Important Upcoming Dates
December 2 - National Special Education Day
December 3 - Financial Aid Night @ Langley High School
December 8 - Bodhi Day
December 13 - Immunization Clinic
December 23 - January 3 - Winter Break - MHS Offices will be closed
December 25 - Christmas
December 25 - Chanukah
January 1 - News Year's Day
January 13 - Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar
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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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 Discover What It Means To Be a Highlander!
Check out McLean High School's Top 10 to see why we are exceptional!
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Highlanders Give Back |
McLean HS Partners with Food For Neighbors
McLean High School is partnering with Food For Neighbors to help feed our local students who deal with food insecurity outside of school hours. Even in an area as wealthy as Northern Virginia, one in four kids are struggling with hunger.
Our school is partnering with Food For Neighbors to help feed our local students who deal with food insecurity outside of school hours. Even in an area as wealthy as Northern Virginia, one in four kids are struggling with hunger.
Food For Neighbors is a local organization addressing this problem by collecting food from our community via the Red Bag Program and donating directly to our local schools. The food is then distributed to the students every week through our food pantry. We hope you will consider participating in the Red Bag food collection program. You can make a difference in a local student’s life by simply adding a few extra items to your shopping cart every two months.
Here’s how it works:
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Request a reusable Red Bag and Food For Neighbors will drop it off at your house.
- Fill the Red Bag with food items that are listed on a tag on that bag.
- Put the Red Bag outside your front door in the morning on the next bag collection day. Collection dates are also listed on the bag tag. And don’t worry, FFN will send reminders.
Your Red Bag will be picked up from your house, the food sorted at a local school and delivered directly to our school food pantry. As an added benefit, you can get a tax deduction for the food that you donate!
As we partner with FFN, other critical volunteer opportunities include driving to pick up filled Red Bags and sorting the donated food during the Red Bag Day events. Visit the FFN FAQ page to find out more and to sign up to volunteer in these two very important roles. These are great opportunities for our students to receive volunteer service hours, too.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Hill jjhill1@fcps.edu or Lisa Dean Lisa@foodforneighbors.org.
Thanks for helping us provide food to students who need that extra support!
National Special Education Day - 12/2
National Special Education Day is recognized each year on Dec. 2 and commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. We celebrate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of these students!
Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
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Financial Aid Night - 12/3
Annual Financial Aid Night will be Tues Dec 3rd at 6:30 PM at Langley High School. The focus is on FAFSA, VASA and a general overview of financial aid. The target audience is senior families but also a good start for junior families.
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Bodhi Day - 12/8
Bodhi Day, Friday, December 8, is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.
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Fall Immunization Clinic at McLean HS - 12/13
 McLean High School will host a School Site Immunization Clinic on December 13, 2024, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). Only students enrolled at McLean High School may participate in the clinic.
The following immunizations will be offered during school hours at the School Immunization Clinic:
- Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccine
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine
Find additional information for each vaccine.
If you would like your child to receive immunizations as part of the School Site Immunization Clinic, you must first provide:
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Permission via a signed Adolescent Vaccine Clinic Consent Form, which can be found in the Middle and High School Clinics section on this webpage.
- A copy of their immunization records (if available).
- A copy of the front and back of their insurance card (if applicable). Insurance is not required.
Please bring your signed consent form to our front office by December 6th in order for your child to participate. If your child is insured, please submit a copy of the front and back of your child’s insurance to our front office as well. You may contact our school’s public health nurse, Heather Allison, at hallison@fcps.edu with any immunization questions.
Winter Break - 12/23 - 1/3/25 (MHS Offices closed)
As a reminder, winter break will be held Monday, December 23, to Friday, January 3. To help make sure you and your children have a restful break, we have asked that no homework be assigned during this time. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills, but no assignments will be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year.Classes resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. See the complete school year calendar.
Please note that McLean High School offices will be closed during the break.
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Christmas - 12/25
🎄 A very Merry Christmas to those in our community who celebrate! Christmas is an annual holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the person who stands at the heart of the Christian tradition. It is celebrated in many unique ways across the U.S. and the world, most commonly by the joyous giving of gifts. Learn more about Christmas.
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Chanukah - 12/25
Chanukah, an 8-day Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple and the miracle of a small quantity of oil that lit the Temple’s menorah for 8 days. This year, Chanukah begins at sundown on Wednesday, December 25. See the complete school year calendar.
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New Year's Day - 1/1/25 |
 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:
Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon
One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices.
The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.
In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.
Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact us.
Register for ParentVUELearn how to activate your ParentVUE account, so you can easily access your child’s results and other helpful information.
❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
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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