McKean School Community,

I cannot be prouder of our team at Thomas McKean High School as they remain dedicated to our mission and passionate about offering an enriching experience to our students. We celebrate the achievements of our students and faculty over the last two months. They have participated in numerous activities and competitions, always representing our school well. We have several events coming up this month so please be sure to look at our calendar and come support our programs. Finally, this a plug for you to be on the lookout on how to and connect with your child’s teachers for parent conferences the week of November 20th. We will be offering in-person and zoom options. Thank you for your continued support.

We A.R.E. McKean!

• Sunday November 5th thru Saturday, November 11th - National School Psychology Week
• Wednesday November 8th - School Choice Open House - 6pm-8pm
• Friday November 10th - SCHOOL CLOSED - Observance of Veteran's Day
• Monday November 20th & Tuesday November 21st - Teacher Conferences - In Person and Virtual
• Monday November 20th - Friday November 24th - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Thanksgiving Holiday

• Wednesday, December 6th - Military Career Day at McKean
• Thursday, December 14th - Highlander Chorale and Instrumental Music - Holiday Concert - 6:00PM - Highfield Audion
• Friday, December 23rd - Tuesday January 2nd - Winter Break - SCHOOL CLOSED

• Sunday February 4th - McKean Best Buddies and Special Olympics Take the Plunge! - Donate/Join the Team
• Friday March 1st and Saturday March 2nd - Shrek the Musical, Jr. - In the Highfield Audion

Any student interested in participating in Military Career Day on December 6th can sign up using the link on the Work-Based Learning Experiences Schoology Page or see Dr. Galloway. Representatives from all military branches and the U.S. Military Academies will be in attendance. Students who sign up and attend will have their names entered into a raffle to receive a prize and/or a gift card.

Red Clay Consolidated School District is growing the Early College Academy partnership with our neighbor Goldey-Beacom College! More information will come for this opportunity to attend college classes at GBC and earn college credit while enrolled at Thomas McKean High School. Click the photo to the right for more information!

Class of 2024: The Scholarship Compendium is now available online for all seniors in the class of 2024. This lists hundreds of scholarships across the state that are available for graduating seniors planning to attend college next year. Please go to scholarships.delawarestudentsuccess.org to access the compendium.

Class of 2025: Of you are interested in taking the PSAT/NMSQT for scholarship consideration, please go to the class of 2025 Schoology page to register.

If you do not see a "Class of" page on your Schoology. Please let your School Counselor know.

CCHS is has their ABCs covered too. AAPP, Back2Basics, and Camp FRESH are all opportunities for students and families to engage in a healthier future. Please see the information below.

Those registered for the Paris trip need to register their passport information on the EF website no later than December 10! The full name and info from the passport must be entered carefully and exactly.

Dear Highlander Families,

We’re going to France in Spring 2024, and you’re invited! Our trip will run for nine days over spring break of 2024, and students are eligible to attend with, of course, the understanding that the student meets behavioral expectations in the classroom and on the trip.

Please use this link for more information.

https://www.eftours.com/enroll

Then select VIEW after entering the tour number: 2642172AV

Thank you,

Mme Brunton

• This year’s FAFSA for students attending college next year will not open until December.

Questions - Contact Academic Dean Dr. Caputo

Please visit HighlandersSports.com for information about Highlander Athletics as we wrap up the Fall season. The Winter Sports season began Tuesday, November 7th with the first competitions after the return from the Thanksgiving Holiday.

• Boys Basketball - Stephon Johnson
• Girls Basketball - Ricky Brown
• Winter Cheerleading - Rikia DeRamus
• Swimming - Aleecia King & Jaxon Brown
• Indoor Track - Gavin Coates
• Unified Basketball - Ryan Mayville
• Wrestling - Nick Dorda & Dan Baker

Athletic Director Dorda would like to share the following information regarding Fall Sports:

• Tickets to home football and basketball games must be purchased in advance from Ticket Spicket.
• Students will not be permitted to re-enter the stadium or gymnasium once they have left.
• After school buses are reserved for active roster student athletes only. NO STUDENT FANS PERMITTED
• Highlander Sportsmanship is expected from all athletes, student fans, and family fans at all sporting events. All Highlanders are expected to adhere to the codes of conduct set forth by Thomas McKean High School, Red Clay Consolidated School District, and the Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association.

Questions - Contact Mr. Dorda - Athletic Director

As we begin the 2023-2024 school year, the Thomas McKean High School administrative team would like to take some time to discuss climate and culture expectations for the building. Safety and security is one of the main foci within our building and community. Students and staff feel safe and excited to come to school being amongst their Highlander community family. A few reminders about Thomas McKean High School's expectations and commitment to a positive learning environment for all.

• The school day starts at 7:10am and runs until 2:10pm. Students arriving late to school must check in at the front office before heading to class. Any students arriving after 10:30am must have a note explaining their tardiness. If a student is absent for more than 50% of his or her instructional day/classes, the student is considered absent from school. Any student arriving after this time will not be permitted within the building without proper documentation.
• All students must have a note or other form of prior authorization in order to receive an early dismissal. Students are not permitted to leave campus early without documentation.
• No student is permitted to return to campus after leaving the building without proper documentation and approval from school administration.
• No student or staff member is permitted to prop open any exterior door at any time. Only the main office doors should be used by students, families, or guests to enter the building.

