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The Weekly Roar
Monday, September 22, 2025
From Caterpillar to Chrysalis!
Second graders are studying the life cycle of butterflies in Science. Miss Shipley's and Mrs. Villanueva's class caterpillars (the larval stage) — named Steelers, Gerald, Chicken Jockey, Snowy, and Mr. Math Man by the students — moved into the chrysalis stage last week.
 
Upcoming Events
In This Issue
- Temporary Traffic Pattern Changes in Place Through November 12
- Rosh Hashanah Holiday September 22 – 23; School and Office CLOSED Tomorrow!
- Fall Picture Days Start on Wednesday This Week!
- Advanced Academics Family Information Session – Thursday, September 25, 6 p.m.
- PTA Play & Chat for Families of Students with Special Needs on September 25, at 5:30
- 3rd & 4th Grade “Breakfast Bites” This Friday, September 26
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Share Your Culture with Your Lane Family!
- Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions” – Monday, September 29!
- Join Us Fall Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night on Thursday, October 9!
- Save the Date for Math + STEAM = A Fun Night of Family Learning – Thursday, October 23!
- PTA News: Registration for Fall Cub Clubs underway, Chuck E. Cheese fundraiser Friday
- Parent Resources: Benchmark update, upcoming free webinars
- Community Events & Activities: Fall into Girl Scouts September 28
- FCPS News & Activities: Strategic Plan Goal 5, Ballot Referendum, Community Conversations, Comprehensive Boundary Review Update
News & Notes
Temporary Traffic Pattern Changes in Place Through November 12
The construction of the new government center next to our school is nearing completion. As the construction team makes the final roadway adjustments on Silver Lake Blvd., traffic patterns on that road will change temporarily. These changes will affect our traffic patterns for Kiss & Ride during arrival and dismissal.
These changes will roll out in three phases, the last of which will happen during Winter Break and not affect us.
Phase 1 began today and will end on Friday, October 10 (these are estimated dates). During this time, there will be a one-way traffic pattern from Manchester Blvd. to Beulah St. No entry to Silver Lake Blvd. will be allowed from Beulah St. Parents dropping off students in the morning or picking up students in the afternoon must enter the Kiss & Ride line from Manchester Blvd. (near Walgreens), NOT directly from Beulah St.
Phase 2 is projected to begin on Monday, October 13, and end on Wednesday, November 12. During this time, a section of Silver Lake Blvd. will be closed entirely, preventing complete travel from end to end. Lane Kiss & Ride will only be accessible by parents turning onto Silver Lake Blvd. via Beulah St. Parents will then need to travel down Silver Lake Blvd. to the entrance of the Manchester Lakes Senior Living Apartments, make a U-turn there, and join the queue for our Kiss and Ride turning into the Lane parking area.
Please see the map below for details or download a copy here.
We appreciate your cooperation and flexibility as we navigate these changes in our community.
Rosh Hashanah Begins Tonight; No School Tomorrow – Tuesday, September 23
“Shanah tovah!” to our Jewish community celebrating Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year this week! Meaning “head of the year,” Rosh Hashanah is one of Judaism’s holiest days and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection that ends with Yom Kippur. |
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Rosh Hashanah begins tonight at sundown. Today is an evening-only observance day, which means important events will not be held after school.
TOMORROW – Tuesday, September 23 – is a holiday for all FCPS students and staff. Schools and offices will be closed.
See the complete school year calendar.
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Fall Picture Days Start on Wednesday This Week! Volunteers Needed!
This year we are once again taking our student pictures for the yearbook in house rather than having a photography company come to school to take them. Students’ individual Picture Days will be their class library day, starting THIS WEDNESDAY, September 24.
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Here is the list of dates by grade level:
Pre-K
- Mori (Group 1) – Wednesday, 9/24
- Mori (Group 2) – Wednesday 10/1
Kindergarten
- Black – Friday, 9/26
- Crouch – Monday, 9/29
- Furfaro – Friday, 9/26
- Schadle – Monday, 9/29
1st Grade
- Dawkins – Monday, 9/29
- Goldner – Friday, 9/26
- Kaine – Monday, 9/29
- Parton – Friday, 9/26
2nd Grade
- Gallery – Wednesday, 9/24
- Pradko – Wednesday, 9/24
- Shipley – Tuesday, 9/30
- Song – Tuesday, 9/30
3rd Grade
- Durkin – Monday, 9/29
- Hartbarger – Friday, 9/26
- Slomka – Friday, 9/26
- Stoddard – Thursday, 9/25
4th Grade
- Araujo – Wednesday, 9/24
- Barbiere – Tuesday, 10/7
- Winiewicz – Wednesday, 10/1
- Zubieta – Tuesday, 9/30
5th Grade
- Benzelock – Tuesday, 10/7
- Kipkemboi – Monday, 9/29
- Jenkins – Thursday, 10/9
- Lopes – Thursday, 9/25
- McGregor – Tuesday, 9/30
6th Grade
- Lewis – Tuesday, 10/7
- Morris – Wednesday, 9/24
- Thomas – Wednesday, 10/1
- Wilson – Tuesday, 9/30
Self-Contained Classes
- Ferguson – Friday, 9/26
- Khalid – Wednesday, 9/24
- Ohmes – Wednesday, 9/24
- Roberts – Monday, 9/29
After Picture Days are complete, all families will receive a digital file of their child’s portrait for FREE! Once you receive it, you can use it to have prints made in any size or style you choose. There are many professional portrait studios in the Alexandria/Springfield area that families can visit if they wish to have a professional portrait taken.
