Happy New Year! I hope your family enjoyed the winter break and that your start to the New Year has been great.

It is hard to believe that the first semester will end in a few weeks and students will be making curriculum choices for next year. If you attended our PTSA meeting last month, you are aware of the numerous course selection and advising resources on the school website, under the Student Services tab. I encourage you to attend Curriculum Night on Tues, Jan 9, where teachers will explain the rigor and workload of honor, AP, and Dual Enrollment courses. It is a great opportunity to explore what courses are a “good fit” for your student. In addition, be on the lookout for an email regarding Academic Advising. The email will contain information about registration dates, the LHS course catalog, graduation requirements and core course recommendations.

I also encourage you to attend a Class Forum this month and Class Evening Events in February. These events provide an opportunity to meet and connect with other parents and provide information that is specific to your child’s grade. You can read more details about the class forums and class nights under the Class Notes section below.

Finally, a reminder that the PTSA will be hosting an Open House for Rising 9th Graders on Sun, Jan 7 from 2-4 pm. This is a perfect opportunity for future Saxon families to speak to administrators, parents and students and learn about the school, activities, clubs, and everything Langley has to offer.

All the best for the new year!

~ Joy Hohenthaner, PTSA President

The Langley PTSA Nominating Committee is working to fill PTSA executive board and committee chair positions for the 2024-2025 school year. Whether you can share several hours of your time or only an hour each month, there is a role that is just right for you. There are also several opportunities that can be done remotely. The Nominating Committee would love to assist you in finding the right spot for you. Please contact Susan Connery at [email protected] or Erin Lobato at [email protected] for more info.

Welcome rising 9th graders! Langley HS will host an Open House for rising 9th graders (current 8th graders) on Sun, Jan 7 from 2-4 pm. The program will start with a brief welcome and overview of the school in the auditorium. Then there will be a guided tour of the building led by one of our students.

Forward this to any 8th grade families you know! They should RSVP for the Open House here.

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

Join Director of Student Services Dr. Braden Peterson and the LHS counselors to learn more about next year's course selection prior to Curriculum Night on Jan 9. This New Family Forum will be held Mon, Jan 8 from 9:30–10:30 am in the Lecture Hall. Come early for a coffee social starting at 9 am.

RSVP to LHS Family Liaison Julie Zimmerman Hohl at [email protected].

Our first Saxon Service of 2024 is on Thurs, Jan 11. Encourage your student to participate in one of the many service activities that are offered, such as making blankets for the homeless. Once a month these blankets are donated to the Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston, VA. Embry Rucker is a 70-bed residential shelter that provides healthy, safe emergency housing for individuals and families. Blankets are needed throughout the year, but are especially requested during the colder months ahead. This is a wonderful way to help others in need in our community.

To participate, students should go here to obtain a pass which will allow them be released for Saxon Service. Once completed, students can log into x2vol.com to have their service hour verified for credit.

The Model Judiciary Club is looking for volunteers with trial or mock trial experience to serve as mock trial judges for a Langley tournament on Thurs, Jan 11, after school from 3-5 pm. Email faculty club sponsor Mrs. McCommas by Jan 8 at [email protected] if you are available to participate.

Saxon Stage's Improv Team "Assembly Required" attended their first Improv Jam of the year on Sat, Dec 9 at Thomas Jefferson HS. This is our first attendance for this event since the pandemic! The team consisted of Daniel Qiu (Captain), Ava Carter, Alina He-Cheng, and Jacqueline Gauthier. The team finished second out of seven schools and was just two points shy of first place! We are excited to build off this momentum!

Save the date! Our 5th Annual Bands on the Run 5K is on Sun, Apr 21 at 8 am!

This event is open to the entire community and benefits the Langley HS and Cooper MS bands. Friends and family of Langley, Cooper and the elementary schools of the Langley pyramid are especially invited. All ages are welcome. Run the course like a pro or walk the course with a friend! Stay afterwards and enjoy live DJ music, refreshments and sponsors’ tables. 

Race registration is $30 for students 6-18 years old and $35 for adults through Feb 2. All participants will receive an official race t-shirt and children 5 and under are free! Sign up here today! 

Missed the Langley Book Club in December? FCPS will hold a webinar on Fri, Jan 5, 2024 at 10 am. This is a free, adult-only webinar: register here to meet the authors of Raising a Kid Who Can: Catherine McCarthy, M.D.; Heather Tedesco, PhD.; and Jennifer Weaver, LCSW as they discuss their book and take your questions.

