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'"Women's History Month is an annual observance to highlight the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. Celebrated during March in the United States, Germany, and Australia, corresponding with International Women's Day on March 8, it is observed during October in Canada, corresponding with the celebration of Persons Day on October 18.

A weeklong observance in Sonoma County, California, in 1978 was subsequently championed by Gerda Lerner and the National Women's History Alliance to be recognized as a national week (1980) and then month (1987) in the United States, spreading internationally after that. Since 2005, the annual celebration of Women's History Month in Australia has centered on a different area of women's achievement. Promotional materials and events are focused around the theme and organizations, institutions and community groups are encouraged to use this theme for their own events."

Our incredible performing arts programs are excited to announce that today we found out that MVHS has earned the prestigious designation of being a VMEA Blue Ribbon School for the third time in school history (2022, 2024, 2026).

The VMEA Blue Ribbon award is the highest music honor designation that can be bestowed upon a secondary school in the Commonwealth and is only achieved by the top ensembles in band, orchestra, and chorus all achieving ratings of “Superior” at their respective district assessment events.

The MVHS Wind Ensemble (directed by Mr. Richard Bacz), MVHS Advanced Treble Chorus (directed by Mrs. Chelsea Molisso) and MVHS Chamber Orchestra (directed by Mr. Al Rodriguez) not only earned overall ratings of superior, but earned straight superior ratings across the board on stage and sight reading. This is an incredible moment for our students, school, and community.

At Mount Vernon, we wholeheartedly believe that our strong performing arts program is at the heart of our thriving school community. Our teachers shared that "The lessons that music teaches: discipline, collaboration, compromise, goal-setting, and resilience, are skills that our students have that will extend beyond their time at MV and into their futures as citizens of the world."

Our students at MVHS are incredible, and this is just another way we are able to show our community and beyond some of the great things that our students can do.

On behalf of our entire performing arts programs, we want to thank our community for your continuous support of our music program: attending concerts, helping with field trip planning, logistic planning, and the list goes on (and on and on). We are immensely grateful to you for your dedication to this school and to what we do as educators, performers, and community ambassadors. This award is for all of us!

We are currently planning a Blue Ribbon Celebration (and performance showcase) next week for these incredible students.

More information about VMEA Blue Ribbon can be found here: https://www.vmea.com/blue-ribbon-award

Congratulations to all of our amazing teachers and performers!

This coming Friday, March 27th is the end of Q3.

• We will have a 2-hour early release for all students at 12:55 pm.

See the EVEN day Early Release Schedule below:

As the Academic Advising and Course Selection period draws to a close, we want to ensure all families feel confident about their child's educational path.

To facilitate this, SIS ParentVUE now allows parents and guardians to review and acknowledge their student's course requests for the 2026-27 school year.

• This acknowledgement window is open from March 16-March 27, 2026.

• Please note that this information is not a schedule, it is a list of courses only.

• Schedules will be finalized and released in August before school starts.

Instructions to view and acknowledge course requests:

• Log into your ParentVUE account.
• Navigate to the Course Request module.
• Review your student’s course request list for next school year.
• Navigate to the Student Info module.
• Click Edit Information.
• Locate the Course Request Acknowledgment field.
• Update the acknowledgment field to Yes to confirm review.
• Click Save Changes.

Please contact MVHS Director of Student Services Ms. Danielle Mascoll with any questions.

On Monday, April 6, 2026, parents and guardians of Mount Vernon High School will receive an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form.

This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity to share anonymous feedback about our school’s leadership and environment.

Topics covered in the survey include:

✅ Instructional leadership

✅ School climate

✅ Management (human resources and organizational)

✅ Communication and community relations

✅ Culturally responsive and equitable leadership

✅ Professionalism

The questionnaire will be open April 6 - April 19, 2026 - and will be collected online.

When you receive the email invitation, please take a few minutes to complete it.

Your input is valuable and helps shape the future of our school.