Thursday, October 9, will be a make-up day for students who are absent on their assigned class day.
We will need some volunteers to help this process run smoothly. If you’re interested and able to help, please sign up to volunteer on our Volunteer FCPS page. A Sign-Up Genius link will be sent to you to let us know the days and times you’d like to help.
Advanced Academics Family Information Session – This Thursday, September 25, 6 p.m.
Lane’s Advanced Academics Program (AAP) Overview Family Session will be held THIS THURSDAY, September 25, at 6 p.m. in the Lane Library. At this meeting, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Linda Simon, will:
- Provide information on the continuum of AAP services.
- Explain the screening processes.
- Answer questions about advanced academic services.
For more information about the FCPS Advanced Academics program, read the Fall AAP newsletter.
PTA Play & Chat for Families of Students with Special Needs on September 25, 5:30 p.m.
The PTA’s Inclusion Committee will host its first Play & Chat of the year on Thursday, September 25, at 5:30 p.m. at the Lane playground. Families of students with special needs are invited to join this informal gathering to build community and enjoy the sunshine after school (before the fall chill arrives). The PTA will provide drinks and snacks.
3rd & 4th Grade “Breakfast Bites” This Friday, September 26
Our younger grades have enjoyed their Friday morning “Breakfast Bites” buffets, and now it’s time for our older students’ families to have their chance to get together and share some food and friendship before the school day begins.
This Friday, September 26, 3rd and 4th grade families are invited to join us from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. in the cafeteria. We just ask that each family bring a breakfast dish or item to share (muffins, donuts, casseroles, etc.). If you are a 3rd or 4th grade family that would like to attend, please RSVP here.
Our final “Breakfast Bites” will be held on Friday, October 10, for 5th and 6th grade families. A sign-up form for that event will be sent out soon.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Share Your Culture with Your Lane Family!
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The celebration runs through October 15.
Did you know that almost 10% of our students at Lane speak Spanish at home? And we bet there are even more who come from a Hispanic heritage. We want to celebrate all of them!
We invite all families of Hispanic heritage to send in pictures of their Lane students so we can post them alongside our map of Hispanic areas of the world. You can email the photos to our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, at macrosby@fcps.edu, or send it to her through TalkingPoints. Be sure to let us know where your family is from so we can add you to our map!
Please send photos in by Friday, October 3.
Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions” – Monday, September 29!
Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities. We are honored to have many military-connected lions in our school community and look forward to celebrating them during this special week. On Monday, September 29, we will host a Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions” breakfast reception from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.
In the past, this event has been for military families only, but we recognize that all Lane Lions are connected to these students as classmates, friends, neighbors, and more! So this year, all Lane Lions – military and non-military – and their families are welcome!
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 join us that morning, please fill out this RSVP form and tell us what you’ll bring.
We look forward to celebrating our military families together next week!
Join Us for Fall Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night on Thursday, October 9!
Hispanic Heritage Month and Rosh Hashanah are just two of the many cultural holidays and awareness/recognition months that FCPS recognizes during the school year. Here at Lane, we are continuing our quarterly events to showcase those observances and share cultural information in a fun, family-friendly way. These CARE (Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event) Nights — which we launched last year — will feature stations dedicated to different cultural activities and performances.
The date for our first CARE Night this year is Thursday, October 9. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. We will highlight these fall cultural holidays and observances:
- Hispanic Heritage Month and Dia de los Muertos
- Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Native American Heritage Month
- Diwali
- Disability History and Awareness Month
- Veterans Day.
If you plan to attend, please sign up here. This helps us ensure we have enough materials available for activities.
If you would like to host an activity for or a display about one of the events listed above, please email our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, at macrosby@fcps.edu.
Save the Date for Math + STEAM = A Fun Night of Family Learning – Thursday, October 23!
On Thursday, October 23, 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 our curriculum and 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!
PTA News
Registration for Fall Cub Clubs Now Open!
The PTA and Lane administrators have organized an entertaining and educational line-up of before- and after-school enrichment programs, known as “Cub Clubs,” for its fall session. Registration is now open and runs through Thursday, October 2. Sessions begin Tuesday, October 14, and will run through Tuesday, December 9.
Offerings this session include chess, sports, ceramics, STEM, and piano. Some sessions will be taught by Lane staff. Sessions often fill up fast, so be sure to register as soon as possible.
PTA Fundraiser at Chuck E. Cheese on Friday, September 26
On Friday September 26, all Lane Lions are welcome come play with their classmates at Chuck E. Cheese (6301 Richmond Highway in Alexandria) until 9 p.m., no signup required. Twenty percent of Lane sales will be donated to the Lane PTA. (Please note: This is not a drop off event. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.)
