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Important Upcoming Events

Monday, May 4th Teacher Appreciation Week!

Tuesday, May 5th - SOL's Begin!

Thursday, May 21, Last Day of Late Buses

Monday, May 25 - Holiday - Memorial Day - No School

Tuesday, May 26 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Wednesday, May 27 - Religious or Cultural Observance - Eid al-Fitr - No School

A Message From The Principal

Dear RCMS Families,

We are moving right along with our spring testing season! As we continue with SOL testing this week, please note that all students will be taking their Math SOL on Wednesday, May 13th. To help your child perform their best, please ensure they get a restful night of sleep and arrive at school with a fully charged laptop and their charger.

Additionally, as the weather warms up, we ask for your partnership in ensuring students adhere to the FCPS dress code. While FCPS respects students' right to self-expression as outlined in the SR&R, it is important that their attire remains tasteful and appropriate for our learning environment. Thank you for your continued support in helping to make sure that your child’s attire is appropriate for a school setting.

Thanks,

Principal Washington

May 25 - Memorial Day Holiday: Schools and Offices Closed

All schools and offices  will be closed on Monday, May 25, for the Memorial Day holiday. Learn about  the history of Memorial Day .  See the complete school year calendar .

 May 26 - Teacher Work Day: No School for Students

Tuesday, May 26, is a teacher work day. There is no school for students.  See the complete school year calendar .

 May 27 - Eid al-Adha Holiday: Schools and Offices Closed

Eid al-Adha begins at sundown on Thursday, May 26.  Wednesday, May 27, is a holiday for Eid al-Adha and schools and offices are closed.  See the complete school year c

Laptop and charger collection information

Student laptops and chargers will be collected on Thursday, June 11 and Friday, June 12, 2026.  Laptops and chargers will be collected during your child’s regular PE class.  In preparation for laptop return please make sure any stickers on the laptop are removed.  The sleeve with the ID card with your child’s name on it should not be removed.

Students who have a final exam on Thursday that requires laptop use can turn in their laptop on Friday, June 12th.  All laptops and chargers of students not enrolled in summer programs must be returned by Wednesday, June 17, 2026 - the last day of school.

Students who are enrolled in a summer program will return their laptop no later than July 31, 2026.  Laptop return information for students in summer programs will be sent to families at a later date.

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments

Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.

FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.

Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.

It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.

Learn more about  how to support your child and why test participation matters .

Your Child's Mental Wellness Matters: Access Comprehensive Services

Reach out to the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) for specialized  youth mental health services  designed to help your child succeed. The CSB has individual and family counseling, psychiatric diagnostic evaluations, medication management, parenting groups, peer support, crisis response, recovery supports that include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), intensive services, and other services. 

Contact CSB  Entry and Referral  to get started by calling 703-383-8500 or emailing  [email protected] .

Family Information Phone Lines

FCPS family information phone lines are available in nine different languages. An FCPS employee will respond to your call in your preferred language within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. 

Call the phone line with questions about your child’s education or FCPS, and someone will help connect you to resources or arrange for you to speak to the appropriate school employee. Learn more about  family information phone lines

S ocial and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Now Available

Dear Parents & Guardians.

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the  Documents  section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, we will share copies with you directly.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the  Family Guide or reach out to your child's school counselor or the testing coordinator, Ms. Majmundar at [email protected] .

Attention 7th grade parents: 

NJHS applications are open now through May 15th at 2:30pm. 

All eligible students and their families should have received an email and a letter from Mr. Grantletting them know that they met the requirements to apply and how to complete their applications.

In order to be academically qualify for membership, students need to have a 3.5 (3.4999) GPA for the third quarter. Students then need four teacher signatures (at least two must be from core teachers) and to complete an online application related to the pillars of NJHS. 

Applications are due by May 15th at 2:30pm. Absolutely no late applications will be accepted for any reason. If your student needs an additional copy of the teacher recommendation form that was mailed home, they can pick it up in the main office. 

If you or your student have any questions regarding the application process or the requirements for invitation, please contact Mr. Grant ( [email protected] ). Please include your students’ full name, ID number, and team in your email so that your questions can be answered efficiently. 

Rising Grade 7 RCMS-101 Registration Open Now!

Rachel Carson is excited to host our summer Jump Start Program, RCMS 101. The RCMS 101 program is a primarily nonacademic transitional program that focuses on helping rising 7th graders get to know RCMS and the expectations of middle school. Students will participate in sessions covering topics such as study skills, organizational strategies, time management techniques, and introductions to each content area with a Rachel Carson staff member. RCMS 101 helps ensure a smoother transition to middle school by introducing students to staff, peers, school layout, and basic policies before the school year begins. Students will partake in community building games and daily fun activities throughout the two day session that center on this information.

Register for Session A which will take place August 3rd and 4th from 8:30-11:30 or Session B - August 5th and 6th 8:30-11:30.  This year program fees are $20, which will cover FCPS bus transportation, RCMS Staffing and  snacks throughout the session .  Payment Information is at the bottom of this form, registration is not complete until payment is submitted.  This is a non-refundable fee.  If you have any questions, please contact Monique Berkeley,  [email protected] .

Click the link below to register your rising 7th grade student.

RCMS 101 Google Registration Form

Click HERE to view the flyer.

SOUTH LAKES COURSE INFORMATION: RISING 9th GRADERS

There will be two windows this year that will give students the opportunity to change their course selections for the 26-27 School Year. NO CHANGES ARE GUARANTEED.

Electives

When: May 11 - May 15

For What: Elective course request change. This is the FINAL CHANCE to request this kind of change. We will NOT have a process to change electives in the fall. The request is NOT guaranteed. Courses may be full.

How: Email your  SLHS school counselor  who will make the change if space is available. If the course is full the student will be added to wait list.

Core Courses

When: June 8 - June 12

For What: Core course changes

How: Email your  SLHS school counselor  who will make the change if space is available. If the course is full the student will be added to wait list.

2026 Summer Camps and Learning Programs

Registration for the Summer 2026  Online Campus  courses is available until Friday, June 5. Courses are open to middle and high school students who meet prerequisites. The Online Campus provides an opportunity for students to take one high school level course for new or repeat credit over the summer.

Students need to have a computer and make sure their  computer is ready for the online course . Students will not be able to take online courses using tablets and smartphones. Please note that students wishing to enroll in a summer course must notify their counselor in order to ensure a seat in the desired course for 26-27 school year. 

Exciting news! SoCo Summer Strings is returning this summer!

The camp will be hosted at South County Middle School from July 6-17, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM (weekdays only). Camp is open to all rising 5th-9th grade students with at least one year of experience on the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students will participate in two large ensemble rehearsals, an instrument-specific technique class, and a sectional each day.

You can find more information and register for camp at www.schsorchestra.org/soco-summer-strings . Register early to save money and reserve your student’s spot!

Lightspeed

🔍  See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a  weekly Parent Report , which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about  Lightspeed Parent Reports .

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

HS Credit Course Expunge Process

High school credit courses taken in grades 7 and 8 become part of the student’s high school transcript and are included in the calculation of the high school Grade Point Average (GPA) and weighted as such. Virginia state and FCPS regulations permit parents/guardians of a middle school student who has completed a high school credit course to have that course expunged from the student’s record.  

The request to remove a course from the transcript must be made in writing to the middle or high school that the student will attend the following year and prior to the end of the first nine weeks of the school year.

See Request to Expunge High School Courses Taken in Middle School Form. If you have questions or concerns regarding this, please contact your child’s middle school counselor no later than June 12.

Note: courses taken in the summer following a student promotion from eighth grade are ineligible for removal from the high school transcript. In addition, once deleted, the course cannot be reinstated.    

Rising 7th Grade Information

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders

As required by the Code of VA , parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.

In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations : 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older; 
• Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;  
• A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

• After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment. 

Additional Immunization Resources are also available. 

Dear RCMS Families,

As this school year quickly comes to an end, we are already preparing for the 2026–2027 school year.

To help us keep our records current, please complete the  Google Form  if your family will be  moving before  the start of the next school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing

Chantilly HS Math Competition

We are excited to announce this year’s competition and would love to extend the invitation to students across the Chantilly Pyramid. Attached to this email, you’ll find a flyer with all the details, including information about our competition, how to register, and our competition website,

chantillymath-registration-link

Chantillymathflyer.png

Oakton HS Cross Country

Are you interested in joining Oakton Cross Country in the Fall 2026?  Come learn about Oakton HS's exciting running program!

Event: Oakton XC Interest Meeting for rising freshmen and their parents

Location: Oakton High School Cafeteria

Date & Time: Wednesday, June 3, 2025 at 6:00 pm

If interested students and/or parents can’t make the meeting on June 3, they could reach out to Coach Kate ( [email protected] ) directly.

Charge Ahead! Class of 2030 Registration Is Open

Charge Ahead is an optional Chantilly orientation program for rising 9th-grade students to help them become more familiar with the school building, schedule, and high school expectations ahead of the opening of school.

What We Do:

• Meet other rising 9th grade students!
• School tours and Q&A from our leadership students and school clubs.
• Walk a mock schedule and meet our admin team.
• Registration is $50 through MySchoolBucks
• Enjoy a pizza lunch and a Class of 2030 T-shirt.

