Important Upcoming Dates
2023-2024 School Year
January 15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (see below) - Schools and offices will be closed
January 16 - Curriculum Night for Rising 9th Graders (see below)
January 17 - Balancing Achievement & Mental Health Presentation (see below)
January 19 - Orthodox Epiphany (see below)
January 25 - Two Hour Early Release - End of Quarter (see below)
January 26 - Student Holiday - Teacher Workday (see below)
February 26 - Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar (see below)
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.
End of Quarter Information
The 2nd quarter ends on Thursday, January 25th. Current grades are accessible in SIS ParentVue and StudentVue. Administrators are meeting with parents of 12th grade students who are at risk of not graduating. Parents of 9th-11th grade students who have a D or F in a class(es) will receive an email today with additional information on support to help your student improve their progress. Please contact your student’s counselor or administrator with questions.
Curriculum Night for Rising 9th Graders - 1/16
*Please note: This is an alternatively scheduled date due to the cancellation of evening events on 1/9/2024.
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 16th 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
Wednesday, 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!
Orthodox Epiphany - 1/19
In the Orthodox church, Epiphany is celebrated on January 19 and commemorates the baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Magi. It is believed that Christ's baptism by John the Forerunner (John the Baptist) in the River Jordan began Christ's ministry on earth and revealed the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to mankind. 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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2 Hour Early Release/End of Quarter - 1/25
Thursday, January 25, is the last day of the quarter and a two-hour early release for students.
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Student Holiday/Teacher Workday - 1/26
Friday, January 26, is a student holiday and teacher workday.
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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.
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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.
📝 Tutor.com Can Help With More Than Homework
Tutor.com offers more than help with homework! This on-demand tutoring service also provides a comprehensive range of resources including exam prep for AP, SAT, and ACT tests at no cost to families.
Students can take practice quizzes at any time. If they struggle in particular areas, they can immediately connect to a live tutor for help through voice or chat options. Learn more on the FCPS Tutor.com webpage.
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Free Resources for Families
Did you know that caregivers can access 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?
Learn more about FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC).
Be the first to learn about new workshops by signing up for the FRC newsletter.
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.
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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