McLean HS: Dr. Reilly's Monday Message 9/13/2021


Important Upcoming Dates

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 - VIRTUAL

October 13 - PSAT/SAT Day


Links

Bell Schedule

Schoology Information

MySchoolBucks

ParentVue Information

Recordings 

Schoology Training - recording

Freshman/New Parent Meeting- recording

New Recording Virtual Back to School Night

Back to School Night


Schedule Change Cut-Off Date, This Friday, September 17

Most students have settled into their schedules for this year. Currently we are able to make course level or elective changes (other than adding online campus or AP/DE courses), if space is available in the course requested and it fits into the student’s schedule. This open schedule change period will end this Friday. If students would like to make a change to their schedule, they should reach out to their counselor this week. After this week, we will hold on schedule changes until the end of the first quarter.


October 13 Grades 9-12 Information

Grade 9

Grade 9 students will receive asynchronous virtual learning.  More information to follow about the lessons the students will be provided.

Grade 10-11

Grade 10-11 students will be participating in the PSAT/NMSQT. 

Grade 12

Grade 12 students who returned an intent to participate form will take the SAT exam; October 13 will be an unscheduled day for grade 12 students who are not testing, unless the student chooses to engage in another approved activity, such as civic engagement or college visits.

Transportation will be provided for all students who are testing.

All

All high schools and secondary schools, and will operate on a 2-hour early release schedule to provide professional development for staff and/or to allow teacher-directed time for collaborative team meetings, lesson planning activities, etc.

High school academy courses will not be held on October 13, and shuttles are canceled.


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.


Testing Center Information

Students can make an appointment for the Testing Center in one of three ways:

Online, by using this link:  https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/McLeanHSTestingCenter@fcps.edu/bookings/

By emailing Mrs. Bruins at elbruins@fcps.edu

Or in person in Room 135 (weekdays 8:15-2:45 only)


Celebrate McLean

Please join us on September 17th from 4:30-6:30pm at the McLean HS practice field (behind the baseball field) for an evening of food, fun, and entertainment. We will have booths showcasing our local elementary schools/middle school, McLean HS clubs/activities/sports teams, carnival style games, DJ Howard and food trucks. The event is free (except for the food trucks). After Celebrate McLean, come down to the stadium to watch our football team take on Fairfax at 7pm. This will be a great day to bring together the McLean community!


Religious and Cultural Observance Day

Thursday, September 16, is Yom Kippur 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.


Partners for Safe Teen Driving - Virtual

McLean High School will be offering Partners for Safe Teen Driving (PSTD) seminars throughout the school year. All students enrolled in classroom driver education must attend one 90-minute PSTD presentation. The 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.

McLean High School’s dates for the 2021-2022 calendar year are:

October 4

November 8

February 7

April 18

To register for the October 4 PSTD seminar, students can register with a parent or legal guardian here. To access the registration form, students must be logged into their fcpsschools.net account.

All seminars will be held from 6:30-8:00 PM virtually via Schoology Zoom. Registrants will receive an email with the PSTD ZOOM Meeting Link prior to the meeting. We encourage registrants to enter the meeting ten minutes prior to the meeting to avoid technical issues. 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 only 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 through FCPS Adult and Community Education (aceclasses.fcps.edu); a $30 fee will apply. Students enrolled in grade 10 health and physical education do not have to register.


Parent Workshop

Back to School Anxiety

The return to school is often accompanied by a myriad of emotions…excitement, nervousness, anxiety, you name it! And certainly, this year is no exception.

Recognizing that we all may be a little more anxious than usual, the Safe Community Coalition (SCC) is proud to offer an online panel discussion with local mental health professionals Jennifer Weaver, Mimi Weisberg, and Robyne Davis on Tuesday, September 21 at 7 p.m. The panel will discuss Back to School Anxiety and offer concrete ways you can help get the school year off to a great start.  The link to the FREE webinar can be found on the SCC website http://mcleanscc.org/


Weekly Reminders

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