The Weekly Roar - Monday, December 9, 2024

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 12/09/2024 09:07 PM EST

English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

 

The Lion's Roar

Monday, December 9, 2024

 

 

Book Bonanza at the Annual Lane Library Book Fair!

Students of all ages enjoyed the Lane Book Fair last week, where the shelves were filled with hundreds of new books and reading-related goodies and gadgets. Dozens and dozens of families braved the cold, windy weather on Wednesday Night to join us for Family Night, and students were busy Thursday and Friday making their special purchases. Thank you to all the staff and family volunteers who helped make this year’s Book Fair a success, especially our awesome Lane librarian, Mrs. Chozick, who put it all together!

 

Students purchasing books at the Book Fair
Students shopping at the Book Fair

 

Ancient Civilization Comes Alive in 3rd Grade

Before the Thanksgiving Break, Lane special education teacher Mrs. Elsisi shared information about and artifacts from her native Egypt with Mrs. Brusick's 3rd grade class, who are exploring Egypt as part of their study of ancient civilizations. This up close and personal experience helped bring the learning to life!

Teacher showing an Egyptian artifact to students
Egyptian artifacts and imagery on a teacher's desk

 

Upcoming Events

  • Tuesday, 12/10 – Potluck Breakfast Meet & Greet with Mrs. Opie, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
  • Tuesday, 12/10 & Wednesday, 12/11 (Corrected dates!) – PTA Restaurant Nights at Kumo Asian Bistro, 5 – 9 p.m.
  • Thursday, 12/12 – Cookies & Coffee/Cocoa Meet & Greet with Mrs. Opie, 6 p.m., Lane Lobby

  • Thursday, 12/12 – Lane Chorus Concert, 6:30 p.m.

  • Friday, 12/13 – PTA Holiday Party, Kingstowne Synder Center, 6 - 9 p.m.
  • Sunday, 12/15 – Advanced Academics Program Referrals due by 11:59 p.m. (grades 2 – 6)
  • Monday, 12/16 through Friday, 12/20 – SCA Spirit Week!
    • Monday, 12/16: Animal Day (dress like an animal and/or bring in a stuffed animal)
    • Tuesday, 12/17: Sports Jersey Day
    • Wednesday, 12/18: Scarf vs. Hat Day (which one will win?)
    • Thursday, 12/19: Candy Cane Day (wear red and white)
    • Friday, 12/20: Pajama Day!

  • Thursday, 12/19 – Lane Band and Strings Concert (5th and 6th grades only), 6:30 p.m.

  • Monday, 12/23 through Friday, 1/3/25 – Winter Break

 

 

In This Issue

  • A Message from Our New Interim Principal, Ebony Opie!
  • Meet Mrs. Opie at Meet & Greets This Week!
  • Winter Break Is Coming Soon!
  • Pre-Winter Break SCA Spirit Days Start Seasonal Fun
  • Looking for the Perfect Holiday Treat for Your Child’s Teacher or Other Lane Staff?
  • Reminder: Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024
  • Glue Sticks Needed for STEAM!
  • National Special Education Day
  • Help Wanted: Seeking Dining Assistant for Our Cafeteria
  • PTA News: Holiday party, Restaurant Nights, Town Hall update,  fundraisers, and more!
  • FCPS News & Activities: SEL screener results, middle school start times update, community boundary meetings, winter weather reminders, and more!

 

 

News & Notes

 

A Message from Our New Interim Principal,
Ebony Opie!

Dear Lane Families,

I hope this message finds you rested and recharged after a wonderful Thanksgiving break and looking forward to the holidays ahead. I’m thrilled to introduce myself as your new interim principal and am excited to serve alongside our fantastic administrative team. It’s an honor to join this incredible school community, and I look forward to meeting and connecting with each of you—students, families, and staff—over the coming weeks.

 New interim Lane principal Ebony Opie

December is such an exciting time of year, and we’re ready to make the most of it! While the winter break is just around the corner, there’s still plenty of time to learn, grow, and celebrate all the great things happening at Lane. Let’s make every day count!

If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Our administrative team is here to support you and your student every step of the way. Together, we’ll ensure Lane continues to be a place where everyone feels valued, challenged, and inspired to succeed.

Thank you for welcoming me into this wonderful community. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things we’ll accomplish together!

