It’s one month into the school year and our dedicated team of PTSA committee chairs are busy bringing important community building activities to life. I want to thank the Academic Booster Chairs for giving doughnuts to students on Club Day last Thursday. What a wonderful treat! I also want to thank the Family Network Chairs and all the amazing volunteers who helped them organize and throw an exciting Tailgate party last Friday. The Family Network has hosted five events in just one month’s time! Finally, I want to thank the Hospitality Committee for hosting a wonderful reception Tuesday night, before our first General Membership Meeting. I enjoyed meeting with so many parents to discuss the different ways the PTSA builds a stronger community at LHS. If you have not yet joined the PTSA, please consider doing so and consider volunteering so that we can continue to hold wonderful events. Join here.

We have an exciting week ahead with all the Homecoming festivities! Monday is the start of Spirit Week when Student Government plans daily themed activities culminating with the Homecoming Pep Rally and Game on Fri, Sept 22, and the Homecoming Dance on Sat, Sept 23. Tickets to the dance are $20 and can be purchased during lunch. Homecoming t-shirts will also be distributed during lunch next week.

Finally, check your class page on the PTSA website and this newsletter for upcoming class events, like the Class of 2026 Parent Coffee tomorrow, Sept 15. These are the best ways to learn about class-specific news and events, as well as connect with parents in your child’s grade level.

Have a wonderful weekend!

~ Joy Hohenthaner, PTSA President 

Spirit Week and Homecoming are this coming week, Sept 18-23! The Student Government Association and Class Officers plan daily spirit activities throughout the week, culminating in the Homecoming Game on Sept 22 and the Homecoming Dance on Sept 23.

Get your ticket now for HoCo 2023! The dance is on Sat, Sept 23, 8-10 pm, and the theme is Rodeo! Tickets are $20 per student and are on sale during lunch periods in the Cafeteria, cash only. Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Parents, we are also in need of volunteers for the Homecoming Dance. Sign up here.

Get ready for Spirit Week, Sept 18-22! Themes are:

Monday: Adam Sandler Day (dress like Adam Sandler)

Tuesday: Barbenheimer (dress like Barbie or Oppenheimer characters)

Wednesday: Anything but a Backpack (leave your backpack at home)

Thursday: Jersey vs. Jersey Shore (wear a team jersey or dress like a Jersey Shore personality)

Friday: Rodeo (wear your homecoming t-shirt and rodeo attire)

Don’t forget to pick up your Homecoming t-shirt during lunch next week in the Cafeteria!

Thirteen Langley HS students are National Merit Semifinalists for 2024! They are among 264 students from 15 high schools in FCPS.

Congratulations to the following students: Scarlett Adams, Sai Charan Chaduruvelly, Anna Chen, Katherine Davis, Khalid Foraida, Jacqueline Gu, Aditya Gupta, Ashley Headrick, Lucas Kinkead, Collin Le, Milan Nguyen, Soren Sinani, and Jolie Wu.

All semifinalists are eligible to compete for 7,500 National Merit Scholarship awards worth nearly $28 million, to be awarded in spring 2024. Semifinalists advance to finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards and other requirements including a recommendation from a high school official. View the full list of semifinalists on the FCPS website.

The application for the National Honor Society is now available. Students who are interested in applying can join the NHS Schoology *Course* page using the code: 5C93-NC6K-8FTQK.

Applications are due by Oct 6. Questions? Email Mrs. Ayoub at [email protected] or Mrs. Longo at [email protected]. 

Attention rising sophomores, juniors and seniors! Are you planning to take the SAT or PSAT this year? Want to get a head-start on test prep … or take one last practice test? 

Langley PTSA is partnering with Princeton Review to host a virtual SAT or PSAT practice test that kicks off on Sat, Sept 30 at 9 am (test is available to take at your convenience for 120 days). The exam costs $25 and will benefit the Langley PTSA.

Click here to register by Mon, Sept 25 at noon. You’ll be emailed a Zoom link for the exam kickoff event and other info by 5 pm on Sept 29. After you complete the practice test, you'll receive a comprehensive score report detailing your strengths and weaknesses.

Conflict with the scheduled date? Your student’s test link will remain available for 120 days so your student can take the practice test at a time convenient for him or her.

Contact Erin Lobato at [email protected] with any questions.

Students, tap into your artistic side and enter the National PTA’s Reflections contest this fall!

This year’s theme, “I am Hopeful Because…” can take you anywhere! Create your masterpiece in visual arts, dance choreography, film production, literature, photography, music composition or special arts. Compete at school, regional, state and national levels.

Follow this link A Quick Guide - Reflections 2023 and let your imagination run wild. Learn more by viewing this video. Take some time for yourself and create something new!

The deadline is Oct 27. Questions? Email [email protected].

wrestling: If your student is interested in joining the boys or girls wrestling team this season, email Coach Mye at [email protected]. Green Day workouts start soon, so please reach out.

volleyball youth night: Game starts at 7pm vs Herndon on Sept 28. Kids get in free – wear your jersey! Win prizes during the serve competition! Raffle and Giveaways! See more info in the flyer here.

basketball: Registration is now open for Great Falls Basketball. Fall Clinics began Mon, Sept 11. House registration is open for Winter season and Select Season tryouts begin on Sat, Sept 30!

We are also looking for new basketball referees—open to students in 7th and 8th grade as well. Those interested can apply online. Register or learn more here. Questions? Contact [email protected].

