Important Upcoming Dates
2024-2025 School Year
October 31 - 1st Quarter End/Early Release
November 1 - Diwali & All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos - all schools and offices will be closed
November 3 - Daylight Savings Time (Fall Back)
November 4 - Student Holiday/School Planning Day
November 5 - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday/Election Day
November 6 - Start of 2nd Quarter
November 8 - Yearbook Photo Makeup Day - 9th, 10th, and 11th grades
November 11 - Veterans Day - All schools and offices will be closed
November 12-13 - Fairfax County Youth Survey
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday - All schools and offices will be closed
MHS News You Choose Podcast!
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Listen to Dr. Reilly's Monday Message as a Podcast!
We are excited to introduce a podcast companion to Dr. Reilly's Monday Message! This podcast is created using Notebook LM, an AI powered tool used to summarize content.
Listen to Dr. Reilly's Monday Message
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MHS Marching Band Wins State Championship
 Congratulations to the McLean Highlander Marching Band on winning the 2024 USBands Virginia State Championship last Saturday night. The band also won all caption awards for Best Music, Best Visual, Best Effect, Best Percussion, and Best Guard. This is the 5th time that our Marching Band has won the State Championship. We are very proud of all our students for their hard work and performance. Congratulations on the end to a very successful season!
VHSL Trophy Class Winners & Multimedia Contest Winners
At this weekend’s VHSL Media Championship, McLean’s literary magazine, newsmagazine, online news, and yearbook staffs earned Trophy Class ranking for their 2023-24 publications from the Virginia High School League’s (VHSL) Publications Evaluation Services. Trophy Class is the highest ranking bestowed by VHSL.
McLean High School was the only school in the state to earn Trophy Class Ratings for four publications!
Check our website for the complete list of winners!
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MHS Cheer Success!
Congratulations to McLean High School's Cheerleading Team! They finished in the top four of the Region last weekend!
Go Highlanders!
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End of 1st Quarter & Early Dismissal - 10/31
Thursday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students.
Please note - the gradebook will be closed in SIS ParentVue and StudentVue from October 28 - November 12 at 6:00 am.
Keep on the look out for your student's progress reports. They were sent on October 22nd.
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Diwali, Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day - 11/1
(Schools and offices are closed)
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Friday, November 1, is a holiday this year for Diwali, Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day. All schools and offices will be closed.
Diwali - Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs & some Buddhists. The festival represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil.
All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos - For Catholics, All Saints Day (November 1) celebrates all those who are with God in Heaven, known and unknown. All Souls Day (November 2), known in Mexico and Latin America as Día de los Muertos, is a day of remembrance and prayer for all those who have died, especially for the souls who may be in purgatory. These special days are celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants throughout the world.
McLean HS Band Fruit Sale - now through 11/15
Looking for a healthy way to support the McLean High School Band? Stock up on citrus and more during their Annual Fruit Sale! Choose from navel oranges, mandarin oranges, grapefruit, pears, and a fruit sampler – all of which would make great gifts for yourself or others this holiday season.
The Fruit Sale is open now through Friday, November 15th. Orders will be available for pick-up at the Holiday Bazaar at McLean High School on Saturday, December 14th from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Unfortunately, shipping is unavailable.
Orders may be placed online at the following link: https://floridafruitstore.com/McLeanHSBand. For questions, please contact fruitsale@mcleanband.org.
Thank you for your continued support of our nationally recognized music program!
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2024-25 AP Test Opt-Out Timeline and Fees
As part of the FCPS FY 2025 Approved Budget, FCPS is continuing to assess Advanced Placement (AP) test fees. As in previous years, the fees for the first six AP tests taken for courses in which students are enrolled for high school credit will be paid for by FCPS. Students taking AP tests without enrolling in the corresponding FCPS course are responsible for the test fee(s).
FCPS encourages all students to take AP tests for courses in which they are enrolled. However, students will have the opportunity to opt-out of the test(s) by filling out an Opt-Out form to be provided by the student's 3rd period teacher on Tuesday, October 15th. To assist in the decision-making process, students will be provided a report with their previous tests and current AP course enrollment. AP students must make Opt-Out decisions by October 31st. Parents/Guardians will be billed a $99 non-refundable test fee for AP exams in December 2024 for tests that exceed the six FCPS-funded tests. All Opt-Out forms are due to the box located in Student Services by October 31st. When a student turns in their form, they must sign their name on the list acknowledging their Opt-Out form has been turned in.
2025 AP Testing
Reference the College Board 2025 AP exam dates site for dates of AP Exams. If you have any questions or need an AP Opt-Out form reprinted please contact our Assessment Coach, Elly Donlen at ekdonlen@fcps.edu.
PSAT & SAT School Day Score Release
Students who participated in the Digital PSAT & SAT School Day on Wednesday, October 9th will be able to access their scores via their College Board account on October 24th beginning at 6:00 p.m. If you have any questions about score reporting, please contact your counselor or Ms. Donlen.
Expunging High School Courses Taken in Middle School (9th Graders Only)
Parents of current 9th grade students who completed a high school credit bearing course (World Languages, Algebra, and Geometry) in the 2023-24 standard school year may request the final grades for these courses be omitted from your student’s transcript. You must submit a Request to Expunge High School Courses Taken in Middle School form to McLean High School Student Services, after the course is completed and prior to October 31, 2024. This form may be obtained at the following link https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/is104.pdf
Please reach out to your student’s school counselor with any questions.
