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Important Upcoming Events
August 3 - 6 RCMS-101 Grade 7 Jumpstart
August 19 - Carson Virtual Town Hall - 5:30-6:15pm
(A Zoom link will be communicated closer to the event date)
August 20 - Panther Palooza Open House
Last names A-K: 8:30am-10am
Last Names L-Z:10:30am-12:00pm
August 24 - School Begins!
August 31 - Back To School Night 7th Grade - 6pm-7:30pm
September 1 - Back To School Night 8th Grade- 6pm-7:30pm
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A Message From The Principal
Dear Carson Families,
I hope you are all having a wonderful, relaxing summer and taking time to build special memories with your loved ones!
While the halls are quiet right now, our team here at Rachel Carson Middle School is hard at work preparing for another fantastic school year!
If you have any questions, need assistance, or need to stop by the school to drop off or pick up an item, please note our summer office hours:
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Summer Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Also, please keep these upcoming dates and events in mind as we prepare for the 2026–2027 school year:
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August 3rd – 4th OR August 5th – 6th: RCMS 101 (7th Grade Jumpstart)
- For students who registered, sessions will run on your selected dates.
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Wednesday, August 19th (Evening): Virtual Admin Town Hall & Q&A
- Join our administration team virtually for an information session and Q&A. (More details to come!)
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Thursday, August 20th: Panther Palooza Open House
- Come visit the building, meet staff, and gear up for the new year!
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Monday, August 24th: First Day of School!
- We officially kick off the 2026–2027 school year.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. Enjoy the rest of your summer break, stay safe, and take care!
Sincerely,
Principal Washington
Student Schedules Available
Beginning Thursday, August 20 at 6:00 am, all students and parents will have access to class schedules in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE. SIS (Student Information System) is the application to see attendance, class performance, and demographic data.
Last Name Families A - K - 8:30am - 10:00am
Last Name Families L - Z - 10:30am - 12:00pm
Get ready for the new school year at Carson Middle School! Panther Palooza is your chance to become familiar with the building, pick up important information, and connect with staff before the first day of school.
Student schedules will be available in SIS to open on your phone to view classes, teachers and room numbers. You will be able to find your counselor and locker information and receive a printed copy of your schedule in your first period class.
Parents who don't have a SIS ParentVue account may set it up in the cafeteria and also learn about RCMS programs, join the PTA, meet our school Family Liaison, set up accounts and visit the photo booth.
Families are welcome to explore the building and practice walking their student's A (Periods 1,3,5,7) Day and B (Periods 2,4,6,8) Day schedule and practice opening their lockers.
Our Counselor Team will be available for support in rooms D-107 & D-108.Panther Pals (RCMS students) will be located throughout the building for to point you in the right direction.
ParentVUE Information
Signing up for a SIS ParentVUE account helps you to support your child’s academic success! Caregivers can view important information like attendance, grades, progress reports, and assessment scores through ParentVUE. Once you have activated a 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 ParentVUE account. It is available online and as a mobile app for Apple and Android devices. Need help creating a SIS ParentVue account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
If you already have an account, be sure your contact information is up to date. Parents/guardians can update their phone numbers or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section. View additional details about ParentVUE.
Activate Your ParentVUE Account to Stay Connected
On Wednesday, July 29, FCPS families who haven't activated their ParentVUE account will receive an email with the subject “Fairfax County Public Schools ParentVUE Activation Letter.” The email will include instructions to activate a ParentVUE account. If you don’t have an account and don’t receive the email, please check your spam folder or submit a request for an activation key through our SIS Parent Assistance Form.
All families are encouraged to activate their accounts as soon as possible to ensure they receive immediate access to important student information and school communications.
New ParentVUE Mobile App Launches July 28
On Tuesday, July 28, a new ParentVUE mobile app became available in the Apple and Google app stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. The current “classic” app will remain active for about six months. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their child’s school data.
In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature.
Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.
Download the FCPS App Today!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
With the app, you can:
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View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
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Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
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Access key links. Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
No need to log in, just download and go! Learn more about the FCPS mobile app.
Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
Meals for Students Available Through August 21No-cost meals will be provided to students on a first-come, first-served basis through Friday, August 21, at the sites and times listed on the FCPS Summer Food Service Program webpage. Students must remain on site while eating their meals
New Student ID Cards and Bus Navigation System
This fall, every FCPS student will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a divisionwide effort to modernize school transportation, improve communication with families, and strengthen student safety while traveling to and from school.
Every student who rides the school bus will need to tap on and tap off the bus every day using their new Student ID card. Families can help by reinforcing this new habit with their child.
Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
Virtual Mental Health Services Now Available to Middle School Students
Since 2023, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to offer virtual mental health services to FCPS high school students. These services became available to students enrolled in all FCPS middle schools on July 1.
