McLean HS: Dr. Reilly's Monday Message 8/30/2021


Important Upcoming Dates

September 3rd - School Holiday

September 6th - Labor Day School Holiday

September 7th - Rosh Hashanah Religious & Cultural Observance

September 16th - Yom Kippur Religious &Cultural Observance

September 17 - Celebrate McLean/Open House - 4:30-6:30

October 1 - Homecoming Game

October 2 - Homecoming Dance

October 4 - Partners in Safe Teen Driving - 6:30-8:00pm

October 13 - PSAT/SAT Day


Links

Bell Schedule

Schoology Information

MySchoolBucks

ParentVue Information

Recordings 

Schoology Training - recording

Freshman/New Parent Meeting- recording


Celebrate McLean

Join us on September 17th for Celebrate McLean!! We are inviting all of our elementary, middle and high school students and families to come together for an evening of fun and entertainment.

From 4:30-6:30pm at our Football Practice Field (behind the baseball field) we will have carnival style events, food trucks and booths from our High School Clubs and local Elementary schools.

That evening our Varsity Football team will be hosting Fairfax HS at 7pm, and we hope that you will stop by the game after Celebrate McLean to come cheer on our football players, cheerleaders, dancers and award winning band!


Calendar Reminder: Labor Day Holiday, Rosh Hashanah

Please make a note of these upcoming important calendar dates. Friday, September 3, and Monday, September 6, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends.

Tuesday, September 7, is a religious and cultural observance day for Rosh Hashanah, the start of the two-day celebration of the Jewish New Year. The FCPS 2021-22 School Year Calendar ensures students do not have to make choices between honoring their cultural or religious beliefs and missing tests or school activities. Tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events cannot be scheduled on any religious and cultural observances. Tests and quizzes will be given prior to any of the 15 days, so that students will not be expected to study on these days.


PSAT/SAT October 13

Seniors

Any senior can take the SAT on Oct 13, free of charge. Seniors who want to take the School Day SAT on October 13th must complete the intent form by Sept 8th at https://tinyurl.com/McLeanSAT2021 (using their school Google account).  If they do not complete the intent form by Sept 8th, they cannot test on Oct 13th.  Senior parents received an e-Notify message about opting in, and the link has been posted on the Class of 2022 Schoology group.

Juniors and Sophomores:

The PSAT is being given to all 10th and 11th graders free of charge.  They don’t need to sign up, but their parents can opt them out of it.


Here Comes the Bus App

Check the The Here Comes the Bus® app, a school bus tracking app that can simplify morning and afternoon routines for parents and students by giving them real-time bus location and text or email notification alerts, helping them get to the bus stop on time. Here Comes the Bus® utilizes FCPS GPS data and an easy-to-use customizable map that works on one or multiple devices, such as a tablet or smartphone. More information about the Here Comes the Bus app is available online.


Drills at School

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us.  Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance. The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school.  Here are some helpful tips for families to use to support their students before and after school lockdown drills.


Partners in Safe Teen Driving 

All students enrolled in classroom driver education must attend a 90-minute Partners in Safe Teen Driving (PSTD) presentation. The 90-minute presentation is connected to classroom instruction and must be completed in addition to successful completion of classroom instruction in order for a student to receive a DEC-District 8 (pink) card.

The 90-minute PSTD presentation will be offered once per quarter throughout the school year at each high school. McLean High School’s dates for the 2021-2022 calendar year are as follows: 

October 4 

November 8

February 7 

April 18 

All seminars will be held from 6:30-8:00 PM. Please arrive early. Attendees who arrive late will not be allowed entry and will not earn credit for attending. Students and a minimum of one of their parent/guardian(s) must attend a presentation during the calendar year in which the student is enrolled in 10th grade Health and PE. While it is recommended that the PSTD seminar requirement be satisfied during the quarter in which the student is taking classroom driver education, students are welcome to attend any quarter. Important: Students who successfully complete their classroom driver education quarter but have not satisfied the PSTD requirement will have earned an incomplete for the class grade until the requirement is met.

This program is available to FCPS students enrolled in grade 10 health and physical education at no charge. Students who are completing classroom instruction through a commercial driving school, are home schooled, are enrolled in another school division, or are FCPS students in grade 11 or 12 must register to attend the 90-minute PSTD seminar. A $30 fee applies, and registration is available through FCPS Adult and Community Education (aceclasses.fcps.edu). Students enrolled in grade 10 health and physical education do not have to register.


Schoology

Fairfax County Public Schools’ new learning management system, Schoology, is a learning space that enhances face-to-face and distance learning through communication, collaboration, and personalized learning.  

Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a safe forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized and it keeps the class connected.

Parent Accounts

A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:

  • Your child’s classes.
  • Your child’s upcoming assignments.
  • School, class, and group announcements.

Parent accounts will be available in mid-August. To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. 

More information on how to login and use Schoology is available online.


Weekly Reminders

Free Breakfast & Lunch for All FCPS Students

The U.S. Department of Agriculture extended schools’ abilities to provide the meals, by giving special exemptions last year when schools were shut down due to COVID-19. This exemption has been extended for the 2021-22 school year. For FCPS, this means that all students, regardless of their families’ incomes, will receive free breakfast and lunch through June 2022.


Immunizations

The documentation can be dropped off in person at the McLean main office, mailed to the school or emailed to mbartenfeld@fcps.edu.  Please contact Mary Bartenfeld at 703-714-5722 if you have any questions.

There is a new immunization requirement for rising 12th graders for the 2021-2022 school year.  Effective July 1, 2021 all students entering twelfth grade will be required to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) administered at age 16 or older, and prior to the beginning of school.  

Please provide one of the following documents to McLean High School as soon as possible:

  • An updated immunization record showing that the student has received the Meningococcal vaccine at age 16 or older.
  • A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the date the Meningococcal vaccine was given at age 16 or older.
  • A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
  • A notarized Religious Exemption Form which is available online at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/certificate_religious_exemption.pdf

Immunizations are available from your student's healthcare provider or the Fairfax County Health Department. The Health Department clinic locations and hours are available online at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/immunization/school or by calling 703-246-2411.

Please contact Mary Bartenfeld at 703-714-5722 if you have any questions.


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/


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