 |
|
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
May 5, 2023
Literacy Night Shines with Learning
Thanks to all of the families who came out for Literacy Night last night! Parents and students got to visit three different sessions led by Lane teachers, who modeled the different ways language arts and reading lessons are taught in the classroom. Lane’s Reading Specialist, Katelyn Randolph, organized the event and held question-and-answer sessions before and after the classroom demonstrations.
Congratulations to Lane Band and Strings Students
Last weekend, several Lane Band and Strings students participated in the District X Solo and Ensemble Festival. All Strings students received a Superior rating (the top score) from the judge for their performances. (Rating for Band students not available.)
Upcoming Events
-
Monday, 5/8 – Friday, 5/12 – Teacher Appreciation Week
-
Friday, 5/12 – “Play and Chat” playground playdate for special-needs families, 5:30 p.m.
-
Monday, 5/15 & Tuesday, 5/16 – PTA Restaurant Days at Paisano’s, Springfield location only, all day!
-
Monday, 5/29 – Memorial Day Holiday, school and office CLOSED
-
Thursday, 6/1 – “Hail & Farewell” Reception for families leaving Lane, 4:30 p.m.
-
Friday, 6/2 - All student library books due
-
Tuesday, 6/6 – Chorus Concert, 7 p.m.
-
Thursday, 6/8 – Strings Concerts: 4th Grade, 6 p.m.; 5th & 6th Grade, 7 p.m.
-
Friday, 6/9 – PTA “Glow Party” Friendship Dance
-
Monday, 6/12 – 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9:30 a.m.
-
Friday, 6/16 – Last day of school, 2-hour early release at 2:05 p.m.
In This Issue
- Teacher Appreciation Week Starts Monday!
- SOL Testing Continues Next Week
- “Play and Chat” for Families and Students with Disabilities on Friday, May 12th, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
- Fourth Quarter Library Reminders
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Share Your Culture with Your Lane Family!
- Elementary Institute for The Arts Still Accepting Applications
- PTA News: Friendship Dance June 9th, Paisano’s Restaurant Days, 2023-2024 Executive Board
- Parent Resources: SEL Screener Reports, FCPS resources for families, Office of the Ombuds, upcoming webinars from the FRC
- FCPS News & Announcements: Safety & Security Town Hall, Strategic Plan final feedback, 2023-24 ESSER funding update
News & Notes
Teacher Appreciation Week Starts Monday!
The week of May 8th through 12th is National Teacher Appreciation Week. At Lane, we celebrate Staff Appreciation Week, as we honor all the amazing adults who work so hard with our students every day. This includes not only classroom teachers but also specialists (art, music, P. E., etc.), resource teachers (special education, ESOL, reading, math, etc.), and instructional assistants.
If you would like to express your appreciation for the work your child’s teacher has done this year, we encourage you to do so. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, as the best gifts are often simple and free. The Lane PTA has created special spirit days for the entire week with suggested tokens of appreciation:
-
Monday: Thank you for Teaching! Parents/guardians: Please email a note to your child’s/children’s teacher(s) to express your appreciation for all they do!
-
Tuesday: Teaching is Heart Work! Students: Wear red or hearts or both to share your love with your teacher(s)!
-
Wednesday: You Make Our Future "Bright!" Students: Wear bright colors to brighten your teacher's day!
-
Thursday: Lane Elementary School Teachers Are the Best! Families: You choose how to appreciate your teacher today! Whether it's bringing in a treat for them, a gift card, a handmade gift, or a handwritten poem, we know they'll love it all!
-
Friday: Take Note! We Appreciate You! Students: Use this form or write your own letter of appreciation! The form will be sent home in Wednesday Folders next week too. Please bring in your letter on Friday to bring all the smiles to our teachers as we wrap up Teacher Appreciation Week!
Thanks to all of our school community’s generous donations throughout the year, the PTA is also pleased to announce that they have planned a wonderful week of special activities to show appreciation to the Lane staff! Each day, they will share the celebrations through their Facebook page.
FCPS is also inviting families to submit a recorded video message thanking and celebrating their school’s amazing teachers and staff. Your video message may be selected to share with our teachers and community on FCPS’ website and social media channels throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. Surprising our teachers and staff with these messages of gratitude and support is part of the fun, so keep your contribution under wraps!
More information and a submission form are available online. Please be aware, the submission form requires a Google account. If you do not have a Google account and wish to be part of the celebration, share your messages on social media and tag FCPS on Facebook or Instagram.
Thank you for supporting our Lane staff in so many different ways!
