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Good Afternoon Cedar Lane Community,
Musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone, whose birthday is today, once said, "There's no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were".
At Cedar, we have been remembering heroes and heroines throughout the month of February, especially in our celebrations of Black History Month and President's Day. If you have the opportunity this weekend, please check in with your students regarding the heroes and heroines that they have been learning about in school; maybe you could ask them about their favorite as a discussion starter.
Next week, our students will get the chance to learn about more American heroes as they go on a field trip to the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History in Washington, DC. It should be an amazing, fun learning experience for all involved.
Wishing you a wonderful, warm weekend!!
Mr. Rzepka
School Based Technology Specialist
Contents:
Cedar Lane 24-25 yearbooks are now on sale!
The journalism class is hard at work on the yearbook! If your kid is here now, they’ll be in it!
$35 for 72 pages of full color fun and memories.
Reserve your student’s copy now at https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectStudent?isAdvertisementOnly=False
Cash and check (made out to Cedar Lane) also accepted.
 📐 Breaking Down the Budget: Supporting Academic Growth and Algebra by Eighth GradeThe FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan.
Since the 2023-24 school year, FCPS has seen a 9.5% increase in eighth graders taking Algebra I or more advanced math and a 6.8% increase in fifth graders in advanced math.
Studies show that students who complete algebra in middle school have more opportunities to take advanced math and science courses in high school. This can open up new academic paths for students! Watch a video that shows why eighth grade algebra matters.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget.
Become Unskippable: Practical Guidance for Talking With Teens About Fentanyl
Teens skip things that don't interest them, including lectures from their parents. But young people die from fentanyl overdoses in Fairfax County each year — so it's important to have short, impactful talks with your teen, whether or not you think they’re at risk.
As a parent or caregiver, you have the power to become “unskippable” and talk with your teen in a way they will listen.
See our tips for talking with your teen about fentanyl and other difficult subjects. Watch this video to learn more about becoming unskippable.
📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra learning resources. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes; on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring; essay editing; and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
💻 Hazel Health: Virtual Therapy for High School Students
Teletherapy services are available for all FCPS high school students at no cost. Sessions can be scheduled Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Hazel Health’s highly qualified therapists specialize in working with teens. Learn more on FCPS’ teletherapy webpage.
Cedar Lane students have been working hard to produce our monthly newsletter. Take a look at their work and check out the latest news around the Lane.
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 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 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. 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:
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Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
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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).
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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.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Middle School Start Times
- New Lunch Items
- Talking to Teens About Tough Topics
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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