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The Weekly Roar
Monday, November 10, 2025
Thank You for a Terrific Veterans Day Celebration!
Thank you to all of the veteran and active-duty military families who joined us last Friday for our Veterans Day Breakfast and visits to classrooms across the school. We were so honored to have you with us for this special celebration. Here are a few pictures from the morning. Check our Facebook and Instagram pages throughout the week for more!
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday, 11/11 – Veterans Day Holiday, school, office, and SACC CLOSED
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Friday, 11/14 – PTA Kids Night Out at Elite Martial Arts, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, 11/18 – Family Life Education (FLE) Materials Virtual Preview Night, 6 p.m. (see article below for details)
- Tuesday, 11/18 & Wednesday, 11/19 – PTA Restaurant Days at Delia’s
- Wednesday, 11/19 – Early Release Wednesday, Students dismissed 3 hours early at 1:05 p.m., UNLESS the school has been notified they need to stay until 4:05
- Wednesday, 11/26 through Friday, 11/28 – Thanksgiving Holiday, School and Office CLOSED
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Monday, 12/1 through Friday, 12/5 – Library Book Fair
- Wednesday, 12/3 – Family Night, 5 – 8 p.m.
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Thursday, 12/11 – Winter Chorus Concert, 6 p.m.
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Friday, 12/12 – PTA Holiday Meeting/Party, 6:30 p.m.
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Thursday, 12/18 – 6th Grade Band and Strings Concert, 6:30 p.m.
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Monday, 12/22 through Friday, 1/2/26 – Winter Break
In This Issue
- Veterans Day Holiday Tomorrow – Tuesday, November 11
- Next Early Release Wednesday Is November 19; Please Notify the School of Changes to Your Plans
- November Is Family Engagement Month
- Volunteer Registration Update
- Family Life Education (FLE) Materials Virtual Preview Night Tuesday, November 18
- News from the Lane Library: Overdue Notices
- Attention FCPS Families! The Federal Impact Aid Survey Now Available to Complete Online
- Download the New FCPS Mobile App!
- Native American Heritage Month
- PTA News: Kids Night Out this Friday, upcoming Restaurant Nights
- Parent Resources: Federal shutdown resources, tutoring resources, Family Academy offerings and webinars
- Community Events & Activities: The Wizard of Oz at Hayfield next week
News & Notes
Veterans Day Holiday Tomorrow – Tuesday, November 11
We may have hosted our Veterans Day celebration last week, but the national observance is tomorrow – Tuesday, November 11 – and school, the office, and SACC will be closed.
Thank you again to all in our community who have served and are serving to help protect our country!
Next Early Release Wednesday Is November 19; Please Notify the School of Changes to Your Plans
Our next Early Release Wednesday will be November 19. 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 new 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 last Early Release in October. 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 noon this Friday, November 14. 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 or to after-school care as previously directed.
November Is National Family Engagement Month!
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November is Family Engagement Month! This month reminds us that families are children's first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. Over 35 years of research shows that the most effective way to increase student achievement is for families to be actively involved in their children's education. |
Family engagement is a shared responsibility between home, school, and the community. Here at Lane, we take it very seriously. We want families to be part of our team! Your voice and your connection is important in your children’s education! From our parent-teacher conferences to our ongoing two-way communication through Talking Points to our family events like family breakfasts, military celebrations, and events sponsored by our awesome PTA, parents and families are critical participants! We value the time that you take to become connected with the school and support your child’s learning and build community with us.
The FCPS Family and School Partnerships Office has created this calendar of ideas to encourage families to engage this month. (Translations of calendar: Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish).
Did You Know That Every School Has a Family Liaison?
Family liaisons welcome and orient families who are new to the school and community and help all families to understand the school's culture, policies, procedures, and practices. They can also help connect families to resources in the community. Family liaisons might also assist a family in transitioning to a new school and encourage family-school partnerships to help ensure their student's success and healthy development.
Many of you already know our long-time family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy. You see her name in The Weekly Roar frequently because she is involved in many family-related activities at Lane. A former Lane parent herself, she has been in her position for over 20 years and knows our community extremely well. |
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Don’t hesitate to reach out to Melanie anytime you might need assistance or have questions. If she can’t help, she can help connect you with someone who can. You can reach her at macrosby@fcps.edu.
Volunteer Registration Update
Due to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers.
If you are scheduled for an upcoming fingerprinting appointment, please cancel your appointment unless you are a mentor, host parent, or non-parent volunteer having frequent, direct, and unsupervised contact with students, which will still require fingerprinting. FCPS will be charged if individuals miss a fingerprinting appointment without canceling in advance. Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities.
Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a background check).
To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal attestation confirming you have no history of violent felonies, physical/sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude.
Want to volunteer? Visit Volunteer FCPS to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Contact Volunteers@fcps.edu with any questions.
Family Life Education (FLE) Materials Virtual Preview Night Tuesday, November 18
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in Kindergarten through grade 3 receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit. Students in grades 4-6 receive instruction in a human growth and development unit and an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
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Online in Schoology – includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
- Parents/guardians log in to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.
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Your child’s school – Please contact the school to schedule a time to review lessons and/or media.
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City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
You are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. This virtual meeting will be held on November 18, 2025, at 6 p.m. You can join the session using this link: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/94407436408?pwd=4vxTcF4syLO5amlCxVqRRZvLktj8rx.1.
