Important Upcoming Dates
January 14 - Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night
January 15 - FAFSA & VASA Complete Night
January 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 22 - Advanced Academic Night
January 28 - Last Day of 2nd Quarter
January 29 - Lunar New Year/Teacher Work Day
McLean High School Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night - 1/14/25
McLean High School will be holding a Curriculum Night for parents of the class of 2029 (current 8th grade students) at McLean HS on Tuesday, January 14th at 6:00pm in the auditorium. The evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 9th grade student with the transition to high school. Topics include getting involved with extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and the registration process for 9th grade courses. We will also have a panel of core teachers sharing information on their content areas. Following the presentation, teachers from various departments will be available to answer questions about 9th grade classes until 7:30pm.
Snow Date: Monday, January 27th @ 6:00pm in the auditorium
FAFSA & VASA Complete Night - 1/15
January 15th is our FAFSA & VASA Complete Night. From 5:30 PM -7:00 PM we will have financial aid resources available to help you complete the FAFSA or VASA (whichever your family is eligible to complete). This is NOT a presentation. Please bring a laptop (some will be available on loan if needed). The goal is for you to walk out with the FAFSA or VASA completed.
You should create the FSA ID for the senior and one parent prior to attending if completing the FAFSA.
Pizza will be provided and resources will be on hand to assist with small children if needed. Please reach out to Ms. Barnes, mkbarnes@fcps.edu with any questions.
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Advanced Academic Night - 1/22/25
McLean High School will be holding an Advanced Academic Night for parents of the classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028 (current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students) at McLean HS on Wednesday, January 22nd at 6:00pm in the cafeteria. The evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming student select the courses for the 2025-2026 school year or find out information about future course options. Topics will include the difference between advanced placement, dual enrollment, and honors level courses, and important considerations when signing up for classes. Following the presentation, teachers representing different course offerings will share information on their content areas.
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Lunar New Year (Teacher Work Day) - 1/29
Lunar New Year falls at quarter end on Wednesday, January 29. The day will be a teacher work day and there will be no school for students. See the complete school year calendar.
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Course Selection and Curriculum Nights
Students are meeting with their counselors to discuss course selection for the next school year. Please consider attending our upcoming events below. Families can learn more about course offerings and programs at these events.
- Tuesday, January 14th @ 6:00pm in the McLean HS Auditorium - Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night: Geared toward parents of Rising 9th grade students (current 8th graders) to share more information on high school course offerings and the high school experience. Longfellow students will receive similar information on 1/13 through their science classes.
- Wednesday, January 22nd @ 6:00pm in the McLean HS Cafeteria – Advanced Academics Night: Topics will include the difference between advanced placement, dual enrollment, and honors level courses, and important considerations when signing up for classes.
In addition, students will be meeting one-on-one with their school counselor based on the below schedule.
- 1/17-1/31 – Current 10th graders through science classes
- 2/4-2/20 – Current 11th graders through history classes
- 2/21-3/6 – Current 9th graders through science classes
College Board Testing Accommodations for AP Testing
Students who would like to apply to the College Board for AP testing accommodations must submit their application forms to the school by January 10, 2025 to meet the College Board deadline. Please note that testing accommodations listed on IEPs or 504s are not automatically granted by the College Board for AP testing, so families must apply separately to the College Board. If a student already has College Board accommodations approved from a previous PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, or AP test, then no further action is needed. Once instated, accommodations remain in place for all College Board testing throughout a student’s high school career.
Please submit College Board AP Testing Accommodations application forms by January 10, 2025
- Students with IEPs to Mr. Rob Bouchard at rabouchard1@fcps.edu
- Students with 504 to Ms. Bethany Davis bsdavis@fcps.edu
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🎓 Graduation Requirements and Planning
Planning which courses to take next year — and in future years — must be given considerable thought. Students and families should review the Graduation Requirements and Course Planning webpage to make informed decisions while planning for success in high school and beyond.
School-life balance is an important consideration for students as they strive for academic and personal success. Resources to support course selection for next year include our Academic Advising website (which includes our course catalog and course selection sheets), your student’s current teachers, and your student’s school counselor. This FCPS Curriculum webpage may also be helpful.
January is National Mentoring Month
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Learn more about Mentoring Month.
Research has shown that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor.
All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life.
The FCPS MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at mmacdonald@fcps.edu.
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McLean High School PTSA Information
Here are some quick links:
Gradebook Available Until End-of-Quarter
Based on community feedback from the first quarter closure, FCPS revisited the scheduled dates for closing the Gradebook and Report Card modules in the SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE apps.
Moving forward, the app will close in alignment with the actual quarter-end dates. This change will allow students and families to view their assignments and grades until the last day of the quarter. Gradebook will be closed for the second quarter from Tuesday, January 28, 4 p.m. to Tuesday, February 4, 6 a.m.
Access Your Child’s Grades Through SIS ParentVue Learn how your ParentVUE account allows you to easily access grade reports and other helpful information about your child.
📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
📵 Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy
Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call the McLean High School Main Office at 703-714-5700.
Weekly Reminders
Partners in Safe Teen Driving Seminar 1/13
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.
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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