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The Weekly Roar
Monday, March 23, 2026
Little Leprechauns!
There was a little bit of extra luck in the halls of Lane last Tuesday as we celebrated St. Patrick's Day across the grade levels. Fortunately, all of our smiling leprechauns were nice rather than naughty!
 
Mastering Multiplication
We had lots of lucky learners in our building last week, too! Students in Mr. Durkin's 3rd grade class are mastering multiplication!
Our Lost & Found Is Overflowing!
We have run out of room in our Lost & Found again! We want to get these items back to their owners as soon as possible. If your child is missing something, please come take a look at the items we have. They will be on display in the main lobby this week. All unclaimed items will be donated during Spring Break. Thank you! |
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Upcoming Events
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Tuesday, 3/24 & Wednesday, 3/25 – PTA Restaurant Days at Quickway Japanese Hibachi, Kingstowne Center, all day
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Wednesday, 3/25 – Early Release Wednesday, students dismissed at 1:05 p.m., UNLESS we have been directed to keep them at school until 4:05 p.m.
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Wednesday, 3/25 – Kindergarten Orientation for 2026-27 school year, 3:30 p.m., Gym
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Friday, 3/27 – End-of-Quarter 2-Hour Early Release, students dismissed at 2:05 p.m., NO AFTER-SCHOOL CARE provided by the school
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Friday, 3/27 – SCA End-of-Quarter Spirit Day: "What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up Day"
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Monday, 3/30 through Friday, 4/3 – Spring Break
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Monday, 4/6 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday, students do not report
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Friday, 4/10 – Student Holiday/Teacher School Planning Day, students do not report
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Friday, 4/17 – Lane Elementary 30th Anniversary Community Celebration, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
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Tuesday, 4/21 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday for Virginia special election
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Tuesday, 4/21 & Wednesday, 4/22 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Chick-fil-A
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Wednesday, 4/29 – Early Release Wednesday, students dismissed at 1:05 p.m., UNLESS we have been directed to keep them at school until 4:05 p.m.
In This Issue
- Early Release Wednesday This Week, March 25!
- Calling All Kindergarteners for the 2026-27 School Year! Orientation Scheduled for next Wednesday, March 25!
- End-of-Quarter Spirit Day on Friday, March 27
- Spring Break Is Next Week!
- Help Build Our Yellow Brick Road of Reading During Spring Break!
- You’re Invited to Lane’s 30th Anniversary Celebration—Friday, April 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
- No School for Students on April 21 Due to Statewide Election
- We Want Your Feedback! Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
- 2025-2026 Yearbooks Are on Sale! Price Increases March 27!
- FCPS PreK and Early Head Start Now Accepting Applications for 2026-27 School Year
- PTA News: Restaurant Nights for March and April, spring Cub Clubs now registering
- Parent Resources: Summer camp information, special education conference, upcoming webinars
- FCPS News & Events: Community Conversations with Dr. Reid, special-education awards
News & Notes
Two Early Releases This Week: Three Hours Early on Wednesday; Two Hours Early on Friday!
Our next regular Early Release Wednesday will be THIS WEDNESDAY, March 25. Students will be released three hours early that day at 1:05 p.m. As usual, we will offer supervised activities after school for those families with child-care hardship for this Early Release Wednesday.
To plan for our after-school Wednesday groups this month, we will follow parent responses provided for the Early Release on last month. 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. 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 as previously directed.
On Friday, March 27, we will have our End-of-Quarter 2-Hour Early Release. There will be NO after-school supervision for students. ALL students will be dismissed at 2:05 p.m. to go home or to their regular after-school care provider.
Calling All Kindergarteners for the 2026-27 School Year! Join Us for an Orientation on Wednesday, March 25, at 3:30 p.m.!
Doors will open at 3:15 for sign-in in the office. Please bring a photo ID.
Do you have a child at home ready to start kindergarten next year? If so, now is the time to let us know your little lion will be coming to Lane! Registration for the 2026-27 school year is now underway, and we want to hear from you!