Thomas Henricks, PhD from Psychology Today writes, “What does it mean to need something and how to discern when our decision-making about this issue becomes faulty. When do our reasons become rationalizations?” Here is the article to evaluate whether your decisions are valid reasons or rationalizations.

hoco week: Homecoming Week is just around the corner! Several reminders for the week: 

●Homecoming t-shirts as well as Class of 2024 swag will be available for pickup next week, Tues–Fri during lunch in the Cafeteria. Remind your student to pick up their homecoming shirt next week!

●Volunteers needed! We are looking for volunteers to assist in handing out Homecoming t-shirts and senior swag. Sign up here if you are able to help out!

●The Class of 2024 will enjoy their Senior Picnic next Fri, Sept 22 before the Homecoming Pep Rally. Students will be treated to Chick-Fila and ice cream as they celebrate their Senior Status before the big game and Homecoming dance.  

●Tickets for the Homecoming Dance are sold in the Cafeteria, $20 cash only, so have your student get theirs today! Tickets will not be sold at the door.

senior portraits: Senior Portrait makeups are Sept 26-29 in the Cafeteria. Schedule via this link.

senior yearbook ads: Click here to purchase a senior ad for the yearbook. Reference order number 4159 (Langley HS) and don’t forget to buy a yearbook while you’re there! Yearbook ads are due Oct 31.

homecoming week spirit: T-shirts will be distributed Sept 19-22 in the back of the Cafeteria during all school lunch periods. Notify your child if you paid the activity fee (by Sept 6) to pick up their shirt. We need parent volunteers to help distribute t-shirts to the students. Sign up here to help. 

junior class forum: Save the date! Come meet other parents for coffee and hear from our administration about What to Expect Junior Year on Oct 5 at 9:30 am in the Lecture Hall.  

parent coffee on friday: Our first Class of 2026 Parent Coffee is tomorrow, Fri, Sept 15 at 9:30 am in the Langley Lecture Hall. If your student is still looking for ways to get involved – whether sports, clubs or other activities – our featured speaker, Director of Student Activities Geoff Noto, will be on hand to give an overview of “how to find your fit” at Langley. We will also address questions about how Langley’s honor societies work, applications for competitive summer programs, and more! If you have any questions along these lines that you would like to discuss, email us at [email protected].

Aren’t able to attend? Email us and we will send you a Zoom link to watch. A recording of the presentation will also be posted to the Class of 2026 webpage next week.

t-shirt distro volunteers: We are in need of parent volunteers next week to help distribute Homecoming t-shirts, Tues thru Fri, Sept 19-22 in the Cafeteria during lunch! See the sign up here.

volunteers needed: Help distribute Homecoming t-shirts the week of Sept 19–22 during lunch in the Cafeteria. Visit this link to sign up for a shift. Thank you!

class dinner rescheduled: The Class of 2027 Dinner has been rescheduled to Mon, Oct 16. Mark your calendars for this great opportunity to meet other freshman families, our teacher class sponsors and the Class of 2027 administrative support team. It will be a great night!

parent forum: Our first Class of 2027 Parent Forum will be on Mon, Oct 2 at 9:30 am. If your student is still looking for ways to get involved (whether sports, clubs or other activities), our featured speaker, Director of Student Activities Geoff Noto, will be on hand to give an overview of “how to find your fit” at Langley. We will also be joined by Family Liaison Julie Hohl to learn all about Saxon Service. If you have any questions regarding these topics that you would like addressed, email [email protected].

forestville carnival: It’s time for the Forestville ES Fall Carnival again! This year’s Carnival is Fri, Sept 15 from 6-8 pm. Sign up to volunteer! Volunteers always enjoy the evening and are greatly appreciated! Sign up here if you can help, and email [email protected] with any questions.

spring hill block party: The Spring Hill Elementary PTO will be hosting its 8th annual Back to School Block Party on Fri, Sept 22 and we need your help! Student volunteers will assist with setup, serving food, and cleanup. Two shifts are available: 4-6 pm and 6-8 pm. Click here to volunteer and earn service hours.

Questions? Contact [email protected].

students who love to code: Do you know Python? Help younger students and earn service hours! Langley junior Hanna Xue is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of MyPy Coding. MyPy Coding is a nonprofit organization that provides free, one-on-one, online coding lessons to students in grades 2-8 nationwide. They are looking for volunteers! Sign up to tutor here. Visit their website to learn more about this opportunity.

improv at the alden: (the) Unruly Improv is The Alden’s professional teen improv company dedicated to bringing comedic performances to the community. Members audition to be in the company and are paid for each performance or workshop they do for the community. In May 2022, UTP was named 1st place Champions at Improvicon of Northern Virginia!

Auditions for the 2023-24 company are coming soon. Open auditions are for 9th-12th graders only, Tues, Sept 26 and Wed, Sept 27, 7-9 pm. Call Backs/Interviews are Thurs, Sept 28 at 7 pm.

UTP’s season is late-September-May. Company members rehearse twice per week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 pm. Performances are at local venues such as art galleries, the Old Firehouse Center and cafés. Because UTP is a professional opportunity, attendance at rehearsal is crucial.

See more info and sign up to audition here.

artfest volunteer opp: Join the fun of making MPAartfest an outstanding visual arts event on Sun, Oct 1 for visitