
The Mustang Spirit
The Principal's Newsletter - May 7, 2021
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Principal's Message
A reminder to please complete the survey below about instructional options for the next school year. This important data helps us make informed decisions about courses for next year. It is due today.
Have a great Mother's Day weekend!
Sincerely,
The Mustang Admin Team
Photo cred: freepik.com
FCCPS Student Vaccination Pod
We are excited to share that we will offer an FCCPS Student Vaccination Pod for our students later this month! The Fairfax County Health Department, in collaboration with FCCPS, will offer the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to FCCPS students on Friday, May 21, with a second dose on Friday, June 11, in a school-based pod. The vaccines are free of charge and administered only to students with parental permission.
Any FCCPS student who is 12+ will be able to receive both doses of the Pfizer vaccine at school during the day. We expect the FDA to authorize the Pfizer vaccine for those aged 12+ before the May 21 date. Therefore, parents can register students age 12 and older for our FCCPS Vaccination Pod. Please Note: If Emergency Use for Authorization (EAU) does not occur, the appointments for younger students will be canceled. The vaccine will still be available to those students who are 16+ at the FCCPS Student Vaccination Pod.
This Student Vaccination Pod will occur in the middle school during the school day under the supervision of the Fairfax County Health Department (HD). Public Health Nurses will administer the vaccine in a structured and medically monitored vaccination pod. The student pod will run very similar to that of an adult pod; however, we will hold it in the gym at the middle school during the school day.
Any parent who wishes to have their student vaccinated via the school-based pod must complete the form below so that the HD can reserve the correct number of doses for the FCCPS Student Vaccination Pod and secure the appropriate staffing level.
Please complete the form below by Tuesday, May 11, at 8:30 AM. Fill out a separate form for each student that you would like to have vaccinated.
FCCPS Student Vaccination Pod Interest Form
NOTE: This is the first step in the process. After completing this form, and prior to the vaccination pod, parents/guardians will receive a link to register and give final permission for their student to participate in the FCCPS Student Vaccination Pod. As we get closer, FCCPS will share more details regarding the logistics.
Being vaccinated is a personal healthcare decision for each family. No student will be vaccinated without documented parent permission. Please discuss any concerns you may have regarding the Pfizer vaccine with your healthcare provider. You can also find information at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/novel-coronavirus/vaccine-faq-public.
We are so grateful to the team at the Fairfax County Health Department for offering this pod to our school division, as this isn’t on offer to the other school division in the health district at this time. There will be more info to come, but parents must fill out the interest form as soon as possible!
Due Today: Instructional Options for SY 2021-22
Reminder: If you have not submitted the survey for next school year's instructional option for your child, please submit it today. Please click on the red button below.
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.
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.
SOL Test Tech Checks
The SOL tests are coming up and we will need to make sure that all student laptops are ready.
IN-PERSON STUDENTS
Tech checks for in-person students will follow this schedule:
- Freshmen: Tuesday, May 11 at 9:45 AM (Stable Group time)
- Sophomores: Friday, May 14 at 9:45 AM (Stable Group time)
* Juniors have already done their tech checks.
ALL-VIRTUAL STUDENTS
All students taking an SOL test will need to report to school. There is no SOL test virtual option.
SOL Schedule:
- Wednesday, May 19 from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Chemistry, Earth Science, 9th Grade Biology, and 11th Grade Reading
- Wednesday, May 26 from 8:00 AM - 11:30 AM: Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2
Musical Production: Songs For A New World
As we continue our efforts to restore the things we love, the VPA is pleased to offer this year's musical.
SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD
by Jason Robert Brown
May 14 and 15 at 7:30 PM in the Mustang Auditorium
Running time: 105 minutes including a 15-minute intermission
To request tickets to see it live, please fill out this form. There is no walk-up seating.
Or, you can choose to watch the live-streamed show here. Please note: This stream is only offered live during the performance and will not be available at other times.
Both are being offered free of charge.
Have somewhere to go on a Friday or Saturday night! Just don't forget your mask!
We Are Still All In This Together!
Please help us make sure our Seniors get to do all their significant end-of-year activities! We would like all seniors to take part in Graduation and Prom and not be excluded due to COVID exposure in their family or friend group. It is our shared responsibility to help out. Please do your part!
Things to Remember:
Anyone who is fully vaccinated (2 weeks past 2nd dose of Pfizer/Moderna or Single dose of J&J) AND not exhibiting symptoms would not need to quarantine or pause should they be exposed to a COVID positive case.
Those who get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine by May 7 would be considered fully vaccinated by the date of the Prom.
Those who get the J & J vaccine by May 19 will be able to attend Graduation.
It is important for all Seniors to remember that they must stay 6-feet away from others and need to continue to be very careful in all settings in the next few weeks so that they are not exposed to someone who is COVID positive. Seniors WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to attend events if they are paused or quarantined due to an exposure. There will be no exceptions to this in order to protect all involved in Senior events. FCCPS will fully implement the public health actions required by the Health Department.
Families with younger children and adults who are not vaccinated are asked to be especially alert to prevent exposure to COVID. A COVID-positive case in a family means that everyone who is not vaccinated and who lives in the household has to quarantine. This could lead to a Senior missing these significant events.
Please reach out to your healthcare provider for guidance on vaccinations for your student. This is a personal healthcare choice.
There are opportunities for vaccinations in our community. Please use www.vaccinefinder.org to assist with locating a vaccine location and scheduling an appointment.
Thank you and we appreciate your support!
Make Every Day Health Department Appreciation Day
It’s stressful to get that call that your child may have been exposed to COVID and that you are now part of a contact tracing investigation. Be prepared if the phone rings with that message.
Understand the contact tracking process.
Comply with the health department.
Be respectful to the health department and school staff who contact you regarding COVID exposures.
Tributes to the Class of 2021
In honor of the end of a crazy school year, we are asking for video submissions (no longer than one minute) congratulating and appreciating this year’s graduating class. If you are interested in submitting a video, please send it to gmhsska@gmail.com by May 14.
Thank you for your participation!
SKA (Secret Kindness Agents)
Choral Boosters Fundraiser
Summer Academy Registration Is Open Through June 2
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.
Quick Links
Home of the Mustangs
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