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February 24 - Junior Focus Day
March 4 - Class of 2026 Parent Meeting
March 9 - Partners in Safe Teen Driving Presentation
March 16 - SEL Screener (Spring Administration)
Upcoming Events
February 24 - Junior Focus Day
Our annual Junior Focus Day is coming up on Tuesday, February 24! During periods 2, HT6, and 3 on this day, all Juniors will attend a variety of information sessions supporting postsecondary planning and college applications. Juniors have received more detailed information on session offerings and are encouraged to plan ahead. Classes will be held per usual for non-Juniors during 1st, HT6, and 3rd period.
March 4 - Class of 2026 Parent Meeting
There will be a meeting for Senior parents to discuss all upcoming events for the class of 2026 at 8:30 AM on Wednesday, March 4th in the Auditorium. The meeting will touch on important dates and information about Senior Dues, HIP, Prom, Senior Trip to a Nationals Game, Senior Exam Schedule, Graduation Rehearsals, Convocation, Baccalaureate, and Graduation.
March 9 - Partners in Safe Teen Driving Presentation
Seminar will be held in-person from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM in the Auditorium. Please arrive early. Doors will close promptly at 6:30 PM. 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 date for 3rd Quarter is below.
March 9, 2026
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.
March 16 - SEL Screener (Spring Administration)
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in March. Students complete the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. These skills include achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. At McLean High School, students in grades 9-12 will take the spring administration of the SEL Screener on Monday, March 16 during HT4.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who do not have a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. Contact Jenna Jablonski (jmjablonski@fcps.edu), Director of Student Services, with any questions.
Student Achievement
Do you know a student, club, or team that has done something amazing? We want to hear about it! We're looking for accomplishments big or small to feature on the school website and in our weekly newsletter. Whether it's an academic achievement, an athletic victory, a creative project, or an act of community service, we want to shine a spotlight on the incredible things happening at McLean. Please fill out our Google Form to submit an accomplishment. To see a full list of student accomplishments, check out the Student Recognitions page on the McLean website.
Huge congratulations to Emmanuel Beakal for taking home 1st place in the FCPS "Seize the Moment" Student AI Challenge! 🏆
Out of 1,000+ students across 25 high schools, Emmanuel stood out for his AI-powered app designed to support teen mental health. By integrating CBT and DBT techniques, his innovation provides real-world coping and stress-management strategies.
What makes Emmanuel’s work truly exceptional is his commitment to safety and ethics. After researching potential risk factors noted in a Brown University study, he implemented rigorous safeguards within the app to ensure a secure and supportive environment for users.
We are proud of your hard work, thorough research, and vision, Emmanuel!
McLean Students Create AI-Powered Apps to Solve Community Issues
Congratulations to the incredible students at McLean who took on this year’s FCPS "Seize the Moment" Student AI Challenge! Learning a brand-new platform like Playlab, working together as a team, and building AI-powered solutions for real community needs is a huge accomplishment. We are truly impressed by the creativity, thoughtfulness, and technical skill that came through in every submission. These students didn’t just experiment with technology — they used it to make a meaningful difference. Special congratulations to our 3 school-based winners:
- Emmanuel Beakal: MyCompass
- Aadya Rastogi & Palak Agrawal: Suitable
- Jonathan Leong, Sean Noh, & Arham Jain: PostGuard
See the complete list of innovators and their apps on our Student Recognition webpage.
 McLean High School Student Earns Eagle Rank
McLean senior, Rishi Bathala recently earned his Eagle Rank in Troop 652. The Eagle rank is the highest rank in Scouting, earned by completing prerequisites that demonstrate leadership, character, and community service. Key requirements include earning specific merit badges, holding challenging leadership positions, and completing a substantial community service project. Congratulations Rishi! Go Highlanders!
Meal Kits for Fasting Students
From February 18 to March 19 2026, students who are fasting during the day can take school meals home. These kits include one breakfast and one lunch to be eaten after the school day ends. Families must fill out a request form each week for every student who wants a kit. Please note important details below:
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Cost: Meals are charged just like a normal school day.
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Pickup: Students must grab their kits at the end of the school day. Adults are not permitted to collect them.
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Menu: Kits include school meals that are easy to heat at home.
Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the following deadlines:
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February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
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February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
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March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
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March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026
Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for forms, deadlines, and other information. Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services with any questions at FCPSFNS@fcps.edu or 703-813-4800.
Safety and Security
Pedestrian Gate Access
Please be aware of the schedule for walking path gates at McLean High School
| Time of Day |
Gate Status |
| Morning Arrival |
Open for student arrival |
| During School Hours |
Locked (starting when classes begin) |
| Afternoon Dismissal |
Open for students leaving campus |
| After School and Overnight |
Open (until next school morning) |
Wednesday Workshop
Every Wednesday from 3-4:30pm we invite interested students to attend Wednesday Workshop to receive support in the core content areas, homework completion, and executive functioning (planning & organization). Wednesday Workshop typically takes place in the library and transportation is provided home from the school via school bus. Buses depart at 4:45 PM. Any questions? Please reach out to Ms. Ashley Lowry (aclowry@fcps.edu).
Testing Information
AP Exam Registration Confirmation Email
An email has been sent to each AP student’s FCPS Gmail and the primary parent/guardian email (from SIS) listing the AP exam(s) your student is registered for in AP Classroom.
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By February 27th: If your student no longer wishes to take an AP exam, please email Ms. Donlen to confirm their decision to opt-out. Regardless of the decision to take or opt-out of an AP exam, students remain responsible for any AP fees billed through MySchoolbucks.
If you have any questions, please contact McLean High School’s Assessment Coach Elly Donlen (ekdonlen@fcps.edu).
 FCPS This Week
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Celebrating Our Students
- Summer Camp and Learning
- New High School Name
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
McLean PTSA
McLean High School PTSA Information
Here are some quick links:
Register for Volunteer FCPS
Your time supports our students in powerful ways. Help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care.
Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias.
Visit the Volunteer FCPS website to complete a volunteer orientation. View Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the volunteer levels.
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Weekly Reminders
McLean HS Tech Support for Students 🖥️
If you are experiencing issues with your FCPS issued laptop, please use the Tech Support Request Form to enter your information. The tech support team will then get back to you as soon as possible.
PSTD Night: Partners in Safe Teen Driving Presentation
All seminars will be held in-person from 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM in the Auditorium. Please arrive early. Doors will close promptly at 6:30 PM. 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 2025 - 2026 school year are below.
March 9, 2026
May 11, 2026
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.
New Visitor Management System
We are excited to announce that McLean High School is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry.
For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office.
But now there is also an app, which can make check-in’s even faster at school. Visitors who choose to download the RaptorSafe App and create a Raptor Passport can pre-verify their information before they get to school. The app will give you a QR code you can use when you check-in at school.
If you have questions or need assistance with the new system, please contact our front office. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe!
Learn About Opportunities for the Year Following Graduation
FCPS School Counseling Services and Go Overseas will co-host the FCPS Virtual Gap Year Fair on Tuesday, February 24, from 6 to 7 p.m. This event is for high school students and their families who are interested in learning about opportunities for the year following high school graduation. Students should register at USA Gap Year Fairs. Contact Pamela White with any questions.
Social-Emotional Support
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
Quick Links
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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