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The Lion's Roar
Monday, January 27, 2025
"Walk in My Shoes" Builds Awareness and Understanding
In special P.E. sessions today, students across all grade levels got to experience a little bit of what it's like to go through a day in someone else's shoes, specifically someone with developmental or learning challenges. The “Walk in My Shoes” program fosters empathy for others and gets students thinking about how they might be able to help a friend.
At one station, students traced patterns based on the reverse image in a mirror, which simulated what it's like to experience dyslexia.
Students explored the real-world limitations of food allergies as they tried to find menu items that would be safe to eat.
Simple tasks like unbuttoning a shirt or putting a nut on a bolt weren't simple at all while wearing heavy work gloves! This activity gave students a feel for what it's like to struggle with limited fine-motor skills.
We'd like to thank the Lane PTA for funding “Walk in My Shoes” and all the parent volunteers who assisted with stations throughout the day. The event would not have been possible without both types of support!
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday, 1/28 – SCA Spirit Day: “1980s Day”
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Tuesday, 1/28 – 2nd Quarter ends
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Wednesday, 1/29 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday, students do not report
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Wednesday, 1/29 – Lunar New Year begins
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Tuesday, 2/4 – Rising 7th Grade Parent Coffee at Hayfield Middle School, 6 – 8 p.m. (Snow date: Wednesday, 2/12)
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Monday, 2/10 – Early Release Monday, dismissal at 1:05 p.m.
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Tuesday, 2/11 & Wednesday, 2/12 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Chick-fil-A, 4 - 9 p.m.
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Thursday, 2/13 – Spelling Bee, 4:45 p.m. (Snow date: Thursday, 2/20)
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Monday, 2/17 – President’s Day Holiday, school, office, and SACC CLOSED
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Thursday, 2/27 – Winter Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
In This Issue
- Schedule Changes Ahead for End-of-Quarter Teacher Workday and Next Early Release Monday
- Save the Date for Upcoming Cultural Events and Plan to Participate!
- Lunar New Year Celebration Begins on January 29th!
- Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration
- 6th Grade Middle School Transition Now Underway
- PTA News: 2023 Read-a-thon funds reallocation survey, Basket Bingo Committee needs volunteers!
- Parent Resources: Virginia's Student Assessment Summary, fighting drug misuse, Family Resource Center webinars
- Community Events & Activities: Hayfield Dance Team Little Hawks Clinic
- FCPS News & Activities: SR&R and Cell Phone Policy Survey, Comprehensive Boundary Review update
News & Notes
Schedule Changes Ahead for End-of-Quarter Teacher Workday and Next Early Release Monday
It’s hard to believe we’re coming to the end of the second quarter of the school year already! The quarter officially ends tomorrow – Tuesday, January 28th – which will be a full day of school. Wednesday, January 27th is a Student Holiday/Teacher Workday, and students do not report. This gives staff a chance to start working on grades and other end-of-quarter paperwork.
Looking a bit further ahead, on Monday, February 10th, we will have our next scheduled 3-hour Early Release Monday. We will dismiss at 1:05 p.m. Please note that we will follow the dismissal guidance you provided in November (dismiss at 1:05 or keep at school until 4:05) unless we hear from you that a change is needed. Please let us know no later than Wednesday, February 5th.
Please make sure these schedule changes are on your calendar.
Save the Date for Upcoming Cultural Events and Plan to Participate!
Over the next few months we will host two special family events that focus on the diverse cultures that make our school unique.
Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night – Thursday, February 27th, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Our second Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night of the year will be held on Thursday, February 27th and will focus on information and activities related to three major winter cultural celebrations: Lunar New Year, which starts this Wednesday, January 29th; Black History Month, which we observe throughout the month of February; and Ramadan, which officially begins on Saturday, March 1st and runs through Monday, March 31st, which is the Eid-al-Fitr holiday. This interactive, family-friendly event will take place from 6 to 7:30 that evening.
We have just begun planning for this CARE Night. If your family celebrates one of these cultural holidays and you would like to join us to share information or lead an activity (craft, game, performance, etc.), please reach out to one of our family liaisons, Melanie Crosby Hardy at macrosby@fcps.edu or Andrea Howard at ahoward@fcps.edu.
Celebration of Cultures Night – Thursday, April 3rd, 6 – 8 p.m.
Celebration of Cultures Night, one of our most popular annual events, is all about YOU – our Lane Lion families! That night, which will be Thursday, April 3rd this year, we invite all families to share their unique culture with us:
- your home country
- a country or countries of your ancestral heritage or that you’ve lived in or visited
- a city or state in the U.S. where you have lived or visited
- the traditions and celebrations of your family.
