Rachel Carson Student Services

Hello students and parents! We are now officially in the 4th quarter! You have worked hard all year long, and now we are nearing the end of the school year. We are very proud of your academic, social, and behavioral growth.

Course Registration:

Course selections are now locked as we begin to finalize our master schedule for next school year. If you have any questions please reach out to the appropriate school counselor. As a reminder elective classes are NOT guaranteed and the last date to finalize course changes is May 25, 2023. If you have any changes please contact Ajtawil@fcps.edu.

Your families recently received communication from RCMS Student Service Department asking them to review four pieces of your Academic and Career Plan: the results of the strengths and career surveys, your 8th grade SMART goal, your resume, and your draft course plan for high school.

If you have not completed these four pieces, you are asked to complete them by the last day of school so your family can complete the verification form before you transition to high school.

If you need assistance with any of these pieces, please reach out to your counselor

In preparation for the May SOLs, the student services department hosted a Wellness Week at the end of March to help students find healthy ways to de-stress. We also encourage you to get some good sleep, eat healthy, and review your assignments to be well-prepared for the SOLs in May. Please ask your teachers or counselors for help if you are feeling worried or stressed about the SOLs, or if you need any test-taking tips.

During the month of April, counselors hosted a Virtual Career Day on April 27th during Panther Time for all 7th and 8th graders.

Careers represented include the following:

Entrepreneur

Veterinarian

Meteorologist

Attorney

Dentist

Engineer

Technical Editor

Technology Officer

and various other careers.

We were very excited to host this special program for our Carson students. It was great to see our students interacting with our special guests. We look forward to hosting this program again next year.

Get enough sleep the night before the test.

Listen closely to test instructions.

Make sure you study properly during the days and weeks leading up to the test.

Focus on addressing each question individually.

Relax!

Wednesday, May 17th

Orchestra Concert and Awards, 7 PM

Tuesday, June 6th

Chorus Concerts and Awards, 7 PM

Wednesday, June 7th

Band Concerts and Awards, 7 PM

Friday, June 9th

Music Department Trip-Kings Dominion

As you break for the summer here are some documents to keep you healthy and safe during the summer months.

Health and Safety Guidance Document

The FCPS Health and Safety guidance document has been updated for this school year. Please see this site for more information.

Emergency Resources

Crisis Link Regional Hotline 703-527-4077

Crisis Text Text NEEDHELP to 85511

Dominion Hospital Emergency 703-536-2000

INOVA Emergency 703-289-7560

Merrifield Center Emergency 703-573-5979 TTY dial 711

Life Threatening 911

Parent Information Line

Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.

Parent Resource Center

The FCPS Parent Resource Center offers a wide variety of information and resources to support the success of all students. This includes monthly workshops and webinars. More information can be found on the FCPS website, including registration information.

Summer School Information: For any student interested in taking a summer school online class, registration has officially begun. Students can only take one class during the summer due to the intensity and demands of summer school. There is a lot of time that will need to be dedicated to an online summer course, and there is also a fee involved. Once students sign up for their selected course, the counselors will receive a county email and will have 24 hours to approve it. The link for the summer registration is as follows: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning/online-programs

Tech Adventure Camp

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to give current K-6 students an opportunity to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Visit the TAC webpage to register.

CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 7-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Visit the CSA webpage to register.

Institute for the Arts Camps

IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA webpage to register.

E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four classes every day related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create classes that are fun and engaging. Visit the E-IFTA webpage to register.

FCPS Online Summer Learning

The FCPS Online Campus summer course registration is now open for eligible middle school students who meet prerequisites and technical requirements. Students may take one online course for the first time or repeat credit. Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school-level mathematics course. Courses are rigorous; therefore, students should consult their counselor prior to registering. Program information is available at Summer Learning.

If you have any questions or concerns throughout the school year, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Email is the best way to reach contact us, but if you would like to schedule a meeting with us, please let us know and we will try our best to accommodate your needs during school office hours (7am-2:30pm). Please allow 24 hours for a response to your email or phone message.