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The MVHS main office will have limited summer hours will continue up through Thursday, August 13th.

• The summer hours will be 9:00 am to 1:00 pm - Monday through Friday.

Due to different summer contract hours, IF you wanted to speak to a specific MVHS staff member, we recommend calling ahead to ensure that particular person is in the building.

Our main office phone line is 703-619-3100.

You can also use the MVHS Staff Directory to email a staff member about their availability.

** NOTE: Staff will return to the school building on Friday, August 14th - the main office will be open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm starting on that day. **

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year Majors! We are so excited to see you back in our building on Monday, August 24th for our 1st Day of School!

We have a number of important pieces of information we want to share with the community. Please scroll down through this Back To School edition of our Weekly Family Newsletter for the:

• Majors Gear Up MVHS Open House - Thursday, August 20th - 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm
• Back to School Night - Wednesday, September 9th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
• 26-27 FCPS School Year Calendar
• 26-27 Bell Schedule
• 26-27 Odd Day / Even Day Calendar

• NEW Virginia Law BANS Cellphones in ALL Schools
• ParentVue Sign-Up Information
• Mandatory Student Forms for 26-27 SY
• Bus Route Information (AM & PM Routes)
• Majors Gear Up and New Student Orientation Information
• Weapons Detection (i.e. Metal Detector) System
• Sub-School Administrators & Counselors (by alphabetical LAST name of students)
• MVHS Activities Calendar
• Lunch Information
• School Health Clinic Information
• ...and more!

Our 2026 MVHS Open House - Majors Gear Up - will be on Thursday, August 20th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Enter MVHS through Door #4 - next to our Little Theatre - to access the resources.

Join us for our open house to:

• Hear from Mr. Dimmick about the school year,
• Meet MVHS staff,
• Get your class schedule,
• and get important information to help start off your school year!

Back to School Night will be an "Open House" approach, allowing families to visit staff members, tour the school, and gather important information to help students, parents and care-givers be more successful at MVHS.

As we look towards the first day of school on Monday, August 24, 202, our team is looking forward to another great year of achievements not only in the MVHS classrooms, but also among our athletic teams, within our fine and performing arts programs, and at the Edison Academies.

Major Pride was evident in everything we do and will continue to drive our school programs throughout this upcoming 2026-2027 school year and beyond. We are so thankful for our amazing Mount Vernon High School staff, our students and the incredible home-school partnerships we have with our families.

Mount Vernon students represent over 50 different countries and speak more than 30 languages. We are a true fellowship where over 60% of us are current or former multi-lingual learners and have over 300 military-connected families. We are a melting pot of cultural traditions, and each year we come together to celebrate the deep-rooted pride of our Mount Vernon community.

• HERE is the link to the 2026 Welcome Back Principal's Letter.

Have a great rest of your summer Majors - and thank you for your support! We are excited to see all our amazing students later this month!

ALL Students will need the following supplies for school:

• Backpack (large enough to carry a laptop)
• Pencils
• Pens
• Spiral notebooks
• 3-ring Binder (~2")

All FCPS students will receive a chromebook and charging cable from the school. Students will be responsible for these items (and they will be turned in at the end of the school year).

Damaged laptops and lost charging cables will be the responsibility of the student. Students will be obligated the pay the replacement costs.

Families can now easily grant 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 and parents can easily opt in or opt out their child from a variety of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, tutoring services, and how student information is managed.

Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system.

If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact MVHS at 703-619-3100 for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage to get connected.

Hybla Valley Community Center (HVCC) is excited to invite you, your family, and the community to our Back-to-School Event 2026!

📅 Saturday, August 15, 2026
⏰ 1:00–4:00 p.m.
📍 Hybla Valley Community Center (7950 Audubon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22306)

Join us for a free afternoon of fun, family activities, and resources as we prepare for the upcoming school year!

🎒 School Supply Giveaways
🍔 Food & Activities
🤝 Vendors & Community Resources
💈 Haircuts & Braids – Appointment required; sign up by scanning the QR code on the flyer

Applications are now open for rising seniors interested in becoming Fellows in the Global Leaders of Fairfax County program for the 2026–2027 school year!

