School Board Mount Vernon District | Fairfax County Public Schools

The Dunne Dispatch (Calendar Edition) - 12/13/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District1 week 1 day ago

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The Dunne Dispatch (Calendar Edition) - 12/13/2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Once a month the Dunne Dispatch provides a calendar of events. My goal is to connect the schools with the community, and vice versa. Even if you do not have children attending FCPS, I encourage you to attend public events at our schools.

Inside this issue:

Pyramid Events and Activities
- Mount Vernon
- West Potomac
- South County
- Hayfield
- Edison
- Lewis
FCPS Events and Activities
Community Events and Activities

If you have any school or related community events you would like me to include in my next calendar newsletter, please email [email protected] and copy [email protected].

Very respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

Pyramid Events and Activities

Mount Vernon Pyramid

Kick-Off the Winter Holiday Season with Mount Vernon HS, December 14. Mount Vernon HS Class of 2027 invites you to a Cozy Community Breakfast, 9-12 p.m. Come celebrate holiday traditions from around the world! Individual tickets are $6. A Family Pack is $20. Join the Class 2027 for cultural games, music, dance, photo opportunities, gift wrapping, and prizes! The Mount Vernon HS PTSA will host its Holiday Market, 9-2 p.m. There will be many gift options from local vendors, sweet treats, and holiday cheer. Questions? Email [email protected] or follow on Instagram: @ptsaholidayfest.

Mount Vernon HS Hosts Curriculum Night, January 9, 6 p.m. Mount Vernon HS invites its students and families to come learn about class options, advanced academics, diploma options, and much more. Participants will learn more about the International Baccalaureate program and Advanced Placement courses. Save the date now and stay tuned for more information!

Whitman MS Science Study Sessions, December December 16-20. Students who did not perform well on the Unit 1 Science assessment will have the opportunity to retest. The retests will take place during advisory sessions the week of December 10-13 and December 16-20. Students will receive passes for a study session, which will include review and reteaching. On the day of the retest, students will receive a pass to retake the test. Notifications will be given to students in class.

Save the Date for Upcoming Events at Fort Belvoir Primary and Upper Schools. Mark your calendars for these upcoming activities for the Fort Belvoir ES community.
- December 13: Food Market
- December 17: Volunteer Orientation, 10-11 a.m.
- January 14: New Families Welcome, 10-11 a.m.
- January 15: Blue Star Starbucks Meet Up, 10-11 a.m.
- January 24: Food Market

Fort Belvoir ES PTO Presents Santa Sacks. Order a Santa Sack for your favorite Fort Belvoir ES student or staff members. Orders are due by December 13 and can be picked up on December 16.

Riverside ES Hosts Winter Wonderland Party, December 21, 12-2 p.m. Join the Riverside ES community for a winter-themed party filled with snacks, games, fun, and more! Staff and families will celebrate the hard work of Riverside students and will also announce its semi-annual $100/100 winner. This event will take place at Mathnasium of Mount Vernon (7696h Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306). Friends and family are welcome to join. RSVP online.

West Potomac Pyramid

Contributions Needed for West Potomac HS Teacher and Staff Holiday Party. West Potomac HS PTSA is hosting a Winter Wonderland Party to celebrate the school’s hard-working teachers and staff. Families and community members are asked to contribute gift cards, drinks, and monetary donations to make this event possible. Questions? Email [email protected] for more information.
Santa Claus is Coming to West Potomac HS, December 14, 8:30 – 11 a.m. Attend this holiday meet and greet to support the Class of 2026! Santa Claus himself will make a special appearance. Enjoy other fun activities, such as ornament making, holiday crafts, hot cocoa treats, and more! Tickets are $35/family and include a family picture with Santa, craft making, and a continental breakfast. Sign up online.

Two Opportunities to Support West Potomac Athletics this Holiday Season.

Rising 9th Family Night / Curriculum Night / Electives Open House, January 7, 6-8:30 p.m. Please join us on Tuesday, January 7 for Rising 9thGrade Family Night, Curriculum Night, and Electives Open House! With academic advising right around the corner, this is a great opportunity to come and learn about the wide variety of courses that West Potomac HS offers. We look forward to sharing some curriculum option changes at the 9th and 10th grade level. West Potomac HS looks forward to seeing you on Tuesday, January 7 at 6pm!

PTSA Five Guys Restaurant Night, December 17, 4-8 p.m. It’s the holidays. Let somebody else cook dinner! PTSA Five Guys Restaurant Night on December 17th from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Both the Quander Road and Hybla Valley locations are participating. Five Guys will donate 20% of your purchase to West Potomac HS’s PTSA.

Bucknell ES Winter Concert, December 17, 6 p.m. Join us for our annual Winter Concert featuring the talented band, strings, and chorus students of Bucknell ES! This joyful performance will take place on Tuesday, December 17th at 6:00 PM in the school gym. Come celebrate the season and enjoy an evening of beautiful music performed by our amazing young musicians.

Hollin Meadows ES Plastic Bag Collection for Get to Green Recycling. Help Hollin Meadows ES earn a free bench from Trex Decking by contributing to their plastic bag recycling drive. Let’s help them reach their goal to collect 1000 pounds! Before Thanksgiving, they had collected 114 pounds of clean plastic bags. There are collection containers in the front lobby of the school. Drop off your clean: grocery bags, bread bags, cereal bags, shrink wrap, bubble wrap, and plastic mailers.

Fort Hunt ES Holiday Market, December 14, 9-11 a.m. Come shop to support the Fort Hunt Foxes and friends! Join Fort Hunt ES for its first annual Holiday Market. Enjoy food, drinks, shopping, music, and activities for the kids. Visit the Fort Hunt PTA online for more information.

South County Pyramid

Support the South County HS Used Shoe Drive Fundraiser. The South County Cross Country team is excited to announce our shoe drive fundraiser! They are collecting gently used shoes to support micro-businesses in developing countries and raise funds for our team. Every pair of shoes makes a difference! Their goal is to collect 2,500 pairs. Please join in making a positive impact on our community and the world!

South County MS Curriculum Night, January 16, 6-7:30 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity for rising 7th and 8th grade South County MS families to learn about the courses available to students during the 2025-2026 school year. Meet core and elective teachers, counselors, and administration. Attend an information session to learn about math and core pathway options. Students are encouraged to attend as well!

Hayfield Pyramid

Last Day of Gunston ES Book Fair, December 16. The excitement of the Gunston Book Fair is underway! Come one, come all to shop for your favorite books. The fair ends December 16. Check online for more information.

Celebrate the Holiday Season with Lorton Station ES, December 13 and December 19. Lorton Station ES students are cordially invited to the school’s Winter Formal on December 13, 5-7 p.m. Ring in the New Year in your most fancy clothing. Tickets are $5 and adults must stay and accompany students. Don’t miss Lorton Station ES’s Winter Sing Along, December 19. Come sing along to your favorite winter and seasonal songs with your student. Check the flyer or contact the school main office for specific performance times for each grade.

2024 Fairfax Motor Squad’s Santa’s Ride Toy Collection at Island Creek! During December, Island Creek ES’s Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade students will welcome Santa's Ride presented by the Fairfax County Police Department Motor Squad! The purpose of this event is to collect new toys, books, and games for children who are sick in local area hospitals. Collected items will be donated to INOVA Children's Hospital Child Life Unit. A Toy Collection Box is outside Island Creek’s main office. There is also a QR code to donate through the 501(c)(3) charity Making Everything Good. View the INOVA Child Life “wish list” online. Diaper donations are also needed this year.

Edison Pyramid

Contribute Gift Cards for Edison HS Faculty by December 16. Edison HS is collecting gift cards to raffle at the Annual Faculty Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 17th. Parents, families, and students are invited to send donated gift cards to the main office addressed to Gina D'Angelo by Monday, December 16. Questions? Email [email protected] for more information.
Support Edison HS’s Partnership with Food for Neighbors. Edison High School is pairing up with Food For Neighbors to assist families in need. Please take a moment to read how you can help! Every little bit can help a family.
Edison HS Class of 2024 IB Celebration, January 8, 4:30 p.m. Attention Edison HS Class of 2024 IB Diploma Candidates! Edison HS is thrilled to invite you to a special reception to celebrate your achievements and present your IB Diplomas. Celebrate your hard work, connect with your classmates, and pick up your diploma. Light refreshments will be provided. If you are unable to attend, please email [email protected] to arrange to pick up your diploma or certificate. 📅 Date: January 8 🕠 Time: 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM 📍 Location: Edison HS Cafeteria – Gym Side (please use door 14 to enter)

Edison HS International Baccalaureate (IB) Information Night, January 15, 6-7 p.m. Join Edison’s IB Coordinators on January 15, 2025, from 6– 7 p.m. in the Auditorium. They will provide an overview of the IB Program at Edison as well as answer some of the most frequently asked questions, such as: How do you become an IB student? What is the IB MYP Personal Project? What is the FCPS/IB MYP Certificate? What are the benefits of taking IB DP courses? What is the IB Diploma? What is the difference between the IB Diploma and the IB Diploma Certificate?

Twain MS Book Fair Ends December 13. The Scholastic Book Fair is underway at Twain MS until December 13. Students can experience the limitless possibilities of reading! Every purchase benefits the school.
Twain MS Winter Formal, December 13. Twain MS’s Student Council Advisory will host the school’s annual Winter Formal dance on Friday, December 13, 6:30-8:30, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Come early to take pictures and eat before the dance starts.

Don’t Miss Mount Eagle ES’s Winter Sing-a-Long, December 20, 2 p.m. Mount Eagle ES’s Winter concert is Friday, December 20 at 2:00pm. Get into the holiday spirit with the school’s staff and students. Contact the school office or your child’s teacher for more information.

Lewis Pyramid

Take the Plunge with Key Center School, January 25. The Key Center community is invited to join GOING FOR THE COLD to benefit Virginia Special Olympics and Key Center School. The Key Center team will participate in the Mosaic Polar Plunge on January 25th, 2025. Key Center School will receive 50% of the funds raised by the Key Center Team. Key Center staff, families, and community partners are invited to join the Key Center Rockets Polar Plunge Team! Got cold feet? You can still support the team. Learn more online about how you can sponsor one of our team members.

