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The Lion’s Roar
Tuesday, September 3, 2024
Back to the Garden
Fall is in the air, which means it's time to start seasonal maintenance in the Lane garden. Ms. Carlson had students back in action last week weeding, watering, and working as teams to take good care of this important part of the school grounds.
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday, 9/3 through Friday, 9/6 – Kindergarten Color Week 1
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Tuesday 9/3: Favorite Color
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Wednesday 9/4: Orange
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Thursday 9/5: Green
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Friday 9/6: Purple/Pink
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Thursday, 9/5 – PTA Meeting, Cafeteria/Google Meet, 6:30 p.m.
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Friday, 9/6 – “Family Friday Breakfast Bites” potluck for kindergarten families – 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
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Monday, 9/9 through Friday, 9/13 – Kindergarten Color Week 2
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Monday, 9/9: Yellow
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Tuesday 9/10: Black and White
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Wednesday 9/11: Red, White and Blue (for Patriot Day)
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Thursday 9/12: PTA Read-a-thon Storybook Character Day
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Friday 9/13: Rainbow
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Thursday, 9/12 – PTA Read-a-thon Storybook Character Day and Kick-Off Celebration
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Friday, 9/13 – “Family Friday Breakfast Bites” potluck for 1st grade families – 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
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Sunday, 9/15 through Wednesday, 10/15 – Hispanic Heritage Month
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Monday, 9/16 – Early Release Monday, dismissal at 1:05 p.m.
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Friday, 9/20 through Tuesday, 10/2 – Fall Picture Days during class Library time
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Friday, 9/20 – “Family Friday Breakfast Bites” for 2nd grade families, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
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Monday, 9/23 – Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Families” Potluck Reception, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
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Tuesday, 9/24 & Wednesday, 9/25 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Hangry Burger, 4 – 8 p.m.
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Monday, 9/30 – Deadline to update immunization records
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Monday, 9/30 - SR&R Parent Signature Sheet Due
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Thursday, 10/3 – Rosh Hashanah Holiday, school and office CLOSED
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Friday, 10/4 – Teacher Workday/Student Holiday, students DO NOT report
In This Issue
- “Family Friday Breakfast Bites” Grade-Level Gatherings Begin This Friday, September 6th, with Event for Kindergarten Families
- TalkingPoints Topics – Tell Us What Information You Want to Receive!
- Kindergarten Color Weeks – Help Our Littlest Lions Learn Their Colors!
- First Early Release Monday Is September 16th! Please Fill Out the Child Care Form Now
- 2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities
- REMINDER: Update Immunizations and Records
- Would You Like to Volunteer at Lane? Please Review Our Volunteer Orientation Online
- Follow Us on Social Media!
- PTA News: Cub Clubs registration open, Read-a-thon Kick-off coming soon, first meeting September 5th, membership drive
- Parenting Resources: Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center
- FCPS News & Activities: Strategic Plan, Community Conversations
News & Notes
“Family Friday Breakfast Bites” Grade-Level Gatherings Begin September 6th with Event for Kindergarten Families
Over the summer, we reviewed the results of the 2024 Family Engagement Survey and discovered that our parents are craving more chances to connect with each other and the school in comfortable, informal settings. This year we hope to answer that call in a variety of ways. The first will be a series of casual grade-level gatherings called “Family Friday Breakfast Bites.”
These potluck sharing events will be held on Friday mornings before school from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. throughout the fall. Families can attend together to enjoy a light breakfast and family fellowship with other Lane lions in the same or similar grade levels before students go off to class. Parents and other family members who attend may stay a bit longer to continue conversations and ask questions of family liaisons and other staff members who may be present.
The first "Family Friday" will be held THIS FRIDAY, September 6th. All kindergarten families are invited to attend. We just ask that each family bring a breakfast dish or item to share (muffins, donuts, casseroles, etc.). If you are a kindergarten family that would like to attend, please RSVP here and let us know what you’ll be bringing.
We look forward to seeing our kindergarten families on September 6th! Here are the dates for the other grade levels:
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Friday, September 13th – 1st Grade Families (RSVP here)
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Friday, September 20th – 2nd Grade Families (RSVP here)
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Friday, October 18th – 3rd & 4th Grade Families
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Friday, October 25th – 5th & 6th Grade Families
Sign-ups for these events will be posted in the coming weeks!
Introducing TalkingPoints Topics – Customize Your School Communication!
We know three things about communication at Lane:
- Our families want to be informed and up-to-date.
- TalkingPoints – the texting platform and mobile app – is a popular and convenient way to relay that information.
- We already send out a lot of information, but we receive even more, which may be of value to our families.
What we don’t know is which extra information which families would like to receive. So this year we are introducing TalkingPoints Topics, so you can choose the type of additional announcements and reminders you would like to receive through text messages or the TalkingPoints App. |
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Please note that all families will automatically receive basic TalkingPoints schoolwide messages from our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, and classroom-specific information from their children’s teachers.
If you’d like to receive additional information, such as Week-at-a-Glance school calendar reminders, PTA announcements, and parenting resources, please complete this form or fill out the paper form you will receive in this week’s Wednesday Folder.
Kindergarten Color Weeks – Help Our Littlest Lions Learn Their Colors!
Our kindergarten classrooms are about to get really colorful, as 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 also wearing the designated color of the day. Here’s the schedule:
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Tuesday 9/3: Favorite Color
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Wednesday 9/4: Orange
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Thursday 9/5: Green
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Friday 9/6: Purple/Pink
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Monday, 9/9: Yellow
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Tuesday 9/10: Black and White
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Wednesday 9/11: Red, White and Blue (for Patriot Day)
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Thursday 9/12: PTA Read-a-thon Storybook Character Day
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Friday 9/13: Rainbow.
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 the following day. Our hope is that students will listen and tell you the color at home. Please don’t share the secret!
First Early Release Monday Is September 16th! Please Fill Out the Child Care Form Now
The Early Release Mondays planned throughout the school year for elementary schools are essential to allow educators time for planning and professional development. Students will be dismissed 3 hours early seven times throughout the school year and are encouraged to return home via their normal route. However, we understand there may be a childcare hardship because of the Early Release Mondays for many of our families. To resolve these concerns, student supervision will be available for families who need it.
Lane’s first Early Release Monday is September 16th. Students will be dismissed at 1:05 p.m.
To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the Early Release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/xkaXoVgozWPkv6NX9 for each of your children who are enrolled at Lane Elementary. All families must submit form(s), even if they do not need child care.
The form covers the first two Early Release Mondays, scheduled for September 16, 2024, and October 21, 2024. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Staff will confirm the after-school supervision plan for each student.
2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Monday, September 30th.
You can submit questions online regarding the SR&R.
REMINDER: Update Immunizations and Records
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30th, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office.
If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form.
Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.
Would You Like to Volunteer at Lane? Please Review Our Volunteer Orientation Online
The spirit of service and volunteerism is strong at Lane! 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!
Follow Us on Social Media
Looking for more news? Check out our new school Lane Elementary School Facebook page and find us on Instagram at @laneelementaryfcps!
PTA News & Announcements
Registration Now Open for Fall Enrichment Cub Clubs!
The PTA and Lane admin have organized an entertaining and educational line-up of before- and after-school enrichment programs, known as “Cub Clubs,” for its fall session.
Offerings this session include karate, science, chess, sports, Zumba, and Harry Potter. Some sessions will be taught by Lane staff. Sessions often fill up fast, so be sure to register as soon as possible. Details and registration information is available on the PTA website.
Registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, September 12th.
Read-a-thon Is Coming Soon! Volunteers Needed for Kick-Off Celebration
The PTA will be hosting another awesome kick-off celebration to launch its 2024 Read-a-thon on Thursday, September 12th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There’ll be food, fun, fantastic inflatable slides and bounce houses, and lots of friends all celebrating reading together.
Volunteers are needed to help make this big event a success. Please sign up here if you’d like to help.
Watch for more Read-a-thon information coming soon!
Join the PTA! First Meeting Thursday, September 5th, 6:30 p.m.!
Please consider joining this amazing organization, run completely by parent volunteers. Being a Lane PTA member has numerous benefits – it's a great way to meet new friends and become more involved in your child's school and community. Join on their website!
All Lane parents and caregivers are invited to attend the PTA’s first meeting of the year, which will be held in person in the Lane Cafeteria on Thursday, September 5th at 6:30 p.m. A virtual option on Google Meet will also be offered. See the information below to join the session.
Come and see for yourself how awesome this group is, what they’ve got planned, and how you can get involved.
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/zop-wqoc-kji
Or dial: (US) +1 260-333-9640
PIN: 550 167 375#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/zop-wqoc-kji?pin=4609592446840
Thanks to Our PTA Sponsors!
The PTA would like to thank these sponsors for their support.
Parent Resources
Free Webinars and More from the FCPS Family Resource Center
Throughout the school year, the FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) offers live webinars covering a wide range of topics of interest to parents and families. Registration for September workshops is now open. You can find specific information and registration links below.
The Family Resource Center also hosts a library filled with thousands of books and other resources at its Dunn Loring location. Parents and caregivers can check out materials online and have them sent to their child’s school. The FRC also has a YouTube channel where you can find recorded webinars and other resources. Liaisons are available to assist families in finding resources they need. Visit the FRC website for more information.
September Webinars
7 Simple Strategies for Sibling Support – Friday, September 6th, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Siblings of children with disabilities play essential roles in their families and often experience similar concerns and opportunities as parents. In this interactive virtual session, led by Emily Holl, Director of The Sibling Support Project at Kindering, you’ll learn some common issues that siblings experience and seven simple ways parents and caregivers can help minimize sibling concerns and maximize opportunities to build close bonds with siblings.
Register online
Back-to-School Toolkit: Proven Systems for Solving Disorganization, Procrastination, and Missed Deadlines – Friday, September 13th, 10 – 11 a.m.
Unrelenting patterns of disorganization, procrastination, and late assignments wear down and discourage many parents of students (especially those with ADHD and other learning differences) as the school year grinds on. But it doesn’t have to be this way!
In this webinar, Educational Connections Founder and President Ann Dolin, M.Ed., will discuss what a system is and why sustainable systems are game changers for kids; different types of procrastinators and solutions for each style; how your child can effectively use a calendar system to combat procrastination and meet deadlines; strategies to help maintain order with easy-to-implement organizational routines; and communication starters to develop a relationship of trust at the start of the school year and how to nurture it for a smooth academic journey.
Register online
The New Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) Participation Decision-Making Tool: Information for Families of Students With Disabilities – Wednesday, September 18th, 6:30 – 8 p.m. OR Thursday, September 19th, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Join the FCPS Office of Special Education Instruction for a live, virtual training event providing an overview of the new Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) Participation Decision-Making Tool. The overview will include background information regarding changes in the VAAP Participation Criteria Form, as well as information on the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team's implementation of the new tool. You’ll also learn about significant cognitive learning disabilities and implications of VAAP participation on your child.
Register online
Setting Limits and Dealing With Dramatic Resistance – Friday, September 20th, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
It's important to set limits, but sometimes when we try to set them, our kids don't follow them or it takes a tremendous amount of energy to enforce them. In this webinar, presented by parenting expert and coach Rachel Bailey, you'll learn how to set effective limits to reduce the likelihood of resistance as well as how to deal with dramatic reactions that do occur – in a way that boosts your influence and your child's resilience.
Register online
FCPS News & Activities
2023-30 Strategic Plan: Foundation of Four Pillars
While the five goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan focus on student success, the four pillars describe what FCPS must do well to reach our goals for all students:
- The first focus of the pillars is on teaching and learning. We want to make sure each and every student has access to excellent and inclusive learning environments and that instruction meets students’ individual needs.
- The second pillar focuses on our connection with families and our communities. We cannot do this work alone. Strong partnerships are key to our students’ success.
- The third pillar is centered on our hiring and maintaining a world-class, diverse workforce. We want to make sure our incredible employees have what they need to help our students thrive.
- The fourth and final pillar centers on how we bring this all together. We remain focused on creating a culture of equity, excellence, and accountability where data guides our decisions.
Visit our Strategic Plan webpage for more information.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this fall from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
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Monday, September 9th, at Holmes Middle School
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Monday, September 23th, at Newington Forest Elementary School
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Monday, September 30th, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School
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Monday, October 14th, at Fairhill Elementary School
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Monday, October 21st, at Virginia Run Elementary School
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Wednesday, October 30th, at Herndon Middle School.
Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
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