Important Upcoming Dates
2023-2024 School Year
August 21 - First Day of School
August 24 - Back to School Night - 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm (see below)
September 1-4 - Labor Day Holiday (see below)
September 6 - Sign up to reserve a seat for your senior for the SAT School Day (see below)
September 8 - Celebrate McLean (see below)
September 27 & 28 - Yearbook photos for 9th, 10th & 11th Grade (see below)
October 4 - Senior Panoramic Picture Day (see below)
October 11 - PSAT/SAT School Day (see below)
October 30 - Yearbook photo makeup day for 9th, 10th & 11th Grade (see below)
Lisa Koch - Head Librarian
Please join us in welcoming Lisa Koch! Lisa is coming to McLean from Lewis High School, where she was a librarian for the past 7 years. During her time at Lewis, the library was awarded the National School Library Program of the Year by the American Association of School Librarians. In her free time, Lisa enjoys reading, painting, crochet, hiking and cooking. Her family (spouse, 11 yr old, 14 yr old and much pampered labradoodle) also keep her busy! Lisa is excited to be part of McLean and is looking forward to collaborating with staff and supporting our students.
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First Day of School - 8/21
Monday, August 21, is the first day of school for the 2023-2024 school year!
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Back to School Night - 8/24
McLean High School is excited to announce we will be holding a traditional in-person Back to School Night (BTSN) on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Parents will have the opportunity to explore the school and its resources from 5:30 - 6:30 pm and follow your child’s schedule from 6:30 -8:30 pm to meet teachers for the 2023-2024 school year.
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Labor Day Holiday - 9/1-9/4
Friday, September 1, and Monday, September 4, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar.
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SAT School Day - Reserve a Seat for your Senior by September 6th!
On Wednesday, October 11, McLean High School twelfth graders will have the opportunity to participate in the SAT School Day. FCPS will cover the cost for any twelfth grade student to take this test. The essay option and subject area tests are not available during SAT School Day.
To reserve a seat for your twelfth grader to take this exam and ensure appropriate test materials are available for your student, families are asked to complete the McLean HS SAT Intent to Participate Form below by Wednesday, September 6. Your student will need to use an @fcpsschools.net email account to access and complete this form.
If you have questions about the SAT School Day administration at McLean High School, please contact the Assessment Coach Elly Donlen (ekdonlen@fcps.edu).
Celebrate McLean - 9/8
 Come Celebrate McLean with us on Friday, September 8th from 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm. This year along with having MHS clubs and sports teams participating, we will have an inflatable obstacle course, along with carnival games, a DJ and food trucks! Immediately after, please join us for the varsity football game vs Chantilly High School!
Yearbook Photos - 9th,10th & 11th graders - 9/27 & 9/28
9th & 10th graders will be photographed with their Health/PE class on Wednesday, Sept. 27 or Thursday, Sept. 28.
9th & 10th graders who do not take Health/PE on-campus at McLean this year, should report to the auditorium during Highlander Time on Thursday, September 28 to have their picture taken.
11th graders will be photographed with their US History class on Wednesday, Sept. 27 or Thursday, Sept. 28.
11th graders who do not take US History on-campus at McLean this year, should report to the auditorium during Highlander Time on Thursday, September 28 to have their picture taken.
MAKEUP DAY - 9th, 10th & 11th graders 10/30
Students who missed the original picture day, will have an opportunity to have their picture taken on our makeup day, Monday, October 30 in the Dance Room.
Students should check-in with their teacher and then go at the time assigned to their grade:
- JUNIORS will check in with their 2nd period teachers and be photographed during period 2.
- SOPHOMORES will check in with their 5th period teachers and be photographed during Highlander Time.
- FRESHMEN will check in with their 8th period teachers and be photographed during period 8.
There is no specific appointment time – just a specific block of time based on grade level. The student should check in with their teacher and figure out the best time within that block to go.
Ordering a Yearbook
Yearbooks are available for sale on MySchoolBucks.
The price is $63 until October 1.
Prices will go up after the October 1 presale date.
Guarantee you get a book and get the best price and order by Oct. 1!
Click HERE for more information on all things Yearbook!
