Hughes News February 16, 2024

Greetings, Team Langston Hughes:

The 2^nd semester is off to a great start!   Today, Friday, February 16^th, we celebrated well over 500+ students on honor roll.  We are so proud of our panthers and their accomplishments!  

In addition, Thursday, February 22^nd, our Langston Leadership Council (LLC) will host “I see me in Reston” – an evening of food, fashion, fellowship, and fun from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. See flyer in this News You Choose for details.   If you can support this event, please sign up below.   We want to ensure our students have a blast. We are in need of food trays and disposable forks and spoons.     

Sign-up Genius: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4CA4AD23A0F9C70-47411697-international#/

Here is our Amazon wish list:  https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/N0C8XUOF0DSV?ref_=wl_share

Be mindful, there is no school Monday, February 19^th, Presidents’ Day! 

As always, thank you for your continued support! It’s truly a GREAT time to be Panther! 

With Panther Pride,

Principal Mizell

REMINDER

Schools and offices are closed Monday, February 19, 2024.

INFORMATION FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATION TEAM

Hughes Chorus Performance Fundraiser

The Hughes Chorus is proud to represent our school throughout community performances!  Your financial support will ensure continued opportunities for our musical ambassadors to perform.  A performance of note this spring will be on May 18^th at Segra Field for the Loudon United Soccer Team.  Please consider purchasing some delicious popcorn though our DoubleGood fundraiser.  The chorus receives 50% of every order!  Purchase your popcorn here: https://popup.doublegood.com/s/uy12c23t  This weekend only!

Tdap and MenACWY  for Rising 7th and 12th Graders

As required by the Code of VA, all students entering 7th grade and 12th grade are required to receive specific immunizations prior to the beginning of school. 

All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older, and Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.               

All students entering 12th grade are required to receive one dose of Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) administered at age 16 or older. 

High School Curricular Transfer Requests Opened February 1^st!

Students who are in the Herndon High School boundary but would like to continue the International Baccalaureate program at South Lakes High School may complete a transfer application and choose the IB program as the reason for transfer. Placement is not guaranteed, but the application must be completed to make the transfer request. Please note that transportation is not provided for high school curricular transfers. This website provides more information and directions for the transfer application: FCPS Student Transfer Information.  The transfer process began on February 1^st for curricular programs.

Summer Learning Online Campus Information 

Registration for the FCPS Summer Online Campus has opened. Middle and high school students who meet the course prerequisites can take one online course. Students who have completed a high school math course in person may take an online campus math class. Middle school students who plan to expunge a high school math or Spanish course or those wanting to recover a course credit may take the course again. For more information about summer learning, see https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning/online-programs  or contact your child's school counselor. 

Academic Advising for the 2024-2025 School Year

Parents/Guardians of current 8th Graders/Rising 9^th Graders:

Understanding High School Mathematics Course Offerings

How can students participate in mathematics throughout high school in a way that is relevant to and supportive of post-secondary and career interests?

During this session we will discuss mathematics graduation requirements and how to support students in navigating the various course offerings currently available in FCPS.

Students and their families may start thinking about what course pathways are available beginning in middle school. Join us to learn more.

Presented by Jennifer Allard FCPS High School Math Specialist and Erin Sylves FCPS Math Specialist.

March 8, 2024, 10-11:30 a.m. Add to Your Calendar

Register for Understanding High School Mathematics Course Offerings

For Rising 9^th Graders:

College Partnership Program Application Season is now open! Closes March 15,2024

The College Partnership Program is designed to systematically mitigate the impact of barriers to access, opportunity, and attainment and supports students who are from populations that are historically underrepresented on college campuses including:

• Students who are the first in family to attend college in the U.S
• Students with disabilities
• English language learners
• Economically disadvantaged students

The application deadline is March 15, 2024.

Here is the link to the online application: tinyurl.com/CPPAPP2024. Students will need to log in to their G Suite account to complete the online application.

Students will not need to submit their transcripts, or do not need to request a letter of recommendation.

Reminders:

1. Students will apply online.
2. Online Applications:

• Students are required to complete the application and the two (2) writing samples.
• Students’ progress will be saved if they log in with their student id.
• Students can only fill out the form once.
• Student will receive a copy of their submission which will allow them to edit their responses.
• Students can make edits up until March 14, 2024.

 Instructions for Writing Samples: Please write a passage no longer than 150 words for each question below.

