March 10, 2021
Your Source for News about the Highlander Community
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Important Upcoming Dates
March 11 - Live Webinar on College Prep for Student-Athletes
March 13 - Mock PSAT Test - Registration Required
March 15 - Restaurant Night at Santini's
March 20 - Mock SAT - Registration Required
March 25 - Parent Education Series Part 2 - Drugs and the Teenage Brain
March 26 - End of Third Quarter - 2-hour Early Release
March 27 - Mock ACT - Registration Required
March 28 - Graduation Yard Sign Order Deadline
March 29-April 2 - Spring Break
April 10 - Mock ACT - Registration Required
April 24 - Mock ACT - Registration Required
Parent Education Series Part 2 – Drugs and the Teenage Brain
The second session of the Parent Education Series on Substance Abuse Prevention hosted by FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, Kelly Rankin is scheduled on March 25th.
Kelly will provide a 20-minute education session for parents to learn the impact of drugs on teenage brain development. There will be two sessions held at 12:00pm and 7:00pm.
Mark your calendars so you can learn how to play an important role in prevention, and how to have a conversation with your child about addiction.
Click here to join a session.
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Mock PSAT Test Offered
to MHS Students
New! The PTSA has partnered with C2 Education to provide MHS students virtual Mock PSAT Tests in March.
Use this link to register for the following dates and times:
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Saturday, March 13th at 9:30am
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Saturday, March 13th at 1:00pm
The fee is $20, and proceeds benefit the PTSA.
If you have any questions or need more information, contact C2 Education either by phone at: (703) 288-4400, text at: (571) 766-6042 or email at: mclean@c2educate.com.
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Restaurant Night on March 15th
Support Your Highlander Community
While Dining In or Carrying Out
Monday, March 15th, 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Santini’s New York Style Deli
1443 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22101
(703) 748-7777
Call ahead for carry-out or socially distanced dine-in for dinner. Make sure to tell your server or cashier that you are participating in the MHS PTSA. fundraiser.
Santini’s will donate 15% of all sales to the PTSA.
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Upcoming Virtual Mock ACT and SAT Tests
EC Tutoring continues to offer virtual mock ACT and SAT tests to area students for $20 each.
The upcoming dates are:
Mock SAT, Saturday, March 20th https://conta.cc/2NrMuaS
Mock ACT, Saturday, March 27th https://conta.cc/3pkvRes
Mock SAT, Saturday, April 10th https://conta.cc/2Oy3fSb
Mock ACT, Saturday, April 24th https://conta.cc/3dqKs5A
Please remember to indicate that you are a MHS student on the registration form to ensure that the PTSA receives credit; the fees support our programs.
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Class of 2021 Personalized Graduation Yard Signs
Now Available for Purchase!!
It is time to celebrate your senior's accomplishment with a Graduation Yard Sign! Optional adhesive is available for window or door mounting.
Signs can be personalized with your senior’s first name or ordered with the word GRADUATE in the name space.
Signs are $25 each and will be delivered to your yard by PTSA volunteers. Order deadline is March 28th for delivery starting in early April.
For more information, click here.
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Student Recognition
Yard/Home Signs
Want to recognize your Freshman, Sophomore or Junior student(s) for all their hard work during this distance learning year?
What better to do it than with a Student Recognition Sign!
Each sign costs $25, is personalized with the student’s class year and will be delivered directly to your home when ready. Signs come with a metal stand to push into the ground. Adhesive may be requested at no extra charge if window or door mounting is preferred.
Support your PTSA and recognize your student today! Go to the PTSA website.
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Student-Athletes:
Opportunities for Competition & Success in College
On March 11th at 7:00pm, the PTSA is offering a 45-minute live webinar hosted by experts from C2 Education.
Is your child a student athlete in one or more sports? Do they dream of playing at the collegiate level? In this presentation, we will discuss how the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) provides pathways for student-athletes to attend college and compete.
The webinar will cover eligibility, recruitment, scholarships, and other key topics to help you navigate the NCAA admissions process. Time for Q&A and opportunities for further learning will be provided.
A link for the meeting will be sent an hour beforehand.
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MHS PTSA Needs You!
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, the PTSA needs you!
Please consider the following open positions:
Nominating Committee Member
Volunteer to help identify and recruit PTSA executive leaders for next school year. This is a short-term commitment, ending by early April or sooner (if we can quickly recruit for the open positions).