You do not have to be from another country or have an international
background to participate! All types of culture are welcome!
The evening will include information displays, delicious food samples, musical performances, and our family-favorite “Parade of Nations.”
Celebration of Cultures Night will serve as our spring CARE Night. During the event, we will feature information stations and activities for springtime cultural holidays and awareness months, including Month of the Military Child and Arab-American Heritage Month (April); Jewish-American Heritage Month and Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May); and Caribbean American Heritage Month (June).
Watch for more information about both of these events coming soon and plan how your family might participate!
Lunar New Year Celebration Begins on January 29th!
As mentioned above, Lunar New Year 2025—the year of the snake—begins this Wednesday, January 29th. For those in many East and Southeast Asian countries, including Pacific Islanders, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year and is all about ushering in luck and prosperity with family.
The number of celebration days with different names varies depending on the country. China’s Lunar New Year is known as the Spring Festival, or Chūnjié in Mandarin, while Koreans call the holiday Seollal and Vietnamese call it Tết.
You can learn more about Lunar New Year at the links below.
Fairfax County will host its own Lunar New Year celebration Saturday, February 8th at the Twin Lakes Golf Course in Clifton from 6 to 8 p.m. See the flyer below or visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lunar-new-year for more information.
We wish good fortune to those in our community who celebrate Lunar New Year!
새해 복 많이 받으세요! 新年快乐! Chúc mừng Năm Mới!
Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration Now Open
Registration for the countywide lottery for the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program is now open. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the 1st grade immersion program for the 2025-26 school year.
Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program Registration page for a list of meetings by language offered.
Get more information on the DLI Program webpage and DLI Program Registration webpage.
6th Grade Middle School Transition Activities Now Underway
Our oldest Lane Lions – our 6th graders – are beginning the process of moving on to middle school soon, as course selection continues. Our 6th graders will attend either Hayfield Secondary School or Mark Twain Middle School, depending on where they live.
If your 6th grade Lane Lion will attend Hayfield Secondary School, please make note of these upcoming Parent Coffees for rising 7th grade parents/guardians:
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Tuesday, February 4th, 6 – 8 p.m., Middle School Lecture Hall (snow date: Wednesday, February 12th)
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Friday, March 14th, 9 – 11 a.m., Middle School Lecture Hall (snow date to be determined)
You can find more information, including the 7th grade course catalog and a Virtual Curriculum Fair on the Hayfield website. Please contact Lane counselor Stephanie Kasparek or Bessie Fealey, Hayfield school counselor, if you have questions.
The Parent Coffee for Mark Twain will be held on Tuesday, June 4th, at 9 a.m.
Please feel free to contact Mrs. Kasparek at Lane or Stephen Fitzgerald, Director of Student Services at Twain, if you have any questions.
PTA News
Your Input Needed on Playground Shade Funds Reallocation!
The Lane PTA has an exciting opportunity to make meaningful improvements to our school, and your voice is crucial in guiding their next steps. As part of their effort to reallocate the funds raised for playground shade structures during the 2023 Read-a-thon (the structures were not able to be installed), they would like your input on which capital improvements will best serve Lane students and staff.
Lane staff members have already shared their top priorities: replacing the SMART Boards to enhance classroom technology and adding a key fob to the cafeteria door for improved security and accessibility. Now, the PTA would like to hear from you!
Your participation in this survey will help determine which projects should take priority, ensuring that the improvements made reflect the needs and priorities of the entire school community.
Please take a moment to fill out the survey. It only takes a few minutes, and your feedback is invaluable. Here is the link: https://forms.gle/xa33EzzvK6cepiwo9
The survey will be open through Friday, January 31st.
February Restaurant Nights at Chick-fil-A Kingstowne February 11th & 12th
Chick-Fil-A is hosting Lane for Restaurant Nights next month. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, February 11th and Wednesday, February 12th from 4 to 9 p.m. Dine-in, drive-thru, and mobile orders count; just be sure to mention Lane Spirit Night so we receive credit. If placing a mobile order, use the code word "Lions" to ensure we get credit.
Love Basket Bingo? Join the Planning Committee!
Basket Bingo is coming in March 2025, and the PTA is looking for creative minds to join the Basket Bingo Planning Committee! Help us make this year’s event the best one yet by brainstorming fun themes and planning the event. If interested, please contact Wendy at basketbingo@lanepta.org.