FCPS Events and Activities

Last Boundary Review Community Meeting at Madison HS, December 18, 6:30 – 8 p.m. There is one more opportunity to participate in a community meeting regarding FCPS' division-wide boundary review. While your students may not attend school in the region below, you are still welcome to attend and participate. Please click on a date to register: Wednesday, December 18, 6:30-8 p.m., Madison High School Cafeteria, Region 1. In addition, the Office of Communications (OC) has created a new newsletter for regular updates on the Boundary Review process. You can sign up to receive information updates here.
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024. Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to your school’s Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART) no later than December 15, 2024. Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall. For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
Thomas Jefferson Investigative Science Outreach to Host Science Fair for 5th-8th graders, April 5, 2025. The TJ Investigative Science Outreach, a student-led organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology will host its 12th annual invitational science fair on April 5, 2025. Students in 5th-8th grades are invited to participate. Admission to the science fair is free. Participants will complete a research project of their choice and present at the fair in-person on April 5th, 2025. There will be multiple sessions to help participants prepare and learn important skills in STEM like brainstorming, collecting data, presenting, writing an experiment summary, using statistics, and creating an experimental diagram. For more information, visit tjsciencefair.wordpress.com or email [email protected].
Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application. Families must submit an application and be approved to be eligible for free and reduced-price meals for the 2024-25 school year. Students approved for Free and Reduced-Price Meals may qualify for additional benefits such as waived or reduced fees for instruments, uniforms, field trips, FCPS class fees, and Parktakes classes. Schools also benefit from funding opportunities based on Free and Reduced-Price Meal application numbers. You may access the following website for more information and an online application. Learn more about the Free and Reduced-Price Meal program online. This is a confidential process. Contact your school principal for more information.

Community Events and Activities

Hybla Valley Community Center Food Distributions, December 14

Join Your Local Library’s Winter Reading Challenge. Now – January 31. Fairfax County Public Library’s winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through Friday, January 31, 2025. Visit your local FCPL branch or their Winter Reading Adventure website to register and get a sneak peek at the prizes being offered. Check out their Winter Reading Events webpage to learn about laser tag, movie nights, crafting sessions, Noon-Year Eve celebrations, and book discussions. Looking for ways to help support your child’s reading and writing at home? Visit the FCPS Literacy Resource page for tips and information about the Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System.

Woodlawn Little League 2025 Spring Registration Now Open

NOVA Virtual Sessions Coming in 2025! Join a Virtual Discover NOVA webinar to explore program options, gain an understanding of our student support resources, and learn how to enroll in classes. All sessions begin at 6:30pm and run for approximately one hour. Concurrent Spanish-speaking sessions will be available on February 20th and April 22nd. See the NOVA Virtual Sessions Flyerfor all dates and to register.

2025 Gap Year Fair for Students and their Families, January 28, 6 – 8:30 p.m. FCPS’ School Counseling Services and Go Overseasare co-hosting the annual FCPS Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at George C. Marshall High School from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. This event is for high school students and parents who are interested in learning more about the growing array of gap year opportunities. The evening will begin with a presentation in the auditorium from 6:00 to 6:45 p.m. Immediately following, the program fair will be held in the cafeteria from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m., with representatives from over 30 programs offering gap year opportunities. Students and their families are encouraged to meet the representatives and learn about the variety of experiences available. Students are encouraged to pre-register for this event. For more information, visit: USA Gap Year Fairs or FCPS Gap Year Fair.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

The Dunne Dispatch (Hayfield Football Update) - 11/26/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District3 weeks 4 days ago

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The Dunne Dispatch (Hayfield Football Update) - 11/26/2024

STATEMENT OF MATEO DUNNE ON NEXT STEPS IN THE HAYFIELD FOOTBALL SITUATION

FCPS has demonstrated unprecedented incompetence in its handling of the Hayfield football situation, which is perhaps the greatest (local) sports scandal in the history of the Commonwealth. Their actions and inaction have shattered the faith and trust of our community in the integrity of our athletic programs and FCPS leadership. I deplore the unnecessary trauma and turmoil inflicted on our student-athletes, families/caregivers, schools, and community.

Yesterday, I joined with my colleagues Ricardy Anderson and Ricardy Anderson to issue a Joint Statement calling for a comprehensive and independent investigation of the Hayfield football situation, to include a “no holds barred” external inquiry into how FCPS has handled this scandal since inception.

Today, the City of Fairfax School Board issued a clarion call for a comprehensive and independent investigation, echoing our Joint Statement and the City’s previous statement on November 17.

It is time for the School Board to hear the voices of our constituents and hire an outside law firm to ascertain the facts and make recommendations on how we can chart a new course to establish a level playing field for our athletic programs wherein games are played in accordance with established rules that are fairly and consistently enforced.

I regret that due to the obvious conflict of interest, I must call for the Superintendent and her Division Counsel to recuse themselves from any involvement in the comprehensive and independent investigation. Their actions and inaction led to the current debacle, and they can’t be trusted to right the ship.

While the Superintendent has announced limited actions such as an external review of student transfers, those actions appear to my constituents to constitute a coverup--a narrow inquiry that does not address the profound questions that have been raised by the scandal and how it has been handled.

I am sharing with you the text of motions to be discussed during the School Board meeting on December 5, 2024. These motions are based on the Joint Statement issued yesterday by Mateo Dunne, Ricardy Anderson, and Ryan McElveen. Through these actions, we hope to restore the integrity of our athletic programs and rebuild public trust in FCPS leadership.

I encourage my constituents and Fairfax County residents to contact your representatives on the School Board to express their support for these motions. Now is a time for action to root out the rot and ensure a bright future for our student-athletes.

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I move that the School Board restore the integrity of our athletic programs and provide a level playing field for FCPS student-athletes by directing the School Board’s Office of Auditor General to retain an outside law firm through a competitive solicitation to conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation of all allegations arising out of or relating to the Hayfield football situation, to include but not limited to: (1) the alleged dismissal of Coach Said Aziz and the hiring of Coach Darryl Overton; (2) the allegedly involuntary reassignment of FCPS employees; (3) the alleged recruitment of football players from other schools; (4) the transfer of 31 football players from other schools; (5) the residency and eligibility of the football players concerned; (6) alleged cyberbullying and social media policy violations; (7) the conduct of the FCPS internal investigation from June to August 2024; (8) the handling of the Hayfield football situation by FCPS leadership since February 2024; and (9) alleged actions and statements to silence, reprimand, retaliate against, and threaten FCPS employees who shared (or sought to share) their personal views on the Hayfield football situation. The outside law firm shall report directly to the School Board’s Office of Auditor General (without any direction or supervision from the Superintendent and Division Counsel). The outside law firm shall have no pre-existing relationship with (and shall not have performed any work within the last 10 years for) the Superintendent (to include her positions with other school divisions) or the Office of Division Counsel. The findings and recommendations of the investigation shall be published (subject to any limitations under Virginia law as determined by the outside law firm).
I move that the School Board direct the Governance Committee to amend Policy 1106 to (1) expand the definition of “protected activity” to include an actual or apparent violation of any law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; or censorship of educational data and research; (2) require whistleblower disclosures and claims of actual or apparent whistleblower retaliation to be reported to the School Board’s Office of Auditor General; and (3) assign exclusive responsibility for the investigation of whistleblower disclosures and claims of actual or apparent whistleblower retaliation.
I move that the School Board direct the School Board’s Office of Auditor General to establish a Dissent Channel modeled on the State Department’s Dissent Channel for the expression of (anonymous) alternative or dissenting views and policy proposals
I move that the School Board direct the Governance Committee to establish a new policy to govern the hiring, reassignment, removal, and training of coaches.
I move that the School Board direct the Superintendent to (1) establish increased controls and scrutiny of the hiring, reassignment, removal, and training of school-based administrators; and (2) prohibit the involuntary reassignment and removal of school-based administrators without advance notice to the School Board.
I move that the School Board direct the Superintendent to establish a code of ethics and standards of conduct for FCPS leadership and school-based administrators, modeled on Federal ethics laws and regulations.
I move that the School Board direct the Governance Committee to ensure that all FCPS policies and regulations, including but not limited to the SR&R, uphold the rights of student journalists to make decisions regarding content without prior review or approval.

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

The Dunne Dispatch (Hayfield Football Situation) - 11/25/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District3 weeks 5 days ago

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The Dunne Dispatch (Hayfield Football Situation Special Edition) - 11/25/2024

JOINT STATEMENT BY MATEO DUNNE, RICARDY ANDERSON, AND RYAN MCELVEEN REGARDING NEXT STEPS TO ADDRESS THE FCPS FOOTBALL SITUATION

As School Board Members, we are compelled to address the latest developments in the Fairfax County Public Schools football situation. To be clear, we are speaking in our individual capacities and not on behalf of the Fairfax County School Board.

We have heard the voices of our constituents. We have been contacted by countless parents, families/caregivers, and community members across the county. We have also been contacted by booster clubs for Fairfax HS, Lake Braddock HS, Robinson HS, and South County HS. One booster club stated:

We believe that athletics in FCPS should strive to bring a spirit of competitive and fair play to instill in our students a sense of confidence, trust in teammates and coaches, and above all sportsmanship. This season has chipped away at this sense of fair play . . . We must strive to restore in our student athletes faith that FCPS – from leadership down – models integrity not only in our words, but in our actions. While individual transfers to Hayfield may have been in accordance with policy – it is impossible to not recognize that a collective action took place.

A coalition of booster clubs stated that FCPS has “failed to respond with the transparency, accountability, and urgency that this situation demands” and requested an independent investigation, “accountability measures” for “individual and entities found to be responsible for misconduct or poor oversight,” and policy reforms “to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”

All student-athletes deserve the opportunity to compete on a level playing field in accordance with established rules that are consistently and fairly enforced. In our opinion, our student-athletes were denied that opportunity by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and the Virginia High School League (VHSL) this season. We believe that FCPS failed to protect its student-athletes and maintain the integrity of its athletic program. This situation has tarnished the reputation of FCPS and disrupted the lives of countless students, families/caregivers, and community members.