SOL Testing Continues Next Week
We kicked off spring Standards of Learning (SOL) testing this week with reading tests for 3rd, 5th, and 6th grade students. Here are the dates for the remaining tests:
-
Monday, May 8th – 4th Grade Reading
-
Tuesday, May 9th – 5th Grade Science
-
Wednesday, May 10th – 3rd Grade Math
-
Monday, May 15th – 4th Grade Math
-
Tuesday, May 16th – 5th Grade Math (including advanced students taking the 6th grade test)
-
Thursday, May 25th – 6th Grade Math (including advanced students taking the 7th grade test)
You can help your children be physically prepared for testing by ensuring that they have a good night’s sleep the night before, eat a healthy breakfast in the morning, and come to school with a positive attitude. We also ask that you avoid scheduling appointments that will take your child out of school on test days. Make-up days will be available, but it’s best for students to take the tests on the scheduled day with their class. Retakes for certain students who qualify will start later in May.
If you have any questions about the SOLs or other academic concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher.
“Play and Chat” for Families and Students with Disabilities on Friday, May 12th, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Please join other Lane families and students with disabilities for an informal get-together at the big Lane playground on Friday, May 12th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Although this gathering, sponsored by the Lane PTA, is geared towards families and students with disabilities, all are welcome! If the weather does not cooperate, we will reschedule for a different day/time. Please fill out this form to help us gauge interest. For any questions, contact Jee Deogracias (inclusion@lanepta.org).
Fourth Quarter Library Reminders
With the beginning of final quarter of the school year, please note the following upcoming library protocols:
- Starting on Thursday, May 18th notices to help remind students of ALL of their checked-out library materials (not just overdue items) will be emailed weekly.
-
All student library books are due on Friday, June 2nd. Please do your best to get them in by this date!
- As always, the library does not have fees for overdue books; however, families are expected to pay the replacement cost for books that are lost or returned damaged.
Thank you for supporting the library! Contact Mrs. Chozick, Librarian, at schozick@fcps.edu with questions.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Share Your Culture with Your Lane Family!
People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions.
Here at Lane we would like to mark this special month in two ways:
First, we invite all of our students who identify as Asian American or Pacific Islander to share something from their culture with their Lane friends and families. Students are encouraged to bring in an item to put on display throughout the month of May.
The item must be:
- Specific to an Asian or Pacific Islander culture
- No larger than a lunchbox or heavier than 10 pounds
- Nonbreakable (to protect the item when taking it back and forth to school)
- School-appropriate for elementary-aged students.
Sharp items or weapons of any kind are prohibited.
Each item must be accompanied by a large index card or half-sheet of paper that includes the following information:
- Student’s name
- Student’s teacher’s name
- What the item is
- What country/culture the item is from
- One or two sentences about why this item is important to the student and/or how it relates to Asian or Pacific Islander culture.
Items will be displayed in the glass case outside the Lane Library. Items without written information will not be displayed. Please send in items by Monday, May 15th.
Please note that Lane and FCPS are not liable for loss of or damage to any item brought in to display.
Second, we will end AAPI Heritage Month with a slide show featuring our Asian and Pacific Islander students. If you would like for us to include a picture of your child, please email it to our family liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy at macrosby@fcps.edu no later than Monday, May 22nd.
We hope your student will participate and look forward to learning more about your family and culture!
Elementary Institute for The Arts Still Accepting Applications
Students in all FCPS elementary schools can enroll in the Elementary Institute for the Arts (EIFTA). EIFTA is a weekly arts-enrichment program for students who will be in 3rd through 6th grade next year. Students take classes in art, music, theatre, and dance every day. The program will be held during the month of July, and transportation is provided from around the county. Tuition assistance is available for students who qualify. Check out the website for more information or email eifta@fcps.edu.
PTA News
Shine Bright Like a Lion! End-of-School Friendship Dance – Friday, June 9th!
Lane!! ARE YOU READY??!! The Lane PTA is sending the 2022-2023 school year off with its very first Glow Party Friendship Dance! So, save the date: Friday, June 9th! Only 300 tickets will be sold (due to Fire Marshal regulations), so stay tuned and get ready! Ticket sales will begin next Thursday, May 11th.
May PTA Restaurant Days at Paisano’s in Springfield – Monday, May 15th and Tuesday, May 16th, All Day!
The last PTA restaurant fundraisers of the year will be at Paisano’s in Springfield on Monday, May 15th and Tuesday, May 16th.
|
|
 |
A full 25% of all Lane sales from the entire day, both days, will be donated back to our school! Both takeout and delivery count. Be sure to mention the Lane Elementary fundraiser when you call to order or place your order in person. Online orders cannot be captured unless you place a follow-up call to let them know it’s for Lane. Check the flyer in Wednesday Folders for more information.
PLEASE NO COUPONS OR OTHER PROMOTIONS - Since this is a school fundraiser, Paisano’s will only honor coupons offering free garlic knots or zeppoles with any order over $30.
Congratulations to the New PTA Board!
Please join us in celebrating our 2023-2024 Lane PTA board! Big thanks to all the parents who stepped up this week to give back to our Lane students and staff!
We’ll have lots of fresh ideas coming into the 2023-2024 school year, and we're just getting started. We can't wait for you to see!
