Important Upcoming Dates
September 25 - PTSA Meeting
September 27 - Homecoming football game
September 28 - Homecoming Dance 8:00-11:00pm
October 9 - Wellness Wednesday
October 14 - Columbus Day - Student Holiday
October 16 - PSAT day 10/11 graders/High School Transition Day - 9th graders
November 1 - 1st quarter ends
November 4 & 5 - Student Holidays
General Information
October 16 Senior Link for College Essay
*PSAT Day Link for Seniors: College Essay Consulting Sign-up Form.
Parking Permit Update
McLean Swim and Tennis Association (MSTA) has agreed to allow our students to park on their lot this school year. Students who have filled out a parking application and paid for a permit and have not received a parking pass will receive a pass to the MSTA lot. Parents need to read the rules for this lot and sign the paper - https://mcleanhs.fcps.edu/student-life-activities/student-parking
Students should bring the signed paper to security to receive their pass to the MSTA lot. There are 40 spots on the MSTA lot and 15 spots on campus left.
AP Exam Opt-Out Reminder
AP Exam Opt-Out Forms and Fee Reminder
FCPS strongly encourages all students to take AP tests for courses in which they are enrolled, however, AP students have the opportunity to opt out of test(s) by submitting an opt-out form. All AP students will receive an AP exam opt-out form from 3rd period teachers by October 1st.
Please keep in mind that FCPS will pay the test fees for the first six AP tests taken for courses in which a student is currently enrolled for high school credit or auditing. Students choosing to take one or more AP tests beyond the six FCPS-funded tests will be charged a fee of $94 per AP test. For more information about the test fee process visit the FCPS website: https://www.fcps.edu/testfees
No action is needed for students who wish to take all AP tests for the courses in which they are currently enrolled and have registered for their exams via College Board’s “MyAP” platform. To opt-out of an AP test, students/parents must complete the AP opt-out form and return it to the Student Services office by Friday, October 25, 2019. This deadline is much earlier than it has been in past years due to new College Board test ordering deadlines. Students who do not submit the opt-out form by the deadline and later do not sit for an AP test for which they were registered will be charged a fee of $40.00 per unused AP test (or $94.00 if beyond the six FCPS-funded exam limit).
Note for students enrolled in AP Economics or AP US & Comparative Government: The curriculum for these two AP courses is assessed through two separate AP tests. The two tests for these courses will be considered as one test for the FCPS-funded test count and fees.
Note for students enrolled in AP Capstone courses (Seminar and Research): The College Board exam fee for these courses is $142.00, however, FCPS students (beyond the six FCPS funded tests) will only incur a $94.00 fee.
Credit Exam for World Languages
The 2019 Credit Exam for World Languages will be administered November 6 – 8, 2019. Students who take the credit exam will now have the opportunity to earn up to three credits, based on demonstrated proficiency.
Thirty (30) languages will be assessed via the FCPS Credit Exam, including: American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali/Bangla, Chinese/Mandarin, Farsi/Persian, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit/Samskritam, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Greek, Hebrew, Portuguese and Turkish languages will be tested using the Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), which is a timed test and has a format distinct from the FCPS World Languages Credit Exam. More information on the WPT is available here: Writing Proficiency Test.
Registration opens Monday, September 9, 2019 at 8:00 a.m. and closes on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted. Student should see their school counselors to register for the exam.
Students visited the observatory during their lunch time.
PSAT Day - General Information
- The PSAT will be administered to 10th and 11th grade students on Wednesday, October 16th.
- No registration is required. The PSAT is *free* for all 10th and 11th grade FCPS students.
- PSAT day is an early release day for students (1:05).
- PSAT practice materials can be found online at www.collegeboard.org. 10th and 11th grade students will also receive a “PSAT Student Guide + Practice Test” via English classes.
- PSAT testing locations will be emailed to FCPS Gmail accounts in early October.
- Students will need number 2 pencils and a calculator.
- Please contact Mr. Bouchard (rabouchard@fcps.edu) for PSAT/College Board accommodation requests.
- FCPS is no longer administering the PSAT 8/9. 9th grade students will participate in a high school transition program on October 16th.
PSAT Pre-Survey
At the beginning of the PSAT, students are presented with a voluntary pre-survey that asks questions about a variety of topics. Parents have the opportunity to preview this survey, and to opt out, if they choose to do so. Parents/guardians may view the pre-survey questions and access further information about the opt-out process via the “PSAT Pre-Survey Opt-Out Policy” public webpage at: https://www.fcps.edu/node/36639. Pre-survey opt-out forms must be returned to Sara Wheeler, Assessment Coach, McLean High School by Friday, September 28, 2018. If you choose to opt your student out of the pre-survey, please be sure your student knows they should not answer the pre-survey questions at the beginning of the test.
PSAT Day Opportunities for Seniors
On October 16th, MHS will host two optional activities for 12th grade students:
- College Essay Writing assistance with English 12 teachers in the MHS Library from 8:30-11:30 - by appointment only.
