Note from School Board Member Jane Strauss Regarding
Governor McDonnell's Announcement that He Supports
Updating the Local Composite Index New!!

Dear all, We have just received the news that the Governor has agreed to unfreeze the LCI. This is fantastic news and should bring an additional $61 million to FCPS.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support for our children and for your hard lobbying efforts!

Most gratefully,
Janie Strauss
 

To View the Press Release from Governor McDonnell click here.

McLean PTSA February 2010 Newsletter  

Click here to read the February 2010 PTSA Newsletter which includes great information including a message from MHS Principal, Dr. Deborah Jackson; information about SAT and ACT testing, obtaining a Parent View Account (Blackboard), the FCPS Budget, the All Night Grad Party, Class Notes; information on Student Services; information on PTSA, club and school fundraisers and more!        

               College Planning Night – Monday, February 8
                     MHS Auditorium  Will be Rescheduled!!

Junior parents are invited to attend a college planning night, presented by the Department of Student Services.  A panel of college admissions representatives from Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, Christopher Newport University, Davidson College and The University of Alabama will discuss the following topics:

·     Types of applications and deadlines

·     The admissions process – how do we select our students

·     Factors in selecting a college – what makes each college unique?

·     What red flags can kill your application    

     
                    Fairfax County School Board Budget Forum
   Saturday, February 20th at Marshall High School New Date!!

Interested in learning more about the Fairfax County School Board’s advertised budget scheduled to be adopted on February 4?  If so, please attend a Budget Forum hosted by the School Board on Saturday, February 6, at Marshall High School from 9 a.m. to noon (snow date, Saturday, February 20). Participants will learn more the budget process as well as how to communicate effectively for change. In addition, two breakout sessions will feature principals who will share the budget impact on their schools. Other session topics include how central office staff supports schools from the principals’ perspective; budget realities and misconceptions; and working on behalf of all children from PTA leaders’ perspective. There will be ample opportunity for questions and answers. If you are planning to attend, please e-mail budgetforum@fcps.edu or call 571-423-1075.

McLean Student Produces FAIRGRADE Documentary

Congratulations to McLean HS student Elizabeth Lee whose documentary about FAIRGRADE recently placed in the top five for a national student documentary competition. Check out Lee's piece on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2DimgdFFro

Binge Drinking: Dropping from an “A” to a “B”

New research on teenagers has found that consuming five or more alcoholic drinks about twice a month can cause an academic letter grade drop.  See NPR.org at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122765890

This segment is titled, “Teen Drinking may Cause Irreversible Brain Damage” and discusses how the adolescent brain is more susceptible to damage from alcohol.  Just as a fetus or infant’s brain is more fragile, so is the developing adolescent brain.   Dr. Stixrud spoke last year at McLean and this year at Langley about the enormous development the adolescent brain is undergoing.  Substance abuse is not only more damaging, but, more likely to cause addiction.  Parental disapproval of drinking is the major reason teens choose not to drink. 

See http://www.safecommunitycoalition.net/current%20news.php for statistics we can turn around with parental support. 

To access documents from the Rally click on the following links: Rally Speech, Letters you can Send: McDonnell LCI Letter, Comstock Letter, Howell Letter, Telephone Numbers for Calling Campaign: House Finance Committee Telephone List Petitions: LCI Petition, FCPS Petition

Parent Advocates & Teachers Unite to Form
Fairfax Education Coalition - FEC”

Coalition Focused on Improving Community Engagement with FCPS

Fairfax County, VA – Wednesday, January 20, 2010 – Leaders from respected and influential parent advocacy groups announced today they have officially joined forces with Fairfax County teachers and community members to form the “Fairfax Education Coalition” – a new coalition that will use its collective influence to advocate for improved accountability, transparency and community participation in the Fairfax County Public Schools’ decision-making process < More >

                             Update on FCPS 2011 Budget

On January 7, School Superintendent Jack Dale released the proposed FY 2011 FCPS school budget. The attached press release gives an overview of the proposed cuts and increases in fees - most of which were in the “straw man” budget released in November 2009. 

http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease_print.cfm?newsid=1332

Of note, the proposed budget includes a request for an increase of $57.8 million in the county transfer to preserve all-day Kindergarten, elementary band and strings, elementary foreign language immersion, and to avoid further increases in class size (above the class increase size of one student already in the  proposed budget).  If the Board of Supervisors (BOS) does not agree to this request, these programs are also at risk.

Even if the BOS agrees to the $57.8 million increase – and that’s a BIG “IF” - the proposed budget still includes major cuts to programs as well as increases in fees.   Of particular interest to our McLean High School community:  no general education summer school (which could affect graduation rates); no freshman sports, winter track and winter cheerleading, 50% reduction in swim and dive team practices; class size increase of one student; $100 fee per student/per sport; $75 fee/ AP test; and no salary increase for a second year in a row. 

