|
Good afternoon Cedar Lane Community!!
First, we wanted to take a moment to acknowledge how smoothly our SAT and PSAT testing day went this past Wednesday. Our students in grades 10 through 12 were focused and engaged throughout the morning, and the early dismissal ran seamlessly. We are proud of our students for taking this important step in their post-high school planning and appreciate the cooperation of all our families in making the day a success!
As you plan for the week ahead, please remember that Monday, October 13th, is a student holiday in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. We encourage our students and families to use this day to learn about and reflect upon the cultures and history of Indigenous peoples.
Finally, we encourage everyone to review the information below regarding the Cedar Closet. This is our school's donation-based support pantry, offering essential items to members of the Cedar Lane community. The Closet relies entirely on the generosity of our families and staff, and whether you are looking for support or hoping to contribute, we welcome your involvement. Please check out the details in this newsletter to see how you can help or utilize this valuable resource!
With warm wishes for a wonderful weekend,
The Staff of Cedar Lane School
Contents
Wednesday, October 8 ⇒ SAT/PSAT Day (See Information Below)
Monday, October 13 ⇒ Indigenous Peoples Day (No School for Students)
Tuesday, October 14 ⇒ Cedar Lane PTSA Meeting
Monday, October 20 ⇒ Diwali (No School)
Tuesday, October 28 ⇒ PTSA Hallowingo Event
Friday, October 31 ⇒ Last Day of the First Quarter/Halloween
No Cost Meals Available for Students on October 13 at Select Schools
FCPS will be offering lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on Monday, October 13, at participating schools. As a reminder, all FCPS schools will be closed for students on October 13 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. View a list of school sites that will be providing meals for children on October 13.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Lunch and a snack will be served together from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Meals must be eaten on site at participating schools.
- Enrichment activities will be available for children. Participation is encouraged but not required.
- Only children 18 and under may receive meals.
- Each child may receive one lunch and one snack.
We are proud to support our students’ health and well-being, even on days when school is not in session. We hope that many of our families will take advantage of this opportunity. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.
 Cedar Closet Update
The year has started off really well. We have a newly rebuilt pantry with a variety of options for students to choose from. We are currently looking for generous people to step forward to help as donors and volunteers. We have provided over 50 weekend food packs for students over the past five weeks and with your help we can continue to provide these important resources for our students. This is a real community effort and we appreciate everyone who is able to help.
Are You a Food For Neighbors Red Bag Donor?
Food For Neighbors is the primary means we have to stock our pantry with donations from the community five times each school year. You sign-up, receive reminders to set out a bag of food, shop for food items to include in your bag and leave it outside on the appointed Saturday morning. If you can, please sign-up to become a FFN Red Bag Donor. The next FFN collection will be Saturday, October 25th. Please sign-up today: https://www.foodforneighbors.org/red-bag-program
If you are already a Red Bag Donor and will talk with your neighbors, here is the link to a flyer you can share widely. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Po-XSgUqTbKakAO2VM3Hc1iQzePcp6zk/view?usp=drive_link
If you would like to be more involved with Food For Neighbors, please email our FFN Area Manager for more information: fallschurcham@foodforneighbors.org
Questions? Email: cedarlanepantry@gmail.com
Thank you for your support!
 Mark your Calendars! The PTSA has two fabulous events planned for October!
On Oct 14th at 7pm we have our Virtual General Membership Meeting- all are welcome-the PTSA needs your input to plan useful and informative events and speakers and has updates to share with everyone - we hope you can make it!!
On Oct 28th from 6-8pm at Cedar Lane School we will have our Annual Hallowingo Celebration- we will serve dinner and play lots of bingo for some fun prizes- bring the whole family! Costumes are welcome! Hope to see you soon!
💻 All Families Opted in to Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report
FCPS provides families with a free service that allows parents and caregivers a way to stay informed about their child's online activity on any FCPS device. Starting Sunday, October 12, all parents and guardians who have access to student records in SIS ParentVUE will be automatically enrolled to receive a weekly Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report.
