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The Weekly Roar

Monday, September 28, 2026

What a Spirited Week It Was!

Thanks to the PTA for creating a list of really fun spirit day themes to get everyone in the mood for supporting the Lion Loop Fun Run this Friday. From superheroes to tie-dye, the spirited responses kept us smiling! The comfiest, coziest day was definitely Wednesday—PJ & Stuffy Day. Ms. Slomka's class shows off their finest sleepwear below.

Virginia: A Multifaceted State

There was lots of spirited learning going on last week as well. Students in Mrs. Barbiere's 4th Grade class worked together to study about the five regions of Virginia and then presented their region to the class. 

Upcoming Events

• 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
  
• Wednesday, 10/21 – 3-Hour Early Release Wednesday, students dismissed at 1:05 p.m. (supervised activities available until 4:05 p.m. for families with child care hardship)
• Thursday, 10/22 – Full-Time Advanced Academic Program Services screening process information meeting, 6 p.m., Library
• Sunday, 10/25 – PTA Trunk or Treat, 5:30 p.m., Main Parking Lot
• Friday, 10/30 – End-of-Quarter 2-hour early release, all students dismissed at 2:05 p.m., no additional after-school supervision available
• Monday, 11/2, and Tuesday, 11/3 – Student Holidays/Teacher Workdays, students do not report

In This Issue

• Lane Lion Loop Fun Run This Friday, October 2!

• It’s Blue Star Welcome Week! Potluck Breakfast for Military Lions Tomorrow Morning, September 29, 8:30 a.m.

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

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

• Fall Picture Days Start October 5! Volunteers Needed!
• P. E. News: Bikes Are Back Next Month!
• Arabic Early Literacy Program for 2- to 5-Year-Olds Begins at Lane on October 6!
• Hayfield Pyramid Virtual Presentation: How You Can Help Your Child Build Healthy Digital Habits—Thursday, October 8, 6:30 p.m.
• Hispanic Heritage Month: Don't Forget to Send Photos!
• First Early Release Wednesday Is October 21; Please Let Us Know Your Child’s Dismissal Plan
• 3rd & 4th Grade “Breakfast Bites” Coming Friday, October 9
• PTA News: Enrichment registration ends tonight; Restaurant Night at Crumbl Cookies tomorrow
• Parent Resources: free webinars from the Family Resource Center, Lightspeed Parent Portal, digital literacy resources, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) family training, and more!
• FCPS News & Events: Superintendent Community Conversations, new menu items, Strategic Plan Goal 5

News & Notes

Lane Lion Loop Fun Run This Friday, October 2!

The 2026 Lane PTA fall fundraiser is the Lane Lion Loop Fun Run THIS 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!

Remaining Spirit Days

Beyond the fitness fun and amazing prizes, the PTA planned a series of spirit days to boost momentum until Fun Run day. We had great fun with the themes last week. Here are the two scheduled for this week:

• 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).

Run Times for Grade Levels

(30 minutes running with a 15-minute transition time)

• 4th & 6th Grade: 9:40 to 10:25 a.m.
• 3rd & 5th Grade: 11:15 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Kindergarten: 12:55 to 1:40 p.m.
• 1st Grade: 1:40 to 2:25 p.m.
• 2nd Grade: 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.

Run times may change if the run is moved indoors due to bad weather.

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 available 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.

It’s Blue Star Welcome Week! Potluck Breakfast for Military Lions Tomorrow Morning, September 29, 8:30 a.m.

September 26 through October 4 is Blue Star Welcome Week, a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities and to help to empower military families to thrive as they serve. There are approximately 13,500 military-connected students enrolled in FCPS. Each year, one-third of our military families transition into or out of our district.

At Lane we are honored to have many military-connected lions in our school community; about one quarter of our students are military-connected. Tomorrow morning—Tuesday, September 29—we will host a Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins with Military Lions” potluck breakfast 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 in the morning, please fill out this RSVP form and tell us what you’ll bring.

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 this 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 This Friday, 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 Next Week! Volunteers Needed! At Lane, our student pictures for the yearbook are taken in house by staff rather than having a photography company come to school to take them. Students’ individual Picture Days will be their class library days, starting next Monday, October 5. Here is the list of dates by grade level:

PreK

• Mori (Group 1) – Monday, 10/5
• Mori (Group 2) – Tuesday, 10/6

Kindergarten

• Crouch – Monday, 10/5
• Furfaro – Friday, 10/9
• Schadle – Wednesday, 10/7

1st Grade

• Black – Monday, 10/5
• Cohen – Friday, 10/9
• Goldner – Wednesday, 10/7
• Kaine – Tuesday, 10/6

2nd Grade

• Gallery – Friday, 10/9
• Pradko – Thursday, 10/8
• Ragals – Thursday, 10/8
• Song – Tuesday, 10/6

