Wow! Bravo! Last week’s pre-concert “Fantasia Asia” festivities by the Orchestra Program are a great example of the rich cultural diversity in our school. It was a wonderful evening to celebrate and learn about Asian culture. Students, parents and guests were encouraged to wear traditional cultural attire and everyone was treated to a wide array of foods from the Asian continent, including China, Japan, India and Persia, as well as traditional Indian classical dance. The PTSA is proud to have partnered with the Orchestra Program to show our support for this event, which brought together so many members of the Langley community for an evening of fun and impressive musical performances.

Orchestra: Fantasia Asia

Orchestra: Fantasia Asia

We held our second PTSA General Membership Meeting yesterday. I would like to thank Principal Greer for speaking and answering our questions. I also want to thank Student Services Director Dr. Braden Peterson and the dedicated team of counselors and specialists in the department for explaining in detail the various academic resources and emotional support services available at Langley. They covered topics related to academic advising, substance abuse and prevention, mental wellness and college advising.

Lauren Lipton, Anna Brown and Jordan Payne described several workshops available for students every month during Langley Links, to help them learn time management, organizational, and resiliency skills. Alex Mantel, Natalie Malone and Karen Burke described resources available during the college application process, which include workshops on topics like essay writing, the nuts and bolts of the application process, how to use the Common App and how to prepare your student’s Senior Packet, among many others. It was an engaging and very useful discussion. If you missed the meeting, the minutes will be posted on our website.

A reminder that winter sports tryouts begin on Mon, Nov 6. Athletes must complete all registration and health physical paperwork before trying out for a team. See sports notes below for specific details.

Have a great weekend!

~ Joy Hohenthaner, PTSA President

We're looking for parents to serve on this year’s Nominating Committee. The commitment isn't long and the company is always fun! Our first meeting will take place in late January and our work wraps up by early March. 

The Committee is charged with slating the 7 elected positions and identifying committee chairs. We are looking for a committee that represents all of our communities to ensure that we are able to slate the strongest leadership team possible.

Reach out to Susan Connery at [email protected] or Erin Lobato at [email protected] with any interest or to find out more!

Students, the Reflections Contest deadline is extended to Nov 17. Be inspired by this year’s Reflections theme “I am Hopeful Because…” What are you hopeful about? Why are you hopeful?

Unleash your creative potential and compete at school, regional, state and national level. Explore, create and submit your original work of art by Nov 17. Choose one or more categories from Visual Arts, Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Photography, Musical Composition or Special Arts.

For inspiration, watch the video of winning entries from last year here and see the full list of winners here. 

For more info, students can talk to their English and/or Art teachers, view A Quick Guide - Reflections 2023, watch this video, scan the QR codes on the Reflections posters in the hallways or email [email protected].

Juniors and seniors, college visits wrap up early next week! Learn more about colleges that interest you and ask questions of the school representatives.

Click here to view the remaining colleges that will be on campus. The entire list of visits is posted in Naviance. Click on Colleges / College Visits to sign up.

Students are asked to register in Naviance for the visit, then pick up a pass outside of the Career Center and ask their teacher for permission to attend. All students must have a signed pass to attend. 



Students must be juniors or seniors and visits are for students only. 

congrats to the bands: A lot has been happening in the Langley Bands! For the fifth straight time, the Marching Saxons earned a Superior rating from all the judges – the highest rating available – at the VBODA Marching Band State Assessment last Saturday (the SOL for marching bands)! What's more, they earned a Superior rating from every judge. This reflects the hard work of all the students and the important contributions of the seniors. 

A special note on the seniors: This year’s seniors came back after covid year 2020-21 (their freshman year), having missed a whole year of marching band. They kept believing and investing in the bands and their efforts have paid off. There is now inarguably a tradition and legacy of Marching Saxons excellence.

