The Weekly Roar - Friday, January 6, 2023

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

Para leer este boletin en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.

يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى


 

The Lion’s Roar

January 6, 2023

 

Happy New Year

 

A Musical Interlude to Start the Year

Strings students playing instruments

 

Our Strings students have been working hard on building their instrumental skills since the school year began. You can listen to a sample of our 5th and 6th grade musicians by clicking on the video links below.

5th Grade Tuesday, Block 1: French Folk Song
5th Grade Tuesday, Block 2: Bile Em Cabbage

6th Grade Tuesday: Soul Strings
6th Grade Tuesday: Cinnamon

 



Upcoming Events

  • Monday, 1/9 through Friday, 1/13 – FCPS Family Math Week (see article below for more information)
  • Tuesday, 1/10 & Wednesday, 1/11 – PTA Restaurant Days at Olympians
  • Tuesday, 1/10 – January PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
  • NEW DATE! Friday, 1/13 – Partner with the Principal: Mid-Year Check-In and Open Forum, 8 a.m.
  • Monday, 1/16 – Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Holiday – NO SCHOOL
  • Friday, 1/20 - PTA Game Night
  • Wednesday, 1/25 – End-of-quarter 2-hour early release, 2:05 p.m. dismissal
  • Thursday, 1/26 & Friday, 1/27 – Student Holidays/Professional Workdays
  • Tuesday, 2/7 – PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
  • Thursday, 2/16 – STEAM Night, 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Monday, 2/20 – Presidents Day Holiday, School and Office CLOSED

 

In This Issue

  • The Lane Spelling Bee Is Back!
  • Bullying Education, Prevention, and Intervention in FCPS, a Virtual Presentation for Hayfield Pyramid Parents and Guardians
  • Partner with the Principal Mid-Year Check-In Next Friday, January 13th

  • Save the Date for Family STEAM Night – February 16th!
  • Do You Need to Update Your Child's Emergency Care Information? Use WeCare@School through ParentVUE!
  • Attention Rising 7th Grade Families: Transition Nights Scheduled for Next Week at Hayfield and Twain!

  • We Need Your Input on Literacy Communication
  • FCPS Family Math Week January 9th – 13th
  • Dual Language Immersion Program Registration Opens January 23rd
  • PTA News: Next meeting, January 10th; Winter Enrichment registration now open; Restaurant Days at Olympians next week, Game Night on January 20th
  • Parent Resources: Student Safety & Wellness Office news; upcoming webinars from the Parent Resource Center

 


 

News & Notes

 

The Lane Spelling Bee Is Back!

After two years, the Spelling Bee is returning to Lane! It will look a little different, though, this year. First and foremost, this is now an OPTIONAL activity; there is no requirement to participate and activities will not occur during the school day.

Spelling Bee art

The Bee is open to all students in 1st through 6th grade. It will be held on Thursday, February 23rd at 4:45 p.m. (with an inclement weather date of Thursday, March 2nd at 2:45 p.m., an early-release day).

Students who are interested in participating in the Bee must return the paper form sent home in Wednesday Folders this week to Mrs. Chozick or complete the electronic registration form posted in Schoology (Library Course) by Monday, January 23, 2023 at 4 p.m. Late forms will not be accepted. More information is available on the form sent home.

Study lists will be provided to interested students and optional before-school sessions may be held to help them practice and prepare. A parent/student information session will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, January 18th at 6 p.m. A link will be sent closer to the meeting date.

Artwork is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

 

Bullying Education, Prevention, and Intervention in FCPS, a Virtual Presentation for Hayfield Pyramid Parents and Guardians

We invite you to join the Hayfield Pyramid principals next Thursday, January 12th from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom for a presentation given by Stefan Mascoll, coordinator for the office of Student Safety and Wellness in FCPS.

Stefan will provide information for Hayfield Pyramid parents and guardians on Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention. Topics to be covered include the definitions and examples of bullying, harassment, and other types of concerning behaviors; school bullying and harassment prevention and response; and tips and resources for parent prevention and response. Please use THIS LINK to join the session. We look forward to connecting with you on this important topic!

 

Partner with the Principal Mid-Year Check-In Next Friday, January 13th

Next Friday morning, January 13th, before school from 8 to 9 a.m., we will host our next Family Engagement Series/Partner with the Principal session for parents. This month we’ll have a mid-year check-in open forum. Feel free to bring your questions for Mrs. Prahl!

Child care will be provided for children ages 4 and up (younger children will remain with their parents).

If you plan to attend, please RSVP here. Your response will help us plan for child care and refreshments.

We hope you are able to join us!

STEAM image

 

Save the Date for Family STEAM Night – February 16th!