This report provides a summary of the websites your child visited during the previous week and is delivered every Sunday to your email directly from Lightspeed, our internet content filter.
Each weekly report also includes a link to register for the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides more detailed browsing information. This portal also gives you the ability to pause internet access on your child’s FCPS laptop during non-school hours, such as dinner or bedtime.
Visit the Lightspeed Parent Report page for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Date: Saturday, November 1, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Tuscarora High School (801 N. King St., Leesburg)
The 11th Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Fair celebrates the legacy and opportunities offered by HBCUs. During the HBCU Fair, students and families will meet with college and university representatives, explore scholarship options and connect with fraternities, sororities, community groups and civic organizations. Don’t miss the HBCU alumni panel, step team performance and tour information session at noon! Students are encouraged to bring transcripts and SAT/ACT scores. Select schools will be offering on-site admissions! Contact Michael Newkirk (Michael.Newkirk@lcps.org) or Michelle Vocke (Michelle.Vocke@lcps.org) with any questions.
🏗️ FCPS Buildings Benefit All Community Members
In addition to our students and teachers, we estimate millions of visits by students and community members to Fairfax County schools through more than 500,000 events. Most of the public meeting and recreational facilities available in the county are FCPS facilities.
FCPS works with the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and with the Fairfax County Park Authority to ensure that school facilities and athletic fields are available to the public after school hours.
The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot in November. Vote on Tuesday, November 4. Learn more about registering to vote and make a voting plan.
📵 When Cell Phones Are Down, Learning and Engagement Are Up: Help Keep Our Schools Phone-Free
Cell phones can significantly impact academic performance — research has shown that it takes students 10 minutes or more to shift their focus back to learning after being interrupted by a single cell phone notification! You can help keep our schools phone-free (and your child focused on learning) by:
- Reminding your child about FCPS’ cell phone policy and telling them why you support it.
- Contacting your school’s front office (rather than your child directly) if there is a family emergency during the school day.
- Contacting your child about non-urgent matters before or after the school day.
- Waiting to respond to non-urgent texts from your child until the school day is over.
Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy. Also, view our Media Balance and Well-Being Toolkit for resources to help your child maintain a healthy and balanced relationship with technology at home.
📍 October Community Boundary Review Meetings
FCPS’ October community boundary review meetings will begin on Monday, October 13. Each of the 12 meetings will focus on two pyramids. Our area will be covered at the meeting on Wednesday, October 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at McLean High School, (Madison and McLean Pyramids) in person or virtual. Register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” based on how you would like to participate.
At the meeting, the consultant will present the latest draft boundary map (Scenario 4) and potential changes specific to our pyramid and the McLean pyramid. Participants will also be invited to ask questions.
If you are unable to attend the meeting for our pyramid, you are welcome to attend any meeting that is convenient. View the full list of October boundary meetings.
Visit the Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage for more information.
🎓 Your Next Chapter Starts Here: College Fair and Virtual Postsecondary Night
Prepare for your student’s future at College Fair and Postsecondary Night. The annual FCPS College Fair will be held Sunday, October 19, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena, from 4 to 6 p.m. Approximately 200 colleges and universities will be represented, including two- and four-year schools and U.S. Service Academies.
The virtual postsecondary night event will be held on Tuesday, October 21, from 5 to 8 p.m.
Both events will help students prepare for the next chapter of their educational journey. Learn more about the College Fair and Virtual Postsecondary Night.
Roadmap to College: What Students Should Do Each Year of High School
Join FCPS’ Family Resource Center for a webinar on what high school students should do to stand out on college applications. Receive clear strategies for college preparation and success. This webinar will take place on Friday, October 31, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., and is for families of eighth graders and high school students. Register to attend.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- FCPS Overperforms State and Global SAT Averages
- October Community Boundary Review Meetings
- Online Activity Reports for Students
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
|
