Principal's Message

January 16, 2026

Happy Friday, Panthers!

This week, our students were inspired by a truly powerfulmessage from renowned psychologist and author Dr. Julia Garcia, who spoke on Wellness, Healing, and the Power of Hope. Her words resonated deeply and reminded us of the strength within our community.

KUDOS to Jacqueline Durr, our LHMS Teacher of the Year, and to our incredible Panthers who were featured Wednesday morning on CBS, proudly sharing in the celebration of America the Beautiful during its 250th anniversary. What an honor!

Please remember, there is no school this Monday, January 19, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. School will resume on Tuesday, January 20, and it will be a Blue Day.

As we approach the end of the 2nd Quarter, we encourage families to continue monitoring grades and attendance in ParentVUE. In addition, students have begun the course-selection process for next school year.  Be prepared to log into ParentVUE to review and approve your child’s course selections.  In short, make sure you have a ParentVUE account.  If you need assistance, reach out to our registrar, Ms. Cristina Hannon, at CMHannon@fcps.edu.

Finally, I hope to see you at our schoolwide Spelling Bee on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Come out and support our scholars!

Be well. Be helpful. Stay warm!

Principal Mizell

IMPORTANT DATES MLK Day/Holiday/No School: Monday, January 19, 2026 School-wide Spelling Bee: Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 6 p.m. 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

New Western High School

Open House and Opt-In

As a reminder, the opt-in form for students interested in attending the new high school is open through Friday, January 16. Families must complete the consent form through the FCPS Parent Digital Consent system, which is accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. If you do not have a ParentVUE account, please contact your child’s school for an activation code. Staff will be at the school on Sunday to assist with filling out the form as well as setting up a ParentVUE account. FCPS Family Information Phone Lines are also available in nine languages for support.

STUDENT SERVICES

Second Quarter Ends January 28, 2026

The second quarter ends on January 28, 2026.  Parents are encouraged to continue monitoring grades via ParentVUE. If you have questions about a course, please email that teacher directly. All teacher emails are located in our LHMS staff directory.  For general support or questions about ParentVUE, email your child’s LHMS counselor. 

Second Semester Starts February 2, 2026

The second semester begins on Monday, February 2.  Students will be able to see their second semester schedule in SIS on Thursday, January 29 at 4:00pm. For some students taking semester electives, their Health and PE period may change to accommodate their new elective. All students will receive a new paper schedule in their 2nd block class on February 2 (gray day). Please keep in mind that we are not able to make class changes at this point of the school year.

Academic Advising for the 2026-27 School Year

Students will begin to select their 2026-27 courses in January. Parents are encouraged to review our LHMS Academic Advising website to review course offerings and important dates. 

Rising 9th grade: LHMS counselors conducted high school course selection lessons this Thursday and Friday. Students who are zoned for South Lakes will meet with their SLHS counselor in February to finalize their course selections. Please review the Herndon High School and South Lakes High School websites for additional details.  Information about the high school transfer process can be found here: FCPS Transfer Process.

Rising 8th grade: LHMS Curriculum Night is on February 4, 2026 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Parents and students are invited to learn about 8th grade course offerings and meet some 8th grade teachers. LHMS counselors will conduct a classroom lesson about course selection on February 5 and 6.  Students will meet with their counselor individually to finalize course selections from February 9 to February 12.

South Lakes International Baccalaureate Information Night

Parents are invited to attend an IB information session at SLHS on Monday, February 9 from 6:30 pm-7:30 pm in the SLHS Cafeteria. Topics include: IB Middle Years, Career-Related, and Diploma Programs at South Lakes High School. 

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.

Career Day Speakers Needed

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!

STUDENT ACTIVITIES

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

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

Registration for the Carcassonne Tournament- https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSegjo540M_HrLEE6HSetVu4FDaWFAYzHkdQO0NqT_YkILzajg/viewform?usp=header

It’s not too late to join a club!  Join the fun after school. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkDtOVASo9Dvoamwm4h56r84B5gWzoR6dX6iawunMiU/edit?tab=t.0

🗓️ Weekly Schedule of Clubs & Activities

Mondays

• 💎 King Beads with Ms. King
• When: Mondays & Thursdays (First Session)
• Have fun making jewelry, hanging out with friends, and socializing while creating unique bead designs.
• 💪 Mr. Chris – BEAST Challenges
• When: Mondays & Thursdays (Second Session)
• Take on fun physical challenges, team competitions, and obstacle-style games that test strength, speed, and teamwork.
• 🎙️ Let’s Talk Podcasters with Coach K
• When: Mondays & Thursdays (Both Sessions)
• Learn how to interview, find the “real story,” and create binge-worthy podcast content that informs and entertains.
• 🎲 Appian Strategic Board Game Team with Ms. Benedict
• When: Mondays (First Session)
• Practice strategy and teamwork while preparing for upcoming board game tournaments.

