The Mustang Spirit

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The Intention Form for Quarter 4 learning went out to all secondary students' families and to high school students on Wednesday afternoon.Thank you to the families/students who submitted the form already. If you have not yet, please continue to read on.

With our robust mitigation strategies, we are confident that these measures will allow for more students’ safe returns at the middle and high schools. Those strategies include student mask-wearing, utilization of space and social distancing, and explicit cleaning protocols. Today’s new CDC Guidance for Schools reduces the social distancing guideline from 6 feet to 3 feet. While this allows us more flexibility in our instructional areas, we will strive to maintain 6 feet of social distancing where possible.

The secondary team received input from middle and high school stakeholders and built a plan to best meet students' and staffs' needs in grades 6-12. In offering additional access for in-person learning, the school day will run from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, with Wednesday as an independent learning day. Students will keep the same courses and teachers, and instructional blocks will remain 84 minutes long. See the Quarter 4 bell schedule below.

The form will allow you and your child(ren) to select one of the following options:

• Virtual - your student(s) will access learning virtually for the remainder of the year

• Four Days a Week In-Person - your student(s) will access in person learning four days per week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) through face-to-face and hub model learning

If you have extenuating circumstances or have scheduling needs that prevent your student from attending in person four days per week, please email us at: reopening@fccps.org.

Please complete this form by this Monday, March 22, for each secondary student in your family. The new four days per week schedule will begin on Tuesday, April 6, the first day we are back from Spring Break.

Virginia College Access Network and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) are partnering on a statewide FAFSA completion effort meant to address disproportionate effects of the pandemic on low-income and underrepresented students. Four college access organizations have banded together to offer one-on-one FAFSA assistance from March 15 - June 30.

Click here for more information and to register.

Junior Writing SOL Rescheduled

Due to technical difficulties out of our control, the Writing SOL has been rescheduled for Monday, March 22 from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM. All-virtual students are asked to report to school at 7:30 AM so that their laptops may be updated and checked. The IT Team will be in the Main Lobby to help.

11th Grade College Information Night

Our student services team prepared a video to help students and parents navigate the college search and application process. We thank Ashley Browning, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Hollins University, and Juan Espinoza, Associate Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Virginia Tech for being part of this program. The recording is about 1 hour and it can be viewed on The Home of the Mustangs YouTube Channel.

We are welcoming the Class of 2024 to come to school starting on Tuesday, March 23 on the days they are virtual to attend their classes virtually in our established hubs at school. Students should come to school prepared with their laptop, charger, ear buds, and face covering. There is no sign up. Students should check in at the Mustang Cafe when they arrive at school at or before 8:00 AM. Transportation is not provided for a student's virtual hub day.

Join FCCPS and FCEF in celebrating Women’s History Month. There’s something going on at all schools, and in the community.

• Does your child have a woman in their life that they want to highlight? We want to hear from the students of FCCPS and highlight the women in their lives during Women’s History Month. Students should create a selfie video and submit it via this google form. Submitted videos may be shared publicly throughout the month of March.

• Daily facts in Morning Announcements and social media about historic women who shaped Falls Church, and current entrepreneurial women.

• Look for a series of student interviews of prominent women.

• At the end of the month there will be an opportunity for students to reflect on women they’ve learned about.

There’s nothing else like your school yearbook. If you would like to place an order for a 20-21 Yearbook, the current rate is $85 and can be purchased by clicking HERE. The last day to purchase your yearbook is April 16, 2021.

Thank you for helping us tell the story of the year,

George Mason High School Yearbook Staff

Photo is the actual cover of the 20-21 Yearbook.

#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