McLean Matters: Support Our Students-in-Need
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.
Please Read One Student’s Story
One senior at McLean is the second of five children, four or whom are in Fairfax County Public Schools. His family fled Afghanistan in 2022 when they were targeted by the Taliban due to the father’s professional job. They moved to Pakistan where they again encountered threats, eventually becoming refugees in Kabul. The family was aided by some Americans to come to this country in February of 2024, and they now live in a two-bedroom apartment in Falls Church.
The father is learning English and no longer able to have a professional job; he works at Dulles Airport. The mother works in a kitchen at a restaurant. They are finding the rent, utility bills, and groceries very expensive and hard to manage. Our McLean senior works five days a week at Safeway and gives all his money to support his family. He also gets his younger siblings ready for school in the mornings since his parents are already at work. He has come a long way with his English in the past year and a half and earns all A’s and B’s, even though he has been speaking English for less than two years! He never has a missing assignment. With plans to attend Northern Virginia Community college next year, he will continue his education while living with his family and helping to support them.
Your donation makes an immediate impact on MHS families in need, so please consider donating gift cards for $25 or $50. You can donate one, two, or many gift cards, here’s how:
STEP 1: CLICK HERE to sign up to donate gift cards.
STEP 2: 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 purchase "plastic gift card(s)" to mail/drop off to Mark Slacin
- 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 Mark M. Slacin
Please use the following address for all mailed gift cards:
c/o Mark M. Slacin
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 5th.
Let's show our fellow Highlanders some love this holiday season because McLean Matters!
If you have any questions, please contact McLean Matters Chair Mary Gordon at mary_seung@yahoo.com.
CLICK HERE to sign up to donate gift cards
Teacher & Staff Appreciation
Friday Breakfast Station
The PTSA organizes a weekly Friday Breakfast Station during the year stocked with contributions by fellow McLean HS families. The Friday Breakfast Station is set up in the front office and teachers & staff are grateful each week for your donations. Please click on the link to donate a breakfast item from the sign up list this month. Thank you in advance!
December's Friday Dates are: 12/05, 12/12, 12/19
Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EA4A822A7FEC07-53916388-202512
|
Fundraisers
Please Support Our Teachers and Students
- Help Us Reach $51,330!
Dear Parents,
We’re excited to share that the McLean PTSA has raised $41,854 so far — THANK YOU for your generous support!
We still need your help to reach our goal of $51,330 for this school year. Your contributions directly support our teachers, students, and school programs.
We suggest a donation of $180 per family, which includes a $30 PTSA membership, but please know that every contribution, no matter the amount, truly makes a difference.
You can donate using the following links:
Suggested donation
Custom donation
2025 White House Ornaments Fundraiser
The McLean High School PTSA is offering the Official 2025 White House Ornaments as a fundraiser. This year, the Official White House Christmas Ornament celebrates the 150th anniversary of State Dinners at the Executive Mansion. It features two highly recognizable plates from the White House State china collection. The ornament is cut from delicate brass, etched, and finished with 24-karat gold for the ultimate holiday shine. Each ornament comes in a keepsake box with red and gold twist cording for hanging and an illustrated, educational booklet with informative descriptions of the history of White House State China Services. Perfect gift for your family, friends, staff, and clients!
Plus, your purchase supports the Graduation Party for the Class of 2026.
Price: $28. Ornaments can be ordered HERE until December 5th. After your purchase, you will be able to pick up the ornament from the school during the Holiday Bazaar on December 13.
|
Bring Holiday Cheer to Your Office Party —
Daily Vote Needed to Help the Madrigals Win up to $5,000 for the MHS Choral Program!
Fulfill Service Requirements
Volunteers Needed for Winterfest and Block Party - 12/07
We're approaching the holiday season and Mclean's annual Winterfest parade and block party is taking place Sunday, December 7 in the afternoon (times vary). Organizers are seeking volunteers and are happy to provide hours to high school and middle school students.
Signup for slots here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D48A5A92CA7FC1-59894627-winterfest#/
Volunteers also need to complete this form: https://forms.gle/U5nbBiBRuQmuPv1K6
There will be a meeting for parade and block party volunteers at the McLean Community Center on December 2nd from 6-7pm, as well as a Zoom option for those unable to attend in person. If you have any questions, email mcleanwinterfestparade@gmail.com.
McLean High School 23rd Annual Highlander Holiday Bazaar - 12/13
- When: Saturday December 13, 2025, 10am to 3pm
- Where: 1633 Davidson Rd McLean, VA 22101
-
Mock Testing - SAT and ACT
Looking for an opportunity to practice for the SAT and ACT? The McLean PTSA is partnering with The Princeton Review and Marigold Prep to offer practice tests. Each testing session starts at 9am. The test dates are as follows:
SAT : January 10, 2026; April 11, 2026, July 18, 2026
ACT : February 28, 2026; April 25, 2026
Join us virtually to take the full-length practice tests. The registration fee is $20 per exam.
To register for SAT practice tests, click here.
To register for ACT practice tests, click here.
Registration closes 3 days prior to each exam, and you will receive an email with further instructions regarding the testing session. After each test, you will receive a comprehensive score report detailing your strengths and weaknesses.
Questions? Contact tests@mcleanptsa.org
|
Volunteer Needed for Food Pantry Programs
Food Pantry - Collection Day Drivers Needed
Drivers use an app on their phone that shows them where to go to pick up bags.
- They drive the route picking up bags from approximately 12 homes
- They leave an empty bag, weigh the full bag, but the bag in their vehicle
- Bring all of the bags to the collection site at Luther Jackson MS where a team of unloaders will empty their vehicle
- Drivers start at 8:30am and are usually done by 10:00am
The upcoming collection dates are (Saturdays): 1/17/26 (or 24th if there’s weather), 3/7/26, 4/25/26. You should be available for at least two dates.
Here’s what’s needed to volunteer as a driver:
- You’ll need a mobile phone to receive text messages and download our routing app
- Your vehicle should be large enough to carry about 20–25 full Red Bags
- We recommend having 1–2 “driver helpers” to collect, weigh, and record donations in the app
- You should be able to carry a heavy grocery bag down a set of front stairs
If you have questions: review our Driver FAQs online, watch this video, or reply to this email: eelnattar@mcleanptsa.org. Our Driver Coordinator will contact you with all the information you’ll need.
Thank you for your support!
McLean Pantry - Week Day Volunteers Needed
If you have flexibility during the work day and are interested in volunteering to support the McPantry, please reply to this email eelnattar@mcleanptsa.org. We need volunteers to drop off bags to new Red Bag donors homes.
At McLean High School, teachers, student volunteers, and parents have come together to help combat hunger among students! The newly established McLean Pantry is currently collecting individually packaged food items, such as shelf-stable milk cartons, cups of noodles, and more. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Anshu Matalia at
| 
