Important Upcoming Dates
2022-2023 School Year
March 30 - Parent Talk (see below)
April 3-7 - Spring Break - MHS Offices will be closed
April 6 - Religious/Cultural Observation Day - Theravada New Year
April 7 - Religious/Cultural Observation Day - Good Friday
April 10-14 - National Assistant Principals Week
April 12 - Senior Parent Information Session (see below)
April 13 - End of Quarter - 2 Hour Early Release, Religious/Cultural Observation Day - Last Day of Passover
April 14 - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday - Religious/Cultural Observation Day - Orthodox Good Friday
April 20 - 1/2 Religious/Cultural Observation Day - Eid al-Fitr (starts at sunset)
April 21 - Religious/Cultural Observation Day - Eid al-Fitr - MHS Offices will be closed
April 22 - Earth Day
April 25 - NOVA Field Trip for Current Seniors (see below)
May 1 - Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar (see below)
May 20 - MHS Prom
McLean High School News Publications wins CSPA Gold Crown!
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Students from McLean High School’s journalism program celebrate earning a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Crown at Columbia University on March 17. |
Join us in congratulating McLean High School's journalism program! The Highlander newsmagazine and website earned a Gold Crown. They were one of only 16 schools in the nation and the only school in Virginia to earn this top honor.
According to the press release from CSPA, “The Crown Awards honor top student publications chosen from CSPA’s members. Crowns are selected for overall excellence in a head-to-head comparison. Student publishing in news, magazine, yearbook or digital (online) formats are all-eligible. During Crown consideration, publications are judged on their excellence as shown by their design, photography, concept, coverage and writing. A total of 805 publications were eligible for judging.”
Another MHS Fantastic Fanfest!
Every year McLean celebrates our Special Olympics Athletes by hosting a basketball game for past and present players. For the past few years it has been during the school day so that the entire student body can participate. The band, cheerleaders, student announcers, student clock managers and teacher referees are all involved. Since all of the athletes are McLean High School students, there are no winners or losers. It's a win for the whole community.
Model UN at TechMUN
Thirty-two students in the McLean High School Model UN club patricipated in the TechMUN this last weekend and performed impressively.
Please congratulate the following students on their awards:
Best Delegate: Amelia Lupi-Sher, Ella Farivar, Nora Venetianer, Annika Singh, Maged Al-Qabany
Outstanding Delegate: Scarlett Jensen
Honorable Delegate: Emma Hu, Emily Ma, David Weinstein, Diego Lowe, Lauren Vandivier, Aidan Shaughnessy, Phillip Ermanoski, Mia Mortman, Minsong Ha
Verbal Commendation: Davit Hakobyan, Elise Newgen
This Week
McLeadership Executive Mentor Application 3/29
The McLeadership program Executive Mentor application for the 2023-2024 school year is due by 11:59 pm, Wednesday, March 29th. All current juniors are eligible for consideration.The application is posted on the Class of 2024 Schoology page. If students have questions, please email Emily Geary - emgeary@fcps.edu.
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Spring Break - 4/3 through 4/7 |
Fairfax County Public School's Spring Break is April 3rd - April 7th. Please note that McLean High School offices will be closed. We hope that you all enjoy the much needed break and look forward to seeing you back in school on April 10th!
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March is Women's History Month
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Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids.
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Celebrating Arts in Our Schools |
For more than 30 years, March has been officially designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) for the observance of Music In Our Schools Month® (MIOSM®), the time of year when music education becomes the focus of schools across the nation. The purpose of MIOSM is to raise awareness of the importance of music education for all children – and to remind citizens that school is where all children should have access to music. MIOSM is an opportunity for music teachers to bring their music programs to the attention of the school and the community, and to display the benefits that school music brings to students of all ages.
Senior Parent Information Session - 4/12
Please join us for a Senior Parent Information session on April 12th from 8:30 – 9:30 am. We will be reviewing the senior packet, the Highlander Internship Program, Senior dues and obligations, end of year events and Graduation. There is so much to cover! Come to get your questions answered.
Contact Jenny Jork with questions - jsyork@fcps.edu
Current Seniors - Field Trip to NOVA 4/25
 Seniors headed to NOVA in the fall, would you like to get a better sense of the NOVA Annandale campus? We will be taking a field trip there on 4/25. You must sign up on the homepage of Naviance AND return the permission slip by 4/17 to Ms. Barnes in the Career Center.
Need a Dress for Prom?
McLean's Prom is May 20th! See the resouces below for assistance with dresses, shoes and accessories.
Helping Your Kids Build a Life They Want: Parent Talk
McLean High School Student Services and the McLean PTSA present:
Helping Your Kids Build a Life They Want: Parent Talk with authors Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson
Thursday, March 30, 2023
6:30 – 7:30 PM
McLean High School Auditorium
No registration needed!
We all want our kids to be happy and successful in life. Too often, many parents feel that if kids aren’t pushed harder, they won’t be successful. But this can result in anxiety and depression, chronic stress, and a negative parent-child relationship.