Membership Co-Chair
The Membership Co-Chair will collaborate with the VP Fundraising to create and implement a membership plan, promote membership through AtoZ Connect, and provide membership reports at PTSA board meetings.
It involves collaborating with the AtoZ Connect staff to help create a student directory both online and print versions. Responsible for supporting parent/student online verification at the beginning of the school year. Training will be provided for AtoZ Connect tool.
You will have an opportunity to learn from seasoned parent volunteers who will help you with this role.
For more information and to view other open positions click here.
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Highlander Shout-Outs to MHS Teachers and Staff
A Message from 9th Grader to Mme. Brazell:
"Teachers inspire dreams, shape lives, and give us hope for the future. Mme. Brazell, I want to recognize you for your teaching excellence, effective communication with students and the lasting value of course!
Thank you for being such an amazing French teacher, Mme. Brazell! I have looked forward to every French class since the beginning of the school year. We have all learned so much in your class.
You encouraged us to be the best we could be and I will always be thankful to you for all the hard work and efforts you have put in to make class time effective and welcoming, especially during this time.
Recognition of your innovative teaching and many contributions made to student learning! You made a difference!
Having gone through hard times this past year, Mme. Brazell kept putting smiles on our faces, and is a true inspiration to many, including myself.
You have made a significant impact on the lives of young people, Your school community, professional community and the broader community.
Je tiens à vous exprimer notre gratitude. Merci du fond du cœur."
A Message from a Parent of a 12th Grader to Ms. Sue Tabish:
"I want to thank Sue for all her help in selling White House ornaments for the PTSA out of the front office this year, since we were not able to sell them at in-person events. She helped us keep this important fundraiser going!"
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Help us Continue These Shout-Outs
and Show Our Appreciation to
Highlander Teachers and Staff
Please submitting a shout-out using this form.
There is no deadline - send as many shout-outs as you like.
We will post them on a weekly basis in the eNews.
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Feminine Product Drive Sponsored
by The Girls Leadership Club
The McLean Girls Leadership Club is hosting a feminine product drive through March 19th.
Many women and girls have trouble affording food and basic necessities. Especially now during the pandemic, expensive yet necessary feminine hygiene products can take a toll on families living paycheck to paycheck.
Please consider purchasing feminine products (including pads, tampons, etc.) this week or next week and bringing them to McLean High School. There is a drop off box outside of the main office, and students coming back to school can drop them on their way to class.
The Girls Leadership Club is dedicated to supporting women and girls both here at McLean and in the community at large. Your support with this project is greatly appreciated and can help us meet our goal of helping the community around us.
Applications Wanted for Student Representative to the School Board for 2021-2022 School Year
Each year, FCPS students can apply for the position of the student representative to the School Board. The student representative is not a member of the School Board but serves in a non-voting, advisory capacity, representing the interests of the students at Fairfax County Public Schools.
Students who are currently in grades 9, 10, and 11 are eligible to apply, and they do not need to be current members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SAC).
Applications are due by April 7.
The application and more information about the opportunity are available here.
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2021 Congressional
Art Competition
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district.
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
To review the rules and participate in the competition, visit here.
Submissions are due April 30th.
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The Youth Creativity Project (YCP) is Looking for Student Volunteers - Earn Service Hours
YCP is a youth-led non-profit organization established in September 2020 by high-schoolers in the DMV area with a passion for art. It is dedicated to bringing youth and their families in healthcare facilities a sense of connection and healing by providing them with engaging art activities that foster creative thinking.
YCP is looking for student volunteers that can commit at least 2 hours each week (depending on role). For more information about this opportunity, visit their site.
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Help SHARE Serve
Our Community
SHARE of McLean is desperately in need of liquid laundry detergent and cooking oil.
Medium sized bottles of detergent (approximately 32 loads) and cooking oil (48 oz.) are ideal.
You can leave the detergent and oil at the MHS Front Entrance, between the glass doors, in a box marked “SHARE”. Please come during school hours to gain admittance. Donations can also be brought directly to Share’s volunteers between 8:30am – 12:00pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays at:
Share at McLean Baptist Church
1367 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22101
You can also place them in the outdoor donation sheds at the church anytime. Just follow the walkway from the parking lot.
Click here for more information about SHARE.
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Multiple Ways to Support the PTSA
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!
Remember to enroll in rewards programs.
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Helpful Links
fairtest.org - Resource to find out which colleges will be test optional next year.
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.
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