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December 19, 2025
Happy Holidays to each of you and your extended families around the globe! We are so fortunate to be in a school community that blends many traditions and cultures. While events, words, and decorations may be different, we can all find a common thread in our traditions among family, love, celebrations, and a devotion to giving our students rich, robust, and meaningful learning experiences.
It is exciting to see the joy in the faces of our students during this holiday season. Of all the gifts parents can give their children, the greatest gift of all is quality time. I encourage each of you to give your child the gift of extra time: focused, uninterrupted, one-on-one time. Put an IOU (I owe you) for a special event or activity in their “stocking.”
As we prepare for our final weeks of 2025, I am grateful for the many gifts in my own personal and professional life. It is a daily joy to come to Langston Hughes Middle School and share in the educating of our students. I wish all the best as you celebrate the winter break and holidays with family and friends. And may every day of your new year be filled with happiness, success, and prosperity!
Finally, please note that the main office will be closed to the public during Winter Break, Monday, December 22 – January 2, 2026. We will resume normal operating hours on Monday, January 5, 2026. Please plan accordingly.
Principal Mizell
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IMPORTANT DATES
PTA Skate Night: Friday, December 19, 2025
Winter Break: Monday, December 22, 2025 - Friday, January 2, 2026 - Main Office CLOSED
Student Holiday: Monday, January 19, 2026
End of 2nd Quarter/ 2-Hour Early Release: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Staff Development Day/Student Holiday: Thursday, January 29, 2025
Teacher Workday/Student Holiday: Friday, January 30, 2026
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STUDENT SERVICES
⛄ Winter Resources for Families
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
We want to remind families in our community about the resources that are available to support student mental health and wellbeing. At Langston Hughes Middle School we teach the A.C.T. acronym: Acknowledge warning signs, Care for themselves and one another, and Tell a trusted adult when they’re struggling or have concerns about a friend. Learn how you can use the steps Acknowledge, Care, Tell to support your child, and please encourage your child to share their feelings and reach out to a trusted adult when they need help. When school is in session, our Student Services team is available to meet with students and families who may need assistance regarding mental health needs. If mental health needs arise over Winter Break please keep these resources in mind. You can also use the 988 Lifeline to get free, confidential crisis support 24/7.
Academic Advising: Save-the-Dates!
Students will begin to select their 2026-27 courses in January. For planning purposes, please mark your calendars with the Curriculum Night dates.
Rising 7th grade- January 14, 2026 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Rising 8th grade- February 4, 2026 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Rising 9th grade- Please see each high school’s website for additional details. Information about the high school transfer process can be found here: FCPS Transfer Process.
Coming soon: Career Day!
We are excited to host our upcoming Career Day on March 6, 2026. Our school community is filled with talented and accomplished professionals, and we would love for you to share your expertise with our students. Please consider serving as a Career Day speaker to inspire and educate our future leaders. Your insights and experiences can make a lasting impact.
If you are interested, please register here. Should you need more information, contact our school counselor, Lea Fadden, at LTfadden@fcps.edu. Thank you for your support; we look forward to an engaging and enriching Career Day!
SibTeens Workshop: January 29, 2026
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
Details: January 29, 2026 from 9:00am to 12:00pm at the Jim Scott Community Center, 301 Vaden Dr. Fairfax, VA.
Upcoming Student Experience Survey at Langston Hughes Middle School
Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
All students in grades 6-12, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 23. We will administer the survey during Flex (4th period) between Monday, February 23, and Friday, March 6. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose.
We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.
Scoliosis Information and Fact Sheet
Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. A spine affected by scoliosis has a sideways curve, making it appear more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line. Untreated scoliosis can lead to limited motion, back pain, deformity, and in extreme cases, impaired function of the heart and lungs. Early detection and treatment may prevent scoliosis from progressing. Please follow this link for more information.
If you have any concern that your child may have scoliosis, make sure that your child is screened by a health care provider. For additional resources and information, please contact the school Public Health Nurse (PHN), Yessica Gamez, at ygamezgomez@fcps.edu.
For more information visit the Scoliosis Research Society website.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
SCA
The Langston Hughes Student Council would like to say thank you to all the families who donated to our Snow Ball Dance! Your generosity helped make our winter wonderland possible. A special thank you to all the families that donated their time volunteering on Thursday evening.
Have a wonderful and safe winter break!
-The Hughes SCA
American Mathematics Competition 8
Langston Hughes will be offering the American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8) test! This test is an international competition given at schools around the world with over 300,000 participants across the three tests in the AMC series.
The test will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026, after school in the Library/Room 201. The timed test is 40 minutes for 25 questions and does not allow the use of a calculator. Late buses are available for students on this date. Interested students should sign up by completing this form. https://bit.ly/AMCatHughes26 by noon on Monday, January 5th. t
You can read more about the AMC 8 at by clicking here,and a free resource to help students prepare is available here. There are many more online resources, including previous tests and practice tests, that you can find by simply searching for "AMC 8". Questions can be directed to our IB Coordinator, Chris DelGrosso, at cjdelgrosso@fcps.edu.
LANGSTON HUGHES MIDDLE SCHOOL - PTA
PTA Meetings for the 2025-26 school year!
Mark your calendars now: Jan 12, Feb 2, Mar 2, Apr 13, May 4, June 1.
All meetings are at 7:00 p.m. in our LHMS Library unless otherwise indicated.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
Happy Winter Break from the Hughes After-School Program! ❄️
We wish all our students, families, and staff a safe and fun-filled winter break! Take time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the season.
When we return, get ready for a revamped after-school schedule featuring new programs, updated activities, and exciting opportunities to learn, create, and connect.
We can’t wait to kick off 2026 with energy, fun, and friendship — it’s going to be an amazing year!
The new schedule will be posted after we return.
Purple Star Club
Our first meeting is Wednesday, January 6 after school in Room 109, and the club will be meeting two times a month. The club’s goal is to help support students by fostering a sense of belonging, strengthening a shared sense of community among peers, and building relationships through various activities. The club is open to all students from both military and non-military families.
If you are unable to attend and would like to be a part of the new Purple Star Club, please contact the one of the sponsors Mrs. Kelley at llkelley@fcps.edu, or Mr. Blocker at mfblocker@fcps.edu .
 Our Book Fair is fast approaching (Monday, January 12 - Friday, January 16) and will help to extend the holiday vibe around Hughes! 🎁 Families, please consider supporting your student to purchase books at the fair. If you are able, you can also donate to a fund to provide book fair vouchers to students in need who could not otherwise participate but would love to own a new book. 📚 Click here for the link to donate, and thank you! 💝
 Audition Workshop and Interest Meeting for Beauty and the Beast Jr.
Auditions are Monday, January 5, Tuesday, January 6, and Wednesday, January 7. Callbacks are Thursday, January 8 and Friday, January 9.
 Order here: https://yearbookordercenter.com/job/13926
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