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The Lion’s Roar
Monday, September 23, 2024
Breakfast Bonanza!
There have been lots of sweet things happening on Friday mornings these last few weeks as our new "Breakfast Bites" grade-level gatherings have continued. We wrapped up the first round with 2nd grade families on September 20th. Events for 3rd through 6th grade families will take place in October.
Thanks to all of the families who've joined us so far and brought such yummy food to share. We look forward to seeing many more of you soon!
This week started off with another breakfast - this one for our military families to kick off "Blue Start Welcome Week." (See photos with the article below).
Upcoming Events
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Continuing through Wednesday, 10/15 – Hispanic Heritage Month (See the article below to learn how your family can participate)
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Continuing through Wednesday, 10/2 – Fall Picture Days during students’ library time
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Tuesday, 9/24 & Wednesday, 9/25 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Hangry Burger, 4 – 8 p.m.
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Wednesday, 9/25 – Read-a-thon School Spirit Day: Lane School Spirit Day
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Thursday, 9/26 – Advanced Academics Program (AAP) Parent Information Meeting, 6 p.m., Cafeteria
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Friday, 9/27 – Read-a-thon ends; PTA Popsicles on the Playground for all!
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Monday, 9/30 – Deadline to update immunization records and turn in SR&R Parent/Guardian Signature Sheet
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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
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Thursday, 10/10 & Friday, 10/11 – Make-up Picture Days for students who were absent on their class Picture Day
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Thursday, 10/10 – PTA Meeting (virtual), 6:30 p.m.
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Monday, 10/14 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday (Indigenous People’s Day), students DO NOT report
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Thursday, 10/17 – Cultural Awareness and Recognition Event (CARE) Night, 6 – 7:30 p.m. (More information coming soon!)
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Friday, 10/18 – “Family Friday Breakfast Bites” for 3rd and 4th grade families, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
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Friday, 10/18 – Field Day
In This Issue
News & Notes
Safety Protocols for Parents Visiting the School
We welcome parents and families at Lane for lunch, for meetings, and as volunteers. We've enjoyed seeing many of you these past few weeks at the many family-centered events we've held.
Please remember when you are going to be in the building during school hours, our safety protocols require all visitors to check in in the front office and get a badge or sticker. "School hours" begin at 9:05 when our doors open to students.
If you are attending an event before school, such as our recent "Breakfast Bites" gatherings, you do not need to sign in when you arrive if you are leaving directly from the event. However, if you are going to go elsewhere in the building after the event, you must return to the office and check in. This includes walking your child to their hallway.
This also includes SACC drop off. If an adult needs to speak to a staff member you should be going to entrance number 1 and not coming through the SACC entrance into the school.
We also request that you say your goodbyes in the main hallway rather than walking your child all the way to the classroom. This helps reduce congestion in the mornings.
Thank you for your cooperation and support.
Get Ready for a Spirited Final Read-a-Thon Week!
The PTA Read-a-Thon FUN-draiser is entering its final week! The PTA has raised about one-third of its $50,000 goal and is excited to make a BIG difference at our school! As we enter this final week, the PTA is encouraging everyone to rally together and make a last push for support! Every contribution counts and helps us achieve our goals for our students and teachers.
To really have some fun this final week of Read-a-Thon, we'll celebrate with two spirit days!
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Wednesday, September 25th will be Lane Spirit Wear Day! We are reading and raising for LANE!
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Friday, September 27th will be Popsicles on the Playground - FriYAY Edition to celebrate another successful Read-a-Thon on its closing day. Volunteers are needed for this activity. Please sign up here if you can help.
There are also some fun raffles and a few little surprises in store for this week! Check out the PTA Facebook & Instagram pages so you can stay up to date on the latest raffles and treats for this week!
Has your child registered? If not, click here to register. Each child must be registered to get credit for donations.
Is your child reading and tracking their minutes? Make sure your child is logging the minutes they read at home! Next week they will need to turn in their minute logs from home at school to submit their total number of minutes read. The minutes log was included in last week's Wednesday Folder.
Thank you for all of your support thus far. And don't forget... the PTA gets 100% of the money raised during Read-a-Thon, and it will be invested right back into our school in many different ways!
Blue Star Welcome Week Helps Give Military Families a Sense of Belonging
Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities. We are honored to have many military-connected lions in our Lane community, among both families and staff members. Although many of them are only with us for a short time, they make a great impact on our school and our Lane Lions den would not be the same without them.
