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Mason District Community,

Congratulations to Ms. Kristen Salonga, teacher for multilingual learners at Justice High School on her selection as a Fulbright Fellow! This is a well-deserved recognition of Ms. Salonga’s impactful work at Justice HS. 

At the School Board Regular meeting last week, I had the honor of presenting a resolution to dedicate the stadium field at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) as the Vaughn Lewis Field, after the first football coach at TJHSST. Coach Lewis inspired countless athletes and mentored numerous assistant coaches during his tenure which spanned from 1988 until 2002. Thank you to Coach Lewis for his many years of service to FCPS students.

Coach Vaughn Lewis with family, friends, and the School Board

Volunteers are needed to serve on various School Board Advisory Committees to represent the Mason District for the 2026-2027 school year. These committees meet once a month and are composed of community members, parents, students, and other stakeholders who provide input, guidance, and recommendations to the School Board on specific issues. 

If you are interested in serving, please see additional information about these volunteer opportunities below.

Graduation ceremonies are rapidly approaching. Please check the list for the graduation schedule and location for Mason District students.

I value input from the Mason District community and will address questions or concerns via email at rjanderson@fcps.edu or by scheduling a phone call with Ms. Coffey, at cmcoffey@fcps.edu.

In this issue:

Upcoming School Board Action

Executive Limitation 11: Facilities and Transportation

While the Strategic Plan Goals are the primary factors used by the School Board to evaluate progress and achievement in Fairfax County Public Schools, the Board is also responsible for oversight of the division. The thirteen (13) Executive Limitations reflect the operational guardrails maintained by the Board for how the Superintendent is to operate the Division to achieve those goals. Executive Limitations serve as a measure of accountability for the Superintendent and are reviewed annually through monitoring reports to ensure compliance. 

The monitoring report for Executive Limitation 11 (EL-11): Facilities and Transportation is scheduled for action at the May 7, 2026 meeting.

Please review the Superintendent’s draft monitoring report for EL-11 and provide your feedback HERE.

Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R)

The SR&R is scheduled for action at the May 7, 2026 meeting. Please review the SR&R presentation and the proposed SY27 SR&R and provide your feedback HERE.

Important revisions to the proposed SY27 SR&R include:

• Alignment to SB 108: ensures cell phone and smart device use is prohibited, bell-to-bell, at all three school levels (elementary, middle, and high school). This will mean that students in all grades, except in specific instances in which accommodations have been provided, will not be able to use their phones during passing periods or during lunch. As per newly amended law, cell phones will have to be put away for the day after the first bell (page 17).  
• Establish universal grade matrices (page 33).
• Access to accommodations for multilingual learner (MLs) ELP 1-4 when collecting student statements (page 199).
• Extended Requirements for In-School Suspension of Students With Disabilities (page 213). 
• Definitions for developmental disability and slurs (page 221).

• Regulation of the creation and distribution of intimate images (page 195).

• Establishes a dedicated section detailing hate speech and/or slurs related disciplinary procedures (page 190).
• Update training for all FCPS team members in the SR&R from bi-annual to annual to reflect division practice (page 6).

Updates

Boundary Review Updates

Bren Mar Park ES

The April 24 Community Meeting presentation included a review of the boundary change process and priorities as well as a recap of proposals from the comprehensive boundary review in 2025.

• Currently, Bren Mar Park Elementary School (BMPES) feeds into Holmes MS and Edison HS.
  • The amended Scenario 4 proposes reassigning Bren Mar Park students to Key MS and Lewis HS. This proposal also includes the addition of grade 6 at BMPES.

Maps for the Bren Mar Park Boundary Study are also posted for review. I have heard from many parents in the Bren Mar Park ES community expressing concerns with the most current proposal. It appears that the majority of the families from whom I have heard do not favor a change to Bren Mar Park’s feeder pattern given the capacity at Holmes MS (85%) and proximity to Annandale HS. 

Submit your feedback HERE through May 8, 2026 to inform further  revisions to the boundary change proposed scenario. Please share alternate recommendations which staff can review.  An additional community meeting will be scheduled for September to review a refined scenario.

A dedicated webpage for the Bren Mar Park Elementary Feeder Schools Boundary Study will be updated as new information becomes available.

Bren Mar Park ES, Middle and High School Feeders Map with SPAs and Residing Student Population

Glasgow MS

The April 28 Community Meeting presentation included a review of the boundary change process and priorities as well as a recap of proposals from the comprehensive boundary review in 2025. The proposed boundary changes to Glasgow MS related to the Beech Tree ES and Belvedere ES areas. 

