Important Upcoming Dates
2023-2024 School Year
September 21 - Student Assembly (see below)
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 2 - Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar (see below)
October 4 - Senior Panoramic Picture Day (see below)
October 11 - PSAT/SAT School Day (see below)
October 17 - SEL Screener (see below)
October 18 - An Evening with Dr. Reid and Our Students (see below)
October 20 - Homecoming Football Game
October 21 - Homecoming Dance
October 30 - Yearbook photo makeup day for 9th, 10th & 11th Grade (see below)
MHS Junior Wins 1st Place at USAPL Raw Nationals
McLean HS junior, Mikayla Dolina, won first place at the USAPL Raw Nationals in Memphis on Friday in the Teen-2 age class (16 and 17 years old). This is the largest powerlifting competition in the US and draws more than 500 competitors across all age and weight classes every year. This competition was very intense with Mikayla fighting head to head with last year's National and Colorado State champion, and beating her by over 30 lbs in total weight lifted. Mikayla lifted 286 lbs (130 Kg) on squat, 154 lbs (70 Kg) on bench press, and 297 lbs (135 Kg) on deadlift, reaching a total weight of 737 lbs which is her personal record, surpassing the 720.5 lbs total Mikayla lifted when she won the 2023 High School JV National Championship in April. Congratulations Mikayla!
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Edyta Pochopien
Please join us in welcoming Edyta Pochopien. Edyta was born and raised in Poland. She played professional handball for the Polish national handball team. She completed her university studies at the Academy of Physical Education in Krakow, and soon thereafter moved to the USA. She is a certified personal trainer and corrective exercise specialist accredited by the National Association of Sports Medicine, as well as a certified archery instructor. In her free time she loves to spend time with her 7 year old daughter. She also enjoys skiing, going to the theatre and concerts, cooking, and traveling. Edyta is looking forward to a sucessful and joyful year at McLean High School.
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 UNICEF & SGA - Food Drive 9/5 - 9/30
At Mclean's UNICEF Club, we're dedicated to advocating for children's rights and well-being globally. Our club serves as a local force in this global movement as we work to raise awareness about the pressing issues affecting children, such as access to clean water, education, healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation. Join us in making a difference by supporting our non-perishables drive to help local families in need!
Student Assembly - 9/21
McLean is excited to host Sam Anthony on Thursday, September 21st in an assembly for all students. “Sam Anthony is a professional speaker, personal trainer, and author, who uses his personal experiences with Physical, Emotional, Mental and Social Fitness to empower and educate others. His ability to use past experiences in the form of storytelling as lessons to communities everywhere makes him a highly sought out professional. One thing that remarkably separates him from other speakers is not what he does on stage but, the time he spends off stage building relationships and serving audience members.”
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. 11th graders will be photographed with their US History class on Wednesday, Sept. 27 or Thursday, Sept. 28.
9th & 10th graders who do not take Health/PE on-campus and 11th graders who don’t take US History on campus at McLean this year, should report to the auditorium during Highlander Time 1 on Thursday, September 28 to have their picture taken. MAKEUP DAY for 9th, 10th & 11th graders will be Monday, October 30
Ordering a Yearbook
Yearbooks are available for sale on MySchoolBucks. 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!
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.
Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar - 10/2
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.
October 2nd
January 8th
February 26th
May 13th
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). Please reach out to Brian Slay (bkslay@fcps.edu) with any questions.
McLean 5K in Honor and Remembrance of Drew Stieg - 10/7
In honor of Drew and to help further bring awareness to wellness being part of our lives, The Stieg family invites you to join team “Drew Stieg Aspiring Wellness Program” for this year‘s McLean 5K. The race is being held Saturday, October 7, 2023 in McLean, VA starting at 8:00 a.m at the Balduccis Shopping Center. Please use this link to register Home | Commonwealth Race Management (enmotive.com) and you will be prompted to select the team during this process. The discount code to register is STIEG2023.
PSAT/SAT School Day - 10/11
All tenth and eleventh grade students will be automatically registered to take the digital Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) exam on October 11th. To prepare for digital testing, all 10th & 11th grade students will need to bring their Chromebooks fully charged to school on October 2nd for the digital readiness check during HT 3 and on October 11th for the PSAT Test.
Seniors who did not sign up in advance to take the SAT will not report to the building on October 11th unless they would like to sign up for a college essay workshop session with an English teacher. Students who would like feedback on their college admissions essay can sign up for a session here.
