to participate in Carson’s Parent Teen Book Club - Authorfest! 

The Carson Library is to announce our spring Parent Teen Book Club on April 14, 2026 from 7-8:30pm, and we would love to see you there! After choosing one of the five book options, you and your grown-up will be loaned a copy of the book to read. Then, on April 14, we will come together to talk about the book selection and have some light refreshments. This spring’s PTBC will be an Authorfest. That means the authors of each of the books will be at the April 14 event and will participate in the book club discussions about their book!

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!Please reach out to librarians, Ellen Bickford (elbickford@fcps.edu) or Elizabeth Donovan (emdonovan1@fcps.edu) with any questions.

Link to Purchase: Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks

🔔 Second Quarter Ends

The second quarter officially ends on Wednesday, February 4. Please review your child's assignments and grades in the Student Information System (SIS) this week. If you have any concerns about their academic progress, please don't hesitate to contact their teachers to discuss necessary supports.  

Second Semester Information

The third quarter as well as the start of the second semester begins on Thursday, February 5, 2026. This is an exciting time as many of our students will begin new electives for the second half of the school year!  Student schedules will be available online through SIS StudentVUE and SIS ParentVUE at 4:00PM on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.   

All students will receive an updated second semester schedule reflecting any changes that may have occurred due to normal shifts in enrollment throughout the school year.  Therefore, we encourage all students to log in to SIS StudentVUE to view their schedules.

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, students should report directly to their first period class upon arrival.   This will be the location where they will receive a paper copy of their second semester schedule. Carson staff members will be available throughout the building to students who may need help locating their 1^st period class.  Due to scheduling and staffing constraints, we are unable to accommodate schedule change requests for second semester courses.  

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our  Academic Advising & Course Selection website for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s school counselor, teacher, or case manager with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

We hope all our students are excited to launch into the second half of our school year and are ready to keep going strong! Our Student Services department has lots of important information to continue to share with you. Please read our 3rd Quarter Student Services Newsletter for information on upcoming events and activities, resources, tools and other helpful things to know.

College Partnership Program

8th graders are eligible to apply to the College Partnership Program (CPP). This program is designed to support students interested in exploring, applying to, and enrolling in college. In accordance with FCPS' goal to eliminate gaps in opportunity, access, and achievement for all students, CPP focuses on academic advising, college visits, family engagement, and preparation beyond high school.

If you are interested in attending the interest meeting, please have your student complete this form by Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The interest meeting will be held during Panther Time on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Please reach out to Mrs. Brammer or Ms. Guild if you have any questions.

Rising 8^th Grade Families

SAVE THE DATE: Please join our math department for a Math Night on February 4^th 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 7^th graders)  rising eighth graders. 

Please click this link for the math night flyer.

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.

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:

• Access report cards directly in ParentVUE with just a few clicks.
• Reduce wait time in seeing your child’s report card.

Here's how you can opt-in:

1. Log into ParentVUE, click on "My Account," and select “Go Paperless.”
2. All parents/guardians living with the student at the same address must have an active SIS ParentVUE account to opt-in.
3. Once selected, the “Go Paperless” option will apply to all associated students, no matter their grade level.
4. If you’ve already opted for paperless for your secondary students, it will automatically apply to any younger siblings at the elementary level too!

📱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!

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

Western High School Updates

Please click the link below to learn more about the new Western High School coming August 2026!

• Western HS Presentation  

South Lakes High School IB Information Night

Monday, February 9^th

6:30 pm-7:30 pm in the SLHS Cafeteria

Learn about the IB Middle Years, Career-related, and Diploma Programs at South Lakes High School.

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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