English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

The Weekly Roar

Monday, October 6, 2025

Thank You, Lane Custodians!

This past Thursday, October 2, was Custodian Appreciation Day. Thanks to our amazing custodial team at Lane, we all have a clean, safe place to learn, teach, and work. They work hard every single day to keep our school shining! The next time you see them at school, please be sure to say "Thanks!" (Pictured above, left to right, are Mrs. Anima, Mr. Konlan, Mr. Tang, and Mrs. Nkansah.)

Lane Lion Loop Run Fundraiser Kicks Off with Spirit-Filled Pep Rally!

Last Wednesday, October 1, we kicked off the PTA's big fall fundraiser, the Lane Lion Loop Run, with two pep rallies on the fields in the bright fall sunshine. "Pep" doesn't really describe how spirited our students and staff were to launch this major campaign that will help fund field trips, classroom updates, ongoing education and social programs, and more! See the article below for more details on how you can donate and support the run itself, which will be held on Friday, October 17.

Upcoming Events

• Continuing through Thursday, 10/9 – Fall Picture Days (Individual portraits will be taken by class on library days; see article below for details and specific dates. Make-up day for absent and new students is Thursday, 10/9.)
• Wednesday, 10/8 – Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
• NEW DATE! Wednesday, 10/8 – Lane PTA Meeting, 6:30 p.m. (virtual) 
• Thursday, 10/9 – Fall Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night, 5:30 – 7 p.m., Cafeteria
• Friday, 10/10 – Family Friday Potluck “Breakfast Bites” for 5th & 6th Grade, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
• Monday, 10/13 – Student Holiday/Staff Development Day – Students DO NOT Report
  
• Tuesday, 10/14 – Lion Loop Fun Run Spirit Day: “Superhero Day”
  

• Wednesday, 10/15 – 3-hour Early Release, dismissal at 1:05 p.m. UNLESS school has been notified that student needs to stay

• Wednesday, 10/15 – Lion Loop Fun Run Spirit Day: “Lane Spirit Day”

• Wednesday, 10/15 & Thursday, 10/16 – PTA Restaurant Night at Badd Pizza

• Thursday, 10/16 – Lane Lion Loop Fun Run Spirit Day: “Pajamas and Stuffies Day”
  

• Friday, 10/17 – Lane Lion Loop Fun Run, each grade level will have a specific time and designated color to wear; spectators and volunteers welcome!

• Monday, 10/20 – Diwali Holiday, School and Office CLOSED

• Thursday, 10/23 – Math & STEAM Night, 5 – 7 p.m.

• Sunday, 10/26 – PTA Trunk or Treat, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, 10/30 – Full-Time Advanced Academics Program parent meeting, 6 p.m., Lane Library
• Friday, 10/31 – End-of-Quarter 2-Hour Early Release, dismissal at 2:05 p.m., no afterschool care for students available
  

In This Issue

• Join Us Fall Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night on Thursday, October 9!
• Lane Lion Loop Fun Run Coming October 17! Donations Now Being Accepted!
• Fall Picture Days Continue This Week; Make-Up Day on Thursday
• Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day Is This Wednesday, October 8
• Next Early Release Wednesday Is October 15; Please Notify the School of Changes to Your Plans
• 5th & 6th Grade “Breakfast Bites” This Friday, October 10
• Student Holiday for Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 13
• Save the Date for Math + STEAM = A Fun Night of Family Learning – Thursday, October 23!
• PTA News: Restaurant Nights at Badd Pizza next week, October meeting October 9, Trunk or Treat October 26
• Parent Resources: Start times survey closes today, Benchmark literacy tips, attendance reminders, special-needs advisory committee meeting, upcoming free webinars
• FCPS News & Activities: Bond referendum, Community Conversations

News & Notes

Fall Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night Is THIS THURDAY, October 9!

Would you like to learn more about the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, and discover why apples are one of that culture’s symbolic fruits? Ever wonder why corn was such a big part of our fall holidays and festivals? Would you like to enjoy some Hispanic music and dance, or maybe write a thank-you card for our military troops for upcoming Veterans Day?

All of this and more will be offered at our Fall CARE (Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event) Night this Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the cafeteria. We’ll have music, crafts, and snacks along with the chance to learn more about these fall cultural happenings we will showcase that night:

• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Dia de los Muertos
• Rosh Hashanah
• Yom Kippur
• Indigenous Peoples’ Day
• 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.

Lane Lion Loop Fun Run Coming October 17! Donations Now Being Accepted!

The Lane PTA is excited to announce the first-ever Lane Lion Loop Fun Run, coming this October! This fun run will be one of their biggest fundraisers of the year. The initial goal — $20,000 — will fully fund field trips with no cost to families and support other initiatives like literacy programs, technology upgrades, classroom improvements, and more! They are aiming for even more to do more for the school. The group has set several fun incentives, including teacher scooter races and sliming the principal, when those higher goals are met. 

