McLean HS: Dr. Reilly's Monday Message 9/20/2021


Important Upcoming Dates

October 1 - Homecoming Game

October 2 - Homecoming Dance

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

October 11 - Teacher Work Day/Student Holiday

October 13 - PSAT/SAT Day - 2 hour-early release

October 29 - End of 1st Quarter - 2-hour early release

November 1 & 2 - Teacher Work Days/Student Holidays

November 4 - Diwali - Religious and Cultural Observance Day

November 11 - Veteran's Day - 2-hour early release

November 24-26 - Thanksgiving Break

December 8 - Bodhi Day - Religious and Cultural Observance Day

December 20-31 - Winter Break

June 1 - Graduation at 2:30 at Constitution Hall


Links

Bell Schedule

Schoology Information

MySchoolBucks

ParentVue Information

Recordings 

Schoology Training - recording

New Recording Virtual Back to School Night

Back to School Night


Celebrate mcLean

Thanks to the PTSA and Athletic Boosters for supporting Celebrate McLean!  


World Languages Credit Exam Registration Open

The 2021 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 16, 17 and 18, 2021.  Students who have experience with languages other than English can earn up to three high school credits through this assessment. Thirty languages will be included: American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, German, Greek*, Hebrew*, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese*, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish*, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese. Please reach out to your school counselor for more information and to get registered. Registration closes on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 4:00 p.m.  Late registrations will not be accepted. Additional credit exam information can be accessed at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages


Helping Highlanders

Helping Highlanders

American Math Competition Information

Register on My School Bucks by October 1.

AMC

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.


McLean Matters Backpacks and Calculators Drive

McLean High School has approximately 75 students who are at, or below, the poverty level. We are collecting donations of backpacks and calculators for our MHS students-in-need. The full-capacity return to five day in-person school has created a higher demand for school supplies. Many of our students-in-need are unable to obtain items from local charities that normally provide their back-to-school supplies. 

Please Sign Up HERE to purchase a backpack or calculator for donation. Alternatively, click the Amazon Charity Wish List HERE to purchase a backpack or calculator for donation.

If you choose to sign up to purchase an item at the store, you or your student can drop it off, or ship it to:

Sue Tabish 

McLean High School

1633 Davidson Road

McLean, VA 22101

An example of a TI-84 can be viewed/purchased HERE, or HERE. An example of a TI-Nspire can be viewed/purchased HERE.

Items are needed by September 30.

If you have any questions, please contact McLean Matters Chair Emma Blankenbaker at eblankenbaker@verizon.net.

NOTE: McLean High School PTSA is a 501(c)3 organization.


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)


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