FCPS Superintendent Michelle Reid sent a message to the school community on Dec 16: “I am asking you to take a few moments today to be uncomfortable. These few moments may save a life. Just last week, we lost another young student in Northern Virginia to a fake painkiller that turned out to be deadly fentanyl. Earlier this calendar year, Cayden Foster, a student at Centreville High School, also died from a fentanyl overdose. His parents don’t want any other family to go through the pain that they’ve endured, and they asked to sit down with me and share their story. They want you to know that they didn’t think they needed to be worried about their son. They’d talked to Cayden, and they were certain he’d be safe. I implore you to watch their story and then talk to your children about the dangers of fake painkillers; it matters.”

Join Dr. Reid Wed, Jan 10 at Edison HS at 6:30 pm for a community conversation about opioid awareness. Registration is not required, but click here to help with space considerations. The FCPS website also has resources for parents to start a conversation and additional support for families struggling with substance misuse.

Attend the 2024 Gap Year Fair to learn about the growing array of gap year opportunities. The fair will provide students with broad exposure to gap year programs that emphasize experiential education and personal growth through travel, language immersion, directed study, outdoor adventure, community service and internships.

The fair is scheduled for Tues, Jan 30, 6-8:30 pm at Marshall HS (7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church). The evening begins with “Gap Fair 101” from 6-7 pm and then the Gap Year Fair is 7-8:30 pm.

View the flyer here and follow this link for more info. Click here to register.

FCPS announced that the school district will be reverting to its former snow days policy for the 2023-24 school year. This decision means there will be no virtual learning days when school is closed due to inclement weather.

Read more on the FCPS website.

Get ready for some fun! Langley Basketball is hosting two upcoming Youth Nights! Kids get in free – wear your jersey! There will be a raffle and giveaways, plus prizes during halftime fun!

Langley Girls Basketball Youth Night is Thurs, Jan 18, 7:30 pm vs Herndon

Langley Boys Basketball Youth Night is Mon, Jan 22, 7:30 pm vs Yorktown

… Here are 7 tips to help keep your New Year’s resolution.

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.

Sophomore parents, join the Class of 2026 Parent Coffee/Forum on Wed, Jan 17 at 9:30 am in the Langley Lecture Hall. The program includes a presentation by Student Services on curriculum options and course registration for rising Juniors.

Mark your calendars for Wed, Feb 28 for the Sophomore College Case Study Night and Class of 2026 Dinner. Class of 2026 parents and students will be invited to mix and mingle with their fellow 2026-ers at the Sophomore Class Dinner to be held prior to the annual College Case Study event hosted by LHS Student Services for sophomores and their parents and guardians. The class dinner will raise funds to support Class of 2026 activities but is optional and not required for attendance at the LHS Student Services presentation. Dinner ticket info to follow.

Freshman parents, save the date! Our next Freshman Class Forum is Jan 12 at 9:30 am in the Lecture Hall.

girls’ state program: Is your daughter in 11th grade and interested in learning more about politics, specifically how our government functions? Do you think that she has the potential of being a leader? If so, the Girls' State Program may be a great fit for her! 

If your child would like to apply for this program, please have them contact Kashima Morrison at [email protected].

How can parents build our children’s resiliency when the pressure to achieve can be overwhelming? The SCC is sponsoring a workshop on Tues, Jan 17 from 6:30-7:30 pm at McLean HS to learn about the practical strategies for parents to help their child find balance between achievement and mental health. It will be presented by McLean HS Counselor Kathleen Otal, 2021 Virginia School Counselor of the Year.

Parents are asked to fill out this survey before attending the workshop.

Parents are encouraged to listen to this podcast in advance of the event.

Jan 7: Open House for Rising 9th Graders, 2-4 pm, Auditorium 

Jan 8: New Family Forum, 9:30 am, Lecture Hall

Jan 9: Curriculum Night, 6:30 pm, Auditorium

Jan 11: Saxon Service 

Jan 12: Freshman Class Forum, 9:30 am, Lecture Hall 

Jan 15: Holiday - No School

Jan 17: Class of 2026 Parent Forum, 9:30 am, Lecture Hall 

Jan 18: One Act Performance, 6:30 pm, Auditorium

Jan 25: End of 2nd Quarter – 2hr early release

Jan 26: Talent Show, 6:30 pm, Auditorium

Jan 30: Gap Year Fair, 6-8:30 pm, Marshall HS