About the Program: Running from September 2026 through May 2027, this hybrid program (in-person and virtual) requires a commitment of a few hours per month. As a Fellow, you will:

• Design and lead a project addressing a UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in Fairfax County.
• Connect with national and international leaders.
• Participate in field trips exploring global issues and international affairs.
• Earn a Certificate of Completion upon finishing the program.

Student Application Process: Application Form: Complete the Global Leaders Fellowship Application Form.

• Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
• Important: You must use a personal Gmail account to apply. The form is blocked from student @fcpsschools.net accounts.

For full program details, please visit the Global Leaders of Fairfax County Website.

Please see the VERY IMPORTANT new Cellphone policy in FCPS for NEXT school year. We will continue to educate our students on this new expectation:

New Cellphone Policy Starts July 1st, 2026

On Thursday, May 7, the Fairfax County School Board approved changes to the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). The approved changes include updated guidance for cellphone possession and use, to align the FCPS cell phone policy with Senate Bill 108. This new Virginia law goes into effect on July 1 and states that all schools in the Commonwealth must follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy.

This means that starting July 1, 2026, across all grade levels at FCPS, student cellphones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (including watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, and other other items connected to the internet) must be off and personally stored (i.e., put away in backpacks) for the duration of the school day — thus, no cellphones from bell to bell (8:10 am to 2:55 pm).

High school students will no longer be able to use cellphones and personal devices during lunchtime.

More details are available on the FCPS Cell Phone Policy webpage.

NOTE: As outlined in the new SR&R regulations, ALL students are expected to follow the established policy and the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). Students who do not comply will face consequences outlined in the SR&R.

Beginning July 28, FCPS will ask parents and students to install the new ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps.

The current (classic) apps will remain available for approximately six months to support the transition. During this time, the classic apps will keep prompting users to upgrade to the new apps.

The new login screen for both apps will display User Name and Password fields, with a Login FCPS SSO button below them. Using the Login FCPS SSO provides a more secure sign-in experience.

• Students will continue to use their existing FCPS username and password.

Please share the following resources with families for instructions on installing the new apps and details about the updated login experience:

• ParentVUE Mobile App
• StudentVUE Mobile App

Support: Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.

ALL students will be expected to enter school each day through our detection system.

ALL visitors to the school will also be expected to enter the school through our detection system.

Staff will be on-hand each school day to assist students with entering the school through the system.

Information on the Weapons Detection System

The OpenGate Weapons Detection System is a non-invasive way to screen all students, staff and visitors for possible weapons entering the school.

All students will enter the Weapons Detection System each school day as follows:

• Laptops and Binders will be removed from backpacks and bags
• Students will put backpacks and bags over their shoulders
• Students will hold the laptops and binders above their heads as they pass through the system
• Any detection of a metal object will alert staff to check the students' backpack or bags
• Trained staff members will search backpacks and bags of any students that set off the system
• Hand-held wands (portable metal detectors) will also be used as needed.
• ALL of the weapons detection system is hands-off.

See pictures of the OpenGate Weapons Detection system below.

HERE is the link to the 2026-2027 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

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 —$4.00
• 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.

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 25-26 is valid for the first thirty (30) school days.
• Households will be required to submit a new application by October 30, 2026.
• 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

• Click HERE for the MVHS cafe menu

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 Nurse Ms. Georgina Mawuena, PHN, would like to welcome all our students and families back to school this 2025-2026 school year.

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) School Health Division’s primary goal is to promote the health and well-being of school-aged children. The School Health Division consists of Public Health Nurses (PHNs), School Health Aides (SHAs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), who provide various services to support this goal. PHNs create individualized health plans for students with complex health conditions and train school staff to help meet these needs during the school day.

HERE is Ms. Mawuena's Back to School Letter with important information about our MVHS Clinic & FCHD Health Services.

For all our students interested in trying out for Fall Sports at MVHS, please see below.

** NOTE: All students will need to have the proper medical documentation completed before they can attend or participate in tryouts **

Fall Sports Try-Out Information:

Football: August 3rd to 7th from 7:00AM to 1:00PM in the Stadium.

• Parent Meeting: July 30th 6:00PM to 8:00PM Little Theater

Girls Volleyball: August 3rd to 6th from 8:00AM to 11:00AM in the Mount Vernon Field House

Boys Volleyball: August 3rd, 5th, and 7th from 5:30PM to 8:00PM in the Mount Vernon Field House

Cross Country: August 4th to 6th from 8:00AM to 10:00AM at the Track (in the Stadium)

Cheer: August 3rd to 5th from 3:00PM to 7:00PM in the Cheer Room and AUX Gym.

