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Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Monday, October 12, is a student holiday and school planning day for Indigenous Peoples' Day. See the complete school year calendar.
Important Dates:
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10/12- Student Holiday (No School)- Indigenous Peoples' Day
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10/12-10/16- National School Lunch Week
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10/15- 7:00p Auditorium-Talent Show
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10/19-10/23- Digital Citizenship Week
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10/19-10/23- National School Bus Safety Week
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10/30- End of First Quarter (2-hour early release)
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11/02-Student Holiday- Teacher Workday
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11/03- Student Holiday- School Planning Day- Election Day
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11/08- Diwali
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11/25-11/27- Holiday- Thanksgiving Break
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06/10/27- 9:00AM- Graduation (Eagle Bank Arena)
SCHS ATTENDANCE INFORMATION 2026-27
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2-Hour Advance Notice Required: All early dismissal requests must be submitted at least two hours in advance. We will no longer process last-minute phone calls or messages for immediate pickup. Please plan appointments accordingly, as requests failing to meet this lead time will not be honored.
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Illness & Clinic Protocol: If a student feels ill, they MUST report to the School Clinic. Students will only be dismissed for medical reasons after being evaluated by the clinic staff and checked out from that location.
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Official Office Check-Out: All students leaving early must physically check out through the Main Office. Any student who leaves campus without following this procedure will be marked with an unexcused absence.
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Attendance Corrections: If a student is marked UNV for a specific period due to lateness or a clerical error, the student must speak with that teacher directly. The teacher will then update the attendance or notify the attendance team. The Attendance Offices will not alter period-specific attendance without teacher verification.
These procedures are in place to ensure student safety and a focused learning environment. We thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain an accurate and secure campus.
Report a Full-Day Absence-The fastest way is to use ParentVUE.
Alternative Methods
Message from Dr. Khoshaba
Greetings, SoCo families,
Fall always brings me back fond memories of walking to class at Radford University, smiling as the scent of wood burning in fireplaces filled the air. Those crisp walks became some of my favorite memories of the season. At SoCo, we hope to create equally lasting memories for our Stallions, each one unique to the students, experiences, and traditions that make our school special. Let’s review this week’s reflections …
Sense of Belonging
Our Custodians Keep SoCo Shining!
On Custodian Appreciation Day, we celebrated the people who keep SoCo shining from floor to ceiling. Their hard work makes our school a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming place for everyone. We’re grateful for all they do, and we wouldn’t sweep their contributions under the rug! We appreciate our amazingly talented and friendly team of custodians!
On Par for Greatness
Congratulations to senior Kamryn Garg, our District Golf Champion and fifth-place finisher in the Occoquan Region. His outstanding season has earned him a spot at the State Championship on October 13 at Bristow Manor. We’re cheering him on as he takes his talents to the next level!
Friday Night Lights, Stallion Style
Our football team delivered a stellar shutout, defeating Fairfax 33–0 last Friday. The Stallions’ strength, speed, and teamwork kept the scoreboard shining in our favor. Congratulations to the team on a fantastic performance!
Senior Night Victory in Overtime
On Senior Night, our field hockey team edged West Springfield 1–0 in overtime for a memorable win. The Stallions stood strong like a wall, keeping the game scoreless until the decisive goal. Congratulations to our seniors and the entire team on a thrilling finish!
Dig Pink, Serve Hope
This week, our volleyball teams took the court for the Dig Pink game, serving up support for breast cancer research. The event raised money and awareness for this important cause. Our Stallions earned an impressive 3-1 victory over Robinson. Thank you to everyone who helped make the night meaningful!
High Quality Instruction
I had the opportunity to observe one of our very talented teachers this week, Mrs. Ettenson, in an Honors English 10 class. Students learned in a welcoming, calm classroom where small-group seating and student artwork made the space inviting. Mrs. Ettenson used clear examples and visual reminders to help students work together to put sentence strips in order, explain their choices, and stay on task throughout the observation. We are fortunate to have Mrs. Ettenson at SoCo, where her thoughtful teaching helps students feel welcome, engaged, and ready to learn.
School Culture
SoCo Continues Being “Distinguished!”
Virginia’s School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF) evaluates high schools on mastery, readiness, and graduation outcomes. South County earned 96.02% overall, including 94.34% in Mastery, 98.00% in Readiness, and 96.93% in Graduation, placing us in the highest rating possible: Distinguished. Our score rose two points from last year, and we thank our students, staff, parents, and everyone in the SoCo community for helping us reach even higher.
SoCo’s Purple Pride Shines Again!
South County High School has earned the Virginia Purple Star School designation for the second time, recognizing our strong commitment to supporting military-connected students and their families. The award recognizes schools that provide dedicated support, including a staff point of contact and schoolwide learning about the needs of military-connected families. Thank you to everyone who helps make SoCo a welcoming and supportive place for our military-connected students!
Mark Your Calendars!
Speaking of being a military-welcoming school, we are hosting our second annual Veteran’s Day assembly on Wednesday, November 11 from 10:15-11:15am. Based on parent requests last year, we are opening seats for this event to parents this year as well as our students. If you are interested in attending, we are requesting parents to complete this rsvp link so we can properly screen and reserve seats for our visitors. This is going to be a wonderful celebration of our military, which will include adult and student testimonies, musical and dance performances, and so much more. We look forward to celebrating our military at this special event.
