Hey gourd-geous ...

langley eNews

October 28, 2021

from the ptsa president

Just three days before Halloween and it’s scary how quickly this first quarter is coming to a close! The start of the new school year often serves as an adjustment period as students return to the discipline of staying focused for an entire school day, completing homework, doing projects and studying for exams. This year, our first marking period follows not only summer break, but also virtual and hybrid learning, where the demands on students’ time were probably not as high as they are now. Hopefully, several months in, your student has gotten adjusted to the new routine. For students who might still need extra assistance with class content or time-management skills, resources are available at Langley. Encourage your child to set up an appointment to meet with his/her teacher during the second half of Langley Links or after school. Peer tutors are also available, and teachers and counselors can help your child connect with them.

Are you feeling finally settled in your new routine eager to volunteer at Langley? If so, you are in luck as there are two enjoyable parent volunteer opportunities available next week!

The first is Saxon Service which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 4. Parents are needed to assist students with creating items for others while they earn community service credit.

The second is the Health Screening which will take place on Friday, Nov. 5 (and again on Wednesday, Nov. 10). Parents are needed to help with the vision and hearing testing of tenth and eleventh grade students.

Both activities require only a couple of hours of your time. Please see the details below.

Have a happy Halloween with a restful long weekend, and I’ll see you in November!

~ Clare Bradshaw, PTSA President

no tricks, just treats

Teachers and Staff enjoyed coffee and munchkin doughnuts this morning as an end-of-quarter treat hosted by the PTSA.

Thank you to all our members and donors for your support!

saxon service returns

After over a year and a half of virtual service, in-person Saxon Service is back! Head to the Langley Cafe Thurs, Nov 4 during the Langley Links period. Saxon Service is a way for students to participate in service — and earn service hours — during the school day and is unique in FCPS. Students who engage in at least 40 hours of service during their high school career are eligible to earn a Service Cord to be worn at graduation.

Typical activities include writing cards to active-duty military or kids in hospitals, making blankets for area homeless shelters, playing freerice.com to help those with food insecurity, folding origami cranes for patients with cancer and making dog and cat toys for pet shelters.

To sign up, click here to get a pass from their 3rd block teacher to be released for Saxon Service. To join the Saxon Service Schoology group, use code 49W6-HGZK-ZHTPT. Don’t forget to log your service hours in x2vol !

Parents, want to show your service commitment by volunteering for Saxon Service? Adult volunteers are needed from 9-10:30 am on Nov 4. Please contact Julie Hohl at jbzhohl@verizon.net if interested.

virginia governor's school

Virginia's Summer Residential Governor’s School is beginning its application process. These one-month programs run are for current sophomores and juniors seeking an enriching summer experience. The application process is competitive, and selected students usually rank in the top 10 percent of their class and have scored in the 90th percentile or above on standardized tests.

Curious? Attend our school interest meeting which will take place during Langley Links at 10:30 am on Thurs, Nov 4 in the Lecture Hall. Interested? Submit this form for programs in visual/performing arts, and this form for programs in world languages, agriculture, humanities, math/science/technology, medicine/health science, engineering and marine science. Interest forms are due Tues, Nov 9.

For more info, see the program’s FCPS webpage and the Governor’s School website. Questions? Contact Langley Counselor Timothy Ready at tjready@fcps.edu.

kudos

Congratulations to the Marching Saxons, who finished the competitive season with a superior rating from all judges at the VBODA State Marching Band Assessment this past Saturday! Superior is the highest rating available. It was a fitting ending to a wonderful season, and a credit to these amazing young people. We are so proud of them!

Haven't seen the Marching Saxons yet? There are two more chances to catch the show at Langley's last two home football games on Oct 29 and Nov 5.

hearing and vision screening volunteers needed

Adult volunteers are needed on Nov 5 and Nov 10 for hearing and vision screening for students in grades 10 and 11 plus new students in grades 9 and 12. See the link to the Sign Up Genius if you are available. Simple training is provided. Questions? Contact Maryam Malik at maryammalik713@gmail.com.

students wanted for the career fair committee

Students, learn about the LHS Career Fair Committee at a virtual interest meeting on Nov 15 at 7 pm. Students who serve on the committee will gain leadership experience, volunteer hours, and learn new skills planning, networking and organizing Career Fair 2022. Positions on the committee are open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Sign up here to receive an email and Zoom link.

freshman forum

Director of Student Services Braden Peterson discussed the emotional wellbeing of first-year high school students at the Freshman Parent Forum on Monday, hosted by Freshman Class Parents Christina Cain, Allison Varacalli, Chelsea Lake and Karen DeFilipps.

He also answered questions and shared his four Pearls of Parenting: Participation, Prevention, Partnership and Perspective.

fundraisers

theatre: Join the Saxon Stage as they celebrate Halloween! On Sat, Oct 30 from 3 - 5:30 pm in the front parking lot of the school, there will be candy, costumes, pumpkins to decorate, balloon animals and more! Admission is $10 and you will be helping the Thespians go to their state Theatre Festival!

lacrosse: Check poinsettias off your holiday list! The Girls Lacrosse Fall Poinsettia Fundraiser is under way. Purchase your red, white or pink poinsettia from your favorite Lax player today! Order now thru Nov 3 - Your order will arrive the first week of December and will be delivered straight to your home. Please see our flyer to order. Questions? Email Christina Daly (christinadaly6@gmail.com) or Liz Talbot (Lizrtalbot@yahoo.com). Go Saxons!!!

angp/wreaths across america: Please join the Class of 2022 ANGP and Wreaths Across America help express appreciation for veterans during the holidays. For $15, you can sponsor a wreath to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery or one of the other 2,500 locations worldwide during National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec 18. Every wreath purchased through the LHS ANGP sponsorship site raises money and honors veterans. Order online by Nov 29.

