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Good afternoon Cedar Lane Community,
What a great week! Not only did we successfully conclude the first quarter, but we also had so much fun celebrating Spirit Week. It was a joy to see everyone's creativity throughout the week, especially with the fun and festive Halloween costumes today. Thank you to everyone who put their effort into making this a successful and fun Spirit Week!!
With regard to the quarter ending today, we are so proud of the dedication and hard work our students and staff have demonstrated over the past nine weeks. We encourage all students to take a moment to reflect on their successes and lessons learned. When we return, let's focus on starting the second quarter strong with renewed energy and commitment to excellence!
As you make your plans for the week ahead, please note that there will be no school for students on both Monday, November 3rd, and Tuesday, November 4th. We hope this extended break provides everyone with a chance to rest, recharge, and enjoy the start of Quarter Two when we return on Wednesday.
Happy Halloween!!
The Staff of Cedar Lane School
Contents:
Monday, November 3 ⇒ School Planning Day (No School for Students)
Tuesday, November 4 ⇒ Election Day (No School for Students)
Tuesday, November 11 ⇒ Veteran's Day (No School)
Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28 ⇒ Thanksgiving Break (No School)
Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community
Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.
Community Resources for Families in Need
Through partnerships with community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies, Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources.
Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance.
How to Access or Donate Food to Those in Need
View the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to see where to access food or donate to your local food bank.
📱 Download the New FCPS Mobile App!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app you can:
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Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
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SIS ParentVUE End-of-Quarter Closure
The Gradebook in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be closed for the end of the first quarter from Friday, October 31, at 4 p.m. to Monday, November 10, at 6 a.m. Activate your ParentVUE account to easily access grade reports.
Cierre por Fin del Trimestre de SIS ParentVUE
El “Gradebook” o Libro de Calificaciones estará cerrado tanto en SIS ParentVUE, como en StudentVUE por el final del trimestre desde el viernes, 31 de octubre a las 4 p.m. hasta el lunes 10 de noviembre a las 6 a.m. Active su cuenta en ParentVUE para que tenga fácil acceso a los reportes de calificaciones.
Cedar Lane students have been working hard to produce our monthly newsletter. Take a look at their work and check out the latest news around the Lane.
Family Academy Offers Opportunities to Support Parents and Guardians
The FCPS Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in November:
- ABA Family Training: Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home
- Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
- Supporting Your Military-Connected Student in Secondary School
- Moving on to Life in the Community
Other Family Resource Center webinars will cover topics such as communication with twice exceptional children, family engagement in the special education process, restorative justice practices in schools and at home, and improving routines.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to learn more about these and other resources.
 🗳️ Election Day is Next Week. Make a Voting Plan!
The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot on Tuesday, November 4. Remember to vote. Learn how bonds help build strong communities.
Services for Hearing-Impaired and Visually-Impaired Students
Students with sensory disabilities require special services and support to access instruction that is typically presented auditorily (by means of hearing) and visually. FCPS provides educational services to students who are deaf, hearing-impaired, or visually impaired. They are supported in various settings, including at their school site or through itinerant specialists who travel to different schools to work with students, rather than being based in a single school. Learn more about Services for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Services for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.
The Virginia Department of Education also provides information about Additional Resources for Serving Students with Sensory Disabilities.
How AI Is Shaping Teaching and Learning
Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI, a conversation with division leadership, which will take place Monday, November 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., at West Springfield High School. Attend to:
- Learn about the opportunities and challenges of AI in education.
- Explore how AI can support FCPS student achievement and workforce readiness.
- Engage in a thought-provoking panel and keynotes.
- Help shape the future of innovation at Fairfax County Public Schools.
Agenda details will be shared with registered participants in the coming weeks. Contact DITEvents@fcps.edu with any questions.
 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!
✅ Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or submitting the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type “Federal Impact Aid Survey” in the Issue Description section. You may also call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Federal Student Aid has made the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available ahead of the scheduled release date. Any college-bound high school senior — regardless of income — who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should complete a FAFSA form. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to work with their students to complete the FAFSA as early as possible. Check each college’s financial aid office website for deadlines and financial aid forms. Then, create an account, if you have not already done so, and fill out the FAFSA.
The Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application has not yet opened but should be available in late January for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA. To help determine which aid option is right for you, visit the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website.
Over the next few months, College Access Fairfax will be offering several programs on completing the FAFSA/VASA and finding and applying for scholarships. Get information on these programs and how to access them on the College Access Fairfax website.
In addition, College Access Fairfax staff are available for virtual one-on-one help sessions to complete the FAFSA/VASA. To request an appointment, families should email appointments@CollegeAccessFairfax.org.
It's time to shine a spotlight on the amazing staff at Cedar Lane School! Nominations are officially open for the FCPS Outstanding Employee Awards. Do you know a teacher, administrator, or staff member who consistently goes above and beyond? Now is your chance to acknowledge their exceptional work!
You can nominate one employee per category using the Google Form below:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemVfxbWFtUYHDwcdGe0gmeb1OVTBqJRyujSQERqyzG1Bdc_A/viewform?usp=header
Categories include:
- Outstanding Teacher
- Outstanding New Teacher
- Outstanding Principal
- Outstanding Leader
- (Assistant Principals, Director of Student Services, Director of Student Activities)
- Outstanding Professional Employee
- (SBTS, Special Education & MLL Department Chair, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Social Workers, Psychologist, SOSA)
- Outstanding Operational Employee
- (Admin Assistants, Office Assistants, Finance Tech, Custodians, Building Supervisor, IA, PHA, PHTA, Family Liaison, Safety & Security)
Nominations close Friday, November 14.
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 News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- The FCPS Mobile App
- Understanding the Annual Youth Survey
- Resources for Families
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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