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Important Upcoming Events June 17 - Last Day of School - 2 hour early release June 19th - Holiday - Juneteenth - Offices closed August 3-6 - Rising 7th Grade - RCMS-101 Jumpstart Program August 20 - Panther Palooza - 8:30 -12:00pm Last Name families A-K - 8:30-10am Last Names L-Z - 10:30-12pm August 24 - First Day of School

Last Day of School (Early Dismissal)

The last day of the school year is Wednesday, June 17, and students will be dismissed early at 12:15 PM

Summer Online Campus

Registration Deadline

Families wanting their student to take an FCPS approved online course over the summer for new or repeat high school credit, must register by June 5^th. Information on course options and registration process can be found on the FCPS Online Campus website.

Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students

Registration closes Friday, June 6, for summer camps and learning opportunities offered to all students by FCPS.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools.

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch this video about CTE camps.

IFTA is a two- or three-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 (which fulfills a graduation requirement), music, and theater. E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades two to five who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.

Carson Clinic End of Year Updates

The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than the student dismissal time on the last day of school. Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home
with your student. If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick up the medication on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s).

Sincerely,  

Hannah Wilkinson, BSN, RN 

Public Health Nurse III 

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.

At the time of collection, the HP 45W charger (shown below) must also be turned in. We cannot accept any other brand charger, including off-brand names. If you need to purchase a replacement charger, you may do so in the Carson School Store in MySchoolBucks for $29. If your child will be leaving school before June 11, please have them bring their laptop and charger to the Tech Office before June 11. THANK YOU!

Please click the link below for more information.

https://carsonms.fcps.edu/announcements/student-laptop-and-charger-returns

News from the Carson Library

Carson librarians are thrilled to announce that, with financial support from the Carson PTA and Mr. Washington, they have arranged for an author visit in the spring of 2027! Newbery Award winning middle grades author, Rebecca Stead, will spend an entire day at Carson next spring as well as participate in our spring Parent Teen Book Club during the evening! Students who have read books written by visiting authors usually enjoy and get the most out of the author visits. So, it is the librarians goal that EVERY Carson student read at least 1 Rebecca Stead novel before her visit in spring of 2027. With mystery, fantasy, science fiction, realistic, and dystopian genres represented in her books, there really is something for every reader. Rebecca Stead books are available at the public library, in the Carson library, and in ebook and eAudiobook format on our digital platform, MackinVia. Students whose families choose to purchase a Rebecca Stead book on their own will have an opportunity to get it signed during the author visit. Parents, if you are willing and able to purchase a Rebecca Stead book for a child whose family is unable, please visit our Rebecca Stead Wish List (https://a.co/08t0UQna) on Amazon. Your generous purchase will be sent to Carson and given to an appreciative reader. Thanks for your consideration. 

New Cellphone Policy Starts July 1

On Thursday, May 7, the Fairfax County School Board approved changes to the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). The approved changes include updated guidance for cellphone possession and use, to align the FCPS cellphone policy with Senate Bill 108. This new Virginia law goes into effect on July 1 and states that all schools in the Commonwealth must follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy.

This means that starting July 1, 2026, across all grade levels at FCPS, student cellphones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (including watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, and other items connected to the internet) must be off and personally stored (i.e., put away in backpacks) for the duration of the school day — thus, no cellphones from bell to bell.

High school students will no longer be able to use cellphones and personal devices during lunchtime.More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.

Other SR&R Changes for the 2026-27 School Year

Visit the FCPS website orthe School Board agenda to learn about additional updates, including:
     • Added guidance and procedures for in-school and out-of-school suspensions and discipline investigations, including supports for students with disabilities and multilingual learners. 
     • Expanded guidance and standardized disciplinary procedures (“Universal Grade Matrices”) related to harassment, hate speech, discriminatory behavior, and Title IX reporting requirements.
     • Responses to incidents involving intimate images, fighting, physical aggression, object throwing, and drug policy violations.

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 csb@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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

Social 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 bmajmundar@fcps.edu.

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.