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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
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The Lion’s Roar
January 20, 2023
Upcoming Events
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Monday, 1/23 –SCA Lane Spirit Day: Wear your Lane spirit wear or our school colors (blue and white or yellow)
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Tuesday, 1/24 – SCA Hat Day: Wear a favorite hat to school
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Wednesday, 1/25 – SCA Cozy Day: Wear whatever you feel cozy in
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Wednesday, 1/25 – End-of-quarter 2-hour early release, 2:05 p.m. dismissal
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Thursday, 1/26 & Friday, 1/27 – Student Holidays/Professional Workdays
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Tuesday, 2/7 – PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
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Thursday, 2/16 – STEAM Night, 6 – 8 p.m.
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Monday, 2/20 – Presidents Day Holiday, School and Office CLOSED
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Thursday, 2/23 – Spelling Bee, 4:45 p.m.
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Thursday, 3/2 – 2-hour early release, 2:05 p.m. dismissal
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Friday, 3/3 – Student Holiday/School Planning Day
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Tuesday, 3/7 – PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
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Thursday, 3/9 – Family Heritage Night, 6 – 8 p.m.
In This Issue
- Final Call for Spelling Bee Participants!
- End-of-Quarter Early Release and Student Holidays Next Week
- School Spirit Days Next Week
- A Message from the Lane Library
- International Night Is Coming Back Better than Ever with a Brand New Name – Family Heritage Night!
- Dual Language Immersion Program Registration Opens Monday!
- Make Plans Now for Summer Tech Adventure Camp
- PTA News: Teacher workday lunch January 27th, February meeting
- Parent Resources: substance abuse parent information; upcoming webinars from the Parent Resource Center
- FCPS News: Calendar planning update, FY 2024 budget
News & Notes
Can You Hear the Spelling Bee Buzz?
If your child in 1st through 6th grade is interested in participating in this year’s Lane Spelling Bee, be sure to fill out and return the form sent home or sign up online by Monday, January 23rd at 4 p.m. No late forms will be accepted. |
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The Bee 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). Study lists will be provided to interested students and optional before-school sessions may be held to help them practice and prepare.
If you missed the virtual parent meeting last night, you can review the information presented here or on the Library Schoology page.
Questions? Please contact Mrs. Chozick at schozick@fcps.edu.
End-of-Quarter Early Release and Student Holidays Next Week
It’s hard to believe we’re coming to the end of the second quarter of the school year already! Next Wednesday, January 25th, is the last day of this reporting period, so it will be an early-release day to give teachers a chance to get started on the end-of-quarter paperwork. Students will be dismissed at 2:05 p.m.
Thursday, January 26th and Friday, January 27th are Student Holidays, and students do not report. Teachers will be spending the days in professional development sessions.
Please make sure these schedule changes are on your calendar.
(Please note: Due to the short week next week, there will not be a Lion’s Roar on Friday. Look for the next issue on Friday, February 3rd.)
School Spirit Days Next Week!
To celebrate the end of the second quarter – and the first half of the school year! – the Lane SCA is sponsoring three spirit days next week (which is a short one due to Student Holidays/Teacher Workdays). Here’s the list of dates and themes:
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Monday, January 23rd – Lane Spirit Day: Wear your Lane spirit wear or Lane colors (blue and white or yellow)
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Tuesday, January 24th – Hat Day: Wear a favorite hat to school
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Wednesday, January 25th – Cozy Day: Wear whatever you feel cozy in (as long as it’s appropriate and safe for school)
All students are encouraged to participate. We hope yours will join in the fun!
A Message from the Lane Library: Overdue Notices Coming Soon
Dear Lane Readers,
With the start of the third quarter, please note that the library will be emailing overdue notices on Thursday, February 2nd. Students who have books that were due on January 25th or earlier will receive a notice. Please do your best to look for these books and return them in good condition!
As a reminder, there are no fines for overdue books; however, families are expected to pay for or replace lost/damaged books.
Contact Sue Chozick, Librarian (schozick@fcps.edu), with any questions.
International Night Is Coming Back Better than Ever with a Brand New Name – Family Heritage Night!
After a three-year absence due to COVID-19, one of Lane’s most popular traditions is coming back – International Night! This year it returns with a new name – Family Heritage Night – to make it even more inclusive and to better reflect the wide range of cultures and backgrounds that make our school so unique. However, our central theme remains the same – “A Celebration of Cultures.” Mark your calendars now for Thursday, March 9th, 6 to 8 p.m. because this is an event you won’t want to miss!
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We are looking for some parents to help with planning and putting on this event. We'll have displays, food, performances, and a Parade of Nations, among other activities – all of which need support. If you'd like to help and would like to learn more, please sign up here. Our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, will contact you soon with more information. Please note that if you help on the night of the event, it will be a limited shift, meaning you and your family can still actively participate to share your culture as well. Thank you to those who’ve already signed up to help. We will contact you with more information the first week of February.
