November 11, 2020
Your Source for News about the Highlander Community
|
Mark Your Calendar!
PTSA General Membership Meeting
Wednesday, November 18th, 7:00pm.
Special Guest Elaine Tholen, School Board Member- Fairfax County Public Schools representing Dranesville District in Virginia, will join our meeting to tell us what the school board is working on and answer any questions you may have during this moderated session.
Parents, guardians, family members, and students are invited and encouraged to use the following link to submit questions prior to the meeting, so they can be addressed during the meeting:
Form to Submit Questions
A link to participate in the meeting will be sent one hour prior to the meeting.
|
MHS Parent Meetings
- Junior Parents University, November 6th, 12:00pm, topic: Testing 101.
- Fall College Planning Night, November 11th, 6:30pm. For students and parents of all grades –stay tuned for details!
Links to participate will be sent one hour prior to the meeting.
Please consult the MHS PTSA calendar page for additional meetings and events.
Restaurant Night in November
Show Highlander Spirit and Support Your Community While Dining or Carrying Out
Monday, November 16th, 11:30am - 9pm
Pie-tanza
Lee Harrison Shopping Center
2503 North Harrison Street
Arlington, VA 22207
15% of sales will be donated to McLean HS PTSA. Show the flyer or tell the cashier you are supporting the McLean High School.
Thank you for your generous support!
|
Annual White House Ornament Sale Fundraiser
The McLean HS PTSA is once again selling the Official 2020 White House Historical Christmas Ornaments. This year's ornament honors President John F. Kennedy.
Ornaments can be ordered online HERE until December 11th. Upon purchase, someone from the PTSA will reach out to explain pick up options (either at the MHS main office during office hours or a porch pick up from our Treasurer's house in Vienna, VA).
Learn more about the ornament at https://www.whitehousehistory.org/.
|
Upcoming Virtual Mock SAT and ACT Tests
EC Tutoring is offering a mock SAT and ACT tests in November. These tests are available to students at area schools for $20.
*** Please remember to indicate your status as an MHS student on the registration form to ensure that the PTSA receives credit; the fees support our programs.
Virtual Mock SAT Test - Saturday, November 14th Registration Form
Virtual Mock ACT Test - Saturday, November 21st Registration Form
Final Days!!!
McLean Band Fruit Sale
For over 40 years, the McLean High School Band Program has offered “fresh from the orchards” Florida fruit in support of its ensembles. As MHS students and faculty adjust and adapt to the COVID pandemic, they are continuing this tradition virtually.
The 2020 Fruit Sale is open for online orders only through November 13th at https://www.mcleanband.org/fruit-sale.html. Do not forget to list your favorite band or guard member’s name as the seller during the online checkout process, if applicable.
Consistent with COVID safety precautions and socially distancing practices they will be assigning all purchasers a time window for pick-up the fruit on the morning of December 12th.
Questions or concerns? Please email mhsbandfruitsale@gmail.com.
|
National Award-Winning Student Publication
McLean’s student journalists need your support to continue publishing this year!
Subscribers to The Highlander will receive all this year’s issues of our award-winning newsmagazine by mail, including the special Senior Edition.
The first issue of the print edition comes out this week, so don’t delay! Subscription for the entire year costs only $25.
Patrons who donate $50 or more may choose to have their names (individual, family or business name) printed in each issue of the magazine. If you have any questions or are interested in advertising opportunities, contact lbbenedict@fcps.edu.
Subscriptions and other donation options are available on MySchoolBucks.
Please complete this form to finalize your subscription or donation.
|
Volunteer Openings at McLean PTSA
The McLean PTSA is an all-volunteer organization. Whether you have the time and energy to chair a committee or prefer to volunteer an hour at an occasional event, YOUR PTSA NEEDS YOU and appreciates all that you do!
Please consider the following open positions:
All-Night Grad Party (ANGP) Committee Chairs for 2021
Lead planning and delivery of our All-Night Grad Party for the Senior Class of 2021. Planning begins early to make it a memorable gathering for our graduating students.
Current-year Committee Chairs are available to provide a smooth transition along with providing helpful documentation.
eNews Team
Responsible for sending weekly PTSA e-newsletter. Share relevant information, promote events and enhance parent engagement. Proof-reading skills are a plus.
All open positions can be found here.
McLean Matters
Holiday Gift Card Drive and Headset Charity Wish List
McLean HS has approximately 75 students who are at, or below, the poverty level. These student-families need our help more than ever. Please click HERE to sign-up to donate $25 or $50 gift cards to Safeway, Target, or Walmart for McLean High School families to assist them over the holidays.
There are three ways you can purchase gift cards:
- Go to a Safeway, Target, or Walmart store and purchase gift card(s) for $25 or $50 and mail/drop off to Sue Tabish in the main office at McLean High School.
- Go online to Target Gift Cards or Walmart Gift Cards and purchase “plastic gift card(s)” to mail/drop off to Sue Tabish.
- Go online to Target Gift Cards or Walmart Gift Cards and purchase “electronic gift card(s)”, print out the paper copy, and mail/drop off to Sue Tabish.
Please use the following address for all mailed gift cards:
Sue Tabish
McLean High School
1633 Davidson Road
McLean, VA 22101
Gift cards are needed by December 7th.
Headset Donation Charity Wish List
Many of the students-in-need are faced with virtual learning alongside several siblings, all in one room at their home. They are challenged with not being able to hear the teacher speak or speak to the teacher clearly. We are collecting donations of headsets for virtual learning for our MHS students-in-need.
Please click the Amazon Wish List Here to purchase a headset for donation.
If you have any questions, please contact McLean Matters Chair Emma Blankenbaker at eblankenbaker@verizon.net.
|
Children's Winter Clothing Drive
Our local community partner, SHARE, has asked for our assistance in obtaining the following high need items for children of all ages:
Winter Coats
Boots and Sneakers
Hats and Mittens
New or almost new items are appreciated, as SHARE does not have the resources to sort clothing and shoes.
All donations can be brought to the following locations:
- Collection Box located between the glass door at McLean HS's Main Entrance
- SHARE at McLean Baptist Church, 1367 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
In person on Wednesdays and Saturdays, 8:30am – 12:00pm
If neither of these options work, please contact Sherri.share@outlook.com to arrange an alternate drop-off time.
|
Curbside Pickup for Library Books Every Monday Starting November 2nd
Starting Monday, November 2nd, students will be able to pick up books they put on hold through the online catalog.
Students are encouraged to watch the following tutorial video on how to place a hold on a book that they may wish to check out from the online catalog.
|
Did you Know?
McLean High School has a full-time Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist. Kelly Rankin serves as a resource for students and parents interested in finding out more information on substance use or discussing concerns of use and addiction.
If you need more information, take a look at this flyer.
Verify Your Information for the School Directory and Stay Connected and Informed
It only takes five minutes for parents to verify or update their contact information in the AtoZ Connect school directory.
To access the AtoZConnect use this link.
Then, join the PTSA through AtoZ Connect! We need your engagement to make the PTSA as effective as possible.
Please email fundraising@mcleanptsa.org if you need assistance.
|
How to Donate and Rewards Programs
Please consider making a tax-free donation to the PTSA.
Your contribution translates directly into academic enhancements, virtual programs, improved technology, and courtyard and facilities renovations.
Click here to donate.
Earn rewards while you shop: Help Our Cause (NEW this year!): Check out a one-stop shop to earn rewards while shopping at 1000+ stores online or on your phone. Simply register once and use it often to get shopping discounts, travel rebates, discounted textbook purchases, electronics, and vehicle donations, and much more. Details about the program here.
Amazon Smile: Please use this link to set up your AmazonSmile account to donate to McLean High School PTSA and to shop.
|
Harris Teeter Together in Education: Visit this link to register your card or register with the cashier next time you shop at Harris Teeter. MHS Code: 5560; Phone: (800) 432-6111.
|
|
|
Upcoming Important Dates
November 11th - Veteran's Day - 2-hour Early Release
November 14th - Virtual Mock SAT Test
November 16th - Pie-tanza Restaurant Fundraiser
November 18th - PTSA General Membership Meeting
November 21st - Virtual Mock ACT Test
November 25th-27th - Thanksgiving Holiday
Helpful Links
FCPS Support for Parents & Families
FCPS Parent Resource Center
Provides access to information and resources to support all families, educators, and students, including those with special needs, learning challenges, and disabilities.
FCPS has Parent Information Phone Lines
Available in eight (8) languages to assist with general questions about FCPS.
|
|
