MHS PTSA eNews, May 11 , 2022

Upcoming Last General
Membership Meeting
for the Academic Year
2021-2022

Our last PTSA General Meeting will take place on May 18th in the MHS Cafeteria from 7:00 pm-8:15 pm.

Come join us to celebrate a wonderful year! We are also going to thank all the PTSA volunteers for their amazing generosity and dedication. In addition, the members will vote on the 2022-2023 slate of PTSA executive officers.

Details are provided on our site.

See you on the 18th!

Parents of Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Seniors - Help Make the 2022 All Night Grad Party a Success! 

This event is sponsored by the PTSA and scheduled for June 1 from 9pm - 1am at McLean High School. This McLean HS tradition celebrates graduates in a safe, supervised space the night they graduate.  There will be catered food, casino games, prizes, dancing and even a hypnotist show!  We need MANY volunteers in the school community to make this event happen.  Please consider signing up to help with set up before the party or to volunteer at the party!  Let’s give the class of 2022 a proper send off as they create memories with their class one last time! 

Please view the Sign Up Genius to see the volunteer options

Raffle Tickets are on Sale Here NOW! 

Purchase your tickets before it is TOO LATE for a chance to win some amazing prizes. 

Prizes include: 

• SC Lake House vacation (4 Day/3 Night Stay) - $1310 value
• 6-month membership to St. James - $600 value
• Disney Park Hopper Passes - $300 value

• Microdermabrasion Gift Certificate - $200 value 

• District Winery Gift Card - $100 value 

• Motorola Two-Way Radios - $99.95 value

Cost: 1 Raffle Ticket for $15 or 3 Raffle Tickets for $30

Sales Dates: Now until May 22, 2022

Prize Announcements: May 25, 2022

**Proceeds benefit the Class of 2022 Graduation Party**

Seniors - Make sure to purchase your tickets for a chance to win. The next raffle winners will be announced on May 11th.

Click here to purchase

2022 Graduation Party Team

More Ways for Parent Volunteers to Help the Class of 2022 Celebration!

You can help in multiple ways to make this a memorable celebration  for your students: 

• Sponsor 2022 Graduation Party
  Contact Zaiba Hasan at zhasan@mcleanptsa.org for more information.
• Donate Gift Cards for Raffle Prizes 
  To make the party even more fun for our seniors, we give away gift cards throughout the event. Please sign up here to donate them. Any amount you can donate is great; the most popular amounts are $10, $20, $50, and $100. 
  Contact Katie Toro at katiemtoro@gmail.com with any questions.

Friday Breakfast Station Sign-Up

May 13, 20, 27th

Last Chance to Sign Up for the School Year!

May is the last month for the PTSA's Friday Breakfast Station for teachers and staff! And what a busy month it is: Appreciation Week, AP Exams, SOLs, Final Exams, end of 4th Quarter.

Help us show our appreciation and treat our wonderful teachers and staff to breakfast treats in May.

Sign-up here for the week that best suits your schedule in May. 

Thank you in advance!

Prom Volunteers Needed

We are looking for volunteers to help with this year's prom. The volunteers' duties would include checking bags and monitoring various areas.

Shifts are 8:00pm to 10:00pm and 10:00pm to 12:00am.

Prom is being held at the Hilton McLean, from 8:00pm to 12:00am on Saturday, May 14th.

Light refreshment will be provided. 

Click here to sign-up to volunteer. 

***

Prom Tickets are on Sale! 

Juniors and Seniors may purchase their tickets through MySchoolBucks for $65. Prom will take place at the McLean Hilton from 8:00pm-12:00am next Saturday, May 14th.  

eNewsletter Team Needs Volunteers

Training, tools, and support are available to ensure a smooth transition into the next school year. 

Please contact enews@mcleanptsa.org if you are interested in any of the following positions:

eNews Co-Chair and Members

Responsible for sending weekly PTSA e-newsletter. Share relevant information, promote events and enhance parent engagement.  Proofreading skills are a plus.

eNews Proofreader

Review draft of the e-newsletter to test links, catch typos and verify consistency with format standard.

eNews Publisher

Use the GovDelivery tool to enter prepared content, images, links, and .pdfs provided. Follow committee-developed format standards. Send a test version to the proofreader and incorporate changes. Schedule the final version in the tool for publishing at noon on Wednesdays.

