McLean HS: Dr. Reilly's Monday Message 11/23/2020

Important Upcoming Dates

November 25-27 - Thanksgiving Holiday

December 21-January 1 - Winter Break

January 18 - Martin Luther King Day Holiday

January 22 - End of 2nd quarter - 2 hour early release

January 25 - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday


Dear McLean Community:

The faculty and staff at McLean High School would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.  We hope that you all have restful and safe holiday with your family.  Even though we are in the midst of a pandemic, we still have so many things to be thankful for at the school and in the community.  
At the school we are fortunate for our teachers, custodians, clinic support, cafeteria workers, administrators, counseling team, and bus drivers who are so caring and supportive of our students and families.

Also, as a school we are grateful for the support our parents provide the school.  With truly appreciate the efforts of our Athletic Boosters, Band Boosters, Chorus Boosters, Orchestra Boosters, and Theatre Boosters.  Finally thanks to our PTSA for the programs they lead for all of our students at McLean High School!

 

Our Leadership students have created a video to share what they are thankful for this school year:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G0QtU7R2bm4YBpK1te7DXBjhLbzNil8d/view?usp=sharing

 

Happy Thanksgiving!


Important Links

Virtual Back to School Night

Teacher Office Hours

Bell Schedule

Red/Silver Calendar

Office and Support Staff

Attendance

Student Services

Student Activities


General Information

We have completed processing all verifications of parents’ online or in-person preferences for their students.  We are now engaged in the multi-week process of preparing our master schedule.  The final numbers are below:

Grade                   Online                                                  Virtual 

Total                      34% (785 students)                         66% (1505 students)

 

9                              31% (171 students)                         69% (389 students)

10                           38% (225 students)                         62% (372 students)

11                           38% (212 students)                         62% (343 students)

12                           31% (177 students)                         69% (399 students)


McLean Matters Holiday Gift Card Drive and Headsets Charity Wish List

McLean High School 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 that need our help over the holidays. Donated gift cards can be dropped off or mailed to Sue Tabish in the main office at MHS, 1633 Davidson Rd, McLean VA 22101. Gift cards are needed by December 7th. Let's show our fellow Highlanders some love this holiday season because McLean Matters!

 

 There are 3 ways you can purchase Gift Cards:

  1.     Go to a Safeway, Target, or Walmart store and purchase gift card(s) for $25 or $50
  2.     Go online to Target Gift Cards or Walmart Gift Cards and purchase “plastic gift card(s)” to mail/drop off to Sue Tabish at McLean High School
  3.     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 at McLean High School

Safe Community Coalition Rolls Out Managing the Moments Video Series

The Safe Community Coalition has launched a series of short videos for the community featuring the psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers of the SCC’s mental health committee. 

The short segments, approximately 10 minutes each, touch on a wide variety of topics designed to help parents and students in dealing with a range of issues, from younger children’s challenges staying focused while distance learning to effective communication strategies when families feel the strain of too much togetherness. 

The first six videos include:

  • Deescalating Conflict
  • Effective Communication
  • How to Talk to Your Parents
  • Brain Breaks During Distance Learning
  • Self Care and Calming Techniques
  • How Are You?

Additional videos will be rolling out in the weeks to come. 

All videos and any accompanying tip sheets are free and available on the SCC website, mcleanscc.org 


New employment opportunity in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)!

FCPS schools and centers will be hiring classroom monitors to provide in-person classroom assistance for students when a staff member remains virtual.  You can apply to work in the McLean pyramid and work at one of our local schools.  If you would like more information about the position, please review the job description and qualifications online and apply if interested. Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.

Job Description

Provides in-person classroom assistance to a school or center assisting a virtual teacher with conducting classroom activities; works with individual and small groups of students; operates technology to include cameras, learning platforms, and learning tools; helps maintain order and discipline and assists in managing the behavior of students; provides supervision throughout the school day including in the classroom, halls, lunch, recess, and specials; performs administrative and non-instructional duties, such as keeping daily attendance; and ensures all CDC/safety protocols and procedures (e.g., fire drills) are implemented and followed.

Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school. Must be comfortable with basic technology equipment/tools; knowledge of and ability to ensure all CDC/safety protocols and procedures are implemented and followed; and ability to interact effectively with assigned student population.  Pay is paid hourly and the position ends at the end of this school year.

FCPS is seeking individuals to serve as substitute teachers!

Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply here or attend one of our Friday information sessions to learn more! To sign up for a session visit our substitute information page here.  Say Yes 2 FCPS!


Recognitions

McLean's two chamber ensemble submissions to the Virginia Music Educators Association  were selected to be performed at this year’s VMEA conference. The students put a lot of time and effort into these projects, we are proud of them at excelling and learning a different way to make music together. 

The performance will be streamed together with other selected groups as a block on Friday at 5:30PM, Saturday at 10:30 AM, and Saturday at 5:00 PM on the VMEA Facebook page.

Congratulations!


Tracy Waagner, Senior was just announced the winner of the Virginia Music Teachers National Association Senior Voice Competition for high school students ages 15-18. She will move on to represent Virginia in the Southern Division competition.

 She sang classical art songs in four languages: 'Amiamo' (Italian), 'Vergebliches Standchen' (German), 'Notre Amour' (French) and 'The Red Dress.' (English) 

Congratulations Tracy!

http://www.mcleanconnection.com/news/2020/nov/17/mclean-high-student-wins-voice-competition-advance/


Vachel Thevenot, 10th grade student, just published his book! He finished writing it last year and it has taken him about another 6 months to edit the text and get the artwork commissioned. It's now on Amazon. Check it out  https://tinyurl.com/legendsoftess

He also recently won a creative writing spooky short story for Halloween. The prize was that his story gets read by a professional voice actor. 


Updates from Athletics

New Athlete Registration Site

Beginning Wednesday, November 4th, FCPS activities and athletic programs will transition to a new online student registration system.  This new system offers a host of benefits for schools and community members including:

  • One stop shop for registering your student for athletic programs and many common activities occurring throughout the school year
  • Electronic submission of the emergency care card and weight room waiver- only have to fill these out once!
  • A new home for the state-mandated concussion education program

Each family will create an account and from this account, can register their student(s) for various activity and athletic opportunities.  While registering does not guarantee a spot on the team, this information will help to ensure your student is ready to go on the first day of tryouts.  Students can be registered for one or more activities throughout the year and families can sign in as needed to update information. 

The new registration site is available here: https://mclean-ar.rschooltoday.com/

Please contact Stefanie Evers with any questions about the new registration site: severs2@fcps.edu


Winter Sports 

Winter Sports will be starting on December 7th (Boys & Girls Basketball) and December 14 (Gymnastics, Swim & Dive, Winter Track, Wrestling). Tryout schedules will be posted in the next couple of weeks. Please contact the Head Coach with any questions about a specific program. Coaches contact information can be found here


Weekly Reminders

Online Attendance Form

Parents can now report a student absence by using our online attendance form at https://mcleanhs.fcps.edu/about/attendance-form.  The attendance phone line will also be available at 703-714-5725. 


Library News:  Curbside Pickup for library books every Monday starting Nov. 2.

Starting Monday, Nov. 2, students will be able to pick up books they put on hold through the online catalog. The student will login to the catalog using their FCPS login credentials.  When a book is available in the catalog, the student will see book, and be able to click the Hold option.  Once a student places a hold, Mrs. Kong will email the student to sign up for a Curbside Pickup appointment on Mondays from 9:00-2:00.  Curbside pickup will be available every Monday except holidays.

A masked library staff member will take the book(s) to the student’s car at the front entrance of the school (Door #1).  All occupants of the car must wear a mask.  The student’s Name and Student ID Number should be on a sheet of paper and placed on the passenger’s side dashboard.  The library staff member will place the book(s) either in the trunk or the back seat.