Sessions are on:

• Tuesday, August 11th (9am – 1pm)
• Wednesday, August 12th (1pm – 5pm)
• Thursday, August 13th (9am – 1pm)

Register here  from March 18th - July 31st. The registration fee can be paid on  MySchoolBucks .  Due to upfront costs, we cannot provide refunds.

Questions or concerns? Contact David Dewett at  [email protected] .

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
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Important Upcoming Events

Monday, May 4th Teacher Appreciation Week!

Tuesday, May 5th - SOL's Begin!

Thursday, May 21, Last Day of Late Buses

Monday, May 25 - Holiday - Memorial Day - No School

Tuesday, May 26 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Wednesday, May 27 - Religious or Cultural Observance - Eid al-Fitr - No School

A Message From The Principal

Carson Families,

As we head into a busy and exciting week, I want to take a special moment to recognize our wonderful Carson teachers and staff. This week, we celebrate our amazing teachers and staff during Teacher Appreciation Week! We truly appreciate all that our educators do each and every day to support our students, their families, and each other. Whether they are staying late to help a student master a difficult concept or providing a listening ear during a tough day, their impact is immeasurable. As one famous quote says,  "The duties of a teacher are neither few nor small, but they elevate the mind and give energy to the character."  We thank our teachers for constantly elevating our students' minds and for the tireless effort they give to our school community. If you have a moment this week, please join me in sending a quick note of thanks to the educators who make such a difference in your child's life!

Sincerely,

Principal Washington

May 25 - Memorial Day Holiday: Schools and Offices Closed

All schools and offices  will be closed on Monday, May 25, for the Memorial Day holiday. Learn about  the history of Memorial Day .  See the complete school year calendar .

 May 26 - Teacher Work Day: No School for Students

Tuesday, May 26, is a teacher work day. There is no school for students.  See the complete school year calendar .

 May 27 - Eid al-Adha Holiday: Schools and Offices Closed

Eid al-Adha begins at sundown on Thursday, May 26.  Wednesday, May 27, is a holiday for Eid al-Adha and schools and offices are closed.  See the complete school year c

During the week of May 4th – May 8th, we look forward to celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week and honoring the wonderful teachers and amazing staff who make our school such a special place.

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments

Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.

FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.

Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.

It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.

Learn more about  how to support your child and why test participation matters .

S ocial and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Now Available

Dear Parents & Guardians.

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the  Documents  section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, we will share copies with you directly.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the  Family Guide or reach out to your child's school counselor or the testing coordinator, Ms. Majmundar at [email protected] .

Attention 7th grade parents: 

NJHS applications are open now through May 15th at 2:30pm. 

All eligible students and their families should have received an email and a letter from Mr. Grantletting them know that they met the requirements to apply and how to complete their applications.

In order to be academically qualify for membership, students need to have a 3.5 (3.4999) GPA for the third quarter. Students then need four teacher signatures (at least two must be from core teachers) and to complete an online application related to the pillars of NJHS. 

Applications are due by May 15th at 2:30pm. Absolutely no late applications will be accepted for any reason. If your student needs an additional copy of the teacher recommendation form that was mailed home, they can pick it up in the main office. 

If you or your student have any questions regarding the application process or the requirements for invitation, please contact Mr. Grant ( [email protected] ). Please include your students’ full name, ID number, and team in your email so that your questions can be answered efficiently. 

Rising Grade 7 - SAVE THE DATE!

Rising 7th Grade Summer Student Orientation RCMS-101 registration opens on Monday, May 11th, 2026. A link will be sent out via News You Choose and e-notify email.

Session dates are as follows:

Session A - Monday, August 3rd & Tuesday, August 4th

Session B - Wednesday, August 5th & Thursday, August 6th.

$20 Non-refundable registration fee due at the time of registration in MySchoolBucks.

Click HERE for more information about the program

Lightspeed

🔍  See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a  weekly Parent Report , which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about  Lightspeed Parent Reports .

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

HS Credit Course Expunge Process

High school credit courses taken in grades 7 and 8 become part of the student’s high school transcript and are included in the calculation of the high school Grade Point Average (GPA) and weighted as such. Virginia state and FCPS regulations permit parents/guardians of a middle school student who has completed a high school credit course to have that course expunged from the student’s record.  

The request to remove a course from the transcript must be made in writing to the middle or high school that the student will attend the following year and prior to the end of the first nine weeks of the school year.

See Request to Expunge High School Courses Taken in Middle School Form. If you have questions or concerns regarding this, please contact your child’s middle school counselor no later than June 12.

Note: courses taken in the summer following a student promotion from eighth grade are ineligible for removal from the high school transcript. In addition, once deleted, the course cannot be reinstated.    

Rising 7th Grade Information

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders

As required by the Code of VA , parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.

In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations : 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older; 
• Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;  
• A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

• After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment. 

Additional Immunization Resources are also available. 

Dear RCMS Families,

As this school year quickly comes to an end, we are already preparing for the 2026–2027 school year.

To help us keep our records current, please complete the  Google Form  if your family will be  moving before  the start of the next school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing

Oakton HS Cross Country

Are you interested in joining Oakton Cross Country in the Fall 2026?  Come learn about Oakton HS's exciting running program!

Event: Oakton XC Interest Meeting for rising freshmen and their parents

Location: Oakton High School Cafeteria

Date & Time: Wednesday, June 3, 2025 at 6:00 pm

If interested students and/or parents can’t make the meeting on June 3, they could reach out to Coach Kate ( [email protected] ) directly.

Charge Ahead! Class of 2030 Registration Is Open

Charge Ahead is an optional Chantilly orientation program for rising 9th-grade students to help them become more familiar with the school building, schedule, and high school expectations ahead of the opening of school.

What We Do:

• Meet other rising 9th grade students!
• School tours and Q&A from our leadership students and school clubs.
• Walk a mock schedule and meet our admin team.
• Registration is $50 through MySchoolBucks
• Enjoy a pizza lunch and a Class of 2030 T-shirt.

Sessions are on:

• Tuesday, August 11th (9am – 1pm)
• Wednesday, August 12th (1pm – 5pm)
• Thursday, August 13th (9am – 1pm)

Register here  from March 18th - July 31st. The registration fee can be paid on  MySchoolBucks .  Due to upfront costs, we cannot provide refunds.

Questions or concerns? Contact David Dewett at  [email protected] .

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Monday, May 4th Teacher Appreciation Week!

Tuesday, May 5th - SOL's Begin!

Thursday, May 21, Last Day of Late Buses

Monday, May 25 - Holiday - Memorial Day - No School

Tuesday, May 26 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Wednesday, May 27 - Religious or Cultural Observance - Eid al-Fitr - No School

A Message From The Principal

Panther Families!

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we are so excited to celebrate our wonderful Carson teachers and staff for the heart and dedication they bring to our school every day. Next week also marks the kickoff of our SOL testing season, a time for our students to show off all the hard work they’ve put in this year. To help them succeed, please ensure your children are well-rested each day and arrive ready to give their best effort on every test.

Go Panthers!

Principal Washington

During the week of May 4th – May 8th, we look forward to celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week and honoring the wonderful teachers and amazing staff who make our school such a special place.

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments

Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.

FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.

Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.

It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.

Learn more about  how to support your child and why test participation matters .

Webinar: Partnering With Your Child’s Middle School

In this webinar, families of rising middle school students are invited to explore ways to stay connected to learning and maintain strong family-school partnerships throughout their child’s secondary education.

Register to attend  on  Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m.

S ocial and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Now Available

Dear Parents & Guardians.

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the  Documents  section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, we will share copies with you directly.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the  Family Guide or reach out to your child's school counselor or the testing coordinator, Ms. Majmundar at [email protected] .

HS Credit Course Expunge Process

High school credit courses taken in grades 7 and 8 become part of the student’s high school transcript and are included in the calculation of the high school Grade Point Average (GPA) and weighted as such. Virginia state and FCPS regulations permit parents/guardians of a middle school student who has completed a high school credit course to have that course expunged from the student’s record.  

The request to remove a course from the transcript must be made in writing to the middle or high school that the student will attend the following year and prior to the end of the first nine weeks of the school year.

See  Request to Expunge High School Courses Taken in Middle School Form.  If you have questions or concerns regarding this, please contact your child’s middle school counselor no later than  June 12.

Once deleted, the course and grade awarded cannot be reinstated.

Courses taken in the summer session following student promotion from the eighth grade are ineligible for removal from the high school transcript.

Lightspeed

🔍  See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a  weekly Parent Report , which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about  Lightspeed Parent Reports .

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

Rising 7th Grade Information

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders

As required by the Code of VA , parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.

In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations : 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older; 
• Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;  
• A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

• After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment. 

Additional Immunization Resources are also available. 

Dear RCMS Families,

As this school year quickly comes to an end, we are already preparing for the 2026–2027 school year.

To help us keep our records current, please complete the  Google Form  if your family will be  moving before  the start of the next school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing Chantilly High School Theatre's Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Performances: May 1  - 7pm, May 2 - 2pm & 7pm, May 3 - 2pm

Join us on a zany adventure that is full of laughter for the entire family! In a modern day twist of the beloved classic, join Alice as she loses herself in her books and struggles to find any excitement at school.
All that changes when she magically ends up in Wonderland trying to help the Mad Hatter throw the perfect "Merry Unbirthday Party" for the Queen of Hearts! Join Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat and all of your favorite characters as they learn the true meaning of friendship and bravery! Purchase tickets at  chantillydrama.org

Westfield High School Theatre Presents

Anastasia: The Musical

Journey to the past with us! Perfect for all ages!

