Good afternoon Highlanders,

I hope the school year is off to a great start for you. All of our classes are beginning to hit their stride and students are hard at work engaged in learning. As I stop into classes, it is great to see our students discussing, reading, working collaboratively, cooking, conducting lab experiments, designing with graphics, speaking French, Spanish and Italian to peers and so much more. The energy is similar in the hallways, classrooms, courts and athletic fields. The fall athletic season is off to a great start for all of the Highlander teams, with several of the programs significantly growing in athlete participation rates from past seasons. Thank you to all of those who have shown up to support our Highlanders on the court and field so far this season.

Finally, just a reminder that all students are required to have an up-to-date Student Data Card on file. Along with being an important source of information, these forms are required for athletic participation, participate in Career and Technical Education lab spaces, and to attend field trips. I look forward to seeing you all at our Back-to-School night next Thursday September 28th at 6:00pm, until then We A.R.E McKean!

We A.R.E. McKean!

• ASAP - Student Data Cards Returned to School - REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS
• Tuesday & Wednesday September 26th & 27th - Shrek Jr. Tryouts - After School in C61
• Thursday September 28th - Highland Hospitality's Back to School Night - 6:00pm-8:00pm

• Week of October 9th through 12th - Homecoming Spirit Week
• Friday October 13th - School Closed - Inservice Day for Teachers and Staff
• Friday October 13th - Homecoming Football Game - 6:00pm
• Saturday October 14th - Homecoming Dance - Thomas McKean High School
• Thursday October 19th - Parent Café - Nutritional Wellness - 6:00pm-7:00pm - New Castle Library
• Friday October 20th - The Backyard Brawl - 6:00pm at The John Dickinson School
• Tuesday October 24th - College and Career Night - 6:00pm-8:00pm - Bob Carpenter Center @ UD
• Monday October 23rd thru Friday October 27th - College Application Week for Class of 2024

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.

Thomas McKean High School's School Counselors are available to meet with students by appointment only. Please check "Class of" Schoology Pages for more information. A few reminders as we start the new year:

• Last day to change classes for all students was Friday September 22nd. Please see your counselor before then if you need to change a class.
• College application week for our 12th graders will Monday October 23-Friday October 27
• College & Career night October 24th 6-8 pm Bob Carpenter Center University of Delaware
• This year’s FAFSA for students attending college next year will not open until December

Please visit HighlandersSports.com for information about Highlander Athletics throughout the offseason as we prepare for Fall athletics pre-season in August. Spring sports have competed in their last competitions this week.

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

• Tickets to home football games must be purchased in advance from Ticket Spicket.
• Students will not be permitted to re-enter the stadium 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.

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.

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. Returning from last year is Mr. Gavin Coates and Ms. Shavonne Carter, and Mr. Taureen Taylor joins the team this year. Our student advisors 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.

Mrs. Oldis's Plant Science and Horticulture students harvested Celosia seeds this week to learn about plant structures and prepare their seeds for the Spring Plant Sale to benefit the Thomas McKean Horticulture and Plant Science career pathway. Mrs. Oldis's students not only sell live plants, including vegetables and fruits during the Plant Sale, seasonally for holidays/events, but her students also offer Floral Arrangements for weddings, birthdays, proms, and other events. Please contact Mrs. Oldis with any questions or orders!

Highlanders in the Classes of 2024 and 2025 traveled to the HBCU College Fair at the Chase Fieldhouse on Friday the 22nd to learn about opportunities and majors at HBCUs from around the country.