Counselors’ Corner

Through Counselors’ Corner, students will meet with their counselors regularly by grade level to go over information that is pertinent for each grade.  The schedule of upcoming lessons by grade level is below.  The time for these lessons will be from 9:45-10:15am.  Students will receive a BBCU link via their student email to access the lesson.  Please contact your student’s counselor with any questions.

Seniors – November 4th

Juniors – November 18th

Sophomores – December 2nd

Freshmen – December 9th


AMC

Sign up for the American Mathematics Competition.  It will be held virtually on February 10.  Go to My School Bucks to register.


Fairfax County Public Library Checkout Now Available to All Students

Effective October 1, all FCPS students (preK-12) are able to check out materials from the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL), even if they don’t have a traditional library card or a card has been blocked due to fines. 

Under the Library Equity Access Pass program (LEAP), a partnership with FCPS and FCPL, students need only their name, not a physical library card, to check out three items at a time for six weeks each (no renewals). LEAP accounts are never charged fines or fees.  

A student can have a LEAP account in addition to a standard library account. Standard accounts allow users to place holds on materials and access FCPL’s digital resources, such as eBooks and databases. 

Families can apply for a standard account online and in library branches.


Free and Reduced-Price Meals

If you submitted an application for Free or Reduced-Price Meals last school year for your child(ren), please remember to submit a new application for this school year. The current eligibility status will expire on October 20, 2020.

Apply for free and reduced-price meals by visiting www.MySchoolApps.com. Eligibility may also provide your child(ren) other important benefits. Be sure your child(ren) are approved for the 20-21 school year. 

The online application is available in the following languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Tagalog, French, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Korean. Paper applications are available to complete and submit in English upon request at FCPS food distribution sites. 


Parent Required Signatures

1. Digital Tool Permission

2. Student's Rights and Responsibilities 

1. Parent Digital Tool Permission Application

In an ongoing effort to protect student data, FCPS is required to secure parental permission for student use of software/applications for which FCPS does not have a confidentiality agreement.  An online process has been developed to collect this information digitally and provide school-based reporting.  This process has been designed to meet the legal requirements for authenticating parent identities under FERPA.  The MHS Website has a list of all of the digital tools used at McLean.

2. Student's Rights and Responsibilities Signature Page

Students will review the SR&R on September 11, 2020.  The SR&R booklet can be found on the FCPS website (Sept. 2).  FCPS will release the link to the SR&R Signature page once the SR&R is finalized and updated on the website.  Please review the SR&R with your student.  The final SR&R will be available online at  

https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/policies-regulations-and-notices/student-rights-and-responsibilities/video-and-resources


Behind the Wheel and PSTD Information

McLean High School will be offering Partners in Safe Teen Driving (PSTD) seminars twice during first quarter. These seminars will be held virtually through BBCU from 7:00-8:30 PM on Monday, 10/19 and Monday 10/26. Students must virtually attend with a parent or legal guardian and fill out an attendance form at the end in order to earn credit. Attendance of a PSTD seminar is a state requirement in order to pass classroom Driver Education as part of the Health and Physical Education 10 curriculum and obtain a DEC-8 (pink) card. While this seminar is intended for and free of charge for students currently enrolled in Health and Physical Education 10, any juniors who were unable to satisfy this requirement during the 2019-2020 school year are welcome to attend free of charge as well.

Students can register to attend with a parent or legal guardian for one of these two dates HERE. Prior to the seminar date, the STUDENT will receive a BBCU invite to the virtual seminar that will be sent to their fcpsschools.net email account. The student must sign into the seminar before 7:00 PM and a parent or guardian must watch the seminar with them. Virtual Attendance after 7:00 PM will not be permitted. PSTD seminars are only available for attendance by students in grades 10-12. Any 9th graders who attend will not receive credit, as they are not enrolled in the Health and Physical Education 10 course.

