Important Upcoming Events

January 28 - End of 2nd Quarter

January 29 - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday

February 17 - Holiday- No School

A Message From The Principal

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at Curriculum Night last week! We are thrilled to welcome our rising 7th graders to the Rachel Carson Middle School community next year. Please continue to explore our school website for valuable information on academic advising and all that our school has to offer.

Sincerely,

Tony Washington

Principal

January Student Recognition

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”. Ms. Cosgrove shared why each student was nominated during our January celebration. Congratulations to the following students for having Carson SWAG: Ava, Rohith, Renee, Mia, Sophia, Yisehak, Mohamed, Kelby, Namrata, Dylan, Ashtin, Airam, Fatima Alzhraa, April, Ahmed, Anisha, Emiliana, Lewi, Mei-Xing, Delilah, Own, Nathan, Nandita, Isabella, Lesly, Jivan, Isabella! A picture of these students is proudly displayed outside of the cafeteria for all to see. Congratulations, Panthers!

❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

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, 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 for childcare 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 which 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. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.

Quarter End StudentVUE/ParentVUE Gradebook Closure

Second Quarter Ends soon.

Quarter 2 officially ends on January 28, at 2:15 p.m. To ensure accurate and timely grade reporting, the Gradebook will be temporarily closed as teachers finalize grades and prepare report cards.

Gradebook Closure Details:

Start: Tuesday, January 28, at 4:00 p.m.
Reopen: Tuesday, February 4, at 6:00 a.m.

During this time, grades will not be accessible in the portal. Please encourage your child to address any outstanding assignments or questions with teachers before the closure. If you have any concerns about their academic progress, please don't hesitate to contact their teachers or school counselor to discuss necessary supports.

Report cards are issued quarterly and will be available in SIS StudentVUE/ParentVUE or mailed to families without ParentVUE accounts. Need info on grades?

Access Your Child’s Grades Through SIS ParentVue. Learn how your ParentVUE account allows you to easily access grade reports and other helpful information about your child.

College Partnership Program

The application process for the College Partnership Program (CPP) is now open. Interested 8th Grade students need to apply now to participate as a 9th grader in high school. See FCPS web site for more information about this program and the support it provides to students.

Applications are due February 28, 2025: CPP Application

For more information, visit the FCPS CPP Website.

Questions: Contact Nina Ghafori, School Counselor

Second Semester Schedules

Second semester begins Thursday, January 30th. Students will be able to see their schedules in SIS StudentVUE on Wednesday, January 29th at 4:00 pm. Students will also be given a printed copy of their new schedule. If students are taking semester classes, their new classes will begin on January 30th. For some students taking semester classes, their PE class period may change in order to accommodate their second semester elective. Student schedules are set, and we do not make schedule changes during the school year other than for academic reasons.

Student and Family Resources

Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.

RCMS Course Selection Events 2025-26 School Year

It is time to think about the 25-26 school year and January will begin our course selection season!

Please check our Academic Advising & Course Selection website for more detailed information about dates, deadlines, course descriptions, and more!

Both 7th and 8th graders will enter the 25-26 classes they want into SIS during school. Counselors will also meet individually with all students in January or February to answer questions. Parents can see the classes students selected in Student or ParentVue. Parents who do not have a ParentVue SIS account should request one here so that in March they can verify the classes their student has selected. We are looking forward to helping your child select classes for the upcoming school year !

School-life balance is an important consideration as students strive for academic and personal success. Families are welcome to contact their student’s school counselor with questions. More information will be shared soon.

Academy Open Houses