News You Choose

Please join MVHS in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. During this time, we will be celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

October is LGBTQIA+ History Month, an annual month-long observance of LGBTQIA+ history and related civil rights movements. LGBTQIA+ History Month was founded in 1994 by Missouri high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson. LGBTQIA+ History Month provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community.

"FCPS recognizes October as LGBTQIA+ History Month. Students deserve meaningful, sustained opportunities to learn about the experiences and contributions of LGBTQIA+ community members and the celebration of LGBTQIA+ History Month is an opportunity to honor these diverse and important stories (Fairfax County Public Schools)."

October is Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, which is celebrated by proclamation of the President and Congress in the United States, to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States, particularly in the arts, science, and culture. This proclamation was led by the Italian senator Tate Downs. Events are held throughout the month to celebrate and educate the public about Italian-American history and culture.

"October is Disability History and Awareness Month, where we celebrate the invaluable contributions of people with disabilities. Disability History Awareness Month promotes respect, acceptance, and inclusion of individuals with disabilities while highlighting their significant impact on society. Recognizing disability history inspires pride among students with disabilities, reduces harassment and bullying, and fosters a more inclusive school environment."

"FCPS recognizes October as Disability History and Awareness Month. Students deserve meaningful, sustained opportunities to learn about the experiences and contributions of individuals with disabilities and the celebration of Disability History and Awareness Month is an opportunity to honor these diverse and important stories (Fairfax County Public Schools)."

Monday:

• Late Bus for After School Activities

Wednesday:

• PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day
  
• Early Release for Grades 10-12
• Grade 9 Students Do NOT Report to School
  
• More information is below

• PTSA Meeting (6:00 pm - G100)

Thursday:

• VACRAO College Fair (3p to 6p in MVHS Field House)
  
• More information is below in the College and Career Section of this newsletter

IMPORTANT Upcoming Revision to Major Time and Return Period Schedule

• October 21st – extend Major Time for FCPS SEL Screener (9:45 am to 10:30 am)
• October 23rd – Return Period 2 (moved from Friday for Pep Rally Schedule)
• October 25th - Return Period 1 (Pep Rally Schedule to culminate Homecoming Week)
• October 29th – extend Major Time for FCPS Gr. 9 SOS (9:45 am to 10:00 am)
• December 3rd – extend Major Time for FCPS Gr. 11 SOS (10:45 am to 11:09 am)

• HERE is the Return Period Schedule to reflect the changes above.

Below is the schedule of MVHS Extracurricular Activities for this week.

For a more comprehensive list of activities for the entire school year, click HERE.

Just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school.

HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CHILD OR TEEN HAVE GOOD ATTENDANCE?

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation.

• Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.

• Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.

• Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety.

Did you also know...

• Ask for help from school officials, afterschool programs, other parents or community agencies if you’re having trouble getting your child to school

• Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, talk to your children’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. But remember, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that goes on in the classroom.

And as a reminder...

If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, you must report the absence to the school.

You may submit information via MountVernonHigh.Attendance@fcps.edu or call us at 703-619-3131. Parents/Caregivers can also submit excused absences in ParentVue.

We appreciate your collaboration in scheduling appointments outside of school hours, when possible.

All high schools will administer the PSAT and SAT on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.

Standard PSAT/NMSQT and SAT school day testing requires approximately three hours to administer. A two-hour early release is scheduled for all high school and secondary school students on PSAT/SAT Day to provide staff development or to allow teacher-directed time.

High school academy courses will not be held on October 9, 2024, and all high school shuttles are canceled for the day. High school academy staff will support based school activities.

Wednesday October 9, 2024, 9th grade students will have an unscheduled school day and will NOT attend school. On this day ninth grade students are encouraged to complete any missing work or assignments that need to be completed prior to the end of the first quarter.

Please note that 9th grade students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (students receiving low incidence special education services) will continue to receive in-person instruction with a 2-hour early release on October 9.

If you have questions about the PSAT/NMSQT administration or alternative activities, please contact us at paihle@fcps.edu.

