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The Lion's Roar
Monday, March 17, 2025
Lucky Days
It's been a lucky time at Lane the last few days, as the community enjoyed the luck of the game at the PTA's Basket Bingo last Friday and the luck of Irish today, celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Take a look at some of our lucky winners and little leprechauns.
Lots of lucky numbers were called on Friday night at the PTA's annual Basket Bingo fundraiser. Dozens of students, staff, and parents took home valuable prizes. Everyone who attended won lots of fun!
Today, students and staff members kicked off the week with the wearin' of the green for St. Patrick's Day. Shamrocks, leprechauns, and pots of gold could be found throughout the building.
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday, 3/18 & Wednesday, 3/19 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Silver Diner, 5 – 8 p.m.
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Monday, 3/24 through Friday, 3/28 – End-of-Quarter Spirit Week (see article below for daily themes)
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Thursday, 3/27 – Family Math & STEAM Night, 5 - 7 p.m.
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Monday, 3/31 – Eid-al-Fitr Holiday, school and office closed
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Tuesday, 4/1 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday, students do not report
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Tuesday, 4/1 – Kindergarten Orientation for incoming kindergarten families, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. (Note the new time!)
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Thursday, 4/3 – Celebration of Cultures Night, 6 – 8 p.m.
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Monday, 4/7 – “Muffins for Military Lions" potluck, 8:30 - 9 a.m.
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Wednesday, 4/9 – Purple Up! for Military Kids Spirit Day, wear purple to show your support!
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Monday, 4/14 through Friday, 4/18 – Spring Break, school and office CLOSED
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Monday, 4/21 – Early Release Monday, dismissal at 1:05 p.m.
In This Issue
- Math + STEAM = A Fun Night of Family Learning!
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Celebration of Cultures Night Is Thursday, April 3! Sign Up to Share Your Family’s Culture!
- End-of-Quarter SCA Spirit Days Coming Soon!
- Orientation for Incoming Kindergarteners and Their Parents – Tuesday, April 1st, 9 a.m.
- Survey of Preschool Children
- Month of the Military Child Schoolwide Celebration Coming Next Month; Morning Reception Open to All on Monday, April 7
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Ramadan Reminders: Lunchtime Volunteers Needed, Fasting Meal Kits Available
- 2024-2025 Yearbooks on Sale! Order Now and Save!
- Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools
- PTA News: Restaurant Nights and Chuck E. Cheese fundraiser
- Parent Resources: Summer learning, Family Resource Center webinars
- FCPS News & Activities: 2025-2026 Budget, Community Conversations, bus stop arm cameras, and more!
News & Notes
Math + STEAM = A Fun Night of Family Learning!
On Thursday, March 27, Lane will host a Math & STEAM Night from 5 to 7 p.m. All families are invited to attend to learn more about how science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) are taught and explored throughout the curriculum in all grade levels at our school. Hands-on exhibits will feature everything from basic building blocks to high-tech robots. Interactive math sessions will include strategies, tips, and games with make-and-take activities to carry a piece of the learning home.
If you’d like to attend, please sign-up here to help us plan and ensure enough materials are available that night.
We hope to see you there!
Our 2025 Celebration of Cultures Night Is Thursday, April 3! Sign Up to Share Your Family’s Culture!
We are so excited for our upcoming Celebration of Cultures Night, which will be held on Thursday, April 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. We hope your family will join us!
There are many ways your family can participate and share about your culture. You can host a display booth; serve food samples; perform a song, a dance, or skill demonstration; wear cultural clothes and march in our Parade of Nations; or do it all! Just scan the QR code on the flyer or use this link to sign up!
All cultures are welcome! You do not need to be from a foreign country to participate. We want to learn about all of our families!
Calling All Military Families!
This year, to kick off our Month of the Military Child observance, we will have a special area reserved at Celebration of Cultures Night for displays from our military families. We hope you will share your experiences and travels with us! Check the back of the flyer for additional information.
