Important Upcoming Dates
2023-2024 School Year
November 1 & 2 - Día de los Muertos and All Saints Day (see below)
November 3 - End of Quarter and 2 Hour Early Release Day (see below)
November 5 - Daylight Savings Time Ends (see below)
November 6-10 - National School Psychology Week (see below)
November 6 - Student Holiday/School Planning Day (see below)
November 7 - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday/Election Day (see below)
November 11 - Veterans Day (see below)
November 12 - Diwali (see below)
November 22, 23, 24 - Thanksgiving Holiday - Schools and offices closed
This Week at McLean
Halloween - While we do allow costumes, all students must follow the dress code set forth by the SR&R. Students may not wear a mask that covers their face.
Friday, football game at Langley - game time is at 7:00. We recommend students arrive early. No backpacks, food, or drink allowed into the stadium. If you would like to buy tickets online, prior to the game, you can do so here
Friday, November 3 - is the last day of the first quarter. Friday is a two-hour early release.
McLean High School Publications Win Trophy Class Rating from VHSL
Student journalists from McLean High School earned Trophy Class ranking for their 2022-23 publications from the Virginia High School League’s (VHSL) Publications Evaluation Services. Trophy Class is the highest ranking bestowed by VHSL. Awards were announced at the VHSL Media Championship on Saturday, Oct. 21 in Harrisonburg. McLean was the only school in the state to earn this recognition for all five of their publications in the magazine, news, yearbook, broadcast and online contests. Congratulations!
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Marching Band Awarded Class 5 Open State Champions!
The marching band had a great end to the season and was awarded Class 5 Open State Champions at the USBands State Championship competition. This was our 4th time going to the state championship competition (2016, 2017, 2018) and our 4th championship! Congratulations Marching Band!
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Outstanding Employee Awards Program - 10/31 through 11/10
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a McLean High School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the Google form links beside each award below. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)
Outstanding Principal - McLean High School 2023-2024 Outstanding Principal Award Nomination
Outstanding Teacher - McLean High School 2023-2024 Outstanding Teacher Award Nomination
Outstanding New Teacher - McLean High School 2023-2024 Outstanding New Teacher Award Nomination
Outstanding Leader - McLean High School 2023-2024 Outstanding Leader Award Nomination
Outstanding Professional Employee - McLean High School 2023-2024 Outstanding Professional Employee Award Nomination
Outstanding Operational Employee - McLean High School 2023-2024 Outstanding Operational Employee Award Nomination
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 10th.
If you have any questions, please contact Jenny Sobota at jmsobota@fcps.edu.
Help Us Save Paper! Parent Access to Online Federal Impact Aid Survey
Impact Aid programs and grants are designed to assist local school districts that enroll federally connected students.
The federal presence in our area and the significant tax exemptions available to federally connected personnel, businesses, and agencies has qualified Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to be eligible for federal Impact Aid grants.
Impact Aid programs and grants are designed to assist local school districts that enroll federally connected students. The grants from these programs will become part of FCPS' general operating budget and are critical to ensuring that all children in FCPS receive an excellent education. FCPS anticipates receiving approximately $3,000,000 in Impact Aid funds.
FCPS uses the Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid to identify federally connected students and to support our request for Impact Aid resources. In October, the survey will be made available to FCPS families online through ParentVue for two weeks. After that, families who have not completed the survey will have a printed copy sent home with each child.
October 16, 2023 through October 31, 2023, FCPS parents will have the option to fill out the Federal Impact Aid Survey online through their ParentVue account. Below are the visual steps for a parent to get to the survey in SIS ParentVue.
Steps to Access the Survey in ParentVue
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McLean HS Toy Drive - Now through 11/14
 Brighten the holiday season for underprivileged children in our community by donating new toys by the main office. Every child deserves to experience the joy of the holidays regardless of their circumstances––SHARE of McLean is helping make this possible with their holiday program. Feel free to scan the QR code for more information. Donations will be accepted until November 14th.
