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The Weekly Roar

Monday, April 20, 2026

What a Birthday Bash!

Lane lions of all ages had a great time last week celebrating Lane's 30th birthday! We started the week with the Pep Rally we featured in last week's edition. That was followed by special celebration activities every day. On Tuesday, students created paper "quilt squares" describing their favorite thing about Lane or their favorite Lane memory. On Wednesday, we celebrated our mascot with visits from Mr. Paws as well as a "Lion Hunt" for stuffed lions around the school. Thursday included  a quick schoolwide ’90s dance break. And on Friday students participated in a trivia contest and got to vote for a new Lane logo. Finally, Friday evening the whole community was invited to a birthday party. Check out the photos below and watch our social media channels this week for more, including videos of some of our adventurous, dedicated teachers in the dunk tank!

Spirit Days last week included "Beach Day" and "Swap Day" (when students dress like teachers and teachers dress like students).

Students and teachers showed off their ’90s style on Friday's spirit day.

Half of the lions hidden around the building for our "lion hunt" were dressed to support our spirit day themes.

The Lane Chorus kicked off our Friday celebration by singing the National Anthem and the school song. Guests at the event included past principals Mrs. Contreras and Mrs. Prahl—who helped Mrs. Opie cut the birthday cakes—and Virginia House of Delegates Garret McGuire, who joined us to present Mrs. Opie with a special proclamation to honor our 30 years.

Music, food, beautiful weather, and fun activities drew quite a crowd on Friday evening, but the highlight of the whole night was definitely the dunk tank. Thanks to all the teachers who volunteered to take the plunge (including Mr. Dickens, Mrs. Barbiere, Mr. Benzelock, and Mrs. Schadle, pictured above).

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, 4/21 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday for Virginia special election
  
• Tuesday, 4/21 & Wednesday, 4/22 – PTA Restaurant Nights at Chick-fil-A, 5 - 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, 4/29 – Month of the Military Child “Muffins with Military Lions” Potluck Breakfast Reception, 8:30 a.m., all families welcome
  

• Thursday, 4/30 – Standards of Learning (SOL) testing begins (grades 3 through 6)

• Friday, 5/1 – Last day to purchase yearbooks (see article below for ordering information)

• Thursday, 5/7 – PTA meeting and elections, 6:30 p.m., Cafeteria
• Monday, 5/25 – Memorial Day Holiday, school, office, and SACC closed
• Tuesday, 5/26 – Teacher Workday, students do not report, SACC open
• Wednesday, 5/27 – Eid al-Adha Holiday, school, office, and SACC closed
  

In This Issue

• Student Holiday Tomorrow, April 21, Due to Virginia Special Election; April Early Release Wednesday Canceled

• Attention 5th Grade Advanced Math Parents: Session Tomorrow Evening on Eligibility Requirements for Taking Algebra I in 6th Grade

• “Muffins for Military Lions” Potluck Breakfast Next Wednesday, April 29

• P. E. News: Bikes Are Back Next Month!
• More P. E. News: Field Day Is Coming Friday, June 5; Volunteers Needed!
• From the Shelves of the Lane Library: Third Quarter Overdue Notices and End-of-Year Reminders
• Last Day to Order Yearbooks Is Friday, May 1
• SOL Testing Begins April 30! Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments

• April Family Zoom Recording: “Supporting Your Child Through End-of-Year Testing”

• FCPS PreK and Early Head Start Now Accepting Applications for 2026-27 School Year
• PTA News: Restaurant Nights Next Week; PTA Board Elections, May 7
• Parent Resources: Summer camp information, upcoming webinars
• FCPS News & Events: Updates to 2026-27 school calendar, Community Conversations with Dr. Reid
• Community Events & Activities: Hayfield youth field hockey clinic
  
  

News & Notes

Student Holiday TOMORROW—Tuesday, April 21—Due to Virginia Special Election; April Early Release Wednesday Canceled

Please make note of these two upcoming calendar changes,

• There is no school for students on April 21 due to the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events will 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 will offer lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on Tuesday, April 21, at participating schools. The closest school to Lane that’s serving meals is Springfield Estates Elementary.
  • The meals must be eaten on site, and enrichment activities will be available for the children. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
• Because of the election-related closure on the 21st as well as weather-related cancelations and delays earlier this year, the previously scheduled Early Release Wednesday this month has been converted back to a full day. All students will be released at the regular 4:05 dismissal time on April 29.
  

Attention 5th Grade Advanced Math Parents: Session Tomorrow Evening on Eligibility Requirements for Taking Algebra I in 6th Grade

If you currently have a child in 5th grade advanced math, please join us tomorrow evening—Tuesday, April 21—at 6:30 p.m. for an informational session with FCPS’ math department to discuss math options for the upcoming school year. The team will review eligibility requirements for a student to take Alegbra I in 6th grade and answer questions families might have prior to making a decision about math for the upcoming school year.

Please use this link to join the session.

