The GMHS Hitching Post
George Mason High School Newsletter - 12/19/2019
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Dear Mustang Families,
We wish all of our families a restful and happy holiday break. Please enjoy spending quality time with family and friends. We look forward to seeing all of our re-energized Mustangs on January 6th!
Sincerely,
Team Mason
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Congratulations to our very own Assistant Principal Dr. Kevin Clark on his appointment as the new Yorktown High School Principal. This is a bittersweet farewell to Dr. Clark who has spent the last 6 years serving George Mason High School teachers, students, and families. We are excited for Dr. Clark to embark on such an incredible journey as he continues to use his many talents to ensure every student is successful. Inclusivity has always been a pillar of Dr. Clark's educational beliefs. During his time at Mason, he established the Mason Equity Team, a committee of teachers, administrators, students, parents and community members, who ensured all students were equally represented.
Dr. Clark has also been instrumental in the planning of the new George Mason High School. His reflective and methodical approach always served as an asset for any collaborative environment. Arlington County Public Schools hired an outstanding leader. Thank you to Dr. Clark for his dedication to the FCCPS community. We wish Dr. Clark the very best leading Yorktown High School as we know he will continue to make a difference for all students.
Dr. Clark will begin his new role on January 13th. Prior to Dr. Clark's departure, we will transition an Interim Assistant Principal into the position. Additional information will be provided once we return from break. Thank you.
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MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Follow-up questions:
- What types of Mental Health Disorders did you learn about today?
- What is the difference between feeling nervous and having a diagnosed anxiety disorder?
- Who are the people who can diagnose a mental health disorder?
- Who is someone you can talk to if you think you or a friend needs to be seen by a mental health professional?
Please visit the BHF website for links to the December 4 lesson and previous lessons.
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RESPIRATORY ILLNESS & INFLUENZA
This is the time of year when we expect to see an increase in the number of respiratory illnesses in our community, including coughs, colds, sore throats, and flu. While these illnesses are not unusual for this time of year, there are several things that you can do to protect your child and others.
Respiratory Illness Information and Influenza Fact Sheet
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UNDERSTANDING STANDARDS-BASED GRADING THROUGH SCHOOLOGY AT GMHS
Please join us for a short presentation about how to use Schoology to see student progress in Standards-Based Grading classes at George Mason High School.
**Tuesday, January 14, 6-7 p.m. - Library
Thursday, January 23, 8:30-9:30 a.m. - Library
**This session will run prior to our Core Curriculum Night.
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DATES TO REMEMBER
December 20
Early Release
Dismissal -- 12:10 p.m.
December 23 - January 3
Winter Break
Happy New Year!
January 1, 2020
January 6
Even Day
Blocks 2, 3, 4, 6
January 14
Standard-Based Grading Parent Session
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Library
Core Curriculum Information Night
7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Mustang Cafe
January 15
Course Selection Fair
Wild Horse Wednesday
January 23
Standard-Based Grading Parent Session
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Library
January 28
IB Information Session
7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Mustang Cafe
January 29
Early Release
12:10 p.m. - Dismissal
January 30
Report Card Grades Available in
PowerSchool and Schoology
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ARLINGTON CAREER CENTER PROSPECTIVE STUDENT VISIT
January 23, Thursday 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Is your child interested in taking a class at the Arlington Career Center? The ACC offers a variety of career and technical (CTE) courses such as Air Force JROTC, Auto Tech, Animal Science, Biotechnology, Culinary Arts & Sciences, Early Childhood Education and many others. For a complete list visit https://careercenter.apsva.us/career-technical-education-cte/cte/. Prospective students are invited to attend a visit to the ACC on January 23, 2020. Have your student submit a field trip release form ACC Field Trip Release Form by Thursday, January 16, 2020, to Mr. Serensits, Assistant Principal. Please email Mr. Serensits with any questions at dserensitis@fccps.org.
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MUSTANG CAREER SHADOW DAY
Monday, January 27, 2020
Sign up here.
Marybeth Connelly
Business and Community Partnerships Falls Church City Public Schools
office: 703-248-5691 cell: 703-403-7597
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IB INFORMATION SESSION AT GMHS
January 28, 2020
7:00 p.m. -8:15 p.m.
