The results are in!

In the poll concerning whether or not kindergarteners should be allowed iPads for instructional use, 20% of you voters responded with a "yes", while 79% of your stallions responded "no". Thanks for voting and showing your participation in the South County Courier! Keep it up!

You Can Use Your Laptops and Kindles in Class!

No, really.  Starting today, we, stallions can begin to register our personally owned devices. According to the Instructional Council and Rob Sanders, students must follow the procedure in order to properly register and avoid confiscation under SR&R. (read below)

1.       During the first 30 minutes of the FLEX PERIOD, the student must ask permission of his/her teacher to register their devices.

2.       The student must have the signed permission form and the devices with him/her.  If they do not have these items, do not give them permission to leave.

3.       If you provide permission, sign the student’s planner and send them to room E102.

4.       Once they complete the registration process they will return to class.

 

Remember to ask your teachers for permission in their classrooms before using your electronics. Let us know your comments, questions, or concerns on this new issue/policy. 

 

If you have any doubts or immediate questions, please see security or your subschool.

 

Football Friday Nights

The varsity football team beat T.C. Williams on Sept. 23 by a score of 35-13. They play Robinson at home on Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Photos Courtesy of Linda Basnight

Picture Days This Thursday and Friday

South County student picture days are this Thurs., Sept. 29 and Fri., Sept. 30. Students will have their photos taken in the auditorium during a specified class period.

They Grow Up So Fast...

Today is Google’s 13^th Birthday. The search engine, which was first launched in September 1998, has become a worldwide phenomenon and household name.

The exact date of its birthday has changed from year to year, but, since 2002, Google has celebrated the same way: with a doodle. Now, entering into teenage-dom, the search engine is taking on new heights and facing new peers.

Want to read the entire story?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/happy-13th-birthday-google/2011/09/27/gIQA5fmp1K_story.html

courtesy of Washington Post

We're baaaaaaaack!

Ask Stella is back! Have problems and need advice? Or just general questions about what is happening around the school? Ask Stella Stallion, the Courier's advice columnist!


www.formspring.me/goaskstella

Library Assesses and Changes Policy for Student Athletes

This letter to the newspaper staff was received on Mon., Sept. 26 in response to a student editorial published on this blog on Sun., Sept. 18 ( Original Editorial )

Dear Nicole,

I appreciate your thoughtful blog in the Digital Courier and the opportunity to address your concerns about student athletes using the library after school.  Our current policy requiring athletes to use athletic study halls dates back to the time when South County was on a dual bell schedule and the middle school was still in session when the high school classes were released.  The library could not be open to the large numbers of high school students who wanted to stay after school because the middle school instructional day was still in session. The athletic study halls were established at that time so athletes would have a place to stay after school to study and do homework until practice started.

However, times have changed and your blog post made us realize that it was time for us to reconsider a policy that is no longer relevant. Several of your coaches do not work at South County and cannot be here to provide a team study hall. You also lack computers in the rooms where the study halls are held, creating a disadvantage to those who need to conduct online research or type assignments.  And, more importantly, South County has been on a single bell schedule for three years now and there is no longer any reason to limit access to the library after school.

Therefore, after consulting with our Athletic Director, Mr. Pflugrath, we are changing our policy. Our doors will be open to any South County student who wants to use the library after school for quiet independent study.  Our goal is, as it has always been, to offer a welcoming, supportive environment where we can provide the resources and support every student needs to be successful academically. 

It is ironic that a policy that was originally intended to insure that our athletes had a place to study before practice had the unintended consequence of denying them access to possibly the best place to study!  We appreciate that you took the time and initiative to point this out to us.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Cordek

Head Librarian

SATs on Saturday at SCSS

The SAT will be held this Sat., Oct. 1 at South County SS.

Students should arrive around 7:30 a.m. and come in Entrance 1 only.  Gates will be open to the testing room around 7:45 a.m.  Doors will be closed at 8:15 a.m.

Please do NOT bring cell phones – ETS policy is that cell phones must be turned off (not vibrate or silent) during testing and must be in view of the proctor.  Any student whose phone goes off during testing, or who is seen using a phone during the break, will have their scores cancelled and their phones confiscated until it can be confirmed that no testing material has been shared.  Best idea – leave them at home or in your car.

Please bring your picture ID and your printed web ticket – these are how you are identified by the room proctors and will be checked as you enter the room and after each break.

Please bring #2 pencils – real wood ones not mechanical – the mechanical ones will poke holes in the essay and may not always contain #2 lead, so SAT does not allow them for scoring purposes.

Please bring your own calculator – proctors will not have these for you.  You should bring back-up batteries if you need them.

