Preschool Weekly Update

Now – April 1: Week of Impact MV FUND 300 for 50,000
Increase your impact. Now through April 1, make a gift to the MVFund to be one of the 300 donors needed to unlock a generous gift of $50,000.

Tuesday, March 21: Mustang Rally Sponsorship Window Closes

Wednesday, March 22: No School for Students, Preschool Parent Conference Day
Made in MV Spirit Shop Pop Up at Fellowship Hall, 8:00 am – 2:00 pm. Volunteer for a shift here.
Families can register for a conference time slot in the Parent Portal. Click here for instructions. If you need care for your Preschool student during your conference time, please let us know on this form.

Thursday, March 23: Preschool Holi Celebration
8:00 – 9:30 am
Fellowship Hall & Lower Campus Field
Students in PK2-G5 are asked to bring a towel and t-shirt (that can get dirty) to celebrate and experience Holi, a traditional Hindu festival. Students will watch an Indian dance performance, throw washable colored powder (corn starch), and sample Indian treats including mango juice and tea biscuits.

Friday, March 24: Parent University: Setting the Conditions for Students’ Online Safety
8:15 – 9:30 am
Fellowship Hall on Lower Campus
Parents of students in Kindergarten – Grade 12 are invited to attend this informational session about Bark, a tool to monitor online content, manage screen time, and filter websites. Renee Abrams, a representative from Bark, and Katie Cain, Lower School Director of Instructional Technology will lead the session. Please RSVP here.

Save These Dates

Saturday, March 25: Week of Impact Hands-on Service Day, Solidarity Sandy Springs Pantry
8:15 am – 12:30 pm
Solidarity Sandy Springs, 86 Mount Vernon Highway
Kick off Mount Vernon’s inaugural Week of Impact with a community-wide day of service. Volunteers will help sort, pack, and shop for pantry items with families in need. Sign up here. Minimum age to serve is five years old.

Sunday, March 26: Week of Impact Soup Supper
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Upper School Cafe
Families are invited to come together in fellowship for a soup supper in support of the Week of Impact. Each participant will select and receive a handcrafted ceramic bowl created by a MV Upper School student. $25 per person, with all proceeds going to the MVFund benefiting MV Studios. Space is limited. Register here.

Monday, March 27: Mustang Golf Tournament
8:00 am until Tournament Completion
White Columns Country Club, 300 Clubhouse Dr, Milton, GA 30004
Parents, grandparents, businesses, and corporate partners are invited to participate in the inaugural Arrow Exterminators Mustang Golf Tournament. All proceeds going to the MVFund benefiting MV Athletics. Purchase brunch tickets, sponsorships, and foursomes here. Registration begins at 8:00 am, with a shotgun start at 10:00 am.

March 27 – 31: Week of Impact Solidarity Food Pantry Collection Drive
Morning & Afternoon Carpool Collection
During the Week of Impact, CGI (Community, Giving, & Impact) will collect individual pantry items in support of Solidarity Sandy Springs. Students and families are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items, personal hygiene supplies, paper products, and cleaning supplies. Items will be sorted and delivered on Friday, March 31.

Wednesday, March 29: Late Start
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Wednesday, March 29: Special Solidarity Sandy Springs Food Pantry Chapel Service
10:10 – 10:35 am
Parents are invited to join their students to hear from Jennifer Barnes, Co-Founder of Solidarity Sandy Springs, on how our MV community can impact local families with food insecurities.

Thursday, March 30: Parent University: Innovation Flash Lab Hosted by MV Ventures
8:30 – 9:30 am
Studio(i) on Lower Campus
Want to explore Design Thinking? Join Mount Vernon faculty and experience a Design Thinking Flash Lab. This interactive and invigorating session will immerse you in the fundamental learning approach of the School. Please RSVP here.

Saturday, April 1: Week of Impact Hands-on Service Day, Solidarity Sandy Springs Pantry
8:15 am – 12:30 pm
Solidarity Sandy Springs, 86 Mount Vernon Highway
Kick off Mount Vernon’s inaugural Week of Impact with a community-wide day of service. Volunteers will help sort, pack, and shop for pantry items with families in need. Sign up here. Minimum age to serve is five years old.

Wednesday, April 5 and Thursday, April 6: Preschool Egg Hunt
Students will participate in an Easter Egg Hunt on the Frontier. Please send 12 plastic eggs to school with your child by Monday, April 3.

Thursday, April 6: Open Parent Q&As with Head of School Kristy Lundstrom
Join Kristy to get your questions answered live, in a group environment, either in-person in the morning, or via Zoom in the evening.

In Person: 8:00 – 9:00 am
Fellowship Hall on Lower Campus
Coffee will be served.

Virtual: 6:00 – 7:00 pm (via Zoom)
RSVP here for either or both. A zoom link will be sent to those that RSVP for the virtual Q&A.

Friday, April 7 & Monday, April 10: No School for Students/Staff

March 1 – April 1: Week of Impact MV FUND 300 for 50,000
Increase your impact. Now through April 1, make a gift to the MVFund to be one of the 300 donors needed to unlock a generous gift of $50,000.

Thursday, March 16: MVGlobal Affinity Group Launch Event
3:30 – 5:30 pm
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Fostering connections between families with strong international interests MVGlobal will create a vibrant space to celebrate Mount Vernon’s rich cultural diversity. The whole family is invited to participate in this collaborative event featuring international and cultural experiences through music, displays, food, and more. If you are interested in showcasing a culture important to your family, sign up here.

Friday, March 17: MV Cares Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to attend this monthly prayer group meeting to lift up those in our MV community through care and prayer.

Save These Dates

Tuesday, March 21: Mustang Rally Sponsorship Window Closes

Tuesday, March 21: Preschool Holi Celebration
8:00 – 9:30 am
Fellowship Hall & Founders Field
Learn alongside Preschool students as they experience the Indian tradition that celebrates the end of winter, the arrival of spring, love, togetherness, and the mending of broken hearts. Students and visitors will hear from classmates and parents, watch a performance by traditional dancers from India and experience the fun of colored powder on the Lower Campus Field.

Wednesday, March 22: No School for Students, Preschool Parent Conference Day
Families can register for a time slot in the Parent Portal, beginning Monday, March 3. Click here for instructions.

Saturday, March 25: Week of Impact Hands on Service Day at Solidarity Food Pantry
8:15 am – 12:30 pm
Solidarity Sandy Spring, 86 Mount Vernon Highway
Kick off Mount Vernon’s inaugural Week of Impact with a community-wide day of service. Volunteers will help sort, pack, and shop for pantry items with families in need. Sign up here. Minimum age to serve is five years old.

Sunday, March 26: Week of Impact Soup Supper
5:00 – 7:00 pm
Upper School Cafe
Families are invited to come together in fellowship for a soup supper in support of the Week of Impact. Each participant will select and receive a handcrafted ceramic bowl created by a MV Upper School student. $25 per person, with all proceeds going to the MVFund benefiting MV Studios. Space is limited. Register here.

Monday, March 27: Mustang Golf Tournament
8:00 am – Tournament Completion
White Columns Country Club, 300 Clubhouse Dr, Milton, GA 30004
Parents, grandparents, businesses, and corporate partners are invited to participate in the first annual Arrow Exterminators Mustang Golf Tournament. All proceeds going to the MVFund benefiting MV Athletics. Purchase brunch tickets, sponsorships, and foursomes here. Registration begins at 8:00 am, with a shotgun start at 10:00 am.

March 27 – 31: Week of Impact Solidarity Food Pantry Collection Drive
Morning & Afternoon Carpool Collection
During the Week of Impact, CGI (Community, Giving, & Impact) will collect individual pantry items in support of Solidarity Sandy Springs. Students and families are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items, personal hygiene supplies, paper products, and cleaning supplies. Items will be sorted and delivered on Friday, March 31.

Wednesday, March 29: Late Start
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Thursday, March 30: Parent University: Innovation Flash Lab Hosted by MV Ventures
8:30 – 9:30 am
Studio(i) (Lower School)
Want to explore Design Thinking? Join Mount Vernon faculty and experience a Design Thinking Flash Lab. This interactive and invigorating session will immerse you in the fundamental learning approach of the School.

Monday, February 20: No School

Wednesday, February 22: Collaborative Quilt Exhibit & Chapel Service
8:30 – 9:25 am
Preschool Hallway (Lower School)
PK3 – Kindergarten parents are invited to visit the collaborative quilt exhibit with their student in the Atelier Room on the lower level of the Education Building before and after the 8:45 – 9:05 am chapel. As always, parents are invited to join the service.

Friday, February 24: MVGlobal Affinity Group Meeting
8:15 – 9:30 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
The MVGlobal Affinity Group welcomes parents and grandparents with international backgrounds to connect around sharing rich cultural diversity within the MV Community and have a chance to discuss the upcoming MVGlobal event and cultural celebration on March 16, 2023. Should you wish to know more about the March 16 event, click here or contact MV Global Affinity Group parent members Lejla Ibrahimbegovic, Vanita Vaswani, Laura Von Vieregge, and/or Christine Gilmour.

Friday, February 24: Inclusion Network BIPOC Family Affinity Excursion
8:15 – 10:00 am
Cafe I Am, 5825 Mount Creek Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) families are invited for a morning of connection and conversation at Cafe I Am. This affinity group is open to all BIPOC members of the MV community, including parents of BIPOC children.

Save These Dates

Thursday, March 2: MV Studios Spotlight and Speaker Series
8:00 – 9:30 am
Black Box Theatre (Upper School)
Join the MV Arts Alliance and special guest Director of Lower Campus Visual & Performing Arts/Middle School Dance Studio Manager Shay Jones, for coffee and community to learn more about the transition from Lower to Middle School Art programs.

Friday, March 3: Early Dismissal
Preschool 11:15 am
Lower School 11:30 am
Middle School: 12:00 pm
Upper School: 12:15 pm
There will be no PlayMaker Classes or Extended Play on this day.

March 6 – 10: No School
Spring Break

Tuesday, February 14: Class Valentine Parties
Wear your favorite pink/red Valentine’s Day outfits.

Wednesday, February 15: Jazz Night
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Upper School Café
Celebrate Mardi Gras with Middle and Upper School music students as they perform with professional musicians! Enjoy food, drinks, and activities such as a dance lesson, mask-making and more. Guest appearances from Lower School Performing Arts Teacher Amanda Lower and other talented faculty members.
Reserve your tickets.

Friday, February 17: No School For Students
Faculty/Staff Professional Development

Save These Dates

Monday, February 20: No School

Friday, February 24: MVGlobal Affinity Group Meeting
8:15 – 9:30 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
As the MVGlobal Affinity Group continues to be developed as a new addition to the IDEA Affinity and Alliance program at the School, parents and grandparents with international backgrounds are invited to design connections that increase the rich cultural diversity within the MV Community.

Friday, February 24: Inclusion Network BIPOC Family Affinity Excursion
8:15 – 10:00 am
Cafe I Am, 5825 Mount Creek Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30328
BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People of Color) families are invited for a morning of connection & conversation at Cafe I Am. This affinity group is open to all BIPOC members of the MV community, including parents of BIPOC children.

Wednesday, March 1: Financial Aid Applications for 2023-2024 Due
Create your Clarity account here.

Thursday, March 2: MV Studios Spotlight and Speaker Series
8:00 – 9:30 am
Black Box Theatre (Upper School)
Join the MV Arts Alliance and special guest Director of Lower Campus Visual & Performing Arts/Middle School Dance Studio Manager Shay Jones, for coffee and community to learn more about the transition from Lower to Middle School Art programs.

Friday, March 3: Early Dismissal
Preschool 11:15 am
Lower School 11:30 am
Middle School: 12:00 pm
Upper School: 12:15 pm
There will be no PlayMaker Classes or Extended Play on this day.

Monday, February 6: Perennial Enrollment Period Ends

Monday, February 6: Parent University: Virtual Lunch & Learn, Partnering to Support Your Child’s Social-Emotional Development
12:00 – 1:00 pm
The Mount Vernon experience is one of partnership in which there is a shared understanding of how to best support the social and emotional development of your children, our students. Join this session to hear from local healthcare experts Dr. Cecilia Williams Durden of TLC Psychology and Dr. Shayna Smith of Flourish Pediatrics. This presentation is intended to provide further understanding on social-emotional development and how best to support your child. Register to attend here.

Thursday, February 9: Lower School Variety Show
6:00 – 7:30 pm
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Kindergarten – Grade 5 students, featuring the Middle School Dance Team, will exhibit their talent in music, poetry, magic, stunts, skits, dance, and other creative performances.

 

Save These Dates

Tuesday, February 14: Class Valentine Parties

Wednesday, February 15: Jazz Night
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Upper School Café
Celebrate Mardi Gras with Middle and Upper School music students as they perform with professional musicians! Enjoy food, drinks, and activites such as a dance lesson, mask-making and more. Guest appearances from Lower School Performing Arts Teacher Amanda Lower and other talented faculty members. Reserve your tickets.

Friday, February 17: No School For Students

Monday, February 20: No School

Friday, February 24: MVGlobal Affinity Group Meeting
8:15 – 9:30 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to join in conversation to design connection opportunities among Mount Vernon families with strong international ties as we build the Global Affinity Group.

Wednesday, March 1: Financial Aid Applications Due
Create your Clarity account here.

Wednesday, February 1 – Friday, February 3: Middle School’s Mount Vernon Live
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Introducing Mount Vernon Live, a night of laughter, music, and entertainment produced by the Middle School theatre students. Come for the scripted scenes, improv, musical theatre, and more. Don’t miss out on the fun. Reserve your tickets today.

Friday, February 3: MV Cares Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to attend this monthly prayer group to lift up those in our MV community through care and prayer.

Save These Dates

Monday, February 6: Perennial Enrollment Period Ends
Information on Financial Assistance can be found here.

Monday, February 6: Parent University: Virtual Lunch & Learn, Partnering to Support Your Child’s Social-Emotional Development
12:00 – 1:00 pm
The Mount Vernon experience is one of partnership in which there is a shared understanding of how to best support the social and emotional development of your children, our students. Join this session to hear from local healthcare experts Dr. Cecilia Williams Durden of TLC Psychology and Dr. Shayna Smith of Flourish Pediatrics. This presentation is intended to provide further understanding on social-emotional development and how best to support your child. RSVP here.

Tuesday, February 14: Class Valentine Parties

Friday, February 17: No School For Students

Monday, February 20: No School

Monday, January 23 – Monday, February 6: Perennial Enrollment Period
More information to come.

Tuesday, January 24: Uniform Resale
7:45 – 9:15 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear (including athletics) are available for purchase at $5 and $10. Volunteers are needed to prepare and help with sales and breakdown. Sign up to help.

Wednesday, January 25: Late State For Students
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Wednesday, January 25 – Saturday, January 27: 39 Steps Theater Performances
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Black Box Theater (Upper School)
39 Steps is entirely run by senior theatre students. The show set in interwar Europe blends comedy with thrills and action, and features countless laughs, romance, and over 100 characters, played by a tremendously talented four-person cast. There is limited seating in the theater so reserve your tickets today.

Thursday, January 26: Towson University Choral Performance
5:30 – 6:30 pm
Lower Campus Sanctuary
Maryland’s Towson University Chorale is a mixed-voice ensemble dedicated to the performance of choral music from all styles and historical periods. No reservation or ticket required.

Save These Dates

Wednesday, February 1 – Friday, February 3: Middle School Winter Show
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Introducing Mount Vernon Live, a night of laughter, music, and entertainment produced by the Middle School theatre students. Come for the scripted scenes, improv, musical theatre, and more. Don’t miss out on the fun. Reserve your tickets today.

Friday, February 3: MV Cares Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to attend this monthly prayer group to lift up those in our MV community through care and prayer.

Monday, February 6: Parent University: Virtual Lunch & Learn, Partnering to Support Your Child’s Social-Emotional Development
12:00 – 1:00 pm
The Mount Vernon experience is one of partnership in which there is a shared understanding of how to best support the social and emotional development of your children, our students. Join this session to hear from local healthcare experts Dr. Cecilia Williams Durden of TLC Psychology and Dr. Shayna Smith of Flourish Pediatrics. This presentation is intended to provide further understanding on social-emotional development and how best to support your child. RSVP here.

Monday, January 16: No School for Students/Staff

Save These Dates

Monday, January 23 – Monday, February 6: Perennial Enrollment Period
More information to come.

Tuesday, January 24: Uniform Resale
7:45 – 9:15 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear (including athletics) are available for purchase at $5 and $10. Volunteers are needed to prepare and help with sales and breakdown. Sign up to help.

Wednesday, January 25: Late State For Students
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Wednesday, January 25 – Saturday, January 27: 39 Steps Theater Performances
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Black Box Theater (Upper School)
39 Steps is entirely run by senior theatre students. The show set in interwar Europe blends comedy with thrills and action, and features countless laughs, romance, and over 100 characters, played by a tremendously talented four-person cast. There is limited seating in the theater so reserve your tickets today.

Wednesday, January 11: Virtual Coffee for Grandparents
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join Community Giving and Impact for a moment of connection via Zoom.

Friday, January 13: Parent University: Trends In College Counseling
8:15 – 9:15 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Join MV’s College Counseling Team, Dr. Erin McCubbin, Ryan May, Aerial Dickerson, and Alejando Ramirez to learn more about the added advantage to a Mount Vernon education. The team looks forward to sharing what they have learned about the shift in education through COVID19 and how The School is uniquely prepared to be competitive even in the most uncertain times. RSVP here.

Save These Dates

Monday, January 16: No School for Students/Staff

Monday, January 23 – Monday, February 6: Perennial Enrollment Period
More information to come.

Tuesday, January 24: Uniform Resale
7:45 – 9:15 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear (including athletics) are available for purchase at $5 and $10. Volunteers are needed to prepare and help with sales and breakdown. Sign up to help.

Wednesday, January 25: Late State For Students
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Wednesday, January 25 – Saturday, January 27: 39 Steps Theater Performances
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Black Box Theater (Upper School)
39 Steps is entirely run by senior theatre students. The show set in interwar Europe blends comedy with thrills and action, and features countless laughs, romance, and over 100 characters, played by a tremendously talented four-person cast. There is limited seating in the theater so reserve your tickets today.

Tuesday, January 3: Students return from holiday break
Extended Play resumes

Friday, January 6: MV Cares Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to attend this monthly prayer group to lift up those in our MV community through care and prayer.

Friday, January 6: Preschool Parent Coffee
8:00-8:45 am
Fellowship Hall
Preschool parents are invited to join Head of Lower Campus Shelley Searcy to begin the second semester by building relationships, sharing special moments from the fall, and learning more about what is to come in the spring.

Save These Dates

Wednesday, January 11: Virtual Coffee for Grandparents
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join Community Giving and Impact for a moment of connection via Zoom.