Parent Resources
Virginia’s Student Assessment Summary for Families
This month, families of students who took any Standards of Learning (SOL) test between school years 2015-16 and 2023-24 will receive a Student Assessment Summary Report. The report shows a student’s state percentile ranking for each test. This allows families to see how their child ranked compared to all Virginia students who took the same test that year.
Reports are available now in SIS ParentVUE Documents. They will be distributed by schools this month to students whose families do not have ParentVUE access. Learn how to access ParentVUE.
The report is intended to help families reflect on how their child performed across all tested subjects over the years. Our schools and staff are committed to working with families to support every student to succeed at their highest potential. Learn more about student assessments in FCPS.
What Families Can Do to Fight Drug Misuse
FCPS is committed to raising awareness about the opioid epidemic with our educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Together, we can help ensure our students thrive.
What can families do?
- Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse. More than 80% of young people ages 10 to 18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink.
- Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
- Show you are a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs. Find helpful resources on the FCPS Opioid Awareness webpage.
- Pay attention to your child and discourage risky behaviors.
- Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they will say, “No thanks.”
Get more information on opioid awareness.
FREE Webinars from the Family Resource Center
Understand Executive Function Milestones, Challenges & Implement Effective Strategies at Home for Children in Upper Elementary (Grades 3 – 6)
Discover how to support your child’s executive function skills in our webinar series. We will present information on understanding your child’s developmental milestones, recognizing signs of executive dysfunction, and implementing effective strategies to support their learning at home and in school.
Friday, February 7, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register here
Comprendiendo el Trama en su Hijo
(presented in Spanish: Understanding Trauma in Your Child)
Aprendemos sobre el Trauma en este semanario de web de 3 partes y sobre los diferentes tipos de trauma, las respuestas naturales y los efectos que esto puede tener tanto en los niños como en los padres y estrategias que los padres pueden usar para apoyar a sus hijos.
Friday, February 14, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register here
FCPS Risk Prevention Series: Part 1 – Risk Prevention
Review how FCPS Risk Prevention processes and procedures support a safe and healthy school community. Learn about risks assessments when a child expresses threats of harm to self and threats of harm to others and/or demonstrates concerning behaviors. Families and caretakers will be provided practical information and strategies to support building factors for those in their care.
Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register here
Nurturing Adolescent Growth: Part 4 – Supporting Mental Health: Recognizing and Addressing Anxiety and Depression in Teens
Join us for Part 4 of our Teen Series with Dr. Unnatti Jain, a Certified Behavior Change Expert / TEDx speaker / Author / Keynote speaker who studies behavioral patterns. Dr. Jain will help caretakers and families be able to identify mental health symptoms, enhance communication skills, and explore professional and self-care strategies.
Friday, February 21, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register here
SibShops
For children grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools. An opportunity to meet other siblings in a relaxed setting. Celebrate the many contributions made by brothers and sisters of children with special needs. Share sibling experiences, while receiving peer support. Enjoy games and have fun!
Saturday, February 22, 2025, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Register here
FCPS Risk Prevention Series: Suicide Prevention – Supporting Your Child
This session will equip caregivers with the knowledge and skills to identify signs of suicidal ideation in their children and respond effectively to these crises. Caregivers will learn how to respond if they learn or observe that their child may be experiencing thoughts of suicide. This session will provide practical tools and strategies to help caregivers navigate these challenging situations with compassion and confidence.
Tuesday, February 25, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register here
Upcoming Family Academy Events
You are an important part of your child's education! The FCPS Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. Browse Family Academy offerings.
Community Events & Activities
Hayfield Dance Team Little Hawks Clinic
The Hayfield Varsity Dance Team invites all interested students to attend their Little Hawks dance clinic February 5th through 7th.
Participants will get to dance at the February 7th Varsity Basketball game. See the Little Hawks Interest Form for more information and to register.
FCPS News & Activities
SR&R and Cell Phone Policy Survey
All FCPS families and middle and high school students have received an invitation to participate in a survey about FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R), cell phone policy, and cell phone storage options. The survey will be available until February 3rd. Please take a few moments to share your feedback and help FCPS make informed, inclusive decisions for all of our schools!
Comprehensive Boundary Review Update
If you have not been able to attend an in-person Community Boundary Review Meeting, please consider participating in a virtual meeting:
Click one of the dates above to register and receive your unique Zoom link. Please note that each virtual meeting will be capped at 400 participants to help provide a meaningful experience for all. Language interpretation will be available.
Learn about FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
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