March 16 - SEL Screener (Spring Administration)

March 17 - Opening Set by McLean Jazz for Army Blues

March 19 - Evening only observance, Eid al-Fitr

March 20 - Holiday, Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz

Upcoming Events

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.

March 17 - Opening Set by McLean Jazz for Army Blues The Army Blues Jazz Ensemble (part of the Army Band at Ft Meyer) will be our guest artists for an evening concert that is open to the public. The military bands in the DC area are a unique asset, and their members are among the top musicians in the country. Join us on Tuesday, March 17th at 6:30 PM. McLean’s two ensembles will start the concert so it’s also an opportunity to hear our fantastic students.

March 19 - Evening Only Observance, Eid al-Fitr

Thursday, March 19, is an evening only observance day for Eid al-Fitr, which begins at sundown.

March 20 - Holiday, Eid al Fitr and Nowruz

Friday, March 20, is a holiday and all schools and offices are closed for Eid and Nowruz. See the complete school calendar.

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.

McLean Student Wins 1st Place at the English Speaking Union's National Shakespeare Competition

Aashna Kapur (left), representing McLean, won first place at the English Speaking Union's National Shakespeare Competition. The ESU's National Shakespeare Competition is a dynamic, performance-based program that brings Shakespeare to life in high school classrooms across the country. Through reading, analyzing, and performing Shakespeare’s works, students not only deepen their appreciation of literature but also develop essential skills that benefit them far beyond the stage. Aashna moves on to the national competition in New York City at the end of April.

McLean DECA Students Advance to International Competition in Atlanta

This past weekend, over 5,000 students competed at the annual DECA State Conference in Virginia Beach. McLean has 11 students advancing to the international level of competition in Atlanta, GA. Congratulations to our winners!

• Sydney Walker, Business Services Marketing
• Yara Hamandi & Annika Ryerson, Franchise Business Plan
• Shanmuka Vendantam, Ahaan Nagpal, and Jay Ben Nassar, Business Services Operations
• Artin Safaie & Arsen Hakobyan, Sports & Entertainment Team Decision Making
• Alvin Chen, Lila Evans, and Lorelei Horgan, Hospitality & Tourism Operations

The following students were also recognized for their performance in their events: Malek El-Farhan, Patrick Findlay, Lucas Jones, Saira Naik, Ravi Reddy, James Sotos, Ashley Tang, Chris Thames

Virginia Band and Orchestra Director's Association Recognizes McLean High School

Congratulations to McLean High School's Band for their outstanding performances at the Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association's (VBODA) State Assessment over the weekend! Wind Ensemble received an Excellent Rating and Symphonic Band received a Superior Rating. 

We are regognized this year a "Virginia Honor Band" By the VBODA Congratulations to all our students for representing McLean High School so well on stage! 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:

• Cost: Meals are charged just like a normal school day. 
• Pickup: Students must grab their kits at the end of the school day. Adults are not permitted to collect them.
• 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:

• March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
• 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.

Prom 2026

The Class of 2027 is proud to host this year’s Prom for 11^th and 12^th grade students! Please review the details below regarding tickets, guest forms, and attendance.

• Date: Friday, April 17, 2026
• Time: 8:00 pm – 11:00 pm
• Location: Hilton McLean Tysons Corner, McLean, VA 7920 Jones Branch Road, McLean VA 22102

Ticket Information

Tickets will be available for purchase via MySchoolBucks from March 11 through April 12. Please note that tickets will not be sold at the door.

• Price: $75.00 – $85.00 (Price increases based on purchase date).
• Limit: Students may purchase a maximum of two tickets.
• Pick-up: Information regarding physical ticket pick-up will be shared in April.

Families unable to purchase tickets due to financial hardship should contact their child’s school counselor. All discussions will remain strictly confidential.

Guest Policy

If you are bringing a guest who does not attend McLean High School, you must complete a guest form.

• Submission: Turn in your completed form when you pick up your tickets.

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).

Student Services

Course Selection for 2026 - 2027

Over the past two months, students have been working with their school counselor to select their course requests for the 2026-27 school year. Finalization of course requests should be made this week by Friday, March 13 (an extension of the previously posted deadline of March 10). After this time, waitlists may be made for over enrolled courses. Parent(s)/Guardian(s) should review course selections in SIS and acknowledge requests. More details on how to do this will be provided via email this week.

Sophomore Career Talks

This Wednesday, March 11^th is our annual Career Talks for sophomores, organized by our Student Services department. All sophomores will hear from professionals in various career fields during 1st period; students will have the opportunity to attend two sessions. The list of attending professions was shared via email to parents on Friday, March 6^th. We encourage parents to review the list with their 10^th grade student to help them have a plan for sessions to attend this week. Due to capacity in rooms, we encourage students to have multiple options to select from.

All non-10^th grade students will attend class per usual on Wednesday, March 11 during 1^st period.

2025 AP School Honor Roll McLean High School has been recognized for the third year in a row as a Platinum Distinction School on the AP School Honor Roll. This College Board recognition highlights schools that have increased their college-going culture, provided opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximized college readiness. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each criteria is scored as a percentage of the school’s graduation cohort. Congratulations to our amazing student body and our dedicated staff! This distinction is a direct reflection of their hard work and dedication. Go Highlanders!

FCPS This Week

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• School Board Adopts Budget
• New Date for Special Education Conference
• Celebrating Our Schools

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:

• Visit our WEBSITE and subscribe to eNews
• Join our PTSA 
• Make a Donation and check if your company offers Corporate Matching
• Find McLean PTSA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

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.

Weekly Reminders

McLean HS Tech Support for Students