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The Weekly Roar
Monday, December 1, 2025
It’s Book Fair Week! Please Plan to Join Us on Family Night This Wednesday!
The Book Fair is open, and it’s filled with literary treasures! Our students started browsing and making wish lists today and will continue tomorrow and Wednesday. Actual purchasing starts Wednesday evening at Family Night. All families are welcome to join us between 5 and 8 p.m. to celebrate books and find some new great reads. We hope to see you there!
Upcoming Events
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Continuing through Friday, 12/5 – Library Book Fair
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Wednesday, 12/3 – Family Night, 5 – 8 p.m.
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Thursday, 12/4 – PTA Meeting (in person or online), 6:30 p.m.
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Monday, 12/8 – Online Book Fair closes
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Thursday, 12/11 – Fall Portrait Retake Day (see link to sign-up form below)
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Thursday, 12/11 – Winter Chorus Concert, 6 p.m.
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Monday, 12/15 – Full-Time AAP referrals due to Ms. Simon
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Wednesday, 12/17 – 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
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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 – Winter Break
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Monday, 1/5 – School reopens
In This Issue
- Monthly Message from Mrs. Opie
- The Lane PTA Book Fair Is Underway! Family Night on Wednesday, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Fall Portrait Retake Day on Thursday, December 11
- Looking for the Perfect Holiday Treat for Your Child’s Teacher or Other Lane Staff?
- Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15
- PTA News: December Meeting This Thursday, Original Works fundraiser
- Parent Resources: Required parent digital consent form update, managing FCPS devices with Lightspeed, free webinars
- Community Events & Activities: Hayfield Secondary Art Market on December 12
News & Notes
Monthly Message from Mrs. Opie
Dear Families,
Welcome to December! As the air turns crisp and we approach the end of the calendar year, the energy in our hallways is filled with excitement and determination. These upcoming weeks before Winter Break are a crucial time for our school community. We are ready to make every moment count!
We are laser-focused on finishing strong before Winter Break. Our students and staff are working hard to reach their goals, and we are thrilled to celebrate the incredible progress we are seeing every day.
Every Day Counts: The Power of Attendance. This month, we are renewing our commitment to being present. Consistent attendance is the building block of success. When students are here, they are part of the learning community, building relationships, and staying on track. Let’s work together to ensure our students are in school, on time, and ready to learn every single day until the break! We have many fun things planned with a few pop-up surprises!
Building Connections at Home. Here are a few warm ways to support our reading and science focus at home this month:
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Kitchen Chemistry: Cooking is a delicious science experiment! Involve your child in measuring ingredients or watching how heat changes food (like melting cheese or rising dough). Ask them, "What do you think will happen if...?"
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Cozy Reading Nights: As the evenings get darker earlier, create a "reading fort" with blankets and flashlights. Read a book together and ask your child to predict what happens next.
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Winter Wonder: On your way to school, observe the changes in the weather. Talk about frost, the shorter days, or the changing trees. This builds observation skills crucial for young scientists.
We are so grateful for your partnership. Let’s make these next few weeks a time of joyful learning, rigorous growth, and strong attendance.
Warmly,
Mrs. Opie
The Lane Book Fair Is Underway! Family Night This Wednesday, 5 to 8 p.m.
Continuing through Friday, December 5 – In Person
Continuing through Monday, December 8 – Online
Please visit the fair website: https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/laneelementaryschool3. You will find information about:
- Volunteering (Or you can go directly to this link: https://fcps.samaritan.com/custom/501/opp_details/2547. If you have not yet registered on the Volunteer FCPS system, you will be prompted to create an account and fill out an application.)
- setting up an eWallet
- online shopping.
Here’s what’s happening:
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Tuesday, December 2, and Wednesday, December 3: Student Preview Days (no purchasing during the school day). Students will get a chance to look at fair items and create wish lists.
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Wednesday, December 3, 5 to 8 p.m.: Family Night! Purchasing begins for students and families.
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Thursday, December 4, and Friday, December 5: Student Purchasing Days. Students will have a chance to purchase items during the school day at a scheduled time.
Family members may also come in on Thursday, December 4, and Friday, December 5, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. to purchase items. If you come in during these times to purchase items, please do not pull your child out of class to join you to minimize interruptions of learning in the classroom.
We accept cash, credit cards, and checks (payable to Lane PTA), and we have a digital payment option: eWallet. Now your student can shop the Fair cash-free!
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and to create an account. We strongly encourage the use of eWallet to avoid lost money! Unused money turns into a Scholastic gift certificate that can be used for other Scholastic items.
Please note that the in-school fair ends at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, December 5.
Our online book fair is also open, with items available for purchase through Monday, December 8.
Proceeds from both the in-person and online fairs support the Lane Library, which is used by all students and teachers at Lane, and the larger Lane community as well.
We’re so excited about the fair! For more information, please also visit https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/laneelementaryschool3.
Questions? Please contact Sue Chozick, Librarian, at schozick@fcps.edu.
Thank you for your support!
Fall Portrait Retake Day on Thursday, December 11
Digital files for all student portraits taken at school in September and October were emailed to parents/guardians the first week of November. They were sent to the email addresses we currently have on file in our school registration database. If you did not receive your child’s picture file, please contact our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, at macrosby@fcps.edu.