“Muffins for Military Lions” Potluck Breakfast Next Wednesday, April 29

April is the Month of the Military Child (MOMC), and here at Lane our special activities to celebrate the strength, spirit, and resilience of the many young military-connected lions we have in our community continue through the end of the month. Nearly 25 percent of our students are military-connected.

Last Wednesday’s “Purple Up! Day” was a great success! It was great to see so many staff members and students supporting their fellow Lane Lions through the power of purple. Even Mr. Paws dressed to show his support!

Next Wednesday, April 29, we will host our traditional “Muffins for Military Lions” potluck breakfast for our military-connected students and families before school at 8:30 a.m. We recognize that all Lane Lions are connected to these students as classmates, friends, neighbors, and more, so all Lane Lions—military and non-military—and their families are welcome to attend. We ask that each family bring a dozen mini muffins or half a dozen full-size muffins (or other breakfast treat) to share with others. Muffins and other items can be store-bought or homemade. We just ask that if you make your own you provide an ingredients list so that our families with allergies can choose safely. If you’d like join us that morning, please fill out this form and tell us what you’ll bring.

We Need Your Photos for Our Military-Student/Family Slide Show

To wrap up our Month of the Military Child activities, we will create a special slide show featuring our military students! If you are a military family and would like us to include your child(ren) in the slide show, please email pictures (no more than three, please) to our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, at macrosby@fcps.edu. When you send the pictures, please let us know that it is OK to use the family name in the show (i.e. – The Smith Family). The slide show will not be shared publicly; it will only be shown at school. Pictures must be received by this Friday, April 24, to be included in the slide show. Thank you to all the families who have already sent in photos!

P.E. News: Bikes Are Back Next Month

P.E. will have the bikes again for ALL grades Monday, May 4, through Friday, May 22, except for Wednesday, May 20. Students who do not yet know how to ride a bike will have the opportunity to learn during class.

There will be helmets available to share (with hairnets). If students would like to use their own helmets, they may, but they need to fit correctly. Please refer to the image/directions below to check your child’s helmet.

Please note:

• Helmets are legally required for all people under the age of 15 in Fairfax County.
• Hairstyles can affect the sizing and fit of helmets; low, smooth styles are preferred.
• Closed-toed shoes are required for participation, and loose clothing is not advised as it could get caught in the gears.
  
  

Image courtesy of Montgomery Co., MD Fire

More P. E. News: Field Day Is Coming Friday, June 5, Volunteers Needed!

Field Day 2026 will be Friday, June 5, for all grade levels. This schoolwide event allows the students to participate in a variety of games and activities as a class. They will rotate through stations that provide different challenges.

• Third through 5th grade students will participate in Field Day from 9:20 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
• Kindergarten through 2nd grade students will participate from 12:50 to 3:35 p.m.

Sixth graders will be running stations this year, but adult volunteers are also needed to support them. Volunteers will help the students have a memorable day by coordinating station activities. All volunteers will receive instructions on how the station should run. There will be some water stations this year, so we need some volunteers who are willing to get wet.

All volunteers will need to sign up with the new FCPS volunteer system, if they haven’t already completed the approval process. Our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, will be monitoring our Sign-Up Genius electronic sign-up and will contact those volunteers who still need to register in that system.

Here is the link to sign up to help: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACAE2BA6FA7-63530838-field.

Thank you in advance for supporting this special activity and our P. E. team!

From the Shelves of the Lane Library: Third Quarter Overdue Notices and End-of-Year Reminders

Dear Lane Readers,

With the start of fourth quarter, please note that the library will be emailing overdue notices tomorrow—Tuesday, April 21. Students who have books that were due on or before March 27 will receive a notice. Please do your best to look for these books and return them in good condition! It is also possible that books have been sent to school but have not yet made it to the library. If this is the case, apologies in advance for the crossed communication.

Starting in mid-May, notices regarding ALL library items that are checked out will be sent home weekly. All library books are due on Wednesday, June 3.

As a reminder, there are no fines for overdue books, however families are expected to pay the replacement cost for lost or damaged books.

Contact Sue Chozick, Librarian (schozick@fcps.edu), with any questions.

Last Day to Order Yearbooks Is Friday, May 1!

There are less than two weeks left to order 2025-2026 yearbooks! Pre-sales will end on Friday, May 1, and there will likely be no extra books available in June. If you want a yearbook for your child please order one now!

The price of each book is $22. You can have your child’s name printed on the cover for an additional $5.

To order, go to https://www.buytheyearbook.com, put in Lane Yearbook School ID #732283, and pay with your credit card. All orders are online only. Books will be distributed at school in early June.

SOL Testing Begins April 30! Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments

Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.

FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.

If you have a child in grades 3 through 6, please remember that SOL testing begins at the end of this month on Thursday, April 30. Here is the full schedule by grade level:

• Thursday, April 30 – 3rd & 5th Grade Reading
• Friday, May 1– 4th & 6th Grade Reading
• Wednesday, May 13 – 5th Grade Science
• Monday, May 18 – 3rd & 6th Grade Math
• Tuesday, May 19 – 4th & 5th Grade Math.