Parents – do not plan on picking your child up until 12:45 to 1 p.m.  Parents are not allowed in the testing center once testing begins.

Junior Stallionette Fundraiser Underway

The South County dance team is offering their Jr. Stallionette “Dance with Us” program again this year around Homecoming activities. 

This fundraiser consists of a dance workshop and pizza party on Sat., Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the main gym at South County. Participants will then dance at the Homecoming football game on Fri., Oct. 21 at 7:15 p.m. This program is targeted for second through twelfth grade students. For more information contact Wendy Alexander at wendy.alexander@fcps.edu.

Did You Know...

...the SCSS Athletic Boosters Club has a new Fan Shop accessible through the www.stallionsports.org website?

Well now you do!

SCSS Fest Postponed

Due to the impending rain, the SCSS Fest originally scheduled for Sept. 23 has been postponed until Fri., Oct. 28.  The class of 2012 officers and sponsors coordinated with the middle school drama department to combine their Haunted House and the SCSS Fest before the game on this night. 

From Chris Miller

Senior Class Co-Sponsor

Congratulations to the SCSS Golf Team

Congratulations to Coach John Caulfield and the South County Golf Team for winning the Patriot District Championship. This is the first District Championship in Golf in the school's history.

Congratulations to senior Josh Carey for winning the individual championship as the best golfer in the Patriot District.

From Mike Pflugrath

Director of Student Activities

Freshmen Promote Self-Confidence around School

The traditional morning routine for the average high-school female is to wake up, hours before school starts, in order to prepare themselves: not mentally, but physically. They apply make-up, straighten or curl their hair, and tirelessly strain over clothes for that day. Freshmen Peyton E. and Annaliese S. were the instigators in a day of natural hair, plain tees, and no make-up: confidence day. The two started an event about the day on Facebook late one night, "and it spread like wild fire," said Peyton. 

Through the continuing spread of word, the day went off successfully. All who witnessed and participated were impacted, and many students hope that there is another confidence day soon so that they might participate as well. 

Freshman thought of Confidence Day while scanning through the internet. Though only participated in by freshman, the two hope to repeat this day and include girls from all grades.

2011 South Fairfax Chamber Challenge

The annual 10K, family fitness fair, and fun run went off as a success this past Sunday, September 18. Many local students and family members were in attendance to cheer on the runners and to learn about their own fitness. As well, the younger generation was able to thoroughly enjoy themselves with an inflatable ironman, tattoos, and carnival games.

(Above) A junior stays enthusiastic for a fun fair-going child who attempts crazy golf, while a senior poses for a photo op. (Below) Juniors help a girl apply a tatto.

(Above) A happy child slides down the end of the ironman inflatable.



The Back To School Edition!

Click here for the Back to School Edition!

Library Adds Hurdle for Athletes

Editorial written by Feature Editor, Nicole Wittkopp

I, Nicole, run cross country. Thus, after the school day ends at 2:05, I have an entire hour and ten minutes before I need to be on the track for the start of practice. Some days, I decide to drive home and spend a little time catching up with my family and cooling down from the day. In times when I have no job, though, the extra cost of that second run to and from school for the day can get costly in gas money. 

So, on the days when I decide not to go back home, I have to have somewhere to go. I chose, one day, the library. Apparently, that was a big mistake. Within minutes of cracking open an SAT prep book to start studying for the math section of October’s SAT (what I considered a studious and time-worthy decision), I heard the librarians grilling my teammates on where their passes were. A drawstring bag or your hair in pre-wrap, set you as a target. 

“What sport do you play?” the voice asked student after student. 

If the answer was football or cross country, I witnessed kids turned away, told to get a pass from a coach and then come back or stay in their study hall. At least one of these athletes returned pass-less, reporting “My coach wasn’t there.” 

“You’re going to have to take that up with student services,” the librarian said.

By now, a lot of time had passed. All around me, the students who WERE NOT involved in sports had a chunk of uninterrupted time to study, read, and work on homework and projects. None of these students were questioned. Meanwhile, my team-mates, many of whom are enrolled in demanding honors, AP, and pre-AP classes, were scouring the halls for a student services director, a coach, or a study hall to make their hour gap of time more productive. 

Luckily, no one asked me if I was a part of any sport. I guess I didn’t look the athletic type? I whispered to the girl near me that if the librarians were to ask me, they had better be ready for an argument. 