Thank you in advance for your support!
Dual Language Immersion Program Registration Opens Monday!
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open this coming 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. Please note that you must register your incoming kindergartener at Lane as their base school before applying to the program.
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 are already underway. 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.
Make Plans Now for Summer Tech Adventure Camp
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is once again planning an engaging summer enrichment program for students! For our current kindergarten to 6th grade students, we have Tech Adventure Camp.
This weekly summer program gives students the opportunity to explore the exciting pathways in Career and Technical Education including STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and computer science. The cost is $275 per week, with transportation included! Check the flyer below for weekly themes and more details. (Click the picture to download the full-size PDF.)
PTA News
Staff Appreciation Workday Lunch Friday, January 27th – Your Help Is Needed!
On January 27th – a Teacher Workday – the Lane PTA will provide soups and salads for the Lane staff, who will be spending the day in professional development sessions. The lunch will be served in the cafeteria at 12 p.m., and the PTA needs volunteers to help make it a success. Please visit their electronic sign-up to let them know how you can contribute.
February Meeting Is Tuesday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
The February PTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. All parents and guardians are welcome.
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
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,83675189124#,,,,*818590# US (Washington DC)
+13052241968,,83675189124#,,,,*818590# US
Meeting ID: 836 7518 9124
Passcode: 818590
Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/ksCWya3fI
PTA Partners with the Principal for Parent Event on Friday, February 3rd, 8 a.m.
If you’re interested in learning more about the PTA and how the group works with and supports our school, as well as how you can get involved, please plan to join us for our monthly Partner with the Principal meeting, which will be held on Friday, February 3rd before school at 8 a.m. Child care will be provided for school-age children. More information coming soon!
Parent Resources
How to Talk About Alcohol Safety
Stores have been packed with holiday savings, credit cards have been charged, and food has been consumed. The holidays are often a time for family and friends to come together and create lasting memories with one another. The matching holiday pajamas leave a lasting impression on social media, but what impression does your relationship with alcohol leave on your child. Although difficult, conversations about alcohol safety are necessary.
When consuming alcoholic beverages around young people, consider the message you would like for them to receive. Have you caught yourself saying any of the following: “I need a drink,” “a drink would help me relax,” or “wine helps me sleep better at night”? These statements could inadvertently cause your child to believe that alcohol is a suitable replacement for healthy coping strategies.
It’s never too early to have age-appropriate conversations with your child about alcohol. About 10% of children say they have tried alcohol and that number increases to 50% by the time they are 15 (SAMHSA). Early and frequent conversations about alcohol and other drugs tend to be more effective than having “the talk” once. If you choose to not have the conversation with your child as a parent, they will still have the conversion with their peers. Silence communicates as loudly as a verbal conversation, so it’s up to you to decide what message is explicitly shared.
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.
Sources & Resources
Why You Should Talk With Your Child About Alcohol and Other Drugs
Talk, They Hear You
FCPS SAPS Program
If you’d like to learn more about how to have these difficult conversations, 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
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 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register for Morning Meeting and Responsive Advisory Meeting: Building Positive Classroom Communities through Social and Emotional Learning
FCPS News & Announcements
School Board Reviews Draft School Year Calendar Options
At their January 17th work session, the School Board discussed draft calendars that were created for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years. Draft calendars were developed using the following criteria as a framework:
- Federal, state, and Virginia Department of Education guidance.
- Superintendent’s priorities.
- School Board input.
- Student absentee data.
- Staff absentee data.
- Surrounding jurisdictions’ calendars.
- Survey results.
- Calendar Feedback Committee input.
You may view the draft calendars and other related documents in BoardDocs.
The calendars will be presented as new business during the School Board meeting on Thursday, January 26th. The Board is scheduled to vote on the calendars during their meeting on Thursday, February 9th.
Watch a recording of the Work Session.
Get information on FCPS' calendar-development process.
FY 2023-24 Proposed Budget Highlights
At the January 12th School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid proposed a budget for FY 2024 that focuses on attracting and retaining teachers and staff, initiatives aimed at closing the achievement gap for all students, and giving our youngest learners a strong start, including investments for special education students impacted during the pandemic.
The FY 2024 Proposed Budget totals $3.5 billion—a net increase of $249.6 million or 7.6% over the FY 2023 Approved Budget. Nearly 86% of the budget is targeted at instruction. The Proposed Budget focuses on several key areas:
- Innovative investments that close the achievement gap for all students:
- Equitable access to literacy.
- Increased access to PreK programming.
- Supports for students with special education needs.
- Funding for students in Advanced Academic Programs.
- Changing student enrollment needs.
- Increase in student and family supports, including access to middle school athletic opportunities that support student well-being.
- Continuation of green investments.
- Increased security measures.
- Proposed increases in employee compensation.
Watch Dr. Reid’s presentation to the board.
Access the presentation slides on BoardDocs.
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