Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School

Here follows a history of the school as published on the Fairfax County Public Schools website:

Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School opened its doors for the first time on December 1, 1965. Construction of Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School was not completed in time for the opening of schools in September, so the 454 children who would become the first Mount Vernon Woods students were housed at Hybla Valley Elementary School (grades 1-3), and Hollin Meadows Elementary School (grades 4-6). Mrs. Gloria McConnaughey, our first principal, supervised 14 teachers, a librarian, cafeteria manager, two secretaries, and a custodian. Our building was formally dedicated on May 9, 1966. The first Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting was held on September 27, 1965, at Woodlawn Elementary School, with 101 parents and teachers present. The PTA's first meeting at our school took place on December 15, 1965.

Billy Goat Gruff
When our school first opened, it was not unusual to see horses and goats on the playground because the school was bordered on two sides by the Baker family's farm. The children loved to see the animals, but the Billy goat didn't love to see the children. Every time he was on the playground a call was made to Mr. Baker requesting that he remove the goat from school property because it would butt the children when they went out to play.

Homemade Lunch
In 1965, breakfast was not available in schools, and lunch, including milk, only cost 35 cents! All the lunch food, including homemade pies, breads, cookies and cakes, was prepared in the school kitchen.

Renovations & Additions
When Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School opened the building had 20 classrooms, a library, and a cafeteria. Our school didn't have a gymnasium or music room until 1985, so music and physical education classes were originally held in the classrooms. Our first renovation began in 1988, adding air conditioning, ten classrooms, and a computerized library. The new wing was ready for use when school opened for our 25th year in September 1990. The manual typewriters in the office were replaced with electric typewriters and computers. Our most recent renovation began in June 2018 and is expected to be complete by December 2019.

What's in a Name?
During the naming process of our school, one of the names put forward by the community was Muddy Hole Farm Elementary School. Check out this video to learn why people liked the name Muddy Hole Farm.

Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School opened in the fall of 1965. The school was named for the surrounding Mount Vernon Woods community, which took its name from the home of the first president of the United States, George Washington. Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School was built on land which was once a part of George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. When Washington's great grandfather, John Washington, first acquired the property in 1674, it was known as Little Hunting Creek Plantation. In 1743, Lawrence Washington, George Washington’s elder half-brother, inherited the estate and renamed it Mount Vernon in honor of Admiral Edward Vernon, a British naval officer with whom Lawrence had served during the War of Jenkins’ Ear. Following the death of Lawrence in 1752, George Washington leased the Mount Vernon estate from his brother’s widow, Anne, until her death in 1761 after which he gained title to a portion of the property. George Washington purchased the remainder of the estate and over time expanded the size of his home, Mount Vernon, to approximately 8,000 acres. The Mount Vernon estate was comprised of five separate farms: River Farm, Mansion House Farm, Union Farm, Dogue Run Farm, and Muddy Hole Farm.
Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School is located on land that was formerly a part of the northern edge of Muddy Hole Farm, partially on the farmed land and partially on the forested land depicted on this 1801 map of the property. According to records kept by Washington, Muddy Hole Farm was used to grow tobacco and hemp, and was home to 41 enslaved laborers. The road passing through the middle of the farm still exists today and is now known as Buckman Road. When George Washington died, Mount Vernon passed to his nephew Bushrod Washington, who, upon his death in 1829, divided the estate among several heirs. The Mount Vernon mansion passed to John Augustine Washington and gradually fell into a state of disrepair. In 1858, John Washington sold the mansion and a portion of the estate to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. The Association opened the estate to the public as a tourist attraction in 1860 and gradually restored the mansion to its present appearance.

Our Principals:
1965 – 1976: Gloria H. McConnaughey
1976 – 1979: Evelyn F. Valotto
1979 – 1985: Joan M. Freck
1985 – 1987: Helen Ramirez
1987 – 2006: Reginald M. Romaine
2006 – 2013: Marie Lemmon
2013 – 2016: Pamela Simpkins
2016 – 2022: Clint Mitchell
2022 – Present: Gina O'Neal