Instead, let’s help our kids build a life they want – a life where success is defined by happiness, strong relationships, and overall wellness, and not simply by academic and career achievement. Bill and Ned will share strategies parents can use to help our kids achieve this life!
We welcome all McLean HS and Longfellow MS parents to attend this informative, needed session. If you are interested in learning about Bill and Ned’s work, please check out this podcast on achievement culture, as well as their books, linked below.
https://www.steventshapiro.com/experiencematters/thisisyourbrainonachievementculture
https://theselfdrivenchild.com/
AP Exam Proctoring Assistance Needed
McLean HS is giving over 3000 AP exams between May 1-May 19. We are asking for parents/guardians to volunteer their time to help proctor so testing can run effectively and smoothly. Parents/ Volunteers are not allowed to assist with an exam for an AP class their student(s) is currently taking. Use this link to sign up to be a proctor. Proctoring Assistance days and times will be confirmed the week of March 20. If you have any questions, please contact the Assessment Coach Elly Donlen (ekdonlen@fcps.edu).
AP Testing Early Release & Late Arrival Pre-Arranged Absence
The main testing window for AP exams is below. With parent/guardian permission, McLean HS students are allowed to be released early following an AP exam and arrive late before their scheduled AP exam. All pre-arranged absence notes (no phone calls please) are due to Ms. Yates in the attendance office by April 20th. Please keep in mind that all classes will continue with instruction during AP testing, and that students are responsible for all assignments from each class. Here are the links to the early release permission slip, late arrival permission slip, and printed out copies will be available in the main office.
From FCPS
Spring Break COVID Test Kit Distribution
If your family is planning to travel or attend large gatherings during spring break, and you would like to ensure your child is healthy before returning to school, please contact us at 703-714-5700 to obtain a test kit in advance of spring break. Please note, testing is NOT required for students to return to school after break. However, you may want to test your student if they are symptomatic or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. Kits will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Update Emergency Information in weCare
Update Your Emergency Care Information Through weCare@school
Fairfax County Public Schools provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system, to parents/caregivers who have registered for their own parent account. weCare helps manage emergency medical information by allowing parents to enter and update their children’s medical data online at their convenience. That contact information automatically enrolls parents/caregivers to receive eNotify communications from the district and their child’s school. eNotify is the communications tool for FCPS emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closing and delay, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent via email, text, and occasionally phone.
Parent Information Lines Available in Eight Languages
Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.
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Mental Health Teletherapy |
No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for Students Starting April 10
FCPS has partnered with Hazel Health to begin offering virtual mental health services to high school students via live video sessions. Starting Monday, April 10, parents/caregivers who have been struggling to find a therapist for their child or who notice changes in their child’s behavior will be able to connect them virtually with a licensed therapist.
Teletherapy services for students are short-term, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive. Teletherapy is available on any device, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Therapists will be locally-licensed clinicians; 50% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); and 40% of whom are bilingual. More than 15 languages are available.
Hazel Health’s licensed therapists can help students who are experiencing:
- Mood/behavior changes, lack of motivation, grief/loss.
- Anxiety, worry, fears.
- Bullying, sexual identity challenges, challenging peer and family relationships.
- Academic stress.
The first step for parents is to provide information through an opt-in form. Visit FCPS’ Teletherapy webpage for details.
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Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! |
This year, spring break is April 3-7. We will be eager to welcome your children back in school on Monday, April 10. Their attendance is very important. Every day, our teachers will be teaching, and students will be learning. Studies have shown that just two absences per month can cause students to fall behind. Let’s finish this school year strong. Visit FCPS’ website for attendance resources.
Strategic Planning
 Registration Open for virtual Strategic Planning Community Forums
We invite parents/caregivers, students, employees, and community members to join us for a virtual community forum to discuss the first draft of proposed goals for the new Strategic Plan. Forums are scheduled for Monday, April 10, at noon; Tuesday, April 11, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. (in Spanish); and Monday, April 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Click on the date to register for the event.
Your participation is important to this work and will help ensure a thriving future for each and every FCPS student. Get more information on our Strategic Planning webpage.
Weekly Reminders
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Talking Points for Families |
McLean High School in cooperation with Fairfax County Public Schools will begin using Talking Points to communicate with families about student performance in school throughout the remainder of the year. We recommend families download the free TalkingPoints for Families mobile app. You can also opt in to text messages (standard message fees apply) or you can sign up online at families.talkingpts.org/welcome. To get started, please follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Use the QR codes or the icons in your phone to visit the App Store or Google Play on your phone and download the Talking Points for Families app.
Step 2: Choose your preferred language and then enter your phone number in the app. You will receive a code to enter next.
Step 3: You should see your student’s classes in your app and can begin receiving messages from teachers. When you receive a message you will be able to conduct a 2-way conversation via text or the app with your student’s teachers.
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 2022-2023 calendar year are below. Please make sure to use your student’s fcpsschools.net account to log in and fill out the form.
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).
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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