Friday, January 13: Parent University: Trends In College Counseling
8:15 – 9:15 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Join MV’s College Counseling Team, Dr. Erin McCubbin, Ryan May, Aerial Dickerson, and Alejando Ramirez to learn more about the added advantage to a Mount Vernon education. The team looks forward to sharing what they have learned about the shift in education through COVID19 and how The School is uniquely prepared to be competitive even in the most uncertain times. RSVP here.

Monday, January 16: No School for Students/Staff

December 7 – 14: Winter Impact Drive Benefiting Toys for Tots
In partnership with the United States Marine Corps, Mount Vernon is hoping to collect 3,000 new, unwrapped toys throughout the week in carpool and in classrooms. This collection drive will culminate in Chapel on both campuses on Wednesday, December 14.

December 11 & 12: Mount Vernon Arts Alliance Build Event
Sunday: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Monday: 1:00 – 6:00 pm
Families are invited to support MV Studios as they build the set for the upcoming Christmas Arts Showcase. Contact Desiree Vogt if you are interested.

Tuesday, December 13: Upper Campus Christmas Arts Showcase
4:00 pm or 6:30 pm
Parents, grandparents, and special friends are invited to join their students for one of the most magical afternoons of the year. The Christmas Arts Showcase is a time for students to show off their artistic talents in the spirit of the holidays. Reserve your tickets today.

Wednesday, December 14: MV Serves Toys for Tots Chapel
PK3 – Grade 1: 8:45 – 9:05 am
Sanctuary (Lower Campus)

Thursday, December 15: Holiday Class Parties

Thursday, December 15: PK3 – PK5 Christmas Arts Showcase
11:00 – 11:30 am
Parents, grandparents, and special friends are invited to join their students for one of the most magical days of the year. The Christmas Arts Showcase is a time for students to show off their artistic talents in the spirit of the holidays. No ticket required for this free event.

Friday, December 16: Early Dismissal
PK2 – G1 11:15
G2 – G5 11:30
No Extended Play

 

SAVE THESE DATES

December 19 – January 2: Holiday Break – No School
Classes resume on Tuesday, January 3.

December 5 – 9: Fall PlayMaker Class Make-Up Week
Lisa Brady, Director of Extended Play Programs & PlayMaker, has sent an email to parents whose children are eligible for makeup classes.

Tuesday, December 6: MVPN Steering Committee Office Hours
8:00 – 9:30 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents are invited to sign up to speak with Jenn Brown, MVPN Chairman about committee-specific questions, event planning, newsletter help, or post-event after-action reviews.

Tuesday, December 6: Christmas Arts Showcase Volunteer Meeting & Prop Build Event
3:30 – 6:30 pm
Middle School Cafeteria
Families are invited to support MV Studios and the upcoming Christmas Arts Showcase by volunteering to help build and paint props. Contact Desiree Vogt if you are interested in participating at any capacity.

Wednesday, December 7: Late Start For Students
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Wednesday, December 7: Gently Worn Uniform Collection
During Carpool, gently worn uniforms will be collected for the uniform resale on January 10.

December 7 – 14: Winter Impact Drive Benefiting Toys for Tots
In partnership with the United States Marine Corps, Mount Vernon is hoping to collect 3,000 new, unwrapped toys throughout the week in carpool and in classrooms. This collection drive will culminate in Chapel on both campuses on Wednesday, December 14.

Thursday, December 8: Lower Campus Faculty Appreciation Luncheon
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Gailey Hall on Lower Campus
Parents are invited to show appreciation for Mount Vernon Faculty and Staff on this special day. Volunteer for a one or two hours time slot.

Friday, December 9: Coffee and Cocoa with Shelley Searcy
8:00 – 9:00 am
Fellowship Hall
Join Lower Campus Leadership Team for some festive treats and an opportunity to hear about the teaching and learning accomplishments of the first semester. After a brief overview, we will go on a learning walk to see what the children are up to!

SAVE THESE DATES

December 11 & 12: Mount Vernon Arts Alliance Build Event
Sunday: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Monday: 1:00 – 6:00 pm
Families are invited to support MV Studios as they build the set for the upcoming Christmas Arts Showcase. Contact Desiree Vogt if you are interested.

Wednesday, December 14: MV Serves Toys for Tots Chapel
PK3 – Grade 1: 8:45 – 9:05 am
Sanctuary (Lower Campus)

Thursday, December 15: Holiday Class Parties

Thursday, December 15: PK3 – PK5 Christmas Arts Showcase
11:00 – 11:30 am
Parents, grandparents, and special friends are invited to join their students for one of the most magical days of the year. The Christmas Arts Showcase is a time for students to show off their artistic talents in the spirit of the holidays. No ticket required for this free event.

December 19 – January 2: Holiday Break – No School
Classes resume on Tuesday, January 3.

Tuesday, November 29: Mount Vernon Celebrates #GivingTuesday
Giving Tuesday is a movement that unleashes the power of impactful generosity around the world and reimagines a world built upon shared humanity. Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help. Every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give. Have an impact on Mount Vernon this #GivingTuesday by making a commitment to Learn, Serve, and Give.

Wednesday, November 30: Admissions for MV Siblings – Informational Meeting
8:15 – 8:45 am
Fellowship Hall
Are you considering submitting an admissions application for a current Mount Vernon student’s sibling this year? Mount Vernon values keeping families and siblings together when it is the right educational choice. Join the Admissions Team for an informational session where they will review the application process and share helpful tips as well as all the ways to visit campus. RSVP here.

Thursday, December 1: Rising K Informational Session
8:00 – 8:45 am
Are you curious what Lower School looks like at Mount Vernon? Please make plans to join us to learn about the transition from Preschool to Kindergarten. RSVP here.

Friday, December 2: Last Day of Fall PlayMaker
If a PlayMaker class was canceled this fall, make-up classes will be held the week of December 5. Lisa Brady, Director of Extended Play Programs & PlayMaker has shared details.

SAVE THESE DATES

Saturday, December 3: Clark Taylor’s One-Man Performance of A Cherry Log Christmas Carol
Black Box Theater (Upper School)
2:00 – 3:30 pm & 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Mount Vernon’s annual holiday performance features Clark Taylor who brings his one-man performance to the stage. This adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol has a ghostly twist this year. Local Atlanta professional actors and musicians take the stage for this amazing and moving evening of storytelling. Reserve your ticket today.

December 5 – 9: Fall PlayMaker Class Make-Up Week
Lisa Brady, Director of Extended Play Programs & PlayMaker, has sent an email to parents whose children are eligible for makeup classes. Keep checking back for updates until fall Playmaker ends December 2.

Tuesday, December 6: Christmas Arts Showcase Volunteer Meeting & Prop Build Event
3:30 – 6:30 pm
Middle School Cafeteria
Families are invited to support MV Studios and the upcoming Christmas Arts Showcase by volunteering to help build and paint props. Contact Desiree Vogt if you are interested in participating at any capacity.

Wednesday, December 7: Late Start For Students
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Monday, December 7 – 14: Winter Impact Drive Benefiting Toys for Tots
In partnership with the United States Marine Corps, Mount Vernon is collecting new, unwrapped toys throughout the week in carpool and in classrooms. This collection drive will culminate in chapel on both campuses on Wednesday, December 14.

Thursday, December 8: Lower Campus Faculty Appreciation Luncheon
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Gailey Hall on Lower Campus
Parents are invited to show appreciation for Mount Vernon Faculty and Staff on this special day. Volunteer for a one or two hours time slot.

Friday, December 9: Coffee and Cocoa with Shelley Searcy
8:00 – 9:00 am
Fellowship Hall
Join Lower Campus Leadership Team for some festive treats and an opportunity to hear about the teaching and learning accomplishments of the first semester. After a brief overview, we will go on a learning walk to see what the children are up to!

December 11 & 12: Mount Vernon Arts Alliance Build Event
Sunday: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Monday: 1:00 – 6:00 pm
Families are invited to support MV Studios as they build the set for the upcoming Christmas Arts Showcase. Contact Desiree Vogt if you are interested.

Wednesday, December 14: MV Serves Toys for Tots Chapel
Details will be coming soon.

Thursday, December 15: Holiday Class Parties

Thursday, December 15: PK3 – PK5 Christmas Arts Showcase
11:00 – 11:30 am
Parents, grandparents, and special friends are invited to join their students for one of the most magical days of the year. The Christmas Arts Showcase is a time for students to show off their artistic talents in the spirit of the holidays. No ticket required for this free event.

Wednesday, November 16: Preschool Chapel Welcomes Grandparents
Lower Campus Sanctuary
Grade 2 – 5: 8:05 – 8:35
PK 3 – G1: 8:45 – 9:05 am
Chapel services are each Wednesday morning. Doors are always open for family members to attend. Mount Vernon extends a special invitation to grandparents and special friends to attend this service before Friday’s Grandparents and Special Friends Day.

Wednesday, November 16: MVXchange: Fostering Community, a Q&A with Kristy
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Upper Campus Gym
Parents and grandparents are invited to this event to foster community and learn more about how students learn at Mount Vernon. Beginning with an interactive hands-on activity, Mount Vernon will model experiential learning for you and with you. Following, Kristy Lundstrom will host a Q&A session. RSVP here.

Friday, November 18: Early Dismissal
Preschool 11:15 am
Lower School 11:30 am
Middle School: 12:00 pm
Upper School: 12:15 pm
There will be no PlayMaker Classes or Extended Play on this day.

Friday, November 18: Grandparents and Special Friends Day
8:00 – 10:30 am
Fellowship Hall
Lower Campus (PK2 – Grade 5) Grandparents and Special Friends are invited to attend a reception and join students in their classroom.

SAVE THESE DATES

November 21 – 25: Thanksgiving Break
No school for students/staff.

Wednesday, November 30: MV Sibling Admissions Information Meeting
8:15 – 8:45 am
Fellowship Hall
Are you considering submitting an admissions application for a current Mount Vernon student’s sibling this year? Mount Vernon values keeping families and siblings together when it is the right educational choice. Join the Admissions Team for an informational session where they will review the application process and share helpful tips as well as all the ways to visit campus. RSVP here.

Thursday, December 1: Rising K Informational Session
8:00 – 8:45 am
Are you curious what Lower School looks like at Mount Vernon? Please make plans to join us to learn about the transition from Preschool to Kindergarten. RSVP here.

Friday, December 2: Last Day of Fall PlayMaker

Saturday, December 3: Christmas Carol Showtimes
Black Box (Upper School)
2:00 – 3:30 pm & 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Mount Vernon’s perennial holiday event, featuring Clark Taylor bringing his one-man performance to the stage, this year with a ghostly twist. Local Atlanta professional actors and musicians take the stage for this amazing and moving evening of storytelling. Ticket information is coming soon.

Monday, December 7 – 14: Winter Impact Drive Benefiting Toys for Tots
In partnership with the United States Marine Corps, Mount Vernon is collecting new, unwrapped toys throughout the week in carpool and in classrooms. This collection drive will culminate in chapel on both campuses on Wednesday, December 14.

Tuesday, November 8: Uniform and Spirit Wear Resale
7:45 – 9:00 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, polo dresses, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear (including athletics) are available for purchase at $5 and $10. Volunteers will be needed to set up, help with sales, and break down. Volunteers are needed, sign up to help.

Wednesday, November 9: IDEA Global Affinity Meeting
8:00 – 10:00 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to join in conversation to design connection opportunities among Mount Vernon families with strong international ties as we build the Global Affinity Group.

November 9 – 11: Middle School Mainstage Performances
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Black Box Theater (Middle School)
Families are invited to join Mount Vernon’s young thespians as they perform The Great Middle School Poe-A-Thon & Peter And The Starcatcher. Purchase tickets here.

SAVE THESE DATES

Saturday, November 12: MV Inclusion Network: Affinity & Alliance Celebration Brunch
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Hotel Avalon 9000 Avalon Blvd. Alpharetta, GA 30009
Mustangs of all ages are welcome to join in celebration as Mount Vernon strides towards inclusion & the diversity of the community. A short program will be followed by brunch and fellowship as we welcome the season of thanksgiving.

Saturday, November 12: MV Arts Alliance Build Event
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Families are invited to support MV Studios as they build the set for the upcoming Christmas Arts Showcase. Contact Desiree Vogt if you are interested.

Wednesday, November 16: MVXchange: Fostering Community, a Q&A with Kristy
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Upper Campus Gym
Parents and grandparents are invited to this event to foster community and learn more about how students learn at Mount Vernon. Beginning with an interactive hands-on activity, we will model experiential learning for you and with you. Following, Kristy Lundstrom will host a Q&A session. RSVP here.

Friday, November 18: Early Dismissal
Preschool 11:15 am
Lower School 11:30 am
Middle School: 12:00 pm
Upper School: 12:15 pm
There will be no PlayMaker Classes or Extended Play on this day.

Friday, November 18: Grandparents and Special Friends Day
8:00 – 10:30 am
Fellowship Hall
Lower Campus (PK2 – Grade 5) Grandparents and Special Friends to enjoy a reception and classroom time with their students. RSVP by November 4.

November 21 – 25: Thanksgiving Break
No School for students/staff.

Monday, October 31: Fall on the Frontier
8:00 – 11:30 am
The Frontier (Lower Campus)
Preschool students will explore inquiry stations and sensory activities on the Frontier including a Pumpkin Pie Play-doh Bakery, Pumpkin Relay Race, and Apple Print Paintings.

Monday, October 31: Preschool Costume Parade
8:45 – 9:15 am
Preschool students are invited to wear costumes for Halloween (no dangerous and/or scary props or face coverings). Parents are invited to meet their students on the courtyard.

October 31 – November 4: Scholastic Book Fair
October 31: 12:00 – 3:30 pm
November 1 – 3: 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
November 4: 7:30 – 11:00 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Before the Book Fair, please set up your student’s eWallet account, Scholastic’s digital payment solution. A Book Fair eWallet is a cash-free option for parents, grandparents, and friends to contribute to a student’s Book Fair fund right from a phone or computer.

November 1, 2, & 4: Preschool Book Fair
8:00 – 11:00 am
Kirk Center (Lower Campus Sanctuary Building)
This pop-up Preschool book fair will hold developmentally appropriate selections. All ages are welcome at either location.

Thursday, November 3: MV Studios Monthly Spotlight and Speaker Series
8:00 – 9:30 am
Join the MV Arts Alliance and Shay Jones, Director of Lower Campus Visual & Performing Arts and Middle School Dance Studio Manager for coffee, community, and classwork to learn more about the Arts program, student creativity, and insight from MV Studios artists.

November 3 – 10: Spring PlayMaker Class Registration Open

Friday, November 4: Early Dismissal
Preschool 11:15 am
Lower School 11:30 am
Middle School 12:00 pm
Upper School 12:15 pm
There will be no Extended Play or Playmaker on this day.

Friday, November 4: MV Cares Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to attend this monthly prayer group to lift up those in our MV community through care and prayer.

SAVE THESE DATES

Tuesday, November 8: Uniform and Spirit Wear Resale
7:45 – 9:00 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, polo dresses, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear (including athletics) are available for purchase at $5 and $10. Volunteers will be needed to set up, help with sales, and break down. Volunteers are needed, sign up to help.

November 9 – 11: Middle School Mainstage Performances
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Black Box Theater (Middle School)
Families are invited to join Mount Vernon’s young thespians as they perform The Great Middle School Poe-A-Thon & Peter And The Starcatcher. Ticket reservation information coming soon.

Sunday, November 12: MV Arts Alliance Build Event
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Families are invited to support MV Studios as they build the set for the upcoming Senior Theatre Project, 39 Steps. Contact Desiree Vogt if you are interested.

Wednesday, November 16: MVXchange: Fostering Community, a Q&A with Kristy
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Upper Campus Gym
Parents and grandparents are invited to this event to foster community and learn more about how students learn at Mount Vernon. Beginning with an interactive hands-on activity, we will model experiential learning for you and with you. Following, Kristy Lundstrom will host a Q&A session. RSVP here.

Friday, November 18: Early Dismissal
Preschool 11:15 am
Lower School 11:30 am
Middle School: 12:00 pm
Upper School: 12:15 pm
There will be no PlayMaker Classes or Extended Play on this day.

Friday, November 18: Grandparents and Special Friends Day
8:00 – 10:30 am
Fellowship Hall
Lower Campus (PK2 – Grade 5) Grandparents and Special Friends to enjoy a reception and classroom time with their students. RSVP by November 4.

Tuesday, October 25: Parent University: Spiritual Life at Mount Vernon
8:15 – 9:15 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents are invited to join Chief of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action) Stacey Lee to explore the ties between Mount Vernon’s expressed Christian values and its commitment to IDEA. RSVP here.

Friday, October 28: Lower Campus Day at the Home Varsity Football Game
3:30 – 6:00 pm
Upper Campus Green (between Middle and Upper School buildings)
The Mustang Athletic Club invites all Lower Campus families to enjoy bouncy houses and participate in a costume contest on the Upper Campus during the football game. Concessions will be open. Don’t forget to wear a costume!

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, October 31: Preschool Costume Parade
8:45 – 9:15 am
Preschool students are invited to wear costumes for Halloween (no dangerous and/or scary props or face coverings). Parents are invited to meet their students on the courtyard.

Monday, October 31: Fall on the Frontier
8:00 – 11:30 am
The Frontier (Lower Campus)
Preschool students will explore inquiry stations and sensory activities on the Frontier including a Pumpkin Pie Play-doh Bakery, Pumpkin Relay Race, and Apple Print Paintings.

October 31 – November 4: Scholastic Book Fair
October 31: 12:00 – 3:30 pm
November 1 – 3: 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
November 4: 7:30 – 11:00 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)

November 1, 2, & 4: Preschool Book Fair
8:00 – 11:00 am
Kirk Center (Lower Campus Sanctuary Building)

Thursday, November 3: MV Studios Monthly Spotlight and Speaker Series
8:00 – 9:30 am
Join the MV Arts Alliance and Shay Jones, Director of Lower Campus Visual & Performing Arts and Middle School Dance Studio Manager for coffee, community, and classwork to learn more about the Arts program, student creativity, and insight from MV Studios artists.

Friday, November 4: MV Cares Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to attend this monthly prayer group to lift up those in our MV community through care and prayer.

Friday, November 4: Early Dismissal
11:30 am – LC
12:00 pm – MS
12:30 pm – US
There will be no Extended Play or Playmaker on this day.

Tuesday, November 8: Uniform and Spirit Wear Resale
7:45 – 9:00 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, polo dresses, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear (including athletics) are available for purchase at $5 and $10. Volunteers will be needed to set up, help with sales, and break down. Volunteers are needed, sign up to help.