Mount Vernon High School will be hosting VACRAO College Fair on October 10, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

There will be colleges and universities from across the country - check out the list attending HERE

Congratulations to our Marching Majors, for their 1st place finish in Group IIIA at the US Bands Marine Corps Invitational at the US Naval Academy yesterday, Saturday, October 5th, 2024.

The band also earned awards for Best Music, Best Color Guard, and tied for Best Visual Effect.

They also scored the 4th highest score for all Groups in the A classes!

We have added more links to our MVHS Website regarding our Academic Program, our IB Programme and our IB Career-Related Programme.

You can access these links in the Quick Links section of this newsletter at the top of the page.

• Logan March and Linc Johnson both will play next Monday at Regionals.

• Logan Moore and Jackson March are the first and second wildcard alternates.

Congratulations to ALL of our golfers on a great season!

Chef Ibrahim and our amazing culinary arts students are able to cater your next event!

All proceeds go to expanding our Culinary Arts Program at MVHS.

Please see the flyers below - especially the upcoming opportunity for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Mount Vernon High School will be having the following college & university reps visiting next week. Students, please sign up for any college visits that you are interested in attending.

Please see Mrs. Juba in the College in Career Center or email her at cmjuba@fcps.edu if you have any questions or need any assistance and she will be happy to help you.

Colleges Visiting MVHS

Please see the schedule for college and university visits below.

Students, please see Ms. Juba in the College and Career Center (or email her at cmjuba@fcps.edu) to schedule a visit with these colleges & universities. Also, please email Ms. Juba at cmjuba@fcps.edu with any questions.

Military Recruiters during student lunch period:

Students will be able to talk with military recruiters during their lunch periods on the following days and times:

Marines:

• SGT Pennington every 2nd Wednesday from September 11, 2024 to May 14, 2025

Navy:

• Petty Officer Wallace every 2nd Thursday from September 12, 2024 to May 15, 2025

ASVAB dates

The ASVAB is used to help identify a person's strengths and find a career that matches them. It's also used to predict a person's future academic and occupational success in the military. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Juba cmjuba@fcps.edu and she will be happy to help you.

• October 17, 2024
• February 19, 2025
• March 25, 2025

·Financial Aid

The FASFA forms will be available on December 1, 2024. Our Financial Aid Champion from College Access Fairfax Katrina Rowsey will be at Mount Vernon High School on the following days during major time to assist you.

• October 2, 2024
• October 17, 2024
• October 31, 2024
• November 7, 2024
• November 12, 2024
• November 18, 2024
• December 3, 2024
• December 9, 2024
• December 17, 2024·

·

Scholarships

This is a link about how to search for scholarships in Naviance. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Juba cmjuba@fcps.edu and she will be happy to help you.

Naviance Student – Scholarships and Enrichment Programs | Fairfax County Public Schools (fcps.edu)

VACRAO College Fair

Mount Vernon High School will be hosting VACRAO College Fair on October 10, 2024 from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

There will be colleges and universities from across the country - check out the list attending HERE

Fairfax County Public Schools Look to the Future Week

College Fair @ GMU Eagle Bank Arena

October 20th from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm

250+ colleges attending

Post Secondary 2 Night Event

October 21st & 22nd, 2024 – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

VIRTUAL Sessions

Virginia College Application Week (VCAW)

College Fair Thursday October 24, 2024

Application Assistance

Scholarship Search/Essay

Financial Aid 101

Next Steps after College Apps

WIOA Youth Program- Federal Grant Program

The WIOA Youth Program- Federal Grant Program helps youth that are between the ages of 17-24 https://vcwnorthern.com/wioayouth/ and have employment barriers.

Students that meet with qualifications for the WIOA Youth program and are out of school can be eligible for $5,000 towards employment trainings and credentials.

Please see our College and Career Counselor Ms. Juba in the College and Career Center for more information.

Career Development Opportunities with the WIOA Youth Program are:

• Job Preparation Skills
• Apprenticeship Opportunities
• Interview Coaching
• Training Opportunities
• Resume Building

Educational Support with the WIOA Youth Program include:

• College or Vocational School Exploration
• Tutorial Assistance
• GED & High School Completion Options
• Short-Term Training Opportunities

A new website to assist with the marketing and communication about scholarships has been developed.