• Parent Meeting: August 5th at 7:00PM in the Cheer Room or AUX Gym

Golf: August 3rd to 6th from 10:00AM to 12:00PM at the Burke Lake Golf Course.

Field Hockey: August 3rd to 6th from 6:00PM to 9:00PM in the Stadium.

Girls Flag Football: TBD (please contact Coach Peacock with any questions)

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Contact Coaches via email with any questions:

• Click HERE for the coaches’ emails

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Documentation Needed for Tryouts:

• All students must be registered through Final Forms. More information on Final Forms can be found HERE.

• All students all need a valid VHSL Sports Physical before they are allowed to try out.

• Physical Forms are linked HERE.

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If you have any questions please contact Director of Student Activities Mr. John Uccellini at jmuccellini@fcps.edu.

Please help me in welcoming our new Assistant Principal Mrs. Shastin Willman to our MVHS community!

Mrs. Willman will be supervising our Math and World Languages Departments this upcoming school year, as well as supporting our students with the last names A to COL, and our Multi-Language Learners in levels 1-4.

Mrs. Willman is excited to join the Mount Vernon community as a Major and begin this new chapter after relocating from Oklahoma to the District. She brings eight years of experience as a secondary mathematics teacher and two years as an assistant principal, along with both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Oklahoma. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about supporting student achievement, building strong relationships, and fostering positive school cultures where everyone can thrive.

In addition to teaching mathematics, Mrs. Willman coached athletics throughout her years in the classroom and served as Assistant Athletic Director during her final year of teaching. She believes every student and educator deserves someone in their corner and is dedicated to being a cheerleader for both students and teachers as they pursue their goals and reach their full potential. Her commitment to educational excellence has been recognized through a feature in Principal Leadership magazine. Outside of education, Mrs. Willman has owned and operated a successful photography business, combining her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

Mrs. Willman looks forward to partnering with students, families, and staff to celebrate successes, overcome challenges, and make a lasting impact together as a Mount Vernon Major.

Please help me in welcoming our new Director of Student Activities (DSA) Mr. John Uccellini to our MVHS community! Many of you know John from his former role as the Assistant Director of Student Activities (ADSA) at MVHS for the past three years.

John Michael Uccellini is excited to begin as the new Director of Student Activities at Mount Vernon High School. Mr. Uccellini is a native of Indiana Pennsylvania, a 2011 graduate of Robert Morris University and a 2025 graduate of American College of Education. He brings eight years of experience in the classroom as a Math and Social Studies teacher, and three years of experience as the Assistant Director of Student Activities all at Mount Vernon. In addition to his educational experience, he brings 15 years of Track and Field Coaching experience including 9 years as the Head Track and Field Coach at Mount Vernon. Mr. Uccellini brings a passion for student activities believing all students have the opportunity to grow, challenge themselves, and find success. Much like Ted Lasso Mr. Uccellini believes success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping students be the best version of themselves on and off the field. He is looking forward to continuing to share his passion for high school athletics and extracurriculars with the Mount Vernon community.

Dear parents/guardians,

For high school course work taken during middle school, parents may request that a student's high school mathematics, world language, or ESOL course be expunged after the completion of the school year. The “Request to Expunge High School Courses taken in Middle School” form must be submitted to the student's school counselor before the beginning of the second quarter of the next school year.

Once the school receives the written request form to expunge the grade, the high school director of student services will complete the process to completely remove the course from the student's transcript.

• Once expunged, a course cannot be reinstated.

• Once a course and grade are removed there will be no evidence on the transcript that the course was ever taken and no reason why the grade was expunged.

• When a course with an associated SOL is expunged from the academic record, any verified credit earned will not be applied towards high school graduation requirements unless the student retakes the expunged course and earns a passing grade.

• When parents request a student's grade be expunged, the credit is also expunged. This will affect the number of credits (and verified credits) required for graduation. For example, if a student in 7th grade expunges an Algebra 1 Honors course and in 8th grade expunges a Geometry Honors course, the student will no longer be eligible for an Advanced Studies Diploma unless one of the courses is repeated.

