Weekly News From South County High School

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Important Dates:

Feb12- 7:00pm (Auditorium)- Partners for Safe Teen Driving
Feb 15- National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day
Feb 16- Presidents Day
Feb 17- Lunar New Year / Ramadan begins at Sundown (Teacher work day)
Feb 18- Ash Wednesday and First Full Day of Ramadan
Feb 24-28- Public Schools Week
March 1-7- National School Social Work Week
March 2- Read Across America Day
March 8- Daylight Saving Time Begins (Spring Forward)
March 20- Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr
March 27- Quarter End/Early Release
Mar 30 to Apr 6- Spring Break / Teacher Workday
Apr 27- 7:00pm (Auditorium)- Partners for Safe Teen Driving
Jun 5- 2:00pm- Class of 2026 Graduation- Eagle Arena

SCHS ATTENDANCE INFORMATION 2025-26

Report a Full-Day Absence-The fastest way is to use ParentVUE.

Alternative Methods

Last Name Range	Email	Phone Line
A-Dh	southcountyhs.attendanceA-Dh@fcps.edu	703-446-1890
Di-K	southcountyhs.attendanceDi-K@fcps.edu	703-446-1891
L-Raj	southcountyhs.attendanceL-Raj@fcps.edu	703-446-1892
Rak-Z	southcountyhs.attendanceRak-Z@fcps.edu	703-446-1893

Required Details

Provide the student's full name, ID, and date(s) of absence, along with your name, relationship, and contact number, and the specific reason. (Student-reported absences will not be excused.)

Key Reminders

Late Arrivals: Must check in at Door 1 (Main Office).
Early Pick-Up: No pick-up after 2:15 PM. Check-outs in the last 30 minutes require prearrangement or a call before 12:00 PM.

Message from Dr. Khoshaba

Greetings SoCo families,

In my 29-year career as a public educator, I can honestly say I’ve never experienced a week quite like this one. The sheer amount of snow, paired with stubbornly freezing temperatures, had us scrambling each morning to adjust and readjust to a 2-hour delay schedule, every single day. Through it all, our staff, students, and families showed patience, flexibility, and good humor in the face of unpredictable conditions. And now, with hallways full and classrooms buzzing again, it’s simply nice to have everyone back where we belong. As one of my favorite murals in our school reminds us, “Now that you’re here, we’re more complete.”

Student and Staff Belonging

Recognizing History. Celebrating Impact.

We are proud to celebrate Black History Month and to honor the rich history, resilience, and remarkable contributions of Black leaders, artists, scholars, and change-makers. Throughout the month, our school will come alive with meaningful moments of learning and reflection, from vibrant wall décor that tells powerful stories to a schoolwide assembly that brings those stories to life. These purposeful programs and powerful presentations give us the opportunity to learn together, reflect together, and celebrate together as a community. We look forward to a month of celebration that deepens understanding, sparks conversation, and strengthens our shared sense of belonging.

Champions of Care and Clarity

We were proud to celebrate School Counselor Appreciation Week this past week and to recognize the extraordinary impact our counseling team has on our school community. In 2026, our students need counselors more than ever, to help them navigate academic pressures, social and emotional challenges, and a world that feels increasingly complex and fast-moving. Having a father who served as a high school counselor for more than 30 years gave me a deep appreciation for this work and the quiet dedication it takes to support students through some of the most important moments of their lives. A heartfelt thank-you and special shout-out to Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Hanley, Mr. Echols, Mrs. Naghmi, Mr. Bigus, Mrs. Maslowski, Mrs. Gunderman, Mrs. Freeman, Mrs. Biehl, and Mrs. Garrison. We are deeply grateful for your compassion, expertise, and unwavering commitment to our students every single day.

Living Our Values, Leading Our Community

This week, we are proud to honor students and staff who were recognized for bringing our core values (honor, trust, curiosity, and hope) to life in meaningful and visible ways.

Lily Parker was nominated for being a steadfast friend who brings light and hope into every school day through her kindness and care for others.

Emma was celebrated for her trustworthiness and her warm, welcoming spirit; someone peers feel comfortable talking to and relying on, not just as a friend, but as a genuine presence of goodness in our community.

Madame Baker was recognized as a true force of goodness and support, inspiring learning, excellence, and a deep love of education in those around her.

Together, these recognitions remind us that our core values are not just words. They are lived every day through the actions of people like Lily, Emma, and Madame Baker. Congratulations to each of these inspirational Stallions.

School Culture

Hoops, Hype, and Heart!

Get ready, SoCo fans! Our first-ever Community Basketball Game is going to be epic! Students from Silverbrook will kick things off with a quarter of fast-paced action, followed by a quarter featuring our Inclusive Learning Program students showing off their skills, and then it’s GAME ON for two full quarters of our students taking on a team of teachers in the ultimate showdown. Each quarter will have its own cheer squad (yes, even our faculty cheerleaders) bringing energy, spirit, and maybe a little friendly chaos. Mark your calendars for March 17, 2026 from 6:00—8:00pm, because this game promises laughs, cheers, and memories you’ll be talking about all year long!Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Safe, Sound, and On Point

We’re proud to share that our school currently has the lowest alarm rates in FCPS since the launch of the new Open Gate Weapons Detection system. That success speaks to a community that understands expectations, follows procedures, and shows up ready to learn. Simply put, we’re setting the gold standard for security… and doing it without setting off any bells!

