News You Choose

Monday, October 13, 2025 is a No School Day for students.

This is a professional development day for staff, so the Main Offices

will be open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Ms. Amanda Davis and Ms. Sally Gilliam had artwork on exhibit at the FCPS Artist Teacher Exhibition, which was held this past Saturday night, October 11 from 6:00-8:00pm at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton.

Congratulations and thanks for #MakingMVHSProud!

2026-27 FAFSA Form Now Open

Federal Student Aid has made the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available ahead of the scheduled release date. Any college-bound high school senior — regardless of income — who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should complete a FAFSA form. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to work with their students to complete the FAFSA as early as possible. Check each college’s financial aid office website for deadlines and financial aid forms. Then, create an account, if you have not already done so, and fill out the FAFSA.

The Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application has not yet opened but should be available in late January for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA. To help determine which aid option is right for you, visit the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website.

Over the next few months, College Access Fairfax will be offering several programs on completing the FAFSA/VASA and finding and applying for scholarships. Get information on these programs and how to access them on the College Access Fairfax website.

In addition, College Access Fairfax staff are available for virtual one-on-one help sessions to complete the FAFSA/VASA. To request an appointment, families should email appointments@CollegeAccessFairfax.org.

The National Honor Society (NHS) is an acclaimed high school organization that recognizes and celebrates exceptional student achievement in the four pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and character.

10th-12th grade Majors with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher are eligible and invited to apply to MVHS’s National Honor Society Chapter!

If students have already been inducted and remain in good academic standing with a 3.5 GPA, no action is needed. 😊

• The application window is from August 22nd- October 31st, 2025.

• The link to apply can be found here. 😊

We look forward to receiving your application!

Sarah Freeland

Mount Vernon High School Advanced Academics

Dear Students,

Here is a great opportunity to support the PTSA by participating in the Matchomatics fundraiser.

It's simple, just complete the questionnaire at the link below. It's free for everyone to participate.

• The fun begins when the results are returned.

• Who will make your list of matches?

• Whose list will you be on?

The questionnaire will be available beginning on October 10 until October 24 when it will close.

• English version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KJVF9G6

• Spanish version: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KWWDLKX

Match results will be available for purchase beginning October 30th for $5.00.

Stop by the PTSA table at the Booster Tailgate on October 30th to get your results!

Find a Friend. Make a Friend. Be a Friend.

Thanks for your support,

Your MVHS PTSA

FCPS asked that schools share the following information with our families:

The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in the upcoming election on November 4, 2025.

• Bond Referendums are how FCPS pays for capital improvement projects, like much needed school renovations.

• Bond funds are critical for our schools to continue evolving with the needs of our students and communities.

To learn more about the bond, please visit the Bond Referendum 2025 webpage.

Thank you for helping keep our school community informed!

"Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communities beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.

Hispanic Heritage Month provides an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. The Latino presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and they have been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Treaty of Paris that followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico. This incorporated the people of this area into the United States and further expanded the presence of Hispanic Americans.

Today, the Latino population in the United States today is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This makes up 18.9% of the total population and is the largest racial or ethnic group. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and much more [National Museum of the American Latino website]."

October is LGBTQIA+ History Month, "an annual month-long observance that provides role models, builds community, and represents a civil rights statement about the invaluable contributions of the LGBTQ community.

Founded in 1994 by Rodney Wilson, a gay history teacher from rural Missouri, LGBTQ History Month was declared a national history month by President Barack Obama in 2009.

This celebration coincides with National Coming Out Day (October 11) and commemorates the first and second marches on Washington for LGBTQ rights in 1979 and 1987 [GLAAD website]."

Virginia Celebrates Disability History and Awareness Month

"RICHMOND—Did you know that October is Disability History and Awareness Month in Virginia? The 2009 Virginia General Assembly responded to the call from young people with disabilities to pass a resolution designating the month and to encourage public schools and universities to engage in activities that promote awareness.

Youth with disabilities helped design a toolkit of information that teachers can use to celebrate with their students of all ages. These materials can be found at www.virginiaselfadvocacy.org. The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and the Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University worked together to create this resource bank of lesson plans, video links, and suggested projects for school personnel, parents, and students. The Virginia Department of Education has also been a strong supporter of the event, making sure that all school divisions received information about available resources.

One-fifth of all Americans have disabilities, including almost one million people in Virginia. During October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in their communities. “Increasing the awareness of students and teachers about people with disabilities can result in promoting positive attitudes in schools. Creating a culture of mutual respect and equal opportunities for all students is an important goal of Disability History and Awareness Month,” said Fred Orelove, executive director, Partnership for People with Disabilities at Virginia Commonwealth University [Virginia Board for People with Disabilities website]."

College Fair and the Postsecondary Virtual Night Event

The annual FCPS College Fair will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Approximately 200 colleges and universities will be represented, including two and four-year colleges and US Service Academies.

Following the fair, the Postsecondary Virtual Night Event will be held on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Both events can help students be better prepared for the next chapter of their educational journey.

Students may REGISTER HERE.

