Highlander Happenings

And just like that, it’s March!

As we flip the calendar to March, I want to welcome you to the start of spring here at McKean High School! The weather is slowly warming up, the days are getting longer, and there is a renewed energy in the air.

This month brings opportunities for growth, learning, and community building. Our students have been working hard and will have the chance to showcase their work and projects they have been developing in class. We also have several exciting events happening this spring so be sure to continuously check the upcoming events section below.

I wish you a happy and healthy March. Let's make the most of this transitional season together. We A.R.E McKean!

The theme of Women's History Month 2025 is “Moving Forward Together,” highlighting educators, mentors, and leaders who shape our values and inspire future generations. Too often, women are left at the margins and their critical contributions to art, science, culture, and progress go unrecognized.

SAT/PSAT Day for all 9th through 11th grade students is 3/11/25.

12th graders will be allowed to stay home this day.

Those Seniors who choose to come to school will be working in a common area or may work from home.

McKean High School Parents and Guardians,

As we continue working to support our students, teachers, and school community, we are seeking new officers to join the McKean High School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).

The PTO plays a vital role in organizing events, fundraising, and enhancing our students' educational experience. To keep this momentum going, we need dedicated parents like you to step up and help lead the way. Open positions for next year include:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer

No prior experience is necessary—just a willingness to contribute and make a difference! If you are interested or would like more information, please email Thomas McKean PTO mckeanpto@gmail.com or join us at our next PTO meeting on Wednesday March 12, 2025 in the school library.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to working together to make McKean High School the best it can be!

SGA provided students an opportunity to learn about African American history from a visit to the National African American History Museum in Washington DC. Students first visited Dr. King’s memorial, visited the Lincoln memorial where the civil rights march took place and finished at the museum. The weather was perfect for an early spring stroll through DC!

Highlanders,

Spring sports have officially started this week! There's still a chance to join—don't miss out!

Monday, March 24th- Spring Sports Competition Start Date

• Baseball - Jaxon Brown
• Softball - Jourdan Zickgraf
• Boys Track & Field - Lakayla Williams
• Girls Track & Field - Shakir Ali
• Unified Track - Grace Guillebeau
• Golf - Mike Freccia
• Girls Soccer - Emily Carroll
• Tennis - Ray Smith
• Boys Volleyball - Brian Starrett
• Boys Lacrosse - Nick Dorda

All Athletes playing a spring sport must have the following to participate in Spring Athletics:

• DIAA physical DIAA Physical Form
• Academically Eligible: All Incoming 9th, 10th and 11th grade students need to have 5 passing classes with 2 being majors (Math, Science, Social Studies, English or a Foreign Language) based on their first marking period report card.
• Register on Family ID Family ID Link
• Students must sign McKean Sportsmanship contract (Students will complete at the start of the regular school year)

Phelan Lucky at McKean!

The Down Syndrome Association of Delaware is selling Rock Your Socks t-shirts for World Down Syndrome Day on March 21st. This is the day that we wear crazy, mismatched socks to celebrate the things that make each of us UNIQUE! This year they are selling them directly online and they have t-shirts, hoodies, youth shirts, and long sleeve shirts in multiple colors! The design of the shirt is the same that we have ordered previously. Depending on the particular item, they have sizes XS-5XL.

WUYC’s Positive Behavior Recognition Program: UNFADED!

On February 28, 2025, the Wilmington United Youth Coalition (WUYC) is excited to launch the UNFADED recognition program at Thomas McKean High School!

This initiative celebrates students who embody Responsible Decision-Making & Self-Management—key Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies that serve as powerful prevention indicators for reducing youth substance use.

Being UNFADED means staying clear-minded, making positive choices, and leading by example. Through this program, we’re highlighting students who show resilience, self-control, and a commitment to their future!

We think the world would be better if everyone were included. Around the world, exclusion and discrimination continue to divide people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are changing that with grassroots action for inclusion. That’s Spread the Word.

Founded by two youth leaders in 2009 as Spread the Word to End the Word, the campaign focused its first 10 years on addressing a particularly powerful form of exclusion: the word ‘retard(ed)’. Over 10 years, leaders and self-advocates collected millions of digital and physical pledges to end the R-word. Each was a personal commitment to acknowledge the hurt caused by the R-word and to be respectful in the words and actions taken towards people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With leadership from Special Olympics and Best Buddies, and support from hundreds of other advocacy organizations, the campaign grew from a handful events in 2009 to reach thousands of schools by 2018.