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SEL Screener - 10/17
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning. FCPS approved a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener that students use to share their perspectives on their development of skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. 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/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener
All students in grades 3-12 have the opportunity to participate in the screener twice a year, in the fall and spring. 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 13, 2023 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
An Evening with Dr. Reid and Our Students - 10/18
On Wednesday, October 18th at 7:00 PM at the McLean Community Center (MCC), Fairfax County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Michelle Reid, will be answering questions 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 from students attending elementary, middle, and high school from within the McLean, Langley, and Marshall Pyramids.
McLean Citizens Association
Invites you to
An Evening with Dr. Michelle Reid and Our Students
October 18, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
McLean Community Center
1234 Ingleside Avenue
McLean Virginia
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World Languages Credit Exam Registration Open - Register by 10/5
Registration for the 2023 World Languages Credit Exam is now open! This assessment will be administered on November 8, 9,and 13, 2023. Students who are fluent in languages other than English can potentially earn up to three high school credits by taking this assessment. Thirty languages will be included: American Sign Language (ASL), Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Registration must be completed through the student’s school counselor. Registration closes on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted.
*New for 2023: FCPS will be piloting a digital language proficiency assessment. This is an optional opportunity for students taking the exam in ASL, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, French, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Telugu, and Vietnamese. Students interested in participating in the pilot should register for both the world languages credit exam and the pilot exam with their school counselor.
Additional information on the credit exam can be accessed at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages
Is your student thinking about self-studying for an AP exam this school year?
Self-studying means that a student plans to take an AP exam for a class they are not currently enrolled in. Each AP exam a student self-studies for will cost $98.
Please have your student complete the self-study google form, and pay the non-refundable exam fee in MySchoolBucks by October 27th. As your student considers self-studying for exams, please check the AP Exam schedule to ensure that they do not over-schedule themselves. Exams will only be moved to the late testing schedule for extreme circumstances.If you have any additional questions, please contact the McLean Assessment Coach Elly Donlen at ekdonlen@fcps.edu.
English 11 WorkKeys Testing
For the 2023-24 school year, all students enrolled in English 11 will take the WorkKeys® Business Writing test to earn their Writing verified credits. English 11 Honors & English 11 DE students will be assessed in their English class during the November test window. English 11 on-level students will be assessed in their English class during the end of January test window. The WorkKeys® assessment will provide the required verified credit for writing while preserving classroom instructional time, as it is a single 30-minute assessment. All students enrolled in AP Lang can receive their Writing verified credit by earning a 2 or higher on their AP exam.
If you would prefer your student take the Writing SOL in March in place of the WorkKeys writing, you will need to complete the WorkKeys opt-out form no later than October 30th for English 11 Honors & English 11 DE students and January 9th for English 11 on-level students.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Elly Donlen (ekdonlen@fcps.edu), McLean Assessment Coach.
AMC 10/12
The AMC 10 and AMC 12 are both 25-question, 75-minute, multiple-choice examinations in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills.
The AMC 10 is for students in 10th grade and below and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. Students in grade 10 or below and under 17.5 years of age on the day of the contest can take the AMC 10. The AMC 12 covers the entire high school curriculum, including trigonometry, advanced algebra, and advanced geometry, but excluding calculus. Students in grade 12 or below and under 19.5 years of age on the day of the contest can take the AMC 12.
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 B Test here at McLean on November 14th during the 2nd period of the day. Students would miss their 2nd 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.
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National Hispanic Heritage Month - 9/15 - 10/15
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Fairfax Fiesta: Fairfax County's inaugural Hispanic Heritage Celebration, the Fairfax Fiesta, is taking place on Saturday, Sept. 23, from noon to 5 p.m., at the PARC at Tysons (8508 Leesburg Pike). The free event, presented by the Fairfax County Government and Celebrate Fairfax!, aims to provide an extraordinary experience for all ages and backgrounds. Learn more about Fairfax Fiesta.
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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.
✔️ 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.
🏆 264 FCPS Students Recognized as National Merit Semifinalists
Two hundred sixty-four FCPS students from 15 high schools have been named Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for 2024. See the full list of student awardees.
🎓 College Fair and Postsecondary Virtual Events
High school students and their families are invited to attend the annual FCPS College Fair and the Postsecondary Virtual events. The College Fair will feature admissions representatives from more than 250 colleges and universities from across the United States and abroad. The fair will be held at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena on Sunday, October 15, 4-7 p.m.
The Postsecondary Virtual Event will be held on Monday, October 16, and Tuesday, October 17, 5-8 p.m. The virtual event will feature workshops related to the college admissions process, financial aid, and other postsecondary educational opportunities.