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Spring CARE Night Activities
Celebration of Cultures Night will also serve as our Spring Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night and will include special areas with displays and activities for 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 Thursday, April 3, and sign up to share your culture with us that night!
End-of-Quarter Spirit Days Coming Soon!
We’re almost to the end of the third quarter, which means it’s time for our next set of SCA-sponsored school spirit days! They will be held the last week of March. Here’s the list of themes.
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Monday, March 24: Lane Spirit Day – wear your Lane gear or blue
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Tuesday, March 25: Inside Out Day – wear clothes inside-out OR dress like a mood, like the movie Inside Out
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Wednesday, March 26: Workout Wednesday – wear your favorite active wear and sneakers and pretend you have P.E. all day
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Thursday, March 27: Math and Science Day – in support of the Lane Family Math and STEAM Night, wear something with numbers, shapes, patterns, the periodic table OR dress like a scientist
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Friday, March 28: Wild West Day – tap into your inner cowperson; boots and hats welcome but optional
Schoolwide Celebration of Military Children Coming Next Month; Morning Reception Open to All on Monday, April 7
As mentioned above, April is the Month of the Military Child (MOMC), and here at Lane we are planning several special activities to celebrate the strength, spirit, and resilience of the many young military-connected lions we have in our community. Nearly 25 percent of our student body is military-connected.
Each year, we host a “Muffins for Military Lions” reception to kick off “Purple Up! Week” (a nationwide celebration dedicated to military children), We recognize that all Lane Lions are connected to these students as classmates, friends, neighbors, and more, so all Lane Lions – military and non-military – and their families are invited to come to school at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, April 7 for a celebratory muffin exchange, “Muffins with Military Lions.”
We ask that each family bring a dozen mini muffins or half a dozen full-size muffins to share with others. Muffins can be store-bought or homemade. We just ask that if you make your own you provide an ingredients list so that our families with allergies can choose safely.
If you’d like to join us that morning, please fill out this form and tell us what you’ll bring.
Watch next week’s Lion’s Roar for more information on other activities planned for Month of the Military Child.
Ramadan Reminders: Lunchtime Volunteers Needed, Fasting Meal Kits Available
Thank you to the volunteers who have stepped up so far to help us monitor the alternative space we have designated for fasting students observing Ramadan at lunchtime. If you are available and would like to help, please fill out this Google form.
If your child is fasting during the school day, please know that student meal kits that can be taken home at the end of the day are available through the end of the month. If you would like to take advantage of these free meals, you’ll need to fill out a Fasting Meals Request Form ahead of time each week for each child to receive a meal kit. Forms for the week of March 24 must be submitted by Monday, March 17.
Visit the FNS webpage for more information and to submit weekly request forms.
Orientation for Incoming Kindergarteners and Their Parents – Tuesday, April 1, 9:30 a.m.
It’s kindergarten registration time! Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Fairfax County public schools typically conduct kindergarten registration events, including orientation, between January and April. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us prepare and ensure we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
Families should prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms on the FCPS kindergarten registration webpage. FCPS offers support and resources for all families to help with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For support in other languages, visit the kindergarten registration webpage.
A Kindergarten Orientation for our littlest new Lane Lions and their families will be held on Tuesday, April 1, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. (Please note this updated time.) At this meeting, we will provide a general overview of the kindergarten program as well as a chance to meet the teachers and ask questions. While parents/guardians attend the session in the cafeteria, children will visit kindergarten classrooms.
Survey of Preschool Children
A “Survey of Preschool Children” eligible for kindergarten enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is currently being conducted. We request that parents of students eligible for kindergarten complete and return this survey to our school’s office. A copy of the form will be sent home with each child at Lane in Wednesday Folders this week.
Children who will reach their fifth birthday on or before September 30, 2025, are eligible for kindergarten this coming fall.
