Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year!

Dear Mullen Families,

Welcome to the 2025–26 school year! I hope you're enjoying these beautiful summer days and finding time to relax and recharge. As I begin my fourth year as principal, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement to continue leading and learning alongside this amazing community.

To our returning families—welcome back! And to those who are new to Mullen Elementary—welcome to the family! We’re so glad you’re here. Mullen is a place where every child is supported, challenged, and celebrated. We’re committed to making this school year a joyful, enriching experience for all our students and families.

Our theme this year is Defying Gravity: Everyone Deserves a Chance to Fly at Mullen. We believe in the power of partnership between home and school, and together, we can help our students soar to new heights. Your support is essential as we set high expectations and work together to help each child reach their full potential.

Below you’ll find important information to help ensure a smooth start to the school year. Please take a moment to review everything, and don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or if we can assist in any way. We’re always happy to help! You can reach our school office at 703-330-0427 or email me directly at [email protected].

Enjoy the final days of summer—I can’t wait to welcome you all back for a fantastic year of learning, growth, and fun!

 

Warmly,
Mrs. Jennifer Hoffower
Principal

Welcome our New AP- Ms. Meghan Anderton

I’m thrilled to introduce Meghan Anderton as the newest member of our administrative team at Mullen Elementary School! Ms. Anderton joins me and our amazing Assistant Principal, Rachel Pierce, in leading our Shamrock community with dedication and heart.

Ms. Anderton comes to us from Pattie Elementary School, bringing over 20 years of experience in both teaching and administration across elementary and middle school levels—both internationally and here in the U.S.

Her passion for student-centered, inquiry-based learning shines through in everything she does. She is committed to fostering globally aware, empathetic learners and building a collaborative school culture that empowers teachers, staff, and students to thrive.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Ms. Anderton spent more than two decades in Mauritania, West Africa, where she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer and later worked as a teacher and administrator at the American International School of Nouakchott.

Now residing in Prince William County, Ms. Anderton enjoys life with her family, including a son in college, a daughter in high school, and another son in middle school. In her free time, she loves running, attending athletic events, spending time with loved ones, and exploring new cultures.

 

As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, there will be many opportunities to meet and welcome Ms. Anderton into our Mullen Elementary Shamrock Family. We are so excited to have her on board!

Back to School Packets Available on ParentVue August 5th

All families are asked to log into ParentVue to complete the Annual Back-to-School Packet.

This step is essential—not only to ensure your emergency contact information is up to date, but also to access your child’s classroom assignment before our Meet and Greets on Friday, August 15th. ParentVue will also be your go-to resource throughout the year for important updates and your child’s academic progress.

You can access ParentVue using [this link]. If you need help logging in or navigating the system, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office at 703-330-0427. We’re happy to assist!

Required Immunizations for Students Due by August 15

All immunization documentation must be submitted before the first day of school per Virginia law. The PWCS health requirements webpage provides immunization and physical examination requirements for students entering PWCS in grades kindergarten through 12. Contact your school nurse if you need help getting records updated.

Meet and Greet- August 15th

We’re excited to invite you to our annual Meet & Greet event, designed to help ease the transition back to school. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to meet their teachers, explore their classrooms, and drop off school supplies before the first day.

Following your visit to your child’s classroom, we invite you to join us in the cafeteria for a brief parent meeting where we’ll share important information to help kick off the school year smoothly.

We look forward to seeing you on Friday, August 15th!

 

Important Reminder:
To access your child’s classroom placement for the Meet & Greet, parents must log into ParentVue and complete the Back-to-School Packet prior to August 15th. This step is required to view your child’s teacher assignment.

ID Required

Visitor Safety Procedures

To ensure the safety of all students and staff, all visitors must present a physical, government-issued photo ID when entering the building or picking up a child.

Please come to Door 1, ring the bell, and hold your ID up to the camera. Once your ID is verified, you’ll be buzzed into the office.

This is a Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) regulation, and we truly appreciate your cooperation and attention to this important safety measure. Thank you for helping us keep Mullen a safe and secure place for everyone!

Popsicles with the Principials

Join us for Popsicles with the Principals!
We’d love to see you on Friday, August 15th from 2:00–3:00 PM on Mullen’s playground for a fun and informal gathering. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to meet the administrative team before the first day of school.

We’ll have gently used books available for students to take home, time to play on the playground, and of course—a sweet treat to enjoy!

 

We hope you’ll stop by and say hello. See you Friday!

Breakfast and Lunch are Free this year for all students!

I am thrilled to announce that breakfast and lunch are free through the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) for all students at Mullen this year! Students may also bring their lunch from home if they prefer. Below is the breakfast and lunch menu for the first couple weeks of school.