A Kindergarten Orientation for our littlest new Lane Lions and their families will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. At this meeting, we will provide a general overview of the kindergarten program as well as a chance to meet the teachers and ask questions. While parents/guardians attend the session in the gym, children will visit kindergarten classrooms.
There’s an easy five-step process to register a child for kindergarten:
- Determine eligibility.
- Identify your local school.
- Gather documents.
- Fill out forms.
- Schedule an appointment.
You can read more about the registration process here. For additional information, please contact Sook Fan Simpson, our school registrar, at sksimpson@fcps.edu.
If you don’t have a rising kindergartener yourself, please share this information with friends and neighbors who do.
Try Online Registration!
Online registration for the 2026-27 school year is open for all grades, kindergarten through 12th grade. It’s the quickest way to start the process! Learn how to begin the online registration process here.
When registering, parents/caregivers will need to create or log in to an existing SIS ParentVUE account.
If you’d like more information, please visit Lane’s Kindergarten Registration page on our school website:https://lanees.fcps.edu/announcements/kindergarten-registration-2026-27-now-open.
“Countdown to Kindergarten: Supporting a Smooth Transition” Webinar on Friday, March 27, 10 a.m.
Is your child heading to kindergarten this fall? Join FCPS staff for “Countdown to Kindergarten,” a virtual event designed to help families prepare for this exciting transition! The webinar will take place on Friday, March 27, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. During this webinar, families will learn practical tips and essential information to support their child's smooth and successful start to kindergarten in Fairfax County Public Schools. Register to receive the event link.
If you need further assistance or have questions, please feel free to contact:
- Registrar: Sook Fan Simpson — sksimpson@fcps.edu
- Family Liaison: Melanie Crosby Hardy — macrosby@fcps.edu.
We look forward to welcoming you and your child to Lane Elementary School soon!
End-of-Quarter Spirit Day on Friday, March 27
To finish up the quarter with a bit of fun this Friday, the SCA has rescheduled one of its spirit days from the end of last quarter, which got snowed out by the big January storm. The theme is "What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?" Students are encouraged to dress for their dream future. We hope your child will participate!
Spring Break Is Next Week, March 30, through April 3! Student Holidays April 6 and 10
Spring Break is next week! School and the office will be CLOSED Monday, March 30, through Friday, April 3.
In addition, Monday, April 6, is a Teacher Workday, and students DO NOT REPORT. This student holiday is to provide time for teachers for end-of-quarter paperwork and professional development.
School will reopen for students at the regular time on Tuesday, April 7.
That same week, Friday, April 10, is a School Planning Day. Students are off this day as well to allow time for staff to participate in professional development. School will resume on Monday, April 13, at the regular time.
Help Build Our Yellow Brick Road of Reading During Spring Break!
Our celebration of reading continues, and we invite all of our families to share about what they're reading over Spring Break to help us lengthen our Yellow Brick Road. Just fill out this simple Google form: https://forms.gle/k2TN3i8TN3ksYTRFA.
All formats—paper, digital, audio, etc.—count! Please do NOT include items read for work or school. Include any and all reading by family members (individual or together). Under “Other” on the form, please add as many other non-school/work items as you can think of. There are so many things to be read!
You’re Invited to Lane’s 30th Anniversary Celebration—Friday, April 17, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
This year, Lane Elementary is celebrating 30 years of learning and leading with pride, and we want our entire school community—past, present, and future—to be a part of those festivities.
On Friday, April 17—30 years to the day of Lane’s official dedication ceremony—we will all come together for a 30th Birthday Bash. We’ll have games, music, appearances by former administrators and other special guests, and the chance to catch up with old Lane friends and maybe make some new ones. Food and drink will be available for purchase, or you are welcome to bring your own picnic. You can also bring lawn chairs and lawn games to add to the fun.
Watch Wednesday Folders this week for a flyer for the event. Please feel free to share the information with other Lane families or friends that you know. We want the word to ROAR from mouth to mouth to bring as many lions as possible back to the den.
The entire week before the big birthday bash, we will celebrate Lane history in a variety of ways during the school day. Our plans include a pep rally, commemorative classroom banners, pop-up appearances by Mr. Paws, and lots of celebration.
