Important Upcoming Dates
2023-2024 School Year
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)
April 1 & 2 - School Planning Day/Teacher Work Day (see below)
April 8 - Solar Eclipse (see below)
 All-Virginia Band and Orchestra Students
Congratulations to the McLean Band students that were accepted into the All-Virginia Band and Orchestra this year! These students will participate in the All-Virginia event and perform a special concert featuring their groups in April in Richmond.
Muyang Zhang – Bassoon – Symphonic Band
Kian Choi – Bb Clarinet – Orchestra
Tyler Jeong – Bb Clarinet – Concert Band
Jaeger Schweikert – Bass Clarinet – Concert Band
Luke Callanen – Bari Sax – Concert Band
Marco Femia – Trumpet – Symphonic Band
Clara Marks – Horn – Concert Band
Alex Kirby – Euphonium – Concert Band
Rishi Vinod – Tuba – Symphonic Band
Fintan Murphy – Percussion – Orchestra
Click HERE for the full list and ranking.
Virginia Journalist of the Year Runner-up
Tanner Coerr, one of the editors-in-chief of The Highlander, was named the runner-up for the 2024 Virginia Journalist of the Year by the Virginia Association of Journalism Teachers & Advisers last Friday. Tanner will receive a $500 scholarship.
Congratulatulations, Tanner!
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AP Testing Early Release & Late Arrival Pre-Arranged Absence
The main testing window for AP exams is below. With parent/guardian permission, McLean HS students are allowed to be released early following an AP exam and arrive late before their scheduled AP exam. All pre-arranged absence notes (no phone calls or handwritten notes please) are due to Ms. Yates in the attendance office by April 25th. Please keep in mind that all classes will continue with instruction during AP testing, and that students are responsible for all assignments from each class. Here are the links to the early release permission slip, late arrival permission slip, and printed out copies will be available in the main office.
McLean HS SOL Schedule
The main SOL testing dates are below. It is important that your student attend school on these days and get a good night’s rest and eat breakfast before testing. If your child has an unavoidable conflict that could results in missing a testing day, they will be moved to a makeup date. The Virginia Department of Education requires high school students enrolled in an SOL course to take the EOC test if the student needs a verified credit for graduation or if the student has not yet met federal testing requirements (1 Math, 1 Reading, and 1 Biology SOL attempt taken during grade 9-12). Students who have met the testing requirements for graduation and federal accountability do not test. If you have questions about SOL testing, please contact your child’s school counselor.
April 26: Reading
May 20: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Chemistry, and Earth Science
May 21: Biology
May 22: Geometry
May 23: Social Studies and make-up SOLs
May 29-31: SOL Retakes
Volunteers Needed for Proctoring
McLean HS is giving almost 4,000 AP exams between May 6-May 24. We are asking for parents/guardians to volunteer their time to help proctor so testing can run effectively and smoothly. Parents/ Volunteers are not allowed to assist with an exam for an AP class their student(s) is currently taking. Sign up here to volunteer your time. Proctoring assistance days and times will be confirmed the week of March 18. If you have any questions, please contact the Assessment Coach Elly Donlen (ekdonlen@fcps.edu).
SIS ParentVUE/StudentVUE Access
The live gradebook in ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed from Friday, March 22 at 4:00 pm until Monday, April 15, at 6:00 am.
 Spring College Panel, 4/4 @ 6:00pm
Student Services presents our annual Spring College Panel on Thursday, April 4th in the McLean HS auditorium. This event is open for everyone, but geared towards families of juniors planning for college. There will be a meet & greet with the panelists at 6:00pm, followed by the panel at 6:30pm.
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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.
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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☀️ Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8
A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 p.m. and end around 4:32 p.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 p.m.
Because the timing overlaps with dismissal, it is crucial that students understand the importance of safe viewing practices. We encourage families to review these Solar Eclipse Resources, especially the eye safety information. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.
Equity in Education Month
FCPS — in conjunction with the Virginia School Boards Association — observes March as Equity in Education Month, a division-wide opportunity to deepen our commitment to creating a climate and curriculum where all students receive the resources they need to reach their fullest potential.
✅ Take the Family Engagement Survey!
FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey is now open. Survey partner K12 Insight emailed a link to families on March 3 and again on March 6. Please participate! Your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS practices to best support our students.
The survey is available in 10 languages. Parents/caregivers may stop by the front office to fill out a paper survey or complete the survey online. Please check your email for the survey invitation or use this survey link. Get more information on the Family Engagement Survey webpage.
Bipartisan Study Finds Virginia Public School Divisions Receive Less Funding per Student Than Other States
The School Board recently adopted FCPS’ FY 2025 Advertised Budget. Meeting budget needs becomes more of a challenge with underfunding by the state, using staffing formulas that continue to result in school districts not receiving the actual support needed for excellent public education. A staffing formula is the method for calculating the number of positions that need to be assigned to meet program needs.
Did You Know?
In July 2023, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) released a study of Virginia’s K-12 funding formulas. The report found that Virginia school divisions receive less funding per student than the 50-state average, the regional average, and many of Virginia’s neighboring states including West Virginia, Maryland, and Kentucky. Learn more about the JLARC study. View FCPS’ budget development timeline.
Contact your state officials to provide feedback on funding for K-12 education.
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Learn About Pathways and Opportunities at Virtual Military Night
FCPS School Counseling Services is hosting a Virtual Military Night on Wednesday, March 20, 6-8 p.m. This event is designed for high school students and their families who are interested in learning more about the military pathways and opportunities. Enlistment, service academies, and ROTC pathways will be represented.
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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