From Student Services
Schedule changes and withdrawal deadline
The deadline to withdraw from a class without a grade penalty (i.e. the class will not appear on the transcript) is Monday, November 20th. After this time, a withdrawal grade (WP or WF) will be required on the transcript if a student is dropping a class. Schedule change requests to change to a different level of a course will still be considered through the end of the 2nd quarter. All elective changes should now be complete.
Expunging High School Courses Taken in Middle School (Incoming 9th Graders Only) by 11/3
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 November 3, 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.
SIS ParentVUE Access
The live gradebook in ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed from Friday, October 28, at 4:00 pm until Wednesday, November 9, at 6:00 am.
Qtr 1 Report cards are currently available for viewing on the "documents" tab in SIS ParentVUE. If you would like a printed copy of your student’s report card please email Molly Payne at mspayne@fcps.edu.
 Student Town Hall - 10/30
We are excited to invite you to a Student Townhall for Regions 2 and 6. This townhall will be an exciting opportunity for students to dialogue with Student Representative to the School Board Rida Karim and School Board Member Dr. Anderson, share your experiences, and provide feedback.
Hosted by: Student Member Rida Karim and Mason District School Board Member Dr. Ricardy Anderson
When: October 30, 2023, 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Register in advance for this webinar: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9D8AfnV0QzWmPs_fKQwgEw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining this town hall meeting.
This program is open to the public and intended for high school students in Regions 2 and 6.
Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day - 11/1 & 11/2
Día de los Muertos is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of departed loved ones. Wednesday, November 1, and Thursday, November 2, are “O” Days this year. To learn more about Día de los Muertos, watch this video.
While Día de los Muertos is largely celebrated in Mexico and Latin America, it also coincides with All Saints Day (November 1) and All Souls Day (November 2). These days are celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants worldwide to honor those who have died and gone to heaven (All Saints Day) and those who may still be in purgatory (All Souls Day).
The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days.See the complete school year calendar.
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Quarter End, Early Dismissal - 11/3
As a reminder, Friday, November 3, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. Also, schools are closed for students on Monday, November 6, for a school planning day. See the complete school year calendar.
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Daylight Savings Time Ends - 11/5
Sunday, November 5, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
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 National School Psychology Week - 11/6-11/10
We will celebrate the important work school psychologists do to help all students thrive during the week of November 6 - 10.Learn more from the National Association of School Psychologists.
Veterans Day - 11/11
Veterans Day provides an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made on our behalf, and we thank them for their service. Learn more about the history of Veterans Day at va.gov.
Please join American Legion Post 270 on Saturday, November 11th, at 11:00 am for a ceremony commemorating the service of all United States veterans. The ceremony will be held outside at the McLean High School War Memorial Garden.
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Diwali - 11/12
Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs & some Buddhists. The festival represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
Happy Diwali to all those who celebrate this day!
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TheatreMcLean Presents: Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play
November 16,17 & 19
What happens to stories as they get passed down thru the years? How about an episode of the Simpsons? In Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play we examine that theory thru the apocalypse, as a group of survivors pass the time by talking about an episode of the iconic animated tv show. Thru the show and years, what happens to the episode of Simpsons? How does it change 7 years in the future; 75 years later? The award winning TheatreMcLean proudly presents Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play.
Tickets can be purchased HERE
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Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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National Family Engagement Month
National Family engagement Month
National Family Engagement Month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. More than 35 years of research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in the education of their child. Strong parental and family support is vital to the well-being and success of students. FCPS has many resources for families designed to increase engagement and partnerships with families while fostering academic success and social-emotional growth.
The national standards for family-school partnerships include welcoming all families, communicating effectively, supporting student success, speaking up for every child, sharing power, and collaborating with the community.
The following resources are available to all FCPS families. Visit the links below to learn more about workshops and classes for families, digital and printable resources for early childhood, mental health, military families, special education, multilingual and wellness topics.