3rd Grade

• Durkin – Monday, 10/5
• Shipley – Friday, 10/9
• Slomka – Friday, 10/9

4th Grade

• Barbiere – Monday, 10/5
• Sperry – Tuesday, 10/6
• Winiewicz – Monday, 10/5
• Zubieta – Wednesday, 10/7

5th Grade

• Kipkemboi – Wednesday, 10/14
• Jenkins – Wednesday, 10/7
• Lopes – Wednesday, 10/7
• Lopez – Wednesday, 10/14

6th Grade (parents will be notified about their child's specific day)

• Lewis/Letofsky – Thursday, 10/15
• Lewis/Letofsky– Thursday, 10/8
• Wilson/Benzelock – Thursday, 10/8
• Wilson/Benzelock – Thursday, 10/15

EAC & ID/IDS Classes

• Acoine (Part 1) – Thursday, 10/8
• Acoine (Part 2) – Thursday, 10/15
• Jung – Monday, 10/5
• Khalid (Part 1) – Tuesday, 10/6
• Khalid (Part 2) – Tuesday, 10/13
• Motsch – Tuesday, 10/6

After Picture Days are complete, all families will receive a digital file of their child’s portrait for FREE! 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.

Tuesday, October 20, will be a make-up day for students who are absent on their assigned class day.

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

P.E. News: Bikes Are Back Next Month

P.E. will have the bikes again for ALL grades Monday, October 5, through Friday, October 23. 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.

Montgomery Co., MD Fire

Arabic Early Literacy Program for 2- to 5-Year-Olds Begins at Lane on October 6!

Fairfax County Public Schools’ Early Literacy programs help families and their preschool-age children prepare for kindergarten. These programs support parents and families as their children's first and most important teachers. Early Literacy fosters strong family-school partnerships using interactive activities.

Children and families in the Early Literacy program participate in fun "school-like" experiences. Classes meet two times per week in schools and community sites across Fairfax County. Early Literacy programs are organized around four cultural/ affinity groups: African Heritage/English; Arabic/English; Hispanic/Spanish; and Korean.

Lane is proud to host an Arabic/English program here at our school. The 2026-27 program begins on Tuesday, October 6, and spaces are available. The program—which is taught in English and includes families from a variety of Arabic, African, and South Asian cultures—will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you have a young child at home and would like to join the group, please contact Gigi Hammoud at 703-204-4347 or ekhammoud@fcps.edu. Please feel free to share this information and the flyer below with others who might be interested.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Don’t Forget to Send in Pictures!

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. Here at Lane we have more than 100 students at our school who are of Hispanic descent, and we want to celebrate them all!

If you’d like to send in a photo of your child (or your whole family) to be included on our Hispanic Heritage Wall of Honor, you can email the photos to our family liaison, Melanie Crosby Hardy, at macrosby@fcps.edu, or send it to her through TalkingPoints. Be sure to let us know where your family is from too! Please send photos in by THIS FRIDAY, October 2.

3rd & 4th Grade “Breakfast Bites” Coming Friday, October 9!

Our younger grades have enjoyed their Friday morning “Breakfast Bites” buffets, and now it’s time for our older students’ families to have their chance to get together and share some food and friendship before the school day begins. Next Friday, October 9, 3rd & 4th grade families are invited to join us from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. in the cafeteria. We just ask that each family bring a breakfast dish or item to share (muffins, donuts, casseroles, etc.). If you are a 3rd or 4th grade family that would like to attend, please RSVP here.

Our final “Breakfast Bites” will be held on Friday, October 16, for 5th and 6th grade families. A sign-up form for that event will be sent out soon.

First Early Release Wednesday Is October 21; Please Let Us Know Your Child’s Dismissal Plan!

This school year includes four 3-Hour Early Release Wednesdays. These shortened school days for students allow teachers to attend critical professional development sessions and participate in other collaborative work.

Our dismissal time will be at 1:05 p.m. on these days. Lunch will be served as usual. Here are the dates for Lane:

• October 21
• December 2
• February 10
• May 5.

We encourage all parents/caregivers to have their student take their normal route home or to daycare (bus, walk, kiss and ride) on these days, but we will ensure that every student has supervised activities at the school and returns home at the regular time if necessary.

Please let us know what your child care plans are for these Early Release Wednesdays using this form: https://forms.gle/ZoUTjwP3GT5fphHc6.

In order to ensure the safety of all students, all families must let us know about their early dismissal childcare needs, even if the child does not need to stay after the 1:05 p.m. dismissal time.

Please note that we will follow these dismissal plans on Early Release Wednesdays throughout the year.

Traffic Safety Near Our School

We understand that families may need to drive their children to school from time to time. If you need to, please familiarize yourself with our school’s Kiss and Ride procedures for the safety of all children and staff.