Parents are encouraged to contact Hazel Health directly if they are seeking mental health support for their child, have noticed changes in their child’s mood or behavior, or are having difficulty connecting with a therapist in the community.
To make it easier for families to access services, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to streamline the referral process. Parents can visit the Hazel Health in FCPS website to enroll their child in services or visit the FCPS Teletherapy webpage for more information
Calendar Reminders
Tax-Free Weekend
Friday, August 7, through Sunday, August 9, is a sales tax holiday in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Visit Virginia’s Sales Tax Holiday webpage for details on eligible items, including school supplies and clothing.
First Day of School
Monday, August 24, is the first day of school for the 2026-27 school year. View the 2026-27 school year calendar for additional important dates.
Moving Over The Summer
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As we prepare for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year, we want to make sure our enrollment information is as accurate as possible.
If your family is planning to move over the summer and your child will not be returning to Rachel Carson Middle School for the 2026–2027 school year, please complete the attached Intent Form and email it to Ms. Novelo at enovelo@fcps.edu as soon as possible.
Your timely response helps us plan for student enrollment, staffing, and scheduling, and we truly appreciate your assistance.
Thank you for your cooperation, and we wish you a wonderful rest of the summer!
Sincerely,
Carson Middle School
Department of Student Services
Greetings From The Carson School Clinic
Dear Parent or Guardian:
Greetings from your school Health Room! Our Health Room team is excited to partner with you in supporting the health and well-being of your student. Our goal is to help every student stay healthy, safe, and ready to learn. The Health Room team is here to provide care for illness or injury during the school day, assist in managing health conditions, administer medications as needed, screen hearing and vision as indicated, and promote healthy habits. We value strong communication with families. Please keep us informed of any health concerns or medical needs your child may have so we can support them effectively throughout the school year.
How can you help us provide the best possible care for your student?
Does your student require a special diet?
- If your student requires a modified diet and will eat school meals, please refer to the Steps to Request Dietary Accommodations. Forms are available for students who require medical dietary accommodations and those who cannot drink cow’s milk and need milk substitutes.
Has your student had a head injury at home?
- Immediately notify the school heath room and your student’s school counselor so school staff can implement appropriate accommodations if needed and follow established protocols to support a safe recovery and return to learning.
Has your student had an injury at home that may impact their physical activity at school?
Any questions about opioid awareness?
Does your student have a medical condition, require medication during the school day, or need a health care procedure?
- If your student has a seizure disorder (epilepsy), please have your student’s health care provider complete the FCPS Authorization for Seizure Action Plan (SS/SE-385) and return it to the school public health nurse (PHN). This includes authorization for seizure rescue medications and procedures that may be required during the school day.
- If medication must be administered during the school day, please follow the guidelines established in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2102.
- Have your student’s health care provider complete appropriate FCPS medication authorization forms and submit them to the school health room annually, as applicable:
- Bring your student’s medications to the health room.
- If your student must have health care procedures during the school day, please follow the guidelines established in the current version of FCPS Regulation 2104.
- Have your student’s health care provider complete an appropriate authorization form and submit them to the school health room annually, as appropriate:
- Bring your student’s health care procedure supplies to the health room.
Thank you for partnering with us to help keep all FCPS students healthy, safe and ready to learn. We look forward to working with you throughout the school year.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact either your School Health Aide, Zahida Choudhary, at (703) 925-3610/ztchoudhary1@fcps.edu or your school Public Health Nurse, Hannah Wilkinson, BSN, RN, at (571) 595-6273/hwilkinson@fcps.edu. Mallory Arnold, BSN, RN will be the Public Health Nurse covering for Hannah’s long-term absence beginning around 9/1/26 through the end of November and can be reached at (571) 396-1276/marnold@fcps.edu.
Sincerely,
Hannah Wilkinson, BSN, RN
Summer Laptop Use & Return
Summer School Laptop Use and Return
Students enrolled in a Summer Learning Program will keep their school-issued laptop and charger throughout the summer and continue using the same device during the next school year 2026-2027.
The only exceptions are:
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Damaged Devices: If a student's laptop is broken or requires repair, it must be returned to the Carson Main Office no later than August 3, 2026. Please ensure that your child's laptop and charger are clearly labeled with their name and student ID.
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Rising 9th Grade Students: Students who are completing 8th grade and will be attending high school next school year must return their school-issued laptop and charger to the Carson Main Office no later than August 3, 2026.
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Students Moving or Transferring to Another School: Students who will be attending a different school next school year must return their school-issued laptop and charger to the Carson Main Office no later than August 3, 2026.
All devices that meet one of the exceptions listed above must be returned to the Carson Main Office during summer office hours, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain and manage our school technology resources.
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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