McKean School Community,

Thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation are three words that are often mentioned during the months of November and December. This is a time when we make a special effort to put the needs of others before our own and find ways to engage in kind acts for one another, especially those who are less fortunate.

We can easily get consumed with our busy schedules, academic and athletic competitions, and more school events than one school can support. So, as we look forward to this Winter season and extended time away from the hustle, let us remind ourselves of what is most important in our lives—spending quality time with family and friends and maintaining a healthy and stress-free lifestyle.

Speaking of athletic competitions, Winter Sports is beginning this week, and we encourage you all to come and support our student-athletes as they go after the win. Please review the spectator expectations and ticket policies on our athletic website: https://www.highlanderssports.com/. Remember we A.R.E McKean!

We A.R.E. McKean!

We are excited to invite you to be a part of something extraordinary – our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO)! The PTO plays a crucial role in enhancing the educational experience for our children and fostering a strong sense of community within our school.

Join a community of dedicated parents, teachers, and staff who share a common goal – creating a positive and enriching environment for our students.

How Can You Get Involved? 👉 Attend PTO Meetings: Join us for informative and engaging meetings where we discuss upcoming events, fundraising opportunities, and collaborative projects.

Together, we can create a vibrant and supportive community that empowers our students to thrive. Join the McKean PTO and be a part of something truly special!

Ready to get involved? Be on the lookout for more information on our next meeting date which will be on Wednesday December 13th.

• Wednesday, December 6th - Military Career Day at McKean
• Friday, December 8th - No School - Professional Development Day for Teachers
• Wednesday, December 13th - PTO Meeting - 6:00PM
• Thursday, December 14th - Highlander Chorale and Instrumental Music - Holiday Concert - 6:00PM - Highfield Audion
• Friday, December 22nd - Tuesday January 2nd - Winter Break - SCHOOL CLOSED

• Friday January 12th - Best Buddies/Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge Fundraiser at Bellefonte Brewing in Marshallton
• 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

Don’t forget about your class dues!

Seniors-$50

Juniors- $30

Class dues must be paid by January 31, 2024, in order to purchase prom tickets, attend your senior class trip, and/or participate in graduation.

Please see Ms. Wakefield or Ms. Dukes if you have any questions.

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!

They are $15 each. If you are interested please contact Mr. Baker in room A21 or email him at daniel.baker@redclay.k12.de.us

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 kickoff our Winter sports season, a gentle reminder that all ticket sales for all Boys Basketball games will be available to purchase ONLINE ONLY through Ticket Spicket. Tickets are $5 for Adults and $2 for Students. Tickets will be available to purchase up until 3 pm on game days. Tickets need to be purchased for both JV and Varsity Boys Basketball games. Tickets are not required to attend Girls Basketball Games or Wrestling Matches. Spectators are expected to follow all procedures and expectations listed below at all times, while attending any Athletic Events at McKean High School.

Spectator Expectations and Procedures

The following procedures and protocols will be in place for all spectators at McKean Athletic Events:

1. Ticket is required for entry.
2. Spectators must enter the game via the pool lobby.
3. Only spectators with ties to the two teams or schools will be permitted to enter into the game. This includes family members, students, faculty, and staff of the participating teams.
4. No entrance to the game after the end of the second quarter.
5. No re-entry to the game at any time.
6. No outside food or drink.
7. No bags are to be brought into the gym.
8. No fan seating will be allowed behind the team benches..
9. No ski masks or full face gators are permitted.
10. Spectators are not permitted to enter the playing court at any time for any reason.
11. At the conclusion of the game all spectators should exit through the gym lobby in a timely manner. Visiting teams will not be re-entering the gym following the game.
12. All Spectators must follow the DIAA Spectator Code of Conduct (Can be found on the Highlanderssports.com)

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.

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.

Ms. Schnittger and Ms. Gonzon held an ornament decorating advisory with all of the Best Buddies Advisory Students in McKean and their Meadowood School peers.

The Students for the Environment Advisory with Mr. Gladnick collect and recycle paper products from classrooms around McKean every Friday to help support Red Clay being Green!

Led by Ms. Holly Schnittger and Assistant Principal Jennifer Vosburgh, Thomas McKean High School teachers gathered to celebrate a successful first round of McKean Co-Lab supports and walkthroughs for teachers. Through Co-Lab, teachers learned from one another through observations and after school discussions around student engagement, checking for understanding, grading, and other topics to further improve their practice as teachers. Co-Lab is excited to continue their growth and invite all teachers to participate in the coming opportunities this year and beyond!

The award is provided to one guidance counselor in each local organization, and represents all counselors within the school's program whose service, compassion, and commitment serve as an example for all of us.

Principal Worlds, with the help of Assistant Principals Downes, Vosburgh and Caputo, joined Chefs Julius Rosato and Ashley Fox in the Highlander Café Kitchen during Teacher Conferences to cook breakfast for teachers on their last day before the Thanksgiving Holiday.