Dear MVHS Community,

Support our student-athletes by becoming a proud member of the MVHS Athletic Booster Club!

There are many ways you can support MVHS Athletics:

👉 Click here to become a member, make a donation, become a sponsor, and purchase your Athletic Season Passes

👉 Click here to purchase MVHS Spirit Wear

Season Passes – valid for all regular-season home games

• Student - SILVER passes are $30
• Adult - MAROON passes are $75

By purchasing a Season Pass, you’re making a direct impact on our athletic programs. Season passes are not only a convenient and cost-effective option for families and fans, but they also ensure that 100% of gate sales go directly to MVHS.

Game day ticket sales are split 50/50 with the visiting team — so your support goes further with a pass!

Let’s fill the stands and show our school spirit.

Go MAJORS!

Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS

At Mount Vernon High School, our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. We deeply value the time and care they give to our students.

This information segment is to share recent updates to our FPCS volunteer process, with a focus on one primary goal: keeping students safe.

These updates — such as checks against the sex offender registry and, in some cases, criminal background checks — are safety measures that will help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care.

We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at MVHS to click HERE, then click “Learn More,” and then “Sign Up.”

• After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application.

Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias. Volunteers who work unsupervised with students will also be required to undergo a background check.

We understand these changes may seem disruptive, especially for long-time volunteers. Our intent is to ensure that our students feel safe and supported with each and every person they encounter at school.

As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.

Volunteer Levels

Level 1: Infrequent volunteers (monthly or less frequent) who are always supervised do not need a criminal background check.

• However, they do need a sex offender registry check, which is performed by signing in at the school's visitor kiosk, usually in the front office.

Level 2: Frequent, ongoing, or regular volunteers (daily, weekly, bi-weekly) who are also always supervised are subject to the same requirements as Level 1 — no criminal background check, but a sex offender registry check via the kiosk is mandatory.

Level 3: Volunteers with direct, unsupervised interaction with students must complete a criminal background check, including fingerprinting and child abuse and neglect checks. This applies to roles like mentors, tutors, or field trip chaperones who are alone with students (not accompanied by an FCPS staff member) at any time during the activity.

Student Volunteers: FCPS students who volunteer under the supervision of an FCPS staff member or parent/caretaker. Student behavior while volunteering is governed by the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities. Students should not sign up through the Volunteer FCPS management system, nor should they check in via the visitor management system.

Just a reminder that MVHS is a closed campus. Students may not leave school unless a parent sends a written note to the school.

Lunches are also closed. Students are expected to eat lunch in our cafeteria.

MVHS also does not permit food deliveries. Any food delivered to the main office will be kept until dismiss at 2:55 pm.

MVHS Late Busses will only run on Thursdays this 2025-2026 SY.

Please plan with your teachers to arrange any after-school support on Thursdays.

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—$3.00

Lunch:

• Secondary and high school —$3.50
• Reduced-price lunch for qualifying students – no charge
• Adults or 2nd student meal —$5.00

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.

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.

Our MVHS Student Activities Website will be full of important information for our students and families.

HERE is the link to the 25-26 MVHS Activities Calendar

HERE is the link to the MVHS Student Activities Website.

HERE is a link to the 2025-2026 Athletic Coaches List

[Click on Resources Below for Websites]

[Click on Resources Below for Websites]

[Click on Resources Below for Websites]

[Click on Resources Below for Websites]

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in leadership careers. This test has been utilized for years by the military to help soldiers identify their leadership capabilities. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students.

We have confirmed the ASVAB Testing dates for MVHS for the 2025-2026 SY:

Fall Choices:

• January 28, 2026 (mass testing)

Spring Choices:

• April 7, 2026 (regular testing)

Army:

• 2nd Thursday each month
• Staff Sergeant Sessie & Staff Sergeant Sweeny

Air Force:

• TBD

Marines:

• 1st Thursday each month
• Sergeant Pennington

Navy:

• TBD

The Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Leadership Award

• Self-nominations for the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. Leadership Award are now open! Please read the following information and fill out the nomination form before the deadline October 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
• The Leadership Award seeks to reward applicants who consistently display excellence of character, qualities of leadership, devotion to duty, and academic accomplishment. While academic excellence is a consideration, the selection of award recipients emphasizes the importance of leadership and public service.
• Therefore, most recipients are leaders who go above and beyond their peers to improve themselves and to make a difference in the lives of others. Most recipients engage in endeavors that demonstrate their independence, initiative, courage, personal discipline, strong work ethic, commitment to community service, leadership qualities, ability to confront challenges, and pursuit of academic excellence. For example, prior award recipients:

• Served on school honor councils;

• Worked on political campaigns;

• Served in student government;

• Traveled overseas to serve others;

• Led a morning fitness program;

• Started charitable organizations;

• Learned multiple languages;

• Attended community college while in high school; and

• Participated as captains of sports teams and academic teams.

This award comes with a $30,000 scholarship.