Senior Panoramic Picture
The Senior Class panoramic picture will be taken during Highlander time on October 4th.
If you are interested in ordering the senior panoramic click HERE.
Enter code: 4543E24 to access the images.
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PSAT/SAT School Day - 10/11
All tenth and eleventh grade students will be taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) exam on October 11th. More information will come out in early September!
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Expunging High School Courses Taken in Middle School (Incoming 9th Graders Only)
Parents of incoming 9th grade students who completed a high school credit bearing course (World Languages, Algebra, and Geometry) in the 2022-23 school year may request the final grades for these courses be omitted from your student’s transcript. You must submit a Request to Expunge High School Courses Taken in Middle School form to McLean High School Student Services, after the course is completed and prior to October 20, 2023. This form may be obtained at the following link https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/is104.pdf
Please reach out to your student’s school counselor with any questions.
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*NEW* Back to School Page |
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! We are excited to open our doors to our students on August 21. We have created a Back to School Page to streamline all of the Back to School information you need. On this page you will find the following information: required forms, opt-out forms, orientation information, Back to School Night information, parking information, how to obtain your bus schedule, schedule release information, Clinic information, how to drop off medication, Student/ParentVue access, and much more. To find it in the future, go to McLean’s homepage, click on “Full Menu,” click on “Resources,” click on “MHS Back to School Kit.” We hope you find this page useful. We will continue to update it as we add other useful information for everyone. Please take time to read all of the information in this letter as well as visit our Back to School Page.
Do not hesitate to contact your counselor or administrator if you need any assistance. We can’t wait for the first day of school on August 21!
Parking Permit Sign-up
The parking application form for school year 2023-2024 is now open on the website. You will find the link in the student life section. Fill out the form completely and hit the submit button at the end. If you don’t the program will not register your application. Once you complete the application you will receive a confirmation email. This email does NOT guarantee you will receive a permit, it just confirms the application has been received. Please do not use a “.net” email to include your FCPS email. This is a web-based program and will not send confirmation emails to “.net” email addresses.
https://mcleanhs.fcps.edu/announcements/mclean-parking-permit-link-now-available
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Class of 2024 Immunization Requirement Notice
The Code of Virginia requires all students to be immunized against certain communicable diseases prior to entrance into Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).
All students entering 12th grade will be required to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school.
- To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) 12th grade requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 16 or older.
ACTION REQUESTED: Please provide one of the following immunization documents to the McLean High School Main Office or email Cindy Ramos at cpramos@fcps.edu as soon as possible:
- An updated immunization record showing that the student has received the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY).
- A note on a healthcare provider’s letterhead stating the date the Meningococcal vaccine was given.
- A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
- A notarized Religious Exemption Form, which is available online at: https://bit.ly/VDOEReligiousExemptionForm
Immunizations are available from your child’s healthcare provider, the Fairfax County Health Department, or other community resources. Use the QR Codes below to identify resources:
New Epinephrine Authorization Form
FCPS has updated its Epinephrine Authorization form and will be requiring the new form for 2023-24 school year. This form aligns with updated guidance from the Virginia Department of Health and can be found at: https://www.fcps.edu/form/ssse-64-authorization-anaphylaxis-action-plan . If you have any questions about this new form, please contact the school public health nurse, Janet Stein, at jstein@fcps.edu .
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Transportation Information |
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.
If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-249-7100 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.
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Update Contact Information to Receive Messages From FCPS |
Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from FCPS and our school by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. Make sure you complete the Emergency Care Form for your child every year and update when necessary.
To update your contact information in ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then select the “Online Verification/Update” form in the drop down menu. Click “Begin Packet.”
Parents who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account may still communicate updates via the normal paper process. They may also print and complete a blank Emergency Care Information Form with updates and submit it to the front office.
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Schoology
Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.
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A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:
- Your child’s classes.
- Your child’s upcoming assignments.
- School, class, and group announcements.
Parent accounts will be available after August 21. To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology.
Updates to Transcripts
In order to increase transparency on high school transcripts, FCPS has made updates to high school course titles for courses that receive additional 0.5 or 1.0 weighting.
For all enrolled high school students in the 2023-24 school year and beyond, high school course titles will now reflect:
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- An HN (Honors) for any course that has a 0.5 additional weighting.