November 9 – 11: Middle School Mainstage Performances
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Black Box Theater (Middle School)
Families are invited to join Mount Vernon’s young thespians as they perform The Great Middle School Poe-A-Thon & Peter And The Starcatcher. Ticket reservation information coming soon.

Wednesday, October 19: Late Start
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Thursday, Oct. 20: Parent University: What is Competency-Based Education (CBE)?
8:00 – 9:00 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Lower Campus families are invited to explore Competency-Based Education through the use of Assessments and Progress Reports. If you are eager to gain a better understanding of how Mount Vernon measures and reports student progress, please RSVP here.

October 20 – 22: Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility Events
Thursday, October 20:
4:30 – 5:00 pm: Fall Arts/Theatre Showcase in MS Art Gallery
5:00 – 6:00 pm: Grandparents Reception in MS Art Gallery
6:00 – 9:00 pm: Sense & Sensibility performance in Upper School Black Box Theatre
Friday, October 21:
4:00 – 6:00 pm: Sense & Sensibility performance in Upper School Black Box Theatre
Saturday, October 22:
2:00 – 4:00 pm: Sense & Sensibility performance in Upper School Black Box Theatre
6:00 – 9:00 pm: Sense & Sensibility performance in Upper School Black Box Theatre

Friday, October 21: No School for Lower Campus
Parent/teacher conferences for Preschool and Lower School. The Made in MV Pop Up Shop will be open – be sure to stop by for hats, hoodies, and more, or sign up to volunteer.

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, October 28: Home Varsity Football Game With Lower Campus
3:30 – 6:00 pm
The Upper Campus Green (between Middle and Upper School buildings)
The Mustang Athletic Club has invited all Lower Campus students and families to the Upper Campus to enjoy bouncy houses and participate in a costume contest. Concessions will be open. Don’t forget to wear a costume!

Monday, October 31: Preschool Costume Parade
8:45 – 9:15 am
Preschool students are invited to wear costumes for Halloween (no dangerous and/or scary props or face coverings). Parents are invited to meet their students on the courtyard.

Monday, October 31: Fall on the Frontier
9:45 – 10:45 am
The Frontier (Lower Campus)
Preschool students will explore inquiry stations and sensory activities on the Frontier. Parent volunteers will be needed and details will be shared soon.

October 31 – November 4: Scholastic Book Fair
October 31 – November 3: 7:30 am – 3:30 pm
November 4: 7:30 – 11:00 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)

November 1, 2, & 4: Preschool Book Fair Satellite
8:00 – 11:00 am
Kirk Center (Lower Campus Sanctuary Building)

Thursday, November 3: MV Studios Monthly Spotlight and Speaker Series
8:00 – 9:30 am
Join the MV Arts Alliance for coffee, community and classwork to learn more about the Arts program, student creativity, and insight from MV Studios artists.

Friday, November 4: MV Cares Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall (Lower Campus)
Parents and grandparents are invited to attend this monthly prayer group to lift up those in our MV community through care and prayer.

October 10: No School
Fall Break

Tuesday, October 11: Lower Campus Picture Retakes
12:45 – 2:30 pm
Lower Campus Courtyard
Students who were absent on their original picture day, or would like to have a retake, can sign up to have their portraits taken on Tuesday. If you have not received picture proofs from Clicks of Love via email, please check your spam folder. If they are not there, please email Helen Hudgens, Communications and Content Strategist. Please have your student bring their dress uniform shirts to change into before their picture.

Tuesday, October 11: Pink Out
Students are encouraged to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

October 11 & 12: Fall Decor Carpool Collection
Morning Carpool
Fall decorations will be collected during morning carpool on both campuses on Tuesday, October 11 and Wednesday, October 12. Sign up to contribute by donating decorations, setting up for the event, and/or breaking everything down. All decor will be placed throughout both campuses to be enjoyed for the rest of fall.

Friday, October 14: Rock the Block Community Social
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Upper Campus Green
All families and alumni who are over 21 are invited to celebrate Home Team Pride together. Dress in your favorite “Home Team” gear, whether it’s the MV Mustangs, World-Champion Atlanta Braves, the National Champion Dawgs, or any other team. Pre-sale ticket registration has closed but walk-up tickets are available for $40 at the event. Admission fee includes food, two drink vouchers, and live music by The Rainmen, who cover hits from the 60’s and 70’s. Some seating will be available and tailgating chairs are welcome. Additional drinks are available for purchase.

SAVE THESE DATES

Wednesday, October 19: Late Start
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Thursday, Oct. 20: Parent University: What is Competency-Based Education (CBE)?
8:00 – 9:00 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Lower Campus families are invited to explore Competency-Based Education through the use of Assessments and Progress Reports. If you are eager to gain a better understanding of how Mount Vernon measures and reports student progress, please RSVP here.

October 20 – 22: Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility Events
Thursday, October 20:
4:30 – 5:00 pm: Fall Arts/Theatre Showcase in MS Art Gallery
5:00 – 6:00 pm: Grandparents Reception in MS Art Gallery
6:00 – 9:00 pm: Sense & Sensibility performance in Upper School Black Box Theatre
Friday, October 21:
4:00 – 6:00 pm: Sense & Sensibility performance in Upper School Black Box Theatre
Saturday, October 22:
2:00 – 4:00 pm: Sense & Sensibility performance in Upper School Black Box Theatre
6:00 – 9:00 pm: Sense & Sensibility performance in Upper School Black Box Theatre

Friday, October 21: No School for Lower Campus
Parent/teacher conferences for Preschool and Lower School. The Made in MV Pop Up Shop will be open – be sure to stop by for hats, hoodies, and more, or sign up to volunteer.

Friday, October 28: Home Varsity Football Game With Lower Campus
3:30 – 6:00 pm
The Upper Campus Green (between Middle and Upper School buildings)
The Mustang Athletic Club has invited all Lower Campus students and families to the Upper Campus to enjoy bouncy houses and participate in a costume contest. Concessions will be open. Don’t forget to wear a costume!

Monday, October 3: Parent University: John Trautwein, Will to Live Foundation
9:30 – 10:15 am
Upper Campus Gym
Families, faculty/staff, and Upper School students are invited to join former MLB pitcher and MV guest John Trautwein as he shares his story and reminds us how essential belonging is for the well-being of our students. John’s message is motivated by the loss of his son to suicide, illustrating the critical nature of showing and sharing care on a daily basis. This is a moment of encouragement as we bolster our commitment to talk about mental health and create an environment that supports openness and normalizes the use of resources. RSVP HERE.

Tuesday, October 4: Fall Arts and Music Festival & Open Mic Night
5:00 – 8:00 pm
Upper School Café and Learning Stairs
All families are invited to attend. There is no charge for admission for performers and Grandparents.
$5 tickets sold on Veracross.

Thursday, October 6: Final Day to Register For Rock the Block

October 7 – 10: No School
Fall Break

 

SAVE THESE DATES

October 11 & 12: Fall Decor Carpool Collection
Morning Carpool
Fall decorations will be collected during morning carpool on both campuses on Tuesday, October 11 and Wednesday, October 12. Sign up to contribute by donating decorations, setting up for the event, and/or breaking everything down. All decor will be placed throughout both campuses to be enjoyed for the rest of fall.

Friday, October 14: Rock the Block Community Social
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Upper Campus Green
Register by October 6
All families and alumni who are over 21, are invited to join together for a celebration of Home Team Pride. Dress in your favorite “Home Team” gear, whether it’s the MV Mustangs, World-Champion Atlanta Braves, the National Champion Dawgs, or any other team. Tickets are $25 per person and available for purchase until Thursday, October 6. Admission fee includes two drink vouchers, food, and live music by The Rainmen, who cover hits from the 60’s and 70’s. Some seating will be available and tailgating chairs are welcome. Additional drinks are available for purchase.

Wednesday, October 19: Late Start
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Thursday, Oct. 20: Parent University: What is Competency-Based Education (CBE)?
8:00 – 9:00 am
Fellowship Hall (Lower Campus)
Lower Campus families are invited to explore Competency-Based Education through the use of Assessments and Progress Reports. If you are eager to gain a better understanding of how Mount Vernon measures and reports student progress, please RSVP here.

Thursday, October 20: OPENING NIGHT: Jane Austen’s Sense & Sensibility
4:30 – 6:00 pm – Fall Arts/Theater Showcase in MS Art Gallery
5:00 – 6:00 pm – Grandparents Reception in MS Art Gallery
6:00 – 9:00 pm – Doors Open in Upper School Black Box Theatre
Ticket info coming soon

Friday, October 21: No School
Parent/teacher conferences for Preschool and Lower School

Monday, September 26: Parent Admissions Ambassadors Kick-Off Meeting (virtual)
12:00 – 12:30pm
Zoom Link
The Mount Vernon Admissions Team is looking forward to partnering with parents. There are three ways to get involved as a Parent Admissions Ambassador throughout this school year: follow along on a guided tour at an Open House, share stories online, or reach out to prospective families who request a call from a current parent. Join this virtual information session to learn how to participate. If you are not able to join, and want to get involved, sign up here.

Tuesday, September 27: Made in MV Spirit Shop
7:45 – 9:00 am
Gear up for fall at the Made in MV Spirit Shop, with sweatshirts, long sleeve tees, and brightly colored tees available in youth and adult sizes, bags, bows, and LOTS of hats. Stop by Tuesdays/Wednesdays from 7:45-9:00 am or Thursdays from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Or, go behind the scenes by signing up to work in the store, at a Pop Up Shop during varsity home football games, or help with the Uniform Resale (next one is on Tuesday, November 8).

Friday, September 30: Parent University: Maker, Design & Engineering at Mount Vernon
9:45 – 10:45 am
Studio(i), Lower Campus
Families are invited to join Jim Tiffin, Director of MV’s Maker, Design & Engineering (MDE) to dig in and tinker while learning more about one of the School’s signature programs. Put your maker mindset to work to achieve the call for Inquiry, Innovation, and Impact. RSVP here.

Friday, September 30: Lower Campus Picture Retakes
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Lower Campus Courtyard
Students who were absent on their original picture day can have their make-up portraits taken on this one day only. Retakes will also take place on this day. If you have not received picture proofs from Clicks of Love via email, please check your spam folder. If they are not there, please email Helen Hudgens, Communications and Content Strategist. Since Friday is a spirit day, please have your student bring their dress uniform shirts to change into before their picture. Please sign up if you would like your child to participate.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, October 3: Parent University: John Trautwein, Will to Live Foundation
9:30 – 10:15 am
Upper Campus Gym
Families, faculty/staff, and Upper School students are invited to join former MLB pitcher and MV guest John Trautwein as he shares his story and reminds us how essential belonging is for the well-being of our students. John’s message is motivated by the loss of his son to suicide, illustrating the critical nature of showing and sharing care on a daily basis. This is a moment of encouragement as we bolster our commitment to talk about mental health and create an environment that supports openness and normalizes the use of resources. RSVP HERE.

Tuesday, October 4: Fall Arts and Music Festival & Open Mic Night
5:00 – 8:00 pm
Upper School Café and Learning Stairs
All families are invited to attend. There is no charge for admission for performers and Grandparents.
$5 tickets sold on Veracross.

October 7 – 10: No School
Fall Break

Friday, October 14: Rock the Block Community Social
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Upper Campus Green
Register by October 6
All families and alumni who are over 21, are invited to join together for a celebration of Home Team Pride. Dress in your favorite “Home Team” gear, whether it’s the MV Mustangs, World-Champion Atlanta Braves, the National Champion Dawgs, or any other team. Tickets are $25 per person and available for purchase until Thursday, October 6. Admission fee includes two drink vouchers, food, and live music by The Rainmen, who cover hits from the 60’s and 70’s. Some seating will be available and tailgating chairs are welcome. Additional drinks are available for purchase.

Tuesday, November 8: Uniform and Spirit Wear Resale
7:45 – 9:00 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, polo dresses, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear (including athletics) are available for purchase at $5 and $10. Volunteers will be needed to set up, help with sales, and breakdown. Sign up to help.

Wednesday, September 21: Late Start For Students
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

SAVE THESE DATES

Saturday, September 24: MV Arts Alliance Build Event
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Middle School Cafeteria Patio
All students and parents are invited to build Christmas Arts Showcase props.

Monday, September 26: Parent Admissions Ambassadors Kick-Off Meeting (virtual)
12:00 – 12:30pm
Zoom Link
The Mount Vernon Admissions Team is looking forward to partnering with parents. There are three ways to get involved as a Parent Admissions Ambassador throughout this school year: follow along on a guided tour at an Open House, share stories online, or reach out to prospective families who request a call from a current parent. Join this virtual information session to learn how to participate. If you are not able to join, and want to get involved, sign up here.

Friday, September 30: Parent University: Maker, Design & Engineering at Mount Vernon
9:45 – 10:45 am
Studio(i), Lower Campus
Parents and grandparents are invited to join MV’s Maker community to learn more about the School’s Maker, Design & Engineering (MDE) program, while using a maker mindset to achieve the call for Inquiry, Innovation, and Impact. RSVP here.

Monday, October 3: Parent University: John Trautwein, Will to Live Foundation
9:30 – 10:15 am
Upper Campus Gym
Parents, grandparents, faculty, and Upper School students are invited to listen to guest speaker John Trautwein remind us how essential belonging and well-being is to supporting ourselves and our students. John’s message is motivated by the loss of his son to suicide, and brings to life the critical nature of showing and sharing care on a daily basis. This is a moment of encouragement as we bolster our commitment to talk about mental health and create an environment that supports openness and normalizes use of resources.

Thursday, October 6: Parent University: MV Studios
8:00 – 9:30 am
Mount Vernon families are invited to enjoy coffee, community and classwork with the MV Studios staff. Each month an MV staff artist is featured, as well as student-created work. Find out more on the Arts Alliance website.

Friday, October 14: Rock the Block
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Upper Campus Green
All families and alumni who are over 21, are invited to join together for a celebration of Home Team Pride. Dress in your favorite “Home Team” gear, whether it’s the MV Mustangs, World-Champion Atlanta Braves, the National Champion Dawgs, or any other team. Tickets are $25 per person and available for purchase until Thursday, October 6. Admission fee includes two drink vouchers, food, and live music by The Rainmen, who cover hits from the 60’s and 70’s. Some seating will be available and tailgating chairs are welcome. Additional drinks are available for purchase.

September 12 – 14: Fall Impact Service Drive Individually Packaged Snack Collection
Morning Carpool
In partnership with Atlanta Mission, The School will be collecting individually packaged (nut-free) snack items during morning carpools on September 12, 13 and 14. On September 15, students in every division will pack 3 – 4 snack items into paper bags that they will decorate with encouraging pictures and notes. In addition, the MV Grandparents Committee invites grandparents to help by donating snack items and/or by helping Lower School students assemble the snack bags on September 15. Contact Andrea McGrath, MV Serves Co-Chair, for more information.

September 12 – 16: Homecoming Spirit Week
Lower Campus dress up days are as follows:
Monday: Crazy Socks Day
Tuesday: Favorite Movie Character Day
Wednesday: Sports Jersey Day
Thursday: Holiday Day
Friday: Crazy Spirit Day (backwards spirit shirts, crazy hair)
No weapons or face masks should accompany outfits throughout the week.

September 14 – 16: Preschool Curriculum Mornings
8:15 – 8:45 am
Kirk Center on Lower Campus

• Wednesday, September 14: PK2
• Thursday, September 15: PK3
• Friday, September 16: PK4 – PK5

Curious about what happens after you drop your little one off each morning? Do you want a deeper understanding of the goals we have for your child’s age group? Are you interested in learning more about the School’s big initiatives for this year? Please join us to hear what this year has in store for your child and family.

Friday, September 16: Homecoming Game And Field Dedication
3:45 pm: Dedication to the Ron Hill Field, in memory of our beloved coach, teacher, and friend
4:00 pm: New Family Reception. Please register here.
4:15 pm: Kickoff
Halftime: Homecoming Court ceremony
A parent/guardian should remain with student(s) at all times after carpool and during the homecoming game.
Families are invited to join the festivities under Grade level tents.
Sign up to bring munchies and drinks to your tent below.
Preschool – Grade 1 

SAVE THESE DATES

Wednesday, September 21: Late Start For Students
Childcare is not provided before school.
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am

Saturday, September 24: MV Arts Alliance Build Event
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Middle School Cafeteria Patio
Come join the fun and help build the Christmas Arts Showcase props for the Lower and Upper Campuses, all ages and all skills welcome.

Monday, September 26: Parent Admissions Ambassadors Kick-Off Zoom Meeting
12:00 – 12:30pm
Zoom Link
The Mount Vernon Admissions Team is looking forward to partnering with parents. There are three ways to get involved as a Parent Admissions Ambassador throughout this School year: follow along on a guided tour at Open Houses, share stories online, or reach out to prospective families who request a call from a current parent. Join this virtual information session to learn how to get involved.

Friday, September 30: Parent University: Maker, Design, Engineering at MV
9:45 – 10:45 am
Studio(i), Lower Campus
All parents (and grandparents) are invited to join MV’s community of makers to learn more about the School’s Maker, Design & Engineering (MDE) program and use a maker mindset to achieve the call for Inquiry, Innovation, and Impact.

Friday, October 14: Rock the Block
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Upper Campus Green
All families and alumni, over 21, are invited to celebrate Home Team Pride. Dress in your favorite “Home Team” gear, Whether it’s the MV Mustangs, World-Champion Atlanta Braves, the National Champion Dawgs, or any other team. Tickets are $25 per person and available for purchase until October 6. Admission fee includes two drink vouchers, food, and live music by The Rainmen. Some seating will be available and tailgating chairs are welcome. Additional drinks are available for purchase.

Monday, September 5: No School

Tuesday, September 6: Fall PlayMaker Classes Begin
3:00 pm
Registration for Fall PlayMaker sessions has closed. For those who have already registered, class information can be found in the Parent Portal in Veracross under “Programs”.

Tuesday, September 6: Uniform Resale
7:45 – 9:00 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear are available for purchase from $5 – $10. Volunteers are needed during this busy back-to-school season. Sign up to help.

Friday, September 9: MV Cares Group Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Upper School Cafe Outdoor Patio
All parents and grandparents are welcome to attend this monthly prayer group. MV Cares strives to exemplify The School’s foundational bedrock of the fruit of the Spirit by lifting up our students, families, faculty/staff, and greater community through prayer and caring actions.

SAVE THESE DATES

September 12 – 14: Fall Impact Service Drive Individually Packaged Snack Collection
Morning Carpool
In partnership with Atlanta Mission, The School will be collecting individually packaged (nut-free) snack items during morning carpools on September 12, 13 and 14. On September 15, students in every division will pack 3 – 4 snack items into paper bags that they will decorate with encouraging pictures and notes. In addition, the MV Grandparents Committee invites grandparents to help by donating snack items and/or by helping Lower School students assemble the snack bags on September 15. Contact Andrea McGrath, MV Serves Co-Chair, for more information.

September 12 – 16: Homecoming Spirit Week
Lower Campus dress up days are as follows:
Monday: Crazy Socks Day
Tuesday: Favorite Movie Character Day
Wednesday: Sports Jersey Day
Thursday: Holiday Day
Friday: Crazy Spirit Day (backwards spirit shirts, crazy hair)
No weapons or face masks should accompany outfits throughout the week.

September 14 – 16: Preschool Curriculum Mornings
8:15 – 8:45 am
Kirk Center on Lower Campus

• Wednesday, September 14: PK2
• Thursday, September 15: PK3
• Friday, September 16: PK4 – PK5

Curious about what happens after you drop your little one off each morning? Do you want a deeper understanding of the goals we have for your child’s age group? Are you interested in learning more about the School’s big initiatives for this year? Please join us to hear what this year has in store for your child and family.

Friday, September 16: Homecoming Game And Field Dedication
3:45 pm: Dedication to the Ron Hill Field, in memory of our beloved coach, teacher, and friend
4:00 pm: New Family Reception. Please register here.
4:15 pm: Kickoff
Halftime: Homecoming Court ceremony

Families are invited to join the festivities under Grade level tents.
Sign up to bring munchies and drinks to your tent below.
Preschool – Grade 1
Grades 2 – 5
Grades 6 – 8
Grades 9 – 10
Grades 11 – 12

Wednesday, September 21: Late Start For Students
Carpool: 9:10 am
Class Starts: 9:30 am
All School

Saturday, September 24: MV Arts Alliance Build Event
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Middle School Cafeteria Patio
Come join the fun and help build the Christmas Arts Showcase props for the Lower and Upper Campuses, all ages and all skills welcome.

Friday, October 14: Rock the Block
6:00 – 9:00 pm
Upper Campus Green
Welcoming all families and alumni, 21 and over. This year’s theme is Home Team Pride. Come dressed in your favorite “Home Team” swag. It could be The MV Mustangs, the World-Champion Atlanta Braves, and the National Championship-winning Bulldogs, or any other collegiate or professional team. Tickets are $25 per person and available to reserve until October 6. Tickets include 2 drink vouchers, food and live music by The Rainmen. Some seating will be available. Tailgating chairs are welcome. Additional drinks are available for purchase. More info via email to come.

Please note a change to carpool procedures for Monday, August 29
Due to a fallen tree Saturday evening, morning carpool will be rerouted.

PK4 & PK5 students should be dropped off in the Lower School Carpool. When entering from Johnson Ferry, turn right and follow Lower School traffic around. To exit carpool, you may either turn left, back onto Johnson Ferry, or continue to the Preschool awning if you have PK2 or PK3 siblings to drop off as well. PK2 and PK3 morning carpool will remain the same.
If afternoon carpool is impacted we will notify you via text.

Wednesday, August 31: Chapel
PK3 – Grade 1: 8:45 – 9:05 am, Lower Campus Sanctuary Building
Grade 2 – 5: 8:05 – 8:35 am, Lower Campus Sanctuary Building
Middle School: 8:00 – 8:25 am, Upper Campus Gym
Upper School: 9:30 – 10:00 am, Upper Campus Gym
Parents are welcome to join chapel services throughout the year.

Thursday, September 1: BIPOC Family Welcome and Orientation
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Lower Campus Fellowship Hall
All students, parents, and grandparents are welcome to attend this Inclusion Network meeting with the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) Affinity group to learn about the group’s impact on campus.

Friday, September 2: Early Release For Students & Staff
Preschool – Grade 1: 11:15 am
Grades 2 – 5: 11:30 am
Middle School: 11:50 am
Upper School: 12:15 pm
There will be no Extended Play classes.
Middle School siblings are welcome to wait in the Upper School lobby until 12:15 pm for their siblings. If an Upper School sibling needs to pick up their younger sibling at the Preschool or Lower School, parents must submit a Student Attendance Notice in the Veracross Parent Portal to request early dismissal. Older siblings in Lower School will be dismissed at 11:15 am to join their Preschool siblings for carpool.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, September 5: No School

Tuesday, September 6: Fall PlayMaker Classes Begin
3:00 pm
Registration for Fall PlayMaker sessions has closed. For those who have already registered, class information can be found in the Parent Portal in Veracross under “Programs”. Additionally, Director of Extended Play Lisa Brady will share specific class details with families prior to Friday, September 2.

Tuesday, September 6: Uniform Resale
7:45 – 9:00 am
Middle School Overlook
New and gently worn polos, dress shirts, shorts, pants, skirts, outerwear, and spirit wear are available for purchase from $5 – $10. Volunteers are needed during this busy back-to-school season. Sign up to help.

Friday, September 9: MV Prayers Group Meeting
8:00 – 9:00 am
Upper School Cafe Outdoor Patio
All parents and grandparents are welcome to attend this monthly prayer group. MV Prayers strives to exemplify the School’s foundational bedrock of the fruit of the Spirit by lifting up our students, families, faculty/staff, and greater community through prayer and caring actions.

Monday, September 12: MV Serves Atlanta Mission Service Project Begins
In partnership with Atlanta Mission, the School will be collecting individually wrapped snack items during morning carpools on September 12, 13 & 14, to be packed by students in every division and delivered on Thursday, September 15. Additional details will be shared soon.

September 12 – 16: Homecoming Spirit Week
Stay tuned for Preschool dress up days.

September 14 – 16: Preschool Curriculum Mornings

8:15 – 8:45 am

Lower Campus Kirk Center

• Wednesday, September 14: PK2
• Thursday, September 15: PK3
• Friday, September 16: PK4 – PK5

Curious about what happens after you drop your little one off each morning? Do you want a deeper understanding of the goals we have for your child’s age group? Are you interested in learning more about the School’s big initiatives for this year? Please join us to hear what this year has in store for your child and family.

Friday, September 16: Spirit Day
Students and teachers have the option to wear a Mount Vernon spirit shirt and uniform bottoms or jeans.

Wednesday, August 24: Preschool Student Portraits
Attire: Portrait-appropriate. Students will be led to picture locations as a class throughout the day.

Wednesday, August 24: First Chapel Service
8:35 am
Sanctuary
Chapel Service is led by Ms. Hayes and other members of our community. Parents are welcome to join on Wednesday mornings beginning August 24. As a School grounded in Christian values, this is a time of prayer, worship, and lessons around love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Wednesday, August 24: MV Grandparents Committee Movie Outing
11:00 am – 1:30 pm
The Springs Cinema And Taphouse
All MV Grandparents are invited to attend this free event. Sign Up Here

Friday, August 26: Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN) Volunteer Fair
8:00 – 8:45 am
Outside by the entrance of the Middle School
Parents are invited to meet/talk to all of the MVPN Steering Committee on their way into Convocation. Come and learn how to get involved with Mount Vernon through the Mount Vernon Parent Network.

Friday, August 26: Lower Campus Convocation
8:45 – 9:30 am
Upper Campus Gym
All MV parents, grandparents, and special friends are invited to this community-wide event. Mount Vernon’s CEO, Head of School, Head Prefect, and others will share their vision and set the tone for the 2022 – 2023 school year.

Friday, August 26: First Varsity Home Football Game BBQ
4:30 – 6:30 pm
The Ron Hill Field
The entire MV community is invited to cheer on our Mustangs and enjoy a BBQ dinner at the first home Varsity Football game of the season on the new Ron Hill Field on Upper Campus. The admission fee for the game is waived and there is no charge for the BBQ. The concession stand will be open for refreshments and snacks.

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, September 2: Early Release For Students & Staff
Preschool – Grade 1: 11:15 am
Grades 2 – 5: 11:30 am
Middle School: 11:50 am
Upper School: 12:15 pm
There will be no Extended Play classes.

Monday, September 5: No School

Tuesday, September 6: Fall Playmaker Classes Begin
3:00 pm
Registration for Fall PlayMaker sessions has closed. For those who have already registered, class information can be found in the Parent Portal under “Programs”. Additionally, Director of Extended Play Lisa Brady will share specific class details with families prior to Friday, September 2.

Monday, August 15: Orientation PK2 – PK5
8:00 – 9:00 am

Tuesday, August 16: First Day of School
Morning Carpool starts at 7:30 am
School starts at 8:00 am
Afternoon Carpool starts at 3:00 pm

Tuesday, August 16: Extended Play Begins

Wednesday, August 17: Made in MV Spirit Store Open
7:45 – 9:00 am
Upper School Building
The store is stocked with new MV spirit wear. Come by and see for yourself. The Store experiences high traffic during this time of year as families are stocking up on all the latest MV spirit wear. Please consider volunteering for a one-hour shift to work in the Made in MV School Store.
Regular store hours are:
Tuesday & Wednesday: 7:45 – 9:00 am
Thursday: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

SAVE THESE DATES

Wednesday, August 24: Preschool Student Portraits
Students will be led to picture locations as a class throughout the day.

Wednesday, August 24: First Chapel Service
8:35 am
Sanctuary
We invite parents to join our chapel services on Wednesday mornings beginning August 24. As a School grounded in Christian values, this is a time of prayer, worship, and lessons around love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control led by Ms. Hayes and other members of our community.

Wednesday, August 24: MV Grandparents Committee Movie Outing
11:00 am – 1:30 pm
The Springs Cinema And Taphouse
All MV Grandparents are invited to attend this free event. Sign Up Here

Friday, August 26: Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN) Volunteer Fair
8:00 – 8:45 am
Outside by the entrance of the Middle School
Parents are invited to meet/talk to all of the MVPN Steering Committee members on their way into Convocation. Come and learn how to get involved with Mount Vernon through the Mount Vernon Parent Network.

Friday, August 26: Lower Campus Convocation
8:45 – 9:30 am
Upper Campus Gym
This is an all-community event. Mount Vernon CEO, Head of School, Head Prefect, and others will speak and set the tone for the 2022 – 2023 school year.

Friday, August 26: First Varsity Home Football Game BBQ
4:30 – 6:30 pm
The Ron Hill Field
BBQ will be outside on the Upper School Cafe Patio. All are welcome. No RSVP required.

Friday, September 2: Early Release For Students & Staff
11:15 am
End-of-day Preschool – Grade 1 carpool will start on Lower Campus at 11:15 am.

Tuesday, August 9: MV Parent Portal: Zoom Tutorial For All New Families
2:30 – 3:30 pm
Zoom Meeting Link
ID: 393 948 3946
Password: MVMustangs
Join us for a live Zoom session. Kirsten Beard, Chief Admissions Officer, will lead a virtual tour through the MV Parent Portal illustrating where and how to access all the features and information you might need.

Friday, August 12: Family-Share Conferences
Be on the lookout for an email with the opportunity to sign up with your child’s homeroom teacher for a Family-Share Conference.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, August 15: Orientation PK2 – PK5
8:00 – 9:00 am

Tuesday, August 16: First Day of School
Carpool starts at: 7:30 am
School starts at: 8:00 am

Tuesday, August 16: Extended Play Begins

Wednesday, August 17: Made in MV Spirit Store Open
7:45 – 9:00 am
Upper School Building
The store is stocked with new MV spirit wear come by and see for yourself. The Store experiences high traffic during this time of year as families are stocking up on all the latest MV spirit wear. Please consider volunteering for a one-hour shift to work in the Made in MV School Store.

Wednesday, August 24: Preschool Student Portraits
Students will be led to picture locations as a class throughout the day.

Wednesday, August 24: MV Grandparents Committee Movie Outing
11:00 am – 1:30pm
The Springs Cinema And Taphouse
All MV Grandparents are invited to attend this free event. Sign Up Here

Friday, August 26: Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN) Volunteer Fair
8:00 – 8:45 am
Outside by the entrance of the Middle School
Parents are invited to meet/talk to all of the MVPN Steering Committee on their way into Convocation. Come and learn how to get involved with Mount Vernon through the Mount Vernon Parent Network.

Friday, August 26: Lower Campus Convocation
8:45 – 9:30 am
Upper Campus Gym
This is an all-community event. Mount Vernon CEO, Head of School, Head Prefect, and others will speak and set the tone for the 2022 – 2023 school year.

Friday, August 26: First Varsity Home Football Game BBQ
4:30 – 6:30 pm
The Ron Hill Field
BBQ will be outside on the Upper School Cafe Patio. All are welcome. No RSVP required.

Monday, May 23: Parent University: Strong is the New Pretty with Kate Parker
9:00 – 10:00 am
Upper School, Learning Stairs
Kate T. Parker, a professional photographer with two daughters at MV, was fed up with the media’s prevailing imagery of girls as demure and overly feminine. “I wanted to show my girls that beauty isn’t about being a certain size or having your hair done (or even brushed, in their cases), or wearing a fancy outfit. I wanted to combat the messages the media sends to women every day. I wanted my girls to know that being themselves is beautiful and that being beautiful is about being strong.” But what about boys? Kate soon realized that their voices needed to be heard as well – not just fearless and confident and wild but also curious and kind and vulnerable. The Heart of A Boy, published in 2019, was a New York Times bestseller and shows the richness and diversity of boyhood from all across the country. “It’s time to discuss how to raise our sons to become good people and to talk about defining masculinity in a way that is less narrow and limiting.” 

Wednesday, May 25: Final Chapel
8:05 – 8:30 am
Lower Campus Courtyard
We will gather as a full community one last time before we head into summer. All students PK3-Grade 5 will join in singing and receive a summer blessing. We invite parents to be a part of our final chapel on the Lower Campus Courtyard after morning carpool.

Thursday, May 26: Last Day of School
11:15 am Dismissal & No Extended Play
Your child’s teacher will communicate the plans for the Final Days of Preschool Fun including End of Year Celebrations. Please checkout your Veracross page for those class-specific details.

SAVE THESE DATES

Week of June 6: Summer ePacket Information
Be on the lookout for an email with links to important information including summer learning, uniform requirements, medical forms and summer workouts.

Mid- Late July: 22/23 ePacket Information
Be on the lookout for an email with links to orientation information and other back to school information.

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

Yet again, we find ourselves processing the news of traumatizing events that are happening in our own country and paying careful attention to our young children who may have seen or heard of the tragic shootings. I am grateful to be part of a faith-based community who will pause and pray through these times. We don’t have all the answers, but we are here to partner with you and your family.

As we look ahead into the final days of the school year, Preschoolers are focused on their friendships, celebrating their learning, and Mount Vernon pride. From water day to PK3 smiley faces to the Alpha+Omega tradition, children are soaking up the fun and looking forward to summer. We are committed to making this time special, and we look forward to seeing you on campus to celebrate with us.

Kind regards,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Thursday, May 19: Wear Alpha+Omega T-shirts
PK3-PK5 students will participate in our Senior Salute. Please wear your Alpha+Omega t-shirts.

Thursday, May 19: Upper Campus Spring Instrumental Concert
4:30 – 5:30 pm
US Cafe
MS Music Department (strings, band, and drums) will be performing their final concert for the 2021-2022 school year in the US Cafe beginning at 4:30 pm. Families and friends are invited to join us to enjoy the continued work of our young musicians.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, May 23: Parent University: Strong is the New Pretty with Kate Parker
9:00 – 10:00 am
Upper School, Learning Stairs
Kate T. Parker, a professional photographer with two daughters at MV, was fed up with the media’s prevailing imagery of girls as demure and overly feminine. “I wanted to show my girls that beauty isn’t about being a certain size or having your hair done (or even brushed, in their cases), or wearing a fancy outfit. I wanted to combat the messages the media sends to women every day. I wanted my girls to know that being themselves is beautiful and that being beautiful is about being strong.” But what about boys? Kate soon realized that their voices needed to be heard as well – not just fearless and confident and wild but also curious and kind and vulnerable. The Heart of A Boy, published in 2019, was a New York Times bestseller and shows the richness and diversity of boyhood from all across the country. “It’s time to discuss how to raise our sons to become good people and to talk about defining masculinity in a way that is less narrow and limiting.” 

Wednesday, May 25: Final Chapel
8:05 – 8:30 am
Lower Campus Courtyard
We will gather as a full community one last time before we head into summer. All students PK3-Grade 5 will join in singing and receive a summer blessing. We invite parents to join.

Thursday, May 26: Last Day of School
11:15 am Dismissal & No Extended Play
Your teacher will communicate the plans for the FInal Days of Preschool Fun including End of Year Celebrations. Please checkout your Veracross page for those class-specific details.

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

Thank you to all of our families who attended the Rise Up Parent Meetings for PK2, PK3, PK4, PK5, and Kindergarten last week. It was so nice to gather together, reflect on this past year, and take a peek at the exciting opportunities ahead. It was great to hear from our Chief of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Action as she explained Mount Vernon’s definition of those words and commitment to the work. Additionally, we heard from Program Directors and even the students who shared their favorite parts of Kindergarten! Finally, it was a blessing to have so many parents join us for chapel. Please come again this week if you are available.

Preschool is intentional about designing fun experiences to celebrate all the success of this school year, so please pay careful attention to your class-specific events as we have fun, fun, fun in these final days.

Kind regards,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Monday, May 9: PK2 – PK5 Rise Up Meeting
8:15 – 9:00 am
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall
Curious what next year will look like for your child? Meet us in Fellowship Hall to learn about the major focus areas of each age group. You will hear from Shelley Searcy, Head of Lower Campus and Sonja Knighton, incoming Director of Preschool. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet other families in our Preschool program. We can’t wait to see you!

Tuesday, May 10: Kindergarten Rise Up Meeting
8:15 – 9:00 am
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall
Are you ready for Lower School? Come learn what to wear, where to drop off, and most importantly what learning will be like for your child. You will hear from Shelley Searcy, Head of Lower Campus, Molly Hudson, Director of Lower School, and some members of the kindergarten team. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet other families in our Lower School. We can’t wait to see you!

Wednesday, May 11: Parents are welcome to join Preschool-Grade 1 Chapel
8:10 – 8:40 am
Lower Campus, Sanctuary Building
Wednesday morning Chapel services are a long-standing tradition at Mount Vernon. We are excited to be able to invite parents back to join us again for our short service where we focus on praise, worship, and Bible study as we learn how to live a life grounded in Christian values. Preschool-G1 chapel begins at 8:10 in the Sanctuary Building.

Meet our Incoming Preschool Director Sonja Knighton
Thursday, May 12: 12:00 pm ZOOM https://bit.ly/3y2viOD As Sonja joins us, her highest priority is building relationships with our community. If you have not yet met her, please make plans to connect virtually on Thursday to share your story and learn more about her.

