REMINDER! Labor Day Long Weekend Ahead, No School Tomorrow or Monday
Please note that there is no school tomorrow or Monday in honor of the Labor Day holiday. School will reopen on Tuesday, September 5th at the regular time. Labor Day falls on the first Monday in September each year. It's the day to honor and remember all working people and celebrate those who've fought for workers' rights. We hope your family enjoys a restful holiday.
Upcoming Events
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Friday, 9/1 through Monday 9/4 – Labor Day Holiday Break, school and office CLOSED
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Wednesday, 9/6 & Thursday, 9/7 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Hangry Burger, 4 – 8 p.m.
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Monday, 9/11 – Patriot Day/Start of Kindergarten Color Weeks – Wear red, white, and blue (see article below for details)
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Tuesday, 9/12 – PTA Meeting and Read-a-Thon Kick-Off Celebration, 6 – 8 p.m.
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Thursday, 9/14 – Advanced Academics Program (AAP) Parent Information Meeting, 6 p.m., Library
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Friday, 9/15 – Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown (FCPS Observance Half-Day)
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Monday, 9/25 – Yom Kippur Holiday, school and office CLOSED
In This Issue
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Safety Drills During the School Year
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Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Parent Meeting, Thursday, September 14th, 6 p.m.
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Patriot Day and September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance
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Would You Like to Volunteer at Lane? Please Review Our Volunteer Orientation Online
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From the Shelves of the Lane Library: Volunteers Needed and Call for Missing Books!
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Kindergarten Color Weeks – Help Our Littlest Lions Learn Their Colors!
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Talking Points Additional Outreach Form Update
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Health Information and Emergency Care Forms
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PTA News: Membership, Restaurant Nights, and Read-a-Thon
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Parent Resources: Signs of drug use and danger of overdose; free webinars for parents/guardians
- Community Events & Activities: Hayfield Little Hawks Cheerleading Clinic, September 6th & 7th
News & Notes
Safety Drills During the School Year
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance.
The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill.
Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.
You can learn more about safety and security protocols and language by watching these two videos:
FCPS also provides information on its Frequently Asked Questions about Lockdown Drills page and in the document Parent/Guardian Tips to Support Students Before, During, and After Required Lockdown Drills.
Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Parent Meeting, Thursday, September 14th, 6 p.m.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Learning experiences are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extension of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs). Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide four levels of services. More information can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary/advanced-academic-programs.
You can learn more about AAP at Lane and in FCPS at a parent information session on Thursday, September 14th at 6 p.m. in the Lane library. At this meeting Linda Simon, Lane’s Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, will provide information about the continuum of AAP services in Fairfax County as well as a brief overview of the screening process for both part-time and full-time AAP placement. This meeting is open to all interested parents with students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Patriot Day and September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance
With the upcoming 22nd anniversary of the sad events that occurred on September 11, 2001, FCPS acknowledges the loss of life, the heroism of our first responders, and the resilience of our country. The September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, also called Patriot Day, is a chance to reflect and act in service to others to honor those who were injured or killed in the terrorist attacks.
We will observe Patriot Day here at Lane by wearing red, white, and blue. We encourage your child to participate.
All FCPS students are also encouraged to participate in service learning as it supports Portrait of a Graduate (POG) attributes and social and emotional learning (SEL) skills. Here are two Fairfax County volunteer opportunities to get started this fall: Public Lands Day (Saturday, September 23rd) and Volunteer Fairfax’s VolunteerFest (Saturday, October 21st ). Information on service projects can be found on the Volunteer Fairfax website.
Would You Like to Volunteer at Lane? Please Review Our Volunteer Orientation Online
The spirit of service and volunteerism is strong at Lane, too! We always appreciate any support you can provide and offer a variety of ways that you can help.
We ask that all family members who’d like to volunteer at school complete an orientation that covers responsibilities and expectations. We understand that it can be difficult for families to attend information sessions, both during the school day and in the evenings, so this year we have put the information online. Please review these slides at your convenience before scheduling your first day of volunteering.
Once you have reviewed the slides, please fill out our Lane Volunteer Form. Once that is complete you can reach out to your child’s teacher or others on staff to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Thank you for your cooperation and generous support!
From the Shelves of the Lane Library: Volunteers Needed and Call for Missing Books!
Our librarian, Mrs. Chozick, is in need of volunteer help in the library. Most of the work will be shelving books (training will be provided); occasionally other help will be needed, like making copies or taking down displays, but expect to be shelving books most of the time.
If you can spare just one or two hours once a week, that would be splendid! As it is most helpful to have volunteers throughout the day and week, so that books can be continuously shelved, volunteer times are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please contact Mrs. Chozick at schozick@fcps.edu to let her know what times you might be available or if you should have any questions. Thanks so much for considering helping in the library!
On another note, we are still looking for many books that were checked out last school year and never returned. 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.
Please take another look to see if any Lane Library books surfaced at your house during the summer. If you’re not sure what books you still have checked out, please contact Mrs. Chozick.
Kindergarten Color Weeks – Help Our Littlest Lions Learn Their Colors!