Please return the survey as soon as possible. You can fill out and return the paper form you receive or fill it out online, save it as a PDF, and send it as an attachment to our registrar, Jami O’Hagan, at jjohagan@fcps.edu.
Please share this information with parents of rising kindergarten children in your neighborhood that may not have a child in our school and are not aware of this survey.
Thank you!
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.
Persian New Year (Nowruz) Begins March 20
Nowruz Mobarak to all who celebrate! Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marks the arrival of spring and a fresh start. Families welcome the new season with festive meals, gift-giving, and the beautiful tradition of the Haft-Seen table, filled with symbols of new life and renewal.
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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 is now open and will remain open 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 & Announcements
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 (6592 Springfield Mall). On Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19, 5 to 8 p.m., you can enjoy delicious food and donate back to our school. Dine-in and delivery both count!
Bonus Fun for Kids!
Little ones can become Junior Servers for a behind-the-scenes restaurant experience! They’ll shadow Silver Diner staff for 30 minutes and learn the ropes of restaurant service. Plus, each Junior Server will receive a FREE meal for their next visit! Sign up for the Junior Server experience: https://signup.com/go/HVMucaK.
We hope to see you there!
Lane Night at Chuck E. Cheese – Friday, April 4!
On Friday April 4, come play with your classmates at Chuck E. Cheese on Richmond Hwy from 4 to 9 p.m., no signup required. Twenty percent of Lane sales will be given to our Lane PTA.
Parent Resources
Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration is now open 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.
FREE Webinars from the Family Resource Center
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
FCPS Budget — Our Students Deserve the Best
More than $240 million of FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Advertised Budget is dedicated to increasing compensation for our teachers and staff to stay competitive and reduce turnover. Currently, FCPS ranks fifth out of eight neighboring districts in regards to starting salary for teachers with a master’s degree.
Our families expect — and our students deserve — the best teachers.
Next Steps in the Budget Process
The next steps in the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process include the School Board presenting the budget to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, April 22, and then the Board of Supervisors will conduct public hearings Tuesday, April 22, through Thursday, April 24. Community members can submit testimony or sign up to speak.
Visit the county government website to view the Fairfax County FY 2026 Advertised Budget. The community is also invited to complete an online survey to provide feedback on the county’s FY 2026 Advertised Budget.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2026 Budget process.
Cameras Installed on School Bus Stop Arms
Cameras have been installed on the stop arms of 50 FCPS school buses. These cameras will be used to identify drivers who pass stopped school buses while children are entering and exiting the bus (called a “stop arm violation”).
Warnings for drivers will begin on Wednesday, April 9. After a 30-day warning period, citations will begin to be issued on Monday, May 12.
According to Virginia law, drivers must stop for stopped school buses with flashing red lights on and their stop signs extended. Motorists should stop when approaching from any direction (unless there is a barrier or median separating their lane from where the bus is stopped). They should remain stopped until everyone is clear and the bus is moving.
We appreciate our law enforcement partners for working with us to improve road safety and reduce accidents. Read more information about the stop arm cameras and all of the ways that we work with our county partners to keep students safe on their way to and from school.
The Comprehensive School Boundary Review Process Explained
Want to learn more about the ongoing Comprehensive School Boundary Review process? Watch this video for explanations of terms such as attendance zones, attendance islands, split feeders, and other factors that affect school boundaries. The video will also be available in other languages soon.
Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information and sign up for our School Boundary Review newsletter.
Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! Share your thoughts and ask questions regarding FCPS on Tuesday, April 1, at Lorton Station Elementary School from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.
Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Community Events & Activities
Hayfield Secondary Craft Fair & Silent Auction, Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hayfield Secondary School is holding its annual craft fair on Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be over 100 vendors selling amazing crafts, a silent auction that includes restaurant and golf gift certificates, wine packages, and more!
Admission is free. There will be food and snacks for purchase. Proceeds benefit the All-Night Grad Party, which provides a safe environment for Hayfield seniors to celebrate their graduation with friends!
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