Important Upcoming Dates
2022-2023 School Year
October 10 - Student Holiday/Indigenous Peoples' Day Cultural Observance
October 12 - PSAT (10th & 11th)/SAT Day (12th) - 2-Hour Early Release
October 13 - Senior Class Meeting (see below for details)
October 14 - SEL Screener Opt-Out Due (see below for details)
October 20 - AMC 12 Registration Closes (see below for details)
October 22 - Homecoming Dance - 8:00-11:00pm @ McLean
October 24 - Student Holiday/Diwali Religious Observance
October 28 - End of First Quarter - 2-hour Early Release
October 31 - Student Holiday
Highlander Parent Volunteers
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We would like to extend our gratitude to all our Highlander Parent Volunteers! These amazing people give selflessly of their time and talents every week. We wouldn't be able to do it without them! |
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Indigenous Peoples' Day honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples, past and present. This year, Monday, Oct. 10 is a student holiday and staff development day. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar. |
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LGBTQIA+ History Month is recognized in October nationwide. We acknowledge and celebrate that LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and families are an integral component of our nation. |
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During October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community. |
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McLean, Marshall and Langley Pyramid Student Q & A with Dr. Reid: October 19th |
On October 19th at 6:00 PM at the McLean Community Center (MCC) 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA, Dr. Reid will be answering the questions and concerns from STUDENTS. We encourage all students from Kindergarten through 12th Grade to bring their questions or simply come to meet and listen to our new FCPS Superintendent. The Superintendent oversees almost 200 schools and centers in a county serving approximately 180,000 students. This event will be focused on questions and concerns from students attending elementary, middle, and high school students with the McLean, Langley, and Marshall Pyramids.
Senior Class Meeting - October 13
Thursday, Oct. 13th, during Highlander Times 1 and 2, seniors will hold their class meeting. Our Jostens representative will be present to share important grdaduation information. We will also be discussing the senior trip, senior dues, senior privileges, and HIP. Following our meeting, seniors will get their class t-shirt and we will take our panoramic picture.
Military Connected Families Conversation with the Superintendent
Please join us for a Superintendent Community Conversation for Military-Connected Families October 13, 2022, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Learn more about Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS superintendent, and help her get to know our school community and the unique perspective of military-connected families. This hybrid event will be held in the 1st floor cafe at the FCPS Gatehouse Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church VA 22042. Free parking is available in the underground garage. Language interpretation will be provided, as available, as well as childcare and light refreshments. If you can attend, either in-person or virtually, please register to attend.
Fairfax County Youth Survey
The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The results of this survey are published each year online and are used by school officials, youth leadership classes, youth-serving county agencies, and local non-profits to determine the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs offered in schools and communities. It is also used to identify changing trends and areas of need. The survey is anonymous and no individual information is reported.
You have the right to preview the survey and may deny permission for your child to participate if you desire. If a student is uncomfortable with any question on the survey, the student does not have to answer that question or may elect to discontinue the survey. While it is hoped that as many students as possible will participate, you have the option to opt out your child.
The survey will be administered between November 7 – November 22, 2022, in all 10th and 12th grade English classes. A copy of the survey will be available to parents and/or guardians online at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/youth-survey and in the school counseling office of your child's school beginning October 7, 2022. An e-notify message was sent to all 10th and 12th grade parents on Friday, October 7, 2022. If you do not wish for your child to take part in the survey, please complete the opt-out form found HERE and return it to your child’s counselor no later than November 7, 2022.
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October 22 - Homecoming Volunteers Needed |
We are looking for Parent Volunteers to help out with Homecoming on Oct. 22nd from 8pm-11pm.
If you are willing to help out please fill out this form. Thanks so much!
SIS ParentVUE Access
ParentVue and StudentVue will be closed from Friday, October 28, at 4:00 pm until Tuesday, November 9, at 6:00 am.
Updates
College and Career Center News
FCPS College Fair
DATE: October 16, 2022
TIME: 4 PM – 7 PM
LOCATION: Eagle Bank Arena at George Mason University
Approximately 250 colleges will be represented at this annual college fair held on the campus of George Mason University.
Register at: https://bit.ly/fcpspostsecondary
Upon registration, students will receive a barcode allowing college representatives to retrieve student information electronically. Barcodes can be scanned from mobile devices.
FCPS Postsecondary Week:
DATE: October 17 – October 20, 2022
TIME: 5 PM – 8 PM Daily
LOCATION: Virtual
Students & families can attend virtual events each evening to learn about and better prepare for the different types of post-secondary options students may consider.
Register at:
https://bit.ly/fcpspostsecondary
Fall College Planning Night
Please join us for our annual Fall College Planning Night the evening of Monday, October 17th in the Auditorium. This event consists of a question & answer panel with college admissions representatives and is open to all, but geared toward sophomore and freshman families. Come learn how to approach the college search process and how to find the right fit in a future college experience.
6:00PM - Meet the College Admissions Reps
6:30PM-7:30PM - Q&A Panel with College Admissions Reps
Feel free to submit questions ahead of time for our panelists here.
SEL Screener
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) commits to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning (SEL). The School Board has approved a screener to review students’ skills and experiences in these areas. SEL skills include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. More information, including a short video about the SEL screener in FCPS and the screener questions, can be found on the SEL Screener webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43892). Please contact Greg Olcott, our SEL screener lead, with questions.