Do you have specific veterans and first responders, living or in memoriam, whom you would like to honor? Go to the LHS ANGP sponsorship site to:

Sponsor a wreath in honor of a living veteran, spouse, or first responder
Have wreaths placed on specific graves
Sponsor wreaths at one of the locations in which Wreaths Across America holds wreath-laying ceremonies
Post a message on WAA’s Remembrance Page
Send wreaths as a gift
Volunteer to place wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery or at one of the other participating locations as a service to the community

You can also print the LHS ANGP sponsorship form and turn in the form and check made out to Wreaths Across America to Langley’s front office c/o the ANGP. Checks and sponsorship forms are due by Wed, Nov 24. Questions? Email Annette Bellino at annette.bellino@verizon.net.

sports notes

wrestling: If you are interested in joining the wrestling team, contact Coach Mye at jrmye@fcps.edu. No prior experience is necessary and all experience levels are welcome. First practice is Mon, Nov 8, at 3:30 pm in the Wrestling Room.

ice hockey: Hockey’s Back! The Langley Varsity hockey team hits the ice for its home opener on Fri, Nov 5 against Battlefield HS Varsity. The puck drops at 6:10pm at Reston SkateQuest. Admission is free, but the team requests that fans bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to SHARE of McLean. For more info about the team, click here.

vax info: All athletes 16 years or older who plan on participating in a winter sport, spring sport, or out-of-season workout will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate beginning Nov 8. Click here for details.

Students or parents can now scan and email the student's vaccination card to langleyathletics@fcps.edu.

Unless there is a religious or medical exemption, those who are unvaccinated cannot submit negative results in order to participate.

For athletes who have not been vaccinated, more details will be communicated in the coming weeks concerning how a negative test will be submitted. They will be required weekly.

saxons, did you know ...

… Car crashes are the leading cause of injury and death in teens? The Reality Check Driver Safety Program at Inova focuses on reducing teenage distracted driving, reckless driving, and driving under the influence. There are three sessions (Nov 1, Nov 8 and Nov 15 from 7-8 pm) that build upon each other. Click here or see this flyer for more information and sign up here. Questions? Contact Linda Watkins at Linda.Watkins@inova.org.

class notes

Read below for class news. Click the green class buttons to go to each class's webpage.

grad announcements and rings: caps and gowns will be measured at school, but graduation announcements and class rings can be purchased here. Orders are due by tomorrow, Fri, Oct 29.

photos for senior slideshow: Putting together a great Halloween costume? Captured some great moments in sports? Please submit photos of your senior or groups of seniors here or email them to langley2022.photos@gmail.com. Photos are requested from this year as well as freshman, sophomore and junior years. Group photos should include only Langley seniors (but we are flexible). Questions? Contact Melissa Schwartz at mcschwartz@hotmail.com.

senior yearbook portraits: Parents, look for an email and/or postcard about scheduling senior yearbook portraits. Prestige Portraits will be at Langley Nov 11, 12, 15 and 16 from 2:30-9 pm. This is the last opportunity to take senior yearbook photos at Langley.

Mark your calendar! Our Junior Class Parent Forum will be held Wed, Nov 3 at 9:30 am in the LHS Lecture Hall.Hannah Wolff will be talking about the junior year time-line for college preparation and planning. Don't miss it!

student opps

community service: The Fairfax County Park Authority has a volunteer program that removes invasive species and replaces them with native species. FCPA is planning a Take Back the Forest Campaign on Mon, Nov 1 (student holiday) from 9-11:30 am at Colvin Run Mill Park. Click here to sign up and get more info.

juniors: The Fairfax County Youth Leadership Program is designed to educate and motivate high school juniors to become engaged citizens and leaders in the community. Please visit this website for more information or see this brochure from last year's program. If you are interested, apply by Nov 5 using this link. Questions? Email Martha Reed at martha.reed@fairfaxcounty.gov.

fcps news

financial aid webinar: Get your questions answered to complete the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA). Click here for the session on Nov 9 at 7 pm.

scholarship webinar: Learn what kind of scholarships are offered, where to locate scholarship opportunities, and how to best complete scholarship applications. Click here on Nov 17 at 7 pm or here on Dec 11 at 10 am.

Questions? For questions regarding the financial aid process, email info@collegeaccessfairfax.org. Email appointments@collegeaccessfairfax.org to request one-on-one assistance completing the financial aid forms.

fairfax county youth survey: LHS is administering the annual FCPS/Fairfax County Youth Survey to sophomores and seniors between Nov 15-30. It is an on-line anonymous survey asking questions about topics ranging from sleep and nutritional habits, to substance abuse behaviors, to symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts. Click here to see the survey questions. To opt out, return this form to your student’s counselor by Nov 15.

tysons vax clinic open

The large-scale COVID-19 vaccination clinic has reopened at the former Lord & Taylor store at Tysons Corner Center in anticipation of the next phase of vaccinations consisting of booster shots and the likelihood of children under 12 to be vaccinated. Read more about clinic here. To make an appointment click here or call 877-VAX-IN-VA. Walk-ins are also available.