The Weekly Roar - Friday, February 3, 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

February 3, 2023

 



Upcoming Events

  • 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
  • Thursday, 2/23 – Spelling Bee, 4:45 p.m.
  • Thursday, 3/2 – 2-hour early release, 2:05 p.m. dismissal
  • Friday, 3/3 – Student Holiday/School Planning Day
  • Tuesday, 3/7 – PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, 3/9 – Celebration of Cultures Night, 6 – 8 p.m.

 

In This Issue

  • February Is Black History Month – Join Lane’s Celebration!
  • STEAM Night Is Coming Thursday, February 16th!
  • Save the Date for Lane’s 2023 Celebration of Cultures Night – Thursday, March 9th!
  • National School Counseling Week, February 6th through 10th
  • Additional Resources for Rising 7th Grade Hayfield Families
  • A Message from the Lane Library: Overdue Notices Emailed This Week

  • PTA News: February meeting, Basket Bingo, and Restaurant Nights at Uno’s!
  • Parent Resources: Mental health resource, low-cost internet, upcoming webinars from the Parent Resource Center
  • FCPS News & Announcements: Calendar feedback, Strategic Plan community forums next week

 


 

News & Notes

 

Black History Month

 

February Is Black History Month – Join Lane’s Celebration!

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African-Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. You can learn more about Black History month here.

To celebrate this special month at Lane, we encourage students to do one or both of the following:

  1. Create a poster about a Black American that you admire. It could be someone from any time period or any part of life (sports, culture, music, politics, science, etc.). Tell us about that person’s accomplishments and why you admire that person.
  2. If you and/or your family are part of the Black culture, please share your experiences and tell us about your family’s history! We would also like to put together a slide show featuring our Black students and families. If you would like for us to include a picture of your child or family, please email it to our family liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy at macrosby@fcps.edu no later than Friday, February 24th.
STEAM Night 2023

 

STEAM Night Is Coming Thursday, 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, plan to join us for our first-ever Family STEAM Night on Thursday, February 16th from 6 to 8 p.m.

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! Check out the flyer for more details.

Please RSVP here to let us know you’ll join us. This will help ensure that we have sufficient materials.

 

 

globe with flags around it

Save the Date for Lane’s 2023 Celebration of Cultures Night – Thursday, March 9th!

We are so excited for the return of Lane's Celebration of Cultures Night, the family-favorite event formerly known as International Night. We haven't all been able to celebrate our wonderful, diverse community in person together since 2019, so this will be a night you won't want to miss! That entire week will also feature spirit days focused on students’ cultural experiences and sharing.

Watch for participation forms and a volunteer sign-up link in the next few weeks, as well as some special activities related to the event!

 

national school counseling week

 

National School Counseling Week, February 6th through 10th

National School Counseling Week 2023, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated next week, February 6th through 10th. Its goal is to focus public attention on and celebrate the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems and how students are different as a result of what school counselors do. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success. This year’s theme is “School Counselors: Helping Students Dream Big.” Lane is lucky to have two outstanding counselors – Ms. Corl and Dr. Perry – who help our young lions work toward their dreams every day.

 

Additional Resources for Rising 7th Grade Hayfield Families

If your 6th grader will be attending Hayfield Middle School next year, visit the school’s MS Academic Advising Site for resources that might be helpful as you make plans. The site includes videos from all subject-area teachers (elective and core) about the classes they teach as well as a link to the PowerPoint that was shared on Curriculum Night and a link to Hayfield’s rising 7th course selection sheet. This site can be especially helpful if you were not able to attend Curriculum Night last month. An additional parent coffee will be held in March.

If you have questions about the school, please contact one of their family liaisons – Robert Barnes (rdbarnes@fcps.edu) or Liliana Traweek (lrtraweek@fcps.edu). Ms. Traweek speaks both English and Spanish.

 

A Message from the Lane Library: Overdue Notices Emailed This Week

Dear Lane Readers,

The library emailed overdue notices yesterday. Students who have books that were due on January 25th or earlier received a notice. Please do your best to look for these books and return them in good condition! If you think a book has already been returned, please email Sue Chozick at schozick@fcps.edu.

As a reminder, there are no fines for overdue books; however, families are expected to pay for or replace lost/damaged books.

 


 

PTA News

 

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

 

Basket Bingo Is Back – Friday, March 24th! Tickets Now on Sale!

The PTA is excited to announce the return of one of its most popular events and biggest fundraisers – Basket Bingo! This year the theme is “Disney Night.” Information about the event was sent home in Wednesday Folders last week.

Please note that tickets ARE REQUIRED to attend. EVERY person, regardless of age or whether or not they are playing, MUST have a ticket due to Fire Marshal room-capacity regulations.

NO TICKET = NO ENTRY

Tickets are $15 for PTA Members | $20 for non-PTA Members | $7 per student/child.

Early Bird tickets are only on sale until February 28th! Prices will go up on March 1st.

The first 75 tickets sold will be entered into an early-bird raffle. Make sure to get your tickets now at https://lanepta.memberhub.com/w/basketbingo!

 

Donations Needed!

Can you (or your business) donate items for a basket? The PTA is looking for products, toys, entertainment tickets, gift cards, monetary gifts, etc. Donations are tax-deductible. Please let us know what you can donate. Be sure to include: child/parent name, email, and teacher/grade.

To make donations visit the PTA website: https://lanepta.memberhub.com/w/basketbingo.

 

Volunteers Needed!