• Currently, SPAs 6002 and 6006 attend Beech Tree ES, Glasgow MS & Justice HS.
  • The recommendation is for SPAs 6002 and 6006 to attend Poe MS and Falls Church HS.
• Currently, SPAs 6015, 6103 & 6117 attend Belvedere ES, Glasgow MS & Justice HS.
  
  • The recommendation is for SPAs 6015, 6103, and 6117 to attend Holmes MS and Annandale HS.
• Maps for the Glasgow MS Boundary Study are posted for review.

Submit your feedback HERE through May 12, 2026 to inform revisions to the boundary change proposed scenario.  Please share alternate recommendations which staff can review.  An additional community meeting will be scheduled for September to review a refined scenario.

A dedicated webpage for the Glasgow MS Boundary Study will be updated as new information becomes available.

Study 4 Map (includes Glasgow MS, Beech Tree ES, and Belvedere ES) with SPAs and Residing Student Population

SEL Screener Reports

Parent/guardian reports for the Spring SEL Screener for grades 3-12 will be available to families in SIS ParentVUE the week of April 20, 2026. 

Schools will provide copies of the SEL Screener Parent Reports to families without active ParentVUE accounts by May 1, 2026.   

Academic and Career Plan Verification Letters

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requires 8th and 10th grade students to complete their Academic and Career Plan and have it signed by the student, the student’s parent/guardian, and a school representative. Schools will be distributing the Academic and Career Plan Verification Letter to current 8th and 10th grade students and families by May 22, 2026.

Chief of Schools Congratulations to Ms. Megan Vroman, the new chief of schools.  Ms. Vroman currently serves as the assistant superintendent of Region 2.

Region 6 Assistant Superintendent Welcome to Ms. Rhonda Honoré - the new assistant superintendent for Region 6 (which includes the Annandale pyramid). Ms. Honoré comes to FCPS from the Houston Independent School District, where she served as executive director of instruction.

In the Community

Mason District Theatre

Bravo! To our talented theatre students in the Mason District. I had the opportunity to see two shows this past weekend.

Beetlejuice Jr. by the Glasgow Theatre Group

A Midsummer Night's Dream by the Annandale Theatre Company

FCPS Global Action Showcase

Earlier this week, I attended the Global Action Showcase, a collaborative initiative between the Global Classroom Project in FCPS and the Global Leaders of Fairfax County. The showcase of impressive student work celebrated student learning, leadership, and tangible actions aimed at solving the world’s most pressing challenges.

Global Action Showcase - April 28, 2026

Annandale Pyramid Art Show

I was thrilled to see the talent exhibited at the recent Annandale Pyramid Art Show! I was equally pleased to see the pride the students took in their work.

Fantastic art on display at the Annandale Pyramid Art Show

Capitol Visit with Westlawn

I recently had the opportunity to travel to the Capitol with the AAP students from Westlawn ES. The students had been learning about Barbara Johns and exploring the impact of young leaders. The students advocated for a trip to the Capitol to see the new statue of Barbara Johns. I very much enjoyed  the thoughtful and insightful comments and questions by this fantastic group!

Visiting the Capitol with Westlawn ES to see the new Barbara Johns statue.

Mason Moments

Fulbright Fellow

Congratulations to Ms. Kristen Salonga, environmental science for multilingual learners teacher at Justice High School! Ms. Salonga has been selected as a 2026 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellow by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

As part of the fellowship, she will be traveling to Senegal for two weeks this spring, where she will be paired with different local teachers in Dakar and Saint-Louis to learn about the Senegalese education system and present lessons to students. The program equips educators to bring an international perspective to their schools through targeted training, experience abroad, and global collaboration. 

VHSL Journalist of the Year

Congratulations to Zoe Ligairi from Annandale High School. Zoe is a co-editor-in-chief for The A-Blast student newspaper and was recently named the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Journalist of the Year! 

Zoe has published nearly 75 stories over three years - some of them on professional websites - and has covered a wide range of topics.

Thanks to Ligairi's vision and diligence, The A-Blast is ranked among the nation's Top 10 high school newspapers at JEA/NSPA conventions. The A-Blast also earns the Trophy Class Award each year, given to about 8 of 300 schools statewide by the VHSL.

Wrestling State Champion and Runner Up

Congratulations to Jeremiah Nelson from Annandale High School for winning the VHSL 6A High Jump State Championship!