·         If we were to ask your closest friend(s) what your outstanding personal qualities are, what would they say and why? (150 words).

·         What are your short and/or long-term college and career goals? How or why do you need the College Partnership Program to support your high school journey?

Instructions (150 Words).

If you have any questions about this College Partnership process or need assistance, please speak with your child’s school counselor.

7th Grade Science Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE)

March 18-21, 2024

The Langston Hughes Science 7 Team invites you to join your student and their classmates as you chaperone a small group of students for our annual Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) -- an exciting scientific investigation of the stream valley next to the school in support of our Environmental Science curriculum.

Every year, 7th grade students dive into the details of water quality indicators and the health of their watershed as they explore the many factors that affect our local stream (which flows to the source of our area's drinking water!).

Volunteering Details

We are seeking many volunteers each day to function as chaperones to small groups of students for this (roughly) half-day field experience. Your group will visit a rotation of six educational stations located in and around the stream valley near school, and they will collect data to investigate water chemistry, biodiversity, pollution, land use, and more! The volunteer duties will involve walking on paved paths and will be all-outdoors event. We would love it if you could stay and help all day, but feel free to volunteer for part of the day, if that is what your schedule will allow.

More information about specific volunteer duties will be published here later, so check back often. It is guaranteed to be a fun and memorable day of outdoor scientific investigation.

Please review. available slots below and click on the button to sign up.

Sign Up Genius for MWEE

Please note:  The greatest need is for chaperones on March 18, 19 and 21.  March 21 is just set aside as a rain date if one of the other MWEE days is rained out. 

Contact Kim Schauer at kdschauer@fcps.edu with questions.

Thank you!

Order your Langston Hughes Yearbook for 2023-2024! We sold out last year so get yours before they are gone!

The cost is $30.00 and may be pre-ordered online through May 4^th.

Where to order: www.yearbookordercenter.com, enter our school code  (13926)

Questions? Please email Ms. Kerze – jmkerze@fcps.edu

We are excited to announce that Panther Preview will take place August 5^th - 6^th from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.  Panther Preview is a great way to start the journey of becoming a Langston Hughes Middle School Panther. 

As we welcome students to the Langston Hughes family, students will participate in activities designed to acclimate them to the middle school, build confidence, motivate academic excellence, and form community. We hope to see you there!  It’s a GREAT time to be a Panther!   Should you have questions/concerns, contact our after-school specialist, Mr. Kyle Franklin at FMKyle1@fcps.edu.

Panther Preview Registration Link:  https://forms.gle/YiW8j1p8bDfAs3AT9

We are very excited to announce Spring Track & Field interscholastic competition at the middle school level!  This program will start in March, but students and parents will need to complete several steps prior to participating in middle school sports, including:

• A completed  FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). The exam must be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Please note that the form must be dated on or after May 1, 2023 for the 2023-2024 school year.  Students who participated in Cross Country, DO NOT need to submit an additional Physical.
• A NEW completed MS Sports Participant Registration form, which also requires parents and athletes to review the FCPS Student-Athlete Athletic Health Education Program.
• Student-athletes in FCPS are required to be covered by medical insurance.  If your student is not covered by another plan, here is an  option to consider.
• Each student-athlete and a parent/guardian will complete a registration process that includes the state-mandated concussion education program and Emergency Care Card information before the student participates in middle school sports.  
• All of the above must be completed before athletes are eligible to practice or participate. 

 The anticipated Competition Schedule:

When?

4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/4, (5/11)

7:30 (arrival) - 1:30 (depart)

Where?

Meets will be on HS campuses.

1 meet per site (8-10 schools per meet)

Please submit all forms to the main office in care of Mr. G or Mr. Kyle.

We look forward to an exciting season!

Stress, Trauma & Coping

The experience of traumatic events shapes us, no matter if they happened during childhood or as an adult. Trauma is an event or series of circumstances that have lasting effects on mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual well-being. Stress occurs from our minds and bodies identifying an event as physically or emotionally life-threatening. The situation triggers our survival instincts and our natural fight-flight-freeze response. But our minds and bodies cannot sustain being in survival mode for extended periods of time. Sometimes, those who experience considerable amounts of stress and traumatic situations are unable to process or move past what has happened, and as a result are stuck in a loop.

