Dear Mason Crest Families,

Our teachers are getting ready for a wonderful 2020-2021 School Year.  We would love to have students create short videos answering the question “Why do you love Mason Crest?” to get our teachers excited about the year ahead. 

Please take a minute to click on this link and have your student record their response.  Below is a How To for recording your response on FlipGrid.

How to Record Student Responses

1. Click on this link.
2. Join with Google.  Log in with your student @fcpsschools.net account.
3. Click on the pink Record a Response icon.
4. Click on the red camera button to begin recording. Click pause when you have finished.
5. Click on the green next arrow on the bottom right of the recording screen.
6. Review or rerecord your video.
7. Take a “selfie” that will display on the FlipGrid board as your Title Page. Then, click next.
8. Type your name.
9. Submit. (Please note that videos will not be displayed on the board until they have been approved.)

If you have questions, you can email Katie Winter at kkwinter@fcps.edu.  Thank you!

Mason Crest Families,

The 2020 Mason Crest PTO Nominating Committee is pleased to present the following slate of candidates for election to fill the Mason Crest PTO Board for the 2020-2021 School Year:

 

President 

• Rachel Rajala

Secretary

• Mary Johnson

 Communications (Shared position)

• Dani Cao
• Amy Miller

Membership/Volunteer Coordinator (One position open)

• Heather Rascona

Treasurer

• Simona Eldridge

 Ways and Means (Two positions open)

• Sarah Sonnonstine

Please note, only PTO members may vote.

Due to COVID -19 our election will be held during the May 28^th PTO meeting which will be held via Zoom.  A link will be emailed to our list serve, posted on FB and advertised on the Mason Crest PTO website.

Several Board positions have not been filled, if you are interested in sitting on the PTO Board please contact Christy at christyb892@hotmail.com.

Our Committee positions are not elected positions but still need volunteers for next year. If you would like to volunteer for a committee or have questions about a position, please email Christy at christyb892@hotmail.com.

Kindergarten Playdates – position open

Assemblies – position open

Restaurant Night Program Manager – position open

Redeemable Awards Program Manager – Kassandra Smith

Spirit Wear Sales Manager – Corrie Pratt

Hospitality Committee Chairperson – Kristina Wilson

Yearbook – Jamie Irelan

Green Committee Chairperson- Alex Berens

DJ/MC- Dan Rappaport

After School Programs – Bethany Adamec

Folder Copying – Veronica O’ Brien

Fundraising Sales – position open

Grants – Jessica Olivan

Nominating Committee – position open

 

Respectfully,

Christy Fase and Christie Phillips
Nominating Committee

March 23, 2020

Dear Community,

A short while ago, Governor Northam announced that all Virginia K-12 schools will be closed for the remainder of the academic year.  I know this is very disappointing news, but also an understandable decision, considering the environment we are in, as we all try to do our part to flatten the curve and contain the spread of the virus.

Our School Board is meeting later this afternoon in an emergency session. I will be working closely with them to determine our next steps as we face together this unprecedented challenge.

Regrettably, the governor’s announcement also means that all extracurricular programs, athletic programs, and community use activities are canceled through the remainder of the academic year. 

Even though schools are closed, our goal is to proceed with continuity of learning for our students.  The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) will be providing school districts additional guidance in the next day or so regarding continuity of learning that has an equity focus.  In addition, VDOE will also issue guidance about what graduation requirements will look like for our 12th grade students and expectations for grading and academic year completion for all of our students.    

We are navigating uncharted waters, and I am so proud of how everyone is stepping up to meet the challenge. Take care and stay safe.  I know that we will persevere through this difficult time together.

Sincerely,

Scott Brabrand, Superintendent

Fairfax County Public Schools

Dear Mason Crest Elementary Family,

As we are faced with uncertain days ahead and are encouraged to keep our distances, many of us are still blessed to have food and a paycheck. We realize this is not that case for everyone and we’d like to do our part to help those in less fortunate situations.

As you have likely heard by now, FCPS is providing grab and go meals at no cost for students at 18 sites (see https://rem.ax/2IPn6X0). However, perhaps this is not always an option for everyone.

Fairfax County School Board Mason District Member Ricardy Anderson, also a MCES parent and Felisa Klubes, another MCES parent had the great idea of collecting donations of gift cards to local grocery stores to distribute to those in need.

The PTO has also set up a PayPal account if you’d like to participate by donating online. We will then take the money and purchase grocery gift cards in $20/$25 denominations so we can split them among a lot of families. To donate via PayPal use the email president@masoncrestpto.org to reference the account.

If you have any questions or know of a neighbor in need, please reach out.

Thank You!

Rachel Rajala,

Mason Crest Elementary PTO President

571-921-0661

president@masoncrestpto.org

 

Here’s what you missed during our PTO meeting held on 04/3/20 via ZOOM

Agenda Topics/New business:

• Due to COVID-19 Fairfax County Schools will be closed the remainder of the 2019/20 school calendar year.
• All after school activities are cancelled.
• Social Distant Learning will be launched April 14th.
• Book fair will continue through online orders https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=masoncrestelementary
• State of the MCES PTO – The PTO is created to help support the needs of student, parents, teachers and administrators of Mason Crest and the bottom line is we always need volunteers and donation support to help continue being successful at supporting the school. With that being said, all office positions for the PTO Board are open and available.  Please consider running for office.
  • We do have subdivision committees which will allow you to only commit to 1 or 2 events of your choice.
• Financial Report – reviewed

Old business:

• These topics will be revisited due to the uncertainty of our current state. Please be patient and stay tuned.
  • FCPS: Title 1 free/reduced lunch was 45%, now is 55%.   The demographics of Mason Crest haven’t changed, but Mason Crest will not be Title 1 starting with the 2020-2021 school year. This will change the resources the school receives.  There is an estimation of 7-9 schools in the county that will lose the status.  The county is trying to figure out the best way to have it be as little impact as possible. The principals plan to hold a meeting in March for the school to discuss once they receive more details. However all activities will be postponed.
• Our alternative means of Fundraising is still ongoing. Please continue to help the school so that we can continue to help support our teachers and students
  • Reward programs that we are already using such as Amazon, box top and smile program. We will continue to expand this by looking into Harris Teeter and Giant’s reward programs as well.  Please refer to tab below to get more details on each programs and the way it helps MCES.

Calling all Parents and Staff: Join the PTO!

 If you are still looking for ways to help please visit our Volunteer Page for items still in need and other ways to help.

Volunteer page.

• Stay Tuned

Learn More