Are you curious about what your child is learning in science? Would you like to try your hand at some engineering, math, or art activities? If so, mark your calendar now for our first-ever Family STEAM Night on Thursday, February 16th! STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math, and we’ll showcase all of that and more at this entertaining, interactive, and educational event for the whole family! Stay tuned for more information coming soon!

 

Do You Need to Update Your Child's Emergency Care Information? Use WeCare@School through ParentVUE!

By the beginning of this new calendar year, your family might have made changes that need to be updated on your child’s school Emergency Care Form. Did you know you can update who has permission to pick up your child from school by using the weCare@school function within your ParentVUE account (under “Other Contact Information”)? You can also update your child’s physician’s information in the same app. For more information, visit https://www.fcps.edu/resources/parent-communication-overview/wecareschool.

Please note that changes to your address or your phone number still require you to contact the school directly, since those are tied to various official systems.

 

Attention Rising 7th Grade Families: Transition Nights Scheduled for Next Week at Hayfield and Twain!

All current 6th grade students will begin academic advising and course selection for 7th grade this month. Transition events are planned at both Mark Twain Middle School and Hayfield Secondary School soon.

Hayfield will host a Curriculum Night for its soon-to-be 7th graders and their families on Wednesday, January 11th. Welcome presentations begin at 6 p.m. and the Currculum Fair will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Middle School Cafeteria. Attendees will be able to learn more about the academic advising and course-selection process as well as meet with teachers and staff to get your questions answered about electives and courses to take.

For more information, see the flyer below or contact Hayfield Student Services at 703-924-7522.

Hayfield  Curriculum Night flyer

 

Mark Twain Middle School will host its Transition Night on Monday, January 9th at 6 p.m. It includes a Rising 7th Grade Orientation and an information session about the AVID program.

On Wednesday, January 11th, that school will host its annual Electives Extravaganza, where soon-to-be 7th graders can learn more about the different opportunities offered.

Continue to watch your child’s teacher’s weekly communication for more details.

 

We Need Your Input on Literacy Communication

Our reading specialist, Katelyn Randolph, is seeking input on how to better support YOU and your children surrounding literacy practices here at Lane.

She welcomes your feedback through this short Google form, or you can reach her by email at kprandolph@fcps.edu. Please feel free to reach out to that address with questions as well.

Thank you for taking the time to provide this valuable information.

 

FCPS Family Math Week January 9th – 13th

fcps math week

 

Come together as a community for students in K-8 for 5 nights the week of January 9, 2023, with delightful math games and stories - all on your own time and from the comfort of your own home. All content will be available for free directly to all families in English and Spanish.

Through rich story-based mathematics experiences, math week offers families an opportunity to experience math, literacy, history, and geography in a positive way. The games and stories feature several countries including Lesotho, Madagascar, Ghana, and China.

All content will be available completely free on the website starting January 9, 2023. To access the games, families will be able to simply click on the day of the week and find their child's grade and language. View the website at anytime for explanations and videos.

Families can play for as little as 15 minutes or replay over and over lasting more than an hour on any given night. For families that want to reduce screen time, we will have physical print options for access to the content and games as well.

Use the games and stories on our website or dust off your favorite math game and play it as a family.

Any and ALL math experiences outside of a normal week count. Our goal is for FCPS to experience 1,000,000 minutes of math outside of the school day. Join us!

 

children's hands holding the world

 

Dual Language Immersion Program Registration Opens January 23rd

Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 23rd. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2023-24 school year.

Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. Visit the DLI registration page for more information.

Parents who are interested in the DLI programs in FCPS are encouraged to attend an informational meeting at their school site. Meetings will begin on Wednesday, January 11. Details regarding access to virtual meetings will be available on the Dual Language Immersion registration page by the meeting date. Get more information on DLI programs and registration.
.


 

PTA News

 

January Meeting Is Next Tuesday, January 10th, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom

The first Lane PTA meeting of 2023 will be held next Tuesday, January 10th at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. All parents and guardians are welcome. The agenda includes the release of the 2023 event calendar, a budget update, and the kick-off of planning for the return of Lane’s legendary “Basket Bingo” night (Friday, March 24th, 6 to 10 p.m.) and announcement of the event’s theme!

Information to join the session is below.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83675189124?pwd=NExkdkxEZDYwYVB5S213RlRScTBVdz09

Meeting ID: 836 7518 9124
Passcode: 818590

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/ksCWya3fI

 

Restaurant Days at Olympians Next Week – Tuesday, January 10th and Wednesday, January 11th!

Make plans to dine out Tuesday or Wednesday next week and support a favorite family-run neighborhood eatery – Olympians at Landsdowne Center – as well as our school.