April 30, May 1, May 2, May 8 at 7 PMMay 3 & May 9 at 12 PM

Tickets: $15 adult, $10 student/senior. All seats reserved. All info found at  www.westfieldtheatre.com

Note: May 1st at 7pm is our American Sign Language interpreted performance.

Charge Ahead! Class of 2030 Registration Is Open

Charge Ahead is an optional Chantilly orientation program for rising 9th-grade students to help them become more familiar with the school building, schedule, and high school expectations ahead of the opening of school.

What We Do:

• Meet other rising 9th grade students!
• School tours and Q&A from our leadership students and school clubs.
• Walk a mock schedule and meet our admin team.
• Registration is $50 through MySchoolBucks
• Enjoy a pizza lunch and a Class of 2030 T-shirt.

Sessions are on:

• Tuesday, August 11th (9am – 1pm)
• Wednesday, August 12th (1pm – 5pm)
• Thursday, August 13th (9am – 1pm)

Register here  from March 18th - July 31st. The registration fee can be paid on  MySchoolBucks .  Due to upfront costs, we cannot provide refunds.

Questions or concerns? Contact David Dewett at  [email protected] .

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Monday, May 4th Teacher Appreciation Week!

Tuesday, May 5th - SOL's Begin!

Thursday, May 21, Last Day of Late Buses

Monday, May 25 - Holiday - Memorial Day - No School

Tuesday, May 26 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Wednesday, May 27 - Religious or Cultural Observance - Eid al-Fitr - No School

A Message From The Principal

Dear Carson Middle School Families,

As we get close to heading into the final home stretch of the school year, we hope the weather has finally turned in our favor and you are enjoying some sunshine! During the week of May 4th – May 8th, we look forward to celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week and honoring the wonderful teachers and amazing staff who make our school such a special place. Please keep in mind that SOL testing is right around the corner, so be sure to check our weekly updates and school website for the most up-to-date information. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child's success!

Principal Washington

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

Webinar: Partnering With Your Child’s Middle School

In this webinar, families of rising middle school students are invited to explore ways to stay connected to learning and maintain strong family-school partnerships throughout their child’s secondary education.

Register to attend  on  Tuesday, April 28, at 7 p.m.

S ocial and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Now Available

Dear Parents & Guardians.

Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of March, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the  Documents  section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, we will share copies with you directly.

For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the  Family Guide or reach out to your child's school counselor or the testing coordinator, Ms. Majmundar at [email protected] .

Lightspeed

🔍  See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a  weekly Parent Report , which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about  Lightspeed Parent Reports .

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

April 20-25 is Earth Week!The Going Green Club’s Earth Week student committee has been hard at work planning events for our school community. We wanted to let parents know so that you could encourage your students to participate.

Going Green is sponsoring Earth Week Spirit Days!

Monday- Wildlife Day (wear clothes with animals pictured or leopard print)

Tuesday- No School but wear white for Zero Waste Day

Wednesday- Earth Day (wear green)

Thursday- Climate Change Day (wear red)

Friday- Watershed Day (wear blue)

Wednesday, April 22after school the Going Green Club is sponsoring a movie screeningof the G-rated film Wall-E in the library for A and B block. Students must sign-up to participate. It is open to the entire school. So, if your child is interested, they should sign up ASAP! https://forms.gle/ZbFaB72hP67NeWbk7 (Students must use fcpsschools account.) 

We are kicking off a Terra-Box recycling team contestwhere we are collecting candy and snack wrappers. Since such items are not able to be recycled by our normal process, students wanted to focus on candy and snack wrappers. Boxes for each team will be in the cafeteria. Once the HUGE TerraCycle box is filled, it will be sent to the company and the items will be recycled. The team competition will run from April 20 through May 8. 

On Friday, April 24, winners of the Earth Week Magnet design contestwill be announced. Voting will open on Monday and close at the end of the school day on Wednesday, April 22. 

On Saturday, April 25, Ms. Walsh and some Going Green members will be sponsoring a table at  Earth Day Fairfax's event at Lake Fairfaxfrom 10am-4pm. If you're free, go to the event with your whole family and be sure to find the Carson Going Green table. Learn about the event here: https://celebratefairfax.org/event/earth-day-fairfax-2/

Go Green!

3rd Quarter Grades

The 3rd quarter ends Friday, March 27. Gradebook and Report Card Modules in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be unavailable to Parents and Students from Friday, March 27 at 4PM through Monday, April 14 at 6AM. On April 14, 3rd quarter report cards will be visible in SIS. A printed copy of 3rd quarter report cards will be sent home the week of April 23.

Rising 7th Grade Information

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders

As required by the Code of VA , parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.

In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations : 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older; 
• Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;  
• A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

• After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment. 

Additional Immunization Resources are also available. 

Dear RCMS Families,

As this school year quickly comes to an end, we are already preparing for the 2026–2027 school year.

To help us keep our records current, please complete the  Google Form  if your family will be  moving before  the start of the next school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing Charge Ahead! Class of 2030 Registration Is Open

Charge Ahead is an optional Chantilly orientation program for rising 9th-grade students to help them become more familiar with the school building, schedule, and high school expectations ahead of the opening of school.

What We Do:

• Meet other rising 9th grade students!
• School tours and Q&A from our leadership students and school clubs.
• Walk a mock schedule and meet our admin team.
• Registration is $50 through MySchoolBucks
• Enjoy a pizza lunch and a Class of 2030 T-shirt.

Sessions are on:

• Tuesday, August 11th (9am – 1pm)
• Wednesday, August 12th (1pm – 5pm)
• Thursday, August 13th (9am – 1pm)

Register here  from March 18th - July 31st. The registration fee can be paid on  MySchoolBucks .  Due to upfront costs, we cannot provide refunds.

Questions or concerns? Contact David Dewett at  [email protected] .

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Tuesday, April 21 - Teacher Workday/Virtual School Planning Day - Student Holiday

Monday, May 25 - Holiday - Memorial Day - No School

Tuesday, May 26 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Wednesday, May 27 - Religious or Cultural Observance - Eid al-Fitr - No School

A message from the Principal Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

Lightspeed

🔍  See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a  weekly Parent Report , which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about  Lightspeed Parent Reports .

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

April 20-25 is Earth Week!The Going Green Club’s Earth Week student committee has been hard at work planning events for our school community. We wanted to let parents know so that you could encourage your students to participate.

Going Green is sponsoring Earth Week Spirit Days!

Monday- Wildlife Day (wear clothes with animals pictured or leopard print)

Tuesday- No School but wear white for Zero Waste Day

Wednesday- Earth Day (wear green)

Thursday- Climate Change Day (wear red)

Friday- Watershed Day (wear blue)

Wednesday, April 22after school the Going Green Club is sponsoring a movie screeningof the G-rated film Wall-E in the library for A and B block. Students must sign-up to participate. It is open to the entire school. So, if your child is interested, they should sign up ASAP! https://forms.gle/ZbFaB72hP67NeWbk7 (Students must use fcpsschools account.) 

We are kicking off a Terra-Box recycling team contestwhere we are collecting candy and snack wrappers. Since such items are not able to be recycled by our normal process, students wanted to focus on candy and snack wrappers. Boxes for each team will be in the cafeteria. Once the HUGE TerraCycle box is filled, it will be sent to the company and the items will be recycled. The team competition will run from April 20 through May 8. 

On Friday, April 24, winners of the Earth Week Magnet design contestwill be announced. Voting will open on Monday and close at the end of the school day on Wednesday, April 22. 

On Saturday, April 25, Ms. Walsh and some Going Green members will be sponsoring a table at  Earth Day Fairfax's event at Lake Fairfaxfrom 10am-4pm. If you're free, go to the event with your whole family and be sure to find the Carson Going Green table. Learn about the event here: https://celebratefairfax.org/event/earth-day-fairfax-2/

Go Green!

Virtual Family Workshop “Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College”

Rachel Carson Middle School Student Services is excited to host  The College Funding Coach® for an interactive webinar: " Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College " on  April 15th @ 9:15 AM

You can expect to learn the following:

• How to fund your child’s education while protecting your retirement
• College funding strategies for parents with students who DO  and  DO NOT qualify for financial aid
• The 13 most popular college funding financial vehicles explained and debunked
• Updates on FAFSA changes and their impact on your family
• Creative strategies to make out-of-state or private colleges more affordable
• Ways to maximize and increase financial aid eligibility

Register for your link to join the Rachel Carson Middle School Workshop!

3rd Quarter Grades

The 3rd quarter ends Friday, March 27. Gradebook and Report Card Modules in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be unavailable to Parents and Students from Friday, March 27 at 4PM through Monday, April 14 at 6AM. On April 14, 3rd quarter report cards will be visible in SIS. A printed copy of 3rd quarter report cards will be sent home the week of April 23.

Thank you for supporting our Academic Advising Season at Rachel Carson!