Lockdown and evacuation drills are essential components of school safety protocols, playing a crucial role in protecting students and staff in the event of emergencies. These drills are designed to prepare students and school personnel for a range of potential crises, from natural disasters to security threats, and serve as a proactive measure to minimize risks and enhance safety within the school building. The importance of practicing these drills cannot be overstated:

• Emergency Preparedness: Lockdown and evacuation drills help students and staff understand how to respond effectively during a crisis. Being familiar with these procedures can make a significant difference in the event of an actual emergency, as individuals are more likely to remain calm and follow the established safety protocols.
• Minimizing Panic: In times of crisis, chaos can reign if people do not know what to do. Conducting regular drills ensures that everyone in the school knows their roles and responsibilities, reducing confusion and panic during real emergencies.
• Improving Response Times: Practicing drills helps in fine-tuning response times. In an actual emergency, every second counts, and well-practiced drills can significantly reduce the time it takes to secure a building or evacuate safely.
• Security and Threat Mitigation: Lockdown drills are particularly important for dealing with security threats, such as active shooters. By practicing these procedures, schools can enhance their ability to protect students and staff in the face of danger.
• Natural Disasters: Evacuation drills are crucial for preparing students for natural disasters like earthquakes, fires, or severe weather events. Knowing how and where to evacuate can save lives and prevent injuries.
• Community Engagement: In many cases, schools involve local emergency services, law enforcement, and first responders in these drills. This collaboration strengthens the relationship between the school and the community, ensuring that all parties are on the same page when it comes to safety measures.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: State regulations require schools to conduct regular drills as part of their legal and regulatory obligations.
• Continuous Improvement: Regular drills allow schools to identify weaknesses in their safety plans and make necessary improvements. They can review the effectiveness of communication systems, evacuation routes, and response times to refine their strategies.
• Empowering Students: Lockdown and evacuation drills empower students by teaching them valuable life skills. Knowing how to respond to emergencies not only enhances their safety in school but also prepares them for similar situations outside of the educational environment.
• Psychological Preparedness: These drills help students and staff mentally prepare for the possibility of emergencies, reducing the psychological impact when actual crises could occur.
• Proactive Safety Culture: Practicing lockdown and evacuation drills fosters a culture of safety within the school community. It sends a message that the well-being of students and staff is a top priority, promoting a sense of security and peace of mind.

In conclusion, lockdown and evacuation drills are fundamental to the safety of students in the school building. By practicing these procedures regularly, schools can ensure that students and staff are well-prepared to respond to emergencies, which ultimately enhances the safety and well-being of everyone within the school community.

We would like to stress the importance of on time arrival to both school and every class this year. As a team, we are ramping up interventions and supports, as well as consequences and celebrations, for students around on time arrival to class. Attendance interventions have been designed to help all students maximize their learning time by incentivizing being on time, and we have a team dedicated to addressing any challenges students face with tardiness to school and class. Students that arrive to class late will not be eligible for hall/bathroom passes during the period.

Thomas McKean High School has three dedicated individuals committed to the success of each and everyone one of our Highlanders. Mr. Gavin Coates and Ms. Shavonne Carter, and Mr. Taureen Taylor work closely with our students, teachers, staff, and other resources to support all students' paths to success.

All Highlanders are expected to display a current rearview mirror hang tang on their vehicles when parking at Thomas McKean High School. Student parking is restricted to the upper parking lot by the track and tennis courts during the school day, and all students are required to purchase a parking pass before driving to school. In order to purchase a pass, please contact Mr. Coates via email, during lunches, or in B22 to purchase a parking pass.

All vehicles must be registered and display the parking pass at all times while on campus. Unregistered vehicles and improperly parked vehicles are subject to towing from campus at the owner's expense.

Student Parking in Upper Lot: Any students utilizing the upper student lot.

• Any vehicles parked illegally or not displaying a parking permit are subject to being towed at your own expense.
• Students who are reported driving aggressively or recklessly in the Student Lot or any other areas on campus are subject to having all parking privileges revoked.
• If for any reason students lose this privilege that will not be permitted to drive/park on campus.

For any and all students attending any After-School activities are to abide by the Red Clay Student and Family handbook, whether at McKean campus or any other school campus.

• The Student and Family handbook is enforced at all school-sponsored events and other activities where school administrators have jurisdiction over students.
• Any student who actively hinders an investigation or any student who aids, is involved with the planning, or helps another student in any way in an act which violates the Student Code of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary action.
• Students can be subject to be revocation or loss of privileges at any time being unable to attend any After-School activities violating the Code of Conduct.

All Highlander Students are expected to come to school dressed in accordance to the Red Clay Consolidated School District's Student Handbook Dress Code expectations that were distributed through Advisory classes during the first week of school. There is no uniform at Thomas McKean High School but students should be mindful of the following:

Dress Code

• Students must wear clothing including both a shirt with pants or skirt, or the equivalent.
• The torso must be covered and undergarments must not be visible.
• Students must wear shoes with a sole.
• Hats and other head coverings are not to be worn in schools except in cases of medical, and religious reasons.

Clothing may not:

• Depict, advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
• Depict pornography, nudity or sexual acts.
• Share or depict hate speech.
• Depict violence or threaten the health or safety of any other student or staff member.

See page 15 of the Student Handbook for more information.

Seniors began the process of launching their futures in October. Hundreds of applications to colleges, universities and trade schools were completed, as well as career and military discussions and enlistments all facilitated by the Highlander School Counselor Team and Dr. Galloway in Work-Based Learning.

Early Childhood Education Pathway students, under the leadership of Ms. Gonzon took four Lil Highlanders on a Trick or Treating Trail around Thomas McKean High School to celebrate Halloween. The Lil Highlanders visited Mr. World's office and many other teachers as they filled up their bags with treats and toys from Highlander staff.

Reginald Artis

Roberto Benitez-Hernandez

Anesha Brown

Zipporah Conyer

Andre' Ford

Robert Ford

Jennifer Meneses

Joycelyn Ortiz

Shawn White