Olympians Restaurant

A percentage of all Lane orders for the entire day, both days, will be donated back to the school. Dine-in and carryout both count! You can find the details on the flyer sent home in Wednesday Folders this week.

 

Registration for Winter Enrichment Programs Is Now Open!

The PTA has organized an entertaining and educational line-up of before- and after-school enrichment programs for the winter session. Registration is open until Thursday, January 19th at 11:59 p.m. Programs fill up quickly, so don’t delay. Get more information and register today online!

winter pta enrichment program schedule

 

Parent Resources

 

Student Safety & Wellness News

 

New Year’s Resolutions

In December, many people will head to their local Target or Michaels to find a new planner. The crisp, fresh feeling of new paper to write new and improved goals gets some of us excited. When thinking of your goals consider making them SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound), this method breaks your goals down into specific objectives and makes it easier for you to track your progress. What goals would you like to share with your child, to show them examples of healthy adult introspection? Introspection, looking within, is necessary to learn how to manage stress in a healthy manner. What regular coping skills can be implemented into your daily/weekly routine? Some goals may be physical, spiritual, financial, or emotional. Would it be easier to have serious conversations over a family dinner? Or maybe regular family dinners spark joy and connection that’s often missing.

Research has shown that family therapy is the best treatment option for young people who misuse drugs and alcohol (SAMHSA). Many people use drugs to manage life’s hardships when they feel disconnected from themselves or others. The opposite of addiction is connection, and young people benefit from connection with their families. Families who have a common mission based on autonomy and openness instead of secrecy and silence thrive. Families teach young people how to manage stress when they communicate honestly and openly with one another. Learning how to manage stress early in life could be a major factor in whether or not a young person decides to use drugs.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: 571-423-4270.

Sources and Resources
Why Small Conversations Make a Big Difference

SMART Goals Quick Overview

Knowing the Signs: Substance Abuse & Today’s Youth

 

Difficult Conversations about Alcohol and Drugs

What knowledge and information do you have to engage in meaningful conversation with your children about drugs? If you’d like to learn more, please plan to attend a special presentation on this topic at Hayfield Secondary School on Monday, January 30th, from 6 to 8 p.m. (Please note that this session is for adults only.)

After this session, you will understand basic info about alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids; be able to list what you can do as a caregiver; and identify and connect with community resources. Please see the flyer for more details.

For further information and support on all of these programs, please contact Bryan Villalobos, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist at bvillalobos@fcps.edu.

 

Upcoming Webinars from the Parent Resource Center

 

Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We Are All Neurodiverse?

All human beings are neurodiverse. There is infinite variation of thinking and experiencing the world due to our identities, experiences, and brain wiring that is a valuable form of human diversity (Büdy, 2021; Singer, 2019). This webinar examines the brilliance and advantages of neurodiversity and the different ways brains may function as it relates to neurodivergence or neurotypicality.

  • What is the relationship between neurodiversity and student relationships and engagement?
  • How can we use asset-based language?
  • How can we reflect on individual mindsets towards inclusion for all students?

Presented by Kristen Haynor, FCPS Neurodiversity Specialist

Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 6:30 p.m: View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Friday, January 13, 2023 at 10 a.m: View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

Register online for Neurodiversity: What Do You Mean We Are All Neurodiverse?

 

Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

The first five years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a child’s development. Social and emotional development includes the child’s experience, expression, and management of their emotions, and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others. Join us for this important webinar to learn about the social-emotional developmental milestones in early childhood.

Webinar Highlights:

  • Identify social-emotional skills that develop in early childhood
  • Discuss strategies to support children in their social-emotional development
  • Explore concepts of attachment, temperament, and self-regulation and their impact on social-emotional development

Presented by Naomi H. Grinney, LCSW, Infant Mental Health Specialist, IMH-E® Clinical Supervisor/Behavioral Health Senior Clinician Infant-Toddler Connection of Fairfax – Falls Church

Friday, January 20, 2023, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Register for Social-Emotional Milestones in Early Childhood

View the individual event page if you would like to share this event with others.

 

Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning

Join us to hear about how teachers and school staff are building positive schoolwide and classroom communities through social and emotional learning.

During this session, families will:

  • Learn about the evidence-based Responsive Classroom practices of Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting.
  • Understand how teachers are using these practices to engage students in learning that is challenging, developmentally appropriate, and supportive of the whole child.
  • Learn new tips so you can continue these responsive practices at home.

The presenter is Ivette Robles, FCPS Curriculum Resource Teacher, Office of School Improvement and Supports.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at 1011:30 a.m.

Register for Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning