Principal's Message
Dear Parents/Guardians,
When a positive COVID-19 case is reported at our school, a collaborative effort to investigate close contacts and determine the appropriate next steps for affected students begins. To help families know what to expect, the process is outlined on the FCPS website. Vaccination status is an important factor in determining the length of time an asymptomatic student will be out of the classroom so, if you are eligible, get vaccinated.
We understand that you may still feel the need for your child to attend the Virtual Program this school year. Langston Hughes is grateful to have all staff and students engaging in five days of in-person instruction. We believe that in-person learning is the best approach and are focused on providing a safe and positive learning experience for all students. The positive COVID rates in FCPS schools are around .3%, which encourages us to continue to believe that in-person learning for those without a documented medical need is the best option this school year. For more information, review the Return to School Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Whether your family needs medical care for a COVID-related issue, seasonal cold or allergies, injuries, routine exams, or mental health and wellness, our community has a number of resources for you. Visit the Mental and Physical Health and Community Resources webpage for a full list of organizations that can provide support and care.
Sincerely,
Aimee Monticchio
Principal, Langston Hughes MS
EARLY DISMISSALS
Student(s) must bring a note signed by the parent to the front office indicating reason for dismissal and time of departure. The student will be given an early dismissal form, which will be his/her pass to leave class at the indicated time to meet parent in the front office. Parent/parents designee (name must be on the emergency care card) must come into the office to sign out their Student(s) and have ID available. No emailed notes will be accepted. If a student returns to school again later the same day, he/she must check in at the office to get a pass before returning to class. NOTE: Students with afternoon appointments need to be picked up by 1:30pm to ensure that you will not be blocked in by school buses.
BUSES
FCPS bus transportation is an extension of the school day, and the same student behavior standards that apply in the classroom apply on the bus and at the bus stop. Riders are expected to respect the driver’s authority, remain in their seats, keep their hands to themselves and their voices low, keep the aisles clear, and generally behave in a way that contributes to a safe, pleasant trip to and from school. Also, students should be riding their designated bus to and from school, riding a bus that they are not designated to creates capacity issues and potential concerns should we need to contact you about a bus emergency.
Helping Your New Middle Schooler Survive & Thrive: Class of 2027!
As you and your student navigate the transition to middle school, consider joining Assistant Principal, Amy Smith, 7th grade class administrator, and other Hughes/FCPS personnel for monthly sessions that will help you and your student not only survive, but thrive!
The first session will be September 29 with the topic “Transition Strategies & Understanding What’s Developmentally Appropriate for Your Middle Adolescent.”
Use this Sign Up Genius link to RSVP; space and social distancing requirements require us to cap the event at 35 participants. First consideration will be given to 7th grade parents who are new to middle school.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0449AFAB238-survive
Future Academy Dates are October 28, December 1, January 18, and February 23 and include topics including school resources available to support you and your student, helping your student navigate social changes and social media, effective communication and affirmation, and course selection/special programming available to Hughes students.
ACT (Acknowledge, Care, and Tell an Adult) Program and Wellness Screening
On October 19th and 20th for 7th grade and on October 25th and 26th for 8th grade our clinical support team will be introducing a county-approved wellness screening curriculum to our students during health and PE classes The goals of this program are to educate students on the signs and symptoms of depression, to let students know what to do if they have concerns about themselves or a peer, and to connect students who may need support with resources inside and outside of our school. During the program, students will watch a video which will help students to identify signs of depression and distress in themselves and others, as well as what to do if they, or someone they know, are experiencing these symptoms. Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. Following the video, students will complete a response slip which asks whether they would like to talk to an adult about any concerns. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk. Students will complete a brief depression screening tool. This tool cannot provide a diagnosis of depression but does indicate whether a young person should be referred for evaluation by a mental health professional. We encourage you to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. Parents can also view video resources here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5e27-ocGBHqSSvbIIL9-1Ibr8gutAe5k If you would like your child to Opt Out or would like more information, please contact our school psychologist, Stephanie Harris at smharris1@fcps.edu
World Language Credit Exam
The 2021 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 16, 17 and 18, at Robinson SS, Centreville HS, and Edison HS. Thirty languages will be included: American Sign Language, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, German, Greek*, Hebrew*, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese*, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish*, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese. *Greek, Hebrew, Portuguese, and Turkish will be offered by the Writing Proficiency Test by Language Testing International.
Registration opens on Monday, September 13, 2021, at 8 a.m. and closes on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted. For more information contact your student’s counselor:
Marissa Brooks mlbrooks@fcps.edu - 7th Grade Last Names A-K
Mark Blocker mfblocker@fcps.edu – 7th Grade Last Names L-Z
Karen Back kabach@fcps.edu – 8th Grade Last Names A-K
Phyllis Degraffenried pjdegraffenr@fcps.edu – 8th Grade Last Names L-Z
Hughes After School Club Sign-up
The Club List and the Club Sign-up Form are posted on the
After School Google Site , https://sites.google.com/fcpsschools.net/hughes-after-school/home.
(This site is only accessible while using a student google account.) Students should pay attention to announcements during lunches and at the end of the day for club updates. Some clubs will be added, as we gain access to more space. Also, your student may find their late bus information on their "StudentVue" under Student Information
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The AVID College Readiness System is designed to increase the number of students who enroll and succeed in higher education and in their lives beyond high school. Many AVID students will be first-generation college students.
AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 middle or high school students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). The class is led by a trained teacher and may include 2-4 tutorial groups (depending on class size). These groups use higher order questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.
Tutors may work 1 to 25 hours per week, depending on tutor availability and openings in select Fairfax County public schools. They earn $17.71 per hour. Candidates must be currently enrolled in college or be college graduates. They should be willing to serve as positive role models for middle and high school students. Comfort with higher-level math is especially needed, though not required.
Becoming an AVID tutor is also available to college students as a part-time job OR internship.
Finally, tutors must have reliable transportation as most of our schools are not accessible using public transport.
Interested applicants should send a resume to Bridget Wright at bmwright@fcps.edu.
This is a program at Langston Hughes, but you can also work at other schools close by including South Lakes and Herndon Middle and High school.
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Ms. Echols and her students are reading A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park and participating in the Iron Giraffe Challenge. Ms. Echols is proud to say that they are participating for a third year. Each year, they have managed to reach their goal. Please see details below:
A Long Walk to Water is often read in middle school, usually in seventh grade, and students are so inspired by Salva’s story that they want to help. To harness the energy and excitement of students we created the Iron Giraffe Challenge– so named because that is how the villagers refer to the drilling rig in the book. Each academic year schools are challenged to raise $1,000. Schools completing the challenge are entered into a drawing to have Salva visit their school (Water for Sudan website).
We are, once again, calling on you to share our fundraising page with family and friends. Given the on-going state of our world, it continues to be vital that we think about and look to help others. We hope that as our students participate in this project, they learn some of what it means to be a global citizen and to consider the needs of others.
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Mark your calendars......Tuesday, October 5 and Wednesday, October 6 are school picture days. Stay tuned for further information as to what class this will happen in and how to order "Online” There will be no paper ordering this year and the photos will be delivered directly to your home.
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October 5th & 6th - School Picture Days
October 11 - Student Holiday - Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 29 - End of 1st QTR - 2 Hour Early Release
November 1 & 2 - Student Holiday - Teacher Workdays
November 11 - Veterans Day - 2 Hour Early Release
November 24 - 26 - Schools and Office Closed - Thanksgiving
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