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Principal's Note |
Hello, London Towne Families!
🍩 Braving the Elements
A huge thank you to everyone who bundled up and navigated the freezing temps and puddles to join us for Donuts with Grown-ups over the past 2 Fridays. Seeing the smiles despite the frigid temps and gray skies was a wonderful reminder of the warmth within our school walls. Thank you for showing up for our students and each other!
🧠 Wellness & The Power of Advocacy
We owe a special shout-out to our Wellness Team. At the Donuts with Grown-ups events, they recently shared invaluable resources on how families can support children navigating peer conflicts. As we help our Lions learn to ROAR strongly, this aligns perfectly with our focus for the quarter 3: "Advocating for Yourself and Others."
This quarter, we are encouraging students to Stop, Think, and Act. Our teachers and counselors are working with students to build their "choice toolbox" to help them identify the best course of action for different social scenarios.
🛝 Playground & Recess News
If you’ve passed by the Towne lately, you’ve likely seen the exciting progress on our new playground! While we wait for the final touches:
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Basketball Courts: We are hopeful to reopen these for outdoor recess this week.
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The Field: If we get a break from the rain and the ground dries out, we’ll get the students back on the large field as well.
We know how vital fresh air, exercise, and free play are for our students’ focus and well-being. Fingers crossed that the weather begins to cooperate so our Lions can get back to burning off that energy outside!
We thank you for your continued partnership!
Shele Banford, Principal
Jordan Moore, Assistant Principal
Lucy Zamora, Assistant Principal
Events Around the Towne
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🔥 Thursday, February 12 - Friday, February 27: Attendance Hot Streak
🌎 Monday, February 23: WIDA Testing for Multilingual Learners Continues
🗣️ Tuesday, February 24: 6:00 p.m. PTA Meeting
📣 Wednesday, February 25: 9:05 a.m. Quarter 3 Pep Rally!
🕰️ Wednesday, February 25: Early Release (12:05 Dismissal) (K-6 ONLY)
🚌 Monday, March 2: Grade 6 Field Trip to National Gallery of Art
🚌 Tuesday, March 10: Lion Leader Field Trip to FCPS Sprague Center
🗣️ Tuesday, March 10: 6:00 p.m. PTA Meeting
💻 Wednesday, March 11: 5th Grade Integrated Reading/Writing SOL Test
📸 Thursday, March 12: Class/Individual Picture Day
🔥 Thursday, March 12 - Friday, March 27: Attendance Hot Streak
🍿Friday, March 13: PTA Movie Night
**Please note that there will also be non-edible treats options such as fun pencils and stickers.
**Tenga en cuenta que también habrá opciones de golosinas no comestibles, como divertidos lápices y pegatinas.
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Ramadan Accommodations at LTES |
Families, as we are approaching Ramadan (February 18-March 28), please let us know if your child will need prayer and/ or fasting accommodations. Use this Ramadan Accommodations Form to let us know what your child will need during Ramadan.
If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Zamora at lkzamora@fcps.edu.
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Student Experience Survey @ LTES |
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 3-6, 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 the school day 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. The electronic opt-out form can also be accessed at this link.
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.
🧸🧸Kindergarten Registration Open House🧸🧸
Our Kindergarten Open House is being held on Friday, April 10 at 8:45 a.m. to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school.
We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Resources on the School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage provide parents with ways to support their children to help ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten.
There’s also an easy-to-follow five-step process outlined for registering your child for kindergarten. Register your child today! Contact our registrar, Lisa Raisbeck, at lmraisbeck@fcps.edu or 703-227-5403 with any questions.
After the appointment at the school (the student and one caregiver must be present), the student will be ready for orientation or any other introductory events each school may host. Read more about the registration process.
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Advanced Academics Information |
⭐ 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 Madalyn Sirota at masirota@fcps.edu.
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.
At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
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LTES Yearbook on Sale! |
📖 Families, the 2025-26 LTES Yearbook is now on sale! Limited time only. Limited supply.
📢 Order online direct from the Strawbridge website.
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PTA News and Happenings |
Come join us at our next PTA Meeting on February 24 at 6:00 p.m.!
Follow the LTES PTA on Instagram to stay to date with all the fun, upcoming events!
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New Visitor Management System |
We are excited to announce that our school is now using the new Raptor Visitor Management System (VMS). This upgrade is part of our school’s and FCPS’ ongoing commitment to enhancing school safety and streamlining the process for visitors at our school. The VMS ensures that no visitor is on the sex offender registry.
For most visitors, the user experience will be the same when you check-in at the front office.
But now there is also an app, which can make check-in’s even faster at school. Visitors who choose to download the RaptorSafe App and create a Raptor Passport can pre-verify their information before they get to school. The app will give you a QR code you can use when you check-in at school.
If you have questions or need assistance with the new system, please contact our front office. Thank you for your partnership in keeping our schools safe!
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Title I Parent Advisory Committee |
FCPS Families, you are invited to join the Title I Parent Advisory Committee (TPAC) for an important family engagement session about literacy.
Learn how schools engage families in understanding literacy and supporting student success.
Snacks, free childcare, and live Spanish interpretation will be provided.
We hope to see you there!
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FCPS Cares Nominations |
Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an FCPS CARES! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on fcps.edu.
Additionally, each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!