- College Application assistance with Mrs. Venos (McLean’s College and Career Specialist) in the Career Center from 8:30 -10:00 (drop-ins welcome).
Lock-down Drills in September
In the month of September, our school will conduct two lock-down drills. Per Virginia State code - “In every public school there shall be a lock-down drill at least twice during the first 20 school days of each school session, in order that students may be thoroughly practiced in such drills. Every public school shall hold at least two additional lock-down drills during the remainder of the school session. Lock-down plans and drills shall be in compliance with the Statewide Fire Prevention Code (§ 27-94 et seq. ).”
The school will send out a message to every parent minutes prior to the lockdown drill being conducted.
Homecoming Information
Students and faculty dressed up for spirit day.
The theme for Homecoming is Candy Land!
The dance is Saturday, September 28th from 8:00-11:00 pm. Tickets will be sold on My School Bucks for $20.00, and no tickets will be sold at the door. Once tickets have been purchased on My School Bucks, students should bring their receipt to Ms. McNamara or Ms. Donoghue to pick up a physical ticket. Guest forms are available in the main office and in Ms. McNamara’s and Ms. Donoghue’s rooms (B175 & B177).
Spirit Days:
Monday- Aloha Almond Joy (Hawaiian)
Tuesday- Sleepy Skittles (comfy outfits)
Wednesday- Jolly Rancher Jersey (jerseys)
Thursday- Taste the Rainbow (tie dye)
Friday- Class Colors
Tuff Puff game is on Wednesday, September 25th at 6:30.
Homecoming football game is on Friday, September 27th at 7:00. Homecoming royalty will be announce at half time.
VISION AND HEARING SCREENING – 10th GRADERS AND NEW TO FCPS STUDENTS
10/3 and 10/4--- Wednesday, Oct. 9th and Thursday Oct. 10th, we will be conducting our Vision and Hearing Screening in the Lecture Hall. All 10th graders and any new to FCPS in 9th, 11th, and 12th will be screened. Students who wear glasses/contacts need to bring/wear them on those days.
If you are interested in volunteering anytime on either or both of these days, please use the “Sign Up Genius” link below to put your name in the time slots that you would be available.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4DADA82EA7FD0-hearing4/4531557
You may also contact Julie Gamboa, School Health Aide by e-mailing her at jgamboa@fcps.edu.
Wellness Wednesdays Continues
Join your PTSA Wellness Committee and fellow parents at 8:30 am on Wednesdays at Greenberry's in McLean. On September 18 we will talk about how parents can use ParentVUE (the online gradebook) as a tool to support our students without creating anxiety about grades. We will also discuss ways to incorporate a growth mindset in our everyday interactions with our kids.
Mark your calendars for our next formal parent coffee on Wednesday, October 9 at 8:30 am at TheStudyPro in McLean. Nick Corsi will again lead the session, this time providing Sources of Strength training for parents. Find more information about Sources of Strength here.
We believe engaged students are healthy students, and our Wellness Committee is here to help every student find a place where they belong. If you’d like to get involved on the parent side of things, or are concerned your student isn’t finding a place to fit, feel free to email the Wellness Committee to find out how to support your student.
Request to Expunge High School Course Taken in Middle School – Current 9th Grade Students Only
Parents of students who take a high school credit-bearing course in middle school may request that the grade be omitted from the student’s high school transcript and the student not earn high school credit for the course. Parents must make this request no later than the end of the first nine weeks of the school year following completion of the course. For courses completed in 8th grade, parents of current freshmen must make the request no later than the end of the first quarter. Once expunged, a course cannot be reinstated. The Request to Expunge form must be completed to make this request. Please contact your child’s school counselor if you would like to discuss expunging a course.
Free and Reduced Meals Application
The Free and Reduced Meals application is now online. Families must re-apply every year to receive this service. More information and a link to the application can be found at: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs/free-and-reduced-price-meals. Please also complete the consent to share information (section 4 of the application) as this can allow the school to waive course fees and receive reduced fees for other activities. If families do not re-apply their number will be inactivated in early October.
Athletics
Cross Country Senior Night
 Our Golf team finished in third place at Districts and qualified for Regionals. Jonathan Zhou finished in 5th place overall
Pictured McLean's Golf Team
Pictured: Jonathan Zhou
FCPS Workshops for Parents
The sixth annual FCPS Mental Health and Wellness Conference will be held on Saturday, October 5th, at Fairfax High School from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m, sponsored by Inova. The morning session will focus on social and emotional learning, with a keynote address given by Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.
A special session for high school students, the Our Minds Matter Teen Summit, will take place in the morning as well. Attendees are encouraged to stay for Inova’s Act on Addiction Summit, which will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
More information is available at the Mental Health and Wellness Conference website.
FCPS Cares
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My School Bucks
Learn more about this online payment portal for many school fees. Parents can set up an account which they link their student(s) to so there is one account per family. Course fees, lunch funds, some ticket events can be taken care of online. MySchoolBucks eliminates the need for students to carry cash to school and for multiple checks to be written. Learn more and sign up at https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/login/getmain?requestAction=home
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