Staff Policies

McLean High School
1633 Davidson Rd, McLean, VA 22101
(703) 714-5700
[email protected]

ONLINE COMMENT POLICY: The online comment section beneath each of the website’s articles is meant to be a forum for reflection and discussion. The Highlander staff does not tolerate harassing, hateful, or vulgar comments. If a student enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) violates this code of conduct or any rules listed in FCPS’s Student Rights and Responsibilities guidebook, the student’s respective school administration will be notified. FCPS teachers are also expected to abide by FCPS guidelines regarding internet and social media use. If they fail to do so, their respective administrations will also be alerted.

EDITORIAL POLICY: The Highlander is a designated public forum in which students can express themselves, discuss issues and exchange ideas. School officials do not exercise prior review online, and student editors are in charge of all final content decisions.

ADVERTISING POLICY: The Highlander sells ad space throughout the website. The staff reserves the right to reject any ads it deems libelous, obscene, disruptive, or otherwise inappropriate.

ONLINE PUBLISHING POLICY: Any content can be published on The Highlander website unless it incites violence, spreads libel or slander, or interferes strongly with the operations of McLean High School. There is no administrative oversight that determines what content the staff posts on the website, and all decisions are made by staff members. To ensure that information is posted in a timely manner, the staff holds a brainstorming session at the beginning of each week to plan out what events must be covered on the website. All reporters are told to post about events within 24 hours of their occurrence. After articles are posted online, a team of five online editors checks them to validate the information. All managing editors and editors-in-chief also have editing access on The Highlander website and surveil its content.

TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITORS: Please email it to [email protected] or bring it to room R133. The staff reserves the right to edit letters for grammar and clarity, and all letters are subject to laws concerning obscenity, libel, privacy, and disruption of the school process. Use the Google Form posted on this page to request to write a letter.

Want to submit a story idea, write a letter to The Highlander, or publish an article on The Highlander website? Submit your ideas or requests using the Google Form provided here.