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The Weekly Roar

Monday, September 21, 2026

Colorful Community Spirit Soars

It was another colorful week at Lane, filled with school spirit and community building, as Kindergarten Color Weeks continued (actively supported by students and staff in all grades) and the PTA's Fun Run fundraiser kicked off with energetic pep rallies on Thursday.

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, 9/22 – Fun Run Spirit Day: Superhero Dress-Up Day (dress like your favorite superhero)

• Wednesday, 9/23 – Fun Run Spirit Day: Lane Colors Day (wear Lane colors or Lane spirit gear)

• Thursday, 9/24 – Fun Run Spirit Day: Pajama Day (wear PJs and bring your favorite stuffy to school)

• Thursday, 9/24 – Community Meeting about proposal to expand AAP centers to all FCPS middle schools, 6 p.m., Hayfield Secondary School

• Friday, 9/25 – Fun Run Spirit Day: Tie-Dye Day (wear your coolest tie-dye outfit)

• Friday, 9/25 – Potluck “Breakfast Bites” for 2nd Grade Families, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
• Monday, 9/28 – PTA Cub Clubs enrichment program registration closes
• Tuesday, 9/29 – Blue Star Welcome Week Potluck Breakfast for Military Families, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
• Tuesday, 9/29 – PTA Restaurant Night at Crumbl Cookies
• Friday, 10/2 – Virtual “First Friday” with the Principals: Being Socially and Emotionally Present Throughout the Year, 8:30 a.m. on Zoom
• Friday, 10/2 – PTA Lane Lion Loop Fun Run
• Thursday, 10/8 – Hayfield Pyramid Virtual Presentation: How You Can Help Your Child Build Healthy Digital Habits, 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
• Friday, 10/9 – Potluck “Breakfast Bites” for 3rd & 4th Grade Families, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
• Monday, 10/12 – Indigenous People’s Day Student Holiday/Staff Development Day, students do not report
  
• Friday, 10/16 – “Breakfast Bites” for 5th & 6th Grade Families, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
  

In This Issue

• 2nd Grade “Breakfast Bites” Next Friday, September 25
• Lane Lion Loop Fun Run Coming Friday, October 2!
• Update on Proposal to Expand AAP Centers to All FCPS Middle Schools

• Save the Date for Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions”—Tuesday, September 29!

• 2026 Student Rights and Responsibilities: Parent Signature Sheet Due September 30

• October “First Friday” Family Coffee Focusing on Social-Emotional Health and Learning Coming October 2, 8:30 a.m.

• Fall Picture Days Start October 5! Volunteers Needed!
• Hayfield Pyramid Virtual Presentation: How You Can Help Your Child Build Healthy Digital Habits—Thursday, October 8, 6:30 p.m.
• Hispanic Heritage Month: Facts and Fun
• PTA News: Membership drive, Cub Clubs enrichment program registration, Restaurant Night at Crumbl Cookies
• Parent Resources: Attendance guidelines when your child doesn’t feel well; Special Education Conference, free webinars from the Family Resource Center
• FCPS News & Events: Superintendent Community Conversations, Strategic Plan Goal 3
• Community Events & Activities: Girl Scout troop information meeting this week

News & Notes

2nd Grade “Breakfast Bites” This Friday, September 25, 8:30 a.m.

Our next grade-level “Breakfast Bites”—this time for 2nd grade families—will be held this Friday, September 25. All 2nd grade families are invited to join us from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. in the cafeteria to share some food and fellowship. We just ask that each family bring a breakfast dish or item to share (muffins, donuts, casseroles, etc.). If you are a 2nd grade family that would like to attend, please RSVP here).

Lane Lion Loop Fun Run Coming Friday, October 2!

The 2026 Lane PTA fall fundraiser is the Lane Lion Loop Fun Run on Friday October 2! Our lions will run/walk the track for as many loops as possible during their grade-level 45-minute slot that day. We hope everyone will join us in supporting our kids as they run for fun(draising). The PTA has set a goal of $25,000, which will fund field trips, educational curriculum, and other school programs for all students this school year! You can find more information on donations and how to share the word with others who might want to help on the PTA website.