Impact That Inspires!
Congratulations to Mr. Dan Velazquez on earning an FCPS Impact Award for empowering students through strong partnerships and a supportive classroom. He has secured grants to bring students to TSA conferences, encouraged more female and minority students to explore STEM, and shared his teaching at an international engineering educators’ conference. Dan’s summer learning and advocacy for stronger connections between high school and college engineering programs show his lasting commitment to opening doors for students. We’re proud of Mr. Velazquez for the many ways he champions our students and strengthens the supportive, welcoming culture that makes SoCo special.
Friday Night Lights, Family Style
As we cheer on our Stallions and continue enhancing the positive experience that everyone enjoys, this is a reminder that all middle school students must attend football games with their parent or guardian and remain with them throughout the game. High school students who do not attend an FCPS school must also be accompanied by their parent. Thank you for helping keep game nights safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Coach’s Corner
Mid-October is a crucial time for students to review feedback on recent assignments, clear up any lingering questions, and refine their study habits before the end of the quarter. You can support your students at home by asking them to show you a recent rubric-based assignment and discussing the specific strategies they are using to prepare for the rest of the quarter.
That’s it for this week. I hope you all have an exceptional weekend!
 Kambar
#RunTogetherRiseAsOne!
Sources of Strength will be hosting our annual Talent Show on October 15 at 7 pm in the auditorium. We will have singing, dancing, comedy acts and some special performances by Staff Members. Tickets are $5.00 and can be purchased at the door or on My School Bucks.
Leadership is looking for help with some decorations for Homecoming! All decorations will be delivered directly to South County. Thank you!
https://a.co/03IXp7Aw
ASVAB Testing
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 Tuesday, December 1. This is a GREEN day. Students must be 16 years of age on December 1st to take the test.
Students must be logged in to their school accounts for access to registration form here - ASVAB Registration
Detailed information on the ASVAB can be found at: https://www.asvabprogram.com/
Practice questions are available at: https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/asvab
More information can be found on your student’s graduating class Schoology page.
Please note that the registration deadline has changed. Registration for the ASVAB will close at 11:59 PM on Friday, October 30, 2026.
World Language Credit By Exam (WLCBE)
This year's World Languages Credit by Exam (WLCBE) will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school. The exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits.
The WLCBE will be administered at South County High School between November 4 and 24. Exact dates and times will be determined after registrations are complete.
Registration opens on September 8 at 8 a.m., and closes on October 16 at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.
Please contact your student’s school counselor to register for the exam.
Students can complete a pre-registration interest form in order to learn more about the exam. This form is NOT a registration form, and students must follow up with their school counselor to complete the registration process.
More information, including the list of languages offered on the exam, and how to register is available online.
PBIS School Store!
Help us stock our new PBIS School Store! Students will be able to redeem the points they earn for demonstrating our core values of community, integrity, and resilience for fun prizes and school supplies. We are seeking donations of new items from our Amazon list to help make the store a success. Your support will help us recognize our students!
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/26BJLLE2I1Z60?ref_=wl_share
South County High School Hosts VMBC Marching Band Competition
Experience the excitement, energy, and pageantry of marching band as South County High School hosts the South County Invitational on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Spectators will enjoy powerful music, creative visual performances, colorful uniforms, dynamic choreography, and talented marching bands from across Northern Virginia and the state competing for top honors on the field.
The event will be held at South County High School, located at 8501 Silverbrook Road in Lorton. Gates open at 12:00 p.m. and the event goes until 9:00 p.m. General admission is $10, and tickets may be purchased with cash or credit card. Concessions will be available throughout the event.
For the performance schedule and additional event information, visit www.vmbc-online.org/soco
Annual Special Education Family Conference
The Annual Special Education Family Conference, “Connected Communities, Thriving Students,” brings families together to learn, connect, and celebrate student success. The program includes an opening panel discussion, more than 20 concurrent breakout sessions, a student showcase, and an exhibit hall. Join us Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School.
Special Education Family Conference.pdf
Supporting 2e Learners.pdf
STEAMOLOGY STEMFest 2026
Join us for STEAMOLOGY STEMFest 2026, a fun day of discovery and creativity for elementary and middle school students. Explore hands-on robotics, coding, engineering, science experiments, math activities, and more on Saturday, October 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at South County High School; students can register, and volunteers, exhibitors, businesses, organizations, and high school clubs are invited to participate.
STEMFESTOct2026Flyerv2 (1).pdf
ATHLETICS CORNER
Football Game Safety and Security Update
FCPS is implementing additional safety and security measures at all varsity football games.
Beginning this season, all spectators will participate in security screening using the same weapons detection technology introduced in our high schools last school year. A standardized bag policy will also be in place to help ensure a safe, efficient entry process for everyone attending our games.
The following items are prohibited:
- Backpacks
- Purses
- Tote bags
- Outside food and beverages
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Sporting equipment (balls, bats,sticks, etc.)
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Any item prohibited by FCPS policy, or determined by event staff to present safety concerns.
Approved bags are limited to:
- Clear plastic, vinyl, or pvc bags no larger than 12” x 6” x 12”
- Small clutch bag no larger than 6.5” x 4.5”
- Medical and diaper bags permitted but subject to inspection
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