Rachel Carson Middle School will now begin reviewing course enrollment numbers to determine course allotments, seat availability, and staffing decisions for the upcoming school year.

Families will receive course verification forms to review their student’s course selections.

After Spring Break, families will have two weeks (April 6–17, 2026) to submit any requests for changes to the courses selected for next year. Please note that some courses may already be closed, waitlisted, or no longer offered.

April 17, 2026, is the final deadline for course change requests for the 2026–2027 school year. After this date, no additional course change requests will be accepted so that we can begin staffing our building and determining teacher placements for the upcoming school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Rising 7th Grade Information

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders

As required by the Code of VA , parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.

In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations : 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older; 
• Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;  
• A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

• After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment. 

Additional Immunization Resources are also available. 

Dear RCMS Families,

As this school year quickly comes to an end, we are already preparing for the 2026–2027 school year.

To help us keep our records current, please complete the  Google Form  if your family will be  moving before  the start of the next school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Friday, April 10 - School Planning Day - Student Holiday

Tuesday, April 21 - Teacher Workday/Virtual School Planning Day - Student Holiday

Monday, May 25 - Holiday - Memorial Day - No School

Tuesday, May 26 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Wednesday, May 27 - Religious or Cultural Observance - Eid al-Fitr - No School

A message from the Principal

Welcome back! It was nice to see our students and staff back in the building today, as we kicked off the fourth and final quarter of the school year. As we head into this home stretch, we are focused on reinforcing our school expectations to ensure every student finishes the year strong. Please keep in mind that there is no school for students this Friday, April 10th, as our team participates in a Staff Planning Day.

This week, we proudly recognize our Assistant Principals in celebration of  National Assistant Principals Week. This annual observance honors the critical role assistant principals play in helping to champion student success, supporting teachers, and fostering positive, thriving school environments. It is an opportunity for our entire school community to express appreciation for their dedication and leadership.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the following administrators:

• Jennifer Miley, Director of Student Services
• Raffinee Archible-Ehivue, Assistant Principal
• Sarah Reeser, Assistant Principal
• Liz Scheurer, Assistant Principal
• Riley Barrows, After-School Administrator

Sincerely,

Principal Washington

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

Lightspeed

🔍  See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a  weekly Parent Report , which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about  Lightspeed Parent Reports .

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

Virtual Family Workshop “Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College”

Rachel Carson Middle School Student Services is excited to host  The College Funding Coach® for an interactive webinar: " Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College " on  April 15th @ 9:15 AM

You can expect to learn the following:

• How to fund your child’s education while protecting your retirement
• College funding strategies for parents with students who DO  and  DO NOT qualify for financial aid
• The 13 most popular college funding financial vehicles explained and debunked
• Updates on FAFSA changes and their impact on your family
• Creative strategies to make out-of-state or private colleges more affordable
• Ways to maximize and increase financial aid eligibility

Register for your link to join the Rachel Carson Middle School Workshop!

3rd Quarter Grades

The 3rd quarter ends Friday, March 27. Gradebook and Report Card Modules in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be unavailable to Parents and Students from Friday, March 27 at 4PM through Monday, April 14 at 6AM. On April 14, 3rd quarter report cards will be visible in SIS. A printed copy of 3rd quarter report cards will be sent home the week of April 23.

Parent Acknowledgment of Course Requests for Next School Year

As the academic advising and course selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path. A new feature in SIS ParentVUE allows parents and guardians to easily review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year. To access this feature: 

1. Log in to your  ParentVUE  account.
2. Navigate to the  Course Request module.
3. Review your student’s course request list for next school year.

1. To complete the acknowledgment, click  Student Info in the left menu.
2. Click  Edit Information.
3. In the  Course Request Acknowledgment field, update the acknowledgment field to  Yes.
4. Click  Save Changes.

The window for parents/guardians to review and acknowledge their child’s course requests via this new feature will open on Monday, March 16, 2026, and will close on Friday, March 27, 2026. Carson plans to mail home course request sheets for review as well. Please remember the last day to make schedule request changes for Carson next year is April 24th.

Visit the  FCPS SIS ParentVUE account overview webpage  for more instructions and screenshots of this process. 

Thank you for supporting our Academic Advising Season at Rachel Carson!

Rachel Carson Middle School will now begin reviewing course enrollment numbers to determine course allotments, seat availability, and staffing decisions for the upcoming school year.

Families will receive course verification forms to review their student’s course selections.

After Spring Break, families will have two weeks (April 6–17, 2026) to submit any requests for changes to the courses selected for next year. Please note that some courses may already be closed, waitlisted, or no longer offered.

April 17, 2026, is the final deadline for course change requests for the 2026–2027 school year. After this date, no additional course change requests will be accepted so that we can begin staffing our building and determining teacher placements for the upcoming school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Rising 7th Grade Information

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders

As required by the Code of VA , parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.

In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations : 

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older; 
• Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;  
• A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

• After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment. 

Additional Immunization Resources are also available. 

Dear RCMS Families,

As this school year quickly comes to an end, we are already preparing for the 2026–2027 school year.

To help us keep our records current, please complete the  Google Form  if your family will be  moving before  the start of the next school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing

Westfield High School

Westfield High School Theatre is offering a FREE workshop for students in 2nd to 8th grade on April 10th from 10am to noon. Students will play theatre games, take a backstage tour, and enjoy an immersive theatre experience!

Registration Required. Space is limited.  Sign up here

Workshop Poster.jpg

Westfield High School Pyramid Art Show 2026

April 8th : 8:20-2:50pm & Awards Ceremony 5-7pm April 9th: 8:20-12:00pm

Join us in the main gymnasium.

If you visit during school hours, check in at the  main office.

Westfield HS's Winter Dance Clinic! 

Rachel Carson Middle School students are invited to join the Westfield HS Varsity Dance Team for our Spring Dance Clinic on  Sunday, April 12th from 8 AM - 1:00 PM! Participants receive SNACKS, an

OFFICIAL WHS DANCE TEAM T-SHIRT, and a mock tryout opportunity.Click  here  for details and registration! Email  [email protected] for more information. Click here for the flyer

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

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Science Olympiad News!

We are very proud to announce that our RCMS Science Olympiad teams placed  3rd at the UMW Regional Competition , held on Saturday, February 28, 2026. Additionally, RCMS ranked  3rd out of 30 teams and earned  33 medals at the regional competition. The RCMS program included 45 students across three teams. Throughout the year, RCMS Science Olympiad students demonstrated consistent dedication by learning new scientific concepts and building devices based on core scientific principles. Congratulations on a job well done students!

Riley Barrows

After School Program Specialist

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Friday, March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter - 2 hour early release

March 30 - April 3 - Spring Break - School Closed

Monday, April 6 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Friday, April 10 - School Planning Day - Student Holiday

Tuesday, April 21 - Teacher Workday/Virtual School Planning Day - Student Holiday

A Message From The Principal

It is hard to believe we are already finishing up the 3rd quarter this week; after spring break, we look forward to seeing our students back in the building on  Tuesday, April 7th to start our final quarter of the year. Please remember that Spring Break runs from  Monday, March 30th through Friday, April 3rd, and there will be no school for students on  Monday, April 6th(Teacher Workday) On Friday, April 10th (School Planning Day). We hope you truly enjoy this break in the calendar and find time to do something fun and relaxing with your family and friends.

Sincerely,

Principal Washington

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

We are approaching the halfway mark of the third quarter. This is a great time for parents and guardians to review grades and current progress with your student.

Students, this is also an important opportunity to touch base with your teachers to see what supports may be needed so you can finish the quarter strong.

Parents and guardians, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a teacher or counselor. We are here to support your student’s success.

Wellness Week Spirit Week 2026 – March 23–27

Join us for Wellness Week Spirit Week 2026! Each day, students are invited to participate in a fun dress-up theme while learning simple coping skills that support positive mental health and well-being.

Monday, March 23 – Music Monday
Wear your favorite band or musician shirt.
Coping Skill Focus:  Listening to music can help boost mood and reduce stress.

Tuesday, March 24 – Tropical Tuesday
Wear island print or Hawaiian shirts.
Coping Skill Focus:  Spending time in the sun helps your body absorb vitamin D, which supports overall wellness.

Wednesday, March 25 – Wild Wednesday / Therapy Dog Visits during Panther Time
Wear animal print from head to toe.
Coping Skill Focus:  Spending time with animals can provide comfort and reduce feelings of stress or worry.

Thursday, March 26 – Team Carson Thursday
Wear Carson gear or workout gear.
Coping Skill Focus:  Surrounding yourself with supportive peers and adults brings out the best in you.

Friday, March 27 – Fun Friday: Get Plenty of Sleep & Laughter!
Wear pajamas.
Coping Skill Focus:  Laughter helps relax muscles, reduce stress hormones, and improve mood. Getting enough rest can lower cortisol levels and restore balance to the body.

We look forward to a fun and meaningful week focused on wellness! 

For more information about student wellness including tips and strategies click  here  or reach out to your child’s school counselor. 

Lightspeed

🔍  See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a  weekly Parent Report , which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about  Lightspeed Parent Reports .

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

3rd Quarter Grades

The 3rd quarter ends Friday, March 27. Gradebook and Report Card Modules in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be unavailable to Parents and Students from Friday, March 27 at 4PM through Monday, April 14 at 6AM. On April 14, 3rd quarter report cards will be visible in SIS. A printed copy of 3rd quarter report cards will be sent home the week of April 23.

Parent Acknowledgment of Course Requests for Next School Year

As the academic advising and course selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path. A new feature in SIS ParentVUE allows parents and guardians to easily review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year. To access this feature: 

1. Log in to your  ParentVUE  account.
2. Navigate to the  Course Request module.
3. Review your student’s course request list for next school year.

1. To complete the acknowledgment, click  Student Info in the left menu.
2. Click  Edit Information.
3. In the  Course Request Acknowledgment field, update the acknowledgment field to  Yes.
4. Click  Save Changes.

The window for parents/guardians to review and acknowledge their child’s course requests via this new feature will open on Monday, March 16, 2026, and will close on Friday, March 27, 2026. Carson plans to mail home course request sheets for review as well. Please remember the last day to make schedule request changes for Carson next year is April 24th.

Visit the  FCPS SIS ParentVUE account overview webpage  for more instructions and screenshots of this process. 

Thank you for supporting our Academic Advising Season at Rachel Carson!

Rachel Carson Middle School will now begin reviewing course enrollment numbers to determine course allotments, seat availability, and staffing decisions for the upcoming school year.

Families will receive course verification forms to review their student’s course selections.

After Spring Break, families will have two weeks (April 6–17, 2026) to submit any requests for changes to the courses selected for next year. Please note that some courses may already be closed, waitlisted, or no longer offered.

April 17, 2026, is the final deadline for course change requests for the 2026–2027 school year. After this date, no additional course change requests will be accepted so that we can begin staffing our building and determining teacher placements for the upcoming school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dear RCMS Families,

As this school year quickly comes to an end, we are already preparing for the 2026–2027 school year.

To help us keep our records current, please complete the  Google Form  if your family will be  moving before  the start of the next school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing

Oakton High School Color Guard

On Thursday, March 26th, both the Oakton High School Color Guard and James Madison High School Color Guard will be hosting a Friends and Family show at James Madison High School to perform our winter season shows. Anyone is invited to come and it is a great opportunity for interested members to see what color guard is!  It will be a short event, with performances starting around 8:00pm and the event itself wrapping up around 8:30pm For more information on joining the Oakton Color Guard flyer is here

Westfield High School Pyramid Art Show 2026

April 8th : 8:20-2:50pm & Awards Ceremony 5-7pm April 9th: 8:20-12:00pm

Join us in the main gymnasium.

If you visit during school hours, check in at the  main office.

Westfield HS's Winter Dance Clinic! 

Rachel Carson Middle School students are invited to join the Westfield HS Varsity Dance Team for our Spring Dance Clinic on  Sunday, April 12th from 8 AM - 1:00 PM! Participants receive SNACKS, an

OFFICIAL WHS DANCE TEAM T-SHIRT, and a mock tryout opportunity.Click  here  for details and registration! Email  [email protected] for more information. Click here for the flyer

Good afternoon SLHS Pyramid Schools!

South Lakes High School is hosting our International Night on March 25th from 6:00-8:30pm! International Night celebrates the diversity in the South Lakes and Reston community through interactive booths, a fashion show, and performances! This event is free and open to the public 😊 

click here for the flyer with the details

International Night 2025-2026 (8.5 x 11 in).pdf

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
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Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Friday, March 20 - Eid-al-Fitr - School Closed

Friday, March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter - 2 hour early release

March 30 - April 3 - Spring Break - School Closed

Monday, April 6 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Friday, April 10 - School Planning Day - Student Holiday

Tuesday, April 21 - Teacher Workday/Virtual School Planning Day - Student Holiday

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

We are approaching the halfway mark of the third quarter. This is a great time for parents and guardians to review grades and current progress with your student.

Students, this is also an important opportunity to touch base with your teachers to see what supports may be needed so you can finish the quarter strong.

Parents and guardians, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a teacher or counselor. We are here to support your student’s success.

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From  February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day.  Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the  FCPS FNS website  by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

Wellness Week Spirit Week 2026 – March 23–27

Join us for Wellness Week Spirit Week 2026! Each day, students are invited to participate in a fun dress-up theme while learning simple coping skills that support positive mental health and well-being.

Monday, March 23 – Music Monday
Wear your favorite band or musician shirt.
Coping Skill Focus:  Listening to music can help boost mood and reduce stress.

Tuesday, March 24 – Tropical Tuesday
Wear island print or Hawaiian shirts.
Coping Skill Focus:  Spending time in the sun helps your body absorb vitamin D, which supports overall wellness.

Wednesday, March 25 – Wild Wednesday / Therapy Dog Visits during Panther Time
Wear animal print from head to toe.
Coping Skill Focus:  Spending time with animals can provide comfort and reduce feelings of stress or worry.

Thursday, March 26 – Team Carson Thursday
Wear Carson gear or workout gear.
Coping Skill Focus:  Surrounding yourself with supportive peers and adults brings out the best in you.

Friday, March 27 – Fun Friday: Get Plenty of Sleep & Laughter!
Wear pajamas.
Coping Skill Focus:  Laughter helps relax muscles, reduce stress hormones, and improve mood. Getting enough rest can lower cortisol levels and restore balance to the body.

We look forward to a fun and meaningful week focused on wellness! 

For more information about student wellness including tips and strategies click  here  or reach out to your child’s school counselor. 

Lightspeed

🔍  See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a  weekly Parent Report , which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about  Lightspeed Parent Reports .

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

3rd Quarter Grades

The 3rd quarter ends Friday, March 27. Gradebook and Report Card Modules in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be unavailable to Parents and Students from Friday, March 27 at 4PM through Monday, April 14 at 6AM. On April 14, 3rd quarter report cards will be visible in SIS. A printed copy of 3rd quarter report cards will be sent home the week of April 23.

Parent Acknowledgment of Course Requests for Next School Year

As the academic advising and course selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path. A new feature in SIS ParentVUE allows parents and guardians to easily review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year. To access this feature: 

1. Log in to your  ParentVUE  account.
2. Navigate to the  Course Request module.
3. Review your student’s course request list for next school year.

1. To complete the acknowledgment, click  Student Info in the left menu.
2. Click  Edit Information.
3. In the  Course Request Acknowledgment field, update the acknowledgment field to  Yes.
4. Click  Save Changes.

The window for parents/guardians to review and acknowledge their child’s course requests via this new feature will open on Monday, March 16, 2026, and will close on Friday, March 27, 2026. Carson plans to mail home course request sheets for review as well. Please remember the last day to make schedule request changes for Carson next year is April 24th.

Visit the  FCPS SIS ParentVUE account overview webpage  for more instructions and screenshots of this process. 

Thank you for supporting our Academic Advising Season at Rachel Carson!

Rachel Carson Middle School will now begin reviewing course enrollment numbers to determine course allotments, seat availability, and staffing decisions for the upcoming school year.

Families will receive course verification forms to review their student’s course selections.

After Spring Break, families will have two weeks (April 6–17, 2026) to submit any requests for changes to the courses selected for next year. Please note that some courses may already be closed, waitlisted, or no longer offered.

April 17, 2026, is the final deadline for course change requests for the 2026–2027 school year. After this date, no additional course change requests will be accepted so that we can begin staffing our building and determining teacher placements for the upcoming school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

ParentVUE Course Requests Now Available

Families can now view their student’s course requests for the 2026–2027 school year in ParentVUE SIS through the mobile app or website. Parents and guardians are encouraged to log in and review the courses their student has selected.

This page displays all courses your student has requested for the upcoming school year. Please note that these are course requests, not finalized schedules. Student schedules will be available in August 2026. Counselors may contact families if any course changes, corrections, or intervention options need to be discussed.

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our   Academic Advising & Course Selection website  for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here  as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s  school counselor ,  teacher, or case manager  with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

Dear RCMS Families,

As this school year quickly comes to an end, we are already preparing for the 2026–2027 school year.

To help us keep our records current, please complete the  Google Form  if your family will be  moving before  the start of the next school year.

Thank you for your continued support.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing

Westfield High School Pyramid Art Show 2026

April 8th : 8:20-2:50pm & Awards Ceremony 5-7pm April 9th: 8:20-12:00pm

Join us in the main gymnasium.

If you visit during school hours, check in at the  main office.

Good afternoon SLHS Pyramid Schools!

South Lakes High School is hosting our International Night on March 25th from 6:00-8:30pm! International Night celebrates the diversity in the South Lakes and Reston community through interactive booths, a fashion show, and performances! This event is free and open to the public 😊 

click here for the flyer with the details

International Night 2025-2026 (8.5 x 11 in).pdf

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Thursday & Friday March 12 &13 - Spring Pictures!

Friday, March 20 - Eid-al-Fitr - School Closed

Friday, March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter - 2 hour early release

March 30 - April 3 - Spring Break - School Closed

Monday, April 6 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Friday, April 10 - School Planning Day - Student Holiday

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

March 10th - Integrated Reading and Writing (8th-graders only)

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

We are approaching the halfway mark of the third quarter. This is a great time for parents and guardians to review grades and current progress with your student.

Students, this is also an important opportunity to touch base with your teachers to see what supports may be needed so you can finish the quarter strong.