EZ A2B - Bus Tracking App

Although the majority of Mullen's students do not qualify for a bus, we do have a few students who do. If your child qualifies for bus transportation, please follow this link for more information on the new bus tracking app available to parents. www.pwcs.edu/support_services/bus_transportation/bus_app

 

Track your bus with the EZ A2B app!

  • View student bus stop information
  • Get notified when the bus gets close to the bus stop
  • Receive notifications about bus delays

Download the EZ A2B App

First Day of School – Monday, August 18, 2025

We’re excited to welcome our students back! Mullen’s school hours are 9:20 AM to 4:00 PM.

  • The breakfast door (Door 3) opens at 9:05 AM.
  • The main entrance doors open at 9:10 AM to begin welcoming students.

Please do not drop off students before 9:05 AM, as staff supervision is not available until that time.

Students who are not eating breakfast should line up outside in front of the school, behind their grade-level shamrock.

To help your child adjust smoothly to their daily routine, we kindly ask that they arrive on the first day using the same method of transportation they will use regularly. This helps them learn and feel confident in their arrival process from the very beginning.

 

Thank you for your support in making the first day a great one!

Arrival

Morning Arrival Reminder

Starting Day 1, to support our students in building independence and becoming comfortable with daily routines, we kindly ask that parents do not enter the building or accompany students to their classrooms during morning arrival.

Our staff will be stationed throughout the building to warmly welcome and assist students as they transition into their day. This approach helps create a calm, consistent, and confident start for all learners.

We truly appreciate your cooperation and support in helping our students thrive from the moment they arrive!

 

Thank you for understanding.

Arrival Photo with Student Lines for Walkers

Please review with your student so they know where to line up in the morning. The breakfast Door 3 will open at 9:05. No students should be dropped off prior to 9:10 as we do not have supervision until then.

Car Rider Arrival Procedures

Thank you for following the Drop and Go procedures for arrival. Please start this Day 1 so your students are clear about the procedure from the first day of school.

Dismissal Procedures for Drop and Go

Before the first day of school, please take a moment to review our arrival procedures with your child.

If your child is a car rider, your car tag must be clearly visible when entering the parking lot. This helps us ensure a safe and efficient dismissal process. If you need a car tag, please notify the front office at 703-330-0427.

We kindly ask for your patience during the first few days, as staff work closely with students to teach routines and ensure everyone gets home safely. Things may move a bit slower at first, but the process will become quicker as students become familiar with the procedures.

Thank you in advance for your support and understanding!

Dismissal Procedures for Walkers

Students who walk home will be dismissed last and will exit through Doors 20 and 21, located on the side of the building.

To ensure a safe and orderly dismissal, we kindly ask parents to keep the sidewalk clear for teachers and students. Please stand on the grass or behind the yellow gates, away from the doors, so staff and students have the space they need to exit safely.

Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain a smooth and secure dismissal process!

Bus Loop Safety Reminder

For the safety of our students and staff, the bus loop must remain completely car-free during arrival and dismissal. Only school buses, daycare vans, and emergency vehicles are permitted to use this area at those times.

We kindly ask all families to adhere to this important safety regulation. Your cooperation helps us maintain a secure and efficient environment for everyone.

 

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for helping us keep Mullen safe!

Early Dismissal Reminder

To ensure a safe and orderly dismissal process, early dismissal requests must be made no later than 3:30 PM each day. This allows our staff adequate time to prepare and ensure students are dismissed safely.

If you arrive after 3:30 PM, we kindly ask that you wait until our regular dismissal time at 4:00 PM.

If you know in advance that your child will need to leave early for an appointment, please notify the office as early as possible and plan to pick up your child by 3:30 PM at the latest.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and smooth end to the school day!

Lunch Visits Coming Soon!

We’re excited to eventually welcome parents into the building to enjoy lunch with their child if they choose. However, to help students settle into their routines and feel confident in their new environment, we kindly ask that families wait a few weeks before joining us for lunch.

Once we’re ready to begin welcoming visitors during lunchtime, I’ll send out a message with all the details. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we support a smooth transition into the school year!

Safety Drills

At Mullen, student safety is our top priority, and we begin practicing safety procedures from the very start of the school year. Within the first ten days, we will conduct both a fire drill and a lockdown drill to help students become familiar with our emergency protocols.

While Preschool and Kindergarten students will participate in fire drills right away, they will not take part in lockdown drills until the second semester, allowing time for them to adjust to the school environment.

To keep families informed, I will share updates about upcoming drills in my monthly newsletters and Friday updates. Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain a safe and prepared school community!