April 10, 2019
Your Source for News about the Highlander Community
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Calling all volunteers! Spring has sprung and our events are in need of your help.
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AP Snack Distribution Volunteers – This year, the PTSA plans to distribute snacks and water to interested students before AP exams. This program will relieve the burden on teachers who personally provide snacks and allow access for all. A Sign Up Genius will follow, but we need two volunteers per am and pm session to distribute snacks for the weeks of May 6th-17th.
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Prom Volunteers – The junior class has requested parental assistance to work in shifts supporting the flow and organization of access for photos. The Prom will be held on Saturday April 27th from 8:00pm-12:00am at the Westwood Country Club.
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Parent Ambassadors/Tour Guides – Student Services is seeking a group of parents who are willing to offer tours of our facilities to prospective families considering moving into the area. While tours continue throughout the year, the busiest times are January through may. Training will be provided.
If you are interested in getting involved and lending a hand for any of these efforts, please reach out to Sue Ellen Beggs at president@mcleanptsa.org.
MHS PTSA Open Board Positions for 2019-20
Get Involved! Come join us in our efforts to enrich the education of students, support administration and staff, and build an informed connected community. Our 2019-20 Board needs you for the following position:
* VP Fundraising
- Lead planning and delivery of our annual fundraiser
- Share your valuable insights and contribute to the process for granting funds raised to support our school, staff and students
Interested in joining our team? We welcome your ideas, energy and support! Please reach out today by emailing Deena Gordon Parla at president.elect@mcleanptsa.org.
PTSA Book Talk - Tonight April 10th
Join us for The Self-Driven Child Book Talk #3
Hosted by Kathleen Otal, McLean School Counselor on Wednesday, April 10 from 7-8:30pm, MHS Lecture Hall
We will discuss:
• How to support your child through the standardized testing process.
• How to talk about college with your children
(even those as young as kindergarten)
• Themes from the March 20th author talk
Restaurant Fundraiser for the Band and Guard!
Plan to dine in or carry out on Thursday, April 11 at Pizzeria Orso, any time from 11am-9pm. Just mention the Band and Pizzeria Orso will generously make a donation. Pizzeria Orso is located at 400 S Maple Ave, Falls Church, and the phone number is 703.226.3460
Thanks for supporting your award-winning band and guard!
News about Planned Drug and Rehabilitation Center on Davidson Road
In recent days, members of our McLean community have reached out to inform the PTSA of the planned establishment of drug and rehabilitation centers on Davidson Road (1620, 1622 and 1624) and 1318 Kurtz Road. Following this, Supervisor John Foust’s office was contacted for more information on these planned facilities, and a link to his response to the community is provided here.
Briefly, regulations for group residential facilities are at the Federal and State level, as explained by Supervisor Foust, and the Fairfax County Government has had no prior involvement. Based on community outreach, Supervisor Foust and his team are investigating the proposal by Monroe Operations to see if County regulations are applicable. He plans to keep us informed and directs further questions to his office.
Our McLean PTSA would like to keep our community informed on developing events, so please visit our website for updated information. Once the County gathers more information about the specific plans for these facilities, the PTSA would like to host a community meeting with Supervisor Foust.
If you would like an alternate source of information, and to share your views with other parents, consider joining the parent created Facebook page called Davidson Road Rehab Facility Discussion or email mhs.davidsonrd@gmail.com.
Junior Parent Coffee
Please join us on Monday April 29th from 8:30-9:30am in the Lecture Hall for our "What to Expect" - Junior Parent Coffee. Assistant Principal Darrell Pankratz, Junior Class Administrator, will brief us on topics related to the next steps toward senior year! Information will also be provided for the All Night Grad Party and the planned return of Senior Ethics Day among others. Come connect with fellow parents and enjoy coffee and refreshments.
McLean High School AP Exam Proctors: Parent Volunteers Wanted!
If you would like to volunteer your time to help proctor an AP Exam at McLean High School, please check this SignUp Genius link. Primary responsibilities include assisting MHS staff with monitoring test takers and with material distribution/collection. Please be advised that parent volunteers CANNOT proctor their own children (if your student is taking an AP exam, you cannot proctor that specific test). Thanks in advance for your help!
Three Ways You Can Help Support the All-Night Grad Party
Our seniors have worked hard and the All-Night Grad Party (ANGP) is a great way for them to safely celebrate all they have accomplished over the last thirteen years. This year's big party will be held on June 3rd from 11 pm-5 am at the Spring Hill Recreation Center. But, ANGP doesn't happen without a lot of volunteers. Please read below the ways that you can help make ANGP a great success.