Friday, May 13: Yearbook Distribution

SAVE THESE DATES

Thursday, May 19: Upper Campus Spring Instrumental Concert
4:30 – 5:30 pm
US Cafe
MS Music Department (strings, band, and drums) will be performing their final concert for the 2021-2022 school year in the US Cafe beginning at 4:30 pm. Families and friends are invited to join us to enjoy the continued work of our young musicians.

Monday, May 23: Parent University: Strong is the New Pretty with Kate Parker
9:00 – 10:00 am
Upper School, Learning Stairs
Kate T. Parker, a professional photographer with two daughters at MV, was fed up with the media’s prevailing imagery of girls as demure and overly feminine. “I wanted to show my girls that beauty isn’t about being a certain size or having your hair done (or even brushed, in their cases), or wearing a fancy outfit. I wanted to combat the messages the media sends to women every day. I wanted my girls to know that being themselves is beautiful and that being beautiful is about being strong.” But what about boys? Kate soon realized that their voices needed to be heard as well – not just fearless and confident and wild but also curious and kind and vulnerable. The Heart of A Boy, published in 2019, was a New York Times bestseller and shows the richness and diversity of boyhood from all across the country. “It’s time to discuss how to raise our sons to become good people and to talk about defining masculinity in a way that is less narrow and limiting.” 

Wednesday, May 25: Final Chapel
8:05-8:30
Lower Campus Courtyard
We will gather as a full community one last time before we head into summer. All students PK3-Grade 5 will join in singing and receive a summer blessing. We invite parents to join.

Thursday, May 26: Last Day of School, 11:15 Dismissal & No Extended Play

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

It has been so good to have parents on campus this week. I hope you have seen the deep inquiry, exciting expeditions, and detailed observational drawings that document our students’ learning journeys displayed in the hallways. From maps and music to instruments and forts, students’ curiosities and passions are integrating language, literacy, social-emotional learning, and the six Mount Vernon Mindsets into some great project work.

We appreciate all of you who joined Sonja for a cup of coffee or sweet tea, as she is eager to get to know our preschool families. Thank you also for attending your spring conferences to celebrate success and set goals for continued growth over the summer.

As you know, May is an exciting time, so please pay careful attention to the dates above and your class Veracross page so that you are aware of all the special events.

Kind regards,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Monday, May 2 – Saturday, May 7: MV Allstars Presents: The Spongebob Musical
All are invited to join Spongebob and all his friends in this musical phenomenon! With five chances to catch the show, you don’t want to miss out! Reserve your tickets here.

Thursday, May 5: Parent-Conference Day, No School for Students
We invite parents to come to the School, meet with your child’s teachers, and see the work displayed in the hallway at our Spring Parent Conference. There is no school for students on this day. Please refer to your class’s Veracross page for the sign-up genius. We are committed to beginning and ending each conference on time to ensure all families have an opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, May 9: PK2 – PK5 Rise Up Meeting
8:15 – 9:00 am
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall
Curious what next year will look like for your child? Meet us in Fellowship Hall to learn about the major focus areas of each age group. You will hear from Shelley Searcy, Head of Lower Campus and Sonja Knighton, incoming Director of Preschool. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet other families in our Preschool program. We can’t wait to see you!

Meet our Incoming Preschool Director Sonja Knighton
As Sonja begins next week, her highest priority will be building relationships with our community. Please make plans to join one of the times offered below to meet Sonja, share your story, and learn more about her.

Tuesday, May 3: 4:00 pm in the Kirk Center
Thursday, May 5: 8:15 am in the Kirk Center
Friday, May 6: 8:15 am in the Kirk Center
Thursday, May 12: 12:00 pm ZOOM https://bit.ly/3y2viOD

Friday, May 13: Yearbook Distribution

Thursday, May 19: Upper Campus Spring Instrumental Concert
4:30 – 5:30 pm
US Cafe

MS Music Department (strings, band, and drums) will be performing their final concert for the 2021-2022 school year in the US Cafe beginning at 4:30 pm. Families and friends are invited to join us to enjoy the continued work of our young musicians.

Monday, May 23: Parent University with Kate Parker
9:00 – 10:00 am
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall Quad B
Kate T. Parker, a professional photographer with two daughters at MV, was fed up with the media’s prevailing imagery of girls as demure and overly feminine. “I wanted to show my girls that beauty isn’t about being a certain size or having your hair done (or even brushed, in their cases), or wearing a fancy outfit. I wanted to combat the messages the media sends to women every day. I wanted my girls to know that being themselves is beautiful and that being beautiful is about being strong.” But what about boys? Kate soon realized that their voices needed to be heard as well – not just fearless and confident and wild but also curious and kind and vulnerable. THE HEART OF A BOY, published in 2019, was a New York Times bestseller and shows the richness and diversity of boyhood from all across the country. “It’s time to discuss how to raise our sons to become good people and to talk about defining masculinity in a way that is less narrow and limiting.” 

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

We came, we saw, we Rallied! What a fun day we had on Friday! From the minute the Seniors came over to connect with our MV Littles, we saw smiles, heard laughter, and enjoyed the sweet moments. Our littles were fierce in the field races. We are proud of their sportsmanship and the way they cheered for each other. We hope you all enjoyed the family picnic and carnival games. It was great to bring back this long standing Mount Vernon tradition.

As we welcome May next week, we are also welcoming our incoming director, Sonja Knighton. Sonja’s first priority will be to engage with our students, teachers and families. She is offering four times to share a cup of coffee with you, and we hope you will join us. There are lots of opportunities for families to be on campus in May, and we are excited to see you.

Kind regards,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Monday, April 25 – Thursday, April 28: Spring PlayMaker Makeup Class Week
If your students’ PlayMaker class requires a makeup, it will take place at its regularly scheduled time during this week. The PlayMaker teacher or a member of our PlayMaker staff will let you know if your students’ class will take place during makeup week.

Wednesday, April 27: All-School Late Start
9:10 am Carpool begins
9:30 am School begins
*Childcare is not available before school begins

Wednesday, April 27: Mustang Rally T-Shirt Swaps and Sale
9:10 – 10:10 am
Lower Campus Courtyard
If you received a Mustang Rally t-shirt and would like to exchange it for a different size, you may do so during this time. Additionally, if you did not purchase a shirt, extra youth and adult sizes will be sold for $20.00 per shirt.

Friday, April 29: Mustang Rally
Check out the Rally schedule, fun facts, and frequently asked questions here. Let’s get ready to Rally!!!

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, May 2 – Saturday, May 7: MV Allstars Presents: The Spongebob Musical
All are invited to join Spongebob and all his Bikini Bottom friends in this musical phenomenon! With five chances to catch the show, you don’t want to miss out! Reserve your tickets here.

Thursday, May 5: Parent-Conference Day, No School for Students
We invite parents to come to school, meet with your child’s teachers, and see the work displayed in the hallway at our Spring Parent Conference. There is no school for students on this day. Please refer to your class’s Veracross page for the sign-up genius. We are committed to beginning and ending each conference on time to ensure all families have an opportunity to connect with the teacher.

Monday, May 9: PK2 – PK5 Rise Up Meeting
8:15 – 9:00 am
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall
Curious what next year will look like for your child? Meet us in Fellowship Hall to learn about the major focus areas of each age group. You will hear from Shelley Searcy, Head of Lower Campus and Sonja Knighton, incoming Director of Preschool. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to meet other families in our Preschool program. We can’t wait to see you!

Pending New Date in Late May: Parent University with Kate Parker
9:00 – 10:00 am
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall Quad B
Kate T. Parker, a professional photographer with two daughters at MV, was fed up with the media’s prevailing imagery of girls as demure and overly feminine. “I wanted to show my girls that beauty isn’t about being a certain size or having your hair done (or even brushed, in their cases), or wearing a fancy outfit. I wanted to combat the messages the media sends to women every day. I wanted my girls to know that being themselves is beautiful and that being beautiful is about being strong.” But what about boys? Kate soon realized that their voices needed to be heard as well – not just fearless and confident and wild but also curious and kind and vulnerable. THE HEART OF A BOY, published in 2019, was a New York Times bestseller and shows the richness and diversity of boyhood from all across the country. “It’s time to discuss how to raise our sons to become good people and to talk about defining masculinity in a way that is less narrow and limiting.” 

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

Our Preschool students have been busy creating this week. If you walk down the hallway, you might find students in Ms. Ashley and Ms. Katherine’s room designing and building forts using cardboard and straws as well as observational drawings, blueprint models, and even a food fort to learn about weight, shapes, patterns, and what makes a strong base. Their ultimate goal is to build a fort for the toddlers on the iExplore play area. And speaking of toddlers, In Ms. Kelley and Ms. Janell’s Toddler class, students are learning about seeds and making booklets about growing plants from seeds. Fine motor muscles are in action as they choose their small seeds, glue them on their booklet, and decorate with a crayon drawing.

As we move into our final month of school, we welcome our incoming Director of Preschool Sonja Knighton and can’t wait for you to meet her. We are offering several times in hopes that everyone will have an opportunity to welcome her and share what you love about our Preschool program.

Tuesday, May 3: 4:00 pm in the Kirk Center
Thursday, May 5: 8:15 am in the Kirk Center
Friday, May 6: 8:15 am in the Kirk Center
Thursday, May 12: 12:00 pm Virtual (Zoom Link)

Kind regards,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Monday, April 18: No School for Students and Faculty

Thursday, April 21: New Family Coffee
7:45 – 9:00 am
Upper Campus Green
MVPN’s New Family Chairs Amanda Woodall and Amanda Richmond invite new families who joined MV for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years to the Upper Campus Green to build community among our newest Mustangs. Come as you are, bring your morning caffeine or grab a cup from the Ground Floor coffee shop in the US Cafe. We can’t wait to see you! RSVP here.

Friday, April 22: MV Cares: MV Parent Prayer Group
8:00 – 9:00 am
Upper Campus, Upper School Patio
All are welcome to attend the last Prayer Group gathering of the school year. We will be meeting on the Upper School Patio and take a walk around the football field as we pray for our School, students, and faculty. If the weather does not allow for an outdoor gathering, we will meet in the Church Sessions Room on Lower Campus. Prayer requests may be made here.

Friday, April 22: Final Day of Spring PlayMaker Classes

Saturday, April 23: Lower Campus PlayMaker Dance Recital
3:00 pm
Upper Campus Gym
Come support dancers from the PlayMaker program as they showcase their talents in the annual Dance Recital. Admission is free and all ages are welcome to attend. This year, dancers will be celebrating the past 50 years of music, performing to songs from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, and now.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, April 25 – Thursday, April 28: Spring PlayMaker Makeup Class Week
If your students’ PlayMaker class requires a makeup, it will take place at its regularly scheduled time during this week. The PlayMaker teacher or a member of our PlayMaker staff will let you know if your students’ class will take place during makeup week.

Wednesday, April 27: All-School Late Start
9:10 am Carpool begins
9:30 am School begins
*Childcare is not available before school begins

Wednesday, April 27: Mustang Rally T-Shirt Swaps and Sale
9:10 – 10:10 am
Lower Campus Courtyard
If you received a Mustang Rally t-shirt and would like to exchange it for a different size, you may do so during this time. Additionally, if you did not purchase a shirt, extra youth and adult sizes will be sold for $20.00 per shirt.

Friday, April 29: Mustang Rally
Check out the Rally schedule, fun facts, and frequently asked questions here. Let’s get ready to Rally!!!

Tuesday, May 2 – Saturday, May 7: MV Allstars Presents: The Spongebob Musical
All are invited to join Spongebob and all his Bikini Bottom friends in this musical phenomenon! With five chances to catch the show, you don’t want to miss out! Reserve your tickets here.

Thursday, May 5: Parent-Conference Day, No School for Students
We invite parents to come to school, meet with your child’s teachers, and see the work displayed in the hallway at our Spring Parent Conference. There is no school for students on this day. Please refer to your class’s Veracross page for the sign-up genius. We are committed to beginning and ending each conference on time to ensure all families have an opportunity to connect with the teacher.

Friday, May 6: Parent University with Kate Parker
9:00 – 10:00 am
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall Quad B
Kate T. Parker, a professional photographer with two daughters at MV, was fed up with the media’s prevailing imagery of girls as demure and overly feminine. “I wanted to show my girls that beauty isn’t about being a certain size or having your hair done (or even brushed, in their cases), or wearing a fancy outfit. I wanted to combat the messages the media sends to women every day. I wanted my girls to know that being themselves is beautiful and that being beautiful is about being strong.” But what about boys? Kate soon realized that their voices needed to be heard as well – not just fearless and confident and wild but also curious and kind and vulnerable. THE HEART OF A BOY, published in 2019, was a New York Times bestseller and shows the richness and diversity of boyhood from all across the country. “It’s time to discuss how to raise our sons to become good people and to talk about defining masculinity in a way that is less narrow and limiting.” 

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

Egg hunts, bunny trails, and the Easter chapel made this a bright week in the Preschool. We learned about God’s love and the gift of his son Jesus. We celebrated that He is risen with shouts of “Hosana” and “Hallelujah!” Please check out your class’s Seesaw page for precious pictures of the celebration of Easter.

Ms. Bryanna and Ms. Alex’s PK3 class learned lots with seeds this past week. Understanding that life grows from seeds, children made observations, conducted experiments, and explored different fruits. Their final project was the creation of a giant fruit salad. Additionally, Ms. Sarah and Mrs. Kim’s PK2 class learned similar lessons about the life cycle through the study of butterflies. After watching the cocoon’s, their butterflies were released this week!

I hope you all enjoy a restful long weekend. We plan to return recharged and committed to finishing strong. Happy Easter!

Kind regards,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

WEEK OF APRIL 11 – 15

Wednesday, April 13: Deadline to Purchase Mustang Rally Chick-fil-A Lunch
The deadline has passed for Mustang Rally t-shirts, but there’s still time to order your Chick-fil-A lunches and pre-sale carnival tickets. With just three weeks to go until this highly anticipated event, be sure to place your orders by Wednesday at noon. Parent volunteers are still needed to make Rally a success – learn more and sign up here.

Thursday, April 14: Parent University with Essential Partners Part 2: Dialoguing Across Difference
8:30 – 9:30 am
Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87140045705?pwd=SmQ3VTVLTkUyemNIb2h4U0ZvR2JSUT09
Meeting ID: 871 4004 5705
Passcode: D8nghL
Essential Partners returns in conjunction with Mount Vernon faculty/staff and students to share ways in which our community has absorbed and implemented learning connected to dialogue and effective communication. With the support of faculty facilitators, students will have had the opportunity to engage in the practice of dialogue through Upper School Advisory and Middle School Community gatherings to learn more about themselves and one another. This work reflects our belief that we are #bettertogether and directly supports the advancement of IDEA. Join us to hear stories of growth and curiosity as we share moments and ways in which we’ve achieved deeper understanding across differences.

Friday, April 15 – Monday, April 18: No School for Students and Faculty

SAVE THESE DATES

Thursday, April 21: New Family Coffee
7:45 – 9:00 am
Upper Campus Green
MVPN’s New Family Chairs Amanda Woodall and Amanda Richmond invite new families who joined MV for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years to the Upper Campus Green to build community among our newest Mustangs. Come as you are, bring your morning caffeine or grab a cup from the Ground Floor coffee shop in the US Cafe. We can’t wait to see you! RSVP here.

Friday, April 22: MV Cares: MV Parent Prayer Group
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall on Lower Campus
MV parents and grandparents are invited to lift up our Mount Vernon community in prayer. Prayer requests

Saturday, April 23: Lower Campus PlayMaker Dance Recital
3:00 pm
Upper Campus Gym
Come support dancers from the PlayMaker program as they showcase their talents in the annual Dance Recital. Admission is free and all ages are welcome to attend. This year, dancers will be celebrating the past 50 years of music, performing to songs from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, and now.

Wednesday, April 27: All-School Late Start
9:10 am Carpool begins
9:30 am School begins
*Childcare is not available before school begins

Friday, April 29: Mustang Rally
Check out the Rally schedule, fun facts, and frequently asked questions here. Let’s get ready to Rally!!!

Thursday, May 5: Parent-Conference Day, No School for Students
We invite parents to come to school, meet with your child’s teachers, and see the work displayed in the hallway at our Spring Parent Conference. There is no school for students on this day. Please refer to your class’s Veracross page for the sign-up genius. We are committed to beginning and ending each conference on time to ensure all families have an opportunity to connect with the teacher.

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

Did you see some fun characters in carpool last week? Harry Potter, Snow White, Woody, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” and unicorns all joined the Preschool to promote reading and the Book Fair! It was great to see so many children and parents at our on-campus Book Fair. A highlight of the week was a book reading by author and Mount Vernon fifth grader, Ona Oli. Our littles loved hearing her story. We want to offer a special thanks to all of the volunteers who made Book Fair Week happen. We hope your child came home with some new books and an excitement to explore stories.

Our chapel message focused on the story of Palm Sunday. Complete with a cardboard donkey and construction paper palm branches, children heard the story of Jesus’s trip to Jerusalem and learned about the word Hosanna. We are looking forward to Easter Egg Hunts and our Easter Chapel next week.

Kind regards,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Monday, April 4 – Friday, April 8: Lower Campus Book Fair
7:30 am – 3:30 pm, daily
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall
The Book Fair is back! Come foster your student’s love of reading with some new exciting titles. We will be celebrating their love of reading all week with administrators dressing up as their favorite book characters, mystery readers, and additional reading time. Classes will have opportunities to visit the book fair during the week to make purchases through ewallet. Parents are also welcome to stop by the fair from 7:30 – 3:30 during this week to make purchases. Please visit our Book Fair homepage for more information.

Monday, April 4: Grandparent Reception & Tour
4:00 – 6:00 pm, Upper School Cafe Patio
Encourage your child’s grandparents to attend a reception and tour of the Upper Campus, led by incoming Head of School Kristy Lundstrom. Light refreshments will be served. Grandparents can RSVP here.

Tuesday, April 5: Last Uniform Resale of the Year
7:30 – 9:00 am
Administration Building 2, Upper Campus
Stop by for the last Uniform Resale of the year to purchase gently used uniform and spirit wear items: shirts/$5, bottoms/$10, sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters/$10. To donate gently used items, please drop off at the Administration Building on Upper Campus.

SAVE THESE DATES

Tuesday, April 12: All-School Open Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN) Meeting
The purpose of the MVPN is to build community through engagement and volunteerism, amplifying Mustang pride. The newest of the 15 committees, MV Connection, will focus on the full-circle relationships built at Mount Vernon School. Join us at either meet up to learn more about engaging in one or more of the 100+ opportunities and hear from Chief of Community Development Anne Katz and her special guest, Mustang Alum Alex Alba, Class of 2015.

Join us in person or via Zoom to learn more about the 15 committees that make up the MVPN.

