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Hello Mustangs,
Dear South County Community,
I want to share my deep appreciation for every one of you. The heart, care, and dedication you invest every day to foster a welcoming environment where our students can thrive is extraordinary. In my 18 years in public education, I know a truly special community when I see one—and South County Middle School is one of a kind.
It has been difficult to write this letter because of the many emotions I have experienced over the course of this week. As you know, I have accepted the position as the next Principal of Thomas Edison High School. While I am honored to step into this new leadership opportunity within FCPS, leaving this school is easily the hardest part of saying yes. Serving as your principal has been both a blessing and a privilege.
When I reflect on our time together, I think about more than administrative milestones. I think about people. I think about walking our hallways, watching our educators bring learning to life, seeing our students discover their passions, and feeling the steady support of our families. We wrestled with hard decisions, shared long days, and navigated changing landscapes—always anchored in our shared commitment to put our students first and support the whole child. You trusted me, partnered with me, and reminded me daily that leadership is never about one person, but about the team and community standing beside you.
Together, we built a culture where:
- Academic rigor, athletics, and the arts are balanced so students never have to choose between their passions.
- Relational dynamics and strong connections between staff, students, and home remain at the center of our work.
- High-quality learning opportunities and support are expanded for every student across our school.
These successes belong to this school community. They represent middle schoolers who found their voice and confidence, and a staff that gives everything to help them succeed. That is the legacy of South County Middle School, and I am deeply proud to have been a part of it.
As excited as I am for the journey ahead at Edison, a piece of my heart will always remain here. My title may change, and my office will move, but my gratitude for this community will not.
Thank you for trusting me, believing in our shared vision, and allowing me to be a part of the story. It has been one of the absolute honors of my career to lead South County Middle School.
Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang!
Justin Simmons
Principal, South County Middle School
Upcoming Dates
Monday, August 24 - First Day of School
Wednesday, September 2 - Back-to-School Night, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Friday, September 4 - No School, Labor Day Holiday
Monday, September 7 - No School Labor Day Holiday
Be First-Day Ready
The first day of school, Monday, August 24, is just around the corner! Check out these back-to-school tips to make sure your child gets off to a great start.
Also find out what will be new this school year.
Student ID Cards for South County Middle School Bus Riders
We will begin distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services.
Student ID cards will be distributed within the first 2 weeks of school.
Students who have student ID cards should begin tapping as they board and exit the bus. Only students who use FCPS transportation services will be provided with a student ID card at this time.
We ask for your patience! Bus drivers will begin checking in students next week and may need some extra time at each bus stop while they do this. The transportation team is working hard to minimize any potential delays.
Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.
SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
ouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.
school contacts, and jump to ParentVUE or Schoology from your phone.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Get Ready for Day One with the FCPS App!
As we gear up for the first day of school, make sure you have the FCPS mobile app downloaded! It's the quickest way to check the school year calendar, view lunch and breakfast menus, find school contacts, and jump to ParentVUE or Schoology from your phone.
You Can Manage Student Web Access at Home
At South County Middle School, we acknowledge that parents are our students' first and most important teachers. Parents now have greater control over their child’s FCPS-issued device outside of school hours through Lightspeed Parent Portal.
In addition to monitoring weekly internet activity, parents can now also customize web access at home on FCPS devices through Lightspeed using Schedules and Web Rules.
With Schedules, you can set tailored times to automatically pause or restrict internet access. This makes it easier to enforce rules around homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
In Web Rules, you can create Custom Block Lists to block specific, individual websites they do not want your child accessing at home. This allows parents greater control over what is happening online, under their own roof.
These new custom controls take effect at home, outside of school hours, and when the device is off the FCPS network. They will not override standard district filtering policies during the instructional day.
Customize Your Lightspeed Settings
All parents should be receiving weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report emails. To set up these new features, click the “Log in or Register” button at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.
Visit the FCPS Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide for more information. If you have additional questions, submit a Parent Technology Support Ticket.
Parents are encouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.
Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Prior to the start of school on Monday, August 24, please submit your child’s immunization documentation. If your child has an appointment to receive their required immunizations after August 24, please submit an Immunization Action Plan to confirm the appointment.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form. Please visit the FCPS How to Submit Immunization Documentation webpage for step-by-step instructions on how to submit each of these items.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
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.
Additional immunization resources are also available.
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