Rachel Carson Middle School
Encyclopedia
Rachel Carson Middle School is a middle school
in unincorporated
Fairfax County
, Virginia
, United States
, southwest of Herndon
. The school is part of Fairfax County Public Schools
. Its principal is August Frattali. Opened in the 1998-1999 school year, it is named after the biologist Rachel Carson
and was a School To Watch in Virginia in 2004, 2007, and 2010.
Due to its location, and the fact that it has a AAP (Advanced Academics Program
) program, students come from an assortment of elementary schools, and graduate to a variety of high schools. Students attend either Westfield High School
, Chantilly High School
, Oakton High School
, South Lakes High School
, or other private schools as their high school. If they qualify, they may go to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
in Alexandria, Virginia
. Elementary school feeders include Floris, Crossfield, McNair, Fox Mill, Hunters Woods, Coates, Poplar Tree
, Hunters Woods, Lee's Corner, Oak Hill, Waples Mill, Navy, and Dogwood.
In November 2008, volunteers helped plant more than one thousand trees around the school.
, drama (both beginning and advanced), men and women's chorus, orchestra, band, art, a computer solutions class and home economics
classes. For 8th graders, Spanish and French are available as high school-level electives. For the 7th grade, a class called "Introduction to Foreign Languages" (IFL) provides a brief introduction either Spanish or French. It should be noted however, that this is just a very basic course with students learning little more than basic phrases in each of those languages. There will be an addition of an Broadcasting elective where the students will replace the volunteer Morning Announcements crew.
The school offers a Japanese language immersion program and features the AAP program
.
Rachel Carson offers an assortment of extracurricular activities, including but not limited to: Astronomy Club, Intramurals, International Club, Homework Club, and Jazz Ensemble (Jazz Band). In addition, two school plays are held each year; one is for advanced drama students only, the other is open to all students.
With the exception of an annual Faculty vs. Student Sports game, Rachel Carson Middle School has no organized sports leagues.
The school has partnerships with EDS
, Scitor Corporation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
7th grade:
8th grade:
Each team has its own set of locker pods and core classrooms (Science, English, History/Civics, and Mathematics — unless students are taking Math 7 Honors, Math 8 Honors, Algebra I Honors, or Geometry Honors (occasionally Algebra 2, now removed due to new restrictions).
, MATHCOUNTS
, American Computer Science League (ACSL),Technology Student Associacion(TSA), Science Olympiad, First Lego League (FLL) and the American Mathematics Competition(AMC). Carson also usually sends a representative to the state Mathcounts competition.
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, southwest of Herndon
Herndon, Virginia
Herndon is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area of the United States. The population was 21,655 at the 2000 census, which makes it the largest of three towns in the county.-History:...
. The school is part of Fairfax County Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools
The Fairfax County Public Schools system is a branch of the Fairfax County government which administers public schools in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax...
. Its principal is August Frattali. Opened in the 1998-1999 school year, it is named after the biologist Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson
Rachel Louise Carson was an American marine biologist and conservationist whose writings are credited with advancing the global environmental movement....
and was a School To Watch in Virginia in 2004, 2007, and 2010.
Gifted education
Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented...
) program, students come from an assortment of elementary schools, and graduate to a variety of high schools. Students attend either Westfield High School
Westfield High School (Fairfax County, Virginia)
Westfield High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, west of the Chantilly CDP.It is a part of Fairfax County Public Schools , serving students from the communities including Chantilly and Centreville as well as areas with Herndon addresses in...
, Chantilly High School
Chantilly High School
Chantilly High School is a high school located in the Chantilly CDP in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. It is part of the Fairfax County Public Schools system.-Overview:...
, Oakton High School
Oakton High School
Oakton High School is a public high school in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in proximity to the town of Vienna, in the United States. It is part of Fairfax County Public Schools....
