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Hello Mustangs,
The second semester is off to a great start! We had a phenomenal performance from our students who participated in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr., acknowledged our school counselors (Ms. Ascierto, Ms. Johnson, Ms. Maxwell, and Ms. Wilborn) for National School Counseling Week, and highlighted the month of February as Black History Month. Additionally, our counselors are currently meeting with students for academic advising, so please discuss course selections with your student at your earliest convenience. As always, thank you for all you do, and please contact us to share any feedback, questions, or concerns. Enjoy your weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday.
Justin Simmons | Principal | South County Middle School
UPCOMING DATES
February 8 - Reading Opens the World Event, Lorton Community Center, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
February 10-14 - Rising 9th Grade Academic Advising
February 26 - PTSO General Membership Meeting
Weekly Math SOL Reviews
Students have recently started completing weekly SOL Review assignments for their math classes. Here is some key information for you to support your student at home:
- Students are permitted to use their notes, slides and information posted in Schoology, Mathspace textbook and practice questions, and other resources used in class. Students may also ask for teacher support in seminar or after school office hours. They may not collaborate with other students.
- Each review will count as a formative assignment. These assignments are in Mathspace and students should use retries before submitting their task.
- Reviews open each Monday at 7:00 am and are due every Sunday at 11:59 pm.
- Students who do not show understanding of content will be reviewing questions during class and/or during seminar time.
- More detailed information was given to students during class and is posted in their math Schoology course.
Please check with your student and reach out to your student’s math teacher with any questions!
SCMS Announcements
Make sure to check out the announcements on our SCMS webpage. We have some wonderful news about our Principal, Mr. Simmons, as well as our Multilingual Department Chair/Teacher, Dr. Bradinova!
SOCO STAMPEDE 5K & 1M Family Fun Run
🏃♂️ SAVE THE DATE! 🏃♀️
📅 Date: March 22nd
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – Noon
📍 Location: South County MS Campus
🎉 Join us for a fun-filled day of fitness and community spirit!
💸 Early Bird Registration Begins Today! REGISTER HERE Don’t miss out on the chance to secure your spot at a discounted rate!
👟 Bring your family and friends to enjoy a day of fitness, family, and fun! There will be food, raffles, and a DJ.
For more information contact Chris Woodby at [email protected]
Family Race Sign Sponsorship Opportunity
Make your family’s mark on the FIRST EVER SOCO STAMPEDE! Personalized signs with your cheers will line the racecourse, inspiring runners & creating memories. Support SCMS After-School Program & Athletics with your purchase of a sign. Each sign is only $100, and please contact Mr. Chris Woodby at [email protected] to order yours today! SIGN SPONSORSHIP
SEL Screener
FCPS is committed to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning. FCPS approved a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener that students use to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. These skills include achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. These factors are critical to positive academic, social, and emotional success. All students in grades 3-12 have the opportunity to participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. The SEL Screener elevates the voices of our students by making sure their perspectives are considered in decision-making. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students. Division and school level results, which do not include individual student information, may be used by staff to improve SEL and mental wellness practices and to inform strategic plans. Division and school level results may also be shared with the community to describe the needs of our student body and provide opportunities for partnership. Individual students’ Screener data will only be accessible to teachers, administrators, and staff with legitimate educational interests. Results will be maintained in secure files and databases accessible only to these individuals. In partnership with families, staff review this data alongside other information to plan interventions for students with identified needs. Parents and guardians will receive an individualized report regarding their student’s screener results following each assessment window. South County MS will be giving the SEL screener to all students during seminar on Wednesday March 12th. If you do not want your child to take the SEL screener, please complete the attached parent opt-out form and return it to the school no later than Wednesday March 5th. If your child was opted out of the fall SEL screener, he/she will automatically be opted out of the spring SEL screener.
SEL Screener Opt Out Form
SEL Screener Opt Out Spanish.pdf
General Membership Meeting
Our next General Membership meeting will be held on February 26th at 7pm in the front office or you can also join us on Zoom. As soon as we have a link it will be posted in this newsletter and on Facebook.
We are currently looking for volunteers to fill three board positions for next year. If this is something you are interested in, please contact us at [email protected]
Staff vs Student Basketball Game
It is almost time for our annual Staff VS. Student Basketball game. Join us on March 7th! More details coming soon about tryouts. Doors open at 6PM, game starts at 6:30PM. Concessions will be available for purchase. Tickets purchased in advance will include a free drink. Tickets can be purchased here
Box Tops For Education
Remember to think of South County Middle School when you do your shopping. Remember all you have to do is scan your receipt in the app and select SCMS as your school of choice. Every little bit helps!
Pizza Tuesday
Help Support us on Tuesdays by ordering pizza from Papa Johns and you will get a discount too!
Order online from the Fairfax Station Papa Johns on Silverbrook and use promo code SCMS4010
Reading Opens the World
FCFT will be holding another Reading Opens the World event at the Lorton Community Center on Saturday, February 8 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. At this event, we will be giving away over 30,000 books to the Fairfax Community, with up to 10 books for each student and 50 books for each educator to add to their classroom library. Thank you!
David P. Walrod
President
Fairfax County Federation of Teachers
Fairfax County ROTW Flyer
Fairfax County ROTW 2025 Flyer Spanish
Make Sure Your Children Are Up-to-Date on Immunizations
Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!
Starting Monday, May 19, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.
Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!
Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration (Note: Date Change)
FCPS’ Chief Equity Office invites the community to an Inaugural Black History Month Kickoff Celebration on Wednesday, February 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Carter G. Woodson High School.
The event begins with a light reception followed by a formal program, From the Threads of Our Past to the Fabric of Our Future. The program will honor the enduring contributions of Black history and culture while envisioning a future rooted in equity and excellence. It will include inspiring performances, personal stories, reflections, and opportunities to connect and celebrate. The event is open to the entire community.
For more information, contact Nina Thomas, senior manager for Professional Learning and Cultural Responsiveness.
Students Invited to Share Their Voices at the 2025 Family Summit
The 2025 FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, March 15, at South Lakes High School. Visit the Family Summit webpage for more information.
At the event, FCPS students are invited to showcase projects and advocacy efforts around inclusivity in schools. This is a great resume-building opportunity, and students can earn service hours as well. Students may share their work in a share-fair environment using posters, essays, videos, songs, or art. They will interact with attendees through conversations about their work, ideas, and efforts to foster inclusivity in school communities.
Students must use this Google Form to participate by Monday, February 17. A list of possible projects is also on the form. More information will be provided after the student’s submission is received. Please contact Manuel Gomez Portillo with any questions.
✨ Centering student voice is part of FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Proposed Budget Progress
- Apply for Dual Immersion and Magnet Lotteries
- Black History Month Event
8700 Laurel Crest Drive, Lorton, VA 22079 | Main Office: 703-690-5500
Attendance: 703-690-5555 | Web