Congratulations to Darling Saravia from Annandale High School. After winning her second consecutive regional title, she went on to finish as the VHSL Girls Wrestling State Runner-up in her weight class. Go Atoms!

Peace Awards

The Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County encourages thinking more about peace as both a means and an end, and to recognize young people who work as peacemakers. The recipients generally have a common desire to bring kindness into the world around them, whether within their schools, their community, or on a larger scale.

Their specific goals and methods may or may not reflect the views of the volunteers or sponsors of the Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County, but we celebrate their intention to seek the peaceful resolution of challenging issues.

Congratulations to the Mason District recipients! Learn more about these amazing students and their efforts:

• Lily Rumpf - Annandale High School
• Gabriella Henriquez - Falls Church High School
• The Verdict - Justice High School

Wolf Trap Grant

Congratulations to Andrew Sharrock, band director at Glasgow Middle School! Mr. Sharrock was awarded a grant from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. These grants are part of an annual program to support area public school teachers who are working to bring innovative performing arts experiences to their communities.  

Glasgow Middle School will use the grant to commission Texas-based composer Jorge Vargas to create an original band composition for their June concert. Vargas will work directly with students, guiding them through the new piece before conducting the world premiere performance that evening. Students will develop technical and expressive performance skills, broaden their cultural perspectives by engaging thoughtfully with contemporary music by the Mexican American composer, and experience the excitement and responsibility of performing a world premiere. 

Read more about Mr. Sharrock in this FCPS feature story.

Advanced Placement School Honor Roll The College Board announced that 17 FCPS high schools have been named to the 2025 Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll. Schools can earn bronze, silver, gold, or platinum distinction.  Congratulations to Falls Church High School for earning Bronze Distinction for 2025. Recognition criteria includes: College Culture: 40% or more of the graduating cohort participated in at least one AP exam during high school. College Credit: 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school. College Optimization: 2% or more of the graduating cohort enrolled in five or more AP exams during high school. At least one exam was taken in 9th or 10th grade.

2026 RAMP Designation Poe Middle School’s counseling program has been honored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) as a model program and was awarded the Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) designation for 2026 for successfully demonstrating how their comprehensive school counseling program benefits all students. The RAMP designation identifies school staff committed to delivering a comprehensive, data-driven school counseling program and an exemplary educational environment. School counselors submit evidence of the program’s student achievement, connection to the mission and goals of the school, use of data to drive decisions, and collaboration with stakeholders (parents, students, and administrators).    Congratulations to Poe Middle School for earning this prestigious designation!

U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate

Eighty Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students have been named 2026 U.S. Presidential Scholars candidates. They are part of a group of 5,000 students from around the country — and more than 38% of Virginia’s candidates — selected for the honor.

This recognition reflects not only the extraordinary accomplishments of these students, but also the power and promise of public education. 

Congratulations to Mason District resident Clinton Morimoto from TJHSST for receiving this recognition.

See the full list of recipients.

National Merit Finalists

Congratulations to the following Mason District student National Merit Finalists:

• Jayden Nguyen: Falls Church High School
• Joey Park, Grace Sprano, and Ruilin Wang: Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Regional Scholastic Writing Awards Congratulations to the following Mason District students recognized at the 2026 DC Metro Region Scholastic Writing Awards competition: Roselyn Lobo Lemus: Justice High School - Silver Key Award Clinton Morimoto: TJHSST - Honorable Mention (3)

All-Virginia Music Ensembles Congratulations to all of the students selected to perform in the 2026 All-Virginia Band, Chorus, Orchestra, and MS Choir events in April. Students throughout Virginia participated in a rigorous audition process to compete for positions in these ensembles. Participants had the opportunity to rehearse with nationally recognized conductors and collaborate with fellow musicians during the events held in Richmond. Special recognition goes to the following talented Mason District students: All-Virginia Band: Justice High School: Favian Larrea Vasquez All-Virginia Orchestra: Edison High School: Gavin Tilock All-Virginia Chorus: Annandale High School: Lina Abu-el-Hawa, Nathaniel Dosen, Nattha Poolchuay, Elisa Quesada Sayler, Joshua Vaughn Justice High School: Kyle Aylward, Jason Gonzalez-Canales, Maxwell Hoffmann, Rahel Kassa, Saron Walelign Woodson High School: Catherine Morton All-Virginia Middle School Choirs: Frost Middle School: Corinne Pak, Violet Conklin Glasgow Middle School: Isla Cannon, Colette Dale, Leonidas Gregory, Helena Grubbs, Maariya Siddiqi Holmes Middle School: Ella McCreery

International Baccalaureate Diplomas The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program (DP) is a two-year program for juniors and seniors consisting of six subject group courses and DP core components. The IB program aims to develop students who are internationally-minded, knowledgeable, and compassionate lifelong learners prepared for higher education and the world of work. IB Diploma students complete internal and external assessments, exams, a Theory of Knowledge course, a creativity activity service project, and a 4,000-word extended essay. Mason District students who earned the IB Diploma in 2025 include 39 students from Annandale High School, 38 from Edison High School, and 39 from Justice High School. Congratulations to this impressive group of students!

