The Mustang Spirit

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Dear Mustang Families,

FCCPS looks forward to welcoming back students to full-time (5 days a week) in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year. Our transition back to in-person learning this spring underscored that model’s tremendous benefit and value to our students. Factoring in the impact of COVID-19 and the availability of vaccines, we can provide in-person instruction with greater ease for our students and is FCCPS’ preferred model for all. However, we recognize that due to various Covid-related factors, online learning may be the preferred model of instruction for some.

Our Secondary Instructional Options for 2021-2022 will be as follows:

• Option 1 - Five-day In-person instruction
• Option 2 - Five-day online learning option*

* NOTE: If you select Option 2, we ask you to list your COVID-related concern prohibiting your student from participating in in-person instruction.

For the high school team to plan for next year accurately, we must have an idea of each student's instructional placement for next year. We recognize that your decision may change based on the increased availability of children’s vaccines and may change your decision which we will honor.

Below is a survey that we are asking you to complete by Friday, May 7th.

Sincerely,

The Mustang Admin Team

FCCPS Quarantine Guidelines for Vaccinated Persons 16+

• If a person is fully vaccinated with 2 doses, at least 2 weeks past the 2nd dose, and has no symptoms or fever, then they do not have to quarantine/pause if exposed to a person who is COVID-19 positive.
• Those who are vaccinated should always continue to monitor themselves for symptoms and consult their healthcare provider as needed.
• Any staff member/student who meets the criteria above and is not asked to quarantine by a public health official may work/attend school if they are exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.

Who is not required to stay home (quarantine) after having close contact with someone with COVID-19 per the Fairfax County Health Department

• People who have had COVID-19 in the past 3 months (90 days) as long as they do not develop new symptoms.*

• People who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as long as they have no symptoms and they are not inpatients, residents of a healthcare setting, or residents of a congregate setting like a group home or correctional or detention facility.*

• Fully vaccinated means 2 weeks or more have passed since getting the second dose of a two-dose vaccine, or 2 weeks or more have passed since getting 1 dose of a single-dose vaccine.

• Healthcare settings include hospitals and long-term care facilities (e.g., nursing homes, assisted living facilities).

• People who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and who have either traveled in the United States or arrived back in the United States after traveling internationally.

• People who have had close contact with a person who was a close contact to someone with COVID-19 (“contact of a contact”). If your contact tests positive for COVID-19, then you should stay home (quarantine).

* It is very important that people who are not required to stay home (quarantine) monitor their health for 14 days after their last exposure and continue following all recommendations (e.g., wear a mask, stay at least 6 feet away from others, avoid crowds, and wash hands often). See exceptions to masking and physical distancing for fully vaccinated people here.

https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/coronavirus/local-exposure/#requiredq

Vaccine and Vaccination Process in Fairfax County: Webinars for FCCPS Families

Join the Fairfax County Health Department and FCCPS Parent University for important updates about COVID-19 and the vaccines that have been developed to help prevent disease.

Topics will include:

• COVID-19 impacts (health, economic, education)

• Community Immunity: What is it and how do we get there?

• Different vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson - How they work and their efficacy

• Safety of vaccines

• Vaccination process: Everyone 16+ can register for a vaccine starting April 18

• How to register

May 4 (Spanish) & May 5 (English) are just for FCCPS families.

Please register below to attend either one.

May 4 in Spanish

May 5 in English

SLL is available to students who would like a quiet space (room 420 or L29) to work on homework, study for a test, learn with a peer tutor, etc. from 9:00 AM - Noon. Students should submit this form whether they will need a tutor or not. If a peer tutor is needed, students should submit the form by 3:00 PM on the Thursday before to give enough time to match the student with a peer tutor.

This is a friendly reminder that All-Virtual students may come to the clinic any Wednesday to complete their Vision/Hearing Screening through the end of the current school year

The Junior Class Officers are excited to announce that the Junior-Senior Prom will be held on Saturday, May 22 from 7:00 - 10:00 PM in the Mustang Stadium (outdoors).

Tickets are $20 each and will be available online through My School Bucks on:

• May 3 - 7 for seniors
• May 10 - 14 for juniors

Only GMHS juniors and seniors will be able to attend this event. Unfortunately, outside guests and GMHS freshmen and sophomores are not invited this year. After ticket sales are closed, juniors and seniors who bought tickets will be able to sign up for “pods” through a link we will send out.

All attendees will need to follow COVID-19 mitigation protocols which include:

• a temperature and health check before entering
• wearing a mask/face covering
• staying at least three to six feet apart per CDC guidelines, and
• staying within assigned "pod" and designated area for contact tracing purposes

Registration for our 2021 Summer Academy Program is open. Students will have the opportunity to select from a variety of Hybrid Classroom (Hy-C) courses for new credit, credit recovery or continuation, or obtain enrichment for advanced courses. Parents/ Guardians may register their child/children using this Summer Academy Registration Form by Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Parents/Guardians will be sent a confirmation email once registration closes and not before.

Sunday, May 2 between 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Rain date: May 16)

Exercise, Community, History & Inspiration. Everyone is invited to take a self-guided walk through the City and learn about women who made history, or are making history today. Plus it is a great opportunity to connect with people in the community.

Honorees include 44 historic women; 44 entrepreneurial women and 18 Young Women of Action, who are FCCPS students making a difference. We are very proud of the 12 Mustangs who are being honored! (see names in graphic above)

There are 3 different starting points: City Hall, Tinner Hill Historic Site and Big Chimneys Park. Pick your favorite and stop there to pick up a map and brochure. Enjoy the walk at your own pace, and make a day of it by stopping at a nearby business for lunch or a treat.

Social distancing and face coverings are required.

Students at ALL Falls Church City Schools are encouraged to participate in Walk & Bike to School Day on Thursday, May 6! This voluntary event is a great opportunity for students and families to explore new routes to school. We recommend bike riders learn the rules of the road and hand signals before participating. Bike racks are available in front of Henderson Middle School.

Mustang Career Chats are back! The chats are virtual this year, so you can do it from anywhere. Career Chats give students an opportunity to learn about what happens after high school; career paths and opportunities. They love to hear from friends and neighbors. Date needed is May 14 from 10:00-11:00 AM.

Sign up at this link

#BetterTogether

Matt Hills

Principal

Email: HillsM@fccps.org
Website: gm.fccps.org
Location: 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church, VA, USA
Phone: (703) 248-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fallschurchcitypublicschools
Twitter: @MasonMustangs