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
Back to School Night
Homecoming Week
SPIRIT DAYS:
Monday Sept. 27th - Sleepy Monday
Wear your favorite PJS or comfy outfit!
Tuesday Sept. 28th – Jungle Tuesday
Wear your best Jungle Safari (animal print, camo) Outfit!
Wednesday Sept. 29th – Hawaiian Wednesday
Break out your Hawaiian shirts!
Thursday Sept. 30th – Hippie Day
Wear some Hippie Tie-dye Clothes!
Friday October 1st : Class Colors!!
Freshman: GREY
Sophomores: WHITE
Juniors: BLACK
Seniors: RED
BONFIRE
The McLean Bonfire is back; Tuesday, September 28th on the practice softball field at 7:30pm!
JUNIOR/SENIOR FOOTBALL GAME:
Thursday Sep. 30th: Come watch the Junior Girls v. Senior Girls in the Annual Flag Football Game @6:00!
CAR DECORATING CONTEST:
Our newest McLean tradition on Fri. Oct 1st! Any Junior/Senior who has a car is encouraged to decorate their cars for the car decorating contest, by signing up this week using the google form. The parallels will be reserved for those who participate, and a judge will survey the cars during school to choose our winner! There is also a team car competition (sports and clubs), for those who do not own a car as a way to take part. Prize for the team competition is a pizza party, and a prize for the individual competition winner.
-Team competition’s theme is school spirit and a representation of what the club/sport is
-Individual competition’s theme is school spirit and any design they desire, preferably disco theme
PARADE
The cars that participate in our competition will then showcase their spirit in our first PARADE Friday Oct. 1st before the football game!!!!
THE DANCE: The Disco Ball!
Dance: Saturday 10/2 from 8:00-11:00pm in the Library Courtyard. TICKETS will be on sale through My School Bucks 9/20-9/30 and cost $20. Ticket pickup for fast entry will be available before school and during breaks in B 175, and during all lunches throughout Homecoming week. TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE DOOR! Guest forms are available in the Main Office, Activities Office and on the My School Bucks purchase page. No LARGE BAGS allowed into the dance
Book Talk
The authors of the new parenting book What Do You Say? How to Talk with Kids to Build Motivation, Stress Tolerance, and Happy Home will be speaking on Tuesday, October 26 from 6:30 – 8 PM in the McLean High School Auditorium.
Dr. William Stixrud and Mr. Ned Johnson, who also wrote The Self-Driven Child, are parenting experts who live in the DC Metro area. Their latest book provides much-needed practical parenting tips as our children come back to school. Parents learn how to engage in respectful and effective dialogue with their teens, improving communication and the parent-child relationship. Boundaries around technology, family problem-solving, and anxiety around current events are addressed.
We invite all parents of McLean students to hear the authors speak! Purchasing the book is not required, but if parents do want to purchase they can do so at this link. Please fill out this google form to register for the event. It’s important to register so that we have an accurate count as well as emails for all parents who plan to attend. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you there!
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
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Chorus is quite the fun class! |
New Vaccination Policy for Athletes
Starting November 8th all athletes who plan on participating in a winter sport, spring sport or out of season workout (fall, winter and spring sports) will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate. Any athlete who has not been vaccinated will be required to submit a weekly negative test in order to participate. Below are details concerning this new initiative:
- Starting October 4th athletes can bring their vaccination card or a copy of their vaccination card to the Activities Office for verification. This should be brought in by the student athlete and not a parent/guardian
- For athletes who have not been vaccinated, more details will be communicated in the coming weeks concerning how a negative test will be submitted. What we do know now is that they will be required weekly
- Medical and religious exemption forms can be found in the FCPS FAQ’s concerning this topic- https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/communications/athletics-vaccination-requirement-questions-and-answers. There is a specific form for the Religious exemption while the medical exemption will need to be on a doctor’s office letterhead. Students who have an exemption will be required to submit a weekly negative test
More details will be forthcoming as they are made available. Please reference the above link to the FCPS FAQ’s for any questions that you may have.
Testing Center Information
Students who need to make up or retake a test or quiz, or who have accommodations, can make an appointment for the Testing Center in one of three ways:
Online via this link: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/McLeanHSTestingCenter@fcps.edu/bookings/
- By scanning the QR code here (also posted outside the Testing Center):
- By seeing Mrs. Bruins in Room 135 weekdays between 8:15 am and 2:45 pm.
If a student is going to miss a class to take a test in the Testing Center, they are reminded to get permission from that period’s teacher. Also, no appointments can be made for Highlander Time Advisory. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Bruins at elbruins@fcps.edu.
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.
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.
Recognitions
CONGRATULATIONS McLean Highlander Marching Band!
1st Place Class 5
Best Music
Best Guard
Best Visual
Best Percussion
Best General Effect
3rd Place Overall
Helping Highlanders
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
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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
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