Excel in Mind, Body and Character

George Mason High School Newsletter

Tyrone Q. Byrd, Principal October 2011

Dear Mustang Parent or Guardian: At 8:00 a.m on the morning of Wednesday, October 12, you will be able to view your childs first quarter interim grade via the AccessGM Grade Book. Please review this important information with your child to ensure that academic expectations are being met. As we continually work to build and maintain strong connections with families, I remind you of our Parent/Teacher Mini-Conferences to be held Friday, October 14, between 7:45 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Mini-conferences serve as an opportunity for you to connect with the teacher(s) of your choice for three to four minutes regarding your childs academic progress. Because of the high volume of parents who attend this important event, it is paramount that we adhere to the time limitations. Please schedule a conference for those discussions that will require longer than the time allotted for mini-conferences. There are no appointments required for these conferences and you are free to see as many or as few teachers as you deem necessary. We ask that you arrive early and that you park in the senior parking lot (nearest to the VA/VT Graduate Center) or in the Haycock Road lot during your visit. Classes will begin at 10:00 a.m. on October 14th with busses running on a modified schedule. We will end mini-conferences at 9:30 a.m. so that teachers can prepare for the arrival of their students. Busses will pick up students according to the times and locations listed on the accompanying schedule. The George Mason faculty is looking forward to seeing each of you at this important opportunity to review the opening of the 2011 12 school year. Please make plans to attend. Developing and maintaining strong and productive relationships with you is key to our collective efforts to best provide for the needs of your children. We are committed to working collaboratively with you through the ubiquitous ups and downs (and back ups) of a school year. Sincerely,

Tyrone Q. Byrd Principal

P.S.: All GM students who attend morning classes at the Arlington Career Center are expected to do so on October 14 and the regular ACC busses will run.

Go Mustangs!

GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL

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IMPORTANT DATES
Please note that some of these dates have changed since the beginning of school and some other changes may still occur. October 12 Interims available for viewing on Access GM after 8:00 a.m. October 12 Parent Walk-In (PWI) 7:15 a.m. 7:45 a.m. October 12 Early Release Wednesday 1:45 p.m. October 12 PSAT/NMSQT GMHS will administer the PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) to all 10th and 11th grade students during the school day on Wednesday, October 12. Students should come prepared with sharpened #2 pencils and a calculator. There is no fee for the test. The only requirement is a good nights sleep and a good breakfast! The test will begin at 8:00 a.m. October 14 Parent/Teacher Mini-Conferences Main Gym, Auxiliary Gym and Mustang Caf 7:45 a.m. 9:30 a.m.

The process for this event is very informal. Most parents enter through door 15 at the cafeteria entrance. There you will be greeted by staff that will provide you with a student schedule and teacher locations. Teachers will be seated by department in the Mustang Caf, auxiliary gym and main gym. Counselors and administrators will also be available for conversations and facilitation of the conferences. Teachers will be seated at a desk with a chair in front of the desk for the parent. Parents form lines in front of the teacher desk, maintaining a distance that allows for privacy during the conversation. Each teacher will have an egg timer that we ask them to use to help regulate the length of the conversation. The timers came into use several years ago at the suggestion of a parent as a reminder that the time for the conference is limited. I would ask that you please help us monitor this time by finishing up your conversation as you see those last grains of sand run through the glass. Sometimes, especially if you have more than one student in the high school, it can be difficult to speak with all the teachers. If you run out of time, make an appointment to meet with any teacher that you did not get to speak with. Contact information for all teachers will be available at the conference and is readily available on the school website. Teachers will have a full day of classes to teach after they finish with the conferences and will need to immediately begin their preparation for the school day at the end of the conferences. Mini-conferences are a time we look forward to as an opportunity to make connections between home and school.

GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL

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October 6 and October 7 JV Show Auditorium 7:30 p.m.

October 25 Special Education Parent Meeting Mustang CafB121 8:15 a.m. 8:45 a.m. October 26 Early Release Wednesday1:45 p.m. October 27 Make-up Senior Portrait Day TLC November 1 College 101 An overview of the college process 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Mustang Caf November 2 PTSA Meeting 7:30 p.m. Library November 4 Make-Up Picture Day for Grades 8th-11th TLC November 4 Deadline to turn in senior pictures for yearbook inclusion November 9 Parent Walk-In (PWI) 7:15 a.m. 7:45 a.m. November 10 and 11 Professional Days No School for Students November 22 Special Education Parent Meeting Mustang Caf B121 8:15 a.m. 8:45. a.m.

Spirit Week
October 17-21 Football Game October 21 William Monore HS vs GM 7:30 p.m. Homecoming Dance 8:00 p.m. Midnight Mustang Caf

November 17, 18 and 19 Fall Musical Thoroughly Modern Millie 7:30 p.m. Auditorium

GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL

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Falls Church City Public Schools George Mason High School Parent/Teacher Conference Bus Schedule Please be at the bus stop 5 minutes before expected time. October 14, 2011 Bus # G Bus A 9:30 Seaton & Oak 9:31 Thomas Jefferson ES 9:33 Timber Lane & Parker 9:35 Jackson & Randolph Bus # B 9:24 9:26 9:28 9:32 9:35 Hillwood & Cleave Hillwood & Smallwood E. Fairfax & Katie Ct. Columbia & Forest Columbia & Cherry 9:32 Maple Ave & S. Tinner Hill 9:34 James St. & Virginia Ave. 9:36 Annandale Rd & Gundry

Bus # F 9:32 Great Falls St. & Lincoln Ave 9:34 Great Falls & Virginia 9:36 Great Falls & Little Falls

Bus # E Bus # C 9:30 9:32 9:33 9:35 N. 11th St. & Roosevelt Blvd N. 11th St. & Sycamore Sycamore & Roosevelt Roosevelt & Ridge 9:31 9:33 9:35 9:37 Timber & Poplar Rosemary & Tracy Pl Welcome & Waldorf Randolph St. & West St.