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The Lion's Roar

Monday, March 3, 2025

Cultural Celebrations Take Center Stage

Last Thursday, Lane Lions of all ages came together at our Winter Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night to celebrate three important cultural events of the season — Lunar New Year, Black History Month, and Ramadan. 

At the Lunar New Year table, attendees got to make a paper snake decoration to celebrate 2025, the Year of the Snake. They also were able to determine their own Chinese Zodiac animal based on the year they were born and color the corresponding picture. Fortune cookies were a lucky sweet treat!

The Black History Month display offered a walk-through gallery of 28 key historic moments (based on the book 28 Days, Moments in Black History That Changed the World, written by Charles R. Smith Jr. and illustrated by Shane W. Evans) as well as information on the legend of freedom quilts, which might have contained secret codes to help guide escaping slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad. Attendees enjoyed coloring their own quilt squares to build a school quilt. Throughout the evening, our music teachers (including special guest Mr. Griffin, who returned to join the fun), set a cool vibe playing jazz music, a style that developed among Black musicians.

In Muslim culture, lanterns symbolize the light of guidance and hope in the darkness and represent the spiritual illumination and blessings received during the holy month of Ramadan. At the Ramadan station, families could make their own paper lantern suncatchers from colorful tissue paper.

Upcoming Events

• Monday, 3/10 – Early Release Monday, dismissal at 1:05 p.m.
  

• Friday, 3/14 – Rising 7th Grade Parent Coffee at Hayfield Middle School, 9 – 11 a.m.

• Friday, 3/14 – PTA Basket Bingo, 6:30 – 8 p.m.; doors open at 5:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, 3/18 & Wednesday, 3/19 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Silver Diner, 5 – 9 p.m.

• Monday, 3/31 – Eid-al-Fitr Holiday, school and office closed
• Tuesday, 4/1 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday, students do not report
  
• Tuesday, 4/1 – Kindergarten Orientation for students entering kindergarten fall 2025 and their parents, exact time to be determined

In This Issue

• March Administrators’ Message: Make Every Day Count!
• Early Release Monday Next Week, March 10
• Save the Date for Celebration of Cultures Night – Thursday, April 3!
• Volunteers Needed for Lunchtime Support for Fasting Students This Month
• Student Fasting Meal Kits Available through March 28
• It’s National School Social Work Week!
• Calling All Kindergarteners for the 2025-26 School Year! Registration Is Open Now!
• 2024-2025 Yearbooks on Sale Now!
• Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools
• PTA News: Basket Bingo tickets selling fast, March Restaurant Nights at Silver Diner
• Parent Resources: Summer learning, Family Summit, seventh grade immunizations, Family Resource Center webinars
• FCPS News & Activities: 2025-2026 Budget

News & Notes

March Administrators’ Message: Make Every Day Count!

Dear Families,

As we step into March and welcome the first signs of spring, we are excited to continue learning and growing together! This time of year brings fresh energy, new opportunities for learning, and important moments to celebrate as a school community.

We encourage you to stay engaged with your child’s learning—whether it’s through reading together at home, asking about their day, or attending school events. Your involvement makes a significant difference in their success!

Chronic Absenteeism: Every Day Counts!

One of our key focus areas this year is improving our chronic absenteeism rate, which is currently at 12.4%. Research shows that students who miss just 10% of the school year (about 18 days) — even if absences are excused — are at risk of falling behind academically. Regular attendance is directly linked to stronger reading skills, higher achievement in math, and better social-emotional development.

We know mornings can be tough, but setting strong routines helps! Please do your best to ensure your child is in school every day. The next scheduled days off are March 31 (Eid-al-Fitr holiday) and April 1 (Teacher Workday) and Spring Break is April 14 – 18. These are the perfect times to schedule family travel. Let’s make every school day count!

Save the Date! Upcoming School Events  We have some exciting events planned and would love for  you to join us:

• Basket Bingo – A fun-filled evening for the whole family, hosted by the PTA, on Friday, March 14 (see ticket information in the “PTA News” section below)
• STEAM Night – An opportunity to learn and support your student in math and science on Thursday, March 27 (more details coming soon)
• Celebration of Cultures Night – An opportunity to honor and learn about the rich diversity in our school community on Thursday, April 3 (see more information below and watch next week’s Wednesday Folders for flyers).

Thank you for your continued support in making our school a place where every student thrives. Together, we can ensure all students feel successful and engaged in their learning each and every day.

Let’s make March a great month!

Warmly,

Mrs. Opie, Interim Principal
Mr. Dickens, Assistant Principal
Mrs. Kubiak, Assistant Principal

Early Release Monday Next Week, March 10

On Monday, March 10, we will have our next scheduled 3-hour Early Release Monday. We will dismiss at 1:05 p.m. and send your child home or to their usual after-school care, UNLESS we have received instructions from you to keep your child at school. We will follow the dismissal guidance you provided last month unless we hear from you that a change is needed. Please contact the school office at 703-924-7700 by noon on Thursday, March 6th.

Save the Date for Lane’s 2025 Celebration of Cultures Night – Thursday, April 3!

