Welcome Back and Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of our families! I hope that you had a wonderful, restful winter break filled with joy and quality time together. It has been a pleasure seeing our students back in the hallways this week, energized and ready to dive back into their routines.

As we kick off 2026, our entire staff remains dedicated to helping our students flourish in every way possible. We are committed to ensuring this is a successful year for every child—not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. We are honored to partner with you in supporting their growth and well-being.

Upcoming Winter Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA)

To help us track student progress and tailor our instruction to meet their needs, we will begin our Winter VGA testing next week. These assessments provide valuable data on how we can best support your child’s learning for the remainder of the school year.

Please take note of the following testing schedule:

        Tuesday, January 13: Reading VGA

        Thursday, January 15: Math VGA

How You Can Help

To ensure a smooth and stress-free testing environment for all students, we kindly ask for your support with the following:

Rest: Ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep before testing days.

Punctuality: Please make sure your child arrives at school on time. Late arrivals can be disruptive to the testing environment and may require your child to participate in a make-up session later.

Encouragement: A few words of encouragement in the morning can go a long way in helping students feel confident and prepared!

Thank you for your continued support of our school community. Let’s make 2026 our best year yet!

Dr. Frischkorn, Principal

Mrs. Milhoan, 6th Grade Assistant Principal

Mr. Moore, 5th Grade Assistant Principal

This week, our 5th and 6th grade students will participate in the Winter Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA) in Reading and Math. These assessments help us better understand individual student progress and growth in key academic areas.

What is the Virginia Growth Assessment?

The Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) is a state-level interim assessment provided by the Virginia Department of Education. It measures student growth in reading and mathematics over time, using grade-level standards to help educators and families see academic progress throughout the year.

Unlike a “pass/fail” test, the VGA is designed to:

Track academic growth from the fall to winter to spring.

Provide meaningful data to support instruction and classroom learning.

Help teachers identify strengths and areas for targeted support.

Inform families about how students are progressing toward Virginia’s learning standards.

In short, the VGA gives students the opportunity to show what they know and helps teachers plan instruction that meets each learner’s needs.

Assessment Schedule This Week

Tuesday, January 13

📘 Reading Growth Assessment
Students will complete tasks that measure comprehension, vocabulary, and reading skills aligned to grade-level standards.

Thursday, January 15

➗ Math Growth Assessment
Students will work on problems that assess mathematical reasoning and understanding of key concepts learned so far this year.

How Families Can Support Students

To help students feel confident and do their best:

Encourage a good night’s sleep the night before testing.

Provide a healthy breakfast on testing days.

Remind students to try their best and to take their time.

Ensure students arrive to school on time and prepared.

Please reach out if you have questions about the assessments or how scores are used to support student learning!

Monday, January 19

📌 No School
Students will be off in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We encourage families to take time to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and his message of service, leadership, and equality.

Tuesday, January 20

📊 Second Quarter Grades Finalized
All second quarter grades will be finalized on Tuesday to ensure we are prepared for upcoming report cards. Students are encouraged to complete any remaining assignments and check in with teachers if they have questions.

Looking Ahead

This week marks an important transition as we close out Quarter 2 and continue building momentum for the remainder of the school year. Thank you for your continued support in helping students stay focused, organized, and prepared.

If you have any questions regarding grades or report cards, please feel free to reach out.

At Mayfield Intermediate School, we believe that a strong learning environment is built on respect, responsibility, and positive relationships. Our Behavior Support System is designed to teach students how to succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally, while creating a safe, supportive, and top-tier learning environment for all.

This past week, the school administration team met with each lunch block to reteach key content from our Behavior Support System curriculum. This review covered the lessons taught at the beginning of the school year. These lunch meetings helped students refocus after winter break. 

Teaching Expectations for Success

Rather than focusing only on consequences, our system emphasizes explicit instruction in expected behaviors. Students are taught what success looks like in classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, buses, and shared spaces. These expectations help students understand how their actions contribute to their own learning and the learning of others.

Positive Reinforcement and Growth

We regularly recognize and celebrate positive behavior. When students demonstrate responsibility, kindness, and effort, they are acknowledged and encouraged. This approach builds confidence, reinforces positive choices, and helps students develop lifelong skills such as self-control, accountability, and teamwork.

