Rachel Carson Middle School
13618 McLearen Rd., Herndon, VA 20171 | 703-925-3600 | Fax: 703-925-3697

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Guidance & Student Services

Student Services Staff
Director of Student Services:
Cheryl Weaver
Registrar/Guidance Asst.
Lesa Lloyd 703-925-3614
Counselors:
Lead Counselor: Brenda Humphrey 703-925-3618
Teams: 7D, 8Z
Jamie Mahoney 703-925-3620
Teams: 7B, 8X
Rebecca Little 703-925-3619
Teams: 7C, 8Y
Joni Fraundorfer 703-925-3616
Teams: 7A, 8W
Amy McLaughlin 703-925-3617
Testing Coordinator
Parent Liaison
Maria DeBarrios 703-925-3603
Clerical Assistant
Celeste Moore 703-925-3613

Notes from Student Services
The Student Services staff has been very busy working with students, teachers, and parents to assist students to be more academically successful. Counselors work with students on their assigned teams in the classroom, individually, and in small groups. The counselors have spent time in the classroom this month working with students on each team to discuss the very important topic of bullying and sexual harassment. These lessons are presented as an extension of the Fairfax County Public Schools Student Rights and Responsibilities regulations. All counselors in all Fairfax County schools are required to teach awareness lessons on this topic to each grade level. We are hopeful that these lessons and information will foster a discussion of this topic at home as well.

Federal Impact Aid Forms
The first week in November your child will be bringing home a Federal Impact Aid Survey form for you to fill out and sign. The Federal Impact Aid Program attempts to compensate local school districts for their loss in tax revenue due to a federal presence in their district boundaries. This is especially important this year due to our budget shortfall. Last year Fairfax County Public Schools received approximately $3,500,000 under this program. All information given on this form is strictly confidential. Due to a strict deadline, it will be necessary to call those who do not turn in this form by the required due date. Thank you for your assistance in helping FCPS to provide the best education and services for all of our children. It is extremely important that you return this signed form!

Counseling Services
Counselors are assigned to two teams of students. The counselor is part of the instructional support staff for the students on each team and will meet students in the classroom to present classroom guidance units, in small groups, or individually. Students may initiate contact with the counselor by filling out a referral form and/or parents may request counselors to talk to students when there may be a problem that is interfering with the academic progress of the student. Counselors may meet with a small group of students over a period of weeks to help the students to address common issues or concerns that middle school students may experience. Some examples of these might include: making friends, how to deal with anger, improving study skills, and coping with divorce of parents. At no time will a student be part of an on-going counseling group without the permission of a parent or guardian. Counselors work with parents in a number of ways and they are available to set up and facilitate conferences with their team of teachers and/or administrators. When requested or indicated, counselors will assist parents by making referrals within the school system or to community agencies. In addition to helping parents with issues regarding their child, counselors will occasionally sponsor speakers and support groups for parents.

Report Cards & Interim Progress Reports
We encourage all students and parents to communicate regularly regarding their student’s academic progress in school. All students will be issued a Daily Assignment Book (DAB) with places for students to write their assignments on a daily basis. Please become familiar with this very helpful tool. One way teachers communicate with parents is through the Interim Progress Reports and the end of quarter Progress Reports (Report Cards). Please mark your calendar with these dates as the students will be bringing their reports home to you.

Online Student Forms
http://www.fcps.edu/forms.htm

If you have children in Fairfax County Public Schools, it's almost a certainty that you have suffered writer's cramp from filling out the many forms that come home at the beginning of each school year.
For your convenience, the Department of Instructional Technology has created sets of forms, referred to online as "bundles", which you may download, complete and print on your home computer. The bundles allow data entered on one form to be reused on all other forms in the group, reducing the number of times you have to enter the same information. Forms for children who need to use inhalers or take medication at school are also included for use as needed. If you have more than one child in Fairfax County Public Schools, there is even a feature to reset the forms and change only the child's name.