As  far as I’m concerned, we athletes are STUDENTS first and foremost and should be allotted the time and resources to assume that role. It’s almost as if by being a part of a student activity, we’ve given up our privilege for student resources. Why does a girl who doesn’t run cross country get to type up a report while a boy who plays football has to sit in a classroom with their coach? There’s no reason for us to be held up by the librarians and told to leave the library, a place that is open to students after school, and can be a great complement to learning.

If I want to spend some time on the computers or studying for my standardized tests, apparently I have to be prepared to jump over hurdles.  As an athlete, it seems the librarians assume, I should expect no less. 

Have an opinion about something going on in or around the school? Write about it! Then send it to us with your name and grade to soco.courier@yahoo.com to get published here on The Digital Courier. 

iPads and Kindergarteners

According to ABC, many schools are trying out a new educational direction: utilizing iPads in order to connect to the younger generation. Cutting down on the need for pencils, textbooks, and paper, these technological advancements in the classroom could allow for students to learn to read and write in a way that has never been done before. Some believe, like Gary Savard, that it should come later in life."They should first learn how to read, write, and do at least basic math before being handed over electronic gadgets," said Savard. 

(want the full story? http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/apple-ipad-learning-tool-kindergarten-maine-tennessee-south/story?id=14509290)

How do you feel and what's your opinion? Use the poll on the right-hand side and tell use what you feel!

Do you know...

...how to buy a yearbook, Stallions?

Go to http://www.yearbookforever.com/ and buy your South County high school and/or middle school yearbook today! Pre-ordering is now underway for a June delivery.

And now you know!

Well, it's not SNOW!

However it is a day off already--on day 4 of the young school year.

Enjoy your day and stay safe. Reports of flooded roads (Lorton between 123 & Furnace for one) around South County have been reported. Don't drive through standing water, Stallions!

Here are some photos of the outstanding amounts of water during the storms, which were actually the after-effects of Tropical Depression Lee:

Timmy H. went barefoot through the rain. He wanted to keep his new shoes looking nice, so he kept them in his backpack instead. 

The 2011-2012 School Year in Full Swing

Students are back and it's time to see what's going on in the halls and classrooms at South County this fall. Do you have pictures of South County students participating in events at school or in the community? Submit them to our blog! In the meantime, see who you recognize below!

Photos from the first week:

Home Opener!

Congratulations to the varsity football team's newest senior captains Devin Vandyke, Jeremy Haynes, and Cody Smith who played hard alongside their team this past Friday, September 2nd during the season's first home game. Unfortunately they experienced a 0-7 loss against Hayfield, but the school was still behind them in spirit and came out to pack the stands.(Senior Timmy Hunt was also named captain but was unable to play Friday due to an injury).

(Above) Cheerleaders lead chants in perfect unison. (Below) The away stands were packed as the the rivalry against Hayfield was revisited. 

(Above) Senior JP B. (#50), stands on the sidelines, watching his teammates. Blake is the teams starting center. 

(Above) The Marching Stallions perform as the half-time show. They, along with the color guard, practiced in the parking lot all August.

(Above and Below) Seniors show their spirit in the senior section. For $10, they could buy a "hype squad" shirt which was worn by many at the game on Friday.

(Above) Stallions break after a huddle, preparing themselves for a strategic play. (Below) On the sideline, teammates stand watching. Throughout the game, players yell out advice and instructions to one another.  

(Above) The varsity cheer team peps up the crowd with a series of stunts. (Below) The referee waits during one of the many time outs during the game. These time-outs allow for coaches to step onto the field and speak to players, tweaking specifics for the next play. 

(Above) Ready to run once the ball is snapped, senior Michael Ferguson (#8) stands poised. Ferguson is also the teams kicker.

(Above) Parents and Boosters sit in the stands, watching the game and cheering on the players. (Below) The Marching Stallions wait for the que to begin playing either encouraging or celebrating tunes for the crowd, and team, to hear. 

7th Grade Locker Night

Last night, September 1st, from 5-7 pm, young and anxious students new to the "big" school environment, attended South County's locker night, along with their parents and packed backpacks. This locker night was supposed to be a night when the youngest students in the school could have a jumpstart on the first day antics, especially since they aren't allowed backpacks in their classes.

(Above) A mother questions a locker location.  (Below) Students and parents wait patiently in line to drop off signed forms to receive their locker number and combination. Locker pods, for middle school, are separated by gender. 

Excited new seventh graders pause to have their pictures taken in the midst of Locker Night.

Chloe (above, left) stands by her newly furnished locker, ready for the first day of school; it's complete with a Shaun White newspaper clipping in the back. Katie T. (above, right) stands, holding supplies, as she prepares her locker with all the essentials. 

Mothers give their children a chance to venture by themselves and take a break to sit and chat.