Important Upcoming Events

December 8-12 - RCMS Bookfair

December 22 - January 2- Holiday-winter break

No school- School Offices closed and will reopen on Monday, January 5- A Day schedule

Student Services Family Workshops

Student Services offers Family Workshops throughout the school year to support our families using feedback from our Advisory Council. Our first was a presentation on Internet Safety led by Stefan Mascoll with the FCPS Student Safety and Wellness Office. If you were not able to attend, you can view the recording in the Student Services 2^nd Quarter Newsletter.

We are excited to announce that Rachel Bailey, former ADHD coach, intensive in-home mentor, and psychotherapist for children, adolescents, and adults, will be presenting our next workshop virtually to Rachel Carson families this Wednesday, December 3^th from 9:00-10:00 AM via Zoom. Please join us to learn more about “Growing Resiliency.” Thank you to the caregivers who registered for this workshop. If you did not register and would like to join us, please use this Zoom link. We will be recording the presentation for families unable to attend. We hope to see you virtually tomorrow!

Info from FCPS on the new Western High School

FCPS recognizes that families have many questions, including how FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will affect the new high school's boundary. Please keep in mind that:

The School Board will vote on the division wide boundary review on January 22, 2026.
Boundaries for the new western high school will not be defined until late spring 2026.
Rising 9th and 10th graders within the five western high school pyramids (Centreville, Chantilly, Oakton, South Lakes, and Westfield) may choose to opt in to attend the new school, based on available spots. For the 2026-27 school year, we plan to enroll 500 9th graders and 500 10th graders.
Parents and caregivers may join optional meetings to hear a brief presentation about the western high school and ask questions. Virtual meetings will be held via Zoom at the following times:

Friday, December 5, at 9 a.m. Register here to receive a zoom link.
Friday, December 5 at 5 p.m. Register here to receive a zoom link.

In addition, families may attend an in-person coffee with the planning principal on Thursday, December 11, at 6 p.m. or on Saturday, December 13, at 10 a.m. Both in-person events will be held at the new high school in the auditorium.

FCPS has posted the presentation for students to the FCPS website, so families may review it together and discuss next steps based on individual circumstances and interests.

FCPS thanks you for your patience as the county moves toward opening the new high school. FCPS encourages you to visit the FCPS website for more information. If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Dave Jagels, the planning principal for the new Western High School, at dejagels@fcps.edu.

Rising 8^th Grade Families

SAVE THE DATE: Please join our math department for a Math Night on February 4^th 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 7^th graders) rising eighth graders. More information coming soon.

AP News

We are pleased to announce that Ms. Liz Scheurer will be joining Rachel Carson Middle School, as our new Assistant Principal, effective December 8, 2025.

Ms. Schuerer comes to us most recently from Herndon Elementary School, where she served as an Assistant Principal.

We look forward to welcoming Ms. Schuerer to Carson MS on December 8th.

Support For Families

In these tough times, we want to help support families who may need some assistance. If so, come next Tuesday, December 9^th, to the family bookfair night and between the hour of 6-7pm, we will have our non-perishable pantry items available. The pantry will be in the student services conference room. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Family Liaison Drina Teran drteranalfar@fcps.edu or social worker April Bowman adbowman@fcps.edu.

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.

Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School for Supporting Military Connected Students

Rachel Carson is Recognized as a Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School

Rachel Carson Middle School has been named a Virginia Distinguished Purple Star School for its exceptional support of military-connected students and their families. We are thrilled that the school has received this prestigious, three-year designation from the Virginia Council on the Educational Opportunity for Military Children.

This honor recognizes Carson’s commitment to creating a welcoming and supportive environment, reflecting FCPS’s dedication to ensuring safety and belonging for every student. Congratulations to the Carson community on this outstanding achievement!

We would like to especially thank Ms. Miles and Ms. Chustz, for spearheading this effort and ensuring our staff met all required criteria to compete for this recognition!

Young Scholars Updates

Ready to tackle the move to middle school? Elementary and middle school Advanced Academic Program (AAP) staff presented a helpful virtual presentation just for you! We discuss the similarities and differences between Full Time services and Honors courses as well as the programs and models beyond middle school.

Watch Now: https://youtu.be/Nij7aD9KK0o

During RCMS Curriculum Night, January 15 at 5:00, you will have an opportunity to hear from our Math Department Chair and she will share specific details to help guide you through selecting the best math course for your child. Additionally, math teachers will be available on this night to answer any individual questions you may have regarding math course options.

Please reach out to Carson MS AART, Carrie Guild at cjguild@fcps.edu, with further questions.

National Family Engagement Month

November is National Family Engagement Month! This month is a time to celebrate and recognize families as a child’s first and most important teacher and partners in learning. Strong family-school partnerships have a lasting impact on student success.