The Details

1. Participating in the Fun Run is FREE.
2. Every child will have a personalized link to send to family and friends to start collecting donations. While donations are strongly encouraged, they are not mandatory for your child to participate in the race.
3. Every participant gets a ribbon.
4. Every child has a chance to win great prizes like a schoolwide ice cream party, two fundraising grand prizes (one for kindergarten through 2nd grade and one for grades 3 through 6), and so many other fun rewards.
5. Every child is guaranteed to have a lot of fun!

Spirit Days

Beyond the fitness fun and amazing prizes, the PTA has also planned a series of spirit days to boost momentum until Fun Run day. Here’s a list:

• Tuesday, 9/22: Superhero Dress-up Day (Dress like your favorite Superhero)
• Wednesday, 9/23: Lane Colors Day (Wear blue and yellow or Lane spirit gear)
• Thursday, 9/24: Pajama Day (Wear PJs and bring your favorite stuffy to school)
• Friday, 9/25: Tie-Dye Day (Wear your coolest tie-dye outfit)
• Thursday, 10/1: Jersey Day (Wear team jerseys, athletic wear, or running gear to get into an active mindset and get ready to run!)
• Friday, 10/2: Grade-Level Color Day (All students should wear their grade-level color for the Fun Run: Kindergarten—orange; 1st grade—indigo; 2nd grade—blue; 3rd grade—green; 4th grade—yellow; 5th grade—purple; 6th grade—red).

New this year: Run with your Lane Lion! Don't let your student have all the fun. Purchase a $5 Run With My Lion ticket through the PTA. Tickets are on a first come first served basis (25 tickets available per grade).

Family members can come to school to cheer on their child during the run. They will need to stay in the designated spectators’ area, and additional security check-in may be required.

The only family members that will be allowed on the field are PTA volunteers and family members who have purchased a Run With My Lion ticket.

Volunteers Needed!

The PTA needs lots of extra hands throughout the day on fun run day, October 2. If you’d like to help, you can view the opportunities and sign up here. Additional opportunities continue to be added.

Please note that all new volunteers must register and complete an application on Volunteer FCPS, the division’s central volunteer-management system. This process is designed to protect students and adults in our building. Visit the Lane Volunteering portal to get started. (If you have already been approved as a volunteer, you DO NOT need to reapply this year.)

We also request that you review our school-specific volunteer guidelines and expectations and sign our acknowledgement form.

Update on Proposal to Expand AAP Centers to All FCPS Middle Schools

Last week the School Board approved a timeline for community engagement, public hearings, and professional learning connected to the proposed expansion of Advanced Academic Program (AAP) centers to every FCPS middle school. Hayfield Middle School is currently included in Phase 2 of the proposal, which would begin with 7th grade implementation during the 2027-28 school year. (Mark Twain Middle School already hosts an AAP center.)

As part of this process, there will be a community meeting at Hayfield this Wednesday, September 24 at 6 p.m. Please sign up to attend using this form. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions about what the proposed expansion could mean for Hayfield Middle School.

The School Board is expected to reconvene in December to vote on final approval of Phase 2 implementation for the 2027-28 school year. We know this is an important topic for many families in our community, and we will continue to share information and updates as they become available.

Save the Date for Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions”—Tuesday, September 29!

Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging in their school communities. We are honored to have many military-connected lions in our school community and look forward to celebrating them during this special week. On Tuesday, September 29, we will host a Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions” reception from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m.

We recognize that all Lane Lions are connected to these students as classmates, friends, neighbors, and more! All Lane Lions—military and non-military—and their families are welcome!

We ask that each family bring a dozen mini muffins or half a dozen full-size muffins to share with others. Muffins 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 RSVP form and tell us what you’ll bring.

We look forward to celebrating our military families together next week!