Parents and guardians, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a teacher or counselor. We are here to support your student’s success.

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From  February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day.  Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the  FCPS FNS website  by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

Spring Pictures

Rachel Carson Middle School

Spring Picture Day Date(s): March 12 - 13, 2026

Wellness Week Spirit Week 2026 – March 23–27

Join us for Wellness Week Spirit Week 2026! Each day, students are invited to participate in a fun dress-up theme while learning simple coping skills that support positive mental health and well-being.

Monday, March 23 – Music Monday
Wear your favorite band or musician shirt.
Coping Skill Focus:  Listening to music can help boost mood and reduce stress.

Tuesday, March 24 – Tropical Tuesday
Wear island print or Hawaiian shirts.
Coping Skill Focus:  Spending time in the sun helps your body absorb vitamin D, which supports overall wellness.

Wednesday, March 25 – Wild Wednesday
Wear animal print from head to toe.
Coping Skill Focus:  Spending time with animals can provide comfort and reduce feelings of stress or worry.

Thursday, March 26 – Team Carson Thursday
Wear Carson gear or workout gear.
Coping Skill Focus:  Surrounding yourself with supportive peers and adults brings out the best in you.

Friday, March 27 – Fun Friday: Get Plenty of Sleep & Laughter!
Wear pajamas.
Coping Skill Focus:  Laughter helps relax muscles, reduce stress hormones, and improve mood. Getting enough rest can lower cortisol levels and restore balance to the body.

We look forward to a fun and meaningful week focused on wellness!

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

ParentVUE Course Requests Now Available

Families can now view their student’s course requests for the 2026–2027 school year in ParentVUE SIS through the mobile app or website. Parents and guardians are encouraged to log in and review the courses their student has selected.

This page displays all courses your student has requested for the upcoming school year. Please note that these are course requests, not finalized schedules. Student schedules will be available in August 2026. Counselors may contact families if any course changes, corrections, or intervention options need to be discussed.

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our   Academic Advising & Course Selection website  for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here  as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s  school counselor ,  teacher, or case manager  with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES Nominations

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an  FCPS CARES ! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on  fcps.edu . Additionally,  each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing

Westfield High School Pyramid Art Show 2026

April 8th : 8:20-2:50pm & Awards Ceremony 5-7pm April 9th: 8:20-12:00pm

Join us in the main gymnasium.

If you visit during school hours, check in at the  main office.

Good afternoon SLHS Pyramid Schools!

South Lakes High School is hosting our International Night on March 25th from 6:00-8:30pm! International Night celebrates the diversity in the South Lakes and Reston community through interactive booths, a fashion show, and performances! This event is free and open to the public 😊 

click here for the flyer with the details

International Night 2025-2026 (8.5 x 11 in).pdf

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Thursday & Friday March 12 &13 - Spring Pictures!

Friday, March 20 - Eid-al-Fitr - School Closed

Friday, March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter - 2 hour early release

March 30 - April 3 - Spring Break - School Closed

Monday, April 6 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Friday, April 10 - School Planning Day - Student Holiday

A Message From The Principal

Looking at the forecast for the coming days, it seems as if the weather will be turning in our favor. With any luck, the unpredictable winter weather is now behind us . While we’ve handled the delays and closures well, there is something to be said about the consistency of a regular schedule. It is hard to believe, but we are already halfway through the third grading quarter . This is a pivotal time in the academic year. Teachers are currently diving deep into core curriculum standards, and students are taking on challenging projects.

Now is an excellent time to:

• Check in on Progress: Log into the parent portal to review recent assignments and grades.
• Set Goals: Sit down with your child to discuss what they hope to achieve before the quarter ends.
• Re-establish Habits: Ensure consistent routines and habits that will help support your child’s progress and success.

Thanks – Principal Washington

January & February “SWAG” Student Recognition of the 2025-2026 School Year

Each month teachers from different departments recognize students for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to making a positive impact at Carson through our SWAG Student Recognition Program. SWAG stands for “Students with Awesome Growth”. Mr. Washington shared why each student was nominated during our January & February celebration. Congratulations to the following students for having Carson SWAG:  Hollie, Alistair, Lincoln, Reese, Helene Kloe, Dylan, Charith, Angela, Sanvi, Adjo, Sahas, Joshua, Daniel, Gabriela, Adrian, Logaroshini, Holden, Janelle, Britany, Nathan, Clarissa, Ari, Ryan, Julian, Jabr, Audrey, Alisson, Wesley, Coraline, Suryaa, Ava, Ana !!!

Congratulations, Panthers!

National School Social Work Week

A big thanks to our Social Worker: April Bowman for all she does for our students.

March 2-8 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites.  Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS .

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

March 10th - Integrated Reading and Writing (8th-graders only)

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

We are approaching the halfway mark of the third quarter. This is a great time for parents and guardians to review grades and current progress with your student.

Students, this is also an important opportunity to touch base with your teachers to see what supports may be needed so you can finish the quarter strong.

Parents and guardians, if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to a teacher or counselor. We are here to support your student’s success.

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From  February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day.  Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the  FCPS FNS website  by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

Spring Pictures

Rachel Carson Middle School

Spring Picture Day Date(s): March 12 - 13, 2026

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our   Academic Advising & Course Selection website  for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here  as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s  school counselor ,  teacher, or case manager  with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell) . Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES submissions

Want a quick way to thank an employee? Submit an  FCPS CARES  nomination! Families, colleagues, and students are all welcome to submit a nomination. A submitted CARES is automatically sent to the recipient and their supervisor and also is posted on the public FCPS website. Please consider recognizing our amazing staff to let them know their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools are Sharing

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:    https://forms.gle/NoUR7aAstRLLDK7i6  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 3rd and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 26-27 tryouts from June 17-18! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScIM76iSl-e1WT1s7CZ0yFeX1bTIaWyXRGAg8GWqT1GbmWmJA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list. 

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! 

We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 21st from 4:30-6:30pm. Link to register here: https://southlakeshscamps.jumbula.com/dance

Please email Coach McDermott at [email protected]  with any questions. 

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people? -Faster than your friends? -Tougher than most others? -Enjoy doing difficult things?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/9LTNr9rXgRSee8DV9

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on August 3th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! Weight Room training sessions begin the week of March 2nd!

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  [email protected]

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Interested in playing competitive high school golf? Find out what it takes at our info meeting for rising Freshmen. Student-Athletes and parents are welcome for both the Seahawk Co-ed Golf and Girls Teams, May 17th, 6:00pm at Reston National Golf Club. Tryouts are projected for the end of July and the regular season runs through mid-September. For questions and to confirm attendance email Coach Anderson at [email protected]

SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Are you Interested in trying out for the most popular high school girls team participation sport in the US – volleyball! Our program offers 3 levels: F, JV and V. Tryouts will be held on Aug 3, 4, and 5. To get ready for the season, we will be holding a number of spring/summer workouts that are open to rising 9th graders. We also will be holding our annual summer volleyball camps to either introduce you to our sport or help you refine your current skills.

To ensure you have all the information you need, please email Coach Farrar at [email protected] with both potential player and parent names and emails. We will add you to our email distribution list and send you a program information sheet that contains everything you need to know about our outstanding program as well as some questions for you so we can get to know you better.

We look forward to seeing you on the court!

If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Coach Farrar at [email protected] -  GO SEAHAWKS!

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9th graders! For questions regarding Field Hockey please email Coach Hiltabrand at: [email protected]  and follow our Instagram account for updates and information as well @slhs_seahawkey

SOUTH LAKES BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Boys Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email Andrew Duggan at [email protected] .

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

Thursday & Friday March 12 &13 - Spring Pictures!

Friday, March 20 - Eid-al-Fitr - School Closed

Friday, March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter - 2 hour early release

March 30 - April 3 - Spring Break - School Closed

Monday, April 6 - Teacher Workday - Student Holiday

Friday, April 10 - School Planning Day - Student Holiday

January & February “SWAG” Student Recognition of the 2025-2026 School Year

Each month teachers from different departments recognize students for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to making a positive impact at Carson through our SWAG Student Recognition Program. SWAG stands for “Students with Awesome Growth”. Mr. Washington shared why each student was nominated during our January & February celebration. Congratulations to the following students for having Carson SWAG:  Hollie, Alistair, Lincoln, Reese, Helene Kloe, Dylan, Charith, Angela, Sanvi, Adjo, Sahas, Joshua, Daniel, Gabriela, Adrian, Logaroshini, Holden, Janelle, Britany, Nathan, Clarissa, Ari, Ryan, Julian, Jabr, Audrey, Alisson, Wesley, Coraline, Suryaa, Ava, Ana !!!

Congratulations, Panthers!

National School Social Work Week

A big thanks to our Social Worker: April Bowman for all she does for our students.

March 2-8 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites.  Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS .

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

March 10th - Integrated Reading and Writing (8th-graders only)

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

.

Second Quarter Report Cards – February 26

We wanted to inform you know that second quarter report cards will be sent home with students tomorrow Thursday, February 26.

Report cards will be distributed to students during their Advisory period, and they will bring them home that day.

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From  February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day.  Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the  FCPS FNS website  by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

Spring Pictures

Rachel Carson Middle School

Spring Picture Day Date(s): March 12 - 13, 2026

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on  staying safe during cold weather .

