
Rachel Carson Student Services
Quarterly Newsletter: Quarter 3

Hello Carson Parents and Students!
We are rolling! Welcome to the last quarter of the school year, summer is just around the corner. Students have one last semester to give their best push in academics, peer relationships, sports and activities. We love to see the warm weather and sunshine coming in, and there are plenty of things for students to get involved in all around our building. Take a look at the after school activity calendar for things your student might want to try!
Family Coffee
This month our Family Coffee was held virtually on Thursday, April 18th. Our topic was Successful Transition to Middle & High School. Rising 7th grade and rising 9th grade families were provided helpful tips and strategies on adjusting to the changes that come with entering middle school and entering high school. Please click here to see the middle school slide deck and recording and here to see high school.
Career Day
RCMS hosted a Career Day on Thursday, April 25th. Our 8th grade students engaged with various in-person representatives from a wide variety of career and job fields. Students were able to learn more about areas of interest by moving around our career fair with parents and community members showcasing what they do. Our 7th grade students engaged in career exploration activities in their Advisory class as well. Thank you to all of our community members for visiting our school and speaking with students.
May SOLs & Testing
During the month of May, students will participate in testing. Please encourage your student to attend school consistently and do their best to avoid missing academic learning and testing time. Students should prepare by bringing a reading item of choice to school with them on testing days, so that they can independently read after completing testing. A copy of Spring SOL schedule and final exams are located here. To jazz up the fun of this, our Advisory classes (4th period) will be engaged in a competitive, school-wide Read-A-Thon, measuring the total amount of minutes read during the month of May!
Attendance & Preparation
Please remind your students of several keys to being a great student all the way through the end of the school year.
1 – attend school consistently, arriving on time to school, and to each class every day
2 – bring a fully charged laptop and any other required materials consistently
3 – use tools and resources to continue to strive for academic success including use of tutor.com, after school teacher support, Panther Time for academic support and use of materials provided by teachers for studying and preparation.
We are confident students will finish strong! We are here to support them and we thank you for your support of them at home.
Your RCMS School Counseling Team
Student Services Highlights
Summer Learning Programs
Registration for summer online learning courses has officially begun. Students can only take one class during the summer due to the intensity and demands of summer school. Summer school courses move through curriculum content quickly. Students who sign up for a summer course should be prepared for the time needed for work involved. Please note: there is a fee for summer online courses. Once students sign up for their selected course, counselors receive notification and will approve the course enrollment. The link for all summer information and registration is: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/academic-overview/online-campus.
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.
SUMMER CAMPS
The Department of Neighborhood and community Services offers a variety of youth and teen summer camps at public schools and community centers throughout Fairfax County. All programs offer reduced fees for eligible families. please see the Flyer for more info:
EXPUNGING COURSES
Did you know?
Students that have completed a high school credit course in middle school are permitted to have the course expunged from the student's record.
In accordance with Virginia state regulations, FCPS Regulation 2430 permits parents of students who take a high school credit-bearing course in middle school to request that the grade be omitted from the student's high school transcript and the student not earn high school credit for the course. Guidelines and the procedures for expunging grades for high school courses taken in middle school can be found on the reverse of this document.
Parents must make this request no later than the end of the first nine weeks of 9th grade.
Click HERE to download the appropriate form to request to expunge a course or courses from the student's transcript and provide to your child's school counselor.
Parent Resources
Soon, students across the country will begin end-of-year testing. Below are some tips to help students manage test anxiety.
We have all been in situations where we were under evaluation. In these situations, a moderate amount of stress is quite normal. A little nervousness or "butterflies" can be good. It may spring us into action and motivate us to reach higher levels of success. However, for some individuals, this normal anxiety is much more intense and can be so strong as to greatly affect concentration and performance.
Test anxiety is a type of performance anxiety. This is a feeling that one may have when in a situation where performance really counts or the pressure is on to do well. More directly, test anxiety involves severe distress before, during, and/or after the exam which limits the ability to do your best work. Individuals may "blank" or "freeze" during tests. The anxiety can be so severe that individuals feel as though they may pass out or throw up. Test anxiety is often caused by a fear of failure, poor test history, or lack of test preparation.
Fortunately, test anxiety can be managed. Students who have test anxiety are eager to perform well but need a little assistance. Parents and educators working together with youth when they sense a problem with test anxiety can ease the strain and help them cope with test time in order to reach success. Here are some strategies to relieve the stress:
- Help your child be as prepared as possible. Promote good study habits. Have your child study in smaller increments of time and over a few days in advance of the test. Helpful study techniques include regular reviews of the material, looking up unknown words, using flashcards, taking practice tests, and using multimedia video clips. Creating a system of rewards and reasonable expectations for studying can be effective.
- Develop effective test-taking strategies. These include reading each question carefully, answering the test questions you know first and then going back to more difficult ones, using a process of elimination for tough multiple-choice items, and using an outline for essay items.
- Teach your child to keep a positive attitude and be confident in his or her abilities. Children will be less anxious if they focus on positive thoughts and stay relaxed. For example, help your child replace negative thoughts, such as "I will never pass the test" to "I have prepared for the test. I will do my best. I have a good chance of passing." Remind your child that no matter what happens with any test, he or she is a wonderful, worthwhile individual who is deeply loved.
- Promote healthy practices. Ensure that your child gets enough sleep, eats healthfully, exercises regularly, and has some personal time. This helps to relieve stress, boost energy level, and maintain focus.
- Consider encouraging your child to use expressive writing to reduce negative thoughts. With this technique, youth spend a short amount of time prior to a test writing down their thoughts and feelings about the test. This may allow youth to off-load their worries onto the page as a means of freeing up brainpower for the test.
- Teach relaxation exercises. Have your child practice taking slow, deep breaths while picturing a calm place, and consciously relaxing his or her muscles, one at a time. Encourage your child to use this skill if feeling anxiety before or during the test.
- Have your child take a short break when necessary.
- Encourage your child to seek out help with test anxiety when needed. You as the parent, a teacher, or a support person in the school such as the school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker can serve as a useful resource in providing assistance.
Source: FCPS HEALTHY MINDS BLOG
MOVING OVER THE SUMMER
***DO NOT COMPLETE THE FORM IF YOU ARE ATTENDING RACHEL CARSON MIDDLE for SY 24-25***
SUMMER HIGH SCHOOL TRANSTION EVENTS
Chantilly High School
Chantilly High School is offering three Freshman Orientation options. The choices to attend a 1-Day session are either August 6, 7, or 8 from 9:00-1:00 PM. Students will get a chance to get to know us, ease any anxiety, and learn how to navigate high school life here as a CHARGER. It’s so fun and you don’t want to miss out! The cost is $50 per student via MySchoolBucks which includes a Class of 2028 t-shirt, snacks, and a Chick-Fil-A Sandwich. Registrations are on a first-come first-serve basis until July 28. Register today to secure your spot.
Payment via students
www.myschoolbucks.com
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.