Important Upcoming Dates
2024-2025 School Year
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 MHS offices will be closed
November 12-13 - Fairfax County Youth Survey
November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday - All schools and offices will be closed
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Listen to highlights from Dr. Reilly's Monday Message as a podcast!
Check out this week's 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 DECA Achieves Top Rankings at District Competition
McLean HS had another great day at the DECA District Competition, held at Oakton High School on October 14th. Twenty Highlanders placed Top Four, which earned them an invitation to attend States in Virginia Beach, February 28th – March 2nd, 2025! Good luck and we look forward to seeing your success next year.
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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Outstanding Employee Awards Program - 11/4-11/15
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a McLean High School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through the Google form links below. Links contain information on eligilbility and common positions in each category.
Outstanding Teacher
Outstanding New Teacher
Outstanding Principal
Outstanding Leader
Outstanding Professional Employee
Outstanding Operational Employee
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 15, 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Jenny Sobota at jmsobota@fcps.edu.
Veterans Day - 11/11
Student Holiday, McLean HS offices closed
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.
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Schedule Changes & Withdrawal Deadline - 11/18
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The deadline to withdraw from a class without a grade penalty (i.e. the class will not appear on the transcript) is Monday, November 18th. After this time, a withdrawal grade (WP or WF) will be required on the transcript if a student is dropping a class. While the deadline to change electives has passed, schedule change requests to change to a different level of a core course will still be considered through the end of the 2nd quarter.
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
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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McLean HS Crew Club Turkey Trot 5K
Please join McLean High School Crew Club, in partnership with Langley Crew Club, on Saturday, November 30 at 9 am for a Turkey Trot 5K. The friendly rivals are joining together as ONE team to support and strengthen rowing in our McLean and Great Falls community. Proceeds from the event will be shared equally between the two teams.
Register here
In addition to a scenic 5K run, there will be a dj with music and a coffee truck for specialty coffee and hot chocolate, starting at 8 am on the day of the trot. For those who cannot join in person, please consider registering for the virtual trot.
Grab your friends and family, and let’s run/walk!
Registration Fee: 5K:$50 November 2 through Race Day
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Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
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National Career Development 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. Based on the needs of the populations served, each school determines optional courses to be offered. Learn more about Academies and Specialized Programs.
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 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 purchse "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.
2024 White House Ornament 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 High School PTSA Information
Here are some quick links:
Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service
Our Voices, Our Future: Multilingual Learners’ Day of Service will be offered for FCPS secondary students on Saturday, November 16, 2024, from 9:00-11:30 a.m. at Edison High School. Dr. José Luis Zelaya, keynote speaker at the Multilingual Learners’ Summit this past summer, will be returning as the featured guest for this student workshop. Dr. Zelaya will engage and empower students with the strengths of multilingualism, as students explore leadership skills to plan for future success. Reflective service learning practices allow students to impact their communities through advocacy, engagement, and empowerment. All FCPS secondary students who attend will earn service learning credit for participating. Students planning to attend should register and bring their FCPS laptop to the event. Light refreshments and family resources will be available for parents/caregivers during the student workshop.
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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