If your student is absent on the SOL test day, all efforts will be made to have them test on the day they return to school. If you know ahead of time that your child will be absent the day of the SOL test, please let your child’s teacher know as soon as possible.

You can help your children be physically prepared for testing by ensuring that they have a good night’s sleep the night before, eat a healthy breakfast in the morning, and come to school with a positive attitude. Be sure to remind them about the restrictions on using devices connected to the internet (such as smart watches) during testing.

Questions about SOL testing? Reach out to Lane’s Testing Coordinator and Math Resource Teacher, Kristie Cohen, kmcohen@fcps.edu.

Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.

April Family Zoom Recording: “Supporting Your Child Through End-of-Year Testing”

Last Thursday, April 16, our administrators hosted a brief virtual presentation on upcoming end-of-year testing and how you can support your child during this time. If you weren't able to join us live, you can view the video here.

Calling All Kindergarteners for the 2026-27 School Year! Now Is the Time to Register!

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!

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.

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

Would You Like to Get More Involved with the Lane PTA? Board Positions Are Open for the 2026-27 School Year!

Getting involved with the PTA is a wonderful way to connect with the Lane community. Not only does it help you stay engaged, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to see how excited the students are when familiar faces show up throughout the year at school events and how thankful staff members are for the PTA’s ongoing support. Now is a great time to take that next step to get more involved! The PTA will be holding board elections at their in-person meeting on May 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Lane Cafeteria. They would love for you to consider joining the team!

If you’re interested, please take a look at the available board positions below and email PTA President Connecticut Wilson-Familoni at president@lanepta.org with the role you’re interested in and a brief note on why it appeals to you.

Open Positions:

• Sponsorship Chair: This key role, introduced last year, focuses on securing sponsorships for our events and programs, which helps strengthen partnerships within our community. Working under the VP of Fundraising, this role is most active at the start of the school year and during seasonal events. It’s a great opportunity to build relationships with local businesses and support our school’s initiatives.
• Social Co-Chair: This is a monthly and seasonal role that partners with the VP of Social to plan and execute events. Responsibilities include coordinating logistics and ensuring events run smoothly—from monthly gatherings to larger celebrations. It's perfect for someone who enjoys hands-on event planning and behind-the-scenes coordination.
• Fall Fundraising Chair: Working alongside our VP of Fundraising, this role focuses on planning our major fall fundraiser, with peak activity from July through October. If you’re excited about organizing impactful fundraising efforts, this is a great opportunity to make a difference.

• Spiritwear Chair: This role manages our school spiritwear throughout the year. After a bulk order is placed before the school year begins, responsibilities include monitoring inventory, overseeing sales, and troubleshooting any issues that arise.
• Inclusion and Awareness Chair: This meaningful role partners with the school to organize events that celebrate and support our students of all abilities, helping foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for every student.

PTA leaders understand that time is precious, especially as full-time working parents themselves, and they truly appreciate any level of support you’re able to offer. If joining the board isn’t the right fit this year, you are still encouraged to join this great organization as a general member when registration opens in July/August—every bit of support makes a difference!

Monthly Restaurant Nights at Chick-fil-A in Kingstowne on April 21 and 22

Chick-Fil-A is hosting Lane for Restaurant Nights this month. Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. (Please note this a corrected time from previous newsletters.) 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.

Elite M.A. Kingstowne Offers Parents a Night Out— Friday, May 5, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Need a night off? Are your kids looking for a fun new adventure? PTA partner Elite Martial Arts (EMA) in Kingstowne can help!

Friday, May 1, 6:30 to 8:30, they are hosting a Parents Night Out. For $25 per child, you can drop them off and enjoy an evening out while the kids have their own fun! One hundred percent of the proceeds from this event are donated back to the PTA. Use this link to sign up.

Please note: This event is for children 6 years old and older.

Support Our 6th Grade Send Off!

Our 6th graders will soon be heading to middle school! The planning for their end-of-year celebration has begun, and you can help make it an extra special event.

There are two ways to support the event through the PTA:

• Direct Donation
• Purchase Dave & Buster's Power Cards for $20 - 50% of each Dave & Buster's Power Card purchased is donated back to Lane's sixth grade class.

All proceeds help celebrate 6th graders as they prepare for middle school. 

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!

Upcoming Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center

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

Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar

The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Find additional information on BoardDocs. View the updated complete school year calendar on FCPS’ website.

The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.

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. The last opportunity this quarter will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.

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.

Community Events & Activities

Hayfield Field Hockey Offers Youth Clinic—Tuesday, May 26, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Hayfield Secondary’s Field Hockey team will be offering a clinic for students in 3rd through 8th grade on Tuesday, May 26 (a student holiday), from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The cost is $50 per child. Visit this link to register and get more information.

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