2026 Student Rights and Responsibilities: Parent Signature Sheet Due September 30

FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. This year’s SR&R includes new Universal Grade Matrices, which are at-a-glance charts that make it easier for families to see behavior expectations and school responses for grades K through 3, 4 through 8, and 9 through 12.

Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to school by Wednesday, September 30.

Learn more by watching a short video about the SR&R (available in English and Spanish) or visiting the SR&R webpage.

October “First Friday” Family Coffee Focusing on Social-Emotional Health and Learning Coming October 2, 8:30 a.m.

Our monthly virtual “coffees” with our administration team, known as “First Friday” Family Coffees, continue next Friday, October 2. This month’s topic will be “Strong Start: Being Socially and Emotionally Present Throughout the Year.” At this session, school counselor Dr. Teresa Perry will join Mrs. Opie and Mrs. Lopez to talk about social-emotional learning and supports at Lane and strategies you can use at home to support your child’s social-emotional health.

We will meet live online using this link at 8:30 a.m. All parents and caregivers are welcome to join. If you’re not able to make it live, don’t despair! We will record the session and send the link out in next week’s newsletter.

Fall Picture Days Start October 5! Volunteers Needed!

All students will have their fall portraits taken by staff members during their class library time, starting Monday, October 5. We will offer make-ups for students who are absent on their assigned class day on Tuesday, October 20. A complete schedule by class will be included in next week’s Weekly Roar.

After pictures are complete, all families will receive a digital file of their child’s portrait for free by email! Once you receive it, you can use it to have prints made in any size or style you choose. There are many professional portrait studios in the Alexandria/Springfield area that families can visit if they wish to have a professional portrait taken.

A chance for retakes will be offered later this fall.

We will need some volunteers to help this process run smoothly. If you’re interested and able to help, please sign up here.

Hayfield Pyramid Virtual Presentation: How You Can Help Your Child Build Healthy Digital Habits—Thursday, October 8, 6:30 p.m.

Technology is part of students’ learning, relationships, and everyday lives. This session for families and caregivers in the Hayfield pyramid will offer practical guidance for helping children build healthier habits with devices, social media, and gaming.

What the session will explore:

• what digital wellness looks like at home
• how parents can best support their children in this area
• practical routines for devices, social media, and gaming
• ways to set boundaries while building student independence.

Presenters will include students who will help attendees consider and understand issues such as:

• the role social media plays in their lives
• what they wish their parents understood about their use of technology
• family rules that feel helpful
• how adults can support them when something goes wrong online.

Families will leave with practical conversation starters and one or two manageable strategies to try at home.

Use this link to join the session. Watch Wednesday Folders for a flyer coming home this week.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Facts and Fun During National Hispanic Heritage Month we celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The Latino population in the United States today is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau—almost 20% of the total population. It’s our largest minority racial or ethnic group. Spanish is our second-most-common language.

Here at Lane we have more than 100 students who are of Hispanic descent. We want to showcase as many of them as possible on our Hispanic Heritage Wall of Honor in the main hallway. If you’d like to send in a photo of your child (or your whole family), you can email the photos to our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, at macrosby@fcps.edu, or send it to her through Talking Points. Be sure to let us know where your family is from so we can add you to our map! Please send photos in by Friday, October 2.

Here are some other interesting facts about Hispanic Heritage Month.

• National recognition of Hispanic history and culture began as a weeklong celebration in 1968 under President Johnson; in 1988 President Ronald Reagan extended it to a full month.
• Hispanic Heritage Month begins in the middle of September and ends in the middle of October in honor of the independence days of many Central and South American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (September 15); Mexico (September 16); Chile (September 18); and Belize (September 21).
• Hispanic culture is known for its colorful art. A papel picado, which translates to “perforated paper” or “punched paper,” is a traditional Mexican folk art garland created by cutting elaborate, lace-like designs into colorful sheets of tissue paper. You can make your own at home following these directions from PBS Kids.

