Rumors have been flying around George Mason about new school safety policies coming to the FCCPS schools. Many students are anticipating new, enforced safety and protection policies to prevent school break-ins and shootings, since there have been so many well known cases of this sort of violence lately.

One of these rumors involves surrounding GM with a large fence. According to Mr. Seve Padilla, head of security for FCCPS, “The fence has been approved and we are finalizing designs now. Installation should begin within the next two months.”

The fence will serve to keep out pedestrians who cut through the school to get to the Metro. The trespassers have a potential to enter the school and cause harm to the student body.

As for security, three guards have been assigned to protect the doors of Mt. Daniel, Thomas Jefferson, and Mary Ellen Henderson. The staff members will not be armed with weapons.

After much controversy, “The leadership of FCCPS and the Falls Church Police Department agree that adopting policies of arming staff members is not in the best interest of our city. This is something better left to our very well trained law enforcement colleagues,” stated Padilla before he explained that “any weapon,” whether lethal or otherwise, “can do harm in the hands of untrained individuals.”

Also, there has been much concern regarding the periods throughout the day, such as the morning, where the doors are unlocked and anyone may walk-in.

“The sign-in process used to be books, but now we’re making sure they have a visitor pass,” says GM Principal Ty Byrd. He then explained how lucky we are to live in such a small city; it’s extremely easy to spot an unfamiliar face. The sign in book is still required, but now when you sign in you get a visitor badge to prove you have checked in with the office.

George Mason students join the Luis Garay percussion group onstage as they perform for fellow classmates and staff members in the audience. The Luis Garay Percussion World taught Mason’s percussion class a series of different world beats including beats from Brazil, Cuba, and Africa. Having performed or over 100 different schools, the Luis Garay Percussion World is an acclaimed percussion group consisting of four world class percussionists, who specialize in rhythms originating from the Americas and Africa. Photo credit: Tara Holman

Students may be surprised to know that some of the most hardworking people at George Mason High School are the custodians.  Throughout the day, custodians are cleaning up mess after mess left behind by students.

One custodian, Alejandrina Sanchez, works an eight-hour shift every weekday.  Sanchez moved to the United States from Honduras 15 years ago, and has worked tirelessly at our school for 13 years.  Sanchez is one of the two custodians who work during the school day.  Her duties may include opening up the school, setting up the tables in the cafeteria, cleaning the bathrooms and conference room, checking the hallways to make sure they are clean, vacuuming, and more.

At the time of the interview with Sanchez, bystanders piped up commending her on all her hard work.

Mrs. Peggy Monahan from the main office describes Sanchez as, “The happiest person I know that works here.  She always has a smile.  They [custodians] like to know they are appreciated by students as well as staff.”

The next time you walk through Mason’s well kept premises, please remember that this is only possible because of the dedication of the custodians at our school.  Also, please take the time to stop and tell them you appreciate them and their service to Mason.

A buzz of excitement surrounded the Mustang cafeteria after school last Friday. Students flooded into the doors eager to give their money up in exchange for sweet treats. Pastry Wars is a fundraiser run by the junior class, with all proceeds going to the 2013 prom. The competition was held after school Friday, February 22. Students paid for tickets to taste and judge different desserts prepared by Mason students and faculty.

Many students came hungry and prepared to sample delicious food. Some treats in the competition were New York style cheese cake, made by junior Maeve Curtin; chocolate chip banana muffins, made by junior Nate Jones; salted caramel cupcakes, made by freshman Callie Gaskins; Pecan Pie, made by eighth grader Kate Karstens; junior Allie Plata’s marshmallow crunch peanut butter brownies; and Ms. Harrington’s Mustang munchies cookies.

Junior Peggy Brozi summed up the competition, “I think it’s a really close call between Mimi, Kate, and Callie.”

Many of the recipes used were acquired from family members and friends.

Gaskins tells Lasso Online how she got the recipe for her triple salted caramel cupcakes: “I didn’t come up with the recipe myself, a family friend gave it to me.”

Officer Rau explained his sour cream walnut cake, saying, “I’ve been making this as holiday gifts for the staff for years.”

Junior Juliette Hegadorn said she got her recipe for chocolate cake with butter cream frosting, “in a food and wine magazine and found this recipe!”

While students enjoyed the treats, they voted on taste, presentation, and creativity of each dessert.

Coming in third place was junior Juliette Hegadorn (not pictured) with her Chocolate butter cream frosted cake. Second place was junior Mimi Nemec with her Nutella and Ferrero Rocher cupcakes. Finally, coming in first place was eighth grader Kate Karstens’ classic pecan bars.

Overall the fundraiser and competition was a success. The junior class made over 250 dollars on tickets sold for the competition. This goes towards costs for the junior-senior prom, making the overall price of each prom ticket less.

What has previously not really been an issue at Mason, is beginning to cause drama with students. Starting just past week, several warnings have been issued to cars parked during the day without a school-parking permit.

“The idea of the parking pass is to prevent outsiders, like Metro riders to not park on school grounds,” explained Mr. Joseph Martinez, a member of the school’s security team.

Parking forms can be found in the main office and cost $100 per semester. Make sure to pick up a form if you haven’t already, or risk being towed.

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