Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
The week has afforded us all more time not only to enjoy the winter weather, but also to navigate the surge in Covid-19 cases. As we return to school, the county has made plans in the event we are in need of adjusting our normal operations. You can read more about our plan for the next three weeks on this website.
How You Can Help:
- Keep your child/ren home when sick.
- Sign your child up for optional screening testing and make use of our diagnostic testing if your child has symptoms.
- Remind your children to wear their masks properly, wash their hands regularly, use hand sanitizer. Masks are also required on the bus.
- Consider alternative ways to get your child to school, such as walking, cycling, or carpooling, to minimize late arrival to school.
- Access the Bus Delay App to receive current bus delay information.
- Get your children vaccinated. Vaccination helps reduce the severity of illness and remains the best tool for ending the pandemic. On Monday, the FDA expanded booster eligibility to 12-15 year-olds and shortened the time needed before receiving a booster shot from at least six months after completion of the initial series to at least five months, for everyone 12 and older. If you need a vaccination or booster, the Fairfax County Health Department website is a great source of information about clinics and other vaccination opportunities.
- Considering becoming a sub or a classroom monitor
The special topic at the January PTA Meeting will be Academic Advising and Course Selection for Next Year and Student Goal setting. Also, I will be available to answer any questions the community has as we return to school in this new year. I hope many are able to join. The link is provided here:
Time: Jan 10, 2022 07:00 PM
Join Zoom Meeting: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/98641413834
There are additional grade-level specific opportunities to hear about our Academic Advising and Course Selection process in the details below. We hope you will join us at one of them.
Aimee Monticchio
Principal, Langston Hughes MS
Academic Advising and Course Selection for the 2022-2023 School Year
It is hard to believe that it is already time to be planning for the 2022-2023 school year! We look forward to working with you and your child to make educational decisions regarding course selections for the next school year. Please see below for important information about the course selection process. We will be sending a letter home about the academic advising process in the coming weeks, but please see the important information below.
Rising 7th Grade
Join us virtually on Wednesday, January 12th at 6:30 pm for the Langston Hughes Rising 7th Grade Virtual Curriculum Night and Electives Showcase. Rising 7th grade students and parents/guardians are invited to attend our Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night and Electives Showcase. There will be a synchronous presentation for students and parents to hear about student life at Langston Hughes. Students and parents will also learn details about course information, including information about our International Baccalaureate program, advanced academics, special education and ESOL services, AVID, and other programs. Students and parents will also have time to explore our Langston Hughes Student Registration site to learn about electives courses and more! We will send the link to the session and registration site in a future communication.
Rising 8th Grade
Parents/Guardians are welcome to join our Director of Student Services, Michele Beard, for a Rising 8th Grade Virtual Parent Information Session on Thursday, January 20th. The session is offered at two times on those dates: 10 am and 6 pm. We’ll provide information about the academic advising and course selection process. We will send the link to the session in a future communication.
Rising 9th Grade
Due to the surge of Covid cases, both the Herndon HS and South Lakes HS in person curriculum nights have been cancelled. Students/parents can access the Herndon HS Virtual Curriculum Fair website. The South Lakes virtual site is coming soon!
COVID-RELATED INFORMATION
How should I report an absence due to COVID, Close Contacts, Quarantine?
Please call our attendance line at 703-715.3636 and or report your absence online at hughesmiddle.attendance@fcps.edu. While we encourage your child to reach out to teachers if they will be absent, please do not report the absence to individual teachers. We request you always contact our attendance line first so we can ensure accurate attendance and provide the correct guidance for COVID related absences.
When and where can I get my child tested for COVID?
FCPS will offer free COVID testing for students who may be showing symptoms in order to have your child tested, you will need to register here. You will need to have your child’s student ID number. This is the same 7-digit number that they use as their log-in on their computer.
What if my child is not feeling well when school starts? What if they are not feeling well already?
As you’ve done all school year, please keep your child home if they are not feeling well. This includes having a fever, cough, runny nose and/or vomiting. If the symptoms go away on their own the next day, your child can return to school. No medical note or test is needed.
What happens if I send my child to school with a runny nose, cough, or other COVID-like symptoms?
Your child will be sent to our Care Room, and we will call you to come pick up your child. In order to return to school, your child will need documentation of either a negative COVID test or clearance from your healthcare provider.
What if my child recently tested positive for COVID? When can they return to school?
At this time, the return to school policy is still the same even if they are vaccinated: A student must stay out of school for 10 days beginning from the start of their symptoms. So, if they start showing COVID symptoms on January 1 and then test positive, they can return on January 11. They will need a note from either the Fairfax County Health Department OR their healthcare provider that clears their return to school. If FCPS changes this policy, we will communicate it.
My child does NOT have COVID, but they were close to someone who tested positive. What should I do? When can they come to school?
First, please contact the school at 703.715.3600 to share that your child is a close contact.
As for their return, it depends. If your child is fully vaccinated, you will work with the health department to verify that your child is vaccinated and asymptomatic. Once that is done, the health department notifies us, and if your child is not showing symptoms, they can come to school.
If your child is not fully vaccinated, they will need to stay at home for seven days (from the date you reported to us that your child has been identified as a close contact). If your child remains symptom-free AND you provide a negative COVID-19 test (Rapid Antigen or PCR) taken on day five of quarantine or later, your child may return to school on Day 8.
I still have questions. Where can I get answers?
The first place I go for answers is our FCPS website, in particular this page: https://www.fcps.edu/return-school/health-and-safety-guidance-document
After School update
As a safety precaution, FCPS has paused all Middle School After-School programs. A re-evaluation will take place on January 14th with the hope of continuing our programing, starting January 18th. Updates will be shared as they are received.
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AVID Recruitment begins in elementary schools after winter break
This is just information for parents who may have rising 7th grade students. We are looking for AVID students for the 2022-2023 7th grade class. AVID students are typically students achieving in the middle, capable of completing a college preparatory path with support. These students often are not realizing their full potential academically. In the identification process a number of criteria are considered, including:
- 0+ GPA (some 2’s, but mostly 3’s and 4’s on elementary report card)
- Positive behavior and leadership potential
- Good attendance record
- Demonstrates desire and determination to achieve academically and prepare for college
- Strong possibility to be first in the family to attend college
- Member of group that is historically underrepresented in 4-year colleges/universities
- Economically-disadvantaged
- Other special circumstances
If this sounds like your student, then you may want to consider applying to AVID! Students must apply to be enrolled in the AVID elective. Students must complete an application and interview. After completing the application, they will be interviewed in person at their elementary school by an LHMS AVID Site Team member. The application is due January 12th.
Please contact your student’s elementary school teacher and/or school counselor if you need assistance or have questions.
AVID Recruitment for rising 8th graders at LHMS will begin in February…stay tuned for that information.
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 Please contact Liz Falcone at emfalcone@fcps.edu if you think you can support this program. Donations of $5 or $10 gift cards are ideal and can be delivered to the school: Attention – Liz Falcone.
January 10 - Virtual PTA Meeting
January 17 - Schools and Offices Closed - MLK Holiday
January 20 - 2-Hour Early Release - End of 2nd Quarter
January 21 - Student Holiday - Teacher Workday
January 24 - Student Holiday - Professional Development Day
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