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The Lion's Roar
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Last week was a busy one at Lane, made even busier by the midweek snowstorm! Fortunately, the weather cleared in time for both the annual Spelling Bee and 100th Day of School celebrations on Thursday, and, of course, Valentine's Day on Friday.
To mark the 100th Day of School, students counted to that magic number in many different ways throughout the day, and kindergarteners imagined what they would look like in their 100th year of life!
After school on Thursday, dozens of spellers from 1st through 5th grade participated in Lane's annual Spelling Bee. Fifth grader Annaya L. was the last speller standing, spelling the final word correctly to win the contest. She will go on to represent Lane at the Fairfax County Spelling Bee in the spring. Fourth grader Elonna B. was the runner up.
We finished the week on a high note as Valentine's Day was celebrated across the entire school. Here are just a couple of snapshots from the day.
Upcoming Events
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Wednesday, 2/19 – PTA Restaurant Night at Chick-fil-A, 5-8 p.m.
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Thursday, 2/27 – Winter Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
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Friday, 2/28 – SCA Mid-Quarter Spirit Day: “Blanket and/or Stuffed Animal Day” (pajamas optional but welcome!)
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Friday, 3/14 – Rising 7th Grade Parent Coffee at Hayfield Middle School, 9 – 11 a.m.
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Friday, 3/14 – PTA Basket Bingo, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
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Tuesday, 3/18 & Wednesday, 3/19 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Silver Diner, 5 – 9 p.m.
In This Issue
News & Notes
Join Us for Winter CARE Night Thursday, February 27th
Our second Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night of the year will be held on Thursday, February 27th, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. We will have displays and activities related to the three major winter cultural celebrations recognized by FCPS: Lunar New Year, Black History Month, and Ramadan.
At this event, you’ll be able to take a walk through important events in Black history and design a square for our Freedom Quilt; explore the Chinese zodiac to find your birth animal and create a decoration for the Year of the Snake; make a colorful lantern suncatcher and learn about other Ramadan symbols and traditions; listen to music from all of these celebrations, including music by Black artists that have helped shape our music today. We'll even have some live jazz music performed by our very own Lane music teachers! Check last week’s Wednesday Folder for a flyer with more information and the sign-up link. Sign-up is not required, but it helps us with planning and materials for activities.
If 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.
Be Part of Our Black History Month Celebration
At our CARE Night on February 27th, we would like to showcase and honor our Lane Black students and families and their family histories!
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Please share your pictures and stories with us so we can add them to a display that night. You can email them to one of our family liaisons: Melanie Crosby Hardy at macrosby@fcps.edu or Andrea Howard at ahoward@fcps.edu. We look forward to learning about your history during Black History Month!
SCA-Sponsored “Blanket and/or Stuffed Animal Day” on Friday, February 28th
We are nearly at the middle of the second grading quarter and to celebrate that milestone, the SCA is sponsoring a Spirit Day on Friday, February 28th. The theme is “Blanket and/or Stuffed Animal Day.” Students are welcome to bring a blanket and/or a stuffed friend to help make this February Friday a little cozier. This isn’t an official “Pajama Day,” but pajamas do go well with blankets and stuffies, don’t they? We hope your child will participate in the fun!
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2024-2025 Yearbooks on Sale! Order Now and Save!
School yearbooks are now on sale. The basic book is just $18 now, but the price will go up to $22 at the end of March. You can have your child’s name printed on the cover for an additional $5. Order now and save!
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Ordering is simple: Just go to http://www.buytheyearbook.com, put in Lane Yearbook School ID #722060, and pay with your credit card. All orders are online only.
You can find more information on the flyer in Wednesday Folders last week. Early-bird deadline is Friday, March 28th.
PLEASE NOTE: There most likely will not be any additional books for sale in June. If you want your child to have a yearbook, please order one now.
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28th through March 28th
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28th and March 28th can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.
Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student.