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Franklin Band/Orchestra Camp |
2026 Franklin Band & Orchestra Camp – Registration Now Open!
Franklin Band and Orchestra Camp is a local summer program designed to develop young musicians of ALL levels and is open to rising 4th through 9th graders. Students participate in band or orchestra ensembles that meet their ability and experience level, aiming to further develop these musicianship skills throughout the camp experience. Each day, students will have the opportunity to grow musically through both large ensemble performance and small group/instrument-specific clinics. One day of camp is roughly equivalent to four weekly elementary band or strings lessons during the schoolyear! Franklin Band & Orchestra Camp is a fantastic summer opportunity for young musicians to accelerate their musical development! I highly recommend signing your child up for this awesome summer opportunity. Click on the link below for details and registration.
Location - Franklin Middle School
Dates - Monday, June 22nd - Friday, July 10th
Times – Weekdays 8:30 am - 12:30 pm (No Camp on July 3rd)
Ages
Band: Rising 5th - 9th Grade students
Strings: Rising 4th - 9th Grade students
Pricing
$400 - Early Bird Registration (Jan 30 - March 31)
$425 - Regular Registration (April 1 - May 31)
$475 - Late Registration (June 1 - June 19)
Aftercare - From 12:30 - 3:30pm every day (pending enrollment)
More information, frequently asked questions, and registration available at
https://chantillyband.org/franklin-band-orch-camp
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Middle School Transition Fair |
Future Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education
For families, caregivers, and educators of students receiving special education services.
March 4, 2026 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Luther Jackson Middle School 3020 Gallows Road Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school!
It’s never too early or too late to start preparing for your future. We want to help you start planning for a successful transition from school to life as a young adult. Ensuring postsecondary success of our students with disabilities is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for an evening focused on planning for the future.
You will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of representatives from CTS programs and services for students with disabilities, as well as learn about short and long-term postsecondary supports, employment, postsecondary education considerations, Supported Decision Making, and student self-determination as an evidence-based predictor of post school success.
The schedule for the evening is:
6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Exhibitor and Participant Registration
6:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Opening Session (Auditorium)
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Resource and Exhibitor Fair (Cafeteria)
7:15 PM - 8:15 PM: Family Panel (Auditorium)
A questions/answer session will follow the family panel.
Click here to register for the event.
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FCPS Student Fasting Meal Kits |
From February 18 to March 19, students who are fasting during the day can take school meals home. These kits include one breakfast and one lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.
Families must fill out a request form each week for every student who wants a kit. The first deadline is Wednesday, February 11, for the week of February 16. Please note other important details below:
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Cost: Meals are charged just like a normal school day.
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Pickup: Students must grab their kits at the end of the school day.
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Menu: Kits include school meals that are easy to heat at home.
Visit the Food and Nutrition webpage for forms, deadlines, and other information. Please contact the Office of Food and Nutrition Services with any questions at FCPSFNS@fcps.edu or 703-813-4800.
Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:
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February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
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March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
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March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026
Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.
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FCPS Summer Camps |
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp that allows current K-5 students to explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open through Friday, June 5.
Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA) is a weekly fine and performing arts camp for students in grades K-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students attend four daily classes in dance, music, theater, and visual arts and work with experienced educators who create engaging, fun classes.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
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Winter Resources for Families |
❄️ 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 weather. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
☃️ Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during snow or inclement weather days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
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Apply for Dual Language Immersion |
FCPS’ 2026-27 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program lottery opens on Monday, January 12. The program offers students in kindergarten and first grade the opportunity to learn in English and another language — French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish — for half of each instructional day.
The online, countywide lottery is open to Fairfax County residents. Families must have a SIS ParentVUE account. Students not currently enrolled in FCPS should register at their base school before applying for the immersion program.
Families applying for first grade must do so by Thursday, February 12, at 4 p.m. Those applying for kindergarten must do so by Monday, March 2, at 4 p.m.
An informational meeting was held at London Towne on Wednesday, January 14 at 5:30 p.m. View additional dates and details on the FCPS calendar. If you have questions, please contact Brigid Williams at 571-423-4600.
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Help Keep our Schools Phone-Free! |
Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (AirPods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell). Cell phones are also not permitted to be used as an instructional tool.
FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. Visit FCPS’ cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions, including consequences for cell phone policy violations and exceptions for students with medical conditions or IEP/504 plans.
If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office at 703-227-5400.
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Twice Exceptional Student Webinars |
Fairfax County Public Schools Twice Exceptional (2E) Series:
Friday, May 15, 2026 - 10:00 - 11:30 AM - Beyond High School: Preparing Twice-exceptional Students for College, Career, and Adult Life Through Executive Functioning and Essential Life Skills.
All webinars are FREE to families, educators, and community members. This webinar is for adults only. Register using this link.
For more information, call 703-204-3941 or visit us at: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/family-engagement/family-resource-center Please call us to make a request for ADA accommodations.
Interpreters are available if requested at least a week before the webinar. Interpretation cannot be guaranteed. We will have closed-captioning in any chosen language if we cannot find an interpreter.
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Volunteer FCPS Update |
💗 Register Today With Volunteer FCPS
Volunteer FCPS allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities. It helps ensure a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment here at [School]. All volunteers must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk.
At the Volunteer FCPS site, you can complete a volunteer orientation. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions for more information.
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2025-26 Early Release Wednesdays |
⏰ Limited Early Release Days for Elementary Schools (K-6 only)
Early Release Wednesdays apply only to students in grades K-6. Preschool students still attend school for their regular hours.
While we anticipate that most students will be dismissed at 12:05 p.m. on limited early release Wednesdays, we recognize that some families may require childcare. These students will be supervised by school-based staff. No new instruction will take place, as after-school care is strictly supervision.
Remaining 3-hour early release days for our school will include:
- February 25
- March 25
- April 29
- May 20
Public Schools Week is an annual celebration that brings together school leaders, educators, parents & community leaders to recognize the importance of our nation’s public schools.
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