McLean HS: Dr. Reilly's Monday Message 1/2/2024

Important Upcoming Dates

2023-2024 School Year

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 12 - Pep Rally (see below)

January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (see below) - Schools and offices will be closed

January 17 - Balancing Achievement & Mental Health Presentation (see below)


From Testing

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 


This Week

Three Kings Day

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.


Next Week

Orthodox Christmas

Orthodox Christmas - 1/7

Many Orthodox Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas Day on or near January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the son of God. Learn more facts about Christmas from National Geographic Kids.


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. 

Coming Up


Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - 1/15

As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. See the complete school year calendar.


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!


January Focus

National Mentoring Month - January

January - National Mentoring Month

Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are.Learn more about Mentoring Month.

Research has shown that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor.

All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life.

FCPS’ MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Please contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at mmacdonald@fcps.edu


January - National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month 

Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime. The U.S. Department of State raises awareness of human trafficking domestically and abroad, through U.S. embassies and consulates.

During this month, we celebrate the efforts of foreign governments, international organizations, anti-trafficking entities, law enforcement officials, survivor advocates, communities of faith, businesses, and private citizens all around the world to raise awareness about human trafficking.

Click HERE to see the U.S. Department of State fact sheet on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. 


From FCPS

🗓️ 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.


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 HS PTSA

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

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.