2025-2026 Award Timetable:

• October 15, 2025 – Student Self Nominations close at 11:59 PM.
• MVHS Nominated student will be notified by November 1, 2025.
• December 1, 2025 – Each applicant must submit his/her electronic application by 5:00 p.m. on December 1, 2025.
• December 4-5, 2025 – The Award Screening Committee will review all applications and submit three finalists from each congressional district to the Award Selection Committee.
• January 23-24, 2026 – The Award Selection Committee will interview the 33 finalists in Richmond.
• Late January 2026 – Winners will be notified.
• February 18, 2026 – 2 p.m. Recipients will be presented awards at a ceremony in Richmond.

The self-nomination form can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdaFtySbX1H4_TEVNQlZhY793kdgZB0jtfPPZ9JBRetKhpitg/viewform?usp=header

Inaccurate or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

************************************************************************************

The Pamplin Leadership Award (PLA) – Virginia Tech

• This year's Pamplin Leadership Award (PLA) season is now open!
• The PLA was established by Robert B. Pamplin, Sr. (VT Class of 1933) and Robert B. Pamplin, Jr. to acknowledge students who demonstrate superior intellectual promise, academic performance, dedication to their communities, interest and success in physical fitness and health, and unimpeachable integrity.
• The PLA is a one-year, merit-based $5,000 Virginia Tech scholarship presented to up to forty qualified students from Virginia's public high schools.
• Each school's one nominee must have a 3.8 or better GPA.

Mount Vernon High School can only nominate one student for this award.

Required steps to be considered for nomination:

1. Fill out this required nomination form by October 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

2. Email Ms. Whitehouse (mlwhitehouse@fcps.edu) your required essay by October 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

3. Apply to Virginia Tech and the Virginia Tech Honors College by the early action deadline of November 1, 2025. The Honors College is required for the winner of this award.

If you are selected as the MVHS nominee, you will complete the following steps:

1. Complete the online application through Virginia Tech's Scholarship Central site (only available to students who have submitted their undergraduate admissions application).

2. You will receive instructions to create a Guest Account 1-3 days after submitting the application.

3. The login credentials used to create a Guest Account also allow a student access to Scholarship Central.

4. You must complete the Virginia Tech general scholarship application (https://vt.academicworks.com).

5. Once the general scholarship application is complete, you may apply for the PLA (https://vt.academicworks.com/opportunities/60487)

Do not mail paper applications or supplemental materials! They will not be considered.

Also required in the PLA application:

1. Essay: In an essay of 500 words or fewer, discuss your understanding of effective leadership. [1] What are some qualities of effective leadership? [2] How do you measure effective leadership? [3] Describe the qualities of one effective leader you know, including evidence of how they exemplify these qualities. [4] Where, when, and how have you applied these qualities in your own leadership roles to date? [5] How, specifically, do you intend to continue your development as a leader at Virginia Tech?

2. In the application, verify the name and email address of a high school official (usually the your counselor) who will verify that the applicant is the high school's nominee. The official will then receive electronic notification with instructions to validate the student.

AS A REMINDER: A high school’s nominee is an applicant. Not all applicants will be selected as recipients, as there are more public high schools in Virginia than there are Pamplin Leadership Awards.

The Honors College, not the high school, notifies the student if they are selected as a Pamplin Leadership Award recipient.

Applications must be validated by the high school official listed in the application by January 7, 2026 to be considered. This means that the applicant must complete the application several days prior so that the system has time to generate the verification form to the school official. This deadline is firm - students must plan ahead and not procrastinate. Any request for an application extension will be denied.

Any problems accessing the PLA application must be referred to the Office of University Scholarships and Financial Aid at 540-231-5179; the Honors College cannot help with application troubleshooting.

The self nomination form can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpor2qdD9KTreRY_DhHG0gWQQbCLf4zWD0bemCJ05WSA7Dmg/viewform?usp=header

************************************************************************************

Please check both the Student Services: Mount Vernon High School Schoology pages and the Scholarship tool in Naviance. You can also always visit Mrs. Whitehouse in the College and Career Center to learn more!

For more FCPS Scholarships, please visit: Scholarships for FCPS Students | Fairfax County Public Schools

Voice of Democracy Scholarship

• Amount: $35,000 Deadline: 10/31/2025

• See details HERE

Harris Goodall Squires Memorial Scholarship Amount:

• $5,000 Deadline: 4/1/2026

• Application in Naviance

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.

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.

• HERE is the bus route information for this school year.

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.

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.

The Library of Virginia has archived the old Mount Vernon High yearbooks— starting with 1940!

• See the link HERE.

In addition, the Fairfax County Collection can be found in within the Fairfax County Public Library archives. They are all stored on the Internet Archive.

• See the link HERE.

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!

Links to the Family Newsletters for this 2025-2026 SY

October 2025

HERE is the link for October 12, 2025

HERE is the link for October 5, 2025

September 2025

HERE is the link for September 28, 2025

HERE is the link for September 21, 2025

HERE is the link for September 14, 2025

HERE is the link for September 7, 2025

August 2025

HERE is the link for August 31, 2025

HERE is the link for August 24, 2025

HERE is the link for August 17, 2025