Please drop off or pick up your students in the designated areas. Students should not be dropped off or picked up in other areas around the school or in nearby neighborhoods. Please also avoid parking in neighborhoods or double parking in front of our school if you intend to walk your child to school. This can increase the number of students walking through busy intersections and create traffic hazards for other drivers and families trying to get to school.

Please follow all signs and directions posted at our school, on public roads, or provided by school staff or crossing guards, and avoid making U-turns. Most of all, always — ALWAYS — drive slowly near our school. The safety of all our students is one of our top priorities!

The Fairfax County Police Department has additional safety tips for families, including ways to keep walkers safe and what to do about scooters, bicycles, and e-scooters.

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 Closes TONIGHT!

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 closes tonight!

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.

Join Us for Dessert at Crumbl Cookies Tomorrow Night, 5 to 8 p.m.

Top off your evening tomorrow night—Tuesday, September 29—with a tasty treat from Crumbl Cookies in Kingstowne at the Lane PTA’s September Restaurant Night. Between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m., 15% of sales generated from in-store, carryout, or curbside orders will be donated back to our school.

Parent Resources

Set Screen Time Limits and Monitor Online Activity With Lightspeed

The free Lightspeed Parent Portal makes it easy for you to see and manage how your child uses their FCPS-issued device outside of school hours. New Lightspeed Parent Portal features for this school year include:

• Schedules: Pause or restrict internet access during specific times, such as during homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
• Web Rules: Block specific websites you don’t want your child accessing at home.

Be sure to check your email (subject line: “Filter Portal Weekly Report”) each Sunday for the Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report, a weekly summary of the websites your child has visited. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.

Digital Literacy Resources for Families

As part of FCPS’ continued support for digital literacy, families can access lesson materials that introduce the concepts students will explore throughout the school year. These resources include student lessons and supporting materials organized by grade level. Resources will be shared on a quarterly basis through Schoology.

The All Parent/Guardian Course is available in Schoology through a parent or guardian account. Schoology and ParentVUE use the same login credentials. Families who need assistance can review How Do I Log in to and Access Schoology? or watch the brief walkthrough on the Schoology Snippets page.
Families can also learn more about FCPS guidance and practices on the Educational Technology in FCPS webpage.

Attendance Awareness Month: We All Belong

As September winds down this week, we want to remind everyone about how important regular school attendance is, not only for academic growth but for social-emotional connections and relationships as well. Each of us is unique, and we all play a role in the Lane Lion Pride. Every student matters and belongs in our school.

If your student is having a difficult time attending class, please tell a trusted adult at school. There are solutions.

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

Learn About Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching New Skills at Home

All family members and caregivers are invited to attend monthly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Family Training to learn how to support and teach students with autism and related disorders. No registration is needed.

Virtual trainings take place at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Join the session. Upcoming topics include:

• Autism and ABA Overview on Wednesday, October 14. (It is highly recommended that you attend this session before any future sessions.)
• Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home on Wednesday, November 18.
• Toilet Training on Wednesday, December 9.
• Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home on Wednesday, January 13.
• Communication: a Foundation for Independence on Wednesday, February 10.
• Visit the ABA webpage for a full list of classes. Need an interpreter? Contact Stephanie Watkins two weeks before the training at 571-423-4110 or sawatkins@fcps.edu.

Annual Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Call for Volunteers

Join us for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students on Saturday, November 14, at Hayfield Secondary School.

Families, educators, and community members are invited to this no-cost, in-person event to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants.

How to Get Involved

• Attend: Register as a family member or educator using the Registration Form.
• Students Showcase Opportunities: Students can complete the Student Participation Form to lead a performance or share information about a club or research project.
• Volunteer: Adult volunteers can sign up in Volunteer FCPS to support the event.

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 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):

• 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.

Fall into Flavor With FCPS’ New Breakfast and Lunch Menu

FCPS’ new September and October menu items are packed with classic favorites and fresh global inspiration. Check our new online menu system to see when you can try new recipes based on student feedback and developed by FCPS’ executive chef and team of food and nutrition experts.

Menu items include:

• Breakfast items such as honey chicken biscuits, guava pastelitos (whole-grain pastries filled with tropical guava fruit), and roasted apple parfaits, made with vanilla yogurt and homemade granola.
• Lunch items such as crunchy beef or fiesta tacos, ramen bowl with diced chicken or hard-boiled egg, beef or vegan banh mi burger, and southwest fiesta soup with corn chips.

Stay up to date on FCPS menus and nutrition news by subscribing to the Food and Nutrition Services newsletter.

The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation

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.

This week, we’re highlighting Goal 5, which focuses on preparing every student for life after graduation with the skills they need to thrive. See how Goal 5 is being put into practice.

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

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