If students or parents cannot virtually attend a PSTD seminar during the week, FCPS ACE (Adult and Community Education) will be offering Partners in Safe Teen Driving seminars on Saturdays beginning in October. These seminars are only open to students grades 10-12. Students who attend these Saturday seminars regardless of grade, must register online through the ACE website and pay the $30.00 registration fee, as these seminars are held on the weekend.

Lastly, FCPS ACE is now accepting registration for behind-the-wheel (in-car portion) Driver Education classes.  Registration is available on the ACE website.

The FCPS ACE website can be found here:

https://aceclasses.fcps.edu/CategorySubjectListing.aspx?ProgramID=28&ProgramName=Driver+Education&IsCourse=1.

Questions related to ACE classes ACE seminars may be directed to Jard Shoemake at: wcshoemake@fcps.edu.


Club Participation Information

  1. Go to Clubs-and-organizations for a list of all of our clubs.
  2. Each club will have a Google Classroom link
  3. If you are interested in that club, click on the Google Classroom Link to join the club classroom
  4. In the classroom, there will be a link to join club meetings during Highlander Flex Time(Only FCPS students can enter)
  5. 9:45am-10:25am- Clubs that start with the letter A-L

    10:25am-11:05am- Clubs that start with the letter M-Z

  6. If the Club says “Inactive” that means we have the club, but currently do not have a sponsor. If a student is interested in activating the club a teacher sponsor would need to be identified.
  7. To learn more about student clubs at MHS, as well as information on the process of starting new clubs, please join Mr. Hays’ MHS Clubs class in Google Classroom using class code: euwkxvv

McLean HS Tech Support for Students

If you are experiencing issues with your FCPS issued laptop, please use the link below to enter your information.  The tech support team will then get back to you as soon as possible.

We will continue to support students remotely as much as possible. If a computer has been identified as needing hands-on repair, we will schedule an appointment for you to come to the school to exchange it.  

Description:  This form should be filled out by a student if they are experiencing issues with their FCPSOn laptop.

Please click on the link below to access the Tech Support Request Form.

Parent/Student Support Portal Link:

https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/


FCPS Help Desk for Tech Support for Parents and Students

To support families who are working with their children during distance learning, FCPS has launched a new Parent Technology Help Desk, effective Monday, August 24. The help desk can be reached at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) and will be answered by staff members between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week.

Parents or guardians can call this number for basic tech support with parent accounts, help with FCPS student devices and technical assistance with other FCPS applications. If help desk staff members are unable to solve the issue, they will enter a support ticket on behalf of the parent/guardian to escalate the issue to the appropriate FCPS team. Parents who need help in a language other than English can inform the help desk staff when they call of their preferred language, and an interpreter will join in on the call.

FCPS has also set-up Parent and Student Technology Support portal at https://itweb.fcps.edu/itsupport/ to allow older students and parents/guardians to request technology help directly. When a support request ticket is entered through the portal, it is auto-routed to the TSSpec at the appropriate site to expedite service. text.


Social-Emotional Support Information

Mental Health and Wellness Support Services and Resources

McLean’s Clinical Staff are available to consult with parents and students regarding mental health related concerns and behaviors.  They are also able to provide community resources as needed.  Please see their contact information below:

Carol Ann Forrest, School Psychologist, CMForrest@fcps.edu

Beverly Parker-Lewis, School Psychologist, baparkerlewi@fcps.edu

Marly Jerome-Featherson, School Social Worker, mjeromefeath@fcps.edu

For more Mental Health and Wellness Information, please check out these Student Wellness Resources, FCPS’s  Healthy Minds Blog and the FCPS’s Parent Resource Center.


 Emergency Resources

Crisis Link Regional Hotline            703-527-4077

Crisis Text                                       Text NEEDHELP to 85511

Dominion Hospital Emergency       703-536-2000

INOVA Emergency                         703-289-7560

Merrifield Center Emergency         703-573-5979  TTY dial 711

Life Threatening                             911



FCPS Cares

FCPS Cares

Do you know a McLean High School or FCPS employee who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone.


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