The Weekly Roar - Friday, September 22, 2023
GovDelivery2 days 13 hours agoHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletin en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
يرجى زيارة موقعنا الألكتروني لقراءة هذه النشرة الإخبارية بلغات أخرى
The Lion’s Roar September 22, 2023
Baby Bugs and Mathematical Munchies
Students in Ms. Brusick’s 3rd grade class spent the week keeping eyes on their baby ladybugs and enjoying some tasty crunchy counters during “Munchable Math.”
Upcoming Events
- Friday, 9/15 – Sunday, 10/15 – Hispanic Heritage Month (Share your Hispanic heritage with us! See the article below for details!)
- Monday, 9/25 – Yom Kippur Holiday – School and Office CLOSED
-
Tuesday, 9/26 – Friday, 9/29 – Read-a-Thon Spirit Week!
- Tuesday: Tie-Dye Day! Shine bright for reading!
- Wednesday: Dress Like a Teacher Day! And Read, Read, Read!
- Thursday: Lane Spiritwear Day! We are reading and raising for LANE!
- Friday: Popsicles on the Playground – FriYAY Edition to celebrate our first-ever Read-a-Thon!
- Tuesday, 9/26 – Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Families” Reception, 8:30 a.m., Cafeteria
- Tuesday, 9/26 – 5th Grade VGA Math Test (rescheduled from last week)
- Friday, 9/29 – PTA Read-a-Thon ends
- Monday, 10/2 – Thursday, 10/12 – Fall Picture Days during class library time (See article below for details)
- Wednesday, 10/4 – Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
- Thursday, 10/5 – Virtual Parent Coffee: Special Education at Lane, 6:30 p.m. on Zoom
- Monday, 10/9 – Indigenous People’s Day – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday
- Friday, 10/13 – Field Day
- Thursday, 10/19 - Fall Picture Day make-ups
In This Issue
- Yom Kippur Holiday on Monday
- Get Ready for a Spirited Final Read-a-Thon Week
- Fall Picture WEEKS Start October 2nd!
- Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions” – Tuesday, September 26th
- “Our Schools, Our Future”: Community Conversations with the Superintendent Kick Off at Hayfield September 26th
- Spotlight on Special Education Virtual Parent Coffee – Thursday, October 5th, 6:30 p.m.
- Bikes Are Back in P.E. Starting October 3rd!
- Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day Is Wednesday, October 4th!
- Hispanic Heritage Month: Share Your Culture with Your Lane Family!
- Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R) Parent Acknowledgement Due September 29th
- Save the Date! Field Day 2023 Is Friday, October 13th!
- Parent Resources: Attendance reminders, free webinars
- Community Events & Activities: Girl Scouts at Lane, STEAMOLOGY STEM Fest
News & Notes
Yom Kippur Holiday on Monday
All FCPS schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 25th for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. According to Jewish tradition, Yom Kippur is when God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year. You can learn more about Yom Kippur on Brittanica.com. We hope all in our Jewish community observing Yom Kippur have an easy and meaningful fast.
Get Ready for a Spirited Final Read-a-Thon Week!
The PTA Read-a-Thon FUN-draiser is entering its final week! The PTA has reached a third of its goal and is excited to make a BIG difference at our school with 100% of the money raised. As we go roaring into a three-day weekend, they are looking forward to making some big gains!
Every Lane Lion that has received a donation by the start of school on Tuesday, will be entered into an early-bird raffle with several available prizes!
Donate Today to the Read-a-Thon! Share with family and friends!
To really have some fun this final week of the Read-a-Thon, we’ll celebrate with daily spirit days:
- Tuesday: Tie-Dye Day! Shine bright for reading!
- Wednesday: Dress Like a Teacher Day! And Read, Read, Read!
- Thursday: Lane Spiritwear* Day! We are reading and raising for LANE!
- Friday: Popsicles on the Playground – FriYAY Edition to celebrate our first-ever Read-a-Thon!
Don't forget to log the minutes you're reading at home!
Every Lane Lion that submits their total minutes read by October 5th will receive a FREE kids meal to Panda Express!
*Good news! The Lane Spiritwear Back-to-School order has arrived! It will be going home on Tuesday!
Fall Picture WEEKS Start October 2nd! Volunteers Needed!
Yes, you read that right. This year we are having Picture WEEKS rather than just a Picture Day. The reason is that we are trying something new. This year will be taking our fall student portraits in house rather than having a photography company come for the day to take them. This means that all families will receive a digital copy of their student’s photo for FREE! Once you receive it, you can use it to have prints – or other objects – made at local photo product retailers.