In addition to Naviance being the database for scholarships, there is now an FCPS public webpage that includes scholarships available to all FCPS students: https://www.fcps.edu/scholarships-fcps-students.

Fairfax County Public Schools high school students and their families are encouraged to participate in the following events:

1. The 2024 College Fair will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from 4:00 - 6:30 pm. Approximately 220 colleges and universities will be represented, including two and four-year colleges and US Service Academies.

1. The Two-Night Postsecondary Virtual Event will be held on Monday, October 21, and Tuesday, October 22, 2024, from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.

Please visit this website to register for these events, both will help students be better prepared for the next chapter of their educational journey.

SIS ParentVUE: Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE

Parents and care-givers -

SIS ParentVUE is the info-central for all the MVHS and FCPS information you will need.

Track your student's attendance, view grades, get information from the school, and much more!

Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.

Please call the school at 703-619-3100 if you need your Activation Code for SIS ParentVUE.

Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE.

To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.

Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to their child’s school.

Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE.

Log in and click “Report Absence.”

Note: Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to the school front office.

Parents/caregivers can also call the school at 703-619-3100 to report absences.

Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system.

This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account.

Parents can easily opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.

Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.

As you may have seen, FCPS rolled out a new Cellphone Policy, with specific expectations for all students. To summarize the high school (grades 9-12) expectations:

• Phones must be silenced and put away during all instructional periods.

• Cell phones may be used on campus before the first bell, after the last bell, during passing periods, and lunches.

• Phone accessories are also to be silenced and away when phone use is prohibited. Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.

• Phones can be stored in a locker or backpack during the day. Students are prohibited from using phones, tablets, and other mobile devices in restrooms and locker rooms, unless there is a medical necessity or emergency.

• With the approval of the principal or their designee, teachers may allow usage of cell phones for instructional activities where they are the most appropriate tool; however, one-to-one FCPS devices should meet most needs.

• If your student needs access to their phone for medical accommodations, it is important to note that the current cell phone policy and guidelines have not changed. Therefore, students who currently require access to a cell phone or another personally owned device for medical reasons, or an accommodation to access the curriculum and make progress to their individualized goals, will continue to have such access.

Violation Continuum:

• 1st Violation: Student receives verbal warning (documented infraction)
• 2nd Violation: Parent Notification of 2nd violation (documented 2nd infraction)
• 3rd Violation: Student is referred to administrator (documented 3rd infraction).
• 4th Violation: Student will receive disciplinary action - which will be confiscation of the device by the administrator. Student will receive the phone back at the end of the school day.
• 5th Violation: Parent/Caregiver and student will meet with the administrator for intervention plan.

Please see the FCPS Cellphone Expectations by Grade HERE.

MVHS Families -

Just a reminder that Mount Vernon High School has a CLOSED lunch. This means that students are NOT permitted to leave campus to get food at any of the surrounding restaurants or convenience stores.

Unfortunately, we are seeing a number of students who have left campus and have attempted to return to the school building with externally bought food.

Regrettably, due to several instances of where food and beverages were found to have illicit substances in them, we WILL NOT permit externally bought food to be brought into the school from students who have left campus without permission.

In addition, food will also not be permitted to be delivered to students from delivery services, including Uber Eats, Grub Hub, or by individual restaurant delivery services.

ALL external food found on students who have left campus, and is attempting to return to school, will be confiscated. Note, MVHS will not be responsible for food that are confiscated.

Thanks for your understanding in helping us keep all our students safe every day.

Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.

If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report.

Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays.

Contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2150 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.

To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.

Regrettably, we are seeing a rapidly growing increase in students illegally parking on campus during the school day. These student vehicles are being parking in reserved staff spaces & visitor parking.

This is a safety issue and needs to stop immediately.

Students - Please see the main office if you would like to purchase a parking pass.

REMINDER: All parking passes are for a semester only. Anyone wishing to have a semester 2 parking pass will need to purchase one at the end of January 2025.

Optional FREE Parking: Students may also park along (a) Old Mount Vernon Road, (b) Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, and (c) Maryland Street.

Students MAY NOT park at the Rec Center or in community areas that block private driveways.

The MVHS cafeteria will offer breakfast and lunch daily. If your student plans on purchasing food through the cafeteria, please be sure to load money on their meal account or bring cash.

Breakfast:

• Students, grades K-12—$1.75
• Reduced-price breakfast for qualifying students – no charge
• Adults or 2nd student meal—$2.75

Lunch:

• Secondary and high school —$3.50
• Reduced-price lunch for qualifying students – no charge
• Adults or 2nd student meal —$4.75

More information on FCPS Food Services (including payment options for meal accounts, daily menus, free and reduced meal programs, etc.) can be reviewed on the FCPS website.

Free and Reduced Meals Information

Applications for Free and Reduced Meal Service (FRM) have been updated for the new school year. Click the following to access the updated online application. (Free and Reduced Meal Service Online Application)

• FRM eligibility carryover from the SY 23-24 is valid for the first thirty (30) school days.
• Households will be required to submit a new application by October 1, 2024.
• Apply on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage.

Early Release Days

In the event of a 3-hour early release, lunch service will still be available between 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. FNS proposes to offer grab-and-go meals for students, allowing them to go through the serving lines, choose items, and put them in provided meal bags. Both cold and hot meal options will be available. Students are still required to pick up complete reimbursable meals; otherwise, à la carte charges will be applied. All meals provided by FNS must be consumed on-site.

School Nutrition Accounts, PINs, Prepayments, & MySchoolBucks

FNS will be emailing student PINs via e-Notify and in advance of the first day of school. MySchoolBucks should be promoted and is now available for account prepayments. State legislation and the FCPS Meal Charge Policy direct all school nutrition account negative balance communication to parents/caregivers. Additionally, students may not be denied a breakfast or lunch meal for any reason. FNS will work with school administrators to communicate low/negative account balances.

Menus

School menus offer a variety of entrees, fruits, and vegetables that meet or exceed USDA guidelines, including nutrient standards. Menus, allergens, and nutrition information are all available online at LINQ Connect. School menus will be published monthly, starting one week before the first day of school. FNS makes every effort to offer items as listed on the planned menu. Unanticipated substitutions are published on LINQ Connect whenever possible.

Is your high schooler experiencing anxiety, behavior changes, or challenges with peer and family relationships?

If so, parents/caregivers can refer their children for weekly therapy with a licensed therapist through Hazel Health.

Visit the Teletherapy webpage for more information on how to access this service.

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning.

Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.

Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Mount Vernon High School is a vibrant educational environment characterized by commitment to excellence. Located less than a mile from George Washington's home, Mount Vernon High School is steeped in tradition. Founded in 1939, its long history of excellence is evident in its current students, faculty, and staff. Mount Vernon High School has a world-class curriculum. Students choose from a wide range of course offerings, including International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. The International Baccalaureate Program is a rigorous advanced-level program that is an option for students in their final two years of high school. Individual needs are accommodated through three special education programs, an English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) program, and advanced or accelerated courses in all disciplines. At Mount Vernon High School, technology enhances and adds dimension to instruction in all curricular areas.

In addition to outstanding academic programs, Mount Vernon High School offers students a broad range of extra-curricular and co-curricular activities designed to meet and extend the broad range of student interests. Fine and performing arts students and athletic teams have received numerous awards and recognition. Contributing to Mount Vernon High School's unique character and strength is its diversity. More than 50 countries and 30 languages are represented in its student population. This diversity is enjoyed and celebrated daily, as well as through a series of cultural events that bring students, parents, and faculty together and demonstrate cooperative living in a multicultural world. Mount Vernon High School is further enriched by the support of an active community.

At Mount Vernon High School, we value and believe members within our community should be:

• Supportive,
• Passionate,
• Responsible,
• Looking for Continuous Growth, &
• Culturally Responsive

We know that our Majors achieve and thrive together with purpose and pride.

Please click HERE for more School Profile Information

As we begin a new school year, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid reminds us of the goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, , which guides us in delivering excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every one of our students.

• Watch Dr. Reid’s message.

Please visit the FCPS Webpage for all FCPS-related Information

A special THANK YOU to Howard "Chip" Hall, a 30-year Marine Corps Veteran - and MV Community Member - who is generously volunteering his time to capture our Majors in action.

Please visit Chip's website HERE for more amazing pics!

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