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The Dunne Dispatch (Report Card Edition) - September 23, 2026
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
With the school year fully underway, it is wonderful to see our students and staff successfully settling into their daily routines. Over the past few weeks, my team and I have enjoyed connecting with many of you at Open Houses and Back to School Nights across the Mount Vernon District, including at Belle View ES, Bucknell ES, Fort Hunt ES, Gunston ES, Newington Forest ES, Riverside ES, Sandburg MS, South County HS, Stratford Landing ES, Washington Mill ES, Waynewood ES, West Potomac HS, and Whitman MS.
The excitement of the new year extends beyond the classroom! I encourage you to attend a local game to cheer on our student-athletes and support our home teams. Want to show off your community pride in the stands? Check out the links below to grab your spirit wear before the next big game or meet: Mount Vernon HS, West Potomac HS, South County HS , Hayfield SS, Edison HS, and Lewis HS.
On a more serious note, I continue to advocate for the safety and security of our students as they walk, bike, and ride to school. I applaud the recent decision by the Board of Supervisors to restore funding for high school crossing guards at 10 of our schools, but this is just the beginning. We need to do more to protect our students from distracted and hurried drivers. You can read more about my efforts in my recent newsletters. You can read School Safety Edition, Part 1 here and School Safety Edition, Part 2 here.
As we look ahead, I want to ensure you have the opportunity to share your views on school boundaries and the proposed establishment of Advanced Academics Centers at Hayfield MS, Key MS, and Whitman MS. See the details below to join us in person or virtually and share your feedback.
It is an honor to serve the Mount Vernon District. Please contact my office at MountVernon@fcps.edu if we can support your family and school in any way.
Very Respectfully,
 Mateo Dunne
Mount Vernon District Representative
Inside this issue:
As your School Board Member, I am committed to transparency and ensuring our community has a direct voice in the decisions shaping our schools. Your perspective is vital, which is why I strongly encourage you to participate and make your voice heard.
Middle School Advanced Academic Placements Center Community Meetings
On August 27, I was proud to co-sponsor the motion alongside my colleague, Kyle McDaniel (at-large), to develop a timeline to expand Full-time AAP centers to all middle schools. I believe every Mount Vernon District student should have equitable access to advanced academics without having to leave their pyramid. I am excited to share that Hayfield, Key, and Whitman middle schools are in the first wave of expansion for the 2027-28 school year!
There will be a Community Engagement Meeting at each middle school for you to ask questions and provide feedback, ahead of the School Board vote in December.
Each meeting begins at 6 PM and offers both in-person and virtual attendance options. Upcoming Sessions for schools Mount Vernon District students attend:
- September 24: Hayfield MS. Register here.
- September 29: Key MS. Register here.
- October 22: Whitman MS. Register here.
There are additional sessions at Franklin MS and Holmes MS. For more information and to register for these events, click here. The School Board will also schedule a formal public hearing before December.
Community Conversation with the Superintendent, September 28
Dr. Michelle Reid will be holding a community conversation at Riverside ES on Monday, September 28, at 6:30 PM. Register here. Registration is not required to attend.
School Boundaries Community Meeting for Gunston ES, Halley ES, Laurel Hill ES, and Lorton Station ES, September 29
FCPS is considering adjustments to the school boundaries for Gunston ES, Halley ES, Laurel Hill ES, and Lorton Station ES. FCPS will hold a community meeting at Hayfield SS on Tuesday, September 29 at 6:00-7:30 PM. Register to attend in-person here, or register to attend virtually here. Registration is not required to attend. Child care and language interpretation will be provided as needed.
Employee Conversation with the Superintendent, October 15
Dr. Reid will be holding an Employee Conversation at Fort Hunt ES on Thursday, October 15, from 5 - 6 PM. Register here.
Mount Vernon District Back to School Community Day. Thank you to everyone who participated! With the support of Supervisor Dan Storck’s office and generous community partners, we distributed supply-filled backpacks to students across Fairfax County while sharing free food, games, books, and local resources. This incredible spirit of collaboration is what makes the Mount Vernon District so special!
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Opening of Skyview HS. It was an exciting day as we officially opened Skyview HS - the first new FCPS high school in more than 20 years! I was proud to lead the effort to purchase this school, which saved $280 million compared to building a new school. Now those funds can be invested in other schools, including schools in the Mount Vernon District.
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Open Houses at West Potomac HS and Mount Vernon HS. It was incredibly exciting to welcome our community back to campus during the Open House events at West Potomac HS and Mount Vernon HS on Thursday, August 20. Getting the chance to meet and greet students and families as they explored student activity booths and navigated the halls to find their new classrooms or reunite with old friends was a wonderful way to gear up for the new school year. Thank you to all the staff, students, and volunteers who made both events such a success!
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United Community Bryant HS Block Party. It was a joy to connect with so many of you at the UC Block Party at Bryant HS. Events like this truly highlight the incredible strength, diversity, and unity of our Mount Vernon community. Thank you to United Community for hosting this fantastic celebration and for its dedication to empowering our families through vital wraparound services. A special thank you also goes out to the community partners, local businesses, and vendors who showed up to support our neighborhoods. When we come together to uplift our residents and build these essential connections, our entire region thrives. Thank you to everyone who made this day a resounding success!
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Mount Vernon Pyramid Night. I attended the Mount Vernon Pyramid Night Football Game on August 28. It was the perfect way to wrap up an incredible first week of school. It was great seeing the excitement from our "Future Majors" who represented Whitman MS and the elementary schools across the Mount Vernon Pyramid!
Congratulations to the Mount Vernon HS and Hayfield SS football teams for a hard-fought game and for showing outstanding sportsmanship all night long. Thank you to everyone who came to support our community!
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Battle of Highway 1. On September 3, I attended the annual contest between West Potomac HS and Mount Vernon HS. It was great to see the friendly competition between these two Mount Vernon District schools on the football field as West Potomac HS hosted their crosstown rivals. If you have not experienced Friday Night Lights at one of our high schools, I invite you to check it out.
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Annual Back-to-School Supplies Drive Success: Thank You for Your Help
With rising prices, many families throughout the Mount Vernon District need help providing school supplies to their children. My team worked with several partners to raise money and collect supplies, including:
- Supervisor Dan Storck’s office
- Educate Fairfax
- Walmart
Thank you to all our generous donors, including the Northern Virginia Family Services and Waynewood PTA. These donations and partnerships helped us provide supplies to students across the Mount Vernon District and directly to many of our schools, including Bucknell ES, Hollin Meadows ES, Lorton Station ES, Mount Vernon HS, Riverside ES, Washington Mill ES, and Woodley Hills ES. Together, we were able to provide school supplies for more than 1,500 students!
We are also incredibly grateful to the Mansion House Swim Team for their annual swim-a-thon to raise money for school supplies and to the Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) for assembling and delivering backpacks filled with essential supplies to many of our Mount Vernon district schools. Community partnerships like this are a vital part of what makes the Mount Vernon District so special.
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Back-to-School Policy Changes Families Should Know About
FCPS has introduced the following policy and procedure updates to enhance student safety and to increase the accessibility of school services:
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New student bus IDs: Students who ride FCPS buses will receive identification cards to tap when boarding and exiting. The new system is designed to improve transportation operations and provide families more information about their students’ bus trips. For more information, click here.
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Online submission of exception to ride school bus requests: Families can now submit their "Exception to Ride" requests online. This new electronic system ensures a more efficient review and will automatically email parents the final decision and corresponding bus assignment details. To access the online TR-52 form, click here.
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Expanded virtual mental health services: No-cost virtual mental health services through Hazel Health are being expanded beyond high school to middle school students. To learn more, click here.
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A new ParentVUE app: An updated ParentVUE experience with enhanced security is being rolled out. To access, click here.
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MealViewer: A new school meal platform provides families with menus, nutritional information, allergen information, and meal notifications. For more information, click here.
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Varsity football security: Weapons screening and a standardized bag policy is being implemented for varsity football games. To learn more, click here.
Lucas Trejo Named Washington Commanders’ NFL Latino Youth Honoree Nominee
Congratulations to Lewis HS Football Player Lucas Trejo on being selected as the Washington Commanders’ NFL Latino Youth Honoree Nominee! Co-sponsored by the National Football League and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), the annual NFL Latino Youth Honors recognizes standout high school seniors from across all NFL club markets. Nominees are chosen not only for their exceptional performance on the field and in the classroom, but also for their meaningful engagement with and contributions to Latino culture and their local community. We are incredibly proud to see Lucas and the Lewis Lancers represent our community on such a prestigious, national stage!
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Mount Vernon District Schools in the Spotlight
The first day of school across Fairfax County Public Schools brought excitement, and the Mount Vernon District was front and center in both local and national news coverage. Three of our high schools were featured for their incredible students, staff, and school spirit:
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Mount Vernon HS: WUSA9 visited the campus to capture the energy of the morning bells and community welcome. Watch here.
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Hayfield SS: FOX 5 broadcast live from Hayfield to spotlight students and educators stepping back into the classroom. Watch here.
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Edison HS: Taking our district pride nationwide, NBC’s The TODAY Show featured Edison High School to celebrate the return to school. Watch here.
Thank you to the educators, staff, and families across the Mount Vernon District who made the first day such a vibrant success!