In our opinion, FCPS has not accepted full responsibility for its actions and errors, and has failed to commit to a course of action that will remedy current challenges and prevent similar situations from occurring in the future. It is essential that a new direction be established for the school system.

School Management:

The Superintendent has stated many times that FCPS should operate as a school system, not as a system of schools. We agree. In our opinion, this situation originated from a series of decisions made at the school level that have adversely impacted the entire school system.

Moving forward, we will advocate for:

The establishment of a new policy to govern the hiring, reassignment, removal, and training of coaches;
Increased controls and scrutiny of the hiring, reassignment, removal, and training of school-based administrators; and
The establishment of a code of ethics and standards of conduct for FCPS leadership and school-based administrators, modeled on Federal ethics laws and regulations.

Student Transfers:

In April 2024, 14 football players transferred from Freedom HS to Hayfield HS. (Overall, 31 football players transferred to Hayfield HS from other schools in the DMV region.) By all accounts, the number and timing of the transfers was unusual and unprecedented. In our opinion, FCPS failed to investigate the student transfers in a timely manner.

We welcome the Superintendent’s decision to conduct a “comprehensive and independent external investigation and review of all student athlete transfers and eligibility practices across all sports and in all of our high schools.” In addition, we support the Superintendent’s decision to launch a “review of current practices in evaluating student athlete transfers both inside and outside the Division,” to include a “review and revision, where necessary, to FCPS athletic protocols and procedures.”

While we support these actions, they are insufficient to resolve the current crisis and prevent its repetition.

Independent Investigation:

In our opinion, FCPS conducted a flawed and limited internal investigation that was not credible—FCPS lacks the in-house resources to conduct a complex, multi-faceted, and objective investigation into its practices. Recent revelations have clearly highlighted the inadequacy of the FCPS internal investigation.

On August 29, 2024, we voted to support a motion to “preserve the integrity of our athletic programs and provide a level playing field for FCPS athletes by directing the Superintendent to retain an outside law firm to conduct a comprehensive and independent investigation of all allegations arising out of or relating to the recruitment and transfer of football players to the Hayfield HS football team from high schools outside of Fairfax County, to include involuntary reassignments of FCPS personnel, improper fundraising, improper expenditure of funds, cyberbullying and social media policy violations, and residency and eligibility of players.” Unfortunately, the motion failed by 9-3.

On November 17, 2024, the City of Fairfax School Board wrote a letter to the Fairfax County School Board:

We strongly disagree with FCPS’ decision to forego an independent investigation into these allegations . . . In our view, this represents a significant oversight in ensuring fairness, transparency, and accountability . . . The City of Fairfax School Board urges FCPS to engage an external firm to conduct a comprehensive, unbiased investigation into this matter. Such an effort would not only uphold ethical standards but also help rebuild trust among students, families, and community members. We also request that the findings of this investigation be published to ensure transparency, demonstrate accountability, and reaffirm the district’s commitment to fairness and integrity in both educational and athletic programs.

We strongly support the City of Fairfax School Board’s call for a “comprehensive, unbiased investigation.” We agree that “an impartial investigation initiated early in the season . . . could have prevented the current situation.”

Moving forward, we will continue to advocate for a comprehensive and independent investigation, to include but not be limited to:

The involuntary reassignment of FCPS employees;
The alleged recruitment of football players from other schools;
The transfer of football players from other schools;
The residency and eligibility of the football players concerned;
Cyberbullying and social media policy violations;
The conduct of the internal investigation from June to August 2024; and
The handling of this matter by FCPS leadership since February 2024.

To rebuild public trust, the School Board should select an outside law firm without t any pre-existing relationship with FCPS or the Superintendent, and the outside law firm should report directly to the School Board’s Auditor General. The outside law firm should have free rein to examine relevant data and documentation, interview relevant parties and personnel, and make appropriate recommendations to the School Board. There should be no restrictions on the scope of the investigation and recommendations. In addition, the School Board should commit to publishing the findings of the investigation and to expedite the implementation of recommendations.

We would like to be clear on what we regard as false equivalences:

The ongoing litigation before the Fairfax County Circuit Court is not the equivalent of, nor a substitute for, a comprehensive and independent investigation. To date, the Court has focused only on whether VHSL complied with its rules when it enacted the playoff ban.
The narrowly circumscribed “external review” performed by attorney Cynthia Hudson is not the equivalent of, nor a substitute for, a comprehensive and independent investigation. The Superintendent stated publicly that Ms. Hudson was contracted “to take a look at all of the investigation notes, the Auditor General notes, the residency check notes, the registration notes, and review those and provide recommendations to [the Superintendent] on whether there was any evidence, any substantiated allegation that would require [FCPS] to take action, either a personnel action or a program action.”
The narrowly circumscribed audit performed by the Office of Auditor General is not the equivalent of, nor a substitute for, a comprehensive and independent investigation. The Superintendent stated publicly that the Auditor General reviewed only the allegations “around finances, use of fields, use of resources, sort of in that fraud, waste, abuse category,” which were tertiary to the core allegations of wrongdoing.

Freedom of Expression:

We have received reports of FCPS employees being disciplined for (or prevented from) sharing their personal views on this situation. In addition, we have received reports of FCPS restricting the lawful activities of professional journalists and student journalists.

Moving forward, we will advocate to:

Direct the Superintendent to amend FCPS Regulation 7004.3 to enable FCPS employees to exercise their First Amendment rights and express their personal views (provided they do not speak on behalf of FCPS, do not use official time and resources, and do not infringe on the privacy rights of staff and students);
Establish a dissent channel for dissenting or alternative views and policy proposals, modeled on the State Department’s Dissent Channel;
Amend FCPS Policy 1106 to align with Federal laws protecting whistleblowers from retaliation for reporting an actual or apparent violation of any law, rule, or regulation; gross mismanagement; gross waste of funds; abuse of authority; substantial and specific danger to public health or safety; or censorship of educational data and research;
Assign the School Board’s Office of Auditor General to receive any whistleblower disclosures and to investigate any reports of whistleblower retaliation; and
Protect the rights of journalists to gather news and student journalists to make decisions regarding content without prior review or approval in accordance with established guidelines.

VHSL:

In our opinion, VHSL failed to act in a timely manner to enforce its rules. It is unacceptable that VHSL intervened on the eve of the playoffs, causing maximum disruption for our student-athletes, families/caregivers, and community members.

Going forward, we will advocate for FCPS to collaborate with VHSL to:

Clarify VHSL rules and eliminate any loopholes;
Require VHSL to act in a timely fashion on potential rule violations; and
Strengthen VHSL enforcement protocols to ensure consistent and fair implementation of VHSL rules.

Hate Speech:

We have received reports of racist comments directed toward student-athletes and families on social media. We wholeheartedly condemn these vile remarks. Such comments are reprehensible and hurtful, and they contradict the core values of the school division. Hate has no home in our community. We will not tolerate hate in any form.

All students—whether in the classroom or on the football field—deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. We encourage all members of our community to rise above hate and work toward a more inclusive future for everyone in our county.

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

The Dunne Dispatch (School Boundaries Edition, Part 3) - 11/5/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District1 month 2 weeks ago

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Dunne Dispatch (School Boundaries Edition, Part 3)

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

First, I am writing to invite you to participate in my Virtual Town Hall on November 11 @ 7:30-9:00 PM. Click here to register. I will present on academic outcomes, cell phones, and school boundaries.

Second, I am writing to publish a series of newsletters on school boundaries. This is the third in the series. FCPS is conducting a comprehensive reassessment of school boundaries for the first time in 40 years.

Please see my October 16 newsletter, which identifies multiple opportunities for community engagement and explains how to ensure your voice is heard.
Please see my October 30 newsletter, which explains how the School Board arrived at its decision to conduct a comprehensive reassessment of school boundaries.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if I can be of assistance with any school-related issues. Please note that the School Board is a part-time position, so please excuse any delays in responding. Please include my staff aide Nelda Brown ([email protected]) to ensure a faster response.

Very respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

COMMUNITY MEETINGS

In my October 16 newsletter, I provided the current timeline for the school boundary review. FCPS has announced the schedule for the first round of community meetings. At each meeting, the Superintendent will present on the rationale and process for revising school boundaries. Her presentation will be followed by small-group breakout sessions (with 8-10 people in each small group) wherein a moderator will facilitate a conversation with scripted questions. The information collected and views expressed during these meetings will inform the development of potential scenarios for amending school boundaries.

Glasgow MS - Monday, Nov. 18 @ 6:30 - 8 p.m. (Region 2) - Register
Westfield HS - Monday, Dec. 2 @ 6:30 - 8 p.m. (Region 5) - Register
Lake Braddock HS - Tuesday, Dec. 3 @ 6:30 - 8 p.m. (Region 4) - Register
Mount Vernon HS - Monday, Dec. 9 @ 6:30 - 8 p.m. (Region 3) - Register
Annandale HS - Thursday, Dec. 12 @ 6:45 - 8:15 p.m. (Region 6) - Register
Madison HS - Wednesday, Dec. 18 @ 6:30 - 8 p.m. (Region 1) - Register

A second round of community meetings is expected to be held in June-September 2025. These meetings will occur after FCPS has developed potential scenarios for amending school boundaries. A meeting will be held at every high school. You will have the opportunity to review proposed changes and provide your feedback.

RATIONALE FOR BOUNDARY CHANGES:

I do not speak on behalf of the School Board, but I would like to share my thoughts on the rationale for boundary changes.

Fairfax County has delayed a comprehensive reassessment of school boundaries for 40 years, which has adversely impacted our schools, staff, and students. Piecemeal changes to school boundaries for 40 years has resulted in attendance islands, split feeders, overcrowding, an excessive number of trailers and modulars, excessive transportation costs, and excessive investment in capacity enhancements instead of school renovations and infrastructure modernization.

1. ATTENDANCE ISLANDS

Primary Objective:

All attendance islands should be eliminated.