A huge congratulations to the many Langley Band students who auditioned for Senior Regional Orchestra (SRO)! Langley Bands had four students selected for this competitive event: Jacqui Go, flute; Ryan Healy, percussion; Zelmay Jan, tuba; and Jayden Lee, flute. The SRO event takes place at Wakefield HS on Nov 9-11, with the concert open to the public on Sat, Nov 11.

There are several upcoming performance opps to see our amazing bands! The bands perform their Fall Concert tonight in the Langley Auditorium at 7 pm; the Marching Saxons play at the Great Falls Spooktacular on Tues, Oct 31 at 5 pm; and the Marching Saxons and pep bands play on Fri, Nov 3 at the Langley-McLean home football game!

world science winners: Kevin and Sean Lee represented Langley HS at the World Science, Environment and Engineering Competition. They have received Gold Medals for their team project, "An Innovative Alternative to Plastic Straws with Bacterial Cellulose: Kombucha" and Silver Medals for their team project, "The extraction of Keratin from Human Hair Waste for Copolymerization with Nitrile Butadiene Rubber."

Learn more about the World Science, Environment and Engineering Competition here.  

Kevin Lee

Sean Lee

Is your family new to LHS? Did you relocate from another country, state, county or FCPS pyramid? Or from a private school/homeschool program?

We have the perfect opportunity for you to meet other new Langley parents. An International Potluck Luncheon will be held in McLean on Fri, Nov 10 at 11:30 am. Sign up here to RSVP and let us know what type of dish you will bring from your "home" country, culture or favorite cuisine.

alice in wonderland reviews: Saxon Stage's production of Alice in Wonderland was a huge success! The theater was filled each evening with people of all ages laughing and enjoying this nonsensical tale of Alice in Wonderland. 

The Tea Parties, which were sold out, were a huge success with the community and allowed the Saxon Stage performers to have a more personable interaction with the audience prior to the performance. This production was also Saxon Stage's Cappies show for the school year. Sixty critics were there for the kickoff of the new Cappies season and they raved about our performance. Read the Gazette Leader review here, and a Patch review here.

We look forward to seeing you all for our VHSL One-Act show preview which will be Fri, Jan 19. More details to come. 

talent show: Saxon Stage is proud to present its 2nd Annual talent show, Saxon's Got Talent. Get ready to be entertained by acts of acting, singing, dancing, bands, magic, comedy and more! The show is Fri, Nov 10 at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium. Click here to purchase tickets, on sale now! Adults are $10, Seniors and Students are $5. You can purchase your tickets in advance online or you can pay at the door. The doors will open at 6 pm. Enter by Door 14. Questions? Reach out to Mr. Kaufman at [email protected]. We look forward to having you all in attendance!

Rock your saxon spirit with the new limited edition Golf/Tennis/Rally towel available in two colors, just $15. Go to the Langley Boosters website and click on Shop, then Magnets, Decals and Other Accessories to order yours today.

Join the Class of 2024 ANGP and Wreaths Across America to honor a veteran or first responder during the holidays. For $17, you can sponsor a wreath to be placed at Arlington National Cemetery or one of three other locations supported by Langley during National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec 16.

Every wreath purchased through the LHS ANGP sponsorship site raises money and honors veterans. Click here to order online by Nov 28. Wreaths are placed at Arlington National Cemetery or other cemetery of your choice on Dec 16, National Wreaths Across America Day!

Questions? Email Kristi Grgeta at [email protected]. 

High school students are invited to showcase their artistic achievements in the 2024 James C. Macdonald Performing Arts Scholarship Competition. The competition is open to 9th-12th-grade students who reside or attend school in Dranesville Small Tax District 1A. The deadline to apply is Fri, Jan 26. 

A $1,200 scholarship prize will be given to first-place winners in each of the following categories: Dance, Theater, Vocal Music and Instrumental Music; second-place winners in all four categories will receive $800; third-place winners will each receive $400. There are no restrictions on the use of the award money. Applicants must be present and prepared to perform in the preliminary round of the competition the week of Feb 5, and at the final competition on Wed, Apr 17 at 8 pm to be eligible to receive an award. 