Mustang Cafe
George Mason High School is pleased to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) since 1981. Mr. Dan Coast, the IB DP Coordinator, will be hosting an information session on January 28 in the GMHS cafeteria from 7:00 to 8:15 pm.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The meeting is open to all FCCPS parents. Most importantly, the parents of current sophomore students who are thinking about pursuing an IB diploma should plan on attending. Of course, our students are welcome, as well.
WHAT DOES THE MEETING COVER?
The IB diploma requirements will be highlighted. Mr. Dan Coast will describe the IB course and exam requirements; Mr. Coulter Weaver will discuss the Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) requirements; Ms. Jamie Sample will discuss the extended essay process.
WHY SHOULD THE PARENTS OF CURRENT SOPHOMORES CONSIDER ATTENDING THIS MEETING?
The reward of obtaining an IB diploma requires a two-year endeavor for a student. Most IB classes complete the IB exam in the senior year after two years of study. However, there are some one-year IB classes and the IB diploma requirements do allow for two of the IB exams to occur in the junior year. All sophomore students will begin the process of registering for their junior year classes (sy 2020-2021) in early February, 2020.
HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE TAKING IB EXAMS THIS YEAR?
GMHS has 246 students registered to take 736 IB exams this May. Many students will receive college credit for good exam scores at the colleges they plan to attend.
WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I CANNOT ATTEND?
If you have a student attending GMHS who is planning to become an IB diploma candidate starting their junior year, please consider attending this information session. You can also schedule an individual appointment with Mr. Coast sometime before the end of January to discuss IB diploma classes: coastd@fccps.org or 703-248-5590. This is especially important if your student is thinking about pursuing the IB diploma.
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A MESSAGE FROM YEARBOOK ADVISOR COULTER WEAVER
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MESSAGES FROM GMHS CHINESE TEACHER MS. KAO
GMHS China Exchange 2020
(This is a non-school sponsored trip)
Alpha Exchange is coordinating an exchange between students from GMHS and the Attached Middle School in Beijing Normal University during the 2019-2020 school year.
Click on the Alpha Exchange Brochure for more details.
If interested in participating, please click on the China Exchange Interest Form
AND
Want to Teach English in Taiwan?
(This is a non-school sponsored trip)
Taiwan Summer Teaching English Service Project
or
Semester: School year in 2020 For Adult English Teachers
For more information, please click here
Click here for the Taiwan Service Project Enrollment Form
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STAY ON TOP OF ALL CANCELLATIONS AND CLOSURES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE...
It's everything FCCPS, in your pocket! Everything from FCCPS Alerts, to lunch menus, staff directories, and events. Get as much or as little information as you want. YOU control the notifications, whether it be information relevant to a specific school, or essential notifications from the district. Download it free today!
VIDEO WALK-THROUGH: The New FCCPS App
Download the app on:
Android: http://bit.ly/30xyIV5 or iPhone https://apple.co/30xh03S
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A MESSAGE FROM THE NEW FCCPS CHORAL BOOSTERS
Choral teachers, Ms. Sample, Ms. Carpel, and Ms. Reid are delighted to announce the newly approved FCCPS CHORAL BOOSTERS.
Like other FCCPS Booster groups, Choral Boosters will support our teachers and singers in their many activities, including school performances, community outreach, clinics and competitions, fund-raisers and more! Beginning in January, Choral Boosters will offer an affordable after-school voice & piano lessons program open to any student whose family becomes Boosters. So, if you have a student who loves to sing, look for the Choral Boosters table at the next upcoming concert (1/9/20 at MEH) to get all of the information. Or, to find the membership form and lessons program application, check out the website www.fccpschoralboosters.org or contact president Becca Tice at beccatice@yahoo.com.
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SATURDAY LEARNING LOUNGE
Does your student need a tutor or a quiet place to study? Check out the link below:
FCCPS PARENT UNIVERSITY
Keep Calm and Check Parent University
Did you know that FCCPS has a resource for parents that pulls together all of the parent education opportunities across the schools? Anything that helps parents get smarter about school and parenting is included in Parent University.
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PRINCIPAL'S NEWSLETTER
You can find current and past issues of the GMHS Hitching Posts from Principal Hills on the GMHS website at the link below:
EXCEL IN MIND, BODY AND CHARACTER
Matt Hills
Principal
Email: hillsm@fccps.org
Website: https://gm.fccps.org
Location: 7124 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, USA
Phone: 703-248-5500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fallschurchcitypublicschools
Twitter: @MasonMustangs