PTA News

PTA Lane Lion Loop Fun Run Fundraiser Now Under Way!

Be sure to check out the article above for all the details!

Registration for Fall Cub Clubs Now Open!

The PTA and Lane admin have organized an entertaining and educational line-up of before- and after-school enrichment programs, known as “Cub Clubs,” for the fall session. Registration is now open and continues through Monday, September 28.

Offerings this session include Dance & Move Fitness Fun, Crochet Club, Arts & Crafts Club, Ceramics Club, Flag Football, Sports Club, and Chess Club. Sessions begin in October and will run through early December.

Sessions often fill up fast, so be sure to register as soon as possible.

Parent Resources

Not Feeling Well? When Your Child Can Come to School

School is better when your child is here! But we do understand that some days, they may feel unwell. Learn more about which symptoms are ok at school (like sneezing or sniffles), and when your child should stay home (if they have a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, for example).

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify the school so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school public health nurse. Call the school as soon as you know your child will be absent and, if possible, let them know how long you think they will be out.

If you or your family need any kind of support, please reach out to our front office. We are here for you! Visit FCPS’ Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.

Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students

Register now for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students. The free conference will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at nearby Hayfield Secondary School.

Hosted by FCPS in collaboration with community partners, the conference highlights the power of partnerships in supporting student success. Families, educators, and community members are invited to connect, learn, and explore available special-education services, supports, and resources.

The conference will feature an inspiring opening session, engaging breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall with local resources, and lunch for all participants. Register for the conference and visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.

Upcoming Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center

Navigating the Digital Age: Creating Digital Balance as a Family

Friday, September 25, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

This session offers caregivers practical strategies for establishing healthy relationships with technology at home. We will explore how to model balanced digital habits, foster open communication, and work as a family to find a healthy balance. You will leave this session with steps on how to create healthy technology habits for the whole family, and how to keep kids connected without technology.

Register here

Navigating Section 504 – Essential Knowledge for Families

Friday, October 2, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

This webinar will guide participants through the essentials of Section 504:

• who qualifies
• what to expect during the evaluation process
• how accommodations are determined
• the difference between a 504 Plan and an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Register here

How to Get Kids to Open Up to You, Now and for Years to Come

Friday, October 9, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

We want to know what's going on in our children's lives—about school, their friends, their successes, and their struggles. But what should you do when your kids won't tell you what's going on in their lives? What if you ask questions and all they do is shrug and mumble “It was fine” or “I don't know”? In this workshop, you'll learn specific strategies for getting your children to open up and come to you when they need support.

Register here

The Nuts and Bolts of the Special-Education Process

Friday, October 16, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

This webinar will guide participants through the special-education identification process, including:

• an overview of the local screening process and the initial consideration of eligibility for special education
• an overview of the essential components of an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Register here

FCPS News & Events

Save the Date: Community Conversations with Superintendent Reid

Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life.

A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division. You are invited to share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events, which be held at
6:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted):

• Wednesday, September 16, 6:45 p.m., at McNair Elementary School
• Monday, September 28, at Riverside Elementary School
• Monday, October 19, at Spring Hill Elementary School
• Monday, October 26, at Beech Tree Elementary School
• Thursday, October 29, at North Springfield Elementary School
• Friday, November 13, at Colin Powell Elementary School.

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.

Events are one-hour long and open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Our Focus on Academic Growth and Excellence

The FCPS 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.

The third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful, including reading on level by third grade. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.

Community Events & Activities

Discover Girl Scouts at Lane Elementary!

Want to learn more about Girl Scouts? If so, join Lane’s Troop Organizer, Emily Ferguson, at a special meeting at Lane this Wednesdaym  at 6 p.m. in the Lane cafeteria. If you have questions, reach out to Mrs. Ferguson at emgbsho3@gmail.com.

(Please note that the flyer below says the meeting is Tuesday the 23rd, but it is on Wednesday.)

7137 Beulah Street, Alexandria, VA 22315  |  Phone: 703.924.7700

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