Thank you for your time and feedback!

Our amazing orchestra was invited to be the welcome music at the FCPS Kickoff Event of the Baldrige National Quality Award this past Monday, March 16th.

Our students welcomed special guests from the Baldrige Program and The Partnership for Excellence (TPE), along with other notable FCPS executive leadership.

Such an honor for our students to represent MVHS at this prestigious event!

The 2026 FCPS Regional Science Fair was held last Sunday, March 15th at Robinson Secondary School.

MVHS had 32 students present their experiments to the judges.

Special congratulations to Samya Adyel, Emili Cruz Cedillo and Lauren McVaney on being awarded the "Taking the Pulse of the Planet" National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Award for their experiment on The Effect of AI Based CO2 on Algae Growth.

Also, special congratulations to Elijah Wilson, who won a $50 gift card, and a special Certificate and Medal, for his project on The Effect of Wall Materials On Sound Transmission.

And, special congratulations to Anthony Nangauta, who won a special 3rd Place Award & Certificate for this project on The Effects of Different Potomac River Pollutants On The Mass Of Moss Phlox.

In addition, we had 16 students receive honors as well. See below for a summary of our 2nd, 3rd and Honorable Mention award winners.

Congratulations to ALL of our Science Fair participants!

The Mount Vernon High School DECA chapter recently had the opportunity to attend Career Awareness/College Readiness Day at George Mason University. This experience was made possible through a generous grant supported by the Taco Bell Foundation in partnership with George Mason University Costello College of Business.

Students were welcomed by the National DECA Chief Partnership Director and spent the day engaging with college students from the Costello College of Business and members of the GMU Collegiate DECA chapter.

Throughout the day, students participated in interactive workshops focused on important college and career readiness topics, including paying for college and personal finances presented by Navy Mutual Aid Association, finding the right college fit, and developing student leadership skills.

The event provided valuable insight into college life, financial planning, and leadership development, helping students prepare for future academic and career opportunities.

The MVHS Purple Team students took a Field Trip to Arlington National Cemetery this past Friday to honor the sacrifices of U.S. service members, support remembrance of military conflicts, and as an educational opportunity,

March is the Month of the French-Speaking World.

Events will be sponsored by the French Embassy and Alliance Française in Washington, D.C. to include:

• https://www.francophonie-dc.org/event-list
• https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/francophonie-2026-4808131

French classes across the nation will be participating in the Manie Musicale 2026 song vote and other activities:

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcLciykU7g0&list=PLOEscDhei4DbzSjcT1dWTV-BkwdQ0RfPC&index=1 (Subtitles in French & English)

Dear MVHS Families,

As we work to ensure our students are fully prepared for the transition to higher education, we are reaching out to our community to help bridge the gap between high school and college-level academic expectations. We are currently looking for leads and "feelers" for an upcoming Speaker Series focused on helping our rising seniors navigate the shift in grading rigor, assignment standards, and the personal accountability required at the next level.

If you are a professor or instructor at a two-year or four-year institution, an academic advisor, or have a professional connection to someone who might be interested in sharing their perspective with our students, we would love to hear from you.

At this stage, we are simply looking to identify potential partners within our network who can help our students understand what to expect in a college classroom.

Please reply directly to this email or contact Annie Stewart, amstewart@fcps.edu, if you have a lead or would like to volunteer your expertise.

Thank you for your continued support in setting our students up for long-term success.

Best regards,

Danielle Mascoll

MVHS Director of Student Services

EF Educational Tours is offering Mount Vernon HS students an opportunity to go to Japan in the summer of 2027.

While that is a year away, it does take some planning for such a trip.

Mr. Kalugdan, MVHS teacher, will be the contact person for the MVHS EF Tour trip.

The first interest meeting will be on March 24th, 2026 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm in the MVHS Media Center.

See the informational flyers below for more information.