In-person: 9:00 – 10:00 am, Lower Campus Fellowship Hall
Virtual: 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Zoom Link, ID: 89197797205, Passcode: Rxhcc8

Thursday, April 14: Parent University with Essential Partners Part 2: Dialoguing Across Difference
8:30 – 9:30 am
Virtual: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87140045705?pwd=SmQ3VTVLTkUyemNIb2h4U0ZvR2JSUT09
Meeting ID: 871 4004 5705
Passcode: D8nghL
Essential Partners returns in conjunction with Mount Vernon faculty/staff and students to share ways in which our community has absorbed and implemented learning connected to dialogue and effective communication. With the support of faculty facilitators, students will have had the opportunity to engage in the practice of dialogue through Upper School Advisory and Middle School Community gatherings to learn more about themselves and one another. This work reflects our belief that we are #bettertogether and directly supports the advancement of IDEA. Join us to hear stories of growth and curiosity as we share moments and ways in which we’ve achieved deeper understanding across differences.

Friday, April 15 – Monday, April 18: No School for Students and Faculty

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

Oh the places we will go!

Did you notice car seats being installed in minibusses last week and pulling off campus for children to go out into our city and make discoveries? As Preschool has launched our spring projects, we are eager for children to have real-world experiences. PK5 is curious about how to improve our own Frontier. So, they are researching natural and traditional play spaces. On their expedition to Morgan Falls, they were able to observe, climb, swing, spring, and collect data as they compare and contrast play spaces. Mrs. Ashley and Ms. Katherine’s class is passionate about forts, so they loaded up the buses to head to Big Trees Forest Preserve to find natural forts! Upon returning to campus, students built representations of their observations!

We know that when children are engaged with a topic of interest, like playgrounds and forts, communicative and linguistic experiences increase. Children are more likely to share ideas, ask questions, and have meaningful conversations. We are looking forward to the language, math, science, fine and gross motor development, and social-emotional learning that will transpire through all of our classroom projects over the next couple of months.

Our chapel message last week continued to focus on the fruit of the spirit of patience and the verse from Colossians 3:12 Since God chose you to be the holy people He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. As we await Easter Sunday, we are learning about God’s love and His gift.

Finally, thank you, thank you for all the warm notes, beautiful flowers and delicious teacher appreciation luncheon. Our teachers enjoyed all of the special treats and really feel appreciated.

All good things,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Monday, March 28 – Friday, April 1: Teacher Appreciation Week
MV’s Appreciation Committee has a baseball-themed week of events planned, culminating in a tailgate luncheon on Thursday, March 31. Please sign up to provide class coverage and monitor the Preschool lunch during the luncheon. There are also volunteer spots to help with luncheon set up, tear down, and serving lunch to the teachers. Sign-up to help set, serve, and breakdown

Room Parents will be detailing how your individual classroom will celebrate your teacher during the week, in conjunction with the school-wide events.

Thursday, March 31: Deadline to Purchase Mustang Rally T-Shirts
*Sponsors Do Not Need to Order
T-shirts for Rally are now available for purchase. Additionally, Chick-fil-A lunches and carnival tickets are now available for purchase until Wednesday, April 13. Submit your Mustang Rally order here.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, April 4 – Friday, April 8: Lower Campus Book Fair
7:30 am – 3:30 pm, daily
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall
The bookfair is back! Come foster your student’s love of reading with some new exciting titles. We will be celebrating their love of reading all week with administrators dressing up as their favorite book characters, mystery readers, and additional reading time. Classes will have opportunities to visit the book fair during the week to make purchases through ewallet. Parents are also welcome to stop by the fair from 7:30 – 3:30 during this week to make purchases. Please visit our Book Fair homepage for more information.

Monday, April 4: Grandparent Reception & Tour
4:00 – 6:00 pm, Upper School Cafe Patio
Encourage your child’s grandparents to attend a reception and tour of the Upper Campus, led by incoming Head of School Kristy Lundstrom. Light refreshments will be served. Grandparents can RSVP here.

Tuesday, April 5: Last Uniform Resale of the Year
7:30 – 9:00 am
Administration Building 2, Upper Campus
Stop by for the last Uniform Resale of the year to purchase gently used uniform and spirit wear items: Shirts/$5, Bottoms/$10, Sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters/$10. To donate gently used items, please drop off at the Administration Building on Upper Campus.

Tuesday, April 12: All-School Open Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN) Meeting
The purpose of the MVPN is to build community through engagement and volunteerism, amplifying Mustang pride. MVPN leads the charge to support learning, innovation, creativity, and fun for our entire community. From Special Events and MVXperts to Campus Engagement and MV Cares, there are 100+ ways for MV parents and grandparents to get involved at the School.

Join us in person or via Zoom to get a peek into next year and learn more about the 15 committees that make up the MVPN.
In-person: 9:00 – 10:00 am, Lower Campus Fellowship Hall
Virtual: 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Zoom Link, ID: 89197797205, Passcode: Rxhcc8

Friday, April 15 – Monday, April 18: No School for Students and Faculty

A WORD FROM YOUR HEAD OF LOWER CAMPUS

It was great to see so many Preschool families at the 1972 Society Appreciation Reception on Saturday evening. What a great event!

Next week is Teacher Appreciation week, and we have the most wonderful teachers in the business. In addition to the incredible luncheon you all are planning, let’s do all we can to show our Preschool teachers how much we value them this week. Happy emails, hugs, and thank-you’s mean so much to the incredible men and women that pour into your children each day.

All good things,
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Week of March 21: MV Serves Solidarity Pantry Food Drive
MV’s spring athletes will be at carpool this week to collect items for Solidarity Pantry. Lower Campus specific collection: pineapple, corn, mixed vegetables, canned tuna, canned chicken, and jelly. Sign up to help at carpool.

Tuesday, March 22: Deadline to Sponsor Mustang Rally
Mustang Rally (April 29) is a free family event, but there are extra perks for family/corporate sponsorships (unlimited wristbands, lunch, tshirts). Pre-sale of t-shirts, Chick-fil-A lunch tickets, and carnival tickets, will begin on March 23. Learn more here.

Wednesday, March 23: All-School Late Start
9:10 am Carpool begins
9:30 am School begins

*Childcare is not available before school begins

Friday, March 25: MV Cares: MV Parent Prayer Group
8:00 – 9:00 am in Gailey Hall on Lower Campus
MV parents and grandparents are invited to lift up our Mount Vernon community in prayer. Prayer requests

Saturday, March 26: 1972 Society Appreciation Party
More than 200 Mount Vernon families and organizations have contributed to the 1972 Society in honor of the School’s founding year. Every family that makes an initial gift, or increases their gift, to the $1,972 level or above is invited to attend.

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, March 28 – Friday, April 1: Teacher Appreciation Week
MV’s Appreciation Committee has a baseball-themed week of events planned, culminating in a tailgate luncheon on Thursday, March 31. Please sign up to provide class coverage and monitor the Preschool lunch during the luncheon. There are also volunteer spots to help with luncheon set up, tear down, and serving lunch to the teachers. Sign-up to help set, serve, and breakdown

Room Parents will be detailing how your individual classroom will celebrate your teacher during the week, in conjunction with the school-wide events.

Monday, April 4: Grandparent Reception & Tour
4:00 – 6:00 pm, Upper School Cafe Patio
Encourage your child’s grandparents to attend a reception and tour of the Upper Campus, led by incoming Head of School Kristy Lundstrom. Light refreshments will be served. Grandparents can RSVP here.

Tuesday, April 12: All-School Open Mount Vernon Parent Network Meeting
Connect with fellow MV Parents during our next All-School Open MVPN Meeting. We look forward to seeing you at one of the meetings.
In-person: 9:00 – 10:00 am, Lower Campus Fellowship Hall
Virtual: 7:00 – 8:00 pm, Zoom Link, ID: 89197797205, Passcode: Rxhcc8

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

What a fun week back from Spring Break! We enjoyed the cool mornings, warm afternoons, and even rain showers. We wanted to share a few highlights:

• Children were adjusting to the time change and back-to-school routine on Monday, but they were eager to tell stories of their adventures during Spring Break.
• On Wednesday morning, students filled the Sanctuary with praise and worship music singing, “Father Abraham.” Ms. Hayes shared a lesson on patience with us through the stories of Abraham and Sarah as well as her own family.
• Everything was rainbows, leprechauns, and green on Thursday as preschoolers walked into messy classrooms! Our creative thinkers had fun building traps and trying to catch the naughty leprechauns who were responsible for those messes.
• Fifth graders in the Lower School have been working on a design challenge to build toys for our littles, and they delivered those on Friday. It was awesome to see the Lower School students’ proudly presenting their products and the excitement of the Preschoolers to receive them. Designs included a lemonade stand, grocery story, musical instruments, and ramps.

We hope to get great participation in our collection drive next week!

All good things,
Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Preschool COVID Update
Effective March 14, the Preschool will shift the face covering protocol from required to recommended for faculty/staff members. While not required, the School will recommend wearing a face covering, in classrooms and hallways. Supporting all members of our community, we will continue to have available KN95 and standard face coverings and will offer vaccine clinics on both campuses at periodic times throughout the spring. During Chapel and other divisional large gatherings, students will be required to wear face coverings.

SAVE THESE DATES

Wednesday, March 23: All-School Late Start
9:10 am Carpool begins
9:30 am School begins
*Childcare is not available before school begins

Friday, March 25: MV Cares: MV Parent Prayer Group
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall, Lower Campus
Our MV community is invited to lift up our students and others who have needs, in prayer. At this meeting, we will reflect on our community, and pray for individuals – students and staff members by name – offering gratitude for where we are as a school and ask for grace as we build something exceptional, together. Prayer requests may be made here.

Saturday, March 26:1972 Society Appreciation Party

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

We hope that everyone enjoyed family time filled with rest, adventures, and fun over Spring Break. As we return, we are ready to see your MV Littles and hear all of the stories of the past week. We are also looking forward to what lies ahead for the remainder of the school year. What should you expect? Growth! Your little one is growing, growing and you are going to see evidence of that physical growth when you pull out the warm weather clothes. Empathy muscles are growing too. Our students have established a strong bond with their classes and are learning how to care for one another. They are also ready to apply their foundational skills to some exciting project work. You’ll hear your little one using more complex language and new vocabulary as well as recognizing patterns, quantities, comparisons, and spatial relationships. Celebrate this growth with your child, and enjoy teachable moments at home. See you tomorrow!

All good things,
Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Preschool COVID Landscape
The following reflects the COVID landscape as of Friday, February 25.

	Preschool Students	Lower Campus & Upper Campus Employees
C19 Positive	0 out of 118	0 out of 265

 

Tuesday, March 1: Uniform Resale
7:30 – 9:00 am
Administration Building 2, Upper Campus
Stop by the Uniform Resale to purchase gently used uniform and spirit wear items: Shirts/$5, Bottoms/$10, Sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters/$10. The Uniform Resale is open the first Tuesday of each month. If you are able and interested, please consider becoming a Uniform Resale volunteer. Bring your friends or make new ones at this fun and easy one-time volunteer opportunity. As a bonus – parent volunteers will have the first pick of inventory! Sign up here.

SAVE THESE DATES

March 7 – March 11: Spring Break, No School

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

As the month of February comes to a close, we are reflecting on God’s love and how we love one another. Our children have studied the contributions of African Americans and learned about traditions surrounding the Lunar New Year. One of our favorite experiences was hearing Upper School students read books about the contributions of African Americans through American history. You may view videos at home with your family by clicking here.

In visual arts, the students studied Faith Ringold, a black author and illustrator who is best known for her story quilts. Students made their own quilt squares from cardstock and fun foam.

Their creations will be on display in the STEAM wing of the Activities Building. Next time you are on campus we encourage you to check them out.

All good things,
Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Engage as an MVPN Parent Volunteer in 2022-23
The Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN) relies on family volunteers to help the School build connections through community, while enhancing the student experience. Make a school-wide impact through athletics, arts, social events, service, MVXperts, and more, from home or on campus. Sign up for specific positions/committees for the 2022-2023 school year. Please contact Director of Community Impact Hunter Pierce for more information – [email protected].

Made in MV Spirit Shop
Engage in the Upper School with students, teachers, and other parents by volunteering for a short shift in the Made in MV Spirit Shop. Be some of the first to see the newest spirit wear and gear. Training is quick and easy! Contact Teresa Campbell at [email protected] with questions.

• Tuesday mornings, 7:30 – 9:00 am
• Wednesday afternoons, 2:30 – 4:00 pm
• Thursdays at lunch, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Monday, February 21: No School 

Tuesday, February 22: Jazz Night, All Ages Welcome
6:30 – 8:30 pm
Upper School Cafe
Join us for Jazz Night featuring live music, dancing, and food. This event is free to all. Swing dance lessons begin at 6:30 pm with live music from Middle School students, the Upper School Fabulous Mustangs, and professional jazz musicians starting at 7:00. Reserve your free tickets here.

Friday, February 25: MV Cares: MV Parent Prayer Group
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall, Lower Campus
Our MV community is invited to lift up our students and others who have needs, in prayer. At this meeting, we will reflect on our community, and pray for individuals – students and staff members by name – offering gratitude for where we are as a school and ask for grace as we build something exceptional, together. Prayer requests may be made here.

SAVE THESE DATES

Tuesday, March 1: Uniform Resale
7:30 – 9:00 am
Administration Building 2, Upper Campus
Stop by the Uniform Resale to purchase gently used uniform and spirit wear items: Shirts/$5, Bottoms/$10, Sweatshirts, jackets, sweaters/$10. The Uniform Resale is open the first Tuesday of each month.

March 7 – March 11: Spring Break, No School for Students

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

Last week was filled with acts of kindness and expressions of love. Thank you to all of our families who shared words of encouragement and gifts of appreciation.

This week in chapel, Ms. Mavi shared her Nigerian heritage with us, dressed in a gele (a traditional headdress) and iro (long wrap skirt) all made out of Nigerian silk. She told the story of “The Tortoise, the Leopard, and the Bush Rat” and celebrated the richness of her african-american heritage while sharing God’s love. Together, students sang along and danced to a video of “Be Exalted” by the Watoto Children’s Choir, seeing children their age praising their same God on a completely different continent.

On Friday, while you all began your long weekend, our Preschool and Kindergarten teachers participated in an in-depth project approach training to enhance our robust learning experiences for our students this spring. The project approach prioritizes students’ curiosities and passions, optimizes deep learning, and sets the conditions for collaboration, creative thinking, and impact making.

We hope you all enjoyed your long weekend. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

All good things,
Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Preschool COVID Landscape

The following reflects the COVID landscape as of Friday, February 11.

	Preschool Students	Lower Campus & Upper Campus Employees
C19 Positive	0 out of 118	0 out of 265

As a reminder, effective February 14, the School will shift the face covering protocol from required to recommended for all students and faculty/staff members in Preschool through Grade 12. While not required, the School will recommend wearing a face covering, in classrooms and hallways. Supporting all members of our community, we will continue to have available KN95 face coverings and will offer vaccine clinics on both campuses at periodic times throughout the spring. For the time being, Preschool teachers will continue to wear face coverings in classrooms and hallways while caring for Preschool students inside facility spaces. During Chapel and other divisional large gatherings, students will be required to wear face coverings.

Friday, February 18 – Monday, February 21: No School for Students

 

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, February 25: MV Cares: MV Parent Prayer Group
8:00 – 9:00 am
Gailey Hall, Lower Campus

We invite all parents, grandparents, and caregivers to help lift up our Mount Vernon community in prayer. At each meeting, we reflect on a very relevant and timely devotion and pray for different MV students, faculty, and staff members by name. Prayer requests may be made here.

March 7 – March 11: Spring Break, No School for Students

 

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

What an incredible night of community and fun at our MVat50 Benefit Gala. Thanks to the generous donations at this event, our Preschool Mustangs will be able to enjoy field experiences and expeditions to complement their learning on new Mount Vernon buses!

This past week our Preschool students enjoyed continuing the chapel message that God teaches us to show love and kindness to all friends by celebrating specific characteristics of their classmates through card writing; thank you to our parents who joined in the fun! Our students also innovated the card-making process using the new medium of oil pastels, as well as stamping and building new shapes, to celebrate those they love. Be sure to swing by the STEAM wing of the Activities building the next time you are on campus to see our exhibitions of student-designed stained glass.

All good things,
Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

 

COMMUNITY UPDATES

Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN)
As members of the Mount Vernon community – parents and grandparents are automatically a part of the MVPN, which works to promote a strong sense of community by encouraging MV families to Learn, Serve and Give. We provide our families the opportunity to support each other, as well as faculty and staff in an informed, welcoming environment. Our success is grounded in a shared mission, supportive community and strong parent participation.

Please complete this form to indicate your interest in getting more involved in the MVPN next school year. Please contact Director of Community Impact Hunter Pierce – [email protected] – with any questions.

Made in MV Spirit Shop
Located in the Upper School Building
Store Hours:

• Tuesday, 7:30 – 9:00 am
• Wednesday, 2:30 – 4:00 pm
• Thursday, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm

Apple Pay, Credit Card, or electronic invoice via email available. In the Made in MV shop you can find men’s and women’s apparel, youth and toddler apparel, winter hats, leather goods, water bottles, umbrellas, aluminum MV car badges, and more.

Contact Teresa Campbell at [email protected] with any questions.

Uniform Resale
Located in Administration Building 2, Upper Campus
First Tuesday of every month, 7:30 – 9:00 am

Purchase gently used uniform and spirit wear items:

• Shirts/$5
• Bottoms/$10
• Sweatshirts, Jackets, Sweaters/$10

Wednesday, February 9: Virtual Grandparent Coffee
10:00 – 11:00 am
Zoom Link
ID: 87266610410
Passcode: wCDk9c
Please invite your students’ Grandparents & Special Friends to join us from the comfort of their own homes for this virtual event. Director of Visual and Performing Arts Matt Neylon will be joining the call to share more about the School’s integrated art strategy across all four divisions.

Wednesday, February 9 – Friday, February 11: Middle School Sketch Show
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Middle School BlackBox
The Mustang Musical Sketch Show is a hilarious mash-up of short student-written comedy sketches and some musical numbers – it’s like “Saturday Night Live” meets “Studio C” meets “Glee.” Don’t miss out!

Thursday, February 10: All-School Open Mount Vernon Parent Network Meeting
Two opportunities to participate – in person or virtual
Connect with fellow MV Parents during our All-School Open MVPN Meeting. Our incoming Head of School, Kristy Lundstrom will share her vision for next year, and Chief Community Development Officer Anne Katz will update us on our growing community and share more about how to get involved. You will also hear from several of the School’s most engaged parent volunteers who inspire us to Learn, Serve, and Give every day. From boots on the ground to behind the scenes support, MV parents are the core of our community. We look forward to seeing you at one of our meetings. Please RSVP for the meeting(s) that you will attend.

