Important Upcoming Dates
2023-2024 School Year
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 11 - Commemoration/Patriot Day
September 15 - Rosh Hashanah Religious/Cultural 1/2 Observation Day (see below)
September 17 - Constitution Day
September 25 - Yom Kippur Holiday - All schools and offices are closed (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)
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2023 Audubon Society Photography Award Winner
McLean High School junior, James Fatemi, earned the Youth Honorable Mention award in the 2023 Audubon Society photography contest. Click HERE to see his amazing photo.
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Cat Gamboa - Chemistry Teacher
Please join us in welcoming Cat Gamboa, McLean High School's newest Chemistry teacher. Cat graduated from the University of Virginia 2018. She has been teaching for 5 years, most recently at Glasgow Middle School. She enjoys baking and crocheting and has a hamster named Pancake. She is super excited to be joining the team at McLean High School and is looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!
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McLean High School teacher, Beckie Van Vranken, wins Excellence Award
 Congratulations to Beckie Van Vranken for being selected for the FCPS Excellence Award! Ms. Van Vranken was selected due to her pursuit of supporting the students in McLean’s ESOL program, giving them a voice as she works to educate the staff about the potential of each student. One of her students shared that in class, “No one can slack, and we don’t worry about grades, we focus on learning.” Congratulation to Ms. Van Vranken!
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!
Commemoration/Patriot Day - 9/11
On this day we remember and honor the victims, families, heroes, and survivors of 9/11, and the courage and determination of our nation's first responders. On 9/11, McLean High School will engage in a school-wide moment of silence. In their Social Studies classes, students will commemorate 9/11 to honor the memories of the victims and their families, paying tribute to their resilience and courage. Patriot Day, or 9/11, is a chance to reflect and to act in service to others as a way of honoring those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks. More information about service opportunities can be found at Volunteer Fairfax and 911Day.org.
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Meet the Authors Book Launch Event! 9/13
Raising A Kid Who Can: The Ten Parenting Essentials to Start the School Year Strong
A new school year brings an opportunity for a fresh start for all of us! The Safe Community Coalition in partnership with the Temple Rodef Shalom is proud to host the authors of Raising A Kid Who Can, an event that is sure to help parents - and kids - start the new school year off strong! This meet the authors event takes place Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, at Temple Rodef Shalom (2100 Westmoreland St.). Presentation and Q&A: 7:00 - 8:30pm with book signing immediately afterward. Books will be available for sale at the event from bookseller, Politics and Prose.
More info and registration for this FREE event can be found on the Safe Community Coalition website: https://mcleanscc.org.
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Rosh Hashanah - 9/15
Friday, September 15, is a half-O day in recognition of Rosh Hashanah, which begins at sundown. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete school year calendar.
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Constitution Day - 9/17
Constitution Day, also known as Citizenship Day, is a holiday that recognizes the adoption of the U.S. Constitution and honors all of those who are citizens, as well as those who have become citizens of the United States. It is observed on September 17, the day on which the constitution was adopted in 1787.
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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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Vandalism and Auto Break-ins
On Saturday, August 26th, 2023, the Fairfax County Police Department was notified by a community member that a car had been broken into in the parking lot of McLean High School. Upon arrival, police determined that two vehicles had been broken into during the afternoon. Items including a purse, gym bag, cell phone, wallet, and other personal items were stolen.
During the active and ongoing police investigation into this matter, please remember to be aware of your surroundings, lock your car doors, and take your personal items with you when you leave your car. While we all feel safe at McLean High School, we still need to remain vigilant and protect ourselves and each other.
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.
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 .
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
While childhood cancer is rare, it is the leading cause of disease-related death past infancy in children and adolescents. Every September, advocacy organizations, healthcare institutions, patients, and families raise awareness for childhood cancer. The idea of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month was first introduced in 1990 in a presidential proclamation by then-President George H.W. Bush. On September 26th, 2019, September was officially recognized as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Attendance Awareness Month
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit FCPS’ Attendance web page for tips and strategies.
✔️ Updates on Grading Policies
FCPS’ Grading Policy was updated for the 2023-24 school year. The following changes were based on input from students, teachers, parents/caregivers, principals, and staff:
- FCPS will maintain the current late work policy. Teachers must accept major assignments up to two weeks late. The maximum deduction for that time period is 10%. The current policy, when applied correctly, balances accountability and flexibility.
- A rolling gradebook gives students more chances to show they understand material. Teachers must use the rolling gradebook along with reassessment policies. These policies let students improve grades on major assessments across quarters. Replacement policies allow later assessments to replace the scores of earlier assessments.
- Teachers may now give zeroes for assignments that are not turned in. Students who make a reasonable effort to finish an assignment will get a minimum grade of 50.
For teachers using a traditional gradebook, the minimum quarter grade that can be issued is 50%. Teachers on a rolling gradebook must use reassessment practices.
In the 2024-25 school year, all grades will be on a 100-point scale, with 50% as the lowest passing grade for submitted assignments. All high school credit-bearing classes will use the new scale next school year.
2023 Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. In late June, the School Board approved changes to the SR&R for the 2023-24 school year. Updates include a revision of dress code expectations, bystander expectations for students witnessing harmful or unsafe behaviors, bullying, and substance abuse responses. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Friday, September 29.
Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.
Parental Permission to Use Digital Resources
Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Parent Consent webpage. This page also includes directions for providing permission.
Each digital resource used in FCPS has had an instructional and technical review. Information about the educational technology tools approved for use within FCPS can be found in the online Digital Ecosystem Library.
Parents can find more information about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.
🔍 Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
💻 Chromebook Tips
High school and secondary school students are receiving a new Chromebook this year. These devices feature larger screens than previously issued devices and battery life that easily lasts the school day.
Encourage your student to visit the following helpful links to:
If your child prefers to use their personal laptop, make sure it meets our minimum requirements. Students may access our student Chromebook FAQs (FCPS Google login required) for more information.
If your student runs into any issues while using their Chromebook, please have them reach out to their school’s tech team for support.
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
Strategic Plan
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✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start: Pre-K-12 |
The 2023-30 strategic plan sets five main goals to create positive change in FCPS. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts. Our equity commitment and a set of measures in each goal will measure our success.
Our first goal in the strategic plan is to help all students develop academic skills, curiosity, and a love for learning. These skills and attitudes are crucial for success from pre-K to 12th grade. Our related equity commitment is to ensure authentic and affirming partnerships with families and key stakeholders through collaborative decision making that results in each student's success.
Visit the Strategic Plan webpage to learn more about how we will measure the success of Goal 1.
✨ 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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