To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28th, and the week of March 3rd, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24th. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
Protect Yourself and Your Community from the Flu
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.
The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
- Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
- Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
News from the Lane Library: Overdue Notices Sent Out Last Week
Dear Lane Readers,
Last week, the library emailed out notices for books that are overdue. Students who have books that were due on or before January 30th received a notice.
Please do your best to look for these books and return them in good condition. It is also possible that books have been sent to school but have not yet made it to the library. If this is the case, apologies in advance for the crossed communication.
As a reminder, there are no fines for overdue books, however families are expected to pay the replacement cost for lost or damaged books.
Contact Sue Chozick, Librarian (schozick@fcps.edu) with any questions.
Dual Language Immersion Lottery Registration Still Open for Rising Kindergarteners; Rising 1st Process in Final Stages
Registration for the countywide lottery for the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program is still open for rising kindergarten students for the 2025-26 school year. Applications are closed for rising 1st grade students.
Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. The application window for rising kindergarteners will close on Thursday, March 6th. (Not all programs include kindergarten.)
Get more information on the DLI Program webpage and DLI Program Registration webpage.
Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools
Three FCPS elementary magnet schools — Hunters Woods, Bailey’s Primary, and Bailey’s Upper — provide enhanced learning programs in science, technology, and performing arts.
Registration for the 2025-26 elementary magnet lottery will be open Tuesday, March 4th, through Friday, April 4th. Learn more about the programs on the Elementary Magnet Schools page and about the magnet lottery on the Registration page.
PTA News
One More Night for Chick-fil-A — Wednesday, February 19th
Did you miss your chance for chicken from Chick-Fil-A tonight? If so, don't worry! You have another chance tomorrow! The Kingstowne location will host a second Restaurant Night for Lane tomorrow night (Wednesday, February 19th) from 5 to 8 p.m.
Twenty percent of Lane sales will be donated back to our school. 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.” (Be sure to put it in the app when you create your order; it can be difficult to add it later.)
Valentine Grams Help Spread the Love!
The PTA would like to thank everyone who purchased Valentine Grams for our Lane Lions. More than 500 heart-themed messages were delivered last Friday! There were many happy faces in the hallways!
Your ongoing generous support is appreciated!
PTA Marks 100 Days of School!
Students weren’t the only ones celebrating the 100th Day of School last week. The PTA has done an amazing amount of work and provided so much support in the first 100 days of the 2024-25 school year! Check out the flyer below to see the many great things they've done!
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
Learn More About How Your Child Feels at School
The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-12 in March. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop the skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who do not have a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Kindergarten Registration: It’s as Easy as 1-2-3…
There’s an easy five-step process for parents wanting to register their child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one guardian must be present), the student will be ready for our Kindergarten Orientation, which will be held later this spring. Read more about the registration process. For additional information, please contact Jami O’Hagan, our school registrar at jjohagan@fcps.edu.
Try Online Registration
Online registration for the 2025-26 school year is open. Parents/caregivers may register their children online for kindergarten through 12th grade. Learn how to begin the online registration process.
When registering, parents/caregivers will need to create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
FREE Webinars from the Family Resource Center
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 News & Activities
Breaking Down the Budget: Investing in Our Classrooms
Did you know that more than 85% of FCPS’ budget stays in our classrooms? Currently, 92.5% of FCPS staff are school-based, more than neighboring school districts.
We are in the middle of FCPS’ annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback. Learn more about the proposed FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget and see the budget timeline.
FCPS’ Construction Projects Offer Community-Wide Benefits
The Fairfax County School Board approved the annual update to FCPS’ FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) at their regular board meeting last week. A CIP is a working budget document that shows the timing and costs of improvement to school buildings, such as renovations, additions, and new schools. Learn more about planned improvements.
Fairfax County Public Schools’ updated plans for new school construction, capacity enhancements, and renovations are outlined in the CIP. Projects include constructing two new elementary schools; renovations at 18 elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools; and relocation of modular buildings.
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