Staff Spotlight

This week, our spotlight shines not on one individual, but on a group of Stallions who literally cleared the way for us to return to school. We are incredibly grateful for our custodians, who worked tirelessly through some of the coldest temperatures to clear snow and keep our school safe and accessible. Like steadfast sculptors shaping a winter landscape, they transformed icy, snow-covered grounds into pathways for learning and connection. Led by Building Supervisor Evelyn Lizama and Assistant Supervisor KK Yeboah, this team’s dedication often goes unseen, but the warmth and safety they create for our students and staff is felt every single day.

Coach's Corner

South County teachers are ensuring students understand how to use rubrics as tools for guiding their learning and assessing their work. You can reinforce this at home by reviewing rubrics for assignments together and discussing what specific criteria are being evaluated. This helps your student understand expectations and take ownership of meeting them, bridging classroom assessment tools with home understanding.

What’s Cooking This Week?

Stay in the know about all our delicious school lunch options by checking our up-to-date menu online. Click here to see what’s on the menu and plan your meals for the week!

Closing Thoughts: Standing Strong for 20 Years

As we wrap up this week, we celebrate not just the resilience of our students, staff, and community, but also 20 years of standing strong together: through challenges, triumphs, and everything in between. Even during these cold, wintry days, we’re reminded that our spirit stays warm and our dedication never wavers. After all, we’re not just SoCo… we’re SoCool, proving that even chilly weather can’t freeze the strength, joy, and pride that make our school community extraordinary.

Kambar

#StandingStrongFor20Years!

College Partnership Program

College Partnership Program (CPP)

The College Partnership Program focuses on closing the opportunity gap by preparing students for college readiness and success through academic advising, college visits, family engagement and preparation beyond high school. CPP’s goal is to ensure that students capable of completing a college preparatory path will: succeed in rigorous curriculum, actively participate in the school community, enroll in a four-year college or another post-secondary program, and become responsible participants and leaders of society.

Would you benefit from the following elements?

Attending monthly meetings during Stallion Time to learn about colleges, careers, and a variety of pathways to postsecondary success
Going on field trips to visit colleges and universities
Getting and staying motivated to succeed in school

Do you fit into ONE or more of the following categories?

First in your family to attend a four-year college in the U.S.
Need financial support to attend college
Current GPA of 2.5 or above
Determined to go to college
Willing to take some advanced courses and put in the necessary work
Good attendance record

If you’ve answered “yes” to any of the above, then CPP might be for you!

Additional information about CPP is on the FCPS website, and students with questions are encouraged to speak with their school counselors or one of the South County program advocates: Mrs. Lewis, Mr. Mims, Mrs. Straughn, and Ms. Biehl.

Students must be logged into their fcpsschools accounts to use this link and access the application. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 on February 20th.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) - April 9th

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is for Juniors and Seniors interested in career exploration or with plans to enlist in the military after graduation. The ASVAB will be offered at South County on Thursday, April 9th. This is a GREEN day.

Students must be logged in to their school accounts for access to registration form here - https://forms.gle/CGqEjvYoov8LRLft8

Detailed information on the ASVAB can be found at: https://www.todaysmilitary.com/joining/asvab-test

Practice questions are available at: https://www.todaysmilitary.com/joining/asvab-test-sample-questions

Registration for the ASVAB will close at 11:59 PM on Friday, March 6, 2026.

All Current 10^th grade HPE students are required to attend one of the 4 scheduled PSTD (Partners for Safe Teen Driving) sessions held here at South County. This is part of the completion of the classroom portion of the Drivers Education curriculum in 10^th grade HPE.

Students and a parent/guardian are required to attend one of the 90 minute session on one of the 4 evenings.

Sessions begin promptly at 7:00 pm in the auditorium- doors will close at that time with no late admittance.

PSTD Dates:

February 12, 2026
April 27, 2026

2026 CTE Summer Academy

CTE Summer Academy is a weekly enrichment program that allows students to dive deeper into CTE program areas, and encourages skill development and career exploration.

Students choose 4 classes each week they participate and learn new content, discover interests, and build their skills.

Details:

Eligibility: Current 6 to 11 graders
Time - 8:30 am to 2 pm* *Early drop off begins at 7:30 am; after care ends at 5 pm

New to 2026! We’re offering after care!

Location - Robinson SS
Transportation from select FCPS schools is provided!
Cost - $300 per week Back for 2026 programs, we will be offering tuition assistance. More information on our webpages.
Dates -

Week 1: July 6 - 10

Week 2: July 13 - 17

Week 3: July 20 - 24

Week 4: July 27 - 31

New to 2026! We’re offering a 4th week of our programs!

Different weekly offerings; weekly themes and class offerings can be found on our webpages!

Class Options:

Students will choose four (4) classes each week to build their own specialized summer learning program. Courses are available in all CTE program areas: Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical, Marketing, Technology and Engineering, and Trade and Industrial.

Classes offered through CTE Summer Academy are introductory and do not require previous knowledge of the content.

For the list and schedule of classes being offered, please visit our webpage!

Registration:

Registration is open from February 2 to June 5, 2026.

Students can register online by visiting the CTE Summer Academy webpage and clicking on the register button.

More Information:

Visit the CTE Summer Academy webpage: bit.ly/FCPS_CSA for more information!

See attached flyer