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Important Dates:
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08/24- First Day of School
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09/04-09/07- Holiday- Labor Day Break
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09/08 6:00pm- BTSN (Back to School Night)
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09/12- Rosh Hashanah
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09/21- Holiday- Yom Kippur
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10/07- SAT School Day for 12th Graders
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10/12- Student Holiday (No School)- Indigenous Peoples' Day
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10/30- End of First Quarter
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11/02-Student Holiday- Teacher Workday
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11/03- Student Holiday- School Planning Day- Election Day
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11/08- Diwali
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11/25-11/27- Holiday- Thanksgiving Break
SCHS ATTENDANCE INFORMATION 2026-27
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2-Hour Advance Notice Required: All early dismissal requests must be submitted at least two hours in advance. We will no longer process last-minute phone calls or messages for immediate pickup. Please plan appointments accordingly, as requests failing to meet this lead time will not be honored.
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Illness & Clinic Protocol: If a student feels ill, they MUST report to the School Clinic. Students will only be dismissed for medical reasons after being evaluated by the clinic staff and checked out from that location.
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Official Office Check-Out: All students leaving early must physically check out through the Main Office. Any student who leaves campus without following this procedure will be marked with an unexcused absence.
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Attendance Corrections: If a student is marked UNV for a specific period due to lateness or a clerical error, the student must speak with that teacher directly. The teacher will then update the attendance or notify the attendance team. The Attendance Offices will not alter period-specific attendance without teacher verification.
These procedures are in place to ensure student safety and a focused learning environment. We thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain an accurate and secure campus.
Report a Full-Day Absence-The fastest way is to use ParentVUE.
Alternative Methods
Message from Dr. Khoshaba
Greetings, SoCo families,
The final countdown is on, and we’re putting the finishing touches on everything as we prepare to welcome our students back next week! Our team is hard at work making sure classrooms, schedules, and all the little details are ready for a smooth and joyful start to the year. We’re almost at the school bell finish line, and we can’t wait to open our doors and begin another wonderful year together! Now, on to this week’s news.
Sense of Belonging
Stallion Stampede: Off and Running!
Our Stallion Stampede New Student Orientation was a tremendous success, and the energy throughout the building was a great preview of the year ahead! We kicked things off with a packed house in the auditorium, where students and families learned about our goals, expectations, and what it means to be part of the Stallion community. From there, students hit the halls to explore clubs and activities, connect with new opportunities, and find their classrooms before the first bell rings. With confidence growing and excitement building, our newest Stallions are ready to hit the ground galloping into a fantastic school year!
High Quality Instruction
Making the Grade: A Clearer Path to Learning
This year, we’re introducing a new Evidence-Based Grading (EBG) system designed to provide a clearer picture of what students know, understand, and are able to do. By focusing on demonstrated learning and progress toward specific standards, this approach helps make grades more meaningful while giving students and families better insight into areas of strength and opportunities for growth. We know this represents an important shift, so we encourage families to learn more about the why, what, and how of EBG at this link: Parent Video
School Culture
Fueling the Stallion Spirit!
A huge thank you to Capitol Petroleum for their continued generosity and support of all things Stallion! Their partnership helps keep our school community fueled for success, and we’re grateful to have them in our corner.
Going for Gold: Stallion Culture Shines!
Congratulations to our School Culture Champions, led by teachers Mrs. Hill and Mr. Kingston, for helping South County HS earn the prestigious Jostens Gold School of Distinction Award! This recognition reflects their work on two Commitment to Graduate initiatives, celebrating students and Staff, and enhancing our school environment. Like skilled architects, our Culture Champions have helped enhance our school culture brick by brick, creating a place where recognition, belonging, pride, and achievement have a strong foundation.
Keeping Families in the Know
Strong communication between school and home is an important part of student success! During Marking Period 1, teachers will send progress reports at the six-week mark; because our opening week is intentionally dedicated to team building, relationship building, and establishing strong classroom communities, there is less opportunity to gather meaningful grading information during the first half of the quarter. For Marking Periods 2, 3, and 4, teachers will send progress reports at both the three- and six-week marks. We hope these additional touchpoints will help you stay even more informed about your student’s progress and provide opportunities to celebrate successes and address challenges along the way. As always, we encourage parents and caregivers to reach out directly to teachers with any questions or concerns; we value your partnership in supporting every student’s success!
Save the Date: Caps Off to the Class of 2027!
It’s never too early to mark this milestone on your calendar: Graduation is set for June 10 at 9:00 a.m.! We look forward to celebrating our seniors as they cross the stage, close one incredible chapter, and gallop toward their next adventure!
As we head into an exciting new school year, let’s bring the energy, show our Stallion pride, and remind everyone what makes our community so special. We’re not just SoCo; we’re SoCool!
Have a great weekend!
 Kambar
#RunTogetherRiseAsOne!
