Raising the Bar: South County Middle School Preps for School Year

The teachers are in place and the doors are ready to open. South County Middle School has enrolled more than 1,000 students and principal Marsha Manning is setting the bar high.

"Our goal is to build on our foundation and also raise additional expectations," said principal Marsha Manning, who was named Fairfax County's outstanding first year principal last year. "We are known as a community school, and we need and encourage parent involvement and support."

The first day of school is Sept. 3, 2013. 

This is the second school year for the middle school. 

In 2008, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors allocated $10 million to the school system to build an addition to South County Secondary School (which is now a high school due to the opening of the middle school), which packed the building over capacity with middle and high school students. That same year, the Board voted to build a new school instead, and saved $35 million by using the development plans for Glasgow Middle School and swapping land with the Fairfax County Park Authority. 

Manning said students will focus on building their critical and creative thinking skills.

"We're going to more project and problem-based learning in the real world outside the classroom, and for our 7th grade science classes it means trips to the Chesapeake Bay watershed," she said. 

Important Dates:

South County Middle School
8700 Laurel Crest Dr.

• Mustang Round-Up: Wed., Aug. 28, 5:00 p.m. (7th graders) and 6:00 p.m.(8th Graders)
• Seventh Grade Locker Night: Thurs., Aug. 29, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.  
• New Student Orientation: Fri., Aug. 30, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• "Middle School 101": New Parent Orientation: Fri., Aug. 30, 8:45 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.