Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We had a great week back from our long winter break. And, as we prepare to observe the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Monday, January 17, the county is watching for the potential of winter weather early in the week. We used all of our traditional snow days during last week’s snowstorm. Any future inclement weather days will include virtual learning whenever possible.
In order to be prepared for a Virtual Learning Day teachers and staff will make sure students have the devices and accessories they need and will go over how to log in to their virtual learning tools through Schoology and Zoom. Teachers will let students know what to expect for their classes.
At home, we ask that you do a few simple things that will make an inclement weather virtual learning day run smoothly:
- Make sure students bring their device home Friday and be sure the device is charged ahead of Tuesday.
- Review the Student Technology Readiness Checklist with your child and complete all the at-home readiness steps.
- Remind your child that the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule includes a two-hour delay so they can check their devices and make sure they are able to log in properly by 9:30 a.m.
- Remind your child that attendance will be taken on inclement weather virtual learning days.
During weather events, FCPS must consider power outages, technical connection issues, and whether students have access to devices that they may not have taken home the night before. FCPS will announce a virtual learning day in the weather closure announcement on our website and social media channels and through email communications and local media.
Thank you for your help in making sure an inclement weather virtual learning day is a successful one for your child. Enjoy the weekend and we look forward to engaging with our students on Tuesday either face to face or virtually!
Aimee Monticchio
Principal, Langston Hughes MS
The Monthly PTA Topic was Registration and Goal Setting. If you were not able to attend the meeting Monday, please listen to a recording of the meeting which can we found here.
January PTA Meeting
Passcode: Aa*$9?2#cf
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After School update
The Middle School After-School Program has now decided that for the safety of staff and students that the pause on after-school activities will continue through Friday, January 21, 2022. Any and all updates regarding the after-school program will be communicating with you as we receive them. Thank you all for your patient and understanding.
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In Observance of
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, January 17, 2022
Schools and Offices Closed
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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 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
Fairfax County Police Department Sully District Community Outreach will present Hidden in Plain Sight an interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. The presentation is Thursday, January, 27, from 7:00-9:15 p.m. at Langston Hughes Middle School. Please register at https://bit.ly/hipsreston21. Must be registered to attend. No children are allowed in this presentation and parents will be turned away if they have children with them.
Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) is an interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, mental health concerns, eating disorders, risky sexual behaviors and more. This is a IN PERSON hands-on learning adventure for PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ONLY! We guide you through a presentation that opens your eyes to what is right in front of you. This program begins with a setup of a teenager’s bedroom which includes close to 100 “red flags” that indicate risky behavior. Parents are encouraged to touch everything and identify our red flags. Times have changed since we were teenagers… do you think you can find them? The hands-on portion is followed by an educational section that includes a PowerPoint presentation detailing the red flag props that the room contained and how it is indicative of — or used in — risky behavior. We include up to date statistics and local trends, and law enforcement officers will share their experiences they have had in our community identifying risky behavior and helping to put kids on the right path to a healthy life. Let’s open the door to communicating with our teens!
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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 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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