Panther Press- March 14, 2025

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fire safety

Dear Panther Family,

We were busy this week at Mt Vernon Woods. Our kindergarteners had a special visit from the Fairfax County Fire Department. They learned all about fire safety at home through a puppet show. They also got to meet a fire fighter in all their safety gear (pictured above). We had a lot of fun PAWS and READ celebrations this week also. Students had special dress up days, read with buddies, wore PJs and had the principals pop in as guest readers. On Friday, our 1st-3rd graders had a chance to hear from the Washington Philharmonic Orchestra for a concert of The Billy Goats Gruff (pictured below).

Next weekend on March 22nd, we will have a special family concert event put on by Washington Philharmonic Orchestra. This is a free family event and will be held here at Mt Vernon Woods in the gym at 3:30pm. We hope to see you there! 

Sincerely, 

Gina O'Neal, Principal

Christine Berry, Assistant Principal 

Kristen Robinson, Assistant Principal 


concert

calendar reminder graphic

 

March 22- Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Family Concert

3:30pm at MVW 

March 28- End of 3rd Quarter

March 29- 6th Grade All County Chorus Festival, 3:00pm at MVHS

March 31- Eid-al-Fitr, Cultural Observance, All Schools and Offices Closed

April 1- Teacher Work Day, Student Holiday 

April 7- Family Food Market, 4:30pm at MVW

April 8- PTO Meeting, 4:30pm at MVW

April 14-18- Spring Break, No School 


concert

concert

Women's History Month

National Women’s History Month

Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids


school bus driver

Cameras Installed on School Bus Stop Arms

Cameras have been installed on the stop arms of 50 FCPS school buses. These cameras will be used to identify drivers who pass stopped school buses while children are entering and exiting the bus (called a “stop arm violation”). 

Warnings for drivers will begin on Wednesday, April 9. After a 30-day warning period, citations will begin to be issued on Monday, May 12.

According to Virginia law, drivers must stop for stopped school buses with flashing red lights on and their stop signs extended. Motorists should stop when approaching from any direction (unless there is a barrier or median separating their lane from where the bus is stopped). They should remain stopped until everyone is clear and the bus is moving. 

We appreciate our law enforcement partners for working with us to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Read more information about the stop arm cameras and all of the ways that we work with our county partners to keep students safe on their way to and from school.


The Comprehensive School Boundary Review Process Explained

Want to learn more about the ongoing Comprehensive School Boundary Review process? Watch this video for explanations of terms such as attendance zones, attendance islands, split feeders, and other factors that affect school boundaries. The video will also be available in other languages soon.

 Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information and sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter.


Budget Banner

FCPS Budget — Our Students Deserve the Best

More than $240 million of FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget is dedicated to increasing compensation for our teachers and staff to stay competitive and reduce turnover. Currently, FCPS ranks fifth out of eight neighboring districts in regards to starting salary for teachers with a master’s degree. 

Our families expect — and our students deserve — the best teachers.

Next Steps in the Budget Process

The next steps in the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process include the School Board presenting the budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 22, and then the Board of Supervisors will conduct public hearings Tuesday, April 22, through Thursday, April 24. Community members can submit testimony or sign up to speak

Visit the county government website to view the Fairfax County FY 2026 Advertised Budget. The community is also invited to complete an online survey to provide feedback on the county’s FY 2026 Advertised Budget. 

Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process


let's talk

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fire safety

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