- An AV (Advanced), AP (Advanced Placement), DE (Dual Enrollment), or IB (International Baccalaureate) for any course that has a 1.0 additional weighting.
The new AV label was created to address several college-level courses that previously had a 1.0 additional weighting without a designation.
The course title changes will apply to all weighted courses across all high schools.
Seniors who have already started to enter their senior year course lists through any college applications should review their course list to ensure they included appropriate course titles.
Read more about transcript updates.
Opt-Out Annual Notice
Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights
Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.
In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available — a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents/caregivers with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice, because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level.
Get more information and view the 2023-24 Opt-Out Booklets.
FCPS Student Representative to Advisory Committees & Fairfax County Board of Student Representatives Application
FCPS is looking for students interested in interviewing to become an FCPS Student Representative to an Advisory Committee. If chosen for a committee position, you will also have the responsibility to serve as a member of the Fairfax County Board of Student Representatives (FCBSR). This group convenes monthly to strategize and advocate for positive changes within the FCPS School Board, FCPS Central Office Leadership, and school staff/administration across multiple schools in the county.
To see a list of the committies click HERE.
To apply to become a FCPS Student Representative to Advisory Committee click HERE.
INOVA Free School Physicals and Immunizations
Inova Cares Clinic for Children (ICCC) and Inova Partnership for Healthier Communities (PHC) are now scheduling appointments in June, July, and August to provide children ages 5 and up with FREE school physicals and immunizations to begin the 2023-24 School Year. This will take place at the Inova Cares Clinic for Children in Herndon, Manassas, and Falls Church.
PHC will be on site to screen and enroll qualifying families in Medicaid/FAMIS and connect them to an appropriate and affordable source of quality healthcare providers. Please share the flyers below.
Flyer for Insured and Inova Patients
Flyer for Medicaid or Uninsured Patients
Support for Families
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. Click HERE for the FCPS Parent Information Phone Lines.
Amharic (አማርኛ): 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
Community Liaisons
Community Liaisons welcome families to FCPS and provide information and resources about Fairfax County. Bilingual community liaisons support student registrars by providing families with information about school and community services offered in Fairfax County. Community liaisons also help parents fill out forms and complete applications for:
- free and reduced-price meals
- recreation programs
- health insurance
- adult education classes
- job training
- other programs
Families new to FCPS can attend Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: An Orientation Session for Parents, which ensures a smooth transition to the FCPS community.
Call or visit one of the offices below for more information:
Dunn Loring Center
2334 Gallows Road
Dunn Loring, VA 22027
Herndon Welcome Center
455 Springpark Place
Herndon, VA 20170
English and Spanish: 703-227-2211 and 571-499-9969
South County Welcome Center
Cameron Elementary School
Room 220
3434 Campbell Drive
Alexandria, VA 22303
English and Spanish: 703-742-4902
Strategic Plan
✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Foundation of Four Pillars
The division’s new strategic plan is built on a foundation of four pillars — what FCPS must do well to reach its goals for all students. The pillars include:
- We design innovative learning experiences that meet the needs of each and every learner, and implement professional practices that engage, empower, include, and challenge the whole learner through varied opportunities.
- We share responsibility to build trusting partnerships that sustain a safe, inclusive culture for learning and work, and we collaborate proactively with respect, honesty, and transparency.
- We recruit and retain staff who reflect the diversity of students and families; provide meaningful continuous learning, exceptional compensation, and balanced workload; and create a safe and culturally responsive environment that values staff voice.
- We nurture processes and structures that are grounded in intentional partnerships, shared responsibility for equitable resource allocation, and data-driven continuous improvement and innovation.
Stay tuned to learn more about our five goals of the new strategic plan, or visit our Strategic Plan webpage.
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/
McLean HIgh School PTSA Information
Here are some quick links:
- Visit our WEBSITE and subscribe to eNews
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Join our PTSA (AtoZ Directory Account) (If a returning family, please verify your information)
- Make a Donation and check if your company offers Corporate Matching
- Find McLean PTSA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
- When Shopping, link your accounts and a portion of your sales will go to the PTSA
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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