The Student News Site of McLean High School

The Highlander
The Student News Site of McLean High School

The Highlander
The Student News Site of McLean High School

The Highlander
News
On Thursday, many students showed up at Celebrate McLean. Students are wearing white shirts to get painted.
Celebrate McLean brings the community together
Claire Church, Reporter • September 15, 2026

On Sept. 10, McLean High School hosted its annual Celebrate McLean at the practice football field, where...

The mobile chiller is placed in the parking lot outside the blue hallway to alleviate the heat in the building. McLean has faced faltering air conditioning since the beginning of the school year.
Mobile chillers enter McLean
Jiayue Zou and Caroline Su • September 4, 2026
Students rush to their cars after dismissal to ensure they are the first out of the J lot on Sept. 1, 2026. Upperclassmen start to adjust to their new parking assignments as this new policy plays out.
New assigned parking spaces offered this year
Siena Koerner, Online Managing Editor • September 2, 2026
Principal Raven Jones begins the ceremony with an opening speech, addressing seniors and parents.
Convocation celebrates Class of 2026
Catherine Cody, Reporter • June 12, 2026
A student-led walkout against the Trump administration's policies on ICE, pro-Palestine movements and more at McLean in March, 2025. Students have been facing obstacles in organizing anti-ICE walkouts with the new procedures listed by Regulation 2612.
Walkouts under pressure
Paghunda Ali, Online Editor-in-Chief • June 11, 2026
Sports
Senior running back Chase Forde runs into the end zone for his second touchdown. Forde had many runs, scoring two touchdowns and gaining a lot of chip yardage.
McLean football finally tastes victory with a 31-14 win over Falls Church High School
Luke Hawken, Sports Team Head • September 11, 2026

McLean’s first home football game of the season, kicked off with, Celebrate McLean, a long standing...

The McLean girls volleyball varsity team cheer in triumph after their offense earned several consecutive points.
Girls volleyball gets swept against the Cougars
April Sheng and Rosie Liu • September 7, 2026
One of the team captains and offensive lineman: Blake Noggle decides the coin flip for the Highlanders. Noggle guided the Highlanders offensive line throughout the whole game.
McLean football loses first district match up of the year
Luke Hawken, Sports Team Head • September 5, 2026
McLean Varsity Volleyball Team lines up for their after-game photo, celebrating their 3-0 win against Chantilly High School.
McLean dominates Chantilly
Ishaan Jain and Ajay Chandela • August 25, 2026
Recent Results
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Features
The south tower of the World Trade Center is struck by a plane flown by Al-Qaeda terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jarad A. Denton - United States Army
The Stories of 9/11, 25 Years Later
Julius Li and Daniel Pippin • September 14, 2026

The 12 new staff members are welcomed to McLean prior to the first week of school. The new members will be working in a variety of positions at the school. Dempewolf: Fourth person from the left, front row. Zhou: Far left, back row. White: Not pictured.
Fresh faces
Julius Li, Managing Editor • September 7, 2026

McLean has welcomed 12 new staff members this year, including teachers, janitors...

Junior Sarah Nguyen preparing tufted rug for rug backing inside Tuft Tuft. After visitors finish their custom, handmade rugs, employees apply glue to secure the yarn to the backing.
Tysons’ crafting hidden gem
Jae Pham, Cartoonist • June 12, 2026

Shelves stacked high with bright yarn and walls adorned in a spectrum of colorful,...

A&E
“The Last Sunrise” never rises
“The Last Sunrise” never rises
Sophia Zafar and Elaine Zhang • September 14, 2026

With summer coming to a close, “The Last Sunrise” was expected to be the...

On Aug 25, Starbucks launched its new fall menu, bringing back fan-favorite seasonal icons along with new fall flavors and foods.
New Starbucks fall menu
Charlotte Wood, Reporter • September 7, 2026

On Aug. 25, Starbucks launched its new autumn menu, bringing back fan-favorite...

Coyote vs. Acme is now in theaters
Against all odds, Coyote vs. Acme reaches the big screen
Joseph Fontaine, Online A&E Editor • September 1, 2026

Coyote vs. Acme has taken an unusual path towards the big screen. After years...

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Opinions
Phone-Free Classrooms Make Sense. Phone-Free Lunches Do Not
Phone-Free Classrooms Make Sense. Phone-Free Lunches Do Not
Neel Sethi, Reporter • September 1, 2026

  Since Aug. 24, students entering McLean High School’s cafeteria have had their freedom of choice limited. Under Senate Bill 108, a state law that took effect starting on July 1, students must...

Cartoon by Maria Borst
Shake the junior jitters
Maria Borst, Reporter • June 17, 2026
The sign for McLean High School stands in front of the school on a bright afternoon day. At the time of this photograph school had been out for just over 2 weeks, and the month of June was almost over.
Make summer longer, McLean students need it
Brianna Hierlmeier, Reporter • June 8, 2026
Olive Young’s biggest competitor isn’t Sephora, it’s understanding the American consumer
Olive Young’s biggest competitor isn’t Sephora, it’s understanding the American consumer
Amelia Cho, Online Managing Editor • June 8, 2026
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