Related Objectives:

All students should be allowed to attend their local schools.
FCPS should not divide communities or student cohorts.

Background

In Fairfax County, there are 16 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools with attendance islands. (For a full list of attendance islands, see page 258 of the Capital Improvement Program.)
An attendance island is a neighborhood that is assigned to attend a distant, under-enrolled school in order to increase student enrollment.
Attendance islands divide communities by isolating certain neighborhoods and exporting their children to distant schools.
Attendance islands necessitate long bus rides, which may deprive students of adequate sleep and equitable access to extracurricular activities.

Examples

Whitman MS is located within the boundaries for Sandburg MS (and outside the boundaries of Whitman MS), so students living in the immediate vicinity of Whitman MS are assigned to attend Sandburg MS. All students attending Whitman arrive by bus, often enduring long bus rides.
Over 100 students who live within walking distance of Mount Vernon Woods ES are assigned to attend Fort Hunt ES. They ride the bus every day past multiple elementary schools to arrive at Fort Hunt ES.
Over 150 students who live within walking distance of Lorton Station ES are assigned to attend Halley ES. They ride the bus every day past multiple elementary schools to arrive at Halley ES.

2. SPLIT FEEDERS

Primary Objective:

All split feeders should be eliminated.

Related Objectives:

All students should be allowed to attend their local schools.
FCPS should not divide communities or student cohorts.

Background

In Fairfax County, there are 31 elementary schools and 6 middle schools that are split feeders. (For a full list of split feeders, see pages 251-257 of the Capital Improvement Program.)
A split feeder is (i) an elementary school where students attend different middle schools or (ii) a middle school where students attend different high schools.
Split feeders divide communities and student cohorts.
Split feeders may necessitate long bus rides, which may deprive students of adequate sleep and equitable access to extracurricular activities.

Examples

Some students at Gunston ES are assigned to attend Hayfield SS while other students are assigned to attend South County MS/South County HS.
Some students at Holmes MS are assigned to attend Edison HS while other students are assigned to attend Annandale HS.
Some students at Carson MS are assigned to attend Oakton HS, some are assigned to attend South Lakes HS, and others are assigned to attend Westfield HS.

3. OVERCROWDING

Primary Objective:

FCPS should eliminate overcrowding in our public schools.

Related Objectives:

FCPS should reduce class sizes.
Students should have equitable access to programming and extracurricular programs.

Background

Elementary Schools:

There are 15 elementary schools with significant overcrowding (at or above 115% of capacity), 6 with moderate overcrowding (105-114% of capacity), and 21 with slight overcrowding (95-104% of capacity). By comparison, only 6 elementary schools had significant overcrowding in 2019.
There are 45 elementary schools that are under-enrolled (at or below 84% of capacity).

Middle Schools:

There is 1 middle school with significant overcrowding (at or above 115% of capacity), 1 with moderate overcrowding (105-114% of capacity), and 7 with slight overcrowding (95-104% of capacity).
There are 12 middle schools that are under-enrolled (at or below 84% of capacity).

High Schools:

There are 4 high schools with significant overcrowding (at or above 115% of capacity), 4 with moderate overcrowding (105-114% of capacity), and 8 with slight overcrowding (95-104% of capacity). By comparison, only 3 high schools had significant overcrowding in 2019.
There are 8 high schools that are under-enrolled (at or below 84% of capacity). (For a full list of capacity utilization ratios, see pages 120, 138, 156, 175, 193, and 210 of the Capital Improvement Program.)

Class sizes may be larger in overcrowded schools.
Students at overcrowded schools may have fewer opportunities to enroll in special programming and participate in extracurricular programs.

4. TRAILERS AND MODULARS

Primary Objective:

All trailers and modulars should be eliminated.

Related Objectives:

To ensure the safety and security of our students, all students should learn inside school buildings.

Background

In Fairfax County, there are 598 classrooms in trailers and 310 classrooms in modulars. (For a full list of trailers and modulars, see pages 120, 138, 156, 175, 193, and 210 of the Capital Improvement Program.)
FCPS utilizes trailers (pre-fabricated classrooms without plumbing) and modulars (pre-fabricated classrooms with plumbing) at schools where student enrollment exceeds available capacity.

Examples

The Edison HS pyramid has 14 classrooms in trailers and 36 classrooms in modulars.
The Hayfield HS pyramid has 15 classrooms in trailers.
The Lewis HS pyramid has 30 classrooms in trailers and 22 classrooms in modulars.
The Mount Vernon HS pyramid has 8 classrooms in trailers and 10 classrooms in modulars.
The South County HS pyramid has 2 classrooms in trailers.
The West Potomac HS pyramid has 4 classrooms in trailers and 10 classrooms in modulars.

5. CAPITAL SPENDING (FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY)

Primary Objective:

Schools should be renovated every 20-25 years.

Related Objectives:

Students should learn in modern classrooms with ready access to modern equipment and facilities.
FCPS should ensure maximum return on investment for every taxpayer dollar.

Background

Piecemeal changes to school boundaries has caused excessive investments in capacity enhancements instead of school renovations and infrastructure modernization.
FCPS is renovating schools every 42 years instead of every 20-25 years. (For more information, see pages 47-73 of the Capital Improvement Program.)
FCPS has a deferred maintenance backlog of $530 million and an infrastructure replacement backlog of $379 million. (For more information, see pages 215-226 of the Capital Improvement Program.)

In Fairfax County, 55% of playgrounds, 54% of environmental systems, 46% of structural systems, and 44% of health/safety systems are past their life expectancy.

I am committed to fiscal responsibility, which requires the efficient and effective use of school buildings. I am strongly opposed to imprudent expenditures that divert scarce dollars to wasteful projects that do not make sense from a system perspective.

Examples

At Hayfield SS, 99% of mechanical systems, 96% of athletic facilities, and 58% of plumbing systems are past their life expectancy.
At Lewis HS, 100% of asphalt, 98% of mechanical systems, and 65% of athletic facilities are past their life expectancy.
At Mount Vernon HS, 92% of asphalt, 93% of mechanical systems, and 66% of structural systems are past their life expectancy.
At West Potomac HS, 63% of electrical systems, 89% of structural systems, and 93% of mechanical systems are past their life expectancy.

6. GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY/TRAVEL TIMES

Primary Objective:

All students should be allowed to attend their local schools.

Related Objectives:

School boundaries should not divide communities.
School boundaries should minimize travel times and transportation costs.
School boundaries should enable more students to bike and walk to school.

Background

School boundaries should be consistent with contiguous geographic areas, but in Fairfax County, some pyramids are inconsistent with that principle.
Elongated boundaries divide communities by isolating certain neighborhoods and exporting their children to distant schools.
Elongated boundaries necessitate long bus rides, which may deprive students of adequate sleep and equitable access to extracurricular activities.

On average, approximately 25% of students travel in excess of 30 minutes to school, and a significant percentage travel in excess of 45 minutes each way.
Long bus rides are costly – FCPS spends millions of dollars on bus maintenance and fuel each year.

Compact school boundaries will strengthen social connections and provide increased opportunities for biking and walking to school, which is associated with improved academic outcomes and health.

Examples

Hayfield SS serves a narrow strip from the City of Alexandria to Mason Neck, connecting divided elements of disparate communities. During weekdays, this distance would require at least 45 minutes to traverse.

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

The Dunne Dispatch (School Boundaries Edition, Part 2) - 10/30/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District1 month 3 weeks ago

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The Dunne Dispatch (School Boundaries Edition, Part 2) - 10/30/2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

First, I am writing to invite you to participate in my Virtual Town Hall on November 11 @ 7:30-9:00 PM. Click here to register. I will present on academic outcomes, cell phones, school boundaries, and other issues. There will be a Q&A, so you can ask any school-related concerns and questions.

Second, I am writing to share the new schedule for high school graduations, which has changed. For example, the graduation for Mount Vernon HS was scheduled to be held at D.A.R. Constitutional Hall in Washington, DC, but after consultation with Principal Cary Dimmick, I successfully advocated for the graduation to be moved to the Mount Vernon HS stadium. I am continuing to advocate for FCPS to accelerate the construction of stadium bathrooms for Mount Vernon HS, so they are available for use during the graduation celebration.

Edison HS: Tuesday, June 3 @ 2 p.m., EagleBank Arena, George Mason University
Lewis HS: Tuesday, June 3 @ 9:30 a.m., EagleBank Arena, George Mason University
Hayfield SS: Thursday, June 5 @ 9:30 a.m., EagleBank Arena, George Mason University
Mount Vernon HS: Tuesday, June 3 @ 7:00 p.m., Mount Vernon HS Stadium
South County HS: Wednesday, June 4 @ 7:00 p.m., EagleBank Arena, George Mason University
West Potomac HS: Monday, June 2 @ 9:30 p.m., EagleBank Arena, George Mason University

Third, I am writing to publish a series of newsletters on school boundaries. This is the second in the series. FCPS is conducting a comprehensive reassessment of school boundaries for the first time in 40 years. There are many opportunities for community engagement. Please see my October 16 newsletter, which describes how to ensure your voice is heard regarding potential changes to school boundaries.

Very respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

IN THE NEWS:

Northern Virginia Magazine recently published an article about the comprehensive reassessment of school boundaries, which explains the rationale for the boundary review and discusses the School Board’s focus on boundary stability and community engagement.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:

You can submit questions regarding school boundaries or advocate for changes (or no changes) to particular boundaries here. Your messages will be delivered to the Office of Facilities Services and Capital Programs, which is managing the school boundary review.

FCPS has created a webpage to keep you informed about the boundary review process. This will be the central repository for information about the school boundary review. Once a meeting schedule is determined, it will be posted to this webpage. I recommend you bookmark this webpage and check it every couple weeks.

FCPS is planning the schedule of community meetings for Round 1 (November 2024-March 2025). I expect the schedule to be published by the first week of November.

WHO DECIDES (ADVOCACY GUIDE) - UPDATE:

The School Board has exclusive responsibility for determining school boundaries, so I recommend you focus your advocacy on your School Board representatives.

