Dear FCCPS Parent/Guardians, Staff, and Community Members, As you are aware, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking school officials to take steps towards preparedness for a possible coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. As Superintendent, I want you to know we are doing just that. Falls Church City Public Schools communicates regularly... READ MORE >

On Tuesday evening, the Falls Church School Board unanimously approved its Advertised Budget for the 2020-2021 school year. Reflecting an investment in our students, our staff, and our schools, the budget includes a step increase for eligible employees, and a 1% Cost of Living Adjustment for all FCCPS staff members. The $54.6 million budget, which now heads to the... READ MORE >

On Monday, Superintendent Peter Noonan continued the presentation tour of his FY2020-21 Proposed Budget. Dr. Noonan met with staff members at Mount Daniel Elementary (above) in the morning and that evening held a Community Meeting to share the budget plan at Thomas Jefferson Elementary (below) "This is my ninth year as a superintendent in the Commonwealth of... READ MORE >

The current George Mason High School building has served students honorably for over 68 years, two years longer than its namesake was alive for. Many of the design features and systems are obsolete due to advances in modern technology. This has resulted in wasted resources and energy, a fact that students, community members and architects of the new high school... READ MORE >

Falls Church City Public Schools announced 16 nominees for FCCPS Employee Awards on Wednesday, January 22. Colleagues, students, and parents made the nominations based on their exceptional dedication to the students and community of Falls Church. A "Prize Patrol" including Superintendent Peter Noonan, Chief Academic Officer William Bates, Chief Financial Officer... READ MORE >

Fees for Summer Day Camp operated by the FCCPS Extended Day Care Program will rise two percent this summer. EDCP, which is self-supported, charge fees to recover costs. The Day Care Advisory Board approved the increase last week and, per current policy, the School Board signed off on it as well, Tuesday night. The program cites increases in staff wages, cost of... READ MORE >

FCCPS Video, Photos/Michael TimpaneProduced by: Carol SlyGeorge Mason High and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle schools are expanding Career and Technical Education opportunities throughout all subject areas. Whether it is in English Class or a science course, CTE is being used to extend and enhance learning opportunities. This expansion was highlighted in a recent... READ MORE >

Falls Church City Public Schools (FCCPS) Superintendent Peter Noonan presented a $54.6 million Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 21) operating budget to the Falls Church School Board on January 14. The proposed budget is balanced, for the second year in a row falls within Falls Church City Council Budget Guidance, and provides a competitive wage increase for school... READ MORE >

Four years into Falls Church City Public School's Stop-Arm Camera program and it continues catching violators, and the fines continue to roll in. In 2019, a total of 1,082 citations were issued to drivers who passed a Falls Church school bus with its red lights flashing. For the first five months of the current fiscal year (July through November), the program... READ MORE >

Falls Church City Public Schools is thrilled to announce the new FCCPS app! It's everything FCCPS, in your pocket! With the new app, you can access staff directories, lunch menus, news updates, and even emergency notifications. Best of all, YOU control what notifications you receive! Download the app on Android: http://bit.ly/30xyIV5 or iPhone:... READ MORE >

Falls Church City Public Schools is now accepting interest applications from Falls Church City residents for tuition placements at Jessie Thackrey Preschool for the 2020-2021 school year. Spaces in the classrooms are first reserved for preschoolers with special needs and then for those at risk according to Virginia Preschool Initiative guidelines. A limited number... READ MORE >

FCCPS is offering free English classes for the parents and adult family members of FCCPS students with sessions beginning on January 14th. The beginner level (Nivel Principiante) will be held from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. and the intermediate level (Nivel Intermedio) will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays. Both sessions will be held in the Family Resource Center at... READ MORE >

Our three choir 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, fundraisers and more!Beginning in January,... READ MORE >

The Falls Church School Board has set the first day of school for the 2020-21 school year for August 24th, or two weeks before Labor Day. On a 4-2 vote, the Board adopted the Ad Hoc Calendar Committee's Pre-Labor Day Option B which includes a two week winter break, and a last day of school set for June 10th.Download FY 2020-21 School Calendar - Grid Format The... READ MORE >

All elementary-aged students are invited to the first Mason Winter Fest on Saturday, December 14 from 5-8:00 PM in the Aux Gym and Mustang Cafe. Funds raised will go towards the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Kids will be enjoying snowball fights, carnival games, and more! READ MORE >

George Mason's Niharika Singhvi was awarded 2019 Virginia School Boards Association Exhibitors Scholarship. The scholarship, funded by exhibiting companies at the VSBA’s annual convention, was made available to spring 2020 graduating seniors who had served as student school board representatives. Ameresco, and Mountain Valley Transportation sponsored this year’s... READ MORE >

Mr. Julian Williams, Vice President of Compliance, Diversity and Ethics at George Mason University, has released his report and recommendations on Falls Church City Public Schools Infrastructure Assessment of Diversity. In the spring of 2018, FCCPS had been engaging in several activities related to issues of equity, diversity, and race. As a result of that work,... READ MORE >

Thank you in advance for your assistance as Falls Church City Public Schools works to improve how we serve our students, families, and community. We appreciate your time. Effective July 1, 2019, the General Assembly passed legislation allowing school divisions to start the school year up to 14 days before the September Labor Day holiday. Previously school... READ MORE >

Award-nominating season is here! Recognize outstanding FCCPS employees by submitting a nomination for one of our awards: FCEF Teacher of the Year; Professional Specialist of the Year and Support Staff Employee of the Year. Nomination forms for all three awards are below. The deadline for submitting nominations is Friday, January 3. All nominees will be surprised... READ MORE >