Tuesdays

• 🏸 Court Crushers Badminton League with Ms. B
• When: Tuesdays (Both Sessions)
• Bring your best game to the court! Learn new skills, compete in friendly matches, and have fun competing with friends.
• 🎶 Korean Music Club with Jaelyn Gilmore
• When: Tuesdays (Both Sessions)
• Dive into the world of Korean music and culture! Learn about the history of K-pop, explore current dance trends, create South Korean-inspired arts and crafts, and join group discussions about music, culture, and creativity.
• ⚽ Hughes Futsal Premier League with Coach Jhonny
• When: 7th Grade – Tuesdays (First Session)
  8th Grade – Thursdays (First Session)
• Teams form next week! Compete for the Golden Boot Award and the Winning Team Prize. Bring your best game!
• 🚀 QZ Young Men with Mr. Kyle
• When: Tuesdays & Wednesdays (First Session)
• Formerly Elevate Boys Group. Build leadership skills, teamwork, and confidence through fun activities, group discussions, and Elevate-inspired challenges that promote growth and positive connections.
• 🎮 FIFA Video Games
• When: Tuesdays & Thursdays (Second Session)
• Compete in FIFA matches and show off gaming skills in friendly competition.
• 🏀 Hughes Ballers Basketball Tournament with Coach K & Coach Kennedy
• When: Tuesdays & Wednesdays (Second Session)
• Draft Day: Tuesday, January 13 – You must be present to be added to a team.
• Teams form next week! Looking for refs, timekeepers, and game managers—get involved on and off the court.
• 🧢 Swag Lab with Mr. AJ
• When: Tuesdays (Both Sessions)
• Design, create, and customize your own swag. Bring your ideas to life with style and flair!

Wednesdays

• 🎨 Art with Ms. Gillis
• When: Wednesdays (First Session Only)
• Explore new art projects, experiment with materials, and express creativity in fun, hands-on ways.
• 🚀 QZ Young Men with Mr. Kyle
• When: Tuesdays & Wednesdays (First Session)
• Continue building leadership skills, teamwork, and confidence through Elevate-inspired activities and discussions.
• 💜 Purple Star Club with Mr. Blocker & Ms. Kelly
• When: Wednesdays (First Session)
• A supportive space for students from military families to connect with peers who share similar experiences. The club helps students build friendships, share stories, and get plugged into the Hughes school community.
• 🏀 Hughes Ballers Basketball Tournament with Coach K & Coach Kennedy
• When: Tuesdays & Wednesdays (Second Session)
• Teams form next week! Looking for refs, timekeepers, and game managers—get involved on and off the court.

Thursdays

• 💎 King Beads with Ms. King
• When: Mondays & Thursdays (First Session)
• Have fun making jewelry, hanging out with friends, and socializing while creating unique bead designs.
• ⚽ Hughes Futsal Premier League with Coach Jhonny
• When: 8th Grade – Thursdays (First Session)
• Teams form next week! Compete for the Golden Boot Award and the Winning Team Prize.
• 💪 Mr. Chris – BEAST Challenges
• When: Mondays & Thursdays (Second Session)
• Take on fun physical challenges, team competitions, and obstacle-style games that test strength, speed, and teamwork.
• 🎙️ Let’s Talk Podcasters with Coach K
• When: Mondays & Thursdays (Both Sessions)
• Learn how to interview, find the “real story,” and create binge-worthy podcast content that informs and entertains.
• 🎮 FIFA Video Games
• When: Tuesdays & Thursdays (Second Session)
• Compete in FIFA matches and show off gaming skills in friendly competition.
• 🦅 Panther Cadets Leadership Academy with South Lakes High School ROTC
• When: Thursdays (Second Session)
• Develop leadership, discipline, and teamwork through engaging activities and challenges led by South Lakes High School ROTC.

Fridays

• 🍪 Kitchen Lab with Mr. Kyle
• When: Fridays (Both Sessions)
• Break down baking and experiment with ingredients while making cookies, pizza, pretzels, and more. Fun, food, and flavor guaranteed!

🗓️ Special Events & Tournaments

• ♟️ Chess Tournament
• When: Thursday, January 22
• Test strategy and focus in a schoolwide chess competition. Prizes for top players!
• Sign-up will be posted on Schoology.
• 🎲 Board Game Competition – Carcassonne
• When: Saturday, February 28
• Join the Appian Strategic Board Game Team—practice Mondays (First Session).
• Compete in Carcassonne, a game of strategy, cities, and castles! Enjoy generous prizes, delicious food, and friendly but fierce competition.
• 🃏 Kings in the Corner Tournament: TBA
• 🎴 UNO Tournament: February 5
• Prizes for winners and plenty of fun for all participants!

💥 Don’t Miss Out!

Whether it’s art, sports, gaming, or leadership, Hughes After School has something for everyone this season. Let’s make 2026 the most fun and creative year yet!

11401 Ridge Heights Rd. Reston, VA 20191 | Main Office: 703-715-3600
Attendance: 703-715-3636 | Web | Twitter