Outstanding Employees

The FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards program celebrates the efforts and accomplishments of exceptional employees from throughout the division. Nominations are accepted from colleagues, supervisors, students, and parents.

Congratulations to the following Region level winners representing the Mason District. They will advance as finalists to the FCPS Honors event in June. 

Region 2

• Outstanding Principal - Lisa Barrow, Glasgow MS
• Outstanding Leader - Tricia Wayland, Bailey’s Upper ES
• Outstanding Professional Employee - Wilson Harvey, Justice HS
• Outstanding Elementary Teacher - Kimberley Matthews, Mason Crest ES
• Outstanding New Secondary Teacher - Emily Grimes, Glasgow MS
• Outstanding Operational Employee - Souhair Darwich, Timber Lane ES

Region 6

• Outstanding Principal - Mike Astudillo, Columbia ES
• Outstanding Leader - Erin Crowley, Annandale HS
• Outstanding Elementary Teacher - Rosemary Nevin, Columbia ES
• Outstanding Secondary Teacher - Lynn Eckerman, Annandale HS
• Outstanding New Secondary Teacher - Rachel Pryately, Holmes MS
• Outstanding Operational Employee - Sherryanne Sooknanan, Braddock ES

Opportunities

Advisory Committee Volunteers Needed

Interested in serving on a School Board Citizen Advisory Committee for the 2026-2027 school year? Mason District residents are encouraged to complete this short interest form by May 30, 2026 for consideration.

*Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee (ACEAC)

This committee brings to the School Board’s attention the resource and programmatic issues associated with adult education. The committee meets one evening each month at the Plum Center for Lifelong Learning in Springfield. See the ACEAC webpage for more details about the work of this committee.

*Advanced Academic Programs Advisory Committee (AAPAC)

This committee on gifted education annually reviews the local plan for the education of gifted students, including revisions, and determines the extent to which the plan for the previous year was implemented. The committee meets one evening each month at the Willow Oaks Corporate Center in Fairfax. See the AAPAC webpage for more details about the work of this committee. 

*Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD)

This committee is a state mandated special education advisory committee that participates in the development of priorities and strategies for meeting the needs of children with disabilities and advises the Board of the educational needs of these children. The committee meets one evening each month at the Willow Oaks Corporate Center in Fairfax. See the ACSD webpage for more details about the work of this committee.

Bussey Memorial Equity Award Nominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved. Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 18.   The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.  Full details and the nomination information form can be found on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award website.

Upcoming School Board Meetings

Regular School Board Meetings (Luther Jackson Middle School)

• May 7, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.: School Board will vote to approve the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R).
• May 21, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.: School Board will vote to approve the FY2027 Budget

Work Sessions (Gatehouse Administration Center)

• May 5, 2026 at 11:30 a.m.: The School Board will discuss the Skyview HS Boundary and the School Year Calendar.
• May 14, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.: The School Board will discuss the FY2027 Budget.

Public Hearing (Luther Jackson Middle School)

• May 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.: FY2027 Budget

All meetings will be broadcast live on Channel 99 (Verizon channel 11) and on the FCPS website. The meetings are recorded for future viewing and posted to the FCPS School Board YouTube channel.

Would you like to share your ideas and concerns with the School Board and staff?  Register to speak at a regular meeting or public hearing.

Registration for individuals interested in speaking at a Regular School Board Meeting opens at 8 a.m. four business day before the meeting (usually a Friday) and closes 48 hours before the meeting (usually 7 p.m. on a Tuesday). A total of 16 speaker slots are available for each meeting – a random lottery process is used if this number is exceeded. Please see the Community Participation webpage for additional details.

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Note: This newsletter contains links to translated versions of the content for your convenience. These translations are generated by Google Translate and are not intended to be a substitute for professional translation services.

The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.

© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia

E-mail: Ricardy Anderson |  Phone: 571-423-1083

Cristy Coffey, Executive Admin Assistant, 571-423-1064, cmcoffey@fcps.edu