Thanks to the PTA for cosponsoring and supporting this event so generously!
We Want Your Feedback! Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
On Monday, April 6, parents and guardians of Lane Elementary will receive an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity to share anonymous feedback about our school’s leadership and environment.
Topics covered in the survey include:
- Instructional leadership
- School climate
- Management (human resources and organizational)
- Communication and community relations
- Culturally responsive and equitable leadership
- Professionalism.
The questionnaire will be open April 6 through April 19 and will be collected online. When you receive the email invitation, please take a few minutes to complete it. Your input is valuable and helps shape the future of our school.
Thank you for your time and feedback!
2025-2026 Yearbooks Now on Sale! Price Increases This Friday!
The early-bird discount on yearbooks ends this Friday, March 27. The basic book is just $18 now, but the price will go up to $22 at the end of this week. So, order now and save! You can have your child’s name printed on the cover for an additional $5.
Ordering is simple: Just go http://www.buytheyearbook.com, put in Lane Yearbook School ID #732283, and pay with your credit card. All orders are online only.
PLEASE NOTE: There most likely will not be any additional books for sale in June. If you want your child to have a yearbook, please order one now.
No School for Students on April 21 Due to Statewide Election
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, because of the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
Fairfax County Public Schools will still exceed the required number of instructional hours for students, as set by the Virginia Department of Education.
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start Now Accepting Applications for 2026-27 School Year
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start are now accepting applications for School Year 2026-27!
This is a high-quality Early Childhood Program for eligible families. PreK (which stands for Pre-Kindergarten) is a full-day program, and spaces are limited. The PreK program prioritizes children who will be 4 years old by September 30 but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30.
Your family may qualify for PreK or Early Head Start if you:
- Live in Fairfax County
- PreK: Have a child who will be age 3 or 4 by September 30
- Early Head Start: Have a child who is 0-2 years of age and pregnant women who live in the Reston, Herndon, and Springfield areas
- Have a student(s) with economic and educational risk factors such as:
- Income eligibility
- Homelessness or Foster Care
- A Parent with Limited Education
- Student receives Special Education Services.
For more information or to apply, visit the FCPS PreK website, email fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu, or call the PreK Office at 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
¡El programa PreK y Early Head Start de FCPS ya está aceptando solicitudes para el año escolar 2026-27!
Somos un programa de educación infantil de alta calidad para familias que cumplen con los requisitos. El programa de PreK es dia completa y los espacios son limitados. El programa PreK prioriza a los niños de 4 años cumplidos antes del 30 de septiembre, pero también acepta solicitudes para niños de 3 años cumplidos antes de esa fecha.
Su familia puede calificar para PreK o Early Head Start si:
- Vivir en el condado de Fairfax
- PreK: Tiene un hijo que tendrá 3 o 4 años antes del 30 de septiembre
- Early Head Start: Tiene un niño de 0 a 2 años de edad y mujeres embarazadas que viven en las áreas de Reston, Herndon, y Springfield
- Tiene un estudiante(s) con factores de riesgo económico y educativo como:
- Elegibilidad por ingresos
- Sin hogar o acogida temporal
- Un padre con educación limitada
- El estudiante recibe servicios de educación especial
Para obtener más información, visite el sitio web, llame a la Oficina de PreK: 703-208-7900 (Inglés), 703-208-7901 (Español), o envia un correo electrónico: fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu.
PTA News
March and April Restaurant Nights Coming Soon!
The PTA is kicking off its spring line-up of restaurant days/nights with a new addition to our community and an old neighborhood favorite.
On Tuesday, March 24, and Wednesday, March 25—all day long—Quickway Japanese Hibachi, one of the newest businesses in town, will be supporting Lane Elementary by donating a percentage of Lane sales back to our school. Check out the menu at https://quickwayhibachi.com and start planning dinner! Make sure to bring the flyer.
In April, it's back to the comfort of an old favorite—Chick-Fil-A! The Kingstowne location is hosting Lane for Restaurant Nights next month on both Tuesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 22, from 4 to 9 p.m. Dine-in, drive-thru, and mobile orders count; just be sure to mention Lane Spirit Night so we receive credit. If placing a mobile order, use the code word "Lions" to ensure we get credit.