The Board of Supervisors, the General Assembly, and the State Senate do not have any role in the determination of school boundaries, so these elected officials will refer any communications regarding school boundaries to your School Board representatives.

If you live in the Mount Vernon District, your representatives on the School Board are:

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative ([email protected]) / Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, [email protected]
Kyle McDaniel, At-Large Representative (Contact Mr. McDaniel online)
Ryan McElveen, At-Large Representative (Contact Mr. McElveen online)
Ilryong Moon, At-Large Representative (Contact Mr. Moon online)

SCHOOL BOUNDARY POLICY REVIEW (POLICY 8130):

The School Board studied potential changes to its school boundary policy (Policy 8130) for several years before adopting a new policy in July 2024.

2018:

FCPS performed a national study of best practices for school boundary management, to include a comparison of FCPS practices with the top 50 school districts in the United States.

2019:

FCPS identified multiple factors that affect student outcome, to include overcrowding, socioeconomic diversity, split feeders, and travel time.
FCPS reviewed Policy 8130, which governs the establishment and revision of school boundaries.

Staff recommended prioritizing capacity utilization (with an optimum capacity utilization of 85-94%), geographic proximity/travel time, and socioeconomic diversity.

The School Board considered potential revisions to Policy 8130, to include:

Prioritizing factors such as geographic proximity/travel times, non-establishment of attendance islands, operational efficiency, safety for biking and walking, and socioeconomic diversity;
Limiting boundary changes to no more than once every three years;
Limiting the Superintendent’s discretion to enact administrative boundary changes;
Requiring the Superintendent to recommend boundary changes annually in response to new geographic features; and
Requiring phasing wherein students in their final year of elementary, middle, or high school are allowed to remain at their current school.

The School Board requested the Superintendent to hire an outside consultant to identify best practices in boundary management and engage with the community.

FCPS hired MGT Consulting to perform the work.

2020:

MGT Consulting surveyed best practices in boundary management.

2021:

MGT Consulting engaged with the community about boundary management.
MGT Consulting recommended that the School Board:

Prioritize the efficient use of school buildings;
Centralize or regionalize programs with great demand to ensure equitable access for all families;
Limit travel times; and
Formally evaluate school boundaries every 5 years.

The community engagement found that respondents supported:

Limiting travel times of 30 minutes or less;
Constructing additions or adjusting school boundaries to remedy overcrowding;
Adding new programming or adjusting school boundaries to remedy under-enrollment;
Adjusting school boundaries every 2-4 years, every 5-10 years, or as necessary; and
Adjusting school boundaries to keep student cohorts together, reduce travel times, and ensure equitable access to programming.

2024:

The School Board considered potential revisions to Policy 8130.
The School Board adopted a new Policy 8130, which requires a comprehensive reassessment of school boundaries at least every 5 years.
The new Policy 8130 prioritizes the following factors for boundary changes:

Equitable access to programming;
Efficient and effective use of school facilities, to include the elimination of split feeders;
Geographic proximity, to include the elimination of attendance islands; and
Travel times, to include safety for biking and walking.

The new Policy 8130 requires extensive community engagement, to include:

Community meetings (in person and virtual) in all FCPS regions before any changes are proposed; and
Community meetings (in person and virtual) for every high school pyramid after changes are proposed.

Through the following links, you can watch the School Board discuss potential changes to Policy 8130, and you can review the presentations and reports provided to the School Board.

School Board Work Session (October 15, 2018) – Agenda and Video 1 2 3
School Board Work Session (February 25, 2019) – Agenda and Video
School Board Work Session (March 11, 2019) – Agenda and Video
School Board Work Session (July 22, 2019) – Agenda and Video
School Board Work Session (December 14, 2021) – Agenda and Video
School Board Work Session (February 13, 2024) – Agenda and Video
Governance Committee (February 22, 2024) – Agenda
Governance Committee (March 12, 2024) – Agenda
Governance Committee (April 15, 2024) – Agenda
Governance Committee (April 16, 2024) - Agenda
Governance Committee (May 20, 2024) - Agenda
Governance Committee (June 18, 2024) - Agenda
School Board Work Session (June 25, 2024) – Agenda and Video
School Board Regular Meeting (July 18, 2024) – Agenda and Video
School Board Regular Meeting (September 12, 2024) – Agenda and Video
School Board Work Session (October 8, 2024) – Agenda and Video

Boundary Review Planning Presentation

For more information, you can review the following FCPS websites:

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

The Dunne Dispatch (Homecoming & Theatre Special Edition) - 10/23/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District1 month 4 weeks ago

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The Dunne Dispatch (Homecoming & the Arts Special Edition) - 10/23/2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Fall is a wonderful time to get together with friends and support our schools!

Three local football teams are celebrating homecoming on Friday, October 25. Why overpay for the NFL when you can watch exciting football games close to home?
Our students at West Potomac HS, Edison HS, South County HS, Twain MS, Hayfield MS, and South County MS are producing theater productions of Puffs (One Acts for Young Wizards); Peter Pan & Wendy; The 39 Steps; The Internet is Distract—Oh, Look! A Kitten! and 9 Reasons Not to Be in a Play; SpongeBob the Musical; and Beauty and the Beast, Jr. Why pay for Broadway in New York when you can watch the same productions locally?

Please join me to celebrate the daily excellence of our public schools and support our local athletics and theater programs!

Very respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

Celebrate Homecoming with Mount Vernon District Schools

Hayfield SS Homecoming, October 25

Friday October 25, 4pm, Hayfield Homecoming Parade. The annual Homecoming parade will leave Hayfield at 4pm and roll through Hayfield Farms before returning to Hayfield by 5pm. Come cheer on our athletic teams, marching band, JROTC, class officers, DramaHawks, and Homecoming Royalty Court in the parade!
Friday, October 25, 5-7 p.m., Hawktoberfest. Join Hayfield SS for its 6th Annual Hawktoberfest! Come grab some food from the food trucks, play games, win prizes, get your face painted, and more!
Friday, October 25, 7 p.m., Homecoming Football Game vs. Riverdale Baptist Crusaders.
Saturday, October 26, 7-10 p.m., Homecoming Dance. The Miami Nights Homecoming dance will be at Hayfield on Saturday night. All 9-12th graders are invited to the dance and tickets are being sold exclusively on MySchoolBucks. Tickets will be sold until Friday 10/25. No tickets will be sold on the day of the dance or at the door. Students who are attending the dance must enter by 9pm.

Mount Vernon HS Homecoming, October 25

Friday October 25, 5:30 -7 PM, Homecoming TailGate. Activities will include Games, Hot Dogs, Face Painting, Trunk or Treat, and Hot Chocolate. There will also be a Chili Cookoff.

Friday, October 25, 7 p.m., Homecoming Football Game vs. Annandale.
Saturday, October 26, 7-11 p.m., Homecoming Dance. The Homecoming dance will be in the Field House on Saturday night. All 9-12th graders are invited to the dance and tickets are being sold during lunch. Tickets will be sold until Friday 10/25. No tickets will be sold on the day of the dance or at the door. Students who are attending the dance must enter by 9pm.

South County HS Homecoming, October 25

Thursday October 24, 4pm, Homecoming Parade. The annual Homecoming parade will leave the Flagpole in the front of the school at 4pm and roll through Laurel Hill Elementary before returning to the Flagpole by 5pm. Come cheer on our athletic teams, marching band, JROTC, class officers, and Homecoming Royalty Court in the parade!
Friday, October 25, 5-7 p.m., Pre-Game Tailgate. Join South County HS for pre-game festivities! Prepare your favorite pre-game snack and play games! We will also have a live DJ.
Friday, October 25, 7 p.m., Homecoming Football Game vs. CG Woodson HS.
Saturday, October 26, 8-11 p.m., Homecoming Dance. The Homecoming dance will be in the South County HS Bubble on Saturday night. All 9-12th graders are invited to the dance and tickets are being sold during all lunch periods throughout the week. Tickets will be sold until Friday 10/25. No tickets will be sold on the day of the dance or at the door.

John R. Lewis HS Homecoming, October 25

Wednesday, October 23, 4-6 p.m., Chili and Cheese Cookoff. Come see which group makes the best chili and mac-n-cheese!
Wednesday, October 23, 6:30 p.m., Power Puff Game. Join the Lewis HS community on the Stadium Field to support the players.
Thursday, October 24, Pep Rally. Lewis HS Gymnasium.
Friday, October 25, 7 p.m., Football Game Falls Church HS. Come join the fun as the Lancers take on Falls Church.
Saturday, October 26, 7-10 p.m., Homecoming Dance. Lewis HS Gymnasium.

Recent Mount Vernon District Schools Homecomings: West Potomac HS and Edison HS

Congratulations to the remaining Mount Vernon District schools (and schools where Mount Vernon District students attend) that recently completed 2024 homecoming activities:

West Potomac HS, September 30. From students shining in spirit to the intense game-day action, West Potomac HS captured the best moments of Homecoming Celebrations 2024. View this slideshow to relive the energy of the hype squad cheering on the team and the elegance of students in their finest formal wear at the dance.
Edison HS, October 18. Edison HS students enjoyed a week of spirit dress-up days and held a pep rally on Friday before facing Annandale HS. The Edison HS community enjoyed a variety of homecoming festivities, including the Eagle Bowl, Follies, and, of course, the homecoming dance.

Celebrate the Arts with Mount Vernon District Schools

West Potomac HS Theatre Presents: Puffs (One Acts for Young Wizards)

West Potomac HS Kolgelman Theatre

Thursday, October 31. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 2. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Show at 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 2. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Thursday, November 7. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 9. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. Show at 1 p.m.
Saturday, November 9. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.

Note: When purchasing tickets, please check DATE, TIME, and PERFORMERS to assure that you are buying for intended show.

Purchase tickets online.

Edison HS Theatre Presents: Peter Pan & Wendy

James M. Barrie's classic tale comes to the stage in a new adaptation by Edison Theatre director Jeffrey Walker. Come join Peter and Tinkerbell as they whisk the Darling children off to Neverland to meet the Lost Boys and fight Capt. Hook and the pirates.

