Important Upcoming Dates
2023-2024 School Year
December 18 through January 1 - Winter Break - see below (MHS Offices will be closed)
December 25 - Christmas (see below)
January 6 - Three Kings Day/Epiphany (see below)
January 7 - Orthodox Christmas (see below)
January 8 - Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar (see below)
January 9 - Curriculum Night for Rising 9th Graders (see below)
January 17 - Balancing Achievement & Mental Health Presentation (see below)
January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
It's Academic
Just in case you missed watching our amazing Highlander Quiz Bowl team compete in the opening round of It's Academic last weekend click HERE to watch it!
Team members: Carter Pisocky, Andrew Evans, and Clara Marks with alternative Edward Burros.
|
AP Course Fees
AP course fees are now available in myschoolbucks. Families are charged for AP courses 7+ in a student's high school career. When students enroll in subjects with dual assessments such as Physics C, Economics, and Comparative Government, families are only charged for one test instead of two. AP test fees are based on AP courses students are enrolled in, not the number of tests assigned to a course. Students should check AP Classroom to see their test registrations. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Donlen at ekdonlen@fcps.edu.
College Board Testing Accommodations for AP Testing
Students who would like to apply to the College Board for AP testing accommodations must submit their application forms to the school by January 4, 2024 to meet the College Board deadline. Please note that testing accommodations listed on IEPs or 504s are not automatically granted by the College Board for AP testing, so families must apply separately to the College Board. If a student already has College Board accommodations approved from a previous PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, or AP test, then no further action is needed. Once instated, accommodations remain in place for all College Board testing throughout a student’s high school career.
Please submit College Board AP Testing Accommodations application forms by January 4, 2024
Winter Break - 12/18 through 1/1
As a reminder, winter break will be held Monday, December 18, to Monday, January 1. To help make sure you and your children have a restful break, we have asked that no homework be assigned during this time. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills, but no assignments will be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year. Classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. See the complete school year calendar.
|
 |
|
Christmas - 12/25
🎄 A very Merry Christmas to those in our community who celebrate! Christmas is an annual holiday on which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, and is celebrated in many unique ways across the U.S. and the world. Learn more about Christmas.
|
 |
|
New Year's Day - 1/1/2024 |
Three Kings Day/Epiphany - 1/6
Three Kings Day (January 6), also known as the Epiphany, is a Christian celebration that commemorates the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to the Christ child. This marks the official 12th day of Christmas. Learn more at National Geographic Kids.
FCPS has designated Three Kings Day/Epiphany as a religious and cultural observance day (O day). There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that specific events that cannot be made up will not be held on these observance days. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
|
Curriculum Night for Rising 9th Graders - 1/9
McLean High School will be holding a Curriculum Night for parents of the class of 2028 (current 8th grade students) at McLean HS on Tuesday, January 9th at 6:00pm in the auditorium. The evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 9th grade student with the transition to high school. Topics include getting involved with extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and the registration process for 9th grade courses. Following the initial presentation, teachers from various departments will be available until 7:15pm to answer questions about 9th grade classes.
Balancing Pressure to Achieve with Mental Health: What Parents Can Do - 1/17
Tuesday, January 17, 2024
McLean High School
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Studies have shown that pressure to achieve is one of the top four risk factors for teenagers in the United States. Students under this kind of pressure are one and a half to two and a half times as likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders than national norms. With the achievement-oriented culture of Northern Virginia, our students can feel this pressure strongly.
How can parents build our children’s resiliency when the pressure to achieve can be overwhelming? This workshop will provide practical strategies for parents to help their child find balance between achievement and mental health. It will be presented by Kathleen Otal, McLean School Counselor.
Parents are asked to fill out this survey before attending the workshop:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xXZXR0jIpHeO4tZ0z010cxaPs47bvV_ep3pJH74Nf3k/viewform?edit_requested=true
Parents are encouraged to listen to this podcast in advance of the event:
https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/affluence
We hope to see you there!
⛄Student and Family Resources
Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
School’s Closed, Learning Can Continue!
FCPS encourages students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during winter break and snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play for your students during winter break or weather-related school closures.
Promoting Mental Wellness During Winter BreakAlthough mental health indicators have improved over the past year, Fairfax County Youth Survey (FCYS) data suggest that more than 25% of students in 8th to 12th grade feel sad or hopeless every day for two weeks or more in a row. The holidays can be a time to reduce stress, but they can also contribute to it. Here are some tips for making winter break a positive time for the young people in your life.
SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE Down Time
ParentVUE and StudentVUE will experience downtime from Friday, December 15, at 5 p.m. through Wednesday, December 20, at 6 a.m.
Grade Book progress reports will not be emailed to parents/guardians during winter break. Emails will resume on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
😷 Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests
Residential households are eligible to receive free at-home COVID-19 test kits. If an order has not been placed for your address since the program reopened on September 25, you may place two orders now.
🗓️ Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begin in January
FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January.
A high school academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.
Learn more and view the calendar of Academy Open Houses.
🍲 Food Insecurity Resources for Families
Food insecurity impacts more than 60,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Find out how to receive or offer support on the Fairfax County website, or view their Human Services Resource Guide for assistance with food, clothing, housing, and other services.
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
 |
|
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. |
|