The Request to Expunge High School Courses in Middle School can be found here: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/is104.pdf

If you would like to purchase pictures from the 2026 Spring athletic season, the Legacy link is provided below.

You must use the number code below to access MVHS pictures.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is pleased to announce plans to offer the SAT School Day to students in grade 12 on October 7, 2026. A SAT School Day Testing Notification letter is posted online.

Digital Format: The SAT School Day is delivered digitally. Some testing accommodations are administered differently on digital tests than they are on paper/pencil tests. Please reference the Using Accommodations on Digital Tests chart to review how each accommodation is delivered digitally.

Students with disabilities and multilingual learners (MLs) may be eligible for testing accommodations and/or supports for the SAT School Day; however, the College Board requires schools to submit formal requests in advance.

• To request new or amended College Board accommodations for the October SAT School Day, return the input and consent forms to the school by August 3, 2026.

• To request College Board ML supports for the 2026 SAT School Day, return the input and consent forms to the school by August 27, 2026.

When returning forms to request College Board testing accommodations or ML supports, deliver to:

ATTN: Ms. Pam Ihle

℅ Mount Vernon High School

8515 Old Mount Vernon Road,

Alexandria, VA 22309

OR scan the accommodations or ML supports and email to Ms. Ihle at paihle@fcps.edu

If you have questions about College Board testing accommodations or ML supports for the SAT, contact Ms. Ihle at 703-619-3116. Please note that Ms. Ihle is NOT on contract during the summer months so please be patient if you do not receive an immediate response.

We will share more specifics about the October SAT testing opportunity at the beginning of the school year.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is pleased to announce plans to offer the Preliminary SAT (PSAT)/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) to students in grades 10-11 on October 7, 2026.

• A PSAT/NMSQT Testing Notification letter is posted online.

Digital Format: The PSAT/NMSQT is delivered digitally. Some testing accommodations are administered differently on digital tests than they are on paper/pencil tests.

• Please reference the Using Accommodations on Digital Tests chart to review how each accommodation is delivered digitally.

Students with disabilities and multilingual learners (MLs) may be eligible for testing accommodations and/or supports for the PSAT/NMSQT; however, the College Board requires schools to submit formal requests in advance.

Testing Accommodations: Students with disabilities who have testing accommodations documented in a 504 Plan or an individualized education program (IEP) may be eligible for testing accommodations on the PSAT/NMSQT. The College Board must approve a formal request for each student. If the student already has College Board accommodations approved from a previous PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, SAT, or AP test, there is no need to resubmit accommodation requests. Once instated, accommodations remain in place for all College Board testing. The Accommodations Process for College Board Testing webpage provides instructions for requesting College Board testing accommodations, including the required input and consent forms (Enclosures 2-3).

• To request new or amended College Board accommodations for the October PSAT/NMSQT, return the input and consent forms to the school by August 3, 2026.

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ML Supports: Multilingual learners, defined as English learners under federal and state policy, are eligible for testing supports on the PSAT/NMSQT. ML supports are temporary and must be requested each school year. The ML Supports Process for College Board Testing webpage provides instructions for requesting ML testing supports, including the required input and consent forms (Enclosures 5-6).

• To request College Board ML supports for the 2026 PSAT/NMSQT, return the input and consent forms to the school by August 27, 2026.

When returning forms to request College Board testing accommodations or ML supports, deliver to:

ATTN: Ms. Pam Ihle

℅ Mount Vernon High School

8515 Old Mount Vernon Road,

Alexandria, VA 22309

OR scan the accommodations or ML supports and email to Ms. Ihle at paihle@fcps.edu

If you have questions about College Board testing accommodations or ML supports for the PSAT/NMSQT, contact Ms. Ihle at 703-619-3116.

• Please note that Ms. Ihle is NOT on contract during the summer months so please be patient if you do not receive an immediate response.

We will share more specifics about the October PSAT/NMSQT testing opportunity at the beginning of the school year.

Summer Learning Resources for Families

Instructional Services is supporting student learning over the summer.

Digital and print resources are being curated on the Summer Learning Resources webpage for students and families to review and practice previously taught content throughout the summer months.

Resources are organized by grade level and aligned to the learning students experienced during the school year.

Families can access the materials at any time to review concepts, practice skills, or explore new ideas at home.

Additional resources will continue to be added throughout June.

[Click on Resources Below for Websites]

[Click on Resources Below for Websites]