Executive Board:
- President: Melissa Urbansky
- Vice President: Connecticut Wilson
- Secretary: Tara Barbiere
- Treasurer: Katrina Torres
- Vice President, Communications: Heather Ratcliff; Jaimie Buckingham, Co-Chair
- Vice President, Education: Quisha Cherry; Phillip McMahan, Co-Chair
- Vice President, Fundraising: Shannon McLaughlin
- Vice President, Social: Sem Tesfaye; Fionnuala Smyth, Co-Chair
Committee Chairs:
- Basket Bingo: Sasha Dudis
- Family Liaison/Family Engagement: Melanie Crosby Hardy
- Inclusion: Jee Deogracias
- Membership/Volunteers: Stephany Dula-Strong
- Read-A-Thon: Andrea Pagano
- Restaurant Nights: Dima Saettel
- Spiritwear: Ellen Burns
Parent Resources
Social Emotional Learning Screener Reports
Twice a year, students in grades 3-12 share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed through the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. These skills include achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. These factors are critical to positive academic, social, and emotional success.
Spring 2023 SEL Screener results will be mailed to families in mid-May. The Social Emotional Learning Screener Parent/Guardian Report and Guide has been updated to better reflect how SEL Screener results are used to support school and districtwide planning, in addition to supports for individual students. Visit the FCPS SEL Screener webpage for information in multiple languages, including tips for talking with your student about the report and strategies for strengthening SEL at home.
Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to Families
Being connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:
Office of the Ombuds: At Your Service!
Do you have questions or concerns about Fairfax County Public Schools? If so, reach out to the Office of the Ombuds, an independent, impartial, informal, and confidential resource for employees, parents/caregivers, students, and the community. Ombuds staff members are eager to listen and assist with navigating the school division. They will also offer options and resources to help resolve challenges.
Contact the Office of the Ombuds at 571-423-4014, at ombuds@fcps.edu, or via the “Submit a Question” button on their webpage. The team looks forward to serving you!
Upcoming FRC Webinars
The FRC is hosting the following upcoming webinars. Events are virtual unless stated otherwise.
(Click the webinar titles to register)
Equitable Access to Literacy: The Keys to Literacy Success
The Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan outlines the division’s continuous improvement efforts to align practices with science-based reading research.
We are excited to share webinars for families to learn about the shifts that FCPS is making to improve literacy instruction.
Webinar Highlights:
- What is the Science of Reading?
- What is the Virginia Literacy Act?
- How is the Equitable Access to Literacy Plan being implemented?
- Why is this so important for my student’s reading life?
Presented by Tara Hewan, Carrie Leestma, and Natasha Saunders.
Friday, May 12th, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
In this session, families and caregivers will learn about the what, the why, and the how of the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and skills. Participants will walk away with tangible strategies for supporting their children in owning and growing these transferable 21st-century skills.
Webinar Highlights:
- What are Portrait of a Graduate skills?
- Why are these skills important in school and in life?
- What is a Portrait of a Graduate Presentation of Learning (POG POL)?
- Why is POG POL an effective measurement tool?
- How can you support at home?
Join Nishi Langhorne, Manager of Learning Innovations, FCPS Instructional Services, for this important webinar.
Friday, May 19th, 10 – 11 a.m.
Meet Tracy Lee, co-author of 1-2-3 Magic for Kids.
Webinar Highlights:
- The counting method
- The timeout
- Common parenting mistakes
- Tips for encouraging positive behaviors
- Strengthening your relationship with your child
Saturday, May 20th, 9 a.m. – noon at Madison High School
The Sibshop workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with special needs to:
- Meet other siblings in a relaxed setting.
- Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs.
- Share sibling experiences and receive peer support.
- Play games and have fun!
Presented by FCPS School Social Work Services
FCPS News & Announcements
Community Conversation: School Safety and Security
FCPS will host a community conversation to discuss our approach to safety and security, and the work we do every day to keep our schools safe. Join us Monday, May 8th, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South Lakes High School. Register for the Community Conversation.
FCPS staff and experts will review our risk-assessment processes, the physical measures we already have in place to protect our students and staff, pilot programs to detect vaping, and how we communicate and collaborate with our partners when there is an incident at our schools.
Final Feedback Opportunity – Strategic Plan Survey
If you haven’t already, please participate in the final opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Strategic Plan goals, measures, and pillars. Take the survey today! Feedback will be reviewed by the School Board at their May 9th retreat. It will also be discussed at the May 25th Board meeting. The survey will close Wednesday, May 17th. Visit FCPS’ website to learn about the strategic planning process.
An Update on ESSER Funding, and the Proposal for 2023-24
In the fall of 2021, FCPS received $188.8 million in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding to support the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students.
Last week, Sloan Presidio, FCPS’ chief academic officer, presented the proposed ESSER expenditures for the 2023-24 school year, the last year of ESSER funding. This funding is in addition to the FCPS operating budget and is specifically targeting the impacts of COVID-19.
The proposed plan presented at the recent School Board Meeting is intended to maximize the dollars remaining in our funding. At least 20% of the funding must be spent toward unfinished learning. The proposed plan has nearly 80% of ESSER funds allocated to support student learning needs.
|