Wearing red, white and blue on Patriot Day also kicks off Kindergarten Color Weeks, during which our youngest students celebrate and learn about a different color every day. Staff and students in other grades are encouraged to showcase the rainbow along with them these two weeks by wearing the designated color of the day.
Here’s the schedule:
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Monday, September 11th: Red, White, and Blue (Patriot Day)
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Tuesday, September 12th: Orange
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Wednesday, September 13th: Green
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Thursday, September 14th: Red
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Friday, September 15th: Blue
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Monday, September 18th: Yellow
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Tuesday, September 19th: Purple/Gray
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Wednesday, September 20th: Pink/Brown
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Thursday, September 21st: Black/White
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Friday, September 22nd: Rainbow/Favorite Color
Please encourage your child – no matter what grade level – to join the colorful fun!
NOTE TO KINDERGARTEN PARENTS: Because Kindergarten is also working on listening skills, students will be told what color to wear before the following day. Our hope is that students will listen and tell you the color at home. Please don’t share the secret!
Talking Points Additional Outreach Form Update
Thanks to the parents who notified us that the link to the form to sign up for additional outreach via text we sent out last week was not working! We have fixed it, and it's working now.
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This year, in addition to our regular timely reminders and announcements, we are also offering additional information such as parenting tips, learning opportunities, and community resources to families who wish to receive it. If you would like to receive this additional information, please fill out this short form.
These additional texts will begin the week of September 11th.
Health Information and Emergency Care Forms
The Health Information Form (HIF) (SS/SE-71) and the Emergency Care Information form (SS/SE-3) provide valuable information regarding student health conditions. These forms are critical in the early identification of students who may need healthcare support in the educational environment. Along with the development of Healthcare Plans (HCP) and Action Plans, the Public Health Nurses (PHNs) utilize the information contained in the HIF to develop teaching strategies for FCPS staff in order to meet the requirements of Regulation 2104 Health Services-School Health-Related Needs.
These forms are required for all students. You should have received a copy of your child’s Emergency Care Form at Open House or on the first day of school. If you have not yet signed off on it, please do so as soon as possible. If you did not receive your form, please contact the school or download one here, fill it out, and send it in to school with your child.
Enrolling parents/guardians who have a SIS ParentVUE account may submit their Health Form electronically by using the Online Verification/Update packet. Paper copies can be downloaded here.
Thank you to all of the families who have already returned all of their back-to-school forms!
Join the PTA!
The Lane PTA is your opportunity to help make decisions for your child(ren) in support of their education. This all-volunteer organization is built around a partnership between school staff and families. It funds field trips, school programs, and school improvements and offers fun opportunities for all to connect outside of the classroom.
The PTA would love to see more parent involvement this year, so please join today!
Restaurant Nights at Hangry Burger September 6th and 7th!
Please join the Lane PTA and other Lane families and staff at our next Restaurant Nights at Hangry Burger on Wednesday and Thursday, September 6th and 7th, from 4 to 8 p.m. This restaurant is new to our line-up, but is donating a portion of ALL sales during that time, so be sure to tell your friends and neighbors to visit, too! After all, who doesn't love a planned dinner option right after a long holiday weekend?!
Read-a-Thon Kicks Off on September 12th!
Two years ago, Lane raised a whopping $60,000 through a fun run fundraiser. Unfortunately, it was organized through a third party company, which ended up taking 50% of the money our Lane Lions raised.
This year, the PTA is taking matters into its own hands by developing a fundraiser of its own – a Read-a-Thon! This fundraiser will be run by the PTA itself through its website to ensure that 100% of the profits go right back into Lane.
The ultimate goal is to raise $75,000, which – with 100% of the profits – will help provide three key things:
- Shade structures for the school playground;
- A $10 gift certificate for every child for the Lane Book Fair in November;
- Zero requests for donations to the PTA for the rest of the school year!
We hope your family will participate as much as you are able.
A big community kick-off celebration is planned for Tuesday, September 12th (which is also the night of the first PTA meeting of the year). Watch for more details coming soon!
If you already know you’d like to volunteer to help with this project, please visit the sign-up page at https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/261963752074/false#/invitation.
Get ready to read!
Parent Resources
From the Office of Student Safety & Wellness: When Is a Nap Not a Nap?
Overdoses touch people and communities in many ways. Today, August 31st, is International Overdose Awareness Day, which is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose and remember those who have died without stigma while also acknowledging the grief of their loved ones. An overdose means having more of a drug(s) than the body can handle. Unfortunately, opioid misuse is now the leading cause of unnatural death in Fairfax County, according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Don’t allow it to go unnoticed in your home and in our community.
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription, such as Percocet, oxycodone (OxyContin®), hydrocodone (Vicodin®), codeine, morphine, and many others (NIH). Opioids slow the central nervous system to produce a calming effect. When taken in excess amounts or in combination with other central nervous system depressants, they greatly suppress breathing and the heart rate.