Our Winter CARE Night activities last Thursday got us even more excited for this year’s biggest family-focused event – Celebration of Cultures Night! This very special event gives all Lane families the chance to share their culture and traditions with our school. It features displays, performances, and FOOD from all over the world provided by our own Lane Lion families!

Celebration of Cultures Night will be held this year on Thursday, April 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. It will also serve as our Spring Cultural & Awareness Recognition Event (CARE) Night and will include special areas with displays and activities for Month of the Military Child, Arab American Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, Easter, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and Caribbean Heritage Month.

This is an event your family won’t want to miss! Mark your calendars now for April 3 and watch Wednesday Folders next week for a flyer with more details on how your family can participate and share your culture!

Volunteers Needed for Lunchtime Support for Fasting Students During Ramadan

Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year in Islam. During this month, Muslims abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset each day while striving to increase their spirituality through prayers, charity, and good deeds.

At Lane, we have many students who fast during the school day as part of their observance of this holy month. We will have an alternative space available for them during lunchtime throughout the month of March. If your child would like to use this space, please notify your child’s teacher.

We are looking for volunteers to monitor students who use this alternative space during lunchtime. If you are available and would like to help, please fill out this Google form.

Student Fasting Meal Kits Available Through March 28

Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day through 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.

Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.

It’s National School Social Work Week! March 2 through 8 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites. We are lucky to have Mrs. Earl, our school social worker, in our building supporting students and families every day! Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS.

Calling All Kindergarteners for the 2025-26 School Year! Registration Is Open Now!

Do you have a child at home ready to start kindergarten this fall? If so, now is the time to let us know your little lion will be coming to Lane! Registration for the 2025-26 school year is now underway, and we want to hear from you! 

If you don’t have a rising kindergartener yourself, please share this information with friends and neighbors who do.

There’s an easy five-step process to register your child for kindergarten:

1. Determine eligibility.
2. Identify your local school.
3. Gather documents.
4. Fill out forms.
5. Schedule an appointment.

After the appointment at the school (the student and one guardian must be present), you’ll be ready for our Kindergarten Orientation for incoming students and their families. It will be held on Tuesday, April 1 (exact time to be determined). Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

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 grade 12. 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.

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!

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. Early-bird deadline is Friday, March 28.

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.

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 4 through Friday, April 4. Learn more about the programs on the Elementary Magnet Schools page and about the magnet lottery on the Registration page.

PTA News

Basket Bingo Is Coming Friday, March 14! Tickets on Sale Now!

Get ready to try your luck at the Lane PTA’s annual Basket Bingo fundraiser on Friday, March 14! There will be multiple games with lots of prizes as well as raffles, food and drink, and FUN! The doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and games begin at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now for this popular event, which usually sells out, and the number of tickets is limited. Grab yours before they’re gone! 

Visit the PTA website for details to purchase tickets: https://lanepta.givebacks.gives/bb2025/Event/Details. General sales run through March 12 or until the event sells out.

Want to play for FREE? Volunteer to help and get a complimentary ticket! Sign up to volunteer here: https://signup.com/go/vtSxmcy.

Gather your friends, bring your lucky charms, and get ready for a fun-filled night of bingo, prizes, and community spirit!

PTA Needs Your Help to Fill the Bingo Prize Baskets!

During Bingo, each grade level will sponsor a game! This means that the PTA needs to create a basket for the winner of each game. Every basket has a different theme; families are encouraged to look through their child’s grade level’s Amazon Wish List below to see if there are any items they’d like to contribute.

Basket themes and wish lists:

• Kindergarten: Kindergarten Family Game Night Basket Wish List (https://a.co/j5VoTwb)
• 1st Grade: 1st Grade Movie Night Basket Wish List (https://a.co/0PRSjwf)
• 2nd Grade: 2nd Grade Sports & Fitness Basket Wish List (https://a.co/1LjAgVC)
• 3rd Grade: 3rd Grade Crafting Basket Wish List (https://a.co/hVzTfIt)
• 4th Grade: 4th Grade Spa Day Basket Wish List (https://a.co/7uyfFHK)
• 5th Grade: 5th Grade Cooking Basket Wish List (https://a.co/2QlMlLk)
• 6th Grade: 6th Grade Outdoors Basket Wish List (https://a.co/4tIhoPV)

Thank you for supporting this event!

Restaurant Nights at Silver Diner Coming Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19

Get ready to enjoy some good old-fashioned comfort foods with a modern twist at our local family-friendly diner – Silver Diner – in the Springfield Town Centre. On Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19, you can enjoy delicious food and donate back to our school. Watch Wednesday Folders for flyers with more information coming soon!

Parent Resources

Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun

Registration will be available soon for summer camps offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10 and ends Friday, June 6.

Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps.

E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.

For more information, see the Summer Learning page.

The 2025 Guide to Summer Camps is now accessible on the Family Resource Center website.

2025 Family Summit — Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging! (an Extension of the Special Education Conference)

Families, educators, and community members are invited to the 2025 FCPS Family Summit, Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging. Fairfax County Public Schools will be hosting the free, in-person event in collaboration with valued community partners. The summit will be held Saturday, March 15, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School.