SAT School Day for 12th Graders –
October 7
On Wednesday, October 7, South County High School twelfth graders will have the opportunity to participate in the SAT School Day. FCPS will cover the cost for any twelfth grade student to take this test.
To reserve a seat for your twelfth grader to take this exam and ensure appropriate test materials are available for your student, 12th grade students are asked to complete the form below by Wednesday, September 2. Your student will need to use a @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form. A translated version of the form content may be found on the SAT School Day Intent Form webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43896). FCPS sites cannot accept walk-ins on the day of the exam.
South County High School: 2026 SAT School Day Intent to Participate Form
https://forms.gle/PJD8fRDgwhcYdkyx5
General information about the SAT School Day test format is available on the College Board webpage (https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/taking-the-test/sat-in-school). Directions on how to access scores and score release dates are published by College Board via the College Board website.
We will share exam day schedules and additional details in the coming weeks. If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at South County High School, please contact Chris Bird, SAT School Day Coordinator, at cwbird@fcps.edu or at 703-446-1643.
ATHLETICS CORNER
Don’t Trash Your Old Trainers — Share Your Soles!
Old running shoes and sneakers gathering dust in your closet? Don’t let them sit in a landfill—donate them to South County Cross Country. We've partnered with Sneakers4Good and every pair of gently worn, used, or new sneakers collected helps raise funds while supporting micro-entrepreneurs and sustainable reuse worldwide.
What We Accept: Adult athletic sneakers and running shoes only (all sizes & styles but must be dry and free of holes).
Quick Prep Tip: Please tie the laces together or wrap a rubber band around each pair so they stay together!
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Let's welcome in a new school year and thank all those who participated in making our community what it is. We were able to support classrooms, clubs, large and small school-wide events, staff trainings, and facilities support, to name a few.
One of the ways we can do all this is through your Memberships. Use this link to renew or become a member. We also have Grad Year magnets, White House Ornaments, Walk of Fame Engraved Bricks, and Donation links.
https://southcountyptso.membershiptoolkit.com/
Our Yard Signs are on a separate link - https://springfield-va.fastsigns.com/fcps/
Thank you to our local Yafa Grille for supporting our PTSO every Tuesday!
Use code #SouthCounty10 in the notes at checkout when ordering online or mention South County High at in-person checkout.
Also, Yafa Grille is offering 10% off for all FCPS employees (show badge) when ordering in-store!
South County High School PTSO is partnering with Seasonal Roots, a local online farmers market, to bring healthy, delicious food to our community, to support local farmers and artisans, and to raise money to support the PTSO and Class of 2027 and all their events for the year.
Seasonal Roots is an online farmers market that delivers “dirt to doorstep” to families in Maryland and Virginia. Each week, the market offers more than 150 items that are all grown and produced locally, sustainably, and ethically. Market items include fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, vegan specialties, and more.
As part of this fundraiser for PTSO, new customers can join Seasonal Roots for 50% off the membership fee (a $30 savings!)
PLUS, for every new customer who signs up (and places their first order), a $20 donation will be made to South County PTSO! WIN-WIN for everyone! Be sure to use promotional code SOCO at https://www.seasonalroots.com/socoangp.
Upcoming Dates
Sept. 8th 6 pm-7:30 pm - Back to School Night - Come out to see us at our tables.
Sept. 17th 7 pm-9 pm (Library)- First, the PTSO General Meeting. Second, the Extravaganza 2027 Planning Meeting - Come out to join us for our first PTSO general meeting. We'll discuss the budget, goals, volunteer needs, etc.
AWARENESS
First Day of School
Monday, August 24, is the first day of school. See the complete school year calendar.FCPS parents, students, and staff members are invited to share their favorite pictures or videos from the first day of school on social media using the hashtag #FirstDayFairfax. Follow FCPS and your school on social media to see photos and videos throughout the school year!
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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.
Cellphone Policy
Updated Cellphone Policy: No Phones or Devices During Lunch for High School Students
Senate Bill 108 is a new Virginia law that went into effect on July 1. It requires that all schools in the state follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy and prohibit cellphone possession and use for the entire school day. The updated FCPS Cellphone Policy aligns with this law, which means high school students are no longer able to use cellphones, cellphone accessories, or smart devices (like smart glasses, earbuds, headsets, and other items connected to the phone) during lunchtime.
Across all grade levels, cellphones, cellphone accessories, and all smart devices must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day. Watches that serve a dual purpose (like a smartwatch) must be off and personally stored for the duration of the school day, too. Personal devices that connect to a cellphone or cellphone accessory or operate as a smart device must also follow the FCPS Cellphone Policy.
This policy does not apply to school-issued devices. However, school-issued devices must be used in accordance with FCPS Regulation 6410, Acceptable Use Policy, which allows the use of school-issued devices for educational purposes. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
Important SoCo and FCPS Resources
How to Stay In Touch
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
Quick Links
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