Signs of an overdose include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Unresponsive to outside stimulus
- Awake, but unable to talk
- Breathing is very slow and shallow, erratic, or has stopped
- Skin tone turns bluish purple (for lighter-skinned people) or grayish or ashen (darker-skinned people)
- Choking sounds, or a snore-like gurgling noise (sometimes called the “death rattle”)
- Vomiting
- Body is very limp
- Face is very pale or clammy
- Fingernails and lips turn blue or purplish black
- Pulse (heartbeat) is slow, erratic, or not there at all.
A person may appear as though they are just napping, and it may be difficult to tell if it’s just napping or potentially overdosing, especially if the person is snoring.
If someone is making unfamiliar sounds while “sleeping,” it is worth trying to wake him or her up. Many loved ones of users thought a person was snoring, when in fact they were overdosing. Snoring and gurgling can indicate that a person is having trouble breathing. These situations are a missed opportunity to intervene and save a life. With substance use, especially with opioids that slow down the systems of the body, snoring may indicate a serious and potentially life-threatening obstruction of the airway.
In the context of substance use, snoring is not something that should be seen as “normal.” Don’t let people “sleep it off” if they are snoring; this may be a sign of a significant and life-threatening emergency. You should attempt to wake them immediately.
If they do wake up, then the snoring (airway obstruction) will resolve. If they do not wake up, call 911 immediately.
As we are about to embark on another school year, it is important to bring awareness to our families and students about what to look for in regard to substance use. Take confidence in the fact that you know what is normal for your student and what is not in terms of their behavior.
Potential signs that something may be off with your student:
- Acting withdrawn or seeming tired, depressed, or mad for no reason
- Changing friends
- Not caring about personal appearance
- Slipping grades, skipping classes
- Losing interest in favorite activities
- Behavioral or academic trouble at school or with the law
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Not getting along with family members
- Lying or stealing.
These signs do not always mean there is a drug or alcohol problem, but they may be cause for concern. Try to find out what is going on. Do not be afraid to have open and non-judgmental conversations with your student. Get to know their teachers, friends, and their friends' parents. A new school year means new opportunities. Let’s work together to make this year great.
Resources:
Everything you Need to Know about Opioids
Spanish: Todo lo que necesita saber sobre los opioides en menos gracias a una hora
Narcan Training (English & Spanish)
Office of Student Safety and Wellness or 571-423-4270
Fairfax County Public Schools: Alcohol and Other Drugs
For further Information & support, contact Bryan Villalobos, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, at bvillalobos@fcps.edu.
FREE Family Resource Center Webinars
The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars for parents and families each month. Here is the line-up for September.
New School Year, New Strategies: How to Plan, Persist, and Achieve Academic Success This Year
Students' grades are typically lowest in the first quarter of the year because many find it hard to start the new year with confidence. It's crucial to help your child start back strong because it could set the tone for their best year yet! Join author and educator Ann Dolin, M.Ed,. to uncover strategies to instill greater confidence in your child at the start of the school year.
Webinar highlights:
- How to increase your child's likelihood of earning good grades in the first quarter and beyond
- Strategies to establish a motivated, positive outlook towards school (for the whole family!)
- Proven techniques to effectively set up (and keep up with!) your family's weekday routines and busy schedules
September 8, 2023, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register online for New School Year, New Strategies: How to Plan, Persist, and Achieve Academic Success This Year
Meet the Author Series: The Self-Driven Child by Dr. William Stixrud
Are you working harder than your children to solve their problems? Do you need strategies to help children make their own decisions? Join Dr. William Stixrud while he discusses his book, The Self-Driven Child.
Webinar highlights include:
- Learning how to support the development of resilience in your child
- Understanding the elements of a healthy mental life
- Supporting your child's decision-making skills
- Learn how to help your child deal with stressful situations
- Learning how to make your child feel loved, trusted, supported, and capable
Friday, September 15, 2023, 10 – 11:15 a.m.
Register for Meet the Author Series: The Self-Driven Child by Dr. William Stixrud
Who's the Boss? 5 Ways for Families to Help Kids with Big Emotions
- Do you have a child who is bossy, melts down over changes in plans or transitions?
- Acts like a sore loser when playing games?
- Wears the same clothes and eats the same foods?
- Likes to say, "That's not fair!" and won't stop following you until they prove a point?
Calm Parenting podcast founder Kirk Martin explains why all of these behaviors have the same root...and similar solutions.
September 29, 2023, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register for Who's the Boss? 5 Ways for Families to Help Kids with Big Emotions
Community Events & Activities
Little Hawks Cheerleading Clinic
Do you have a little cheerleader at home? If so, consider signing up for Hayfield Secondary’s Little Hawks Cheer Clinic on September 6th and 7th. Sponsored by Hayfield Athletic Boosters and led by the Hayfield High School cheerleaders, the clinic will include instruction on cheers and chants, jumps, motions, dance, and spirit activities. All children in grades K through 6 are welcome!
This two-day clinic (attendees should attend both days) costs just $75. It will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Hayfield. Please see the flyer below for more details and registration information. (Click the image to download to view larger.)
Completed registration form and full payment must be received by Monday, September 4th. Please contact Brittany Reigelsperger at HayfieldHawksCheer@gmail.com with questions.
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