Wednesday, November 13. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Thursday, November 14. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Friday, November 15. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 16. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Show at 2 p.m.

Purchase tickets online.

South County HS Theatre Presents: The 39 Steps, November 14-16

Patrick Barlow’s comedic adaptation of The 39 Steps, Alfred Hitchcock’s famous film noir thriller bursts onto the stage with fast-paced action and nonstop laughs. The story centers around Richard Hannay, a man in a mid-life lull who is suddenly thrown in the middle of a dangerous spy ring and mistakenly accused of murder. As he rushes to save Britian from a horrible fate and clear his name, we sit on the edge of our seats urging him on and laughing at the absurd situations in which he finds himself.

Thursday, November 14. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Friday, November 15. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 16. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Show at 2 p.m.
Saturday, November 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.

Purchase tickets online.

Twain MS Theatre Presents: The Internet is Distract—Oh, Look! A Kitten! and 9 Reasons Not to Be in a Play, November 21-23

Thursday, November 21. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Friday, November 22. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 23. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Show at 7 p.m.

Purchase tickets online.

Hayfield MS Theatre Presents: The SpongeBob Musical, November 21 - 23, 2024

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and became the hottest star on Broadway? Why, it's SpongeBob SquarePants! Join Hayfield MS Theatre for a youth-friendly edition of the hit Broadway musical. Tickets will go on sale in November. Kudos also to Hayfield SS Theatre for its fall production of Hadestown Teen Edition. This show ran October 17-19. Photos will be posted soon.

South County MS Theatre Presents: Beauty and the Beast, Jr., January 31 and February 1

Join South County MS for the classic tale of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end, and he will be transformed into his former self. But time is running out!

Friday, January 31. Show at 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 1. Show at 1 p.m.
Saturday, February 1. Show at 7 p.m.

Online ticket sales begin November 1.

Local Events and Attractions

Visit George Washington's Mount Vernon

Visit Mount Vernon This Fall Save 30% on Daytime Admission. School is out for Fairfax County students from Nov. 1-5! Bring the family to Mount Vernon to experience limited-time activities, including free tractor trail rides and Archaeology Family Days. Save 30% on daytime admission tickets using the promo code STUDENT. Promo code is valid through Dec. 31 on up to 6 tickets. Plan your visit.

Tractor Trail Rides: Nov 1-5 Included in General Admission; Tickets Required. Experience a behind-the-scenes tractor ride guided by Mount Vernon's Director of Livestock & Horticulture, Dean Norton. During the tour, you’ll go behind the scenes on Mount Vernon’s trails and see where 18th-century roads once wove through the forest. Learn more.

Archaeology Family Day: Nov 2 & 3 Included in General Admission. Through hands-on activities, explore how archaeology has shaped what we know about the Washingtons, the lives of the enslaved people who lived at Mount Vernon, and the 18th century. Learn more.

Getting Washington's Horses Ready to Ride: Nov. 4 & 5 Included in General Admission. Help get George Washington’s horses ready to ride! Join interpreter Al Underwood to gather and organize the supplies needed for Washington’s upcoming journey in this hands-on activity. Learn more.

Visit George Mason's Gunston Hall

Revolutionary War Day, Saturday, November 2, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Revolutionary War touched everyone in the American colonies, not just soldiers and politicians. Visit Gunston Hall to explore life at home and learn how Colonel Mason and his fellow Virginians supported the war effort. Families and participants of all ages are invited to engage with activities and demonstrations throughout the day. Join us for: Militia Artillery Demonstrations, 18th-century Recipe Tasting, A Soldier's March Obstacle Course and more! Don't miss out and get your tickets now: Adults: $15 Kids: $8 Members: 50% discount. Learn more and purchase tickets online.

History in the Kitchen (Online), Saturday, November 9, 10:30 - 11:15 a.m. This free online series illuminates what kinds of food were eaten by different people in colonial Virginia. Every 45-minute class spotlights a dish eaten by one of the following groups: the Mason family; people enslaved at Gunston Hall; the white laborers, shopkeepers, and tenant farmers; and the peoples native to this land. Participants will learn how social class and wealth affected what food people had access to. On November 9th, we will focus on Native American Foodways. Kids and adults alike will have a great time learning history while cooking! This program is designed for families with kids 10-18, but is open to participants of all ages. Learn more and register online.

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

The Dunne Dispatch (School Boundaries Edition, Part 1) - 10/16/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District2 months ago

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The Dunne Dispatch (School Boundaries Edition, Part 1) - 10/16/2024

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

I have received many inquiries about potential changes to school boundaries, so I am preparing a series of newsletters on this subject.

This is the first issue in the series.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is conducting a comprehensive reassessment of all school boundaries for elementary, middle, and high schools across the county for the first time in 40 years.

GET INVOLVED:

Boundary Review Advisory Committee: You have a limited opportunity to apply to participate in this committee, which will provide continuous feedback to the Superintendent as FCPS considers potential changes to school boundaries. The committee will include parents and guardians, FCPS administrators and staff, and community members. In addition, the committee will include representatives of relevant organizations. Committee members will be expected to attend regular in-person meetings, review relevant materials, and actively participate in discussions. The Superintendent has emphasized that this is a time-intensive commitment—it is expected the committee will meet biweekly for the next 12-18 months. Click here to apply. Applications are due by Friday, October 18.
Community Meetings (Round 1): You will have the opportunity to participate in person or virtually in community meetings before any changes are proposed to school boundaries. The Superintendent is planning to convene at least 24 community meetings across the county, which are expected to be held between November 2024 and March 2025. A meeting will be held at every high school in the county. Each meeting will be up to 2 hours in length. At each meeting, the Superintendent will present on the rationale and process for revising school boundaries. Her presentation will be followed by small-group breakout sessions (with 8-10 people in each small group) wherein a moderator will facilitate a conversation with prompted questions to ensure every voice is heard. The information collected and views expressed during the meetings will inform the development of potential scenarios for amending school boundaries.
Community Meetings (Round 2): You will have the opportunity to participate in person or virtually in community meetings after consultants have developed potential scenarios for amending school boundaries. The Superintendent is planning to convene at least 24 community meetings across the county, which are expected to be held between May 2025 and September 2025. A meeting will be held at every high school in the county. You will have the opportunity to review the proposed changes and provide your feedback. The format will be the same as Round 1: an initial presentation followed by small-group breakout sessions.
Community Meetings (Round 3): It is possible that the Superintendent may convene a third round of community meetings to present revised scenarios for amending school boundaries.
Virtual Town Halls: I will be holding a Virtual Town Hall on Monday, November 11 at 7:00-8:30 PM. I will present on school boundaries, cell phones, and other issues. You will have the opportunity to ask questions on any school-related issues. Please click here to register.
Group Meetings with Mateo: I am happy to meet with your PTA/PTSA/PTO or neighborhood association to discuss school-related issues, to include school boundaries. If you would like to invite me to attend one of your meetings, please contact my Staff Aide Nelda Brown. I encourage you to join your local PTA/PTSA/PTO because these organizations work hard to support our schools, staff, and students. I also encourage you to join your local neighborhood association because these organizations work hard to improve and maintain the quality of life in your community. These organizations are routinely consulted by elected officials for input on important initiatives and policies, so consider getting involved to ensure your voice is heard.
High School Pyramid Advisory Councils: I am planning to establish advisory councils for the Mount Vernon HS, South County HS, and West Potomac HS pyramids. I intend to consult the advisory councils on a regular basis regarding important initiatives and policies. I hope to use the advisory councils to inform the development of a strategic plan and vision for each pyramid and to enhance coordination within the pyramid to realize the plan and vision. These advisory councils will not focus on school boundaries, but they may discuss this topic as part of a larger agenda. If you are interested, please complete this online interest form. You will be prompted to submit your resume along with a brief explanation of your interest. Email my Staff Aide Nelda Brown at [email protected] if you have questions or need more information.
Emails: You are welcome to contact me at [email protected] anytime if I can assist your family with any school-related issues, to include school boundaries. Please note that the School Board is a part-time position, so please excuse any delays in responding to your queries. Please include my Staff Aide Nelda Brown ([email protected]) to ensure a faster response.

TIMELINE:*

February 2019

The School Board received a research report on best practices in school boundary management. (Video: YouTube)

July 2024

The School Board adopted a new policy to govern school boundaries. (Video: YouTube)

September 2024

The School Board authorized the Superintendent to hire Thru Consulting LLC to facilitate the comprehensive reassessment of school boundaries. (Video: YouTube)

October 2024

Thru Consulting LLC presented an overview of its project management plan for the comprehensive reassessment of school boundaries. (Video: YouTube)

November 2024-March 2025

A first round of community meetings will be held before any changes are proposed to school boundaries.

March-May 2025

Thru Consulting will develop potential scenarios for amending school boundaries.

May-September 2025

A second round of community meetings will be held after Thru Consulting has developed potential scenarios for amending school boundaries.

TBD

Thru Consulting may develop revised scenarios for amending school boundaries.

TBD

A third round of community meetings may be held after Thru Consulting has developed revised scenarios for amending school boundaries.

October-November 2025

Thru Consulting will finalize the scenarios to be presented to the School Board.

November 2025-January 2026

The School Board will review the final scenarios for amending school boundaries.

January 2026

The School Board will vote on the proposed changes as a single package.

August 2026

It is expected the changes will be implemented in Fall 2026, but it is possible the changes will be phased in over multiple years.

*This timeline is subject to change.

WHO DECIDES (ADVOCACY GUIDE):

In January 2026, the School Board will decide whether to approve the proposed changes to school boundaries. You should focus your advocacy on the School Board.

If you live in the Mount Vernon District, your representatives on the School Board are:

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative ([email protected]) / Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, [email protected]
Kyle McDaniel, At-Large Representative (Contact Mr. McDaniel online)
Ryan McElveen, At-Large Representative (Contact Mr. McElveen online)
Ilryong Moon, At-Large Representative (Contact Mr. Moon online)

Please note that the School Board has exclusive responsibility for determining School Boundaries.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office if I can be of assistance with any school-related matters.