, South Lakes High School
South Lakes High School
South Lakes High School is the primary high school for the community of Reston in Fairfax County, Virginia. The school, part of Fairfax County Public Schools, had 1,860 students in the 2009-2010 school year....
, or other private schools as their high school. If they qualify, they may go to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is a Virginia state-chartered magnet school located within Fairfax County, Virginia, United States...
in Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
. Elementary school feeders include Floris, Crossfield, McNair, Fox Mill, Hunters Woods, Coates, Poplar Tree
Poplar Tree Elementary School
Poplar Tree Elementary School is an elementary school in the Chantilly section of unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. , the school had 830 students.-History:...
, Hunters Woods, Lee's Corner, Oak Hill, Waples Mill, Navy, and Dogwood.
In November 2008, volunteers helped plant more than one thousand trees around the school.
Electives and extracurriculars
There are a handful of electives offered at Rachel Carson, with most varying slightly by grade. Current electives include technology explorationTechnology education
Technology education is a study of technology, in which students "learn about the processes and knowledge related to technology". As a study, it covers the human ability to shape and change the physical world to meet needs, by manipulating materials and tools with techniques.-External links:...
, drama (both beginning and advanced), men and women's chorus, orchestra, band, art, a computer solutions class and home economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
classes. For 8th graders, Spanish and French are available as high school-level electives. For the 7th grade, a class called "Introduction to Foreign Languages" (IFL) provides a brief introduction either Spanish or French. It should be noted however, that this is just a very basic course with students learning little more than basic phrases in each of those languages. There will be an addition of an Broadcasting elective where the students will replace the volunteer Morning Announcements crew.
The school offers a Japanese language immersion program and features the AAP program
Gifted education
Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented...
.
Rachel Carson offers an assortment of extracurricular activities, including but not limited to: Astronomy Club, Intramurals, International Club, Homework Club, and Jazz Ensemble (Jazz Band). In addition, two school plays are held each year; one is for advanced drama students only, the other is open to all students.
With the exception of an annual Faculty vs. Student Sports game, Rachel Carson Middle School has no organized sports leagues.
The school has partnerships with EDS
Electronic Data Systems
HP Enterprise Services is the global business and technology services division of Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Business strategic business unit. It was formed by the combination of HP's legacy services consulting and outsourcing business and the integration of acquired Electronic Data Systems,...
, Scitor Corporation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Team organization
The school is divided into ten "teams" (also referred to as "pods"), which are very similar to the idea of high school sub-schools. The pods are as follows:7th grade:
- All-Stars (AAP) (A Pod)
- Trailblazers (AAP) (B Pod)
- Champions (AAP) (C Pod)
- Dream Team (D Pod)
- Explorers (E pod)
8th grade:
- Wolves (W Pod)
- X-Treme Team (AAP) (X Pod)
- Yellow Jackets (AAP) (Y Pod)
- Dolphins (AAP) (Z Pod)
- Voyagers (V pod)
Each team has its own set of locker pods and core classrooms (Science, English, History/Civics, and Mathematics — unless students are taking Math 7 Honors, Math 8 Honors, Algebra I Honors, or Geometry Honors (occasionally Algebra 2, now removed due to new restrictions).
Competitions
Rachel Carson Middle School actively participates in several national competitions, including Odyssey of the MindOdyssey of the Mind
Odyssey of the Mind, often called OM , is a creative problem-solving competition involving students from kindergarten through college. Team members work together at length to solve a predefined problem ; and present their solution to the problem at a competition...
, MATHCOUNTS
MathCounts
Mathcounts is a middle school mathematics competition held in the United States. Its founding sponsors include the CNA Foundation, the National Society of Professional Engineers, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The competition is designed for sixth, seventh, and eighth...
, American Computer Science League (ACSL),Technology Student Associacion(TSA), Science Olympiad, First Lego League (FLL) and the American Mathematics Competition(AMC). Carson also usually sends a representative to the state Mathcounts competition.