News You Choose

Educate Fairfax will celebrate 11 extraordinary graduates of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) at the 4th annual FCPS Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sept. 17 at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va.

This year’s inductees represent excellence across news and entertainment, education, business, philanthropy, politics, government, and the military.

This includes Mount Vernon High School alumni Mark Holbrook (class of 1990 – Education/FCPS Leadership) and Philip Wilkerson (class of 2003 – Education/Leadership).

• Please see the official press release HERE.

Congratulations to MCJROTC Program on their recent 30th Birthday on September 1, 2025. To follow Marine Corps tradition, we held a Birthday Party this past Friday, September 12, 2025.

Special thanks to retired MVHS MCJROTC SMI Colonel DeHoust, who was our Guest of Honor at our celebration. Colonel DeHoust was the SMI who founded the program at MVHS in 1995. We also appreciate our other distinguished guests, alumni, and current cadets for also joining us at the celebration.

Dear MVHS Parents and Caregivers:

In response to the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of our community, students in grades 7-12 are offered the opportunity to take the World Languages Credit by Exam (WLCBE).

• The WLCBE assesses language proficiency in languages other than English and recognizes the strengths that our students bring as effective communicators in multiple languages.

This assessment may be used to award world language credits towards graduation, determine course placement for language courses offered in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and fulfill the world languages requirements for the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-students/graduation/graduation- requirement-resources/graduation-diploma-seals/seal-of-biliteracy.

• The exam is offered in the fall and the spring each school year.

A student may participate in the exam a total of two times per language, with no more than one attempt each year. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam between grades 7 and 12.

• The spring exam is only available for eligible students who enroll in FCPS after the fall registration deadline of October 17th.

Students who wish to take the exam should be able to proficiently understand and communicate in the testing language, and will be asked to listen, read, speak, and either write/type or, for American Sign Language, sign/interpret. For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria you may visit our website: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages.

• If you would like your student to participate in the next available WLCBE, please have your child register for the exam through their school counselor by Friday, October 17th.

• NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Please visit our website to see the list of available languages: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/student-tests- assessments/types-student-assessment/credit-by-exam-world-language#languages-and-testing-method

Special thanks to our amazing Building Services team for all their hard work and efforts to help make the exterior of our building look AWESOME!

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!

French Club & Honor Society

Anyone interested in The French Language and Francophone Cultures may come to French Club meetings. They will be held at once or twice a month from 3:05 to 3:30 on Thursdays. We will make Silhouettes, Maps of French Place names in the USA, other crafts and have fundraisers for possible field trips.

French Honor Society Application French students who have received an A in one quarter of French 3 or IB French are eligible to be inducted into the French Honor Society. We will have at least 2 meetings during the school year. One to prepare for the autumn inductions and one to distribute cords for graduation.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2025, MVHS 10th and 11th grade students will be taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) exam, and all pre-registered 12th grade students will be participating in SAT School Day

School Day Schedule

• All FCPS high schools will operate on a two-hour early release schedule.

• Please see the early release schedule HERE.

• High school academy courses and all high school shuttles will be canceled on this day.

Transportation

• Regular bus routes will be provided in the morning and after the early release.

• Families of students requiring alternate transportation arrangements due to accommodated testing will be contacted directly by the PSAT Coordinator or SAT School Day Coordinator .

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.

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.

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

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.

Parents and Caregivers -

We are seeing a number of students the first week of school violating the FCPSD Dress Code Policy.

Please communicate to your child the following expectations for student dress as outlined in the FCPS Dress Code Policy:

FCPS respects a student’s right to express themselves in the way they dress. It is important, however, that their appearance is tasteful and appropriate for a K-12 school setting.

Clothing and accessories should not:

• Display vulgar, discriminatory, or obscene language or images,
• Promote illegal or violent conduct,
• Contain threats or gang symbols,
• Promote the unlawful use of weapons, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or drug paraphernalia,
• Expose genitalia, chest, buttocks, underwear, or undergarments due to transparency, length, or lack of coverage,
• Obscure or cover the student's face (unless an IEP or 504 accommodation is present),
• Constitute a health or safety hazard or be harmful to the building or equipment (i.e., spiked belts).

Note: Sunglasses should not be worn inside the school building except as an accommodation for medical use.

Please feel free to call me at 703-619-3100 if you have any questions about the FCPS Dress Code for MVHS Students.

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.

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 24-25 is valid for the first thirty (30) school days.
• Households will be required to submit a new application by October 30, 2025

HERE is the link to the 2025-2026 mandatory Student Forms that all families must fill out for each new school year.

These forms can also be found on our school website HERE.

Mandatory Forms include:

Parent Digital Tool Permission Application - electronic submission only

Emergency Care Form - paper version to be printed and returned

Emergency Care Form in ParentVue - electronic version

Health Information Form - must be printed and turned in; copies available in the office

SR&R signature page - must be printed and turned in; copies available in the office

Military Connected Students Form - must be printed and turned in; copies available in the office

Other Student-Specific Forms (links and descriptions)

Free and Reduced Lunch Application (Form is electronic only – cannot be printed and signed) and Consent to Share Information Form Must be completed and turned in for your child to receive free/reduced fees for classes, athletics, etc.

• IMPORTANT: Students must re-apply for Free and Reduced Meals each school year.
• Approved students have until Wednesday, October 1, 2025 to re-apply.
• After October 1, 2025, students will pay full price for food.
• If you do not re-apply for this 25-26 school year, you will have to pay full price for food.

Homeless Student Referral Form - Only returned for students who are homeless

Clinic Health forms (if applicable to your child)

• Medication Authorization Form – Request personnel to administer medication to your child during school day.
• Student Use of Inhalers Form – Authorize your child to use an inhaler in school as prescribed.
• Student Use of Epi-Pen Form – Authorize FCPS personnel to administer epinephrine injection(s) as directed by a physician.

Parent Information regarding Student Opt-Out Rights and Choices

(if applicable to your child)

• Wellness Survey opt-out form – 9th and 11th grades only; this opt out is for parents who do not wish for their child to participate in the SOS program.
• FLE Opt-Out - to opt child out of all or some of the Family Life Education lessons (form specific to grade level)
• Annual Opt out (Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms) – Opt-out choices related to surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights. One Page Flyer
• FCPS-issued Laptop Opt Out Form - for parents who wish to provide a laptop to their student

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]

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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:

• September 19, 2025 (regular testing)
• 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

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.

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