Para traducir este boletín al Español, haga clic en Ver en su Navegador y en Accesibilidad haga clic en Traducir y luego elija Español.

To translate this newsletter, click on View in your Browser, and under Accessibility click Translate Newsletter.

Happy Friday and welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! Virtual learning will begin on Monday and offers our incredible students an opportunity to establish connections with their teachers and peers. Building strong, positive relationships is an integral component to George Mason High School and will represent the primary focus for the first two weeks of school. The structure we have created in our Virtual Bell Schedule emphasizes a focus on Social Emotional Learning while simultaneously providing students a rigorous instructional environment. We recognize our students are craving social interactions and we are pleased they will have multiple opportunities to engage throughout the school day.

As you can imagine, there are a plethora of logistical items students need to know and understand. Please take a moment to review the information below which will allow your child a successful start to the school year. Students will be sent this message via Schoology for their review.

Thank you to our Mustang Families for their unwavering support during this global pandemic.

Sincerely,

The Mason Admin Team

The first day of school is Monday, August 24. Virtual school will start with Block 1 at 8:00 am. Students should log-in to their scheduled Block 1 class through Schoology. Students' schedules are in PowerSchool. Our team has prepared a "Day in the Life" checklist for our students to help them acclimate to their new online learning schedule.

CCE = Collaboration, Conferencing, and Extension - 9:00 - 9:55

This daily block of time is set aside for all students in order to support the varied and dynamic needs of learners in this online format. Time will be structured in a variety of ways and will include a mix of the following: Extension activities, Individual conference with teachers, collaboration time with peers. Interventions will be data-driven, aligned to student goals students are expected to engage with their assigned CCE teacher. CCE Time is not utilized for new instruction, but instead to support the core class curriculum.

Practically, this may look like teachers being signed into a conference for questions while students in a breakout room work on practice or preparation tasks, collaborate on projects, oral assessments, or additional practice and intervention tasks.

Learning Support - 11:00 - 11:55

Based on stakeholder feedback about Spring Virtual Learning, we have built-in time for 1:1 or small group work with teachers for feedback and support. This is time for students to individually access teachers, counselors & specialists, receive navigational online support, and targeted interventions. This time is also dedicated to ensuring students with IEPs, 504s as well as English Learners, have an opportunity to meet with their teachers and receive additional support. This time also provides all students the ability to schedule meetings using their teacher’s Calendly link.

PTSA

Athletic Boosters

Choral Boosters

Band Boosters

Business & Community Partnerships

Updated immunizations are still required upon enrolling in FCCPS for the 20-21 school year despite the virtual/online opening. Now is the time to contact your health care provider and schedule an appointment if you haven’t!

Please see the information below regarding immunization clinics being offered by the Fairfax County Health Department for all Fairfax County Health District residents, which includes Falls Church City.

To help parents whose children need immunizations required for enrollment in school for the 2020-21 school year, the Fairfax County Health Department is offering community childhood vaccination clinics plus expanded hours to provide the Tdap vaccine.

Vaccination Clinics:

• Saturday, August 29, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mount Vernon District Office, 8350 Richmond Hwy, #233, Alexandria.

• Thursday, September 3, 2 to 6 p.m., First Baptist Church of Springfield, 7300 Gary St., Springfield.

Childhood vaccines protect children against potentially life-threatening illnesses such as polio, measles, whooping cough, and chickenpox. Students entering seventh grade and transfer students need a booster dose of the Tdap vaccine.

The Health Department follows strict safety protocols in its community vaccination clinics to limit exposure to patients. Only a select number of appointments per site will be available to protect families. Visitors age 2 and older are required to wear face coverings that cover the nose and mouth; temperature checks will be conducted at entrances; visitors will be required to stay 6 feet apart, and partitions will separate vaccination stations.