2025 Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School Program
The 2025 Virginia Summer Residential Governor’s School (SRGS) Program is beginning its application process. Summer Residential Governor’s Schools provide high school juniors and seniors with intensive one-month educational experiences. The selection process is highly competitive. Selected students usually rank in the top 10% of their class and have scored in the 90th percentile or above on standardized tests. Residential programs run from late June to late July. Only students available during that time frame should apply. You are only permitted to apply to one SRGS program.
2025 Academic Programs:
Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities, Marine Science, Mathematics, Science & Technology, Medicine & Health Sciences
2025 Visual & Performing Arts Programs:
Dance, Theatre, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Visual Art
Mr. Allman will hold an interest meeting (students only) for the 2025 Academic programs at 3:00 in the College and Career Center on Wednesday, October 30.
For additional information, please visit these VDOE and FCPS links.
VDOE SRGS Academic and VPA website:
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/specialized-instruction/governor-s-schools/summer-residential-governor-s-schools
FCPS SRGS website:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/advanced-academics/summer-residential-governors-schools-srgs
Governor’s World Language Academies (GWLA)
GWLA offers immersive three-week summer programs for 10th and 11th graders. Immerse in French, German, or Spanish at Washington & Lee University or Japanese or Latin at Randolph Macon College this summer.
Virtual Students & Parents FCPS Information Session Wednesday, November 6th at 4:00-5:00PM on ZOOM.
In-Person Information Session for Students: November 8th HT4 in Mod 23
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Daylight Saving Time Ends (Fall Back) - 11/3
This Sunday, November 3, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!
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School Planning,Teacher Workday, & Election Day - 11/4-11/5
Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.
Don’t forget to get out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5! The day will be observed as a holiday for students and a teacher work day. For more information, visit the Virginia Department of Elections webpage.
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Veterans Day - 11/11
Veterans Day provides a great reason to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made on our behalf, and we thank them for their service. Learn more about the history of Veterans Day at va.gov.
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Fairfax County Youth Survey - 11/12 & 11/13
The Fairfax County Youth Survey, a collaboration between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The survey examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County's youth. The results, published each year at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey, identify trends and areas of need, providing a snapshot of the county's youth and serving as a barometer of the community's effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people.
McLean High School will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey on Tuesday, November 12 and Wednesday, November 13 during all tenth and twelfth grade English classes.While it is our hope that as many students as possible will participate, if you do not wish for your child to take part in the Youth Survey, please complete this form and return it to your child's school counselor no later than November 8, 2024. If you have already opted your child out of this survey using the Parental Digital Consent Portal you do not need to provide additional information to the school counselor.
 McLean Matters Holiday Gift Card Drive for Our Students-in-Need Begins Today!
McLean High School has approximately 300 students who are at or below the poverty level. Some are homeless. If you would like to contribute to this important community effort to support our MHS students in need, please click HERE to Sign-Up to donate $25 or $50 gift cards to Safeway, Target, or Walmart. All donations go directly to McLean High School families to assist them over the winter holiday.
There are three ways you can purchase Gift Cards:
- Go to a Safeway, Target, or Walmart store and purchase gift card(s) for $25 or $50
- Go online to Safeway Gift Cards,Target Gift Cards, or Walmart Gift Cards and purchase “plastic gift card(s)” to mail/drop off to Jennifer Hill.
- Go online to Safeway eGift Cards,Target eGift Cards, or Walmart eGift Cards and purchase “electronic gift card(s)”, print out the paper copy, and mail/drop off to Jennifer Hill.
Please use the following address for all mailed gift cards:
c/o Jennifer Hill
McLean High School
1633 Davidson Road
McLean VA 22101
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please indicate the $ amount of the gift card(s) on the card or envelope when you mail/drop them off.
Gift cards are needed by Friday, December 6th.
Let's show our fellow Highlanders some love this holiday season because McLean Matters!
If you have any questions, please contact McLean Matters Chair, Emma Blankenbaker at eblankenbaker@verizon.net.
McLean High School PTSA Information
Here are some quick links:
Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.
For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Cell Phone Storage Pilot Program Focus Groups Coming Soon
Students, staff, and families participating in the cell phone storage pilot program will be invited to participate in focus groups (hosted by FCPS’ Office of the Chief Equity Officer and K12 Insight) to share their experiences and insights. Feedback from the focus groups and other community engagement opportunities will help FCPS make adjustments to the pilot program in order to support student success and strengthen the program’s outcomes.
Invites for the pilot high schools will launch on November 4 for staff and families, and on November 5 for students. These focus group invitations are only for schools participating in the pilot program.
Safeway Immunization Clinics for All FCPS Students
Safeway Pharmacy will host immunization clinics for any FCPS student age 18 or younger at Frost Middle School on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students age 18 or younger to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.
Students age 19 and older may access free immunizations at their middle/high school immunization clinic, the Fairfax County Health Department or through other community resources.
FCPS is partnering with the health department to host immunization clinics at middle and high schools. Clinics will take place during the school day. Students may only participate in the clinic at the school where they are enrolled. Parental/caregiver consent is required for students to receive immunizations.
Please check the Immunization Resources page for clinic locations, dates, and how to submit a consent form.
🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the date below to register for the following conversations:
Events take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
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.
January 13, 2025
February 24, 2025
May 12, 2025
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 Marissa Gaines (MAGaines@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
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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