Students’ individual Picture Day during Picture Week will be their class library day. Most students will have their pictures taken the week of October 2nd through 6th, although some classes will be the following week. Here is the schedule:
- Monday, October 2nd: Kindergarten and 3rd Grade classes
- Tuesday, October 3rd: 2nd Grade classes
- Wednesday, October 4th: 1st Grade, Ms. Black’s and Ms. Gill’s classes only; 5th Grade, Mr. Benzelock’s and Mr. Morris’ classes only
- Thursday, October 5th: 6th Grade, Mr. Crocamo’s and Ms. Wilson’s classes only
- Friday, October 6th: 4th Grade and 1st Grade, Ms. Hartbarger’s and Mrs. Kaine’s classes only
- Tuesday, October 10th: Mrs. Ferguson’s, Mr. Holmes’, and Ms. Scott’s classes
- Wednesday, October 11th: 5th Grade, Ms. McGregor's and Ms. Benton’s classes only
- Thursday, October 12th: 6th Grade, Ms. Sperry’s and Ms. Fitzgerald’s classes only
Thursday, October 19th will be a make-up day for students who were absent on their assigned class day.
We will still need some volunteers, as we usually do, to help this process run smoothly. If you are available to assist on one of the days, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45A9A72CABF85-2023.
Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions” Breakfast Reception – Tuesday, September 26th
Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to 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 26th we will host a Blue Star Welcome Week “Muffins for Military Lions” reception before school from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m. in the cafeteria. At this event you’ll be able to learn about resources and supports both here at Lane and throughout the county, meet military family specialists from FCPS and Fort Belvoir, and connect with other Lane military lions. All military families are welcome – parents and students.
If you plan to attend this event, please RSVP here. This will ensure we have enough food and drink for everyone. We hope you’ll be able to join us!
“Our Schools, Our Future”: Community Conversations with the Superintendent Kick Off at Hayfield September 26th
You are invited to join Superintendent Reid for “Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation” at Hayfield Secondary School on Tuesday, September 26th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions!
This event is part of a series of Community Conversations this fall and spring in each region. There will be another session at Whitman Middle School on Wednesday, September 27th also at 6:30 p.m. Days and times for the additional region events will be shared soon. Visit FCPS’ webpage to find out when and where you can engage with Dr. Reid.
Register to attend here. Pre-registration is not required. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability.
Spotlight on Special Education Virtual Parent Coffee – Thursday, October 5th, 6:30 p.m.
Are you interested in learning more about special education services at Lane and in FCPS? Do you have concerns about how your child is learning, but aren’t sure where to turn? Would you like to meet other special education parents?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, please plan to attend our virtual parent “coffee” focusing on special education on Thursday, October 5th at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Lane’s principal Christine Prahl and special education lead Dr. Patrick Ledesma will join us to provide an overview of special education at the school; Lane PTA Inclusion Committee Chair Jee Deogracias will discuss upcoming PTA-sponsored inclusion activities; Emily Sachdev from Special Education PTA (SEPTA) will talk about the organization and their initiatives and supports; and the manager of the FCPS Family Resource Center will present information about their wide array of supports and resources available to families for free.
There won’t actually be coffee at this event (unless you make your own at home), but important information will definitely be brewing!
Bikes Are Back in P.E. Starting October 3rd!
The P.E. program will once again have bikes available for students in grades 3 through 6 from Tuesday, October 3rd to Friday, October 20th (excluding Field Day).
There will be helmets to share (with hairnets). If students would like to use their own helmets, they may do so, but the helmet needs to fit correctly. Helmets can be brought in on Thursday, September 28th or Friday, September 29th for fitting. Please note that hairstyles can affect sizing and fit of helmets. Helmets are legally required for all people under the age of 15 in Fairfax County.
Students who do not know how to ride a bike yet will have the opportunity to learn during class.
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
Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day Is Wednesday, October 4th!
And speaking of bikes, schools across Fairfax County will participate in Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 4th, in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools. Students and staff are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work, where safe to do so, that day. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to school.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Share Your Culture with Your Lane Family!
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The celebration runs through October 15th.
We would like to mark this special month in two ways:
First, we invite our students who identify as Hispanic to share something from that culture with their Lane friends and families. Students are encouraged to bring in an item to put on display throughout Hispanic Heritage Month. The item must be:
- Specific to a Hispanic culture
- No larger than a lunchbox or heavier than 10 pounds
- Unbreakable (to protect the item when taking it back and forth to school)
- Appropriate for elementary-aged students.