Students are highly encouraged to register in advance for these events.
🤒 When a Student Should Stay Home From School
Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.
Help your student succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. Visit FCPS’ website for information on when you should keep your child at home.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher, so that assistance can be provided if needed. Please contact us as soon as you know your child will be absent.
Read more about how families can help form good attendance habits.
🤧 Tips to Stay Healthy
Flu season is quickly approaching and communicable diseases continue to be present in our schools. Families and staff are encouraged to follow the health practices below to prevent the spread of illnesses and help keep our schools safe:
- Make an appointment to get a flu vaccine as soon as possible. Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine (with rare exceptions). Flu vaccines are widely available at doctors’ and pediatricians’ offices, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
- Get vaccinated against COVID-19 if you have not done so already. As of Tuesday, September 12, updated COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use among those aged 6 months or older for the 2023-24 season. Find out where you can get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster in your community by visiting Vaccinate Virginia, or calling 877-VAX-IN-VA or 877-829-4682. Note: Flu vaccines and COVID vaccines can be provided in the same appointment.
- Check with your student’s healthcare provider to make sure they are up to date on their required school entrance immunizations. Immunization records can now be updated in SIS ParentVUE through the Online Verification Update form.
- Check for mild, cold-like symptoms each day, such as fever, runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath. If a child is sick, please keep them home and get them tested for COVID-19 to stop further spread from occurring. Additional guidance on when to keep your child home due to symptoms and illness is available on the FCPS Attendance webpage. FCPS employees are also advised to stay home and get tested when feeling sick.
- Don’t forget to wash hands regularly, avoid touching the face with unwashed hands, cover the mouth when coughing or sneezing, and limit the time children spend in large group settings with contagious individuals whenever possible.
The most up-to-date information regarding COVID-19 school health practices is available on the Health and Safety Guidance webpage.
Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our schools safe and healthy.
Information Session for Substitute Teachers and Instructional Assistants
Learn more about becoming a substitute teacher or instructional assistant at a virtual information session on Wednesday, September 20, from 2 to 3 p.m. Register for this session.
Visit the Recruitment Events calendar for a list of all FCPS job fairs.
🏗️ School Bonds Benefit Students
A bond referendum to benefit Fairfax County Public Schools will be on the ballot this election season. The building and renovation of schools are not financed through the school system’s operating funds, but through bonds.
Similar to an individual or a family obtaining a mortgage on a residence to spread the cost of home buying over several years, bonds spread the cost of major capital improvements over a number of years. This ensures that current and future residents and users share in the payment. The county’s bonded debt is not likely to be a contributing factor to any increase in local taxes.
Hear from teachers how FCPS prioritizes safety with bond funding.
Read more about the FCPS 2023 Bond Referendum. Learn about registering to vote. Vote on Tuesday, November 7.
Strategic Plan
✨ 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 4: Equitable Access and Opportunity
The 2023-30 strategic plan sets five main goals to create positive change in FCPS. These five 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 monitor our progress toward these goals.
Under Goal 4, high-quality academics will be available to all students. They will have access to excellent resources that support their success. Visit the Strategic Plan webpage to learn more about how we will measure the success of Goal 4.
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FCPS’ 2023-30 strategic plan sets five main goals to create positive change in our schools. These five 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.
Under Goal 3, every student will learn to use critical and creative thinking. They will meet or exceed academic goals. Students will reach their full potential.
Visit the Strategic Plan webpage for more information. Watch this video to learn more about the many voices that came together to create the plan.
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 Matters Caluculator Drive 2023
McLean High School has approximately 280 students, nearly 12% of the student body, who are at, or below, the poverty level. We are collecting donations of calculators for our MHS Students-in-Need. Rising costs and higher demand have made school supplies donations scarce, particularly graphing calculators. Many of our Students-in-Need are unable to obtain items from local charities that normally provide their back-to-school supplies.
Please click the Amazon Charity Wish List HERE to purchase calculators for donation. Alternatively, Sign Up HERE to purchase a calculator for donation. If you choose to sign up to purchase an item at the store, you or your student can drop it off, or ship it to:
Jennifer Hill
McLean High School
1633 Davidson Road
McLean, VA 22101
An example of a TI-84 can be viewed/purchased HERE, or HERE, or HERE.
Items are needed by Friday, September 29.
If you have any questions, please contact McLean Matters Chair Emma Blankenbaker at eblankenbaker@verizon.net.
NOTE: McLean High School PTSA is a 501(c)3 organization.
McLean High School PTSA Information
Here are some quick links:
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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