If you'd like to support the fundraiser, please check the packet sent home in Wednesday Folders last week or go straight to the donation link on the PTA website.

Volunteers Needed!

The PTA needs volunteers to help in several ways throughout the day on October 17. They will set up our 1/6th mile track with music and other fun areas for kids of all abilities, add marks to students race bibs each time they pass the start line, and tally the results and report them to the PTA. If you’re available and would like to help, please sign up here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/76818580057/#/invitation. Due to new FCPS volunteer regulations, since this event is during the school day, we also ask that you register on Volunteer FCPS here. Please apply for Level 1 when you create your account (unless you'd also like to be a field trip chaperone, for which you would need to apply for Level 3). Thank you!

Fall Picture Days Continue This Week; Make-Up Day on Thursday Our final individual class Picture Days are this week. You’ll find the schedule for remaining classes below. We will offer a make-up day for students who were absent on their original Picture Day on Thursday, October 9. Dates for retakes will be announced soon.

4th Grade

• Barbiere – Tuesday, 10/7
• Winiewicz – Wednesday, 10/8

5th Grade

• Benzelock – Tuesday, 10/7
• Jenkins – Thursday, 10/9

6th Grade

• Lewis – Tuesday, 10/7

All families will receive a digital file of their child’s portrait for free in the next few weeks.

Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day Is Wednesday, October 8!

Get ready to walk, ride, or roll to Lane on Wednesday, October 8, as part of Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day. In this nationwide effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools, students and staff are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work that day, where safe to do so. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to school.

Next Early Release Wednesday Is October 15; Please Notify the School of Changes to Your Plans

Our next Early Release Wednesday will be October 15. Students will be released three hours early that day at 1:05 p.m. We will once again offer supervised activities after school for those families with child-care hardship because of this Early Release scheduling. This option is designed to be for students who have no other option.

To plan for our after-school groups this month, we will follow parent responses provided for the first Early Release on last month. If you need to change your child’s plans from last month, please call the school office at 703-924-7700 as soon as possible and no later than this Friday, October 10. You may also reach out via email to our family liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy at macrosby@fcps.edu.

If we do not hear from you, we will send your child home as previously directed.

5th & 6th Grade “Breakfast Bites” This Friday, October 10

We will wrap up our fall grade-level “Breakfast Bites” potlucks this Friday, October 10, with the gathering for our oldest students. Families of 5th and 6th graders are invited to join us from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. in the cafeteria. We ask that each family bring a breakfast dish or item to share (muffins, donuts, casseroles, etc.). If your family would like to join us, please RSVP here).

Student Holiday for Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 13

Please note that next Monday, October 13, is a Student Holiday, in honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples, past and present.

The office will be open regular hours, as staff will be attending professional development sessions throughout the day.

Math + STEAM = A Fun Night of Family Learning on 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!

October is Disability History and Awareness Month

In Virginia during October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community. Here at Lane, we honor those with disabilities and promote equal opportunities for all.

PTA News

Join the PTA for Their October Meeting Virtually This Wednesday, October 8, 6:30 p.m.

All Lane parents and caregivers are invited to attend the October PTA meeting this Wednesday, October 8, at 6:30 p.m. on Google Meet. Discussion of the upcoming Lane Lion Loop Fun Run, Trunk or Treat, and other exciting events on the horizon will be in the spotlight. This meeting will be completely virtual, so feel free to join from wherever you are. Here's the info to join the meeting:

Meeting link: meet.google.com/qne-kemb-ypc

Join by phone: (US) +1 980-215-9499 PIN: 820626928

October Restaurant Nights at BaddPizza Next Wednesday and Thursday

There’s a new pizza place in town – BaddPizza – located in the Hilltop Shopping Center near Wegmans. Next Wednesday and Thursday, you’ll have a chance to try a new pie and make a donation to Lane at the same time at the PTA’s October Restaurant Nights. Watch Wednesday Folders for flyers coming soon!

Lane Trunk or Treat — Sunday, October 26, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Join the Lane PTA for Trunk or Treat at Lane Elementary! We’ll have only 50 parking spaces available for you to set up a table or decorate your vehicle and hand out candy, reserve your spot now at the signup link: https://signup.com/go/zDoTVpe.

Please remember that this is not a drop-off event, parental supervision is required.

Want to participate, but can’t attend? Drop off candy at Lane or send in candy with your student any time before the end of the school day on Thursday, October 25. (Look for the hungry candy monster…she loves candy).

Parent Resources

School Start Times Survey EXTENDED to TODAY, October 6!

FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of beginning the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. In order to minimize any costs associated with this change, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well. Lane’s hours will be affected by some of the scenarios.

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. A new School Start Times Survey is open and includes two options that are designed to support student well-being, align with research, balance transportation logistics, and minimize costs.

Staff, parents and caregivers, students, and community members may provide input on the two options by taking the survey. The survey deadline has been extended to Monday, October 6. Find more information on adjusting school start times on the FCPS website.

Finishing Up Uncovering Characters in Language Arts

Benchmark Unit 2 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about different characters in stories and their own personal sense of character.

Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:

• Question: How does the way you act change the way you think about yourself?
• Activity: Draw a new cover for a favorite book featuring the main character in a key moment.

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.

FCPS Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities In-Person Meeting This Wednesday, 7 p.m.

There is an Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD) meeting this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Willow Oaks Corporate Center in Room 1000B. This is an IN-PERSON meeting, there is not a virtual option.

If there is anything you'd like to comment on (written and/or video testimony) on how things are going in FCPS as it relates to the support of your child/children with disabilities, please provide feedback here: ACSDchair@fcps.edu. A maximum of 10 written, video, or audio submissions are available and will be prioritized in the order they are received. Written, video, and audio testimony should not exceed 3 minutes in length. When submitting public comment by email, please indicate “For Public Comment” in the subject line. Please submit your written, video or audio testimony by 5 p.m. the day before the meeting.

For more information the ACSD, please visit https://www.fcps.edu/committee/advisory-committee-students-disabilities-acsd.

Every Day Is a Stepping Stone to Success

Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child later in life. It’s a good habit to build now to help them graduate from college on time and routinely report to work on time once they have a career.

Please take a look at the FCPS Calendar. Try to schedule any trips or family events on weekends and school holidays. Every day of learning is a day toward success. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered “chronically absent.”

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, you must report the absence to our school. When your child is absent or will be tardy, please let the school know by email at Laneelem.attendance@fcps.edu, by calling the attendance line at 703-924-7777 and leaving a message, or by submitting through ParentVue. All options are available 24 hours, 7 days per week. This is a critical safety precaution for your child.

If we do not hear from you by 9:30 a.m. you will be contacted by an automated system using the information from your child’s emergency care sheet.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to support your child’s school success! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for resources on attendance.

Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center

Math Strategies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

Friday, 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

Monday, 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 (waitlist only)

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.

Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia

Wednesday, October 15, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Join us for an informative webinar on dyslexia awareness, designed for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) families. This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.

What you'll learn:

• Understanding dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
• FCPS support systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
• Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS' Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
• Resources for families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.

This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.

Register here

Reading Plans and Your Student

Wednesday, October 22, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

This 1.5-hour webinar is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the new reading plans in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Parents will learn about:

• What a reading plan is: A reading plan is a support system for students who are not meeting literacy benchmarks. It outlines specific, evidence-based instruction and interventions to help them improve their reading skills.
• Who requires a reading plan: All students from kindergarten through eighth grade who are identified as needing additional support based on literacy assessments will receive a reading plan. This is part of a broader effort by FCPS to implement the Virginia Literacy Act.
• How schools will support students: The webinar will explain how FCPS is using a science-based reading approach and will discuss the role of reading specialists, the curriculum used, and the assessments to monitor student progress.
• Resources and tools for parents: Parents will leave with practical resources and tools they can use at home to support their child's literacy development. The webinar aims to empower families to be active partners in their child's reading journey.

Register here

FCPS News & Activities

Why Are Bonds Needed to Fund FCPS Construction Projects?

The building and renovation of schools are not financed through the FCPS’ operating funds, but through bonds. Similar to an individual or a family obtaining a mortgage on a residence to spread the cost of home buying over several years, bonds spread the cost of major capital improvements over a number of years. This ensures that current and future residents and users share in the payment.

This approach is good for our taxes, too. If capital construction were financed out of current tax revenues on a pay-as-you-go basis, projects would need to be paid for in a much shorter time frame, likely reducing other county services or necessitating tax increases. Fortunately, the county’s bonded debt is not likely to be a contributing factor to any increase in local taxes.

A bond referendum to benefit FCPS will be on the ballot this Election Day, Tuesday, November 4. It represents an investment by the community into the facilities everyone uses — whether for school or to gather as a community.

Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a voting plan and vote on Tuesday, November 4.

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:

• Friday, December 5, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Churchill Road Elementary School
• Tuesday, December 9, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School
• Thursday, December 11, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Bull Run Elementary School

Comprehensive Boundary Review Update

FCPS will begin holding October community boundary review meetings on Monday, October 13. The new draft map, Scenario 4, will be shared with the community for feedback at those meetings. It will also be uploaded to the Boundary Explorer Tool shortly before October 13. Community members will then be able to provide feedback in the tool at their convenience. 

As a reminder, the community provided feedback on draft scenarios 1-3 in the spring. Scenario 4 continues to build upon the first three scenarios. It is informed by the Superintendent's Boundary Review Advisory Committee, which reviewed community feedback received in the spring to help develop priorities that the consultant used to create Scenario 4. 

Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information. 

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

Attendance: 703.924.7777  |  Web | Twitter