At McLean High School, we intend to implement the SEL screener on October 17 during Highlander Time. If you do not want your student to take part in the SEL screener, complete the opt-out by October 14, 2022 via your SIS ParentVUE account, or complete the opt-out form and deliver to the main office. The opt-out form can be located in various translations here: https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener/notification-letters
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American Mathematics Competition - AMC 10/12
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The AMC 10/12 provides an opportunity for high school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers. The AMC 10/12 is the first in a series of competitions that eventually lead all the way to the International Mathematical Olympiad (see Invitational Competitions).
We will be hosting the AMC 10/12 Test here at McLean on November 10th during the 1st period of the day. Students would miss their 1st period class and be responsible for checking with their teacher before-hand to find out which assignments/assessments they may need to make up.
Students who would like to take the AMC 10 or the AMC 12 will need to register and pay ($5) in MySchoolBucks. Registration closes October 20th. Shortly after that date, each student who registered should receive an email from the sponsor with further instructions.
If you have any further questions regarding the AMC 10/12, please reach out to Steve Walker (spwalker1@fcps.edu) who sponsors the competition here at McLean.
PSAT/SAT School Day - October 12th
All students taking the PSAT & SAT were emailed their testing information on 9/27.
9th Graders- Stay home and do not report to McLean HS. Teachers will not provide work for students to complete on 10/12. However, students may have work previously assigned by their teachers to complete that is due 10/13 or later.
Please note that ninth grade students with disabilities taught on an adapted curriculum (Category B services) will continue to receive in-person instruction with a 2-hour early release on October 12.
10th & 11 Graders- Report to McLean HS by 8:00 am to take the PSAT. All 10th & 11th grade students were automatically registered for the PSAT
12th Graders- If you did not sign up to take the SAT, stay home. Only the 12th graders who completed the intent to participate form were registered to take the SAT. Report to McLean HS by 8:00 am to take the SAT.
All students testing should bring
- Photo id
- Two or more No. 2 pencils (not mechanical)
- Graphing Calculator
- Water and snacks. Snacks may be consumed during breaks.
If you have any questions, please contact our Assessment Coach Elly Donlen (ekdonlen@fcps.edu).
2022-2023 AP Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees
FCPS encourages all students to take AP tests for courses in which they are enrolled. However, students will have the opportunity to opt-out of the test(s) by filling out an Opt-Out form. To assist in the decision-making process, students will be provided a report with their previous tests and current AP course enrollment. AP students must make Opt-Out decisions by October 25 and parents will be billed a $96 non-refundable test fee in December 2022 for tests that exceed the six FCPS funded tests.
On the week of October 3rd, students will receive their AP opt-out form from their 3rd period teacher and families will receive a copy of this form in the mail. All Opt-Out forms are due to the box located in Student Services by October 25th. When a student turns in their form, they must sign their name on the list acknowledging their Opt-Out form has been turned in.
If you have any questions please contact our Assessment Coach Elly Donlen (ekdonlen@fcps.edu).
Weekly Reminders
Parent Resource Center Webinars
The FCPS Parent Resource Center offers a welcoming and engaging environment for families, educators, and community members. It provides access to information and resources to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities.
Throughout the year it offers family and educator webinars. Upcoming sessions include:
To join the PRC email list and receive notices of upcoming webinars, sign up for their News You Choose newsletter.
Dyslexia Awareness Month
The Parent Resource Center will host an open house for parents to learn more about dyslexia and how to support students with dyslexia on October 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. Learn more about PRC events on their website.
The FCPS Dyslexia handbook also provides information and resources to families. It reflects a division-wide commitment to ensure that the needs of students with dyslexia are met as a result of collective responsibility and collaboration across general and special education contexts.
Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar (PSTD)
As part of the FCPS Health and PE curriculum, all 10th grade students enrolled in Health & PE 10 complete one quarter of classroom Driver Education. As part of the Driver Education curriculum, students are required to attend the Partners in Safe Teen Driving Presentation, in person, with at least one parent or guardian. Successful completion of classroom Driver Education AND attendance by the student and parent/guardian enables the student to obtain the DEC-District 8 completion card needed to pursue obtaining a Virginia driver’s license. 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 within their 10th grade year. All seminars will be held in-person from 6:30-8:00 PM in the auditorium. Please arrive early. Doors will close promptly at 6:30. Attendees who arrive late will not be allowed entry and will not earn credit for attending.
The 90-minute PSTD presentation will be offered once per quarter throughout the school year. McLean High School’s dates for the 2021-2022 calendar year are below. Please make sure to use your student’s fcpsschools.net account to log in and fill out the form.
January 9th - 1/9 Sign-Up Sheet
March 6th - 3/6 Sign-Up Sheet
May 1st - 5/1 Sign-Up Sheet
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).
Parent Information Phone Lines
FCPS language lines are available in eight different languages to assist parents who do not speak English as their first language.
A school system employee will respond to your call in your preferred language within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. The caller will provide you with the requested information, arrange for you to speak with the appropriate school employee, or connect you with the resource that you are looking to find.
To use the parent information phone lines please call:
Amharic: 571-423-4957
Arabic: 571-423-4952
Chinese: 571-423-4953
Farsi: 571-423-4954
Korean: 571-423-4951
Spanish: 571-423-4950
Urdu: 571-423-4955
Vietnamese: 571-423-4956
Click HERE to be directed to the FCPS Parent Information Phone Lines site.
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. |
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