This morning some of our families were able to join us for a potluck “Muffins for Military Lions” reception, where they were able to meet other military families, connect with staff members, and enjoy some tasty breakfast treats. They also got to complete a star for our Blue Star banner. We will be adding other stars throughout the week.
Thank you to all our families who serve our country!
Fall Picture Days Continue Next Week! Volunteers Still Needed!
This year we are once again taking our student pictures for the yearbook in house rather than having a photography company come to school to take them. Surveys last spring confirmed that a majority of families who responded appreciated this new process, which is also more efficient for our school schedule. Students’ individual Picture Days will be their class library day. Here is a list of the remaining dates by grade level and class:
Kindergarten
- Crouch – Thursday, 9/26
- Furfaro – Tuesday, 9/24
- Schadle – Wednesday, 9/25
1st Grade
- Gill – Tuesday, 9/24
- Kaine – Thursday, 9/26
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
- Brusick – Thursday, 9/26
- Cirillo – Tuesday, 9/24
- Parton – Wednesday, 9/25
- Stoddard – Wednesday, 9/25
4th Grade
- Jenkins – Thursday, 9/26
- Winiewicz – Tuesday, 9/24
5th Grade
- Benton – Tuesday, 9/24
- Benzelock – Tuesday, 10/1
- McGregor – Wednesday, 9/25
- Morris – Wednesday, 10/2
- Peters – Thursday, 9/26
6th Grade
- Lewis – Friday, 9/27
- Wilson – Thursday, 9/26
Self-Contained Classes
- Bourgord – Tuesday, 9/24
- Ferguson – Thursday, 9/26
After Picture Days are complete, all families will receive a digital file of their child’s portrait for FREE! Once you receive it, you can use it to have prints made in any size or style you choose. There are many professional portrait studios in the Alexandria/Springfield area that families can visit if they wish to have a professional portrait taken.
Thursday, October 10th and Friday, October 11th, will be make-up days for students who are absent on their assigned class day.
We will need some volunteers to help this process run smoothly. If you are available assist on one of the days, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45A9A72CABF85-50938107-2024.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Let the Celebration Begin!
Lane enjoys a diverse, multicultural community, with more than 30 languages spoken among our families. This diversity is one of our greatest strengths, and we love to celebrate it.
The celebration is focused right now on our Hispanic families, as National Hispanic Heritage Month is underway. During this month, we showcase the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and we celebrate our Hispanic students. Almost 10% of our students at Lane speak Spanish at home, and we bet there are many more who come from a Hispanic heritage.
Our colorful Hispanic Heritage Month bulletin board went up this week, and in the hallway outside the cafeteria, we have hung large map spotlighting Hispanic areas of the world. We will add the names of students and the countries of their heritage as we receive them. Students will have the opportunity to complete a card for the map during class, but parents can also provide that information. If your family is of Hispanic heritage, please send us your child’s/children’s name(s) and let us know the country to which you are connected.
All families of Hispanic heritage are encouraged to send in pictures of their Lane students (or the whole family) so we can post them alongside our map. You can email the photos to our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, at macrosby@fcps.edu, or send it to her through TalkingPoints.
Save the Date for Fall Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night on Thursday, October 17th!
Hispanic Heritage Month is just the first of many cultural holidays and awareness/recognition months that FCPS recognizes during the school year. Here at Lane, we are introducing a new series of quarterly events to showcase those observances and share cultural information in a fun, family-friendly way. These CARE (Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event) Nights will feature stations dedicated to different cultural activities and performances.
The date for the first CARE Night is Thursday, October 17th. The event will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and we hope to highlight these early fall cultural happenings:
- Hispanic Heritage Month
- Rosh Hashanah
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day
- Diwali
- Dia de los Muertos
- Disability History and Awareness Month
Save the date and watch for more information coming soon!
Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Parent Meeting on Thursday, September 26th, 6 p.m.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development efforts and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners.
FCPS offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in Grades K-12. The continuum of services approach recognizes unique student needs and focuses on matching services, not labeling students. Teachers and staff work together to provide Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services. Through this continuum, students have:
- Multiple entry points for deeper learning opportunities in specific areas of need as they develop.
- A cluster group of students with similar academic needs to continue growing in their learning.
You can learn more about AAP at Lane and in FCPS at a parent information session on Thursday, September 26th at 6 p.m. in the Lane cafeteria. 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 AAP screening process. This meeting is open to all interested parents with students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
You can also get additional information about the AAP program in the Fall 2024-2025 Advanced Academics Newsletter.
Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Classroom Discussions Underway; Parent/Guardian Signature Sheet Due September 30th
Lane Assistant Principals Julie Kubiak and Allen Dickens have begun and will continue to go into classrooms to discuss FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) and consequences for not adhering to them.
If you would like more information on FCPS’ SR&R please go to https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/leadership/policies-regulations-notices/student-rights-and-responsibilities-srr. Additionally, if you would like to provide feedback to FCPS regarding SR&R, please go to https://www.fcps.edu/submit-student-rights-responsibilities-srr-feedback.
Each student must return the SR&R Parent/Guardian signature sheet, which shows that parents/guardians have reviewed this critical document. Please log in to your ParentVUE account to sign this form digitally or print and return a paper copy by Monday, September 30th.
Field Day Is Coming Soon – Friday, October 18th! Volunteers Needed!
Our annual Field Day event will be held on Friday, October 18th during the school day. Students will have an hour to rotate through different stations with their classmates. Here is the grade-level schedule:
- 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.: 5th & 6th grade
- 11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.: 3rd & 4th grade
- 12:50 – 1:50 p.m.: Kindergarten
- 1:55 – 2:55 p.m.: 2nd grade
- 2:25 – 3:25 p.m.: Multiple-abilities classes (small groups in the Gym)
- 2:55 – 3:55 p.m.: 1st grade
Volunteers are needed to help with our Field Day stations throughout the day. If you’re available and would like to help, please sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACAE2BA6FA7-51078761-field,
School Health Room Needs Clothing!
During the school day, many students have mishaps that mess up their clothes with spilled milk in the cafeteria, mud on the playground, and many things in between! In these situations, our School Health Room supplies a change of clothes, which students then wash and return.
Our current supply is wearing thin, so we’re reaching out to request donations of new or gently used clothing. Sizes for students of all ages – kindergarten through 6th grade – are welcome! Items should be clean and free of tears or other major damage. Underwear should be new.
If your fall cleaning has you clearing out clothes that no longer fit your child, please send them to Lane! Just bag them up and send them in!
Thank you!
PTA News & Announcements
Restaurant Nights at Hangry Burger September 24th and 25th!
Next up in the PTA’s tasty Restaurant Night line-up is Hangry Burger in Springfield this Tuesday, September 24th and Wednesday, September 25th.
(NOTE! This is a corrected date from last week, which had Tuesday as the 23rd and Wednesday as the 24th.)
Watch Wednesday Folders for the flyer with more details.
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It’s Not Too Late to Join the PTA!
Please consider joining this great organization, run completely by parent volunteers, that does so much to support our school. 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 today!
Thanks to Our PTA Sponsors!
The PTA would like to thank these sponsors for their support.
Parent Resources
Literacy Programs for Preschool Students Available at Lane and in the Lane Area
It’s never too early to start building literacy skills in young children. Fairfax County Public Schools’ Office of Family and School Partnerships offers a variety of early literacy programs to teach parents how to build these critical skills and help prepare their children for school. You can learn more about all of these offerings on the FCPS website.
Lane will host one of these programs – the Arabic Early Literacy program – on Tuesday and Thursday mornings beginning October 15th. The program will be taught in English, and parents with children ages 1 to 5 (pre-kindergarten) who speak any second language in the home are welcome – not just Arabic speakers. See the Early Literacy flyer for more information and registration information. This program is also available at the nearby Lorton Community Center (9520 Richmond Hwy.)
An Early Literacy program for African Heritage families is also available in the Lorton Community Center on Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Check out that flyer here.
Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students.
After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE.
For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office.
Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please email our clinical team (social worker, school psychologist, and counselors) at laneclinicalteam@fcps.edu to schedule a time to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
FCPS News & Activities
FCPS Trust Policy Supports Caring Culture
Fairfax County Public Schools is proud of its caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families. The FCPS Trust Policy solidifies this commitment and aligns with Fairfax County Goverment's Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. It ensures that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials. Please visit FCPS’ Trust Policy webpage to learn more about the policy and regulation in multiple languages.
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Our third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful. For example, making sure they are readers by third grade and taking courses that challenge them throughout their education will help prepare them for lifelong success. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.
Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:
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Monday, September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.
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Monday, October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School.
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Monday, October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School.
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Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School.
Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
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