Family Liaisons
Did you know that every school has a family liaison? Family liaisons will welcome and orient families who are new to the school and community, and help them understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can also help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.
McLean High School's Family Liaison is Alba Munoz. You can reach her at amunoz1@fcps.edu.
Visit the Family Liaison webpage for a list of region representatives.
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🍬 Tips to Help Keep Children Safe
The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) reminds parents and caregivers that it’s important to talk to your children about safety topics including:
- What parents should know about their children’s plans.
- Having a meeting spot in case of getting separated.
- Establishing safe areas.
- What to do if you are followed.
Visit the FCPD website for more details on how to discuss safety topics.
📊 Results of the 2022-23 Fairfax County Youth Survey
The Fairfax County Youth Survey provides insights into the behaviors and attitudes that affect the health and well-being of Fairfax County youth.
Most Fairfax County students reported they feel safe at their school. Overall, the percentage of students who reported risky behaviors continued to decrease in many areas including substance use, sexual activity, and aggressive and delinquent behavior.
Mental health indicators including feelings of sadness/hopelessness, suicidal ideations, and suicide attempts also improved noticeably compared to 2021. Students who reported the recommended amount of physical activity increased compared to the prior year as well.
Read more about the report’s findings, and find the full report on the county’s website.
Protective Factors Support Healthy Habits and Positive Choices
Results from the Fairfax County Youth Survey highlight the importance of students having three or more “protective factors.” Protective factors are individual, family-based, school-based, and community-based assets (such as participating in extracurricular activities, having parents available for help, or having teachers recognize good work) that support healthy habits and positive choices. Learn more about promoting positive outcomes.
Survey data shows that students with at least three protective factors have a lower likelihood of reporting mental health challenges and engaging in a variety of risky behaviors, including substance and opioid abuse. These findings led to the development of the Three to Succeed program, which is being implemented divisionwide to educate FCPS students, families, and staff on the importance of protective factors and increasing the number of high school students with three or more of them.
💲 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Opening in December
The FAFSA is needed to determine a student's eligibility for financial aid. Families of current seniors should be thinking about completing financial aid applications in order for students to be eligible to receive financial help to cover the costs of post-secondary education. With the late opening of the FAFSA, there are some things families can do now (English only).
A funding opportunity is available for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA — the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) program. Find out which aid option is right for your family on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website.
November Events Hosted by the Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. The FRC is hosting the following events in November:
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Sibshops: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, Monday, November 6, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., at Providence Community Center.
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SibTeen: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, Monday, November 6, 1-4 p.m., at Providence Community Center.
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Moving on to Life in the Community Resource Fair, Thursday, November 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Annandale High School (Cafeteria).
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Coping Strategies for Anxiety, Depression, and Stress: Part Two (virtual), Friday, November 10, 10-11:30 a.m.
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Funcionamiento Ejecutivo - Ayudando a tus hijos con la organización, la regulación emocional , y la flexibilidad (presentado en español), Friday, November 17, 10-11:30 a.m.
Click the links above to register for the events. For more information, visit the Family Resource Center webpage.
🏗️ Updates to School Facilities
Trends of development and housing turnover are inconsistent across the county and continue to present a facilities capacity challenge. Spaces in schools may be outdated from when buildings were originally built.
Projects funded by the 2023 Bond Referendum may be updated to meet the current needs of students or may increase space to help relieve overcrowding and provide spaces for small-group and specialized instruction.
Additionally, all updates to school facilities are made with energy efficiency in mind. FCPS has 220 buildings and 26.5 million square feet of building space. These buildings cost tens of millions of dollars to power each year. As the footprint of FCPS continues to grow, conserving energy for cost savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions is of the utmost importance.
The 2023 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in November. Vote on Tuesday, November 7. Learn more about registering to vote.
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/
Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar
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 2023-2024 calendar year are below.
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 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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