Rachel Carson Student Services
Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter 3
Hello Panthers!
Congratulations! You have made it halfway through the school year! We are officially in the second semester, which is the start of the 3rd quarter. This is a time for a fresh start, and for you students to start thinking about setting both personal and academic goals for yourselves. Students, you should continue to put your best effort into all your subjects and ask your teachers for help if you need it.
Since we returned from winter break, the 8th-grade students have had a visit with their base high school to learn how 9th grade works. The 8th graders have also had academic advising lessons and individual meetings with their counselors to select their courses for the next school year. The counselors will continue academic advising during the month of February with the 7th-grade students and will help them input their courses in their student vue account.
All the academic advising materials (such as course selection sheets, information on electives, and high school websites) have been posted on the Carson Student Central site found in Schoology, and on the Student Services site in Schoology.
Students: after meeting individually with your school counselor, should you have any additional questions or concerns regarding your courses for next year you are welcome to visit or email your counselor.
Parents: Feel free to also contact your child’s counselor for any questions that you may have regarding course selections.
Student Learning Plan (Naviance)
8th Graders should go into to NAVIANCE and double-check that they have completed their Student Learning Plan - Grade 8 SMART Goal focused on Study Skills / Executive Functioning Skills.
If you have already competed it, wonderful. If not, please complete this.
If you have any questions, please come see your counselors during Panther Time.
Are you excited about starting a new semester, but your grades were less than impressive? Take heart! A new year means a new semester when you get a fresh start on being the successful student you know you can be.
If you have regrets about last semester, now is your chance to do things differently. Use these action steps to take control of your semester.
REFLECTION: Take time to reflect on what worked and what didn’t last semester. Remember, it does not matter if it worked for everyone else you know…if it did not work for you, make a change. Did you need to study more?
Planner : Keeping a calendar can ensure that you don’t forget to complete assignments and will give you a head’s up when you need to start studying for an exam. Just having all of your responsibilities laid out in front of you builds your confidence and lowers stress.
Attend School:
Attend School regularly and report to class on Time.
GET HELP EARLY:
It can be intimidating to ask for help, so visit the resources that you wish you had last time around before you need them. Visit free resources such as tutor.com or go see your teachers during Panther Time or After school.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Even when you get busy. The accumulation of stress, junk food, and sleep deprivation keeps your brain from functioning at full capacity. It is just plain hard to focus when you aren’t giving your body what it needs to serve you. Staying active, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough sleep also keeps your immune system working for you so that you are less apt to get sick when you most need to be healthy.
Student Services Highlights
LOOKING AHEAD
During the month of March, the counselors will be leading various small groups (such as study skills, or peer relations) to help support students who are experiencing certain life stressors that might have an impact on their personal and academic life. The Student Services department will also be leading our annual Wellness Week during the month of March to help ALL students find healthy ways to deal with their life stressors.
Parent Coffee:
Guest speaker, Zaina Bankwalla, Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College: March 9th, 9-10AM.
During the month of April, the counselors will be doing follow-up lessons with all the students on their required FCPS Student Learning Plan, which consists of a career exploration online tool. In addition, in order to better support students with their Student Learning Plan and academic, personal, and career goals, the Student Services department will host a Career Day in April. Students will have the opportunity to meet various guest speakers from different career fields and learn about different careers that might interest them in the future.
As always, should you have any questions on any of our counseling programs, or need some support, please feel free to reach out to us. We are always happy to help.
Parent Coffee:
Moving On Up: The Transition to Middle and High School: April 13th, 9-10AM
Social Worker Spotlight
NEW COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
We are excited to share that RCMS has recently partnered with Food For Neighbors, a local organization comprised of dedicated volunteers working to combat food insecurity amongst students in Fairfax and Loudoun.
Our school social worker, Courtney Krsmanovic, and family liaison, Solangie McPherson, will work alongside RCMS counselors and FFN to design a “food pantry/red bag program” that meets the needs of our students and their families.
Stay tuned – more information to come!
Parent Resources
Does Your Child Refuse to Go to School?
Each year, nearly 5% of youth experience school refusal. This refers to a child refusing to go to school on a regular basis or remain in school throughout the day due to significant emotional distress. School refusal includes kindergarten students with relatively mild separation anxiety and more severe cases where a student misses weeks or months of school because of debilitating anxiety or depression. Read how to get your child back to school in the Healthy Minds Blog or learn more about attendance policies.
Free Parent Webinars
FCPS’ Parent Resource Center (PRC) is dedicated to helping adults support the success of all students. The PRC will present the following webinars in February. Click on the title to register:
- Thursday, February 9, at 7 p.m., Meet the Author Series: All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum by Kathy Hoopmann
Cats take a playful look at the world of autism, and these fun feline friends will strike a chord with all who are familiar with children on the Autism Spectrum. Join Kathy Hoopmann as she celebrates the diversity within this neurodiverse community by reading from her book and answering audience questions.
- Friday, February 10, at 10 a.m., Neurodiversity at Elementary Schools
How can families partner with schools? Kristen Haynor, FCPS neurodiversity specialist, will discuss strategies to set your child up for success, how to advocate for your child, and tools for collaborating with your child's school.
- Wednesday, February 15, at 6:30 p.m., What should I do before my child grows up?
Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school. Parents will be able to meet and ask questions of representatives from CTS programs about services for students with disabilities. A student/parent panel is also part of the event.
- Friday, February 17, and Friday, February 24, at 10 a.m., Supporting Mental Health Through Play
This webinar is a two-part interactive session designed for parents, caregivers, and educators to discover how to incorporate more unstructured play and sensory foundational activities to support all young children’s development, including children with special needs and mental health concerns.
Technology and Media Tips
As a parent, you might be wondering what apps and games are age-appropriate for your child. How can you help your child enjoy technology and media in a safe way?
FCPS recommends a four-pronged approach to supporting children.
This approach will help your child become a smart, safe, and balanced user of technology.
Parents using the four-pronged approach will:
Summer Learning Programs
Summer School Information: For any student interested in taking a summer school online class, registration has officially begun. Students can only take one class during the summer due to the intensity and demands of summer school. There is a lot of time that will need to be dedicated to an online summer course, and there is also a fee involved. Once students sign up for their selected course, the counselors will receive a county email and will have 24 hours to approve it. The link for the summer registration is as follows: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning/online-programs
Tech Adventure Camp
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to give current K-6 students an opportunity to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Visit the TAC webpage to register.
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 7-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Visit the CSA webpage to register.
Institute for the Arts Camps
IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA webpage to register.
E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four classes every day related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create classes that are fun and engaging. Visit the E-IFTA webpage to register.
FCPS Online Summer Learning
The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements. Students may take one online course for the first time or repeat credit. Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school-level mathematics course. Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering. Program information is available at Summer Learning.
If you have any questions or concerns throughout the school year, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Email is the best way to reach contact us, but if you would like to schedule a meeting with us, please let us know and we will try our best to accommodate your needs during school office hours (7am-2:30pm). Please allow 24 hours for a response to your email or phone message.