IN PERSON
9:00 – 10:00 am
Lower Campus Fellowship Hall

VIRTUAL
7:00 – 8:00 pm
Zoom Link, ID: 89972634786 / Passcode: 806488

 

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, February 18 – Monday, February 21: No School for Students

 

RECAP

PARENT UNIVERSITY RECAP: Courage, Connection, and Resilience with Rachel Simmons
Watch the full recording in the Veracross Parent Portal. Rachel is a bestselling author, educator and executive coach helping people to be more authentic, assertive and resilient. As a regular on Good Morning America, she shares her expertise with MV families on how to navigate parenting tweens and teens through times that are more turbulent than ever.

“This was such a relevant Parent University for daily conversations in our home. I feel better equipped to empower my Kindergartener to communicate and self-advocate as she faces friendship challenges now and in the future.” – Kindergarten parent Jacki Fink

 

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

It is a time of continued celebration in the Preschool. Some of our students are sharing about how their families celebrate Lunar New Year and others are describing Mardi Gras traditions. We are all celebrating Black History Month, and we will talk about love and friendship on Valentine’s Day. Finally, it was great to see so many parents at the Gala to celebrate Mount Vernon’s 50th year. Thank you for all of your support.

Thank you for entrusting us with the care of your children. We see each child loving school, learning, and growing. Our Preschoolers are mastering foundational skills, building relationships, and increasing their curiosities, and last week three Upper School students signed athletic letters of intent on #NationalSigningDay to play in college. Their coaches spoke about each athlete’s character, effort, and heart. It’s great to be a Mount Vernon Mustang!

All good things,

Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Thursday, January 13: Parent University with Dr. Lisa Damour: Helping Children and Teenagers Manage Challenging Emotions in Challenging Times
9:00 – 10:00 am
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85081015382?pwd=cytxT1N3Z1VmNm03U1FsTXI2Y3VXUT09
Meeting ID: 850 8101 5382
Passcode: GiN3Hf
Dr. Lisa Damour explains the psychological science key to understanding how stress and anxiety operate, both under everyday conditions and at times of heightened concern and disruption. Join us to learn more about how we can:

• help kids develop adaptive strategies for managing intense emotions
• address the specific challenges which come with each stage of development

Recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association for her work on stress and anxiety, Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls.

 

SAVE THESE DATES

Monday, January 17: No School for Students

Wednesday, January 19: MV Cares, Parent Prayer Group
8:45 – 9:30 am
Gailey Hall, Lower Campus
We invite all parents, grandparents, and caregivers to help lift up our Mount Vernon community in prayer. At each meeting, we reflect on a very relevant and timely devotion and pray for different MV students, faculty, and staff members by name. Prayer requests may be made here.

Monday, January 24 – Monday, February 7: Perennial Enrollment Period
More information to come.

Saturday, February 5: The MVat50 Benefit
}7:00 – 11:00 pm
Guardian Works
755 Echo St NE
The MVat50 Benefit Gala will be here before we know it on Saturday, February 5 at Guardian Works in Midtown. Volunteers are planning a spectacular night for our community and you will not want to miss it – dress is cocktail attire. Dance to live music by the band Yacht Rock Schooner, enjoy heavy appetizers followed by dinner, and bid on unique experiences and items through both a silent and live auction. Get your tickets now! 

More event information.

Wine/Bourbon Drive for MVat50 Benefit Gala
The MVat50 Benefit event Parent Co-Chairs are looking for donations of high-end quality bottles of bourbon and/or wine for the MVat50 Benefit Gala. The donations will be used at the event in the Wine/Bourbon Toss game.

If you would like to donate a bottle of wine or bourbon they are looking for a variety of labels that range at $50/bottle and above.

The event chairs will be at the morning and afternoon carpools on Lower Campus on Thursday, January 13 to collect any donated bottles. On Upper Campus they will be at morning and afternoon carpool on Friday, January 14 to collect donations.

Please reach out to the co-chairs with questions:
Ashley Giardino
Marci Ehrlich
Ashly Cox 

 

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

Our preschoolers are growing, growing. They returned from Christmas break inches taller and with exciting stories of adventure and wonder. We have enjoyed reuniting with our friends and revisiting our classroom norms and routines. Expectations will increase during this second semester, and your children have shown they are ready for new academic challenges, additional responsibilities, and more opportunities to make an impact.

While we see school locally and around the world going back to virtual learning, we are grateful that Mount Vernon remains open for on-campus learning. We know the importance of being in the classroom with teachers for social-emotional development, multisensory approaches to learning, and having fun. Thank you for supporting the School’s protocols, which enable us to keep our doors open.

Finally, there are two events we want to make sure you do not miss. We encourage you to attend Dr. Damour’s Parent University on Thursday. With the health and well-being of our youngest at the forefront of our attention, she has great insight and tools for parenting during these stressful times. Also, the MVat50 Benefit Gala will be on Saturday, February 5 at Guardian Works in Midtown. This is a great opportunity to connect as a community and have fun!

All good things,

Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

COVID Landscape

Due to the current COVID surge present in the Mount Vernon community, all faculty/staff members and students are required to wear face coverings, as the School temporarily shifts the protocols for the health and well-being of our entire community. For more information, be sure to read the email from December 28.

Monday, January 3: No School for Students

 

SAVE THESE DATES

Thursday, January 13: Parent University with Dr. Lisa Damour: Helping Children and Teenagers Manage Challenging Emotions in Challenging Times
8:30 – 9:30 am
*Zoom Information to come 
Upper School Blackbox Theater
Dr. Lisa Damour explains the psychological science key to understanding how stress and anxiety operate, both under everyday conditions and at times of heightened concern and disruption. Join us to learn more about how we can:

• cultivate and protect kids’ psychological health
• help kids develop adaptive strategies for managing intense emotions
• address the specific challenges which come with each stage of development

Recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association for her work on stress and anxiety, Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of two New York Times best-selling books, Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood and Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls.

Monday, January 17: No School for Students

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: LEARN, SERVE, GIVE

MVFund
Through the month of December, more than 250 families answered the call to contribute to the MVFund, joining the 450 families already participating in the School’s annual giving campaign. All families are asked to participate to help the School meet its commitment to enhance the experience for every student at MV through a variety of projects to improve the fields our students compete on, the stages they perform on, the unique spaces they learn in, and even the buses they travel in. Every student on both campuses benefit from this year’s Mount Vernon Fund.

MV Impact
Did you know that if each MV Family serves at least 50 hours, we will exceed our goal of 50,000 volunteer hours during our 50th anniversary of Mount Vernon School! To date, the heart of service in our MV Community has reached individuals and organizations in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri, and California and have accumulated 32,081.75 of volunteer impact hours! Thank you for sharing your time, talent, and treasure with worthy causes all over the world.

Engagement
There are many opportunities to get involved throughout the second half of this school year. Volunteer your time and talent while you make new friends! View all of our current volunteer opportunities or contact Hunter Pierce at [email protected] to learn more.
Currently, we are looking for volunteers to help in Lower School through the end of the year, weekly or bi-weekly. The teachers could use a break at lunchtime and parents could join their children in the cafeteria. This is a great way to show appreciation to our teachers…just a short block of time per week! Lunchtime Support for LS Teachers

Events

Thursday, February 10: Open Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN) meeting
9:00 – 10:00 am in person
7:00 – 8:00 pm on Zoom
All MV community members including parents, grandparents, faculty, and staff are invited to join this open meeting to hear from existing Network Chairs to learn how the Parent Network operates, how to get involved and engaged from helping at events to participating in the MVXperts program, and what the Network with look like in the 2022-2023 school year.

Saturday, March 26: 1972 Society Appreciation Social
In honor of Mount Vernon’s founding year, those families who contribute gifts of $1,972 and higher to the MVFund become members of the 1972 Society, reflecting our Mount Vernon community’s strong legacy of giving. We look forward to celebrating all 1972 Society members at the 1972 Society Appreciation Social on Saturday, March 26.

Saturday, February 5: The MVat50 Benefit
7:00 – 11:00 pm
Guardian Works
755 Echo St NE
Tickets and sponsorships are going fast for the MVat50 Benefit – be sure to reserve yours today. You can find more detailed information about the Benefit here, as well as on Instagram and Facebook.

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

Happy New Year! We hope your family enjoyed a restful and happy holiday season. The Christmas Arts Showcase certainly put us in the spirit, and we hope to continue to be filled with joy all year long.

As a reminder, there is no school for students tomorrow. Teachers will be back on campus engaged in professional learning as well as making exciting plans to welcome students back and capitalize on the routines and foundations that were established in the first semester. January and February provide a long stretch of uninterrupted instructional time, and we look forward to seeing exponential growth in our students’ achievement during these months. Please continue to ask your child, “What did you learn today?” “Did you try something new?” and “How were you a good friend today?” Additionally, look for posts on Seesaw to give you a glimpse into your child’s progress. Let’s make 2022 a year to remember!

All good things,

Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

COVID LANDSCAPE
The following reflects the COVID landscape as of Friday, December 3, 2021.
Preschool COVID Positive: 1 out of 114
Lower & Upper Campus Employees: 0 out of 257

Monday, December 6 – Wednesday, December 15: Toys for Tots Drive
Students are encouraged to donate a new, unwrapped toy to Toys for Tots in partnership with the United States Marine Corps. On Wednesday, December 15, the drive will culminate with a special Toys for Tots chapel on each campus where members of the USMC are expected to be present to accept the donated toys. Lower Campus toy collection will take place in each classroom, while Upper Campus collections will take place at each respective front desk.

Wednesday, December 8: All-School Late Start
9:10 am Carpool begins
9:30 am School begins
*Childcare is not available before school begins 

Thursday, December 9: Parent University – Parenting in a Tech World: Live Q&A
8:15 – 9:15 am
Fellowship Hall, Lower Campus
Please join Chief Parent Officer Titania Jordan and Vice President of Business Development Matt McKee, co-authors of Parenting in a Tech World and leaders at Bark.us, as they answer families’ questions live and in-person. Although Preschool through Upper School families are invited to attend, this event is most applicable for families of children in grades 4-12.

Friday, December 10: Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic for ages 5-11
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Fellowship Hall
MV has partnered with a local pediatrician’s office and pediatric nurses from CHOA to offer a Pfizer COVID vaccine clinic for students ages 5 – 11. Prior to the clinic, please sign up here.

 

SAVE THESE DATES

Tuesday, December 14: Christmas Arts Showcase
6:00 – 9:30 pm
Upper Campus
Join us for our 10th Annual Christmas Arts Showcase on Tues, Dec 14. Visitors will be guided on a 90-minute immersive tour with short performances, visual art installations, showcases of learning, virtual reality, hot cocoa and more. Mount Vernon’s creativity will be on full display as our instrumental and vocal ensembles, dance teams, theatre troupes, VR club, and iDiploma programs join forces to create a truly unforgettable experience. Get your tickets today here.

Wednesday, December 15: MV Cares, Parent Prayer Group
8:45 – 9:30 am
Gailey Hall, Lower Campus
We invite all parents, grandparents, and caregivers to help lift up our Mount Vernon community in prayer. At each meeting, we reflect on a very relevant and timely devotion and pray for different MV students, faculty, and staff members by name. Prayer requests may be made here.

Thursday, December 16: Lower Campus Christmas Arts Showcase
8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Lower Campus, Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church Sanctuary
Mount Vernon Lower Campus parents, grandparents, and special friends are invited for a morning of performances. Check out the schedule below to see when your student(s) will be performing.
8:30 – 9:00 am – Preschool
10:00 – 10:30 am – Grades 2-3
12:15 – 12:45 pm – Kindergarten & Grade 1
1:30 – 2:00 pm – Grades 4-5

Friday, December 17 – Monday, January 3: School Break

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: LEARN, SERVE, GIVE

Make an End-of-Year Impact: MVFund
With the end of the calendar year fast approaching, we invite you to make an impact with a year-end gift! Thank you to these 400+ families that have already contributed to the MVFund, the School’s annual giving campaign.

Please make a gift or pledge to the MV Fund to provide additional learning opportunities and expedite key projects. As a reminder, you have until June 30, 2022, to fulfill your pledge for 2021-22. Thank you in advance for your generosity and participation!

The MVat50 Benefit
Tickets and sponsorships are going fast for the MVat50 Benefit – be sure to reserve yours today. You can find more detailed information about the Benefit here, as well as on Instagram and Facebook. Proceeds from ticket sales, as well as both the silent and live auctions, will benefit our entire community by providing the opportunity to purchase a new fleet of buses for the School. Don’t miss your chance to attend this event!

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

Last week was a festive week in the Preschool as we entered into December. We appreciate the parent volunteers who decked our halls as everything is looking jolly and bright. Thank you. In addition to the trees, lights, and reindeer, Mr. Greg’s Musical Madness came to campus to host a concert on our Frontier. This special program provided music, movement, and laughter to promote kindness, teamwork, and belonging. Be sure to ask your preschooler about it.

All good things,

Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

COVID LANDSCAPE
The following reflects the COVID landscape as of Friday, October 22.
Lower School COVID Positive: 0 out of 351
Lower & Upper Campus Employees: 0 out of 257

Tuesday, October 26
Parent University, 8:30 – 9:30 am – Affinity and Alliance Program at Mount Vernon School (virtual only) Join via Zoom
Mount Vernon norms call upon community members to start with questions and to share the well. These actions make a difference for individuals, and research shows that when individuals are able to gather in groups where they see themselves reflected, the questions and sharing take on new meaning and deeper impact toward positive ends. In this academic year, the Mount Vernon School will begin hosting Affinity Group gatherings for members of our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. As a school grounded in Christian values, we draw upon sound research, stories, and experiences of our students, alumni, and families in the action of convening these affinity groups. Join Stacey Lee, Mount Vernon’s Chief IDEA Officer to experience, first-hand, the ways in which the design of Affinity Groups will enhance our school community.

Wednesday, October 27
New Family Drop-In Coffee, 7:45 – 9:15 am
MVPN’s New Family Chairs Amanda Woodall and Amanda Richmond invite new families who joined MV in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 to the Upper Campus Green to build community among our newest Mustangs. Come as you are, bring your morning caffeine, or grab a cup of coffee at the Ground Floor Coffee Shop in the US Cafe.

Thursday, October 28
Veracross Parent Portal Hands-on Workshop for Lower Campus, 11:45 – 12:45 pm
Families are invited on-campus to learn more about the Veracross system, including a hands-on tutorial on the many capabilities of the platform: subscribe to your student’s class schedule, update your profile information, find families within a 10-mile radius, donate to the MV Fund, link to key resources, and much more. Meeting will take place in the Lower Campus Church Session Room.

Thursday, October 28
Preschool Costume Parade, 10:00 am
Preschool parents are invited to join in the fun as young Mustangs parade around the Lower Campus courtyard in their Halloween costumes. The parade happens quickly, so please be in place by 10:00 am, and have your cameras ready.

Thursday, October 28
Portrait Retakes RESCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2
On October 28, School Portrait Retakes will be taken on Lower Campus from 8:20-11:20 am and on Upper Campus from 8:20 am – 3:30 pm. If you would like your student to retake photo, sign up at mountvernonschool.org/retakes. If your student was absent on the original Portrait Day, you should have received a separate email from the School and do not need to sign up using the above form. Should you have any questions, please contact Reagan Langston at [email protected].

Friday, October 29
No School for Students/Lower Campus Fall Parent Conference Day
As we near the end of the first trimester, we look forward to the opportunity to share your child’s progress with you at our Fall Parent Conference. There is no school for students on this day, but save the date. If you have not already signed up, please refer to your class’s Veracross page for the sign-up genius. We are committed to beginning and ending each conference on time to ensure all families have an opportunity to connect with the teacher.

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, November 5: Early Dismissal
The Mustang Varsity Football Team is hosting their final regular season game of the year. Since we don’t have field lights, games typically start earlier, later in the season. With a 3:00 pm start time, carpool, parking, guests, and other logistics impact both campuses. On November 5, the Preschool will have an early dismissal at 1:30 pm. Extended Play will also be available until 6:00 pm.

• 1:30 Preschool and Lower School Dismissal
• 1:45 Upper School Dismissal
• 2:00 Middle School Dismissal

Thursday, November 11: Vaccine Clinic

Friday, November 12: Managing and Monitoring K-12 Children’s Online Presence
Hosted by Katie Cain and Bark
Register for webinar here
From 9:00 – 10:00 am, Katie Cain and our partners at Bark will share strategies and resources for managing children’s online presence. From school-issued iPads to personal cell phones, from web filters to parental controls, we aim to equip families with resources to confidently approach technology use with their children/teenagers.

Friday, November 19: Grandparents/Special Friends Day
This is an early release day prior to Thanksgiving break. The invitation and schedule for the event will be sent in late October. The School is sending personal invitations to each student’s grandparents and/or special friends based on the information you provided.

 

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

We appreciate those of you who participated in our Parent University last week: CBE: How might we better understand what assessment looks like at Mount Vernon. First of all, it was just great to be together on campus. Secondly, with parent conferences and progress reports right around the corner, we thought it was important to explain the why, how, and when of the Preschool’s approach to assessment in our Competency-Based Education model.

As shared in the Parent U, Mount Vernon focuses on foundational knowledge, developmental skills, and the dispositions of learners, thinkers, and designers at school. To learn more about this, we compared traditional report cards to the competency-based reports that Preschool uses which reveal more detailed information about each child’s development, position students for growth, and have high expectations for mastery. We are excited for you to meet with your child’s teacher next week and to review the progress report. We hope you use both experiences as a catalyst for a conversation with your child about goals for the next trimester.

All good things,
Caroline Diaz

Director of Preschool
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

COVID LANDSCAPE
In case you missed it, be sure to review November 3 COVID letter to PS-Grade 6. The following reflects the COVID landscape as of Friday, November 5.
Preschool COVID Positive: 0 out of 114
Lower & Upper Campus Employees: 0 out of 257

Thursday, November 11: Vaccine Clinic
11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Middle School Lightbox
The next vaccine clinic is scheduled for Thursday, November 11 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm located on the Upper Campus, MS Lightbox. This clinic will be available to employees and students ages 12+ wanting the Pfizer vaccine or booster.

Friday, November 12: Managing and Monitoring K-12 Children’s Online Presence
9:00 – 10:00 am
Hosted by Katie Cain and Bark
Register for webinar here
Back by popular demand, Katie Cain and our partners at Bark will share strategies and resources for managing children’s online presence. From school-issued iPads to personal cell phones, from web filters to parental controls, we aim to equip families with resources to confidently approach technology use with their children/teenagers.