Thank you in advance for volunteering!

Seeking PTSA
Executive Board Volunteers

The PTSA works to directly benefit the teachers, students, parents and staff at MHS.  It is also a wonderful way to meet other parents, get to know our staff and students, and give back to our school. 

We are 100% volunteer-driven! Please consider one of the following open positions:

• President-Elect
• VP Fundraising

For more information click here or contact: nominate@mcleanptsa.org.

Graduation Yard Signs - Pick-Up and Extra Signs for Sale

Thank you to all the parents and family members who picked up your McLean Graduate Yard Signs!

For those of you who have not picked up your yard signs, Pam Williams has graciously volunteered to colllaborate with you to set up a pick-up day and time near the school.  

We also have a few extra "Graduate" yard signs for sale for any Senior Families that would like to purchase a sign. The extra signs are available for $30 each on a first come first serve basis. 

Please email Pam at pwilliams@mcleanptsa.org with any questions and to coordinate payment and/or pick up for the yard signs. 

Graduation Party Tickets are on Sale!

Attention McLean Agents-Class of 2022! 

Click here to purchase.

What:   Graduation Party for Class of 2022 - Diamonds are Forever

When:  June 1st, 9:00pm - 1:00am

Where: McLean High School

Your Mission: Purchase Tickets NOW.

Tickets will NOT be sold at the door and cost $75. Click here to purchase.

*****

You will have a chance to Win Raffle Prizes and
Grand Prizes such as a $250 gift card,
all whilst you sip on mocktails,
mingle and munch on hors d'oeuvres 
when you purchase tickets!

This "Diamonds are Forever" party will have casino games, fun activities, DJ, a photo booth, a hypnotist show, and much more. You don't want to miss a fun time with your friends and fond memories of your high school graduation.

Seniors - Make sure to purchase your tickets for a chance to win

We are still doing a biweekly raffle for all seniors that purchase their graduation party tickets. The next raffle winners will be announced May 25th.

This week's raffle winners are: 

• Auvai Ramalingam
• Akshat Shah
• Youssef Hassan
• Layla Zaidi

Please contact Pam Williams at angp@mcleanptsa.org to claim your prize.

Don’t Miss the Junior Parent Coffee

May 20th from 9:30am-10:30am

The PTSA is hosting a morning coffee hour with Ms. Jenny York, Junior Class Administrator and Laura Venos, MHS College and Career Specialist to discuss relevant information for the MHS Junior Class and expectations for rising Seniors. This will be held immediately after the Parent Panel hosted by the school’s Student Services for the Junior parents. JOIN US! You will have a chance to ask questions and stay informed.

Space is limited, please register here for the event. Questions? Email Savitha Parvataneni Sagar at programs@mcleanptsa.org

McLean HS Baccalaureate

The McLean High School Baccalaureate will take place at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Wednesday, May 25th at 7:00pm.

The service will be live streamed and made available to those who cannot attend. 

Location: Redeemer Lutheran Church

2022 McLean Day

Saturday, May 21st, 11:00am – 5:00pm

Celebrating Our Hometown Since 1915
Free Admission!

Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Road

Check Out the Rides in Advance! Friday, May 20th, 2:00pm–10:00pm.

Vote for Adult & Youth Candidates for the MCC Governing Board Election- Saturday, May 21st, 10:30am – 5:00pm.

Bring the family and enjoy the fun at McLean’s biggest annual festival. This event draws approximately 10,000+ patrons throughout the day. Enjoy music, games, balloon animals, a petting zoo, amusements, sponsors, exhibitors, gourmet food trucks, large and small carnival rides and much more! Ride tickets are sold onsite or may be purchased in advance online. 

Learn more here.

Local Restaurant Fundraisers

Show Highlander Spirit and Support Your Community

While Dining In or Carrying Out

Pie-tanza is Tomorrow!

May 12th, 11:30am - 9:00pm

Lee Harrison Center
2503B N. Harrison St.
Arlington, VA 22207

Students Awarded

Join us in celebrating with the McLean High School students listed below. They have been awarded either a Letter of Intent or Recruitment Contract Award. 

