Message from the Principal

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Greetings Saxons,

The halls of Langley are abuzz as school staff prepare to welcome students back on Monday. We were thrilled to meet 9th grade and transfer students, along with their families, during yesterday’s orientation and open house. While disappointed we weren’t able to hold the open house for returning students, staff is excited to welcome them next week. To assist students with finding classrooms and other school locations, staff members will be in the halls and maps will be available when students arrive on Monday.

To help with planning, I am again sharing information related to the school day. Please note, school will start at 8:10 a.m. This is 10 minutes earlier than last school’s start.

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School Meals

Every student is eligible for one no-cost breakfast and one no-cost lunch each school day. However, if your student would like to purchase additional meals or a la carte items, they will need to pay. The best way to purchase items this year is to use MySchoolBucks. To expedite purchase, I ask that you please set up your student’s MySchoolBucks account. If you have questions about MySchoolBucks, the school’s front office staff can help.

Setting up a MySchoolBucks account for your student is especially helpful during the current nationwide coin shortage. FCPS cash registers will have limited coins available at the start of the school year to provide change for cash purchases. Purchases made with MySchoolBucks also keeps lines moving quickly.

Your student may choose to bring their meals and snacks to school this year. Langley HS encourages this practice for students who have specific dietary requirements or are particularly picky. Bringing food from home ensures your student will have the meals and snacks they enjoy to fuel their day of learning.

Be ready on day one by setting up your child’s MySchoolBucks account and looking over the menus.

Covid Safety Protocols

To ensure the safety of students and staff, we begin the school year with a mask requirement in place for everyone indoors on school properties and buses. Any student who does not comply with the mask requirement, and is not exempt from the requirement as outlined in Regulation 2109.1, will not be allowed to participate in face-to-face learning. Students who fail to attend school due to a refusal to wear a mask, will receive an unexcused absence. Intentional removal of, or refusal, to wear a face covering will be treated as a violation of the FCPS dress code policy (Regulation 2613).

Please talk with your student before school begins about the importance of wearing a mask at school to protect everyone against the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, and the consequences of refusing to wear a mask. I appreciate your help in encouraging students to do their part to contribute to a safe school environment.

Covid Vaccination Update

FCPS will require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by the end of October. Staff who choose not to, or are unable to be vaccinated, will be required to submit proof of a negative test on a regular basis. FCPS is planning division wide vaccination clinics, beginning in the next few weeks, to help staff and students get vaccinated and receive booster shots when eligible. More details will be shared over the coming weeks.

Grading Updates

FCPS is committed to consistent grading practices where grades are an accurate reflection of student learning. Last school year, temporary changes were made to secondary grading and homework expectations in response to pandemic learning. This past spring, a stakeholder group reviewed the grading changes from last year and recommended that two changes be made permanent. The following changes have been approved by FCPS leadership: 

  • 50 is the lowest grade on a 100-point scale.
  • Allow late work on major assignments with a maximum penalty of 10 percent if submitted within two weeks after the due date.

Last school year, FCPS set temporary limits for homework to account for the conditions of virtual learning and student wellness during the pandemic. FCPS is resetting homework expectations to account for both student wellness and the existing FCPS regulation on homework.

To ensure that student homework falls within existing FCPS regulations:

  • High school teachers should plan for homework not to exceed 30 minutes per class block.
  • When long-term projects require additional time, teachers should adjust daily homework assignments accordingly.
  • Reading assignments are considered part of the homework load.

Now, let’s celebrate the joy that is the start of the school year…

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We truly look forward to welcoming every student back to in person learning at Langley beginning Monday. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are partners working to ensure the best high school experience for each of our students.

Wishing you wellness,

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