Support When Challenges Arise

When students experience behavioral challenges, we respond with guidance and support, not punishment alone. Staff work with students to reflect, learn from mistakes, and practice better choices. Additional supports may include check-ins with adults, social skills instruction, and collaboration with families to ensure consistent expectations.

Creating a Top-Tier Learning Environment

Our Behavior Support System ensures that classrooms remain focused, respectful, and engaging. By teaching clear expectations and providing consistent support, we create an environment where:

Students feel safe and valued

Learning time is maximized

Positive relationships are strengthened

Every student has the opportunity to thrive

A Partnership with Families

We view families as essential partners in student success. Open communication and shared expectations between school and home help reinforce positive behaviors and support student growth.

At Mayfield Intermediate School, our goal is not just to manage behavior—but to teach students the skills they need to be successful learners and responsible members of our school community.

💖🕺 HAPPY HEARTS DANCE 💃💖
School Dance Celebration

📅 Friday, February 20, 2026
📍 School Gym
⏰ 2:20 PM to 4:20 PM

Get ready for a fun-filled night of music, dancing, and friends! Join us for the Happy Hearts Dance, a celebration you won’t want to miss!

🎟️ Tickets: $5
Your ticket includes:
🍕 One slice of pizza
💧 One bottle of water

Transportation home using the MCPS after-school activity buses

💻 Online ticket sales start now!

We’re excited to help you get started. Below you’ll find an overview of the main areas of your Schoology account. This guide will help you navigate the platform with ease. For more detailed instructions on specific features, please visit the Schoology Learning website

What is Schoology?

Schoology is an online learning platform that teachers use to:

♦Share classroom materials and resources.

♦Provide a safe space for students to discuss ideas and collaborate on projects.

♦Assign and collect homework electronically.

♦Schoology helps students stay organized and connected with their class.

Why Create a Parent Account?

A Schoology Parent Account allows you to:

♦View the classes your child is enrolled in.

♦See upcoming assignments and due dates.

♦Stay informed with school and class announcements.

♦Schoology makes it easy for parents to stay engaged and support their child’s learning journey.

Setting Up Your Account

When you create a Parent account in Schoology, you’ll actually have access to two views:

Your Personal Account – This includes your own name and information.

Child Activity View – This allows you to see Schoology from your child’s perspective, view their courses, and receive updates about their activity.

The first time you log in, we recommend reviewing and adjusting your account settings to ensure you get the most out of Schoology. To create your account, please have your Access Code ready. This is a 12-digit code (formatted like XXXX-XXXX-XXXX) provided by your child’s teacher or school. Click this "Link" and follow the instructions in the attached document for "HowTo."

Set up Parent Schoology Account

Configurar la cuenta de Schoology para padres

Navigate Schoology Dashboard: Tips for Tracking Your Child’s Academic Activity

New to Schoology or looking for ways to make the most of its features? Our step-by-step presentation is here to help! You’ll learn everything you need—from logging in and navigating the dashboard to checking assignments, grades, and teacher updates. Stay connected and confidently support your child’s learning journey.

Explore our resource: Schoology Dashboard – Tips for Tracking Your Child’s Academic Activity. Click here to view the presentation.

After School Buses depart Mayfield at 4:20 PM

As the school year progresses and we introduce additional after-school clubs/activities and tutoring, it is essential to remind families that the after-school activity buses follow slightly different routes than our regular morning and afternoon bus routes. Please review the three different activity bus routes. You can find the closest street intersection on the bus route to know where students will be dropped off if they are riding the after-school activity bus.

January 8, 2026- End of the Second Quarter

January 9, 2026- Professional Day- No School for Students

January 19, 2026- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Schools and offices closed)

January 23, 2026- Second Quarter Report Cards

January 28, 2026- Early Release at 11:20 AM- Afternoon Professional Day for Teachers

February 2, 2026- Professional Day- No School for Students

February 11, 2026- Parent-Teacher Conferences- Early Release at 11:20 AM for Students

February 16, 2026- Presidents' Day- (Schools and offices closed)

The Student Code of Conduct helps all students and parents understand their school-related rights, responsibilities, and expectations of the school. It is not intended to be a comprehensive document covering all possible situations but to provide a framework that makes clear that students are expected to act responsibly and with respect for other human beings at all times.

Parents can download a copy of the Student Code of Conduct from our school division website.

Manassas City Public Schools Student Code of Conduct

The School Board of the City of Manassas does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, disabilities, or national origin in employment or in its educational programs and activities.