Parent Resources
Benchmark Update: Discovering Character in Language Arts
Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts is about characters who are faced with difficult choices. Sixth grade students, for example, will learn about characters who are changed and inspired by others.
Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
Question: Have you ever disagreed with a friend? How did you see things differently?
Activity: Have your child write a diary entry from the perspective of a book character.
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
Free Webinars from the FCPS Family Resource Center
What Families Need to Know About Drugs for Their Student with Disabilities
September 26, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Students with disabilities may be at a higher risk for substance use (SAMHSA); therefore, special populations require special care. Join us as we discuss the risk factors for drug misuse and how you can reduce the likelihood of your child using alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids. We will pay special attention to addressing the needs of students with ADHD.
Register here
Navigating Section 504 – Essential Knowledge for Families
October 3, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
This webinar will guide participants through these essentials of Section 504:
- Who Qualifies
- What to expect during the evaluation process
- How accommodations are determined
- Difference between a 504 Plan and an individualized education program (IEP)
This webinar is for families of elementary, middle and high school students.
Register here
Math Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
October 10, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
In this session participants will learn about evidence-based practices in teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities and how they apply to math instruction. Specific early numeracy objectives will be discussed, along with related activities to support these objectives using items easily found within the home. A participant guide will be provided, containing a variety of tools and resources.
Register here
Sibshops and SibTeen
October 13, 9 a.m. – noon
Jim Scott Community Center
3001 Vaden Dr, Fairfax, VA
The Sibshops workshops are for children in grades 2-6 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools who have siblings with support needs 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, and receive peer support. Play games and have fun.
Register here
SibTeens is a community-building group for Middle School siblings of children with support needs in grades 6-9 enrolled in Fairfax County Public Schools. We have fun activities, both recreational and art-based, as well as discussion activities. It’s a unique opportunity for students to share about their lives and support each other while normalizing their life experiences.
Register here
Please contact FCPSSibshops@FCPS.edu for follow-up questions about either program.
College or Vocational Planning and Preparation for Students with Disabilities
October 17, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
In this webinar, families will learn practical strategies for preparing for college or vocational school, including finding the best option, locating supports at school, and gaining independence for their student with disabilities.
Register here
Community Events & Activities
“Fall into Girl Scouts” on September 28
Do you have a child that would like to learn more about Girl Scouts at Lane or in the Hayfield area? If so, join current troops for Fall into Girl Scouts on Sunday, September 28, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Hayfield Park. Use the QR below for more information.
FCPS News & Activities
Take the K-12 School Start Times Survey
FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of starting the middle school day at 8 a.m. or after. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.
Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’ consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. That feedback helped in developing two options for adjusting school start times. The options are designed to support student well-being, align with research, and balance transportation logistics.
We invite you to provide input on the two options by taking a short survey. This voluntary survey will close TOMORROW — Tuesday, September 30. Visit the FCPS website for more information on adjusting school start times.
School Bond Referendum on Ballot Tuesday, November 4
To pay for large-scale construction and renovation work, Fairfax County sells bonds, which allows the county to pay for these projects over time — like a home mortgage. By maintaining its triple-A bond rating, Fairfax County bonds are purchased by institutional investors at very low rates, saving the county considerable amounts of money that might otherwise be paid in interest. The county estimates that the triple-A rating has saved taxpayers at least $1 billion in financing costs.
FCPS uses bonds to fund all of its capital improvement projects – the projects that are focused on the infrastructure of schools and facilities. From important renovations to new safety features like security vestibules, this work is paid for by bonds.
FCPS will have a bond referendum on the ballot this election day, Tuesday, November 4. Bonds can make a difference that represents an investment in public education now and in the future.
Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. And learn more about registering to vote and make a voting plan.
Join a Community Conversation with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.
A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events are planned for the following dates:
- Monday, September 29, from 6:30–7:30 p.m., at McNair Upper Elementary School
- Friday, October 3, from 6:30–7:30 p.m., at Annandale Terrace Elementary School
- Friday, December 5, from 6:30–7:30 p.m., at Churchill Road Elementary School
- Tuesday, December 9, from 6:30–7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School
- Thursday, December 11, from 6:30–7:30 p.m., at Bull Run Elementary School
Registration links will be shared soon. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.
Participate in an Upcoming Community Boundary Review Meeting
As a reminder, FCPS will hold two sets of community boundary review meetings this fall — one in September and another in October. Each set of meetings will focus on two pyramids per meeting.
All September meetings will include an overview of where FCPS is in the comprehensive boundary review process, an update and opportunity for feedback on school start times, how community input is informing the process, and next steps in the boundary review process.
The meeting for our pyramid will be held Thursday, September 25, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at South County High School (In Person or Virtual). Please register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” depending on how you would like to participate.
Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed.
Visit the FCPS website for a full list of meeting dates and information about the October meetings.
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Goal 5 focuses on preparing every student for life after graduation with the skills they need to thrive. See how Goal 5 is being put into practice.
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