Timber Lane ES Times

To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.

Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.



Disappearing Messages? Is Snapchat Safe for Your Teen?

While Snapchat is popular with teens for its disappearing messages and fun filters, families may worry about safety and hidden features. This Common Sense Media article offers a guide for families, explaining how Snapchat works, potential risks, and how to keep teens safe while using the app. 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/parents-ultimate-guide-to-snapchat


Calendar Reminders

Autism Acceptance Month

April 12 TLES Spring Clean Up 9:00-12:00 PM

April 17 Purple Up Day

April 17 PTA Meeting

April 18 Spring Picture Day

April 22, 23 Passover (O Days)

June 12 Last Day of School (2 hr early release)

April Celebrations & Recognitions:

Month of the Military Child

National Arab American Heritage Month

Muslim American Heritage Month

School Library Month

Autism Acceptance Month

Mathematics & Statistics Awareness Month

National Poetry Month

Workforce Readiness Month


Order Your Year Book Today!

Year Book Flyer

Order Your Yearbook Today

Visit https://www.barksdalephoto.com/ & enter the access code: 0038655YB to order your yearbook. 


National Arab American Heritage Month

Arab American Heritage Month graphic

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


💻 April Webinars and Events for Families

The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars for adults to support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Upcoming events include:

Click the linked titles above to register. Learn more about FRC webinars and events.


Family Summit Designed to Enhance Safety, Security, and Inclusion

The FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, April 20, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Marshall High School. The conference will cover topics that are helpful for all families such as raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. Participants may also join online sessions, which will provide supports for students with disabilities and their families. 

Visit the Family Summit webpage to learn about the guest speakers and to register for the event. The theme — Safe, Supported, and Included — aligns with Goal 2 of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.


👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Immigrant Family Reunification Class

A class will be held online in Spanish for immigrant families looking to reunite during challenging transitions. Saturday classes will be available April 13, 20, or 27, from 9-11:30 a.m. Register online. For more information, please contact Margarite Baptiste at mmbaptiste@fcps.edu or Sussy Tomer at setomer@fcps.edu.


Longfellow Middle School News for Rising 7th Graders

Spring Open House – April 30, 2024

We cordially invite all our Rising 7th & New FCPS families to our Spring Open House on Tuesday, April 30th from 6:30-7:30pm. During this time, you will have an opportunity to tour LMS and ask any questions you may have to prepare for the 23-24 school year. We look forward to seeing you soon! 

Jump Start Registration Now Open!

Jump Start registration is now open on myschoolbucks. Choose between session 1 – August 5th – 6th or session 2 – August 7th – 8th.  

Hours are 8:30a.m. – 12:00p.m. Look forward to learning about Longfellow with school tours, ice breakers, scavenger hunts, team building and more. If you have any questions, contact Lavina Gangwani-Colaco at lkgangwanico@fcps.edu


⛱️ Summer Camp for Middle Schoolers

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

Registration is open. VIP Camp costs $100 to attend. Reach out to your school's after-school specialist for scholarship availability due to financial hardship. This camp is sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.


✅ School Health Services Satisfaction Survey

The Fairfax County Health Department and FCPS School Health Services invite parents/caregivers to participate in a survey on the level of satisfaction with support provided to your school community by School Health Services. The survey takes about five minutes to complete and is open until Friday, April 26. Your feedback can help to improve school health services.


🎓 Postsecondary Education and Employment Options

FCPS’ Career and Transition Services will host Flash Forward, to provide students with disabilities seeking a standard or advanced diploma and their families an introduction to options available after high school. 

Flash Forward will be held Thursday, April 25, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Annandale High School, in the cafeteria. Register online. Representatives from adult education, employment, and community programs (college, military, apprenticeship, trade school, gap year, and employment) will be on site to share information about their services.


Give Your Feedback on the Budget

FY25 Hero 1600x600-Excellence

We are now in the middle of the annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback:

  • Tuesday, April 16, through Thursday, April 18: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors conducts public hearings on the county budget. Sign up to speak.  
  • Tuesday, May 7: The County Board of Supervisors adopts its budget, tax rates, and transfer amount to FCPS. 
  • Tuesday, May 14: The School Board holds a public hearing on the FCPS budget.
  • Thursday, May 23: The School Board adopts FCPS’ approved budget.

Learn more about the FCPS FY 2025 Advertised Budget and see the full Budget Development Calendar.


🗳️ Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award

The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. Read more about Dr. Bussey

This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1.  The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium on Tuesday, June 18.

Full details and the nomination information form are available on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.


🏅 Nominations Open for First Class Award for Inclusion

The Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) is seeking nominations for the First Class Awards. The awards are presented annually to educators, administrators, and students who support, design, and/or implement inclusion activities that result in positive outcomes for students. The ACSD will recognize award winners at the Family Summit on Saturday, April 20

Nominate an individual who has made an exceptional contribution to inclusive practices in Fairfax County Public Schools by Friday, March 22. Email SpecialEdConf@fcps.edu with questions.


Summer Programs

Girl pointing to letters

Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. 

Tech Adventure Camp is available for current grade K-5 students to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for elementary students who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Visit the E-IFTA webpage to register.


Tutor.com Dashboard

Tutor.com Teacher-Referred Tutoring

Through Schoology®, all FCPS students have 24/7 access to no-cost, year-round, on-demand, 1-to-1 tutoring services through Tutor.com.

A new Teacher-Referred Tutoring program feature provides targeted support and extends student learning. Teachers can now refer students for tutoring, with their specific needs already identified. Students can get extra support — on their own schedule — and reinforce their in-class learning.

Caregivers can guide students to access expert tutoring, homework help, and writing support by clicking on the Tutor.com icon in their Schoology portal—anytime, anywhere.

Plus, look for teachers’ tutoring session referrals on the Tutor.com homepage.


Trader Joes Weekend Food Pickup

Good evening TLES, for parents interested in supporting our weekend food pick up at Trader Joe's and distribution at TLES, please find this sign-up form:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4AA9A628A1FE3-tles#/

These weekend events only take approximately 30 minutes of your time in between pick up and distribution at TLES.  Thank you for helping us help our community!


💻Important Forms for Caregivers to Complete

During the first weeks of the year, caregivers receive many forms to complete. Several of the most important ones are below:

  1. Digital Resources Consent: Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent/caregiver consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Digital Resources - Parent Consent page. This page also includes directions on how to provide permission.
  2. Student Rights and Responsibilities: This document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when they log in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage.
  3. Opt-Outs: The Opt-Out Booklet is online or available from your child’s school. It contains information on: 
    1. Parents’ rights to inspect and consent or opt out before their child participates in certain surveys.
    2. Parents’ rights to inspect instructional materials.
    3. Rules regarding student records and disclosure of student information (including photo/video of students) and the right to opt out.
    4. Parents’ rights to opt out of the Social Emotional Learning Screener, physical exams not required by state law, career or social emotional counseling, Library Equity Access Pass Project, and/or Tutor.com.
    5. The process by which complaints may be filed if parents or students believe their rights have been violated.

Paper forms can be signed and returned to school.