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Providing students and parents with important updates and reports of events and happenings in the middle school.
We hope you are all enjoying a relaxing, fun-filled summer with family and friends!
While our hallways are a bit quieter right now, our team is hard at work behind the scenes preparing for an incredible upcoming school year. From getting classrooms prepped to finalizing schedules, we are doing everything we can to ensure a smooth, exciting start for all of our Rams.
Enjoy these remaining summer weeks, recharge, and make great memories. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back soon!
Below are a few informational items to keep you up to speed on upcoming events.
Back-to-School Immunization Requirements
Make sure your child has all of their required immunizations before the first day of school. Check their immunization records to see what they might be missing. You can:
- Request immunization records online through the Virginia Immunization Information System (a free service).
- If your child was immunized outside of Virginia, get records from those states’ systems.
- Request records from your health care provider. Some may charge for copies.
Review school-required immunizations to verify that your child is up to date.
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th GradersSeveral immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grades.
- All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
- To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 and 12, but can be given as early as 9 years old.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
- All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school.
- To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.
As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.
Where to Receive Immunizations
If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your family’s healthcare provider or one of the following immunization events.
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
If you do not have a healthcare provider, visit a Health Department clinic. Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) clinics offer immunizations to all Fairfax County students, as well as those who are behind on their scheduled immunizations or need a booster.
Summer back-to-school immunization clinics are also available. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are also welcome. FCHD offers limited walk-in hours for immunization services on a first-come, first-served basis. Immunizations are also available by appointment.
Inova Cares Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs provide children ages 5 and up with free school physicals and immunizations. Weekend clinics are available in July and August. These health fairs are for VA Medicaid or Uninsured Inova registered patients only. Appointments are required. Call 703-698-2550 to make an appointment. Bring vaccine records to the appointment.
Local immunization clinics and additional resources are available on the FCPS Immunization Resources webpage and from the FCHD.
Picture Dates
High School Underclassmen Pictures: August 31st and September 1st
Middle School Pictures: September 2nd and 3rd
Makeup Pictures: October 8th and 9th
Senior Panoramic: November 4th
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.
Virtual Mental Health Services
Since 2023, FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to offer virtual mental health services to FCPS high school students.
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.
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.
New ParentVUE Mobile App
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.
New Student ID Cards Coming This Fall
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.
All students at our school will need to wear their student ID cards throughout the school day. We will be handing out the new student ID cards the first few weeks of school. More details will be shared soon.
Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
Follow this link to access PTSO website
MS Clubs & Activities Program
 After-School Activities
The after-school program will begin September 14th. After-School information will be available at Back to School Night.
For questions regarding the After-School program, please email Courtney Molle.
Important updates and resources from the student services department.
The Student Services staff is here to help you in any way we can. Please note that students cannot leave class or lunch to see their counselor without an appointment and a pass. If they need assistance, we encourage them to email our Student Services staff to request an appointment. If there is an emergency, their teacher will call the subschool office for assistance.
7th grade counselors by student last name:
A-K – Ms. Markenson dmmarkenson@fcps.edu
L-Z Ms. Hall sshall@fcps.edu
8th grade counselors by student last name:
A-K – Mr. Herendeen neherendeen@fcps.edu
L-Z – Ms. Lyons jalyons@fcps.edu
School Psychologist – Emily Dietz (egdietz@fcps.edu)
School Social Worker – Kailyn Slade (krslade@fcps.edu)
Registrar and Student Information Assistant – Melanie Knowlton (maknowlton@fcps.edu)
Family Liaison - Carla Quiroga-Anello (cquirogaanel@fcps.edu)
Director of Student Services – Katy Frank (kmfrank@fcps.edu)
Please reach out to any of us if you have any questions.
Helpful Resources
RMS Administration
Malicia Braxton: 8th Grade Assistant Principal | MYBraxton@fcps.edu
Chris Powell: 7th Grade Assistant Principal | CSPowell@fcps.edu
Carly Zook: Special Education Assistant Principal | CJZook@fcps.edu
Katy Frank: Director, Student Services | kmfrank@fcps.edu
Courtney Molle: After-School Program Specialist | cemolle@fcps.edu
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