Very Respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

The Dunne Dispatch (Calendar Edition) - 10/07/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District2 months 2 weeks ago

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The Dunne Dispatch (Calendar Edition) - 10/07/2024

The Dunne Dispatch alternates between providing a calendar of events and reporting on School Board updates, student accomplishments, and school celebrations. My goal is to connect the schools with the community, and vice versa. Even if you do not have children attending FCPS, I encourage you to attend public events at our schools.

Inside this issue:

Upcoming School Board Meetings
Academic Planning Announcements
Pyramid Events and Announcements
Upcoming PTA/PTO/PTSA Meetings
FCPS Events and Activities
Community Events and Activities

If you have any school or related community events you would like me to include in my calendar email, please submit them here for consideration.

Very respectfully,

Mateo Dunne, Mount Vernon District Representative

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Watch live on FCPS Cable TV Channel 99 (Verizon Channel 11) or the FCPS YouTube Channel.

October 8 at 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Work Session: Strategic Plan Goal 1 Report and Boundary Contract Work Plan
October 10 at 7 p.m.- Regular Meeting.

Academic Planning Announcements

Advanced Academics Parent Information Sessions Taking Place Now. Are you interested in referring your child in grades 3-8 for Full-Time Advanced Academics services? Full-Time referrals for the fall screening cycle are due Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Full-Time referrals for all other students are due no later than Sunday, December 15, 2024. Please visit the FCPS AAP site for helpful information regarding the continuum of services and the referral process. For more information about all of the AAP services we offer, please visit your child’s Schoology course and look in the Advanced Academics Folder for the AAP Fall Newsletter. Use your ParentVUE login credentials to access Schoology. If you have any questions, please contact your school’s Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART). Most elementary schools are hosting Advanced Academics Information Meetings to help families learn more about Advanced Academics in FCPS. Please check your school’s newsletter, website, and/or other communication channels for scheduling information. Below are some dates and times of upcoming Parent Information Meetings at Mount Vernon District schools:

Mount Eagle ES: October 8, 6:15 - 7 p.m. via Zoom and October 10, 8:40 - 9:10 a.m. in the school library. Questions? Email [email protected].
Fort Hunt ES: October 9; 6:30-7:15 pm on Zoom (Link will be sent out to all families that morning.) Questions? Email [email protected].
Washington Mill: October 9, 6 p.m. Questions? Call 703-619-2500 or email [email protected].
Newington Forest, October 9, 6 p.m. No RSVP necessary.
Island Creek ES: October 9, 9 a.m. in cafeteria.You may attend in-person or access the meeting virtually by clicking this link. Questions? Email [email protected].
Bucknell ES: October 17, 6 – 7 p.m via Zoom. Spanish translation will be available. The link is https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/94357609513. Questions? Contact Mr. Tucker.

PSAT / SAT Day, October 9. Wednesday, October 9, 2024 is the PSAT and SAT School Day for all high schools in Fairfax County. All 10th and 11th grade students were enrolled in the PSAT test. 12th graders who opted in were enrolled in the SAT test. Since only the PSAT and SAT School Day is happening at high schools that day, 9th grade students do not report to school, nor do 12th grade students who did not sign up for the SAT.

Post-Secondary Planning Night, October 17. Please plan to attend the Post-Secondary Planning Night hosted by FCPS Regions 3 and 6 at the Hybla Valley Community Center on Thursday, October 17th. This event will be conducted in Spanish and is an essential opportunity for families to explore critical post-secondary options. Topics will include 2- and 4-year college pathways, financial aid resources, employment opportunities, and military enlistment. Understanding these options is key to making informed decisions about the future, and this event provides invaluable information tailored to the needs of our community. We strongly encourage all families to attend and take advantage of this important resource.

Pyramid Events and Announcements

Mount Vernon Pyramid

Fort Belvoir Primary and Upper School’s National Hispanic Heritage Month Potluck Lunch, October 9. Fort Belvoir Elementary School Family Ambassadors invites all Fort Belvoir Primary and Upper School families to come together to share Hispanic traditional dishes, learn about the rich cultures, and connect with new friends! Younger siblings are welcome to attend too! RSVP to [email protected] by October 6.

Washington Mill ES Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, October 11. Washington Mill ES students, staff, and families are invited celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month together on Friday, October 11. This event is an opportunity to recognize the many contributions made by Hispanic and Latino Americans. Participants are invited to dress in their country's traditional attire or wear clothing that represents Hispanic heritage and culture!
Save the Date for Upcoming Events at Riverside ES. Attention Riverside ES families! Please save the following dates:

Woodlawn ES PTA Host Series of Monthly Events! Save the date for the following events being hosted by the Woodlawn ES PTA:

October 25, 6:00-8:30 p.m.: Trunk n Treat
November 23, 5-8 p.m.: Turkey Bingo
December 6, 6-9 p.m.: Movie Night

All events take place at Woodlawn ES, 8505 Highland Lane, Alexandria, VA.

West Potomac Pyramid

Bucknell Family Science Night, October 10, 6 p.m. Family Science Night is October 10. The event will be held in the Bucknell ES Gym on Thursday, November 10th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Stations will be set up for families to participate in hands-on science activities. Just show up and be ready for a great time! We can't wait to see you there!

Fall Immunization Clinic at West Potomac HS, October 16. West Potomac HS will host a School Site Immunization Clinic on October 16, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). Only students enrolled at West Potomac may participate in the clinic.The following immunizations will be offered during school hours at the School Immunization Clinic:

Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccine
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine

Find additional information for each vaccine. If you would like your child to receive immunizations as part of the School Site Immunization Clinic, you must first provide:

Permission via a signed Adolescent Vaccine Clinic Consent Form, which can be found in the Middle and High School Clinics section on this webpage.
A copy of their immunization records (if available).
A copy of the front and back of their insurance card (if applicable). Insurance is not required.

Please bring your signed consent form to Student Services by October 8 in order for your child to participate. For more information, call 703-718-2511.

Save the Date for West Potomac HS's Upcoming Events!

October 25: West Potomac Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
October 26, 10-3 p.m.: Wolverine Athletic Booster Club Marketplace
October 27, 8-11 a.m.: Dance Team FUNDrive at West Potomac HS

2024 Fort Hunt Fall Fest, October 18. Attention Fort Hunt ES students and families! Don't miss the 2024 Fort Hunt Fall Fest. There will be a costume parade, book fair, and of course lots of treats! Free transportation will be provided to and from Creekside between 5:10-8 p.m.
Save the Date: Fort Hunt ES's Veterans' Day Celebration & Luncheon, November 8. Mark your calendars for Friday, November 8. Fort Hunt ES will host its annual Veterans' Day celebration event, which includes a family luncheon. All parents/caregivers are invited to join their child for a special turkey lunch. Stay tuned for more information about purchasing meal tickets and volunteer opportunities.

South County Pyramid

South County Hosting Hearing & Vision Screening for 10th graders, October 10-11. Attention South County HS 10th grade students who wear glasses and/or contacts. Bring your glasses or be sure to wear your contacts to school October 10 and 11, 2024. South County HS is conducting the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) required hearing and vision screening for all 10th grade students.

Mandatory Safe Teen Driving Sessions for South County HS 10th graders. South County HS will host 4 sessions of PSTD - Partners for Safe Teen Driving this school year. Every 10th graders currently enrolled in HPE 10 must attend ONE of the sessions with a parent/guardian. The presentations are held in the auditorium and begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:45 and lock at 7:00 p.m. – no late arrivals permitted. Presentations last approximately 90 minutes. Any questions please reach out to Maureen Saale- [email protected]. The session dates are as follows:

Oct 17, 2024,
Jan 9, 2025
Feb. 11, 2025
April 7, 2025

Laurel Hill ES Screen on the Green, October 18. Laurel Hill ES’s Screen on the Green is RESCHEDULED to Friday, October 18th. Laurel Hill ES families are invited to have dinner and a movie under the stars. Movie will be Despicable Me 4. Entry is free. Concessions will be for sale. Bring cash to participate in the 50/50.

Support Laurel Hill ES’s Monthly Dine Out Nights. Laurel Hill ES’s PTA is also hosting monthly Dine Out Nights. Several dine out nights are planned with local Lorton restaurants. Be sure to mention Laurel Hill ES so the appropriate discounts can be applied, and a portion of the proceeds benefit our organization.

Every Thursday until June 2025 - Papa Johns Gunston location only
Oct 9 - Panera - 4-8pm
Oct 14 - Duck Donut Truck-8-11am (Student Holiday/No School)
Nov 19 - Chipotle - 4-9pm

Hayfield Pyramid

Island Creek ES Hosts Coffee and Conversation about Advanced Academics, October 9. We invite families to join us at our Coffee and Conversations! No worries if you are unable to attend as session information will be made available on our website. Our next Coffee and Conversations is on Wednesday, October 9 at 9:00 and the topic is Advanced Academics..

Share the Warmth: Island Creek ES Sponsors Winter Clothing Drive (October 15-31). Island Creek ES is thrilled to announce its 3rd Annual Share the Warmth Winter Clothing Drive! They will collect donations of new or lovingly used winter clothing for children, ages 4-12. Island Creek ES families are asked to ensure that all lovingly used clothing be washed before donating. Donations will be made to a Title 1 school in Fairfax County, which will host a November “shopping night” for families free of charge.

Make Your Move!: Lorton Station ES Chess Club Registration Now Open! For grades 2-6 interested in learning and playing chess! All levels are welcome. Club activities take place Fridays before school in the cafeteria unless school is closed. Registration fee: $130/semester and includes one club t-shirt per year and snacks! Registration deadline for the fall 2024 semester: October 15.