The Falls Church School Board received four options for the 2020-21 school calendar from its Ad Hoc Calendar Committee during its regular meeting last night. The options include two that would see school opening two weeks before Labor Day and two with the first day of school on the day after Labor Day. The Virginia General Assembly last year changed the law... READ MORE >

While Veterans Day is a regular school day this year at Falls Church City Public Schools, many of our students are honoring America's brave men and women in service to our country. George Mason High At George Mason High School, thanks go to Ms. Gurgo and Mr. Sheedy for creating a Veterans Day display left in the school's lobby, recognizing alumni and staff... READ MORE >

Last Friday, the Family Resource Center hosted an Open House to show off its new space. Erika Sequiera, third from left, runs the center for all of FCCPS from the area at TJ. She supports families with children in all the system's schools with a particular focus on support for non-English speakers. Visitors to the opening included city employees, administrators... READ MORE >

The GM Girls may have needed a tie-breaker on Tuesday at the Region meet, but they made it, qualifying for States again, making it 21 years in a row! The Girls' team tied for third with Warren County at 89 points. When that happens, you determine a Cross Country race's score by the 6th runner's finish. Mason's sixth runner was ahead of Warren's, and the Mustang... READ MORE >

Mrs. Stillwagoner's second-grade class videotapes a weekly news show. Working together, the students write the script, and then the school's technology educator, Mr. Daugherty, films them using a green screen, like TV newscasters. The students report on their favorite special of the week, favorite classroom activity, any special events happening in the classroom.... READ MORE >

Henderson's Student Council Association began holding town halls last year to gather input on issues important to students. On Thursday, October 31, the first one of this year occurred during Husky FLEX. The meetings are run by the student council representatives. There was time for administrators to give status reports on issues brought up last year, including... READ MORE >

Superintendent Peter Noonan and owner representative Deisy Brangman of Brailsford and Dunlavey held an informal coffee for anyone interested in the latest information on the George Mason High School Project. Included in the presentation were new design elements, detailed renderings of the gymnasium and auditorium, and a live look at the construction site. Dr.... READ MORE >

The "Prize Patrol" had a very busy Wednesday! The Falls Church Education Foundation was out in the schools awarding Super Grant funds for 16 requests, totaling over $68,000 in Super Grants and over $19,000 in Advanced Training. Awards are in response to teacher and staff requests. It went to a wide variety of initiatives, including training, classroom libraries,... READ MORE >

As part of Service Learning, over 70 high school students visited Mt. Daniel yesterday to help out in classrooms by reading with students and doing activities with groups. Many more visits will occur throughout the year. As GMHS strives to maintain a caring community and culture, Service Learning includes focusing all juniors towards supporting the learning... READ MORE >

On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, members of the Falls Church City School Board unanimously approved a new four-year contract for Dr. Peter J. Noonan as Superintendent of Schools. The agreement represents a 7% increase over the last contract, a percentage increase that is in line with raises received by FCCPS staff over the previous three budget cycles. "I am thrilled... READ MORE >

Thanks go out to Delegate Marcus Simon (far left) and State Senator Dick Saslaw (center) for taking time for their annual FCCPS visit to "walk a school" and understand some of the exciting initiatives and continuing work. This year they learned about a seventh-grade project in a CTE (Career and Technical Education) class, the study of different states of matter... READ MORE >

The Mid-Atlantic Association of IB World Schools (IBMA) is recognizing stellar IB programme contributors with the IBMA Faculty Excellence Award at each of its quarterly meetings. Fifth-grade teachers, Layton McCann (left) and Torey Fay were the recent recipients for the Primary Years Programme. Mrs. Fay and Mrs. McCann were nominated for their work and... READ MORE >

This group of IB Film Study, HL 2, students are creating a short film-documentary about a high school student's journey. The students have complete artistic freedom to come up with their own story and script. Each student is playing a specific role in the project, including Director, Screenwriter, Sound Designer, Editor, Actor(s), etc. but they are all working... READ MORE >

In the small groups for guided reading in third grade, these students are learning to communicate without raising their hands. The class discussed how at home most of them don't raise their hands at the dinner table, but they still understand the structure and flow of conversation in a small group setting. They are practicing and applying those skills to the... READ MORE >

Mr. Block's Breakfast Club at Henderson meets throughout the year before significant math assessments. It is already attracting a dedicated group of students a half hour before school starts. Their aim this week was to learn and review the order of operations, integers, distribution, combining like terms, and domain, range, and function. Twenty-eight students came:... READ MORE >

Library and technology alternate weeks this year in the schedule's rotation at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. On library week, classes, including this third grade one, visit for 45 minutes. Students may check out up to 3 books at a time and they are due the following week. Since the start of the year, there are over 100 new titles on the shelves with more to... READ MORE >

Tailgate Draws Enthusiastic Crowd Friday night, families and students gathered to explore offerings by SAOs, enjoy dinner and activities, and ramp up some spirit ahead of Mason's home-opening football game against Strasburg. The Pep Band and Cheer team, along with a solid block of student fans in tropical shirts, were on hand to rally the crowd. The Mustangs were... READ MORE >

Building Reading Stamina, One Page at a Time Friday was National Read a Book Day, and these third graders took out their book bins for the first time. Each then found comfy places around the room to work on their reading stamina. Reading stamina is a child's ability to focus and read independently for long-ish periods of time without being distracted or without... READ MORE >