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our   Academic Advising & Course Selection website  for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here  as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s  school counselor ,  teacher, or case manager  with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

We hope all our students are excited to launch into the second half of our school year and are ready to keep going strong! Our Student Services department has lots of important information to continue to share with you. Please read our 3rd Quarter Student Services Newsletter  for information on upcoming events and activities, resources, tools and other helpful things to know.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES submissions

Want a quick way to thank an employee? Submit an  FCPS CARES  nomination! Families, colleagues, and students are all welcome to submit a nomination. A submitted CARES is automatically sent to the recipient and their supervisor and also is posted on the public FCPS website. Please consider recognizing our amazing staff to let them know their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

March 12 & 13 - Spring Pictures!

March 20 - Holiday - Religious or Cultural Observance

March 30-April 3 - Spring Break - No School

Carson Middle School’s SOL Testing dates are as follows:

March 10th - Integrated Reading and Writing (8th-graders only)

May 5th - Reading SOL

May 13th - Math SOL

May 19th - Science 8 SOL (8th-graders only)

.

Second Quarter Report Cards – February 26

We wanted to inform you know that second quarter report cards will be sent home with students tomorrow Thursday, February 26.

Report cards will be distributed to students during their Advisory period, and they will bring them home that day.

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From  February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day.  Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the  FCPS FNS website  by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

Spring Pictures

Rachel Carson Middle School

Spring Picture Day Date(s): March 12 - 13, 2026

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on  staying safe during cold weather .

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our   Academic Advising & Course Selection website  for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here  as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s  school counselor ,  teacher, or case manager  with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

We hope all our students are excited to launch into the second half of our school year and are ready to keep going strong! Our Student Services department has lots of important information to continue to share with you. Please read our 3rd Quarter Student Services Newsletter  for information on upcoming events and activities, resources, tools and other helpful things to know.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES submissions

Want a quick way to thank an employee? Submit an  FCPS CARES  nomination! Families, colleagues, and students are all welcome to submit a nomination. A submitted CARES is automatically sent to the recipient and their supervisor and also is posted on the public FCPS website. Please consider recognizing our amazing staff to let them know their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

February 18 Religious or cultural Observance

March 12 & 13 - Spring Pictures!

March 20 - Holiday - Religious or Cultural Observance

March 30-April 3 - Spring Break - No School

.

FCPS Student Experience Survey

On  Tuesday, February 24, 2026, students will participate in the FCPS  Student Experience Survey  during Panther Time. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

FCPS believes it is important to hear from our students about what they are doing well and where they can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in  FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan , which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as they work toward meeting plan goals.

The survey is voluntary. The survey is designed to protect students’ privacy and is confidential. Students can skip any questions they do not want to answer and can stop taking the survey at any point. To preview some of the questions on the survey, visit the  Student Experience Survey Preview .

If you would like to opt your child out of the survey, please complete the  Student Experience Survey electronic opt-out form .

If you have any questions about the Student Experience Survey, please contact Elizabeth Scheurer, assistant principal, at  [email protected]

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From  February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day.  Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the  FCPS FNS website  by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

Happy SRO Day Officer Griffin!

National School Resource Officer (SRO) Appreciation Day is celebrated annually on February 15. Established in 2022 by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) , this day recognizes law enforcement officers who work in schools to ensure safety, act as mentors, and foster positive relationships between police and youth. 

We are so grateful for our SRO, Officer Griffin for keeping our staff and students safe everyday.

Spring Pictures

Rachel Carson Middle School

Spring Picture Day Date(s): March 12 - 13, 2026

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on  staying safe during cold weather .

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Parent Teen Book Club: You’re Invited! Parent Teen Book Club: April 14 - Max Meow: Cat Crusader !

Ask any parent who went to the Parent Teen Book Club in the fall about the event. They will likely say that it is one of the best evenings of the year. What could be better than one-on-one time with your teen talking about a book you both read? We have an answer - Parent Teen Book Club: Author Fest! On April 14, the authors of the five PTBC books will be at Carson to answer questions about his book and talk about being an author. Most spots are full, but we have a handful remaining for Max Meow: Cat Crusader ! If your child loves graphic novels or enjoys drawing, they’d likely love to meet author and illustrator John Gallagher.Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity. Sign up today! 

Click here to sign up for AuthorFest

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our   Academic Advising & Course Selection website  for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here  as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s  school counselor ,  teacher, or case manager  with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

We hope all our students are excited to launch into the second half of our school year and are ready to keep going strong! Our Student Services department has lots of important information to continue to share with you. Please read our 3rd Quarter Student Services Newsletter  for information on upcoming events and activities, resources, tools and other helpful things to know.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES submissions

Want a quick way to thank an employee? Submit an  FCPS CARES  nomination! Families, colleagues, and students are all welcome to submit a nomination. A submitted CARES is automatically sent to the recipient and their supervisor and also is posted on the public FCPS website. Please consider recognizing our amazing staff to let them know their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools Are Sharing Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

February 16 - Holiday- George Washington's Birthday - No School

February 17 - Teacher Workday - No School

February 18 Religious or cultural Observance

.

FCPS Student Experience Survey

On  Tuesday, February 24, 2026, students will participate in the FCPS  Student Experience Survey  during Panther Time. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

FCPS believes it is important to hear from our students about what they are doing well and where they can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in  FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan , which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as they work toward meeting plan goals.

The survey is voluntary. The survey is designed to protect students’ privacy and is confidential. Students can skip any questions they do not want to answer and can stop taking the survey at any point. To preview some of the questions on the survey, visit the  Student Experience Survey Preview .

If you would like to opt your child out of the survey, please complete the  Student Experience Survey electronic opt-out form .

If you have any questions about the Student Experience Survey, please contact Elizabeth Scheurer, assistant principal, at  [email protected]

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From  February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day.  Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the  FCPS FNS website  by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see  how weather closing decisions are made  at FCPS. 

FCPS’ website  is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new  FCPS mobile app , and news stations. Learn more about  how schedule changes are communicated .

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in  SIS ParentVUE , bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on  staying safe during cold weather .

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Attend today, achieve tomorrow!

Did you know?

• Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
• Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
• Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
• Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available. 

Attendance Policies

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly. FCPS must record student attendance every day school is in session.

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after spring break. Make sure your child is in school every day, right up until vacation starts. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning. Visit our website for more attendance resources .

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Parent Teen Book Club: You’re Invited!

Click here to sign up for AuthorFest

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our   Academic Advising & Course Selection website  for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here  as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s  school counselor ,  teacher, or case manager  with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

We hope all our students are excited to launch into the second half of our school year and are ready to keep going strong! Our Student Services department has lots of important information to continue to share with you. Please read our 3rd Quarter Student Services Newsletter  for information on upcoming events and activities, resources, tools and other helpful things to know.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

Paperless Report Cards

We’re excited to offer you a more environmentally friendly and expedient option for receiving your child’s report cards:  Go Paperless!

By choosing to go paperless, you'll be able to:

• Access report cards directly in ParentVUE with just a few clicks.
• Reduce wait time in seeing your child’s report card.

Here's how you can opt-in:

1. Log into ParentVUE, click on "My Account," and select “Go Paperless.”
2. All parents/guardians living with the student at the same address must have an active SIS ParentVUE account to opt-in.
3. Once selected, the “Go Paperless” option will apply to  all associated students, no matter their grade level.
4. If you’ve already opted for paperless for your secondary students, it will automatically apply to any younger siblings at the elementary level too!

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES submissions

Want a quick way to thank an employee? Submit an  FCPS CARES  nomination! Families, colleagues, and students are all welcome to submit a nomination. A submitted CARES is automatically sent to the recipient and their supervisor and also is posted on the public FCPS website. Please consider recognizing our amazing staff to let them know their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools Are Sharing

Western High School Updates

Please click the link below to learn more about the new Western High School coming August 2026!

• Western HS Presentation

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page .

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Important Upcoming Events

February 4: Math Night for 7th grade families

February 5 : Second semester begins

February 16 - Holiday- George Washington's Birthday - No School

February 17 - Teacher Workday - No School

February 18 Religious or cultural Observance

Principal's Message

We hope that everyone stayed safe during the recent winter weather and hopefully got the chance to catch up on a few things that you normally may not have gotten to. We wanted to let you know that due to school being closed yesterday, Monday, February 2nd, the county has made a slight adjustment to the end of quarter grading timeline and the start of the second semester. The end of the second grading quarter will now be Wednesday, February 4th. The 3rd quarter and second semester will now start on Thursday, February 5th.Students should be able to view their second semester schedules in ParentVue/StudentVue on Wednesday, February 4th at 4:00pm. We look forward to a fresh start, as we kick off the second semester on Thursday, February 5th!

Thanks and stay safe,

Principal Washington

.

School Counseling Week- Thank you to Our Counselors!

National School Counseling Week (Feb. 2–6) is a time to recognize the vital role Carson school counselors play in supporting students’ academic growth, emotional well‑being, and future planning. This week, we celebrate the many ways counselors help students succeed and encourage you to take a moment to thank your school’s counselor(s). To learn more about the impact of this essential profession, visit:  https://www.schoolcounselor.org/role . Please take a moment to reach out to your student's school counselor to say thank you for the work they do every day.