Sharp items or weapons of any kind are prohibited.
Each item must be accompanied by a large index card or half-sheet of paper that includes the following information:
- Student’s name
- Student’s teacher’s name
- What the item is
- What country/culture the item is from
- One or two sentences about why this item is important to the student and/or how it relates to the particular Hispanic culture.
Items will be displayed in the glass case outside the Lane Library until October 15th. Items without written information will not be displayed. Please note that Lane and FCPS are not liable for loss of or damage to any item brought in to display.
Second, we will end our Hispanic Heritage Month in October with a slide show featuring our Hispanic students. If you would like for us to include a picture of your child, please email it to our family liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy at [email protected] no later than Friday, October 6th. The slide show will be shown in the school after October 15th.
We hope your student will participate and look forward to learning more about your family and culture!
Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R) Parent Acknowledgement Due September 29th
FCPS’ updated Student Rights and Responsibility (SR&R) booklet is available online and in SIS ParentVUE. The SR&R booklet explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Each year, we ask parents/caregivers to review and sign the SR&R. The SR&R will be visible upon logging in to SIS ParentVUE until the SR&R acknowledgment has been completed.
Signatures are due by Friday, September 29th. Please contact our front office if you are having difficulty accessing the booklet.
Thank you to all the parents/guardians who’ve already completed this task.
Save the Date! Field Day Is Friday, October 13th! Volunteers Needed!
Our annual Field Day event will be held on Friday, October 13th during the school day. Students will have an hour to rotate through different stations with their classmates. Here is the grade-level schedule:
- 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.: 5th & 6th Grade
- 11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.: 3rd & 4th Grade
- 12:50 – 1:50 p.m.: Kindergarten
- 1:55 – 2:55 p.m.: 2nd Grade
- 3 – 4 p.m.: 1st Grade
Students in multiple-abilities classes will attend with their inclusion class or during Small-Group P.E. Classes Field Day on Monday, October 16th.
Volunteers are needed to help with our Field Day stations throughout the day. If you’re available, and would like to help, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44ACAE2BA6FA7-field1#/.
Celebrate Hayfield’s Homecoming by Participating in Halftime Parade – Friday, October 13th!
On Friday, October 13th at 7 p.m. the Hayfield Hawks will play their homecoming football game. All Hayfield pyramid elementary schools are invited to attend the game and participate in the halftime parade. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
Parent Resources
September Is Attendance Awareness Month: We All Belong at School!
This month, at the beginning of the school year, it’s important to focus on how on how regular school attendance can support student success.
- Attending school every day, throughout the year, is critical to students reaching their fullest potential.
- Regular attendance helps students engage in learning that builds proficiency in reading and math, which will help them to graduate from high school.
- Students who attend school regularly do better academically in middle school. They are also more likely to graduate on time from high school, if they miss less than a week of school each semester.
- Being in school helps students to get to know peers, teachers, and school staff, and to create trusting relationships that motivate students to participate in learning.
- Each one of us is unique, and every student matters. If your student is having a difficult time attending class, please speak with a trusted adult at school. There are solutions.
Watch this video to see how everyone belongs at school. Visit our Attendance webpage for resources on attendance, tips, and strategies. Attend today, achieve tomorrow!
FREE Family Resource Center Webinars
The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars for parents and families each month. Here is the remaining line-up for September.
Who's the Boss? 5 Ways for Families to Help Kids with Big Emotions- Do you have a child who is bossy, melts down over changes in plans or transitions?
- Acts like a sore loser when playing games?
- Wears the same clothes and eats the same foods?
- Likes to say, "That's not fair!" and won't stop following you until they prove a point?
Calm Parenting podcast founder Kirk Martin explains why all of these behaviors have the same root...and similar solutions.
Friday, September 29, 2023, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Register for Who's the Boss? 5 Ways for Families to Help Kids with Big Emotions
October webinars have been released and are now registering. Visit the Family Resource Center website for details and watch this newsletter for highlights!
Community Events & Activities Girl Scout Troop Information Meeting – Thursday, September 28th, 6 p.m.
STEAMOLOGY STEM Fest Offers Hands-On Activities for Students
Students are invited to participate in STEM FEST on Saturday, October 14th, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at South County High School. Students in kindergarten through 8th grade can participate in robotics demonstrations, coding experiments, and more. High school students are invited to volunteer. Visit the STEAMOLOGY website for more information.
7137 Beulah Street, Alexandria, VA 22315 | Phone: 703.924.7700