Excel in Mind, Body and Character

George Mason High School Newsletter

Tyrone Q. Byrd, Principal March 2011

Dear Mustang Parents and Guardians,

It is difficult to imagine, but we have reached the mid-point of the third quarter of the 2010 – 11 school year.
On the morning of Wednesday, March 2, you will be able to view your child’s updated and accurate interim grade for
each class through AccessGM. Please take a moment to sit with your child and discuss their academic status. Contact
teachers immediately if you have questions, concerns, or would like to celebrate good news.

This school year has been a whirlwind of ups and downs, and through it all the George Mason family has
managed to maintain a collective focus on excellence academically, artistically, athletically, and socially. Our ever
growing list of accomplishments during the 2nd and first half of the 3rd quarters includes, but is not limited to:

State Championships in Girls’ Cross Country and Scholastic Bowl

Les Misėrables
JV Show, which raised $2500 for the junior/senior prom
Outstanding seasons by our swimming and wrestling teams with individual athletes competing for regional and
state honors
Winter choral and band performances
Record number of musicians and artists being accepted into colleges to further their study of the arts
Regional Championships in Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball…still playing☺
Winner of the Giant Food/It’s Academic contest
Outstanding performances by Science Olympiad and Model United Nations teams
Hosted a delegation of Chinese educators and artists
Hosted a robotics seminar to support and promote robotics throughout the area
Hosted an amazing educator from Uruguay…we love you Pilar!
Student recognized as an “All District” actor at theater competition
42 musicians (record number) auditioned for the district band
And so much more…

We also welcomed a great group of friendly, talented, and energetic new Mustangs from Egypt into our community.

Although we are not perfect, George Mason High School is an amazing place to learn and teach. We approach
the final months of the 2010 – 11 school year with mix emotions. While we all look forward to the next great step, we
reminisce about the journey. Please help your children maintain a focus on the little things as we reach for success in
all areas. Remind them that resources are available and that we are all here to support them in their endeavors.

We collectively accept the challenge to Excel in Mind, Body, and Character. None of us can accomplish this
vision alone. Commit to each other and there is noting we can’t accomplish. The proof is all around us.
Sincerely,

Tyrone Q. Byrd
Principal
Go Mustang!
PAGE 2 GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL

A REMINDER

PARENT/TEACHER MINI-CONFERENCES
MARCH 11
In keeping with our efforts to maintain open communication with parents, I would like to remind you of our
Parent/Teacher Mini-Conferences to be held Friday, March 11, at 7:45 a.m. in the Mustang Café, auxiliary
gym and main gym. Teachers will be seated by department. This meeting will provide you an opportunity to
speak with the teachers of your choice for three to four minutes to discuss your student’s progress and to
make appointments for additional conferences if you so desire. No appointments are required for the
March 11 mini-conferences. We ask that you park in the senior lot (nearest the grad center) or in the
Haycock Road lot.

On March 11, classes will begin at 10:00 a.m. with busses serving students on a modified schedule. Busses
will pick up students at the bus stops shown on page 4.

The mini-conferences will begin immediately at 7:45 a.m. and end promptly at 9:30 a.m. for a brief
faculty meeting and to give teachers time to prepare for the start of the day. We look forward to seeing you
on Friday, the 11th.

NOTE: All GM students who attend morning classes at the Arlington Career Center are expected to do so as
usual on March 11 and the regular ACC busses will run.
PAGE 3 GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL

Important Dates
Please note that some of these dates have
changed since the beginning of school and some
other changes may still occur. April 5
Begin 4th Quarter
March 2 April 6
Interims Available on AccessGM Report Cards Distributed
March 2 April 6
International Dinner/PTSA PTSA Meeting
6:30 –8:30 p.m. – Mustang Café 7:30 p.m. – Library
March 4-5 April 6 NEW DATE
District X Band Festival College 101 – Senior Panel
TC Williams High School 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Library
March 9 April 7-9
Parent Walk-In (PWI) State Band
7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m. Charlottesville High School
March 9 April 13
Early Release Wednesday – 1:45 p.m. Parent Walk-In (PWI)
March 11 7:15 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
Parent/Teacher Mini Conferences April 13
7:45 – 9:30 a.m. Early Release Wednesday – 1:45 p.m.
Cafeteria/Auxiliary Gym/Main Gym April 13 – 14
Two-hour Delay for Students IB Art Show
March 12 Open to Public
PTSA/Kaplan ACT Practice Test 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – TLC Auditorium
Pre-registration Required April 18 – 22
March 19 ---- NEW DATE Spring Break
ANGC Fundraiser April 26
Byrd Feeder Special Ed Parent Meeting
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Claire & Don’s Beach Shack Mustang Café – B121
March 19 April 30
District X Chorus Festival Solo & Ensemble Festival
TC Williams High School Twain Middle School
March 22
College 101 Senior Panel
Special Ed Parent Meeting
8:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Mustang Café – B121
March 23 April 6, 2011
Early Release Wednesday – 1:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
March 23 Library
ACT Test Strategies Seminar
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. A GMHS senior, student panel will reveal the ins
Library and outs of the college admissions process from
April 1 their first-hand perspective. The students will
End of 3rd Quarter
offer valuable insight into best practices as well as
April 4
Professional Day what pitfalls to avoid when navigating the often
No school for students stressful college admissions process. This will be
particularly helpful for junior parents and students.
PAGE 4 GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOLL

George Mason High School

Modified Bus Schedule
For March 11, 2011
Please be at the bus stop 5 minutes before expected time.

Bus # A Bus # G
9:32 Maple Ave & S. Tinner Hill
9:25 222 Midvale 9:34 James St. & Virginia Ave.
9:27 Columbia & Forest 9:36 Annandale Rd & Gundry
9:29 313 Underwood Rd
9:34 500 Roosevelt St
9:40 E. Fairfax St. Bus # F
9:34 Great Falls St. & Lincoln Ave
Bus # B 9:36 Great Falls & Virginia
9:32 Columbia & Cherry 9:37 Great Falls & Little Falls
9:34 Hillwood & Cleave
9:36 Hillwood & Smallwood Bus # D
9:38 Hillwood & Douglas 9:33 Seaton & Oak
9:35 Thomas Jefferson ES
9:37 Timber Lane & Parker
Bus # C
9:30 N. 11th St. & Roosevelt Blvd Bus # H
9:32 N. 11th St. & Sycamore 9:31 Timber & Poplar
9:33 Sycamore & Roosevelt 9:33 Rosemary & Tracy Pl
9:35 Roosevelt & Ridge 9:35 Welcome & Waldorf
9:37 Randolph St. & West St.
PAGE 5 GEORGE MASON HIGH SCHOOL

IMPORTANT MESSAGES

Math Lab: Help for all Math Students!

• Is your student taking an SOL soon?
• Is your student struggling with homework in math?
• Has your student missed math class?
• Does your student need help preparing for a test or quiz?
• Is your student preparing to take the SAT and in need of some math review?

If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions, please encourage your student to
come to the math lab to get help from Ms. Knoke during his or her lunch on Odd Days (Block 5).
Students can bring a lunch from home or purchase one in the cafeteria and eat while getting help.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions regarding the Math Lab please contact Ms.
Knoke (knokej@fccps.org).

FROM THE COUNSELING DEPARTMENT

It is highly recommended that juniors take the SAT and/or ACT at least once in the
spring. Please find below information regarding SAT and ACT registration:

SAT www.collegeboard.com

ACT www.actstudent.org

The College/Career Center will be conducting a College 101 Senior Panel Night on
Thursday, April 7 at 7:00 p.m. in the library. Current GMHS seniors will answer all
your questions about the college search and application process. Come learn
firsthand what these students feel they did right or what they wish they had done
differently.

Counselors will meet with juniors in the late spring and explain the college-
application process.

The Counselors encourage students to sign on regularly to their Family

Connections/Naviance account. This is the way we send emails containing
important information – meetings, college rep. visits, appointments, etc.