Spring Cub Club Registration Is Now Open!
Registration for the PTA’s spring session of before- and after-school enrichment classes is open through Wednesday, April 1. Programs run April 8 through May 29. Options this session include Crochet Club, Craft Club, Sports Club, Flag Football, and more!
Spots are limited, so check out the opportunities and sign up soon! Visit this link for more information and to register: https://lanepta.givebacks.gives/spring2026/Campaign/Details.
Parent Resources
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 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.
Take a look at this Summer Camp Summary handout for a list of FCPS and county opportunities, including both academic and recreational options. Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services’ Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) provides supports and programming for people with special needs and offers several options for students during the summer. View this TRS flyer for more information.
The FCPS Family Resource Center also has summer camp guides on its website, including adaptive camps for students with disabilities. These guides are updated regularly to provide the most up-to-date information for families.
Stay tuned to The Weekly Roar in the coming weeks for more information!
Registration for VIP (Values in Prevention) Summer Camp for Rising 7th Graders Now Open!
Values in Prevention (VIP) summer camp brings together multiple middle school communities in a coordinated effort to offer recreation, leisure, wellness, and prevention programming specifically focused on tweens. Held in partnership with the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS), the camp is not curriculum-focused but instead focuses on building positive relationships with peers and caring adults while introducing students to new hobbies and activities in a safe and supervised environment.
The VIP camp for this part of the county will be held at Whitman Middle School in Alexandria from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the month of July, except on July 3 (Independence Day holiday) and July 31. Transportation to and from VIP camp is available, with most bus stops at feeder elementary schools. Breakfast, lunch, and snack are provided to all students at no cost, but students are welcome to bring their own lunches.
The fee for this camp is $100 per student for the entire month. Students who receive Free and Reduced Fee lunches can have that fee reduced to half. Additional financial assistance is also available on a case-by-case basis. Financial burden will not be a barrier for students to attend. The camp schedule includes at least four field trips, most of which are intentionally planned to promote socialization and offer worthwhile recreational experiences. There are additional fees for these field trips.
VIP Camp staff consists of After-School Program Specialists at area middle schools, teachers/instructional assistants who normally work in the After-School Program, School Resource Officers from the Fairfax County Police Department, and staff from NCS’ community and teen centers. All individuals have background checks and are badged.
Registration for VIP Camp is now open! Space is limited, so apply today if you are interested!
Find more information about the VIP camp on the FCPS website.
2026 Special Education Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Marshall High School.
Dr. Shelley Moore will deliver the keynote address on The Evolution of Inclusion. It will look at how the goals of inclusion have continued to shift and evolve, as we learn more about diversity and identity. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own contexts and consider next steps for advocacy and action.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information, including breakout session offerings and a list of vendors that will be on site. Confirm your attendance for this year’s conference.
Upcoming Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center
How to Develop Organizational Skills with Your Child
Friday, April 17, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Join us for a presentation dedicated to building organizational skills. Learn practical tips for setting up effective systems to keep your child on track. Transform frustration into focus and equip your child with the skills they need to be successful and stress-free!
Register here
Literacy Instruction for Students with Significant Disabilities
Friday, April 24, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
In this session participants will explore the five components of literacy and corresponding instructional practices designed to support the literacy needs of students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Register here
FCPS News & Events
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
2026 Awards Recognizing Special Education Supporters
Nominations are open for the 2026 Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) Awards, which recognize educators, staff, volunteers, and community members who go above and beyond to support students receiving special education services. The annual program celebrates individuals across Fairfax County Public Schools who demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusion, support, and student success.
Honorees may include teachers, instructional assistants, administrators, therapists, volunteers, and other community members who have made a meaningful difference in the lives of students and families. Nominations are open through Friday, March 27, and can be submitted online.
Award recipients will be recognized at the SEPTA Awards Ceremony on Saturday, May 2, where families, educators, and community members will gather to celebrate those helping build more inclusive and supportive school communities. Registration details for the ceremony will be announced at a later date.
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