If you would like to have a new picture of your child taken, we will have our Retake Day on Thursday, December 11. Please sign up on this form so we can be sure your child participates. Please sign up by Monday, December 8.
Students who are new to our school or missed their original Picture Day will have their pictures taken as well.
Looking for the Perfect Holiday Treat for Your Child’s Teacher or Other Lane Staff?
If you’d like to give your child’s teacher or another staff member a token of appreciation during this coming holiday season but aren’t sure where to start, we can help! Thanks to the PTA, we’ve collected “Teacher Favorites” lists to guide you! You can find the lists, organized by teacher, on our school website: https://lanees.fcps.edu/teachers-favorites-lists.
Please note that gifts are completely optional. And remember … sometimes the best gifts are the simplest – a homemade card, a letter of thanks, a special treat your child helped to bake, or even a heart-felt “Happy Holidays!” wish.
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Lane’s Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART) Linda Simon no later than December 15, 2025.
If you wish to submit a parent referral for your child, you do not need to wait until December 15 to do so. Referrals are being accepted now. Please email Ms. Simon at lesimon@fcps.edu to let her know you plan to submit a referral so she expects it.
Note: This deadline applies to all grade levels, including 6th graders screening for 7th grade even though middle school course selection does not take place until January/February 2026. If you want to have your child screened for services in middle school, please be sure to submit the referral by the December 15 deadline.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.
Next Steps for Parents
Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing Ms. Simon at the address above.
At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by the school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
PTA News
Join the PTA for Their December Meeting, Virtually or In Person, on Thursday, December 4, 6:30 p.m.
All Lane parents and caregivers are invited to attend the next PTA meeting on Thursday, December 4, at 6:30 p.m. in person in the Lane cafeteria or virtually on Google Meet. Discussion will include updates on plans for events and programs for 2026. Use this Google Meet link to join the session: meet.google.com/bgt-jmox-nhr.
Order Works of Art from Your Little Artist through Original Works!
Students in kindergarten through 4th grade have created their own masterpieces at school in art class. You can now turn those unique works of art into custom keepsakes you can wear and use and/or gift to others! A percentage of the proceeds from all Lane sales will go to support the Lane Art Department through the PTA!
Watch Wednesday Folders for more information coming soon, or take a peek at the flyer below to learn how you can get a sneak peek! Just click “Add Artwork,” then “Search Artwork” to get started.
Parent Resources
Action Required! Update Your Permission for Google Tools
Google recently made changes to how educational applications are managed and accessed on the Chrome Browser and Chromebooks. Many applications are moving from the Chrome Web Store to the Google Play Store.
To ensure your student(s) can continue accessing all approved instructional tools, FCPS has updated its digital consent platform to include both the Chrome Web Store and the Google Play Store.
Please review and provide your consent for these two new options through our easy-to-use Parent Digital Consent system:
- Additional Google Services – Chrome Web Store
- Additional Google Services – Google Play Store
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting safe and effective digital learning experiences for all students.
For questions or support, please visit FCPS’ Family Technology Resources page or open a ticket with our Technical Support desk.
Manage Your Child’s Screen Time on FCPS Devices
FCPS offers the Lightspeed Parent Portal to help you manage screen time on your child's FCPS device at home. With a Parent Portal account, you can control your child’s access to YouTube and pause website browsing during after-school hours.
Please note that parent controls are active only during after-school hours, defined as Monday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. (including student holidays) and all day Saturday and Sunday.
If you haven't signed up for the portal yet, use the link at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email. To learn more, please visit the Lightspeed Parent Portal page on the FCPS website.
Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center in December
Recognizing, Understanding, and Responding to Impact of Traumatic Stress
Friday, December 5, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Come learn how trauma impacts the brain and gather valuable information to help you recognize what is happening, why it is happening, and how to effectively respond in ways that promote safety and support.
Register here
Safe and Supportive Learning Environments for All Learners
Friday, December 12, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
This presentation explores how trauma-informed practices and social-emotional learning (SEL) support student well-being and academic success. We discuss the impact of stress and trauma on children, how it can manifest in their behavior, and the importance of creating safe and supportive learning environments. We will highlight protective factors that foster student resilience and growth. Additionally, we will showcase helpful practices at school that teach and reinforce essential skills such as self-awareness, self-management, and relationship building. Finally, we will explore practical strategies families can use at home to strengthen these skills and nurture resilience in their children.
Register here
The Power of Restorative Justice Practices to Support Students and Families in Schools and at Home: Part 2
Friday, December 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
Community Events & Activities
Brighten Up Your Holidays with Art from Hayfield’s Holiday Art Market on Friday, December 12
Hayfield Secondary's National Art Honor Society invites you to shop their second annual Holiday Art Market, featuring all high school student sellers. You can support young artists and makers while also finding unique holiday gifts (or treats for yourself). Enter at Door 1 and look for signs and volunteers to direct you to the Market space. Cash and Tap-to-Pay accepted; 10% of all proceeds support the Hayfield National Art Honor Society chapter.
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