 No doubt, these cuts will have enormous impact on our students and staff.  What can we do?

·     Stay informed on the issue – check the FCPS website for updates, as well as local media for articles, such as the recent Washington Post article on the Local Composite Index http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/10/AR2010011002344_pf.html

·     Attend the Town Hall Meeting with State Senator Janet Howell and Delegates Jim Scott and Barbara Comstock on Saturday, January 23, 10:00 am at Longfellow Middle School to voice your concerns, including the need for Virginia to fund the $61 million of the Local Composite Index which is due to Fairfax County (but was not part of Jack Dale’s budget)  

·     While probably too late for this year’s budget cycle, if you are interested, ask your state officials to increase the cigarette tax to help fund future education and health programs in our state.  Virginia currently ranks 49^th in the nation in cigarette taxes at $.30/pack vs. the median tax rate of $1.18/pack http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0097.pdf

·     Attend the School Board public meetings on January 25^th and 26^th.  Sign up to speak by calling 571-423-1075 or online at www.fcps.edu/schlbd/requestspeak.htm

·     Write to School Board members

·     Write to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) to ask for a favorable vote on school funding

·     Attend the BOS public hearings scheduled for April 6-8.

            FCPS 2011 Budget Online Publication

A new online publication, The Bottom Line, is being sent to all FCPS parents and employees every two weeks while the budget for next school year (FY 2011) is proposed, discussed, and approved. It contains the latest budget news, facts, dates, and rumor busters to help the FCPS community better understand the budget and the budget process.  To read the premiere issue, please go to: http://www.fcps.edu/news/fy2011/bottomline.html

Help Support the McLean Highlander News Magazine

Help support the student-run Highlander news magazine by becoming a subscriber, patron or corporate donor/ advertiser (click here for forms: the McLean Highlander Patron Form, the McLean Highlander Advertising Contract and the McLean Highlander Subscription Form).  All donations go to help cover the printing of the news magazine.   You can send forms and payments to the school – checks can be made out to “McLean High School” and mail or drop off to the school, c/o Miss Amy Poe, Room S111.                              

SLEEP Alternatives to Save Money, Pilot Later High School Start Times with Minimal Disruption

SLEEP presents two alternatives here that would pilot later high school start times. One (the “Pool Pilot”) would keep all elementary schools and middle schools at their current (2008-9) times and move nine high schools, while saving money.  The other uses the staff’s Iteration 5 and enables FCPS to save even more money by moving a few high schools later (the “Iteration-5-Plus-4 Pilot”)<MORE>         

                                 Food Pantry Assistance
   Request for Donations and Information for Families in Need

As you know, these are difficult economic times for many in our area and nation.  But did you know that over 1,000 school-age children in FCPS are homeless or living in shelters, including some right here at McLean?  In addition to the homeless, there are many families in need of food assistance. 

To assist these families, McLean High School has started a food pantry located in our school in Room 138. Donations of non-perishable food items and other goods can be dropped off at the main office, or placed in one of the collection bins.  The food pantry is a coordinated effort of many at our school – including our school psychologist, Debra Tucker, our school social worker, Marly Jerome-Featherson, Emily Castro, one of our special education instructional assistants, and the school administration.  The PTSA, along with the SGA and other community members, have worked closely to make this need into a reality.  A special thanks is extended to Mark Thompson’s Work Study students, who are assisting with taking inventory and stocking the shelves, and Jesse Frederick, a 10^th grade student who actually built the shelving needed to stock our pantry.  

At its October meeting, the PTSA membership voted to add a Food Pantry Assistance line item to the budget. If you would like to help with this effort, please donate grocery gift cards, (i.e., Giant or Safeway cards in any denomination) or checks made payable to McLean HS PTSA; note “Food Pantry” in the memo line. Please enclose either the grocery cards or checks in a sealed envelope to the attention of “PTSA Food Pantry Assistance” and deliver these to the main office at the school.  The grocery cards will then be distributed to needy families as determined by our special services team.  Families may arrange to visit the food pantry by contacting their child’s school counselor.     

McLean High School Career Center

The Career Center provides information to help students explore post-secondary educational and/or career options, make realistic career decisions, and establish career goals.

All students can stop by the Career Center during breaks, at lunch, and before and after school.  Students wishing to stop by the Career Center during class time will need a pass from their teacher.

Parents are also welcome and encouraged to utilize the Career Center.  To ensure that someone is able to assist you, please call ahead of time to make an appointment.

 Contact

Kia Cole- Career Center Specialist

703-714-5755

Kia.cole@fcps.edu

Hours: M-F 7:00 am- 2:45 pm, or by appointment