Student Life
Three therapy dogs visit RCMS for Wellness Week
Not one but three therapy dogs visited Rachel Carson Middle School on March 20, bringing joy to the students and staff members of the school. RCMS students have enjoyed visits from Tucker for years, but this time he was joined by two friends. Max was one of the new visitors this week. Max is a…
The rise in popularity of crochet
It is early in the morning, and Heidi Hager crochets the beginnings of a cardigan in Panther Time, more enamored with the yarn and hook in their hands than with the scene in front of her. The pieces of the sweater are slowly building up and coming together. Heidi, an eighth-grader on Dream Team, says,…
Carson Orchestras working toward assessment concert
Rachel Carson’s (RCMS) orchestras will be having their assessment on March 8 and 9 at Kenmore Middle School in Arlington to be assessed on how well they perform. Chamber and Symphonic orchestras will be performing on Friday, March 8, while String Ensemble, Concert, and Philharmonic will be performing on Saturday, March 9. RCMS’s five orchestras…
Debate team to compete in tournament
The Rachel Carson debate team is participating in a debate tournament in Maret Private School in Washington, D.C., on March 2. The topic for this tournament will be “Is Animal Testing for Medical Purposes Morally Acceptable?”. The tournament will start at 9 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Mrs. Pamela Konde, one of the debate…
RCMS students and staff dance the night away at the Valentines Day Dance
Loud music blasts from speakers in the gym as clumps of students cascade down the hallway as they form a line for the photobooth. “I wanted to experience a middle school dance,” said seventh-grader Genna Anderson, 12, of the Champions team. This year’s dance featured a photo booth, pizza and water, and a gym full…
Shortly after TJ test, Supreme Court confirms current admissions policy
Early on the morning of Feb. 3, hundreds of Carson students packed into the cafeteria to take the admissions test for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ). Meanwhile, the Supreme Court was considering making a decision that could drastically alter their chances of getting in. “TJ is basically the best high school…
FCPS middle schools’ start time could change for 2025-2026
Middle school students around the U.S. wake up early in the morning to go to school with lack of sleep and low energy, but things might change for 2025-2026 students in FCPS district. FCPS is considering to push back middle schools’ starting time. According to FCPS website, FCPS decided to switch high school and middle…
Upcoming semester change leaves some RCMS staff and students excited and some anxious
The chatter of RCMS students fills the cafeteria as they share their schedules for the upcoming semester with their friends. According to a poll of RCMS students, many students are excited for the new semester but some aren’t so eager to leave their first semester class behind. For art teacher Ms. Ruth Furpahs, a new…
Valentine’s day: love, candy, and fun!
This year, RCMS students are planning to give out candy and notes to family and friends for Valentines Day. “Valentines is a cute holiday and i think the morals are good,” said Collins Han, 13-year-old, of the eighth-grade Dolphins team. Valentine’s Day holiday where we get to show love and appreciation to the people who…
Students and teachers celebrate Lunar New Year with diverse traditions
On February 10, 2024, RCMS will celebrate the Lunar New Year with Chinese traditions, like dragon dances and shared meals. The event showcased cultural unity, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to global diversity and joy. The day before Lunar New Year, New Years eve, people have big feasts with their family and spend the day cleaning…
RCMS students and staff stress and empathize for the Israel and Hamas Conflict
RCMS students and teachers have been empathizing and stressing for the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. According to Crsreports.congress.gov, the current Israel and Hamas war started in 2023, but Israel and Palestinians have already had a long history of conflicts. On Oct 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza…
Students and staff’s experiences with Carson’s lost and found
Many students at RCMS have been losing their belongings these past few months. The lost and found bins are one of the most recommended places to check. But how did these lost items actually get there? There are many items in the lost and found. Sometimes students find their lost item within a week or…