ANGP is a fun and safe way for seniors to get together one last time. Click here to buy your child’s ticket today for $100.
We thank you for helping us make the process more manageable by making sure that both you and your student sign the permission section and fill in the emergency care information on the back-side of the form. Forms and checks can be dropped off at the MHS front office or mailed to ATTN: Nancy Rider at 6818 Dean Drive McLean, Va. 22101 Tickets must be purchased in advance of the party. NO tickets will be sold at the door.
Parents - How can you help make ANGP Happen?
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Purchase Mclean HS Graduate Yard Sign Senior yard signs are available for $20. Yard signs can be personalized with your senior’s name for no additional cost. If you want a fun way to show your pride for your graduate, click here to purchase a yard sign today.
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Volunteer - We need about 200 volunteers to set-up, work during, and after the party. You don’t have to stay up all night as there are several shifts to accommodate your schedule. Click here to view the SignUp Genius link. Contact event co-chairs Margarita Collantes and Lisa Haas with any questions.
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Donate - Your monetary donations supplement ticket income to pay for the entertainment, food, decorations, and prizes. Monetary donations can be made on the ticket form or online with a credit card. Have a business or know business that might donate funds or merchandise? You can also donate gift cards to businesses seniors enjoy or could use for college prep (Chipotle, Starbucks, Subway, Bed Bath and Beyond, Target, sporting goods, local spas). To donate or for questions contact Susie French.
ANGP is a wonderful tradition at McLean. Please purchase a ticket for your child to ensure they have a fun, safe celebration, donate what you can, and join the volunteer parents for an amazing celebration!
McLean Students Win Awards in VAPTA Recipe Contest
The Virginia PTA Power Plates Program recently ran a recipe competition to encourage students to practice healthy eating habits. Congratulations to McLean students: Layla Zaidi who won first place for her recipe in the snack category and Lindsey Stirling who won second place for her recipe in the lunch category.
MHS Perfect Attendance Challenge
We are heading into the time of year that has historically seen higher discipline problems and lower attendance at school. To foster a more positive and enthusiastic atmosphere, the combined wellness clubs (Minds Matter, Serenity Club, and Sources of Strength) are working together with Student Government Officers and the PTSA Wellness Committee to create the MHS Perfect Attendance Challenge. Beginning Monday, March 11 and running through April 12, students with perfect attendance will be entered into weekly gift card raffles. Students with perfect attendance for more than one week will have extra entries in subsequent raffles, and the grade with the highest attendance over the five-week challenge will win an ice cream social for the whole grade. Perfect attendance is defined as missing no more than 3 hours in one day. So that early morning dentist appointment won’t ruin your student’s chances!
In addition to the weekly drawings, there will be wellness activities every day of the week during the Challenge. Encourage your students to look for information about Minds Matter Mondays, Terrific Tuesdays, Wellness Wednesdays,Theater Thursdays, and FroYo Fridays.
Resources for Parents Related to Special Education
The FCPS Parent Resource Center (PRC) helps parents of students with disabilities. It sponsors workshops, has a lending library, and has Parent Liaisons to help parents solve problems. The PRC provides services relating to twice exceptional students, special needs life planning, parent stress, post-secondary education, resource fairs for students, access to support groups for students and adults, and many more! Click HERE for the PRC's latest list of events and activities.
Tea Station for Teachers Needs Your Support
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The PTSA Hospitality Committee has established a tea station for the teachers and staff. It's a favorite and great way to show our appreciation. |
This year, we are asking for some healthy items to supplement the many delicious baked treats that the teachers enjoy. Please sign up to send in items on as many Fridays as you like. Your student can drop them off in the office on your assigned mornings. The tea station is located down the first hall you see as you enter the office at the end near the kitchen.
Thank you
Sharon & Solat - PTSA Hospitality Committee Chairs, hospitality@mcleanptsa.org
Tuesday Chats
9:30 am at Star Nut, sponsored by your PTSA Health and Wellness Committee
Come connect with other parents every Tuesday as we continue the conversation about empowering our students. Questions or ideas? Email health.wellness@mcleanptsa.org.
Your Amazon Purchases Can Help Our School (at no extra cost to you)
Simply bookmark: http://www.amazon.com/?tag=mcleanhs.20
And use the link to access Amazon BEFORE you add items to your cart. Items that are left in your cart for 24 hours or more do not qualify. To save items to purchase later, please use your Wish List. Every purchase counts! Thank you!
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