McLean Matters Holiday Gift Card Drive for Our Students-in-Need Has Begun!
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:
1. Go to a Safeway, Target, or Walmart store and purchase gift card(s) for $25 or $50
2. 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.
3. 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.
Teacher & Staff Appreciation
Friday Breakfast Station
The PTSA organizes a weekly Friday Breakfast Station during the year stocked with contributions by fellow McLean HS families. The Friday Breakfast Station is set up in the front office and teachers & staff are grateful each week for your donations. Please click on the link to donate a breakfast item from the sign up list this month. Thank you in advance!
Friday's November Dates are: 11/08, 11/15, 11/22
Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EA4A822A7FEC07-45688063-202411#/
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Health & Wellness
“Therapy Dogs Tuesday” 11/12
Our therapy dog friends will return on Tuesday, November 12, from 11:00am-1:30pm. We are expecting four pups: Raven, Holly, Maya, and Daisy.
Our thanks to the PTSA Health & Wellness Committee for organizing! Dates for therapy dogs visit in 2024: 12/03. Please contact health.wellness@mcleanptsa.org for more information.
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Fundraisers
2024 White House Ornaments Fundraiser
The McLean PTSA is offering the Official 2024 White House Ornaments as a fundraiser. This year, the Official White House Christmas Ornament honors President Jimmy Carter. The ornament has an anchor shape, an iconic symbol of hope, which represents Carter's service in the United States Navy and highlights historic moments from his life and presidency. The ornament is made from solid brass, finished in 24-karate gold, and screen printed with exquisite colors. Each ornament comes in a keepsake box with a ribbon for hanging and an illustrated booklet on the Carter presidency. Perfect gift for your family, friends, staff, and clients!
Plus, your purchase supports the Graduation Party for the Class of 2025.
Price: $27. Ornaments can be ordered HERE until December 2nd. After your purchase, you will be able to pick up the ornament from the school during the Holiday Bazaar on December 14.
Questions - Email Pam Williams at angp@mcleanptsa.org
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MCLEAN HS BAND FRUIT SALE
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. And, no worries. Our Floridan farmers have reassured us that the crop survived the devastating hurricane season. For questions, please contact fruitsale@mcleanband.org.
Thank you for your continued support of our nationally recognized music program!
SAT and ACT - Mock Testing and Testing Resources
Looking for an opportunity to practice for the SAT and ACT? The McLean PTSA is partnering with The Princeton Review and Marigold Prep to offer practice tests. Each testing session starts at 9am. The test dates are as follows:
SAT : November 16, 2024; January 11, 2025; April 5, 2025
ACT : November 9, 2024; January 4, 2025; March 1, 2025; April 26, 2025
Join us virtually to take the full-length practice tests. The registration fee is $20 per exam.
To register for SAT practice tests, click here.
To register for ACT practice tests, click here.
Registration closes 3 days prior to each exam, and you will receive an email with further instructions regarding the testing session. After each test, you will receive a comprehensive score report detailing your strengths and weaknesses.
For additional testing resources, see the following:
Princeton Review is offering a 20% off promo code for McLean families when purchasing their study courses. See princetonreview.com and use promo code READY4COLLEGE.
Marigold Prep is offering a Free PSAT/SAT Starter Kit (typically $200) which includes:
- Proprietary PSAT/SAT workbooks
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4 hours of pre-recorded tutoring sessions that cover the content and strategic knowledge required to master the PSAT and SAT
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2 hours of pre-recorded webinars that cover everything you need to know as a parent or educator
- Infographics to help you stay up-to-date and plan
Click Here To Enroll
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Questions? Contact tests@mcleanptsa.org
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Contests
Reflections Art Competition
The Theme for the 2024 - 2025 School Year is: "Accepting Imperfection".
Students can submit theme-based artwork in dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, or visual arts.
Submission guidelines can be found here in English and Spanish. You can also find the entry form with rules for submission categories here and submission entry forms in English and Spanish are available. Submissions are due by Friday, November 15th. If interested or have questions, please use your personal email address to contact Reflections team at reflections@mcleanptsa.org.
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Fulfill Service Requirements
Veterans Day Volunteering (11/9-11/11)
The Code of Support Foundation is holding a Veteran's day weekend event in Tysons Corner Mall to spread the word about its mission and offering support to veterans in need on November 9th-11th from 11AM to 6PM. The foundation is looking for student and adult volunteers over the age of 16 to staff various tasks at the event location as well as several doors leading into the mall to drive traffic to its event. The actual setup of the event will be at the bottom level where Santa is during the holiday season. Additional details and assignments will be provided upon signing up.
Please email development@codeofsupport.org if you and/or your child are interested in volunteering for this great cause with subject "Veterans day volunteer". Service hours will be provided to all volunteers, please request it via x2vol after the event.
HumScouts - Opportunity for SSL Hours and Tutoring Experience
The Humanitas4All HumScouts After School Program is an online program dedicated to helping elementary school students stay on track with learning during the virtual school term. We are aiming to serve all students in Northern Virginia, especially supporting students from low-income backgrounds and/or Title I schools.
The goal of this program is to provide homework help, fun activities, positive character development, and support to young students and their families. Sessions will occur after school via Google Meet. When you sign up to become a mentor, you will have to stay as a mentor for the entire school quarter.
As a mentor, you must prepare lessons and activities to do with the kids. More details will be sent to those who fill out this form.
Note: Mentors can receive service hours. Please email humscouts@humanitas4all.org for any questions.
If you are interested, please fill out this google form: http://tinyurl.com/humscoutsregistration or email at humscouts@humanitas4all.org. Thank you!
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Student Resources & Community News
SHARE of McLean's Holiday Program kicks off on November 16! This year, Jack, a regular SHARE volunteer and McLean High School student, is leading a toy collection drive. He has created an Amazon wish list with items for kids ages 1 to 11, ranging from $10 to $15. Please check out the Amazon wish list If you would like to contribute, preferably by November 14.
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McLean Community Rise Against Hunger Events
McLean Community Annual Rise Against Hunger meal packaging event is on November 9. 2024. Volunteers are needed. Register here if you are interested.
Online donations to support the fundraising goal, please click here.
Checks donation can be made out to Rise Against Hunger, and sent to McLean Community Rise Against Hunger Events, PO Box 150, McLean, VA 22101 or Rise Against Hunger, 4801 Glenwood Ave., Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27612. PLEASE INCLUDE "MCLEAN 11/9/2024" IN THE MEMO LINE OR IN A COVER LETTER. Rise Against Hunger is a 501c(3) charity. The Tax ID for Rise Against Hunger is 16-1541024.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mcleancommunityrah.
Click here for stories regarding the impact of Rise Against Hunger.
Safe Community Coalition Event - 11/20@7pm
School Year PTSA Checklist
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Important Upcoming Dates
October 31 - Quarter End/Early Release
November 1 - Diwali & All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos - all schools and office will be closed
November 4 - Student Holiday/School Planning Day
November 5 - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday/Election Day
November 8 - Yearbook Photo Makeup Day - 9th, 10th, and 11th grades
November 11 - Veterans Day - All schools and offices will be closed
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday - All schools and offices will be closed
Helpful Links
Attendance Bell Schedule Red/Silver Calendar Office and Support Staff
Student Services Student Activities Special Education Resources
Teacher Office Hours Substance Abuse Prevention
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