• Mary Steinbicker 
• Abigail Bryan
• Abigail Criswell
• Annika Fuglie 
• Christopher Fuglie 
• Benjamin Kelly 
• Sofia Lopez 
• Olivia Madsen 
• Colin Reing 
• Claire Smith
• Shaylan Warren 

VHSL Creative Writing Winners

For the 2021-2022 school year, McLean High School Creative Writing won Fourth in the state of Virginia for best overall in the Virginia High School League Creative Writing Competition.

Two students also ranked for individual categories:

Taylor Konditi (10t) – Third in state for Poetry – “My Throat is a Graveyard”

Rowan McMichael (11) – Third in state for Personal Essay – “Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder”

Our students are very proud of their hard work, and thankful to you all for your support of our Creative Writing program.

U.S. News & World Report
High School Rankings are Out!

Learn how U.S. World News finds their rankings and look here for the list of best VA high schools.

MHS is listed #3 public high school in Virginia, take a look here. 

In the Jay Mathews Challenge Index, MHS has the ranking of FCPS high schools on the list, which is based on a formula devised by Washington Post education reporter Jay Mathews. The index is designed to identify public schools that challenge average students.

The list is available here. 

National School Nurse Appreciation Day!

We want to thank MHS school nurses and clinic aides for making a positive difference for children every day. They support the health and educational success of students. They contribute to our local communities by helping students stay healthy, in school, and ready to learn.

Show your gratitude by thanking a school nurse and clinic aide with a note of appreciation. Also recognize them on the FCPS CARES Program website for helping others and showing how they care.  

Mental Health Awareness Month

Also referred to as "Mental Health Month" has been observed in May in the United States since 1949.

It was started by the Mental Health America (MHA) organization (then known as the National Association for Mental Health) to raise awareness about the importance of mental health and to stop the stigma associated with mental health conditions.  

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is observed in the United States during the month of May and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.

Learn more here.

Jewish American Heritage Month

They discuss the many fears and anxieties that parents may have about the college admissions process and how parents can set their child up for future success. 

Listening to this episode can benefit parents of students in high school, middle school, and elementary school as they look towards their child’s future. Parents will gain valuable insights from the experts who are in a unique position to view the college admission process from multiple perspectives. 

Hope you enjoy it!

Thank you, Ms. Stansbery, Ms. Otal and Ms. Lowry, for sharing it with us!

***

In addition, the MHS Department of Student Services team encourages parents to watch Ms. Otal use Naviance to demonstrate how students with B’s, C’s, and even D’s on their transcript still have many college options! Take a look here.

The MHS Student Services team also recommend listening to this Revisionist History podcast, in which the formula for determining college rankings is uncovered.  

Remember that the MHS Student Services Team members are available to support students as they find the college that is the right fit for them. They are dedicated to sharing helpful information for parents of students of all ages.  

After-School Counseling

The Department of Student Services will be offering counseling opportunities for all students every Wednesday and Thursday after school.

Select Counselors Will Be Available
to Meet With Students Until 4:30pm

Students are encouraged to take advantage of this extra availability and can meet with the counselors on staff regardless of their alphabetical designation.

Late bus transportation will be provided every Wednesday and Thursday for all students.  

Schoology Big Blue Field Design Contest

All FCPS students in grades PreK-12 are eligible to submit. Students may submit more than one design.

Artists may work collaboratively and submit their collective work as a group, or they may choose to work and submit individually. Any medium is acceptable for the original artwork. Submissions are due by 11:59pm on May 20th. 

To learn more, visit this website.

Scholarship Information

You can access here a comprehensive list of scholarships for high school students to help pay for school during their freshman year of college and beyond.

Substance Abuse Prevention Support at McLean High School McLean High School has a Full-Time Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

Kelly Rankin serves as a resource for students and parents interested in finding out more information on substance use or discussing concerns about use and addiction.

FCPS Parent Resource Center Workshops

The FCPS Parent Resource Center is offering workshops, information and resources to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.

For a list of upcoming events click here. 

Multilingual Parent Podcast

Listen and subscribe to an FCPS multilingual family podcast to hear timely, important information related to school news. The podcasts are produced in conjunction with the Office for English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Services and the Office of Professional Learning and Family Engagement.

Listen and subscribe: https://www.fcps.edu/blog/multilingual-family-podcast-arabic-korean-spanish