All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the form provided to you in your child’s orientation packet at the beginning of the school year or you may access the opt-out forms online at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons by using the form provided earlier in the school year, you do not need to complete another form. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s school principal in writing before instruction begins.
An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for children who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
Instruction of the instructional units occurs at various times during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction. We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices related to the exciting changes and new challenges he/she will be facing in the next few years.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact your child’s teacher or Assistant Principal Allen Dickens at adickens@fcps.edu.
News from the Lane Library: Overdue Notices
Dear Lane Readers,
Overdue notices were sent out last Thursday, November 6, to students who have books that were due on or before October 31. Please do your best to look for these books and return them in good condition! It is also possible that books have been sent to school but have not yet made it to the library. If this is the case, apologies in advance for the crossed communication.
As a reminder, there are no fines for overdue books; however, families are expected to pay the replacement cost for lost or damaged books.
Contact Sue Chozick, Librarian, at schozick@fcps.edu with any questions.
Attention FCPS Families! The Federal Impact Aid Survey Now Available to Complete Online
The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify:
- military families,
- federally connected families,
- families living on a military base.
Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the parent that registered the student with FCPS (the ‘enrolling parent’) can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.
For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 12. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.
To access the Impact Aid Form from your computer or mobile device, we recommend using Google Chrome.
Step 1: CLICK HERE or type sisparent.fcps.edu into your Chrome address bar to be taken to SIS ParentVUE. If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact the school for an activation letter.
Step 2: After you’ve logged into your ParentVue Account, look for the ‘Online Packets’ link at the top of the page. Click ‘Online Packets.’
Step 3: Next, click the ‘Federal Impact Aid Survey’ button on the bottom of the page. This will take you to the Impact Aid Survey for you to complete.
If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please fill out a form for each child. You will know you have completed all of the forms when you get to the final page, and see a green check next to each of their names.
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).
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 Lane and 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.
Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.
Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
PTA News
Kids' Game Night at Elite Martial Arts This Friday!
Elite Martial Arts (EMA) is partnering with the PTA to offer a fun, “parents’ night out” style event for kids ages 6 and up this Friday night, November 14, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This game night will feature dodgeball, obstacle courses, glow-in-the-dark activities, and board breaking. The cost per child (paid at drop-off) is $25. A hundred percent of the profits go to the PTA. Sign-up is required.
EMA is located at 6457 Old Beulah Street.
Restaurant Nights at Delia’s Tuesday, November 18, and Wednesday, November 19
Join the PTA for its monthly restaurant fundraiser on November 18 and 19 at Delia’s in Springfield. A percentage of the entire day's sales to Lane families and friends on both days will be donated back to our school.
Parent Resources
Resources for Families Impacted by the Government Shutdown
Apply Anytime for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Families are encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meals at any time during the school year.
If your income changes — for example, due to a furlough, layoff, or job loss — you may become newly eligible. Once approved, your benefits stay active for the rest of the school year and for the first 30 days of the next school year.
Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals or attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school receive free breakfast and lunch every school day. It’s a great way to make your food budget go further and save time from packing meals. Learn more about FCPS Food and Nutrition.
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.
Find more community resources available to families.
Tutoring Resources for Families
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
Family Academy Opportunities
The FCPS Family Academy supports the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. The Academy offers a variety of positive and engaging learning opportunities and meaningful connections to transform the FCPS experience into a welcoming environment for all families.
FCPS Family Café Series: Support Your Child’s Growth and Learning
The FCPS Family Academy announces the launch of a monthly series called the FCPS Family Café. These fun and helpful sessions are designed to keep families informed and involved in their child’s education. At Family Cafés, parents are key partners in helping children succeed. Click on a topic below to register to attend.
Additional Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center in November
Family Engagement in the Special Education Process
Friday, November 14, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
This webinar will support participants to better understand:
- Parent/guardian’s role in the special education process, ensuring their right to participate.
- Parent/guardian’s rights, as outlined in federal and state regulations regarding parental participation in these processes.
- Where and how parent/guardian’s input is recorded during local screening, eligibility, reevaluation, and individualized education program (IEP) meetings.
Register here
The Power of Restorative Justice Practices to Support Students and Families in Schools and at Home: Part 1
Wednesday, November 19, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Come join this webinar to learn about Restorative Justice (RJ) Practices in FCPS! You’ll learn about what’s available to students and families in schools and how RJ Practices support students and families feeling empowered and connected to their school communities. We will also share how you can implement a simple restorative justice practice to create connection in your family.
Register here
Improving Routines: Morning, Evening, and In Between
Friday, November 21, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
You know things run more smoothly when you have morning, evening, and in between routines. But how can you maintain routines when your days all look different or when your kids push back? In this workshop, you'll learn how to create effective routines that reduce drama and resistance in your family – even when life is unpredictable or chaotic.
Register here
Community Events & Activities
See The Wizard of Oz at Hayfield Next Week!
Hayfield Drama will present The Wizard of Oz next week, Thursday, November 20, through Saturday, November 22. Shows begin at 7 p.m. every evening, and there's an extra matinee performance on Saturday at 2 p.m. Tickets cost just $10 and can be purchased at HayfieldDrama.com.
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