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

April 5, 2024

Upcoming Events

• Wednesday, 4/10 – Eid al-Fitr Holiday – School and Office CLOSED
• Tuesday, 4/16 & Wednesday, 4/17 – “Walk in My Shoes” inclusion activities during P.E. classes
• Tuesday, 4/16 & Wednesday, 4/17 – PTA Restaurant Days at Kumo Asian Bistro, Manchester Lakes (all day)
• Wednesday, 4/17 – “Purple Up!” Day for Military Kids – wear purple to show your support for our military students
• Friday, 4/19 - Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) SOL Test for 5th Grade
• Friday, 4/19 – PTA “Play & Chat” for Lane families of all abilities! 4:30 p.m., Main Playground
• Tuesday, 4/30 – Full-time AAP meeting for parents of eligible students, 6 p.m., Library
• Friday, 5/6 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday – Students DO NOT report

In This Issue

• Solar Eclipse Monday, April 8th – Please Share Safety Tips with Your Child!
• April Is Month of the Military Child! We Look Forward to Celebrating All of Our Military Lions!
• Celebrating Arab- and Muslim-American Families
• Lane Is Looking for a Few Good Teachers! Could You Be One of Them?
• Magnet Schools Lottery Closes Friday, April 12th!
• New Dates for “Walk In My Shoes”! Parent Volunteers Still Needed!
• PTA News: Spring enrichment registration open now, Restaurant Days at Kumo coming soon
• Parent Resources: Family Summit, summer camps, Lexia Reading Night, and more!
• Community Events & Activities: Rose Hill Players’ The Claw, Techstravaganza
• FCPS News & Announcements: Community Conversations, middle school start times

News & Notes

Solar Eclipse Next Monday – Please Share Safety Tips with Your Child!

We are all very excited for the upcoming solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th! It's a rare astronomical phenomenon, and one that requires important safety protocols.

Looking directly at the sun, even during an eclipse, can permanently damage your eyes. At Lane, we have been able to collect approved eyewear so that students can safely view the eclipse ONLY while wearing the eyewear.

Please help prepare your child for this special event by sharing these important reminders:

• Don't look at the sun without approved eyewear. This applies to students and staff, and we encourage you to reinforce it at home.
• Regular sunglasses are not good enough. We will be providing eyewear that has been approved for viewing.
• Eclipse timing: The eclipse starts around 2:04 p.m., peaks at 3:20 p.m. (which coincides with dismissal for some students), and ends around 4:32 p.m. If you have concerns about your child walking or riding the bus home, please arrange for alternative transportation.

For more details, visit the FCPS Solar Eclipse webpage.

April Is Month of the Military Child! We Look Forward to Celebrating All of Our Military Lions!

April is the Month of the Military Child (MOMC), and here at Lane we are planning several special activities to celebrate the strength, spirit, and resilience of the many young military-connected lions we have in our community. Nearly 25 percent of our student body is military-connected.

FSP has even created an MOMC Calendar filled with ideas for each day to support your military family or those that you know.

Morning Reception Open to All on Monday, April 15th

Each year, we host a “Muffins for Military Lions” reception to kick off “Purple Up! Week” (a nationwide celebration dedicated to military children), but this year we’re doing something a little different. In the past, this reception has been for military families only, but we recognize that all Lane Lions are connected to these students as classmates, friends, neighbors, and more! So this year, all Lane Lions – military and non-military – and their families are invited to come to school at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 15th for a celebratory muffin exchange we’re now calling “Muffins with Military Lions.” We ask that each family bring a dozen mini muffins or half a dozen full-size muffins to share with others. Muffins can be store-bought or homemade. We just ask that if you make your own you provide an ingredients list so that our families with allergies can choose safely.

If you’d like join us that morning, please fill out this RSVP form and tell us what you’ll bring.

“Purple Up!” Day on Wednesday, April 17th

One day in April is selected each year as the day to “Purple Up!” for military kids, and all are encouraged to wear purple to honor the strength and sacrifices of military-connected youth. Why purple? Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is the combination of Army green, Air Force blue, Navy blue, Coast Guard blue, Marine red, and Space Force dark blue.

Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red, and Navy blue. This year “Purple Up!” Day will be celebrated at Lane on Wednesday, April 17th. We hope your children will join other Lane students and staff in “purpling up” their wardrobes on Wednesday, April 17th.

Morning Meeting Shares

Throughout this month of recognition, we encourage our military lions to share their experiences as military children with their classmates during Morning Meeting. If your child would like to participate, please sign up here.

Chains of Connection

To continue our “Purple Up!” theme, we will be creating purple paper chains to decorate our school. All students will have the chance to celebrate members of the military and/or military children by dedicating a “link” to them.

Military-Student/Family Slide Show

To end our Month of the Military Child activities, we will create a special slide show featuring our military students! If you are a military family and would like us to include your child(ren) in the slide show, please email pictures (no more than three, please) to our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, at macrosby@fcps.edu.

When you send the pictures, please let us know that it is OK to use the family name in the show (i.e. – The Smith Family). The slide show will not be shared publicly; it will only be shown at school.

Pictures must be received by Friday, April 26th to be included in the slide show.

Finally, as we plan our celebrations, we want to make sure we have a complete list of military-connected students. Many students of active-duty and reserve families are listed in our registration system, but we know there are other military-connected or formerly military-connected families out there in our community that we may have missed. If you are a military family (current or former) and would like to have your child recognized during Month of the Military Child, please complete this form.

Celebrating Our Muslim and Arab American Families This Month

In addition to celebrating our military-connected lions, we will also be recognizing our families of Arab American heritage and those who practice the Muslim faith.

Eid al-Fitr Holiday for All Families and Staff Next Wednesday, April 10th – No School Eid al-Fitr, also known as small Eid, marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar.

Muslims congregate that morning for Eid prayers. It is a time of official receptions and private visits, when friends greet one another, presents are given, new clothes are worn, and the graves of relatives are visited.

The most common way to wish someone a Happy Eid al-Fitr is “Eid Mubarak,” which means “blessed feast” (or festival). We send this greeting to all in our community who celebrate! Read more about Eid at Britannica.com.

Throughout April people across the United States celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month and Muslim American History Month. These histories are a foundational part of American history. These month-long recognitions give us an opportunity to honor diverse and important stories in our school community.

National Arab American Heritage Month

FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia.

The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage.

Muslim American Heritage Month Muslim American Heritage Month is a time for celebrating the history, contributions, culture, and an enhanced understanding of the diverse population of Muslim Americans. View the Fairfax County School Board resolution honoring Muslim American Heritage Month.

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Here at Lane, we would like to mark these recognition months in two ways:

First, we invite all of our students who identify as Muslim or Arab/Arab American to share something from that culture with their Lane friends and families. Students are encouraged to bring in an item to put on display.

The item must be:

• Specific to an Arab or Muslim culture
• No larger than a lunchbox or heavier than 5 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 and/or where it is from
• One or two sentences about why this item is important to the student and/or how it relates to Arab or Muslim culture.

Items without written information will not be displayed. Please note that Lane and FCPS are not liable for loss of or damage to any item brought in to display.

Second, we would like to create two slide shows – one featuring our Arab and Arab American students and one featuring our Muslim students. (Students may be featured in both.) 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 Friday, April 26th. Please be sure to let us know which slide show(s) you would like to have the pictures included in.

We hope your student will participate and look forward to learning more about your family and culture!

Lane Is Looking for a Few Good Teachers! Could You Be One of them?

Magnet Schools Lottery Closes Friday, April 12th!

Three FCPS elementary magnet schools provide programs that enhance learning in science, technology, and performing arts. Registration for the 2024-25 elementary magnet lottery is open and will remain so through Friday, April 12th. Get more information about the schools, their programs, and locations.

New Dates for Walk In My Shoes! Parent Volunteers Still Needed!

Our rescheduled plan for the “Walk in My Shoes” inclusion event needs volunteers in order to happen! This hands-on, activities-based event, which will be held during P. E. classes on Tuesday, April 16th and Wednesday, April 17th, is designed to give general-education students a broader understanding of the daily situations faced by some of their friends with developmental challenges and learning differences. The program fosters empathy for others and gets students thinking about how they might be able to help a friend. Here is the schedule for grade-level participation.

Tuesday, April 16th

• 5th grade: 9:45 – 11:15 a.m.
• 4th grade: 11:20 a.m. – 12:50 p.m.
• 2nd grade (except Peters): 1:55 – 2:55 p.m.

Wednesday, April 17th

• 6th grade: 9:45 - 11:15 a.m.
• 3rd grade: 11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.
• Kindergarten and & Peters’ 2nd grade: 12:50 – 2:25 p.m.
• 1st grade: 3 – 4 p.m.

Each volunteer will receive a script and information regarding their activity and the challenge being explored. Depending on need, you may be asked to understudy a second station. Stations will be confirmed Monday, April 8th. You can review the available slots and sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACAE2BA6FA7-44908671-walk#/.

PTA News

“Cub Clubs” Are Back for a Spring Session!

The PTA has once again created an exciting line-up of enrichment activities for our students, and registration is now underway! You should have received a flyer this week with all the details, but here are the highlights:

Monday:

• The Science Seed (Grades K – 2)
• Popping Piano (Grades K – 6)

Tuesday:

• Crochet Cub Club (Grades 3-6)

Wednesday:

• Cross-Stitch Cub Club (Grades 2-6)
• My First Lemonade Stand (Grades K-3)
• Ceramic Cub Club (Grades 3-6)

Thursday:

• Debate (Grades 3-6)
• Middle School 101 (6th Grade only)
• Sports Cub Club (Grades K-6)

Friday:

• Chess (Grades K-6)

You can find all the details on the flyer. There is only ONE WEEK to sign-up for these opportunities, so, don’t wait. Register today!

Click on the flyer link above to access class details.

Join Us at Kumo Asian Bistro Tuesday, April 16th & Wednesday, April 17th!

Please join the Lane PTA for its April Restaurant Days at Kumo Asian Bistro in the Manchester Lakes shopping center on Tuesday, April 16th, or Wednesday, April 17th (or both!) A percentage of sales generated by Lane families for the entire day will be donated back to our school! Both dine-in and takeout orders count. Be sure to present the flyer coming home soon in Wednesday Folders to your server. For online orders, write Lane as part of your name (“Name-Lane”). You can order or just preview the menu online at kumoasianbistrova.com.

Thanks for supporting the Lane PTA and our local restaurants!

Virtual Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read

FCPS funds the use of Lexia for all elementary and middle schools as part of their literacy instruction. Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills. It also provides teachers with data to identify students who need additional support and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize.

Attend a virtual information night on Tuesday, April 9th, at 6:30 p.m. to learn more about Lexia and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom to support student growth. Participants will also get tips for supporting their students at home. Integrating Lexia into the literacy curriculum aligns with the Virginia Literacy Act, FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy, and FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3, which aims to have all students reading on level by the end of 3rd grade.

Rec-PAC Is Now Registering for the Summer and Lane Will Be a Site! Rec-PAC (Pretty Awesome Children), operated by Fairfax County Park Authority, is a six-week structured recreation program with emphasis on leisure skills designed for elementary school children.

Participants will have an opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of activities such as fun and fitness, indoor and outdoor games, team sports, nature, crafts, storytelling, sports festivals, talent shows and supervised play sessions. Each location has a ratio of 1 staff person to 18 participants. Lane will be a Rec-PAC site this summer.

Rec-PAC runs from Monday, June 24th through Thursday, August 1st. Each of the six weeks has its own theme with different themed activities happening throughout the week. You can sign your child up for any of the individual weeks or all of them!

Registration is now underway. Scholarships are available for families who qualify. You can find details in the Rec-PAC brochure.

Attention 6th Grade Parents: Summer VIP Camp Now Registering!

All rising middle schoolers are invited to attend a summer of fun and leisure with VIP Camp. VIP Camp — which takes place Monday, July 1st to Thursday, August 1st — is designed to encourage teens to develop healthy and positive recreation interests and features a wide variety of leisure activities and programs. VIP Camp costs $100 to attend.

This camp is sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. Students who will attend Hayfield and Twain Middle Schools will attend the VIP Camp at Sandburg Middle School. Use this link to register for that program.

Scholarships may be available for families struggling with financial hardship. Reach out to Sandburg’s after-school specialist for more information.

Space is limited so register soon! You can learn more at http://bit.ly/VIPcamp2024.

Register Today for the FCPS Family Summit

Registration is open for the FCPS Family Summit, which will take place on Saturday, April 20th, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Marshall High School. The conference will cover topics that are helpful for all families, such as social-emotional resources, along with a specially curated online component to provide supports for students with disabilities and their families.

Some of the topics include raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. The theme — Safe, Supported, and Included — aligns with Goal 2 of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

Upcoming Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center

Registration for April webinars sponsored by the Family Resource Center is now underway! Here are two offerings:

Meet the Author Series: Gifted and Distractible with Julie Skolnick

Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 7 – 8 p.m.

Does your child exhibit giftedness and behavioral issues like meltdowns, power struggles, and difficulty relating to peers? Are they out-of-the-box thinkers requiring different teaching and learning methods? 

Join us for a discussion with author Julie Skolnick about her innovative and timely book for families of twice-exceptional children.

Register for this event

Behavior Solution Series: Proactive Strategies for Effective Communication

Friday, April 19, 2024, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

We will equip you with strategies for navigating the teen years. Uncover the secrets to fostering open communication, building trust, and transforming challenges into opportunities for growth.

Register for this event

Community Events & Activities

The Rose Hill Players Present The Claw – This Saturday, April 6th

Join The Rose Hill Players from Rose Hill Elementary School for their production of The Claw.

Welcome to the Rose Hill Bowling Alley, specifically inside a Claw Machine that has not been turned on in a long time. The narrator, Claw, introduces you to two best friends: a cow plush named Dot and a stuffed dragon named Aiden. While Aiden wishes they could leave the game, Dot loves being stuck inside, where things never change. Suddenly, all of the toys are tossed around inside the machine, as the claw game springs to life for the first time in ages! Aiden is thrilled and determined to leave the game today. Dot, meanwhile, is terrified of facing the unknown. A trio of Beanie Elders, eccentric Flair Bears, and tough Mighty Mutant Power Turtles teach them how to embrace change and conquer the unknown, but is Dot ready? With things changing so quickly, can they manage to stay together? Or will they be separated forever? Go see the show and find out!

Performances will be held at Thomas A. Edison High School (5801 Franconia Rd. Alexandria) on Saturday, April 6th at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $5 for children, $1 for children at the matinee.

Techstravaganza STEM Event at TJ on May 18th!

Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, the event has included more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. The 20th annual Techstravaganza will be held on Saturday, May 18th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Annandale.

Slots fill up fast, so register today at https://tinyurl.com/techstrav24. Visit tjtechstrav.org for more information.

FCPS News & Announcements

Community Forums on Middle School Start Times

Fairfax County Public Schools is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. Prismatic Services, Inc., an educational consulting firm, will lead the forums. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Please attend the event that works best for your schedule:

• Monday, April 29th, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School.
• Monday, May 6th, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
• Monday, May 20th, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
• Wednesday, May 22nd, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.

Registration is not required but does help with planning. Click one of the dates above to register. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.

Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! The dates for the two closest locations to Lane are Tuesday, April 30th (South County Middle School) and Wednesday, May 8th (Hybla Valley Elementary School). Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions! Both sessions will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

7137 Beulah Street, Alexandria, VA 22315  |  Phone: 703.924.7700

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