Highlander Happenings
November 17th, 2023
Thomas McKean High School
Principal's Corner
McKean High School Community,
Welcome to the 2nd November edition of our Highlanders Happenings! As we continue embrace the fall season and cooler weather, we have much to celebrate and share with you. With the Fall Sports season concluding McKean student athletes have received numerous all conference awards in multiple sports. Additionally, our Unified Flag Football Team hosted a playoff game this week. On the academic side our students hard work and perseverance in the classroom is evident with many students making honor roll and distinguished honors in the 1st Marking Period. If your child did not meet their academic goals, please encourage them to keep working.
We extend our gratitude to the students, parents, and staff for their dedication and hard work. As we move through the school year, we are inspired by the resilience and commitment demonstrated by our school community. We invite parents and guardians to attend parent-teacher conferences the week of November 20th. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss your child's progress and connect with their teachers.
Finally, as we approach the end of the month, we look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving. School will be closed from November 20th to November 27th. We wish everyone a joyful and restful break.
We A.R.E. McKean!
Important Dates
November
- Monday November 20th & Tuesday November 21st - Teacher Conferences - In Person and Virtual
- Monday November 20th - Friday November 24th - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Thanksgiving Holiday
December
- Friday, December 1st - Delaware Special Olympics Reindeer Run - SIGN UP
- Wednesday, December 6th - Military Career Day at McKean
- Friday, December 8th - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS - Staff Development Day
- Thursday, December 14th - Highlander Chorale and Instrumental Music - Holiday Concert - 6:00PM - Highfield Audion
- Friday, December 23rd - Tuesday January 2nd - Winter Break - SCHOOL CLOSED
January and Beyond
- 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
Academic Updates
Military Career Day
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.
Early College Academy
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!
Scholarship 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.
Christiana Care Offerings for Students and Families
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.
Alliance for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention
The Alliance for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (AAPP) offers free, virtual and in-person reproductive health education for young people, ages 11-18. The goal is to reduce the number of teens who engage in risky behaviors which may lead to sexually transmitted infections, HIV, or pregnancy.
Back2Basics
Back 2 Basics is a free immersive opportunity for all high school students. Participants will be exposed to various pathways to a successful career in the healthcare field. Students will be able to hear from several guest speakers throughout the sessions who are already on the job, get to hear their real-world experiences, and get great advice directly from them!
Camp FRESH
Camp FRESH (Fresh Resources Everyone
Should Have) is a program targeting
underserved youth between the ages of 11-
18 that live in New Castle County,
specifically individuals on Medicaid or are
uninsured (not required for all programs)
From Our Highlander School Counselors
- This year’s FAFSA for students attending college next year will not open until December.
Questions - Contact Academic Dean Dr. Caputo
Highlander Athletics
Winter Sports 2023-2024 Season has BEGUN!
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
Winter Sporting Event expectations for students:
- Students are only permitted to remain in the building after 2:15pm dismissal if they are with a McKean Staff Member (athlete, club, CTE, after school detention, play, choir, band) and have permission from that staff member to attend.
- Highlander Athletes are to report directly to the locker room/coaches at dismissal to prepare for practice/games. Student athletes are not permitted to linger in other parts of the building after dismissal. Only students on an active team roster will be permitted to remain in the building after school attend team practices and games.
- Student spectators must purchase a ticket in advance to attend the event and must have transportation home after the game. Spectators will not be permitted to linger in any part of the building between dismissal and start of the game.
- Only participating student athletes may use after school athletics bus transportation home, spectators are not permitted on the after school activities and sports buses and must have their own transportation.
- No transportation provided for spectators after sporting events, transportation must be arranged ahead of time, and spectators are expected to be picked up immediately after the conclusion of the event.
Tickets Must Be Purchased Prior to Games - No Tickets Sold After Site Closes
Athletic Director Updates
- Tickets to home football and basketball games must be purchased in advance from Ticket Spicket.
- Students will not be permitted to re-enter the 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.
Climate and Culture
After School Activities, Clubs, Sports, and Other Event Expectations
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 revocation or loss of privileges at any time being unable to attend any After-School activities violating the Code of Conduct.
We A.R.E. On Time
Highlander Highlights
Classroom Visits and Walkthroughs
Red Clay District Office staff from the Teaching and Learning Department visited Thomas McKean High School recently and shared their experiences with Mr. Worlds.
McKean Anatomy & Physiology and Forensic Science Students visit UD
Ms. Emily Carrol and members of the Science Department traveled to the University of Delaware STAR campus to experience hands on human anatomy in their state of the art cadaver lab. Students also toured the STAR campus offerings and met with STAR Ambassadors to learn about Health Science opportunities after graduation.