Warmly,

Mrs. Opie, Interim Principal
elopie@fcps.edu

Mr. Dickens, Assistant Principal
adickens@fcps.edu

Mrs. Kubiak, Assistant Principal
jbkubiak@fcps.edu

 

Meet Mrs. Opie at Meet & Greets This Week!

Our new interim principal, Mrs. Ebony Opie, is eager to meet the families of Lane! Please plan to join us at one of our Meet & Greets scheduled for this week. We’re just asking each family to bring an item to share.

  • Tuesday, December 10th, 8:30 to 9 a.m. – Potluck Breakfast: Meet Mrs. Opie and enjoy a morning snack with other Lane families. Please sign up here to let us know how many will attend and what breakfast item you plan to bring.
  • Thursday, December 12th, 6 to 6:30 p.m. – Cookies & Coffee/Cocoa: Meet Mrs. Opie, enjoy a tasty snack and a warm drink, then stay to listen to our Lane Chorus perform. Please sign up here. Bring a sweet treat to share!

We hope to see you there!

 

Winter Break artwork - snowflakes on a blue background

 

Winter Break Is Coming Soon!

It’s hard to believe that Winter Break is less than two weeks away! Please note that school and the office will be CLOSED Monday, December 23rd through Friday, January 3rd. The last day before the break – Friday, December 20th – will be a regular full day of school, with dismissal at 4:05 p.m. as usual.

We understand that there are many events happening at this time of year. Please remember that if you have to pick your child up early for any reason it’s important to send a note or e-mail to your child’s teacher that morning. This helps ensure that your child will be ready to leave the classroom when you arrive at school to pick him or her up. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

School will reopen on Monday, January 3rd at the regular time. Please make sure you have these dates on your calendar.

 

Pre-Winter Break SCA Spirit Days Start Seasonal Fun!

The SCA has scheduled a set of spirit days next week to help us get into a celebratory mood for Winter Break. Here’s a list of the fun that’s coming!

  • Monday, 12/16: Animal Day (dress like an animal and/or bring in a stuffed animal)
  • Tuesday, 12/17: Sports Jersey Day
  • Wednesday, 12/18: Scarf vs. Hat Day (which one will win?)
  • Thursday, 12/19: Candy Cane Day (wear red and white)
  • Friday, 12/20: Pajama Day!

We hope your child will get into the spirit and participate!

 

Looking for the Perfect Holiday Treat for Your Child’s Teacher or Other Lane Staff?

If you’d like to give your child’s teacher or other staff member a token of appreciation during this holiday season but aren’t sure where to start, we can help! Thanks to the PTA, we’ve collected “Teacher Favorites” lists to guide you! You can find the lists, organized by teacher, on our school website.

Please note that gifts are completely optional. And remember … sometimes the best gifts are the simplest – a homemade card, a letter of thanks, a special treat your child helped to bake, or even a heart-felt “Happy Holidays!” wish.

 

Reminder: Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024

Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Lane’s AART, Linda Simon (lesimon@fcps.edu), no later than 11:59 p.m. on December 15, 2024.

Please email Ms. Simon ahead of time if you plan to submit a referral for your child, even though you have until the 15th to submit the referral form. It’s helpful for her to know as soon as possible.

Similarly, if you have questions, please email them to Ms. Simon as soon as possible. This eliminates the chance she will not be able to get back to you with an answer in time to meet the referral deadline.

The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15th, annually. Forms for Full-Time and Part-Time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.

Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Ms. Simon.

Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall.

For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.

 

Glue Sticks Needed for STEAM!

Mrs. Christopher and Mrs. Sperry are in need of glue sticks for students in all grade levels to use in the STEAM Lab. If you'd like to donate some, please send them in with your student or drop them off in the front office. Glue sticks of any size and any brand are welcome. Thank you!

 

Help Wanted: Seeking Dining Assistant for Our Cafeteria

Lane needs dining assistants to support our lunchtime routines in the cafeteria. The job is 3.5 hours a day (approximately 10:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.), Monday through Friday. Duties include monitoring students, assisting them as they clean up and clean tables, and interacting with them in a positive way to assist them with their social skills.

We are looking for dedicated people who can be patient, caring, structured, and fair. Would you like to join our team? If so, please contact Kelly Tolley at kltolley@fcps.edu.