** This trip is NOT associated with Mount Vernon High School or Fairfax County Public Schools **

** This is an independent company offering an opportunity to MVHS students **

We are pleased to announce the 2026 Special Education Family Conference - Stronger Together: Connecting Families & Schools.

This no-cost, in-person event is hosted by Fairfax County Public Schools in collaboration with a host of internal and external community partners.

Families will have the opportunity to hear a keynote address from internationally renowned educator and advocate, Dr. Shelley Moore. Following lunch, families will be able to connect with resources and community organizations available in the vendor hall, and participate in breakout sessions.

We are excited to share a wonderful opportunity for our students as prom season approaches. We have partnered with a local nonprofit to ensure that every student has the chance to look and feel their best, regardless of their budget.

The nonprofit will be hosting a prom attire giveaway planned for late March or early April, with the exact date still to be determined. Additionally, they will provide free hair and makeup services here at the school on the day of prom.

While we have already started collecting items, we are hoping to gather additional donations to better support our students.

If you have any new or gently used formal attire—including dresses, suits, shoes, and accessories—please consider bringing them to the MVHS Resource Center for drop-off. The MVHS Parent Resource Center is in the Main Lobby of MVHS.

I have attached a flyer with more details. Please keep these services in mind for any students who may benefit.

Thank you for your time and continued support in making this a memorable event for our students.

Keyli Villela

MVHS Family Liaison

MVHS Families celebrating Lent -

Beginning this past Friday, February 20, 2026 - and running up through Friday, March 27, 2026 - FCPS schools will be offering a fish sandwich on the menu every Friday as an non-meat alternative. In addition to the fish sandwich, students will also be able to create a salad bar lunch from the serving line, or get a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, or yogurt power pack.

HERE is the link for FCPS School Lunch Menus (choose MVHS in the top left column).

SAVE THE DATE! If you are interested in registering, please reply and we'll save your spot while we update the registration site!

Please join us this APRIL 20, 2026 for the annual Michael M. Skinner Mount Vernon Golf Tournament, a community event supporting Mount Vernon High School Athletics!

• Date: April 20, 2026
• Location: Fort Belvoir Golf Club
• Entry Fee: $200 per golfer
• Format: Team Scramble
• Check-In: 8:00 AM

All proceeds benefit MVHS student-athletes and honor the legacy of Michael M. Skinner, a longtime teacher, coach, administrator, and dedicated champion of our Mount Vernon community.

Registration is capped at 100 golfers and fills up fast as this is the 18th year we've hosted this event.

3 Exciting Offers This Year!

(1) Any MVHS student who gets a golfer to register who hasn't played in the tournament in the past 4 years will receive a $25 gift card,

(2) All Fairfax County school students and employees receive 50% off. We will process refunds on the day of the tournament upon presentation of a school ID

(3) Any student or parent who secures a new sponsor for the tournament receives 25% of the sponsorship amount directly for the MVHS athletic team of their choice

There are several ways to participate:

Play:

• $200 per player (includes buffet lunch)
• Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams
• Contests include Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, Putting Contest, 50/50 Raffle, and more

Sponsor:

• Opportunities range from package deals for groups and sponsorships for Holes, Beverage Cart, Lunch, Awards, and Registration.

Volunteer or Donate

• If golf isn’t your game, you can still support by volunteering or making a tax-deductible donation of any amount.

This tournament has become one of the premier community events in 22309, a competitive and lighthearted day filled with great people supporting a great cause.

If you’re interested in playing, sponsoring, volunteering, or learning more, please reply directly to me and I’ll send the registration details.

Thank you for supporting our Majors and investing in our local student-athletes.

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

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!

MVHS Late Busses will only run on Mondays & Thursdays this spring of 2025-2026 SY.

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

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

Harris Goodall Squires Memorial Scholarship Amount:

• $5,000 Deadline: 4/1/2026

• Application in Naviance

[Click on Resources Below for Websites]

[Click on Resources Below for Websites]

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[Click on Resources Below for Websites]

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.