Student Life
| Arrival | Departure | General Considerations |
| Student Drivers | Alternative Departure Agreement | Absences |
| Lunch | Field Trips | Summer Program |
| Library | Messages |
Arrival
The school day begins at 8:15 a.m. Parents should call the Upper School Office if their student will be late .When a student arrives late (arriving after 8:15 a.m.), he/she must sign in at the Front Office upon arrival. A parent may not walk a student to class. If a student is to be picked up early for an appointment, the parent should check in at the Front Office and meet the student there.
Departure
Academic and elective classes end at 3:15 p.m. Students depart for satellite carpooling and parking at 3:20 p.m. promptly.
Students are expected to leave school at the end of the school day unless they are scheduled for a special activity. Students are expected to depart immediately after the completion of any after-school activity.
If students know that they will not be riding home with their regular carpool or bus, they must notify the Upper School Administrative Assistant or the Front Office as early as possible in the day to help with any alternate arrangements.
The school is responsible for the supervision of students during the regular school hours or until the end of rehearsals, classes, clubs, games, practices, and sports activities.
A student whose transportation is delayed should report to the Upper School Office after 3:30 p.m.
Remember that McLean School is part of a neighborhood, and please make every effort to encourage neighborliness by asking all drivers to:
- choose a route to and from McLean to avoid making U-turns in the middle of the block or using neighbors’ driveways to turn around;
- observe the speed limit (25 mph) - or drive even slower because there are children in the area.
Student Drivers
Student drivers may return to McLean for an after school function but must park on campus and follow all transportation guidelines. Under special circumstances a student may obtain a pass to park on campus during the school day from the Head of Upper School. Any student not adhering to all driving regulations faces serious consequences including loss of his/her privilege to drive to school or to satellite parking.
Alternative Departure Agreement
Students and their parents wishing to participate in Alternative Departure must sign the Assumption of Risk Release Agreement/Policy for Alternative Departure. The signed form must be on file in the Upper School office. This form is available on the Upper School website or in the Upper School Planner/Handbook.
Absences
Absences for illness, family emergency, or college visits arranged with the college counselor only will be excused. When a student will be late or absent, the parent is required to call the school or the Upper School office that morning by 8:00 a.m. and explain the lateness or absence. We ask that advance notice of absences be provided whenever possible. Extensions of vacations for family convenience, trips, and/or excursions will not be acknowledged as an excused absence and are strongly discouraged. A student who has been absent for any reason must bring a note to the Upper School Office on his/her first day back to school, stating the dates of absence and the reason(s).
Excessive and repeated absence from a class may result in a student receiving a pass/fail assessment rather than a letter grade. Excessive and repeated absence from school may result in a student being placed on medical leave.
The school reserves the right to place a student on Medical Leave (for mental or physical health reasons) or on Academic Leave (for academic reasons). Although both carry no punitive status, the student and his/her family must meet with the Head of Upper School in order to fulfill whatever conditions are necessary for the student to return to school.
If a student leaves school early for any reason, a parent must notify the Upper School office in writing or by phone.
Any absence caused by a communicable disease must be reported immediately to the school nurse as soon as a diagnosis is made.
Lunch
Milk is provided daily to students at no extra cost. Your child may bring a bagged lunch to school (sorry, no facilities for heating food) or enroll in McLean’s catered lunch program for an additional fee. We ask that food and drink be restricted to assigned areas and not consumed in the hallways or common areas. The Upper School SGA sponsors food and drink machines, which students are on their honor not to abuse during class periods and are off-limits to younger students.
Pizza is served every Monday. Students have the option of enrolling in the pizza program, sponsored by the Parents Association, for an additional fee.
Field Trips
Teachers endeavor to schedule periodic, educational field trips that relate to what is taught in the classroom. Students are expected to be in compliance with dress code during school related trips unless otherwise notified. Prescribed medications normally dispensed at school will be sent on all applicable field trips. The medications are labeled and a unit dose is provided for the teacher/chaperone to administer during the field trip. Parents of students in Upper School will be billed for each trip as it occurs with the exception of outdoor experiential learning trips which appear on the billing statement. The mandatory Off-Campus Education Days in early Fall are considered an outdoor experiential learning trip. In the fall, juniors and seniors may sign up for McLean’s annual Spring Break trip to Spain.
Summer Program
The McLean Summer Program offers coeducational programs for students between the ages of 5-18. Academics are offered in the morning and recreational activities in the afternoon. Throughout the 6-week program students are encouraged to sign up for a variety of options. The Summer Program mission is to provide students with a wide range of activities that stimulate learning and enrich their summer experience outside of the classroom.
Library
The library is open daily and McLean encourages students to use it as much as possible. Along with a comprehensive collection of books and reference materials, students enjoy a variety of online subscription services. These services can also be accessed from home in order to support homework and research. Books can be borrowed for two weeks and the cost of any lost books will be charged to the student.
Messages
Students are expected to check the Upper School Message Board throughout the day for important messages from parents, teachers, advisors, or the Upper School Office. Parents should avoid phoning or texting students during the academic day.