Edison Pyramid

Edison HS Breakfast Celebration, October 21. Edison HS’s PTSA is looking to show EHS staff some love by hosting a Breakfast Celebration on Monday, October 21. Help is needed to make this annual breakfast the best yet! Edison HS families, please see the PTSA Sign Up Genius to donate items. Want to donate but don't have the time? Feel free to donate online. Edison HS families are also asked to save the date for Edison’s Homecoming Game (October 18) and Homecoming Dance (October 19).
Donations Needed for Edison Academy Haunted House. Edison HS’s PTSA is helping to promote the Electrical class haunted house. They are requesting donations of snack size Halloween candy to be given out to attendees. Please help us, help them and drop off any donations by October 25 in the Halloween box at the main office.

Twain MS AVID FUNDrive, November 5. Start cleaning up your house and donate your unwanted items! Your donations will help AVID raise money to afford a charter bus to visit colleges outside of our immediate area. We will be accepting trash bags of soft goods (clothing, coats, shoes, scarves, handbags, wallets, fashion accessories, belts, backpacks, bedding, comforters, blankets, sheets, towels, linen, tablecloths, curtains, pillows, etc.) and boxes of books and media (we can accept paperbacks, hard cover - all genres. No encyclopedias or K-12 textbooks). Donations will be collected on November 5th between 9:00-11:00 am. Be on the lookout for more details about contributing donations!

Mount Eagle ES PTO Hosts Pizza & Puzzles Night, October 16, 6-7:30 p.m. Mount Eagle ES students and families are invited to join the PTO for its Second Annual Pizza & Puzzles Night on Wednesday, October 16 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Don’t miss this opportunity for learning and fun!

Upcoming PTA/PTO/PTSA Meetings

Twain PTA General Membership Meeting, October 8, 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Twain MS families are invited to join the next meeting of Twain MS’s PTA on Tuesday, October 8th at 7:30 pm via Zoom. All are welcome to attend! Register online in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Follow Twain PTS on Facebook @Mark Twain MS PTA and Instagram @twainmspta to stay in touch with what’s happening at Twain PTA
Laurel Hill ES PTA Meeting, October 8. Laurel Hill ES’s PTA will meet on Tuesday, October 8 at 7pm in the school library. The PTA is busy planning programs such as International Night, field trips for ALL students, teacher appreciation activities, STEAM Night, Literacy Night, Kindness Week, among others. They are also working with the school to pursue Purple Star School status and support military families and children throughout the year. Laurel Hill ES families who have not yet joined the PTA should join online and follow the group on Facebook.
Newington Forest ES PTA Meeting, October 9. Newington Forest ES PTA will meet on October 9 immediately following the school’s Advanced Academic Parent Information Session, which starts at 6 p.m.
Edison PTSA Meeting, October 15, 7 p.m.. Edison HS’s next PTSA meeting is October 15th at 7 p.m. It is a hybrid meeting and a zoom link for those wishing to join online will be sent out that day.
Riverside ES PTA Meeting, October 16, 7 p.m. The Riverside ES PTA wants you to join our Riverside School Community. Join us for our monthly meetings! Meetings are held virtually. A link will be sent via Talking Points the day of the meeting. All meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the 3rdWednesday of the month!

FCPS Events and Activities

Immunization Clinics for All FCPS Students. Does your child need school-required immunizations?
- Safeway Pharmacy will provide immunizations at Frost Middle School for all FCPS students at no cost. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students under the age of 19 to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic. These clinics will take place on:
  - Tuesday, October 8, 3-7 p.m.
  - Saturday, October 12, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
  - Monday, October 28, 3-7 p.m.
- Elementary School Clinics. The Fairfax County Health Department will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.
- Middle and High School Clinics. FCPS is partnering with the health department to host immunization clinics at middle and high schools. Clinics will take place during the school day. Students may only participate in the clinic at the school where they are enrolled. Parental/caregiver consent is required for students to receive immunizations. Please check the Immunization Resources page for clinic locations, dates, and how to submit a consent form.

Walk and Roll to School Day, October 9. On your mark, get set, WALK & ROLL! Get ready for the 28th Annual National Walk & Roll to School Day on October 9, 2024! FCPS participates in this annual event to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools. Students and employees are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work where safe to do so. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to accompany their children to school and to work with their school and PTA or PTO to assemble bike trains or walking groups for the event. Schools are encouraged to register online with Walk and Bike to School. Get more information about Walk to School Day.

Benchmark Advance: The New K-6 Language Arts Curriculum Webinars, October 8 and 9. Join us for an overview of the new K-6 language arts curriculum. This will include background information regarding the Benchmark Advance and how this program is organized to ensure evidence-based literacy instruction for all K-6 students. Webinar Highlights: What is evidence-based literacy instruction? What is The Benchmark Advance and its cross-curricular units? Provided scaffolds and supports for students with disabilities Join the FCPS Instructional Services Department and FCPS Office of Special Education Instruction for this important webinar on October 8, 2024, 6:30-8 p.m. or October 9, 2024, 10-11:30 a.m. Register Online

Get to Know FCPS: Register to Attend a Virtual Family Orientation. This interactive orientation provides information about the school system, the links between family engagement and student achievement, school staff you should get to know, and programs and technology considerations for families. The orientation also includes a discussion that is helpful for families who are new to the United States. Register in advance. Visit the Family Academy catalog page to see the dates this orientation will be offered in Arabic, Korean, and Spanish. Sessions in English are held online on:

- Tuesday, October 8, at 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 12, at 6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 10, at 6 p.m.
- Thursday, December 19, at 6 p.m.

Math is Everywhere! Talking to Your Children about Mathematics Webinar, October 18, 10-11:30 a.m. Join the FCPS Elementary Math Team to discuss ways to engage your children in mathematics. During our time together we will highlight books, games, and other materials that assist you in talking about mathematics with your child throughout the day. Teaching math to your children doesn’t have to be intimidating. This webinar will provide concrete examples for caregivers with ideas to spark math joy. October 18, 2024 10-11:30 A.M. Register Online

Annual College Fair, October 20. The annual Fairfax County Public Schools College Fair will be held on Sunday, October 20, 2024, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Approximately 220 colleges and universities will be represented, including two and four-year colleges and US Service Academies. Register in advance. Following the fair, the Two-Night Postsecondary Virtual Event will be held on Monday, October 21, and Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 5, 6, and 7 p.m. Both events will help students be better prepared for the next chapter of their educational journey. Find more information on FCPS’ Look to the Future web page.

Moving on to Life Community Resource Fair, November 13. Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) for the annual Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair! This event is designed for students with developmental and intellectual disabilities who will need continuing support after they exit FCPS. Learn about: supported employment options, day support programs, recreation/leisure activities, residential living options, travel training supports, advocacy, funding, and more! Families and caregivers are welcome! When: Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, from 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Where: Fairfax High School Cafeteria (enter through Door 1), 3501 Lion Run, Fairfax, VA 22030. Register online.

Community Events and Activities

Steamology STEM Fest, October 12, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Register by Thursday, October 4 for FREE bus transportation available from neighboring schools--see below for more information). Steamology will host its annual STEM FEST at Mount Vernon HS on October 12, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to come enjoy FREE activities related to STEM, including Robotics, Coding, Experiments, and more! This event provides students with a chance to engage in hands-on activities related to science, technology, and mathematics. HS students are invited to serve as volunteers. This is a valuable opportunity for high school students to develop leadership skills, gain community service hours, and potentially inspire younger students to pursue their STEM interests. STEM FEST will also feature high school clubs and vendors, who will set up informational booths or displays related to STEM. The participation rate for the event is around 500 or more students. Visit Steamology online to register, volunteer, or host a booth or display. Register by Thursday, October 10 4 p.m. to sign-up for FREE bus service to/from Fort Belvoir ES, Woodlawn ES, Washington Mill ES, and Mount Vernon ES.

Register Now for the 9th Annual Tour de Mount Vernon, October 19. Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck invites you to participate in this community bike ride on Saturday October 19, starting and ending at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. Riders will enjoy a fun ride through the many Potomac Banks historic, ecological and cultural sites in the southern and central parts of the Mount Vernon District. The route consists of paved roads, paved trails and has some challenging sections. The event is rain or shine. Learn more and register online today!

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

The Dunne Dispatch (Local Events Edition) - 09/12/2024

School Board Mount Vernon District3 months 1 week ago

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The Dunne Dispatch (Local Events Edition) - 09/12/2024

Raptor Rapture at Fort Hunt Park, Free, September 14, 1 p.m. Don’t miss this FREE opportunity to see live raptors, owls, and hawks up close on September 14, 1 p.m. at Fort Hunt Park, Pavilion A. This event is sponsored by the Friends of Dyke Marsh, the National Park Service and Secret Garden Birds and Bees.

Trail Cleanup at Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve and Belle Haven Park, September 21, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Calling all stewards of the environment! Join the National Park Service and the Friends of Dyke Marsh for a shoreline and trail cleanup at the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve and Belle Haven Park in honor of International Coastal Cleanup Day! Register in advance. The registration link also includes a map showing parking, check-in, and bathroom locations. Let's work together to keep our ecosystem beautiful!

Steamology STEM Fest, October 12, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Steamology will host its annual STEM FEST at Mount Vernon HS on October 12, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Students in Kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to come enjoy FREE activities related to STEM, including Robotics, Coding, Experiments, and more! This event provides students with a chance to engage in hands-on activities related to science, technology, and mathematics. HS students are invited to serve as volunteers. This is a valuable opportunity for high school students to develop leadership skills, gain community service hours, and potentially inspire younger students to pursue their STEM interests. STEM FEST will also feature high school clubs and vendors, who will set up informational booths or displays related to STEM. The participation rate for the event is around 500 or more students. Visit Steamology online to register, volunteer, or host a booth or display.

Register Now for the 9th Annual Tour de Mount Vernon, October 19. Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck invites you to participate in this community bike ride on Saturday October 19 2024, starting and ending at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton. Riders will enjoy a fun ride through the many Potomac Banks historic, ecological and cultural sites in the southern and central parts of the Mount Vernon District. The route consists of paved roads, paved trails and has some challenging sections. The event is rain or shine. Learn more and register online today!

E-mail: Mateo Dunne | Phone: 571-423-1086

Staff Aide: Nelda Brown, 571-423-1049

28 minutes 10 seconds ago

Mount Vernon District Member - Mateo Dunne - Recent Updates

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