 

SAVE THESE DATES

Tuesday, November 16 – 18: Upper Campus Production of Little Women the Musical
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Mount Vernon Studios is thrilled to bring you Little Women. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s life, Little Women follows the adventures of sisters Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more from her life experiences. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of herself and her sisters and their lives growing up in Civil War America. Reserve your tickets here.

Thursday, November 18: MV Grandparents Reception at the Night of the Arts
All Grandparents have received an invitation to a Grandparents only reception from 5:30-6:30. This will take place prior to the performance of Little Women. Please RSVP and reserve your tickets through the Paperless Post Invitation.

Friday, November 19: Early Release for Students
11:15 am
Please note that G2 – G5 carpool begins at 11:30, and older students who carpool with a PS – G1 student will be released at 11:15 to join younger siblings. Extended Play will not be available.

Friday, November 19: Grandparents/Special Friends Day
The invitation and schedule for the event was sent in late October. The School sent personal invitations to each student’s grandparents and/or special friends based on the information parents provided.

Help Needed for Grandparents and Special Friends Day
With so many moving parts, parent assistance is needed to make this event a success. Please sign up to be a parent volunteer the morning of November 19, indicating the role that best suits you. Volunteers will help by greeting and guiding our visitors around Lower Campus during the event. All parent volunteers will receive a green MV Volunteer t-shirt to wear for the event.

November 29: Authentic Connections: Virtual Lunch and Learn
11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Join Zoom Here
The Mount Vernon School is advancing its mission by engaging all students – through stories, experiences, data, and research serving as guides. As a result of the pandemic, MV students have had to adjust to a variety of circumstances, learn to be agile, and develop resilience. Partnering with Authentic Connections to collect and analyze data, we will be able to strengthen our focus on supporting well-being and resilience within our students. Join us virtually to hear from experts regarding trends and best practices for supporting adolescents through these unique times.

Wednesday, December 1: Rising PK5 & Kindergarten Information Meeting
8:15 – 9:00 am
Fellowship Hall
Do you ever wonder what happens after Preschool? We would like to invite our Preschool families to come to the Lower School and get a glimpse of Mount Vernon’s kindergarten program. Many things will look familiar like a child-centered, curiosity-driven experience. However, some things look different, like uniforms, the cafeteria, and more connections classes. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 8:15 then set out on a Learning Walk to see the faces and spaces of the Lower School.

Wednesday, December 1: Vaccine Clinic
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Middle School Lightbox

 

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

It has been fun to host so many parents on campus recently. From our Frontier Playdate to Parent-Teacher Conferences to Parent University, thank you for your support and partnership. As requested, here is the slide deck from the Birds and the Bee’s Presentation. It is always wonderful to have parents on campus seeing the learning that is happening.

Additionally, we hope you have all had an opportunity to review your child’s trimester one progress report. As a reminder, to access the progress report, navigate to the Parent Portal: https://portals.veracross.com/mountvernon/parent. Then scroll down to the My Children section and click the reports tab for your student, then click the link to launch the report.

Finally, please ask your child about the Cardboard Challenge! On Friday all Preschoolers had the opportunity to complete a lap in design thinking. After making observations of their world to identify needs, children were given cardboard materials and tools to sketch, design, prototype and build. We worked on giving and receiving feedback, and, of course, having fun! It was a great way to close out the first week in November.

All good things,

Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

Tuesday, November 2: Parent University — Talking to Children about the Birds and the Bees
8:15 – 9:15 am
Hosted by Mary Flo Ridley
Lower Campus, Fellowship Hall
Mary Flo Ridley is an expert in discussing sex with children in a healthy way. If you want your child to learn about sex from you – not their friends or the internet, to handle this differently than your parents did, but don’t know how, want CLEAR direction and a PLAN to tackle this topic, to build open and safe communication in your family, and/or to protect your kids from the sex saturated culture, you will want to hear what Mary Flo advises. Her program, Birds & Bees, will empower you, as parents, to have difficult conversations about basic biology.

Tuesday, November 2 – Uniform Resale
7:30 – 9:00 am
Administration Building 2, Upper Campus
Stop by Uniform Resale on the first Tuesday of each month to pick up lightly used uniform and spirit wear items.

Tuesday, November 2: School Portrait Makeup Date
Due to the forecast for rain, we will be moving Retake Picture Day to Tuesday, November 2. School Portrait Retakes will be taken on Lower Campus from 8:20-11:20 am. If you would like your student to retake their photo, sign up here. If your student was absent on the original Portrait Day, you should have received a separate email from the School and do not need to sign up using the above form. Should you have any questions, please contact Reagan Langston at [email protected]

Thursday, November 4: PlayMaker Registration Opens
Registration for PlayMaker (after school enrichment classes) for spring opens November 4 in Veracross. Registration will take place on the Veracross Parent Portal. Classes fill quickly, so registering early is encouraged. Prior to registration, you can review the PlayMaker course selection catalog here. The deadline to register is November 18.

Thursday, November 4 – Saturday, November 6: Middle School Production of Puffs
The School of Magic is coming to Mount Vernon – Don’t miss an opportunity to see PUFFS or: Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic. For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs… who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. This show is appropriate for all ages. Reserve your tickets here. 

Friday, November 5: Early Dismissal
The Mustang Varsity Football Team is hosting their final regular season game of the year. Since we don’t have field lights, games typically start earlier, later in the season. With a 3:00 pm kickoff, carpool, parking, guests, and other logistics impact both campuses. On November 5, the Preschool will have an early dismissal at 1:30 pm. Extended Play run 1:30 pm until 6:00 pm. No PlayMaker classes will be held on this day. Rather, classes will be made up on Friday, December 10.

• 1:30 Preschool and Lower School Dismissal
• 1:45 Upper School Dismissal
• 2:00 Middle School Dismissal

 

SAVE THESE DATES

Thursday, November 11: Vaccine Clinic

Friday, November 12: Managing and Monitoring K-12 Children’s Online Presence
9:00 – 10:00 am
Hosted by Katie Cain and Bark
Register for webinar here
Back by popular demand, Katie Cain and our partners at Bark will share strategies and resources for managing children’s online presence. From school-issued iPads to personal cell phones, from web filters to parental controls, we aim to equip families with resources to confidently approach technology use with their children/teenagers.

Friday, November 19: Grandparents/Special Friends Day
This is an early release day prior to Thanksgiving break. The invitation and schedule for the event was sent in late October. The School sent personal invitations to each student’s grandparents and/or special friends based on the information parents provided.

Help Needed for Grandparents and Special Friends Day
With so many moving parts, parent assistance is needed to make this event a success. Please sign up to be a parent volunteer the morning of November 19, indicating the role that best suits you. Volunteers will help by greeting and guiding our visitors around Lower Campus during the event. All parent volunteers will receive a green MV Volunteer t-shirt to wear for the event.

November 29: Authentic Connections: Virtual Lunch and Learn
11:45 am – 12:45 pm
Join Zoom Here
The Mount Vernon School is advancing its mission by engaging all students – through stories, experiences, data, and research serving as guides. As a result of the pandemic, MV students have had to adjust to a variety of circumstances, learn to be agile, and develop resilience. Partnering with Authentic Connections to collect and analyze data, we will be able to strengthen our focus on supporting well-being and resilience within our students. Join us virtually to hear from experts regarding trends and best practices for supporting adolescents through these unique times.

 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: LEARN, SERVE, GIVE

Connect to and with our MV Community through volunteer engagement, impact projects, and service learning. The Mount Vernon Parent Network (MVPN) works to promote a strong sense of community by encouraging families to Learn, Serve and Give. Our success is grounded in a shared mission, supportive community, and strong parent participation.

The MV Fund: Make a significant impact in the School’s 50th year by supporting our annual giving campaign, Mount Vernon Fund, with a gift or pledge. Your contribution helps the School provide additional learning opportunities, while accelerating key projects this school year.

In honor of the School’s 50th year, please consider contributing a $5050 anniversary gift. Learn more about how to make an impact in our 50th year.

The MVat50 Benefit
Plan to join us on Saturday, February 5, for an evening of fellowship with a purpose. Tickets will go on sale next week. All proceeds from sponsorships and auctions will benefit our entire community by providing the School the ability to purchase a new fleet of buses, allowing students to take advantage of expeditionary learning, athletes to travel to away games, and artists to take shows on the road. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities for The Benefit here.

 

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

The fall season has officially kicked off our holiday learning experiences in the Preschool. Exploring falling temperatures, the changing Frontier garden, different clothing choices, and a variety of holidays allow children to understand more about their own identity. Holidays also prompt conversations around similarities and differences.

Throughout October, children have observed pumpkins, shucked corn, planted seeds, and, of course dressed up for the Annual Preschool Costume Parade. Literacy, math, science, social studies, creating thinking, innovation, and art have all been taught the real-world context of fall and Halloween. Thank you to all of our families who attended the Halloween parade. You were our sunshine! We hope you have a fun and safe weekend.

All good things,

Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

COMING UP THIS WEEK IN PRESCHOOL: OCTOBER 4 – 8

Monday, October 4
Global Read Aloud Kickoff

Tuesday, October 5

Wednesday, October 6
8:10-8:30 Chapel

Thursday, October 7

Friday, October 8: NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, October 26
Parent University, 8:30 – 9:30 am – Affinity and Alliance Program at Mount Vernon School (virtual only) Join via Zoom

Mount Vernon norms call upon community members to start with questions and to share the well. These actions make a difference for individuals, and research shows that when individuals are able to gather in groups where they see themselves reflected, the questions and sharing take on new meaning and deeper impact toward positive ends. In this academic year, the Mount Vernon School will begin hosting Affinity Group gatherings for members of our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. As a school grounded in Christian values, we draw upon sound research, stories, and experiences of our students, alumni, and families in the action of convening these affinity groups. Join Stacey Lee, Mount Vernon’s Chief IDEA Officer to experience, first-hand, the ways in which the design of Affinity Groups will enhance our school community.

Wednesday, October 27
New Family Drop-In Coffee, 7:45 – 9:15 am

MVPN’s New Family Chairs Amanda Woodall and Amanda Richmond invite new families who joined MV in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 to the Upper Campus Green to build community among our newest Mustangs. Come as you are, bring your morning caffeine, or grab a cup of coffee at the Ground Floor Coffee Shop in the US Cafe.

Thursday, October 28
Veracross Parent Portal Hands-on Workshop for Lower Campus, 11:45 – 12:45

Families are invited on-campus to learn more about the Veracross system, including a hands-on tutorial on the many capabilities of the platform: subscribe to your student’s class schedule, update your profile information, find families within a 10-mile radius, donate to the MV Fund, link to key resources, and much more. Meeting will take place in the Lower Campus Church Session Room.

Thursday, October 28
Preschool Costume Parade, 10:00 am

Preschool parents are invited to join in the fun as young Mustangs parade around the Lower Campus courtyard in their Halloween costumes. The parade happens quickly, so please be in place by 10:00 am, and have your cameras ready.

Thursday, October 28
Portrait Retakes

On October 28, School Portrait Retakes will be taken on Lower Campus from 8:20-11:20am and on Upper Campus from 8:20am – 3:30pm. If you would like your student to retake photo, sign up at mountvernonschool.org/retakes. If your student was absent on the original Portrait Day, you should have received a separate email from the School and do not need to sign up using the above form. Should you have any questions, please contact Reagan Langstonat [email protected]

Friday, October 29
No School for Students/Lower Campus Fall Parent Conference Day

As we near the end of the first trimester, we look forward to the opportunity to share your child’s progress with you at our Fall Parent Conference. There is no school for students on this day, but save the date. If you have not already signed up, please refer to your class’s Veracross page for the sign-up genius. We are committed to beginning and ending each conference on time to ensure all families have an opportunity to connect with the teacher.

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, November 5: Early Dismissal
The Mustang Varsity Football Team is hosting their final regular season game of the year. Since we don’t have field lights, games typically start earlier, later in the season. With a 3:00pm start time, carpool, parking, guests, and other logistics impact both campuses. On November 5, the Preschool will have an early dismissal at 1:30 pm. Extended Play will also be available until 6:00.
1:30 Preschool and Lower School Dismissal
1:45 Upper School Dismissal
2:00 Middle School Dismissal
Thursday, November 11: Vaccine Clinic

November 12, 2021 – 9:00 – 10:00 am
Managing and Monitoring K-12 Children’s Online Presence
Hosted by Katie Cain and Bark
Register for webinar here
Back by popular demand, Katie Cain and our partners at Bark will share strategies and resources for managing children’s online presence. From school-issued iPads to personal cell phones, from web filters to parental controls, we aim to equip families with resources to confidently approach technology use with their children/teenagers.

Friday, November 19: Grandparents/Special Friends Day
This is an early release day prior to Thanksgiving break. The invitation and schedule for the event will be sent in late October. The School is sending personal invitations to each student’s grandparents and/or special friends based on the information you provided.

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

We appreciate those of you who participated in our Parent University last week: CBE: How might we better understand what assessment looks like at Mount Vernon. First of all, it was just great to be together on campus. Secondly, with parent conferences and progress reports right around the corner, we thought it was important to explain the why, how, and when of the Preschool’s approach to assessment in our Competency-Based Education model.

As shared in the Parent U, Mount Vernon focuses on foundational knowledge, developmental skills, and the dispositions of learners, thinkers, and designers at school. To learn more about this, we compared traditional report cards to the competency-based reports that Preschool uses which reveal more detailed information about each child’s development, position students for growth, and have high expectations for mastery. We are excited for you to meet with your child’s teacher next week and to review the progress report. We hope you use both experiences as a catalyst for a conversation with your child about goals for the next trimester.

All good things,
Caroline Diaz

Director of Preschool
Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus

COMING UP THIS WEEK IN PRESCHOOL: September 27 – October 1

Monday, September 27

12:00 – 1:00 Parent Admissions Ambassadors – live webinar
Learn more about how you can be an extension of MV’s Admissions team and make an impact as a Parent Admissions Ambassador. Engagement opportunities include engaging with prospective families during admissions events, assisting with direct outreach, submitting online reviews, and discussing your creative ideas with us. Be an integral part of our School’s future.

Tuesday, September 28

Wednesday, September 29
11:00 -1:00 Vaccine Clinic for adults and students who are 12 or older. The clinic will be held in the MS Lightbox. Required forms to complete: 1) Briarcliff Health Mart Vaccine Immunization Form; 2) MV School Consent, Waiver & Release Form

11:30 – 12:00 Chapel

Thursday, September 30

Friday, October 1: Spirit Day

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, October 8 and Monday, October 11: No School

October 12 – 15: Homecoming Week Dress Up Days
Tuesday: Superhero Tuesday (no masks or accessories)
Wednesday: Jersey Wednesday (wear your favorite team’s jersey or tshirt)
Thursday: Tacky Thursday (wear mismatched clothing, fun patterns, turn things inside out or backwards)
Friday: Tropical Friday (wear island getaway gear)

Friday, October 15: Homecoming Game and Activities
Fourteen years of Alumni, New Mustang Families, Grandparents, and our entire MV community are invited to celebrate the School’s 50th year by drawing the largest collection of Mustangs in one place, ever. We will recognize past performers and athletes, active service members, and former Homecoming Kings and Queens, while honoring this year’s court and crowning our new King and Queen. Varsity football kicks off at 4:00 pm against Providence. Be there to participate in the festivities, meet up with long-term Mustangs, and continue the celebration of our School’s 50th year.

 A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

Are you curious what goes on at school on a late start day? Our teachers took off their teacher hats and put on their learner, thinker, and designer hats for a morning of rich professional learning and collaboration across grade levels. This year’s RDI focus is on foresight and strategic planning as well as the School’s four priorities: Competency-Based Education, Inquiry-Based learning, IDEA, and Wellness & Resilience.

We are excited to engage all the voices of our Mount Vernon community as we design our future strategic plan. Be on the lookout for updates in this important work.

All good things,

Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool | x2329

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus | x2001

COMING UP THIS WEEK IN PRESCHOOL: September 20-24

Monday, September 20
Student Portraits, PK2 – PK5  (Rescheduled to September 23 due to rain forecast)

Tuesday, September 21

Wednesday, September 22
All-School Late Start
9:10 am Carpool begins
9:30 am School begins

*Childcare is not available before school begins

Thursday, September 23
Student Portraits, PK2 – PK5 (rescheduled from Monday)

Friday, September 24: Spirit Day

SAVE THESE DATES

Friday, October 15: Homecoming
Fourteen years of Alumni, New Mustang Families, Grandparents, and our entire MV community are invited to celebrate the School’s 50th year by drawing the largest collection of Mustangs in one place, ever. We will recognize past performers and athletes, active service members, and former Homecoming Kings and Queens, while honoring this year’s court and crowning our new King and Queen. Varsity football kicks off at 4:00 pm against Providence. Be there to participate in the festivities, meet up with long-term Mustangs, and continue the celebration of our School’s 50th year.

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
MV Serves: Year of Impact

Year of Impact is a year-long integration of service. Beginning on September 11, our MV Community committed to logging 50,000 hours of selfless service through May 11, 2022. This impactful opportunity will give us the chance to collectively give back while commemorating Mount Vernon’s 50th year. We ask our community to log every hour served, to reach our goal of 50,000 hours this year. Together we give back. #MVImpact

A WORD FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL

During afternoon pick-up, when you ask your children what their favorite part of the day was, do you often hear, “the Frontier!”? Our teachers know the importance of outdoor play for our healthy bodies, creative minds, and community building. Interacting with nature sparks new learning and aids in physical, sociological, psychological, and social development. Unlike the static, flat, and plastic structures on a typical playground, Mount Vernon’s Frontier was designed to be an extension of the classroom that encourages our students to take risks, make their own choices, design their own adventures, and build their muscles and coordination. Math happens as we notice patterns in the garden. Public speaking skills are primed on the stage. The water feature sparks science lessons. The uneven terrain, trees, and tree fort all promote gross motor development. Of course, children use their language and social-negotiation skills to play, play, play! Teachers, on the other hand, are watching, listening, planning, and prompting to provoke new learning. Don’t tell your children though; we love that to them… it is just play!

All good things,

Caroline Diaz
Director of Preschool | x2329

Shelley Searcy
Head of Lower Campus | x2001

August 8, 2021

Dear Preschool Mustangs,

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! We are back and excited to begin this school year looking and feeling like the Mount Vernon that we all know and love.

At Mount Vernon, we start with questions, and we know you have many as a new year is upon us. We hope you all took advantage of the opportunity to share a little bit about your child and your family with your new teachers through our Preschool Parent-Share Conferences last Friday. Also, please make sure to attend Orientation on Monday, August 9. As a reminder, please review the School’s COVID Protocols & Mitigation Strategies released last week. We look forward to welcoming you and your little ones back on campus to meet your teachers, explore new rooms, and reunite with friends.