This event will feature:

• Opening Session: Julie Causton and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak — best-selling authors, motivational speakers, and advocates for inclusion — will share practical tools and evidence-based strategies to empower and assist all families, with a special emphasis on parents of students with individual education programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans.
• Breakout Sessions: Learn more about special education and global topics that benefit all families.
• Student Showcase: FCPS students will share their efforts in fostering inclusivity through posters, essays, videos, songs, art, and other mediums.
• Exhibitor Hall: Discover valuable resources and services in the community to support families.

• Networking Opportunities: Connect with other families, staff, and community partners.

Childcare will be provided. Special education staff will be available to care for children with high support needs. You may sign up for childcare during the registration process.

Learn more about this event and register today! Contact FamilySummit@fcps.edu for more information.

Connect With Your Kids: Simple Steps to Stronger Communication

Kids often skip things that don't interest them, including lectures from their parents. How do you connect with your children and really know what's going on in their lives? How can you become “unskippable”?

Effective communication can build trust and understanding, but it takes thought, planning, and effort.

The latest Healthy Minds Blog offers practical strategies to improve communication and build strong, lasting relationships:

• Ditch distractions and create a safe space where your child feels comfortable opening up.
• Listen actively and validate their feelings, even if you don't agree.
• Ask "how" questions instead of "what" questions to get them talking about their experiences.

For more tips and techniques, read the full article on the Healthy Minds Blog, which shares information related to youth mental health and wellness.

For support on talking with your teen about difficult subjects like fentanyl, discover how to Become Unskippable.

VDH Immunization Packets for Rising Seventh Graders

As required by the Code of Virginia, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend public school. All students entering seventh grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:

• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older.
• Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.
• A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
  • After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents/guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. If your child does not have a health care provider, please visit the FCPS Immunizations Resource page to find out where to get an immunization.

Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet for more information on rising seventh grade immunization requirements.

FREE Webinars from the Family Resource Center

Risk Prevention Series, Part 3: Violence Prevention: Responding to Threats of Harm to Others

Friday, March 4, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

This session will provide an overview of “The Pathway to Violence”; demystify the threat to others risk assessment process within the FCPS K-12 setting; and provide in-home strategies, school and community resources, and direction regarding keeping students safe when confronted with pervasive and/or significant concerning behaviors and explicit threats of violence.

Register here

Anxiety in the Context of Autism: What Parents Need to Know

Monday, March 7, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Join Dr. Jonathan Dalton, PhD, founder and director of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, as he presents on the critical differences in the treatment of anxiety in Neurotypical (allistic) and Autistic children. He will focus on the differences between fear and dread and why traditional anxiety treatment approaches are often insufficient when treating Autistic youth. He will build parenting skills that families can use to help relieve the anxious suffering of their Autistic children.

Register here

Understand Executive Function Milestones, Challenges, & Implement Effective Strategies at Home for Children in Middle School

Friday, March 14, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

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.

Register here

Supporting Mental Health: Recognizing and Addressing Anxiety and Depression in Teens

Wednesday, March 19, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Join us for Part 3 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 identify mental health symptoms, enhance communication skills, and explore
professional and self-care strategies.

Register here

Comprendiendo el Trauma en su Hijo, Part 3:
(presented in Spanish: Understanding Trauma in Your Child)

Friday, March 21, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Aprenderemos 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.

Parte 3: Estrategias para construir factores de protección

¿Cómo apoyar a los niños que pueden haber sufrido traumas?

Register here

Calming the Chaos: Teaching Emotional Regulation to Twice-Exceptional (2e) Students

Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Join Dr. Oladimeji as she supports families to understand the unique emotional regulation challenges of Twice Exceptional (2e) students, including the interaction between giftedness and disabilities; identify proactive strategies to help 2e students recognize, express, and manage emotions effectively; Implement practical tools and techniques at home to foster emotional self-regulation and resilience; and collaborate with schools and professionals to support emotional growth in their child’s academic and social environments.

Register here

FCPS News & Activities

Breaking Down the Budget: Supporting Academic Growth and Reading on Level by Third Grade

The FCPS Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget invests in academic growth and excellence for each and every student, which is one of the priorities of the FCPS Strategic Plan.

Across FCPS, teachers, staff, parents, and even older students are invested in helping our youngest learners grow their love of reading from a strong foundation.

The goal is for students to move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” by the end of the third grade. Reading on grade level is connected to other Strategic Plan goals, including completing advanced coursework and graduating on time.

Last fall, FCPS introduced a new reading curriculum that aligns with evidence-based literacy instruction. Between fall and winter, reading screener results show more than a 4% increase in the number of students in kindergarten to third grade approaching or meeting expectations. Similarly, 3.4% more third graders demonstrate strong foundations of reading and 8.4% more third graders are mastering grade-level standards.

Discover how an elementary school employs a science-based approach, including phonics, to supercharge students' reading.

Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Advertised Budget. View the Budget Development Calendar to stay up to date.

7137 Beulah Street, Alexandria, VA 22315  |  Phone: 703.924.7700

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