Childhood trauma manifests in many ways and when carried into adulthood, it can create a cycle of adverse experiences that affect future generations. The effects of traumatic events place a heavy burden on the individual, connected families, and communities. Responses to stress and traumatic experiences are personal. There is an intersection between trauma, coping, and substance misuse.

Studies show that about 61% of adults have had at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) according to the CDC. Trauma prevention and intervention strategies are important. Creating a strategy of helpful coping skills to pull from prepares us to face difficult moments and our levels of resilience and feelings of wellbeing increases also. Here are a few tips to add to your coping strategies:

1. Seek mental health and/or substance use treatment.
2. Identify one or more people you feel safe with who can help to hold you accountable.
3. Develop, repair, or maintain healthy relationships for internal and external support.
4. Learn and practice self-regulation skills.
5. Encourage yourself and others.
6. Find ways to increase your self-esteem.
7. Focus on your strengths.
8. Model healthy behavior when dealing with difficult situations.
9. Identify your triggers and practice ways to work through them.

Resources:

Why Historical Trauma is Critical to Understanding Black Mental Health

Addressing Childhood Trauma Starts with Family Support

Violence Prevention

ACEs and Minorities

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: 571.423.4270.

For Further Information & Support:

Monica Rogers

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

mrrogers@fcps.edu

SOUTH LAKES CHEERLEADING

Calling all rising 9^th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Cheerleading program? If so, please fill out the following online interest form to be added to our email list:  https://forms.gle/dfVJ6YCK37sDqGjNA  Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season.

A little bit about our program: South Lakes Cheerleading is both a sideline and competitive program. When we are not on the track cheering on the SLHS Football team on game nights, we are practicing for our own District, Region, and State competitions! We have two teams: JV and Varsity that both begin on Aug. 5^th and runs through early/mid November. 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Slaight at:  raslaight@fcps.edu

SOUTH LAKES DANCE TEAM

The South Lakes Dance Team is excited to be holding our 23-24 tryouts from June 20-22! If you are interested in trying out, please fill out this interest form and we will add you to our email list: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxxjrr0_SHgwYhj5QdDB0lJHrJ-Kac1pBxZUpWs8VrisgGaQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

We will be sending out communication about our interest meeting, tryouts, and eligibility requirements through the email list.

The South Lakes Dance Team performs at Football games, Basketball games, pep rallies, and various other school events. We also compete regionally and sometimes even nationally! We love cheering on the Seahawks and promoting school spirit in the community. South Lakes currently has only a Varsity level Dance Team, but we encourage dancers of all skill levels to tryout! We will also be holding a pre-tryout skills clinic on April 13^th.

Please email Coach McDermott at chmcdermott@fcps.edu with any questions.

SLHS Seahawk CO-ED Golf Meeting For Rising Freshmen

Is your student-athlete interested in playing for the Seahawk Co-ed Golf Team? Tryouts are projected to begin July 31 and the regular season runs through mid-September. Email Coach Anderson at kanderson3@fcps.edu for more information.

SOUTH LAKES FOOTBALL

Calling all rising 9th graders!  Are you:

-Bigger than most people?  -Faster than your friends?  -Tougher than most others?

If you answered yes to one or more of those questions then we are interested in you trying out for the South Lakes Football Program! No prior experience required!

Hurry and fill out the following online interest form to be added to our contact list: 

https://forms.gle/k42fdTRaDiEYhpkdA

Those on our email distribution list will receive information throughout the spring/summer regarding the upcoming season. 

A little bit about our program: 

South Lakes Football has three levels in our program; Freshmen, Junior Varsity, and Varsity.  Our season officially begins on July 29th, but the JV and Varsity teams are already preparing for our next season and so should you too! 

We welcome all levels of experience and hope to meet you soon!

If you have any questions at all feel free to email Coach Hescock at:  jrhescock@fcps.edu

 SOUTH LAKES GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Calling all rising 9^th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Girls Volleyball program?

For additional questions please email DSA Andrew Duggan at amduggan@fcps.edu

SOUTH LAKES FIELD HOCKEY

Calling all rising 9^th graders! Interested in trying out for the South Lakes Field Hockey program.   For additional questions please email Coach Mueller at: almueller@fcps.edu

February 19 - President's Day - Schools and Offices Closed

March 5 - Student Holiday - School Planning Day

March 25 - 29 - Spring Break

11401 Ridge Heights Rd. Reston, VA 20191 | Main Office: 703-715-3600
Attendance: 703-715-3636 | Web | Twitter