Important Upcoming Dates
2023-2024 School Year
February 29 - Junior Focus Day (see below)
March 5 - Student Holiday (see below)
March 4-8 - National School Social Work Week (see below)
March 10 - Daylight Saving Begins - Spring Forward (see below)
March 11 - First Full Day of Ramadan (see below)
March 13 - Lighthouse Schools Parent Coffee (see below)
March 14 - Lighthouse Schools Parent Meeting (see below)
March 22 - End of Quarter
March 25-29 - Spring Break - MHS offices will be closed (see below)
March 29 - Good Friday, falls during Spring Break (see below)
March 31 - Easter falls during Spring Break (see below)
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MHS QuizBowl Team Wins 2024 VHSL Scholastic Bowl State Tournament |
The McLean Quiz Bowl team competed in and won the 2024 VHSL Scholastic Bowl State Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 24, at Jamestown High School in Williamsburg. The victory included wins over other Class 6 regional champions Oscar Smith High School (Chesapeake), Battlefield High School (Haymarket), and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (Alexandria). This is McLean’s second-ever state championship and its first since 2020.
Pictured are team members Fern Fang, Angelika Tzioumis, Ryan McKenzie, Andrew Evans, Carter Pisocky, Edward Burros, Andrew Norway, and Sam Cohen. Not pictured are team members Clara Marks, Eddie Lin, and Raghav Kuruba.
McLean HS Receives First Amendment Press Freedom Award
For the ninth time, McLean High School is being recognized with the First Amendment Press Freedom Award. A committee with representatives from the Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society chose 28 winners nationwide for the 2024 First Amendment Press Freedom Award. West Springfield Hig School and Chantilly High School are also among the schools being recognized.
The award recognizes public high schools that actively support, teach and protect First Amendment rights and responsibilities of students and teachers, with an emphasis on student-run media where students make all final decisions of content.
As in previous years, schools competed for the title by first answering questionnaires submitted by an adviser and at least one editor; those who advanced to the next level were asked to provide responses from the principal and all media advisers and one student editor per student media. Media staffs also submitted their policies. Winning applications showed strong support for the First Amendment.
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Scholastic Art Awards
 We are pleased to announce that over sixty McLean HS students received recognition at the Regional Scholastics Art Awards Program. Their artwork was chosen for this honor by a distinguished panel of judges who selected from over 4000 outstanding entries from the Fairfax County region. Jurors look for works that exemplify the Awards’ core values: originality, technical skill, and the emergence of personal voice or vision. The Regional Award Ceremony and Exhibition will be held on March 6th at the Ernst Community Cultural Center, Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, Virginia 22003.
120 total awards
31 Gold Key Individual Awards
28 Silver Key Individual Awards
56 Honorable Mention Awards
1 Gold Key Portfolio Winner
1 Silver Key Portfolio Winner
3 Honorable Mention Portfolios
Click HERE for a full listing of the winners!
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2024-2025 FCPS School Year Calendar
Preparing for the summer months? The 2024-2025 FCPS school year calendar is available for your planning purposes. Please note the first day of school next year is August 19, 2024.
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Immunization Non-compliant Notifications
As required by the Code of VA, all students entering 12th grade are required to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) administered at age 16 or older. Letters have been sent to home addresses if this immunization is not currently on record at McLean High School. If you have questions, please contact our Registrar, Cindy Ramos, at cpramos@fcps.edu. For reference, the vaccination schedule from the Virginia Department of Health can be found here: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/11/2021/03/VDH-Vaccine-Schedule.pdf
Upcoming Student Job Fair
Is your student looking for a summer job? Explore the upcoming summer job fair on March 21st at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave) from 4:00-6:00pm. Various businesses will be represented including grocery stores, summer camps, retail and restaurants.
College Partnership Program
 Any student is eligible to apply to the College Partnership Program (CPP). This program is designed to support students interested in exploring, applying to, and enrolling in college. In accordance with FCPS' goal to eliminate gaps in opportunity, access, and achievement for all students, CPP focuses on academic advising, college visits, family engagement, and preparation beyond high school. CPP was created to systematically mitigate the impact of barriers to access and opportunity, and support students who are from populations that are historically underrepresented on college campuses (including those who are the first in their family to attend college in the U.S., economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, and English language learners) but all students are encouraged to apply.
Menstrual Product Drive
The McLean Girls' Leadership Committee is hosting their annual menstrual product drive throughout the month of February. Many people have trouble affording food and basic necessities. Expensive yet necessary menstrual products can take a toll on families living paycheck to paycheck. There is a box outside of the main office and near the rock entrance where students can drop off extra packages of products like pads, tampons, and panty liners. All of the donations will be taken to several local community shelters. The Girls' Leadership Committee is dedicated to supporting women and girls both here at McLean and in the community at large. Your support with this project is greatly appreciated and can help us meet our goal of helping the community around us. Thank you in advance for your consideration!
Junior Focus Day 2/28
Our annual Junior Focus Day is coming up on Wednesday, February 28th! During periods 1 and 3 on this day, all Juniors will attend a variety of information sessions supporting postsecondary planning and college applications. Juniors will receive more detailed information on session offerings through Schoology. Classes will be held per usual for non-Juniors during 1st and 3rd period.
Student Holiday - 3/5
The Fairfax Board of Elections has requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the safe and efficient administration of the 2024 presidential primary election.
Therefore, March 5 will be a school holiday for students and a virtual School Planning Day. As outlined in Regulation 4421, School Planning Days are directed by school-based Administrators in order to devote time to school improvement efforts, including collaboration around data, common assessments, responsive instruction, etc.
Central offices and school offices will remain open. SACC will remain open, as on other professional work days.
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Daylight Saving Begins - 3/10
Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward) Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
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First Full Day of Ramadan (Observation Day) - 3/11
This year, the first full day of Ramadan is Monday, March 11. Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year, a time for spiritual discipline for Muslims, who believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran to Mohammed. Read more about Ramadan in National Geographic Kids. March 11 is an O 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. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
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Lighthouse Schools Parent Meeting - 3/13 & 3/14
We are excited to share that McLean High School has been selected as a Lighthouse School in FCPS. As one of seven FCPS secondary schools, this designation gives us the opportunity to reimagine the school experience for our students and community at large. As such, we are looking for input from our families to gain insight into the current experience of our community and solicit ideas for innovative improvements. Therefore, we cordially invite our families to attend a town hall on this topic. We will host a parent coffee on March 13th from 8:30-9:30a.m. and an evening meeting on March 14th from 6:30-7:30p.m. We’d love to see you at either of these meeting options to discuss your feedback and ideas. Questions to be discussed include:
- What do you expect a public education should provide your child?
- How is our school system currently serving you and your family?
- What needs does our district currently fail to meet that you believe it should be meeting?
- What resources do you believe could be reallocated for other purposes?
- If you could re-envision your child’s school experience, what elements would you like to see incorporated?
Thank you in advance for being part of this process; your feedback and insights are invaluable to the success of this initiative.
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SEL Screener - 3/14
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 March 14 during Highlander Time. If you do not want your student to take part in the SEL screener, complete the opt-out by March 8, 2024 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
*If you opted your student out from the Fall 2023 administration, they will continue to be opted out for the remainder of this school year. You can review your student’s opt-out status in SIS ParentVue on the “Student Info” tab. SEL Screener Participation will say “no” if the opt out has been completed.*
Contact Jenna Jablonski, Director of Student Services, with any questions regarding the SEL Screener.
Spring Break - 3/24 through 3/29
🌷 March 25-29 is spring break. Schools and school offices will be closed. We wish our students and teachers a happy and restful Spring Break! See the complete school year calendar. McLean HS offices will be closed.
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Good Friday (falls during Spring Break) - 3/29
Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Good Friday is a day of mourning. During special Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus's suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith. Read more at Britannica.com.
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Easter (falls during Spring Break) - 3/31
Learn more about Easter in NatGeo Kids.
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Career and Technical Education Month
By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment. A core program of CTE courses is offered in every middle and high school including Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health and Medical Sciences, Marketing, Technology and Engineering Education, and Trade and Industrial Education. Since this is an elective, course offerings may vary by school. Learn more on the CTE website.
CTE also offers summer programs for students to explore their programs. Enroll now!
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Student and Family Surveys
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 3
FCPS is partnering with independent research firm K12 Insight to administer a Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Sunday, March 3, to Friday, March 22. Your feedback is critical in helping FCPS to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs throughout the district. Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment
- Communication
- Student success
- Advocacy
- Family and school partnerships
- Community partnerships
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive the survey link via email from K12 Insight. A public link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available in our front office. Please stay tuned for more information.
💭 Share Your Thoughts on Schoology
FCPS will be conducting voluntary, anonymous surveys on the use of Schoology from Monday, March 11, to Friday, March 22. Surveys will be delivered to Secondary students via email from Naviance.
Student feedback will inform the school division’s use of Schoology and help improve its processes, communication, and professional learning for staff. FCPS’ Instructional Services Department will also be reaching out to families through focus groups.
Please contact Schoology@fcps.edu if you have questions.
🩺 Career and Technical Education Courses Prepare Students for the Future
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. Hear from students how CTE courses and Academies are helping them explore and prepare for careers while still in high school. One student has earned more than 20 industry certifications in two years!
Watch this video to learn more about opportunities in Fairfax County Public Schools’ CTE and Academy programs.
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NOVA Virtual Sessions for Seniors and Their Families
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is offering virtual information and application sessions. Information sessions will provide an overview of NOVA and the opportunities, services, and resources designed to connect high school seniors to the NOVA Nighthawk Community.
Sessions are open to all FCPS seniors and their families. For questions, email admissions@nvcc.edu or call 703-323-3000.
FAFSA Updates
There have been several technological challenges with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) since its launch on December 31, 2023. The latest news is that colleges will not get FAFSA summaries from the U.S. Department of Education until mid-March at the earliest. As a result, colleges won’t be able to give students financial aid award letters based on their FAFSA information until late April to May, at best. Students who applied to a college that uses the CSS Profile may receive financial aid information sooner.
Different media outlets are reporting a growing list of colleges that will push back deadlines for students to accept offers of admission into May and even June. The American Council on Education has a database of colleges and universities that have extended their deadline to commit to enroll. We recommend that all information obtained by a secondary source be confirmed directly with the college or university.
If you are a caregiver or student with questions or persistent issues filling out the FAFSA, consider scheduling a free appointment with our partners at College Access Fairfax. Email Appointments@CollegeAccessFairfax.org. All FAFSA help provided by your school or College Access Fairfax is free.
Weekly Reminders
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.
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 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 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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