Interested in volunteering? The Bingo planning committee would love to have your help! Visit the electronic sign-up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0948ABA922A1FDC70-basket. Thanks in advance for your support!

 

Basket Bingo flyer

 

 

February PTA Restaurant Nights at Uno’s in Kingstowne, February 6th & 7th!

Uno's logo

Next Monday, February 6th and Tuesday, February 7th are PTA Restaurant Nights at Uno’s! A percentage of Lane sales will be donated back to our school. Dine in and carryout both count! Check the flyers that were sent home in Wednesday Folders this week for details, and be sure to take it with you to the restaurant.

Thanks for supporting the Lane PTA!

 


 

Parent Resources

 

Filling Your Child’s Emotional Bank Account

Read the latest Healthy Minds blog to understand why relationships are like savings accounts, and how you can help build trust and security with your children.

 

Low-Cost Internet for Free and Reduced-Price Eligible Students

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program to lower internet costs for families with children who have been eligible for free or reduced-price meals within the last 12 months. A qualifying household will receive $30 per month toward internet services and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Families can check their eligibility and register at AffordableConnectivity.gov or by calling 877-384-2575.

 

Upcoming Webinars from the Parent Resource Center

Meet the Author Series: All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum by Kathy Hoopmann

Cats take a playful look at the world of autism, and these fun feline friends will strike a chord with all those who are familiar with children on the Autism Spectrum.

Join Kathy Hoopmann as she celebrates the diversity within this neurodiverse community by reading from her book and answering audience questions.

Thursday, February 9th, 7 – 8 p.m.

Register for Meet the Author Series All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum by Kathy Hoopmann

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

 

Neurodiversity at Elementary Schools

How can families partner with schools?

  • Strategies to set your child up for success
  • How to advocate for your child
  • Tools for collaborating with your child's school

Presented by Kristen Haynor, FCPS Neurodiversity Specialist

Friday, February 10th, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Register for Neurdoversity at Elementary Schools

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

 

Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education: An In-Person Workshop

For families, caregivers, and educators of students receiving special education services.

Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school!

It’s never too early or too late to prepare for your future. We want to help you start planning for a successful transition from school to life as a young adult.

Ensuring the postsecondary success of our students with disabilities is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for an evening focused on planning for the future.

You will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of representatives from CTS programs and services for students with disabilities, short- and long-term postsecondary supports, employment, and postsecondary education considerations, and Supported Decision Making, and student self-determination as an evidence-based predictor of post-school success.

This event also includes a student/parent panel where members describe their firsthand experiences as they navigated Fairfax County Public Schools and planning for their child’s future. A questions/answer session will follow.

FCPS educators, register in MyPDE to receive 2 recertification points for attending the entire event.

Wednesday, February 15th, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Snow Date: February 22nd)
Luther Jackson Middle School
3020 Gallows Road
Falls Church, Virginia 22042

Register for Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education

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

 

Supporting Mental Health through Play

Join us for a two-part interactive session designed for parents, caregivers, and educators to discover how incorporating more unstructured play and sensory foundational activities can support all young children’s development, including children with special needs and mental-health concerns.

 

Session #1 Highlights:

  • The power of unstructured play in creating opportunities to build executive functioning skills
  • Differences in play experiences over the past 30-40 years
  • Benefits and Ways of incorporating unstructured play into a child’s day.

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

 

Session #2 Highlights:

  • Angie Voss’ “power sensations” (movement & touch)
  • Reflecting on our own temperaments, including sensory preferences, in order to provide a “goodness of fit” for our child or student
  • Creating an environment where all young children can thrive.

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

This webinar is presented by Early Childhood Special Education Assistant Director Amber Gant with George Mason’s Training and Technical Assistance Center.

Session 1: Friday, February 17th, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Session 2: Friday, February 24th, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Register for Supporting Mental Health through Play

 


 

FCPS News & Announcements

 

Magnet School Application and Lottery Information

The Magnet School Program registration window will be open from Wednesday, March 1st, through Wednesday, April 12th. No late applications will be accepted.

To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Informational Nights:

  • Hunters Woods Elementary, February 13, 2023, at 6 p.m., in person
    • Snow date: February 21, 2023, at 6 p.m.
  • Bailey’s Upper, February 15, 2023, at 6 p.m., virtual only
  • Bailey’s Primary, February 16, 2023, at 6 p.m., in person
    • Snow date: February 23, 2023, at 6 p.m.

Visit the FCPS website for more details: https://www.fcps.edu/registration/elementary-magnet-school-lottery.

 

School Year Calendar Development

 

Deadline Extended for Feedback on Draft School Year Calendars

Thank you to the approximately 23,000 families, staff, students, and community members who completed FCPS' Calendar Feedback Form!

The School Board discussed the feedback during their January 31st work session. If you haven't had a chance to share your thoughts about the draft school year calendar options, please participate today. The form will close on Monday, February 6th, at noon. The School Board is scheduled to vote on a calendar on Thursday, February 9th.

Learn more about FCPS' calendar development process.

 

strategic plan

 

Share Your Thoughts with Us about the FCPS Strategic Plan

What keeps you optimistic about FCPS? What are your concerns? Answer these and two other questions on our Strategic Plan Feedback Form, and help shape our school division’s future.

Families are also encouraged to attend one of the ongoing Community Forums to help shape the new Strategic Plan. The closest planned forums to Lane are on the following dates:

Two virtual opportunities will be offered, one in Spanish on Wednesday, February 8th, 6 to 7:30 p.m., and one in English on Thursday, February 9th, 12 to 1:30 p.m.