 

National Special Education Day graphic

 

National Special Education Day

Last Monday, December 2nd, was National Special Education Day, which is recognized each year and commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. 

Each and every day we appreciate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students receiving special education services, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of those students! Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.


Special Education Resources for Families

Fairfax County Public Schools has the following resources available to help assist families of students with special needs.

Additionally, the Virginia Department of Education has updated the Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education. This state guide was developed to help those involved in special education, including families, teachers, school administrators, advocates, and students.

 

Bodhi Day

Bodhi Day, December 8th, is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. We hope those in our community who celebrate enjoyed the holiday this weekend.

 

 

PTA News & Announcements

 

Get Ready to Celebrate the Season with the PTA and Lane Friends on Friday, December 13th!

You’re warmly invited to the PTA’s very first holiday party on Friday, December 13th! It will be held at the Kingstowne Snyder Center from 6 to 9 p.m. and will feature music, dancing, a family-style spaghetti dinner, and lots of surprises!

QR code for PTA Holiday Party tickets

Due to fire-code regulations, everyone who attends MUST have a ticket. Cost is $20 for each adult and $10 for each child. (This event is not a fundraiser; it's purely for fun and community building.) Use the QR code to the left to purchase tickets or visit the PTA website at

https://lanepta.givebacks.gives/laneholidayparty/Campaign/.

See the flyer below for more details. All families are welcome!

 

Lane PTA Holiday party flyer - Friday, 12/13, 6 - 8 p.m., Kingstowne Snyder Center

 

 

Restaurant Nights at Kumo in Manchester Lakes Tuesday, December 10th and Wednesday, December 11th!

Gather your family and friends and enjoy a fun night out at Kumo! Remember, a portion of all sales goes back to Lane, so don’t forget to bring the flyer sent home in Wednesday Folders last week.

 

December Regal Movies Fundraiser

Looking for a great gift for friends and families that gives back to Lane as well? The PTA has a great one — Regal Movie Ticket Bundles! For just $30 you get 2 Standard 2D Movie tickets redeemable at any Regal location nationwide. Lane receives 25% of the sale. This fundraiser runs through December 31st. Buy your bundle here!


Specials Teachers Holiday Collection

Have your kid's specials teachers (Art, STREAM, Music, etc.) on your mind this giving season? Help us provide gift cards for them this holiday season by donating $10 here.

 

Town Hall Update

At the November 20th Town Hall, Mrs. Prahl explained why funds raised for playground shade during last year’s Read-A-Thon must be reallocated due to unforeseen county regulations and logistical challenges. The PTA proposed alternative capital improvement projects, including repairing the electronic sign, updating chalkboards to whiteboards, replacing cafeteria tables, adding a fob lock for easier access, and upgrading outdated SMART Boards, with next steps involving teacher input and a membership vote to prioritize initiatives.

 

Show Your Lane Lion Pride with the New PTA Car Magnets!

Lane Lion car magnets are now up for grabs on the PTA’s website! When you order, be sure to add your child's name and their teacher's name so the PTA can send them home.

 

 

 Big "L" Lane logo as a car magnet
PTA sponsors for December

 

FCPS News & Activities

 

Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon

One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices.

The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.

In early December, families will be able to view student SEL Screener results in SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.

Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact your child’s school.


Register for ParentVUE

Learn how to activate your ParentVUE account, so you can easily access your child’s results and other helpful information.

 

Cell Phone Feedback Opportunity

FCPS is working with K12 Insight to host a community forum for families, staff members, and students to provide feedback on the school division’s cell phone policies and practices, and the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document. The community forum will be held on Tuesday, December 10th, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center.

 

Boundary Review Community Meeting

Community meetings regarding FCPS’ comprehensive boundary review will take place in each of the division's six regions. You are encouraged to attend the meeting in our region (Region 6), which will take place on Thursday, December 12th from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. at Annandale High School. If you are unable to attend on this date, you can view the full list of meetings on the Comprehensive School Boundary Review webpage.

Please register in advance by clicking on the date above. Language interpretation will be available.

 

Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times

At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.

The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent.

Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.

 

Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.


Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind-chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care. You may also call the school office (703-924-7700) and ask to speak with our school social worker, Mrs. Earl.