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Mount Vernon HS Football in the News
Our Mount Vernon Majors were featured in the news for their special daytime football game! Following the incredible community turnout at the Mount Vernon Pyramid Night Football Game in August, it is thrilling to see our student-athletes continuing to bring that same competitive spirit and excitement to the field under the afternoon sun. The local news was there to capture the unique atmosphere of the daytime match-up and highlight our vibrant school spirit. Watch the segment and see our students in action here.
Laurel Hill ES Welcomes New Principal Dr. Thmeaka Traylor
I am pleased to welcome Dr. Thmeaka Traylor as the new Principal of Laurel Hill ES! As Assistant Principal at Laurel Hill ES, Dr. Traylor worked closely with former Principal Janice Dalton, as well as staff, teachers, and families, to elevate academic outcomes and foster a supportive learning environment. During her tenure as assistant principal, she supervised instructional programs that boosted English progress for multilingual learners by nearly 13% and led Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) strategies that significantly decreased the school's chronic absenteeism rate.
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Edison HS Welcomes New Principal Justin Simmons
I am excited to welcome Justin Simmons as the new Principal of Edison HS! Mr. Simmons is the former principal at South County MS, which had significant growth in SOL pass rates, a 40% decline in chronic absenteeism, and a 68% reduction in out-of-school suspensions during his tenure. Mr. Simmons has also held leadership positions at Bryant HS, Holmes MS, and Westfield HS. He and his family live in the Edison HS neighborhood and are excited to be a part of the community.
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Celebrating Daily Excellence in Our Music Programs: Mount Vernon District Schools Receive State Honors
Fifty-five FCPS secondary band and orchestra programs earned the prestigious Program of Honor recognition from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) for the 2025-26 school year.
VBODA presents this prestigious award to secondary music programs that demonstrate consistent excellence. To qualify, every ensemble in the school program must achieve superior ratings in state marching band and district performance assessments. This achievement reflects the daily dedication, rigorous instruction, and collaborative effort of our student musicians and directors across the division.
Congratulations to our Mount Vernon District honorees:
Band: Hayfield SS, Rob Specketer, director; Lewis HS, Kelly May, director; Mount Vernon HS, Richard Bacz, director; South County HS, Kevin Engdahl, director; West Potomac HS, Joe Antonucci, director; and Whitman MS, Aaron Meitz, director.
Orchestra: Edison HS, Nathi Jeerakul, director; Hayfield SS, Kerri Shelfo, director; Lewis HS, Rachael Altekruse, director; Sandburg MS, Rob Meltzer, director; and South County HS, Marci Swift, director.
Strong foundations in fine arts and music help open doors for advanced student opportunities and lifelong success. Learn more about FCPS Fine Arts programs and music curriculum by visiting the FCPS Fine Arts webpage.
Experience STEM in Action at the Chesapeake Robotics Icebreaker, September 27
Join local robotics teams this Sunday, September 27, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Hayfield SS for a free, hands-on FIRST robotics community showcase. Attendees can test-drive competition-ready robots on a real field, meet the student builders and mentors, and explore interactive team exhibits. It is a great opportunity for families, educators, and community partners to see the future of STEM education in action.
For registration and more details, click here.
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Edison HS Pyramid Night - October 2
Come out and cheer Edison HS as their football team takes on Mount Vernon HS. Students from all Edison HS pyramid schools are welcome to come onto the field before the game.
Please arrive by 6:15 PM. Free admission for students with a paid adult. Meet at the far goal post.
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South County HS Military Night, September 25 & Youth Night, October 2
Join the South County Stallions Friday, September 25, as they host the West Springfield Spartans for a special Military Night. Representatives from all military branches will be in attendance. Arrive early to see a performance by the Coast Guard Honor Guard at 6:30 PM, followed by kickoff at 7 PM. Come out and show your support!
Calling all Stallions and Colts fans! Come out and show your community pride on Friday, October 2, as South County HS takes on Fairfax HS. It’s a special "Youth Night with the Colts," celebrating our local youth athletes. Wear your South County gear and bring the whole family to pack the stands and support both our current and future high school student-athletes!
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Suicide Prevention Community Walk, October 3
Join the Fairfax community in supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Fairfax Walk at Mosaic District, on Saturday, October 3. The walk is a journey of remembrance, hope, and support. Check-in begins at 11 a.m., followed by the opening ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Learn more about registration, fundraising opportunities, and event details as well as sponsorship opportunities.
Steamology STEM FEST, October 17
STEM FEST is a fun-filled, educational event that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for elementary and middle school students. This event provides students with a chance to engage in hands-on activities that are related to STEM fields, featuring high school clubs and vendors, who will set up informational booths or displays related to STEM.
High school students are invited to serve as STEM FEST Volunteers. This is a valuable opportunity for high school students to develop leadership skills, gain community service hours, and potentially inspire younger students to pursue their STEM interests.
Participants can register here. Volunteers can register here.
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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
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