Info and applications can be found online. A non-refundable, $20 fee is required for each application form submitted. Questions? Contact Alden Youth Theatre Programs Director Danielle Van Hook at [email protected].

... As the shorter days and colder months are rolling in, Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) symptoms begin. Here is an article by Katherine Cullen MFA, LMSW from Psychology Today on coping strategies during colder months.

football youth night: The Varsity game starts at 7 pm vs. McLean on Nov 3. Kids get in free – wear your jersey! Pre-game fun starts at 6 pm.

Door prizes! Raffle and Giveaways! Run on the field with the team! See details in the flyer here.

winter sports tryouts: Winter 2023 sports tryouts begin on Mon, Nov 6 and include boys and girls basketball, gymnastics, winter track, sideline cheer, swim and dive, and wrestling.

If your child is interested in participating in winter sports, the following must be completed prior to trying out for a team:

● Register your athlete on the FCPS Athlete Registration website. Registration must be done each year. Click here to register your child. 

● Complete a physical after May 1, 2023. The physical must be done on the official VHSL form that can be found here. Send completed VHSL forms to [email protected]. 

● Check each respective team's site on the Langley Sports website for tryout info.

senior portraits: Seniors, last chance to have your portrait taken! Legacy Studios is returning to Langley for final make-up and re-take senior portraits, Nov 30 and Dec 1.

Students must make an appointment with Legacy Studios. Seniors not photographed by Dec 1 will be listed as not pictured in the yearbook.

senior graduation dues: Senior graduation dues are required of all seniors. The funds will be used to pay for your student's cap and gown, and to offset the cost of graduation and related expenses. Click here to submit payment.

student opps

become a youth ambassador: The McLean Community Center (MCC) seeks district teens to serve as liaisons between their classmates and the MCC Governing Board. 

Youth ambassadors act as liaisons between community youth and the two youth members of the MCC Governing Board. They collect and share the feedback and ideas of local high school students in Dranesville Small District 1A with MCC's board and staff with the goal to strengthen MCC services and programs for that age group.

Youth ambassadors must live within the tax district, be in high school (grades 9-12) and attend either McLean or Langley high schools. Click here for more info. Applications are due by Fri, Nov 3.

support spinal cord injury programs: Great Falls Youth Rugby is hosting its 9th Annual MedStar National Rehab Hospital Tournament on Sun, Nov 19. The whole-day tournament features over 18 clubs from VA, MD and DC; and over 41 teams from U6 through High School.

To date, Great Falls Youth Rugby has donated over $15,000 to the Adaptive Sport Program at MedStar. We are seeking Langley volunteers to help out with the set up and running of this tournament. Saturday will be setup; Sunday more setup, keeping the tournament running smoothly, and breaking down and clean-up afterwards.

More info about the tournament and MedStar can be found here. To sign up to volunteer please go here. 

Great Falls Youth Rugby is a 501c3 non-profit and verified service hours will be given. 

special ed parent resources

Special Education PTA (SEPTA) is a PTA organization affiliated with the State and National PTA, specifically established to address the unique needs of special education, special needs, and disabled students and families. 

SEPTA publishes an on-going list of events and resources to help special ed families that are open to the community. See the list and registration info here.

Oct 26: Band Concert, 7 pm, Auditorium

Nov 03: End of 1st Quarter – 2hr early release

Nov 06: First Day of Winter Sports Tryouts

Nov 06: Student Holiday

Nov 07: Student Holiday

Nov 10: Talent Show, 6:30 pm, Auditorium

Nov 13: Meet the Coach Night (Winter Sports), 7 pm

Nov 14: Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 6:30 pm, Auditorium, Doors Close Promptly

Nov 16: Saxon Service 

Nov 17: Reflections Contest Deadline, Revised 

Nov 22-24: Thanksgiving Break

Nov 28: Financial Aid Night, 6:30 pm, McLean High School

Dec 9: Homecoming Dance, 8 pm