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

A big thank you to our amazing team of counselors here at Rachel Carson: Ms. Brammer, Ms. Copeland, Ms. Ryder, and Ms. Schires. - we appreciate all you do!

FCPS Student Experience Survey

On  Tuesday, February 24, 2026, students will participate in the FCPS  Student Experience Survey  during Panther Time. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

FCPS believes it is important to hear from our students about what they are doing well and where they can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in  FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan , which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as they work toward meeting plan goals.

The survey is voluntary. The survey is designed to protect students’ privacy and is confidential. Students can skip any questions they do not want to answer and can stop taking the survey at any point. To preview some of the questions on the survey, visit the  Student Experience Survey Preview .

If you would like to opt your child out of the survey, please complete the  Student Experience Survey electronic opt-out form .

If you have any questions about the Student Experience Survey, please contact Elizabeth Scheurer, assistant principal, at  [email protected]

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From  February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

• Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
• Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
• Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
• Kits are distributed at the end of the school day.  Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the  FCPS FNS website  by the deadlines:

• February 11, 2026 for week of February 18, 2026
• February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
• February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

K&K Student Accident Insurance

Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is appropriate for their family.

K & K Insurance Group offers student accident insurance coverage that parents may purchase. For families without other medical insurance, this plan may be a helpful resource. Additionally, for families who already have coverage, this plan may help offset costs such as deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.

Please click the link below for information on k-12 student accident insurance.

https://www.kandkinsurance.com/programs/sports-insurance/k-12-student-accident

Prepare for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see  how weather closing decisions are made  at FCPS. 

FCPS’ website  is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new  FCPS mobile app , and news stations. Learn more about  how schedule changes are communicated .

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in  SIS ParentVUE , bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on  staying safe during cold weather .

If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.

Attendance Matters

Please review the attendance updates below. 

Early Dismissal Procedure

Please do NOT request early dismissals online or by phone. 

To request an early dismissal  please send a note, or complete and  print an  Early Dismissal Request Form  for your child. Your child should  bring the note or form to the main office upon arrival to schoolin order to receive an early dismissal pass for that day. If you forget to send a note, students should still come to the front office to get an early dismissal pass. This will minimize class interruptions when the teacher knows in advance a student will check out early.

All early dismissals must be before 2pm.

Click HERE for more Carson Middle Attendance details.

Private School or Program Application Process

Rachel Carson Middle School requires important documents to effectively accommodate your requests in a timely manner. Please provide all documents below  two weeks in advance of the private school application deadline.

If your student is planning on applying to any private schools for the 2026-2027 school year, please complete the " Private School Request Form " and the " Parent Consent Form: SS-SE79 " and submit them to the  Student Service’s Office or to your child’s counselor.  Counselors will be emailing all records to the requested schools via an admissions email OR the school's portal. 

Please visit our website at  RCMS Private School Requests  for more information regarding required forms and teacher recommendations.

Please contact your child’s school counselor or our Student Services Assistant Andrea Tawil  ( [email protected] ) with questions.

Parent Teen Book Club: You’re Invited!

Greetings Carson Families,

Are you looking for a way to connect with your teen? Would you like to get involved in the Carson community? Do you love to read? If you answered “YES” to any of the questions, please consider signing up to participate in Carson’s  Parent Teen Book Club - Authorfest ! 

The Carson Library is to announce our spring Parent Teen Book Club on  April 14, 2026 from  7-8:30pm, and we would love to see you there! After choosing one of the five book options, you and your grown-up will be loaned a copy of the book to read. Then, on April 14, we will come together to talk about the book selection and have some light refreshments. This spring’s PTBC will be an Authorfest. That means the authors of each of the books will be at the April 14 event and will participate in the book club discussions about their book!

CLICK HERE  to learn more and to read about the book choices. Ready to sign up for a fun evening of literary conversations with your middle schooler, fill out the sign up form  HERE !Please reach out to librarians, Ellen Bickford ( [email protected] ) or Elizabeth Donovan ( [email protected] ) with any questions.

Link to Purchase:  Yearbook Sales - MySchoolbucks 

🔔 Second Quarter Ends

The second quarter officially ends on Wednesday, February 4.Please review your child's assignments and grades in the Student Information System (SIS) this week. If you have any concerns about their academic progress, please don't hesitate to contact their teachers to discuss necessary supports.  

Second Semester Information

The third quarter as well as the start of the second semester begins on Thursday, February 5, 2026. This is an exciting time as many of our students will begin new electives for the second half of the school year!  Student schedules will be available online through SIS StudentVUE and SIS ParentVUE at 4:00PM on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.   

All students will receive an updated second semester schedule reflecting any changes that may have occurred due to normal shifts in enrollment throughout the school year.  Therefore, we encourage all students to log in to SIS StudentVUE to view their schedules.

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, students should report directly to their first period class upon arrival.   This will be the location where they will receive a paper copy of their second semester schedule. Carson staff members will be available throughout the building to students who may need help locating their 1st period class.  Due to scheduling and staffing constraints, we are unable to accommodate schedule change requests for second semester courses.  

RCMS Course Selection Events 2026-27 School Year

It is time to think about the 26-27 school year and January marks the start of our course selection season! 

Please visit our   Academic Advising & Course Selection website  for detailed information regarding important dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and additional resources.  

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter their course selections for the 2026-2027 school year into SIS during the school day.  In addition, school counselors will meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions and provide guidance regarding course selection.  Parents and guardians will be able to view the courses their student selected through Student or ParentVue. Families who do not currently have a ParentVue SIS are encouraged to request one here  as soon as possible, as parents will be asked to verify course selections in March.  

School-life balance is an important consideration as students work toward both academic and personal success. Families are always welcome to contact their student’s  school counselor ,  teacher, or case manager  with any questions or concerns.  

We look forward to partnering with you to help your child select courses for a successful upcoming school year.

We hope all our students are excited to launch into the second half of our school year and are ready to keep going strong! Our Student Services department has lots of important information to continue to share with you. Please read our 3rd Quarter Student Services Newsletter  for information on upcoming events and activities, resources, tools and other helpful things to know.

College Partnership Program

8th graders are eligible to apply to the College Partnership Program (CPP). This program is designed to support students interested in exploring, applying to, and enrolling in college. In accordance with FCPS' goal to eliminate gaps in opportunity, access, and achievement for all students, CPP focuses on academic advising, college visits, family engagement, and preparation beyond high school.

If you are interested in attending the interest meeting, please have your student complete this  form  by Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. The interest meeting will be held during Panther Time on Thursday, Feb. 12 , 2026 .

Please reach out to Mrs. Brammer or Ms. Guild if you have any questions.

Rising 8th Grade Families

SAVE THE DATE: Please join our math department for a  Math Night on February 4th from 6-7 PM in the Bickford Theatre at Rachel Carson Middle School.  Come learn more about math offerings and course sequencing at RCMS and in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).    This presentation is designed primarily for caregivers of (current 7th graders)  rising eighth graders. 

Please click this link for the math night flyer.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact your child's school counselor to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to  support your child’s wellness . 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the  Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services  at 703-573-5679.

Paperless Report Cards

We’re excited to offer you a more environmentally friendly and expedient option for receiving your child’s report cards:  Go Paperless!

By choosing to go paperless, you'll be able to:

• Access report cards directly in ParentVUE with just a few clicks.
• Reduce wait time in seeing your child’s report card.

Here's how you can opt-in:

1. Log into ParentVUE, click on "My Account," and select “Go Paperless.”
2. All parents/guardians living with the student at the same address must have an active SIS ParentVUE account to opt-in.
3. Once selected, the “Go Paperless” option will apply to  all associated students, no matter their grade level.
4. If you’ve already opted for paperless for your secondary students, it will automatically apply to any younger siblings at the elementary level too!

📱 We Are a Phone-Free School!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool. If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone policy , which helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. 

FCPS CARES submissions

Want a quick way to thank an employee? Submit an  FCPS CARES  nomination! Families, colleagues, and students are all welcome to submit a nomination. A submitted CARES is automatically sent to the recipient and their supervisor and also is posted on the public FCPS website. Please consider recognizing our amazing staff to let them know their hard work is appreciated!

Greetings Panther Families,

Please take a minute to look over the updated after school schedule. We have added several new walk-in clubs including Astronomy, STEAM Builders, Best Buddies and many more. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Barrows,  [email protected]

After School Weekly Schedule

Other Schools Are Sharing

Western High School Updates

Please click the link below to learn more about the new Western High School coming August 2026!

• Western HS Presentation

South Lakes High School IB Information Night

Monday, February 9th

6:30 pm-7:30 pm in the SLHS Cafeteria

Learn about the IB Middle Years, Career-related, and Diploma Programs at South Lakes High School.

Who to Contact

If you have a question or concern, please visit our website for a full listing of  Who to Contact .  This listing includes all of our administrators, our counselors, and who to speak to regarding a specific content area or class. Contact information for all staff members is listed on our website - just click on the name of the person you wish to contact  to be redirected to their email address:  RCMS Staff Directory .

13618 McLearen Rd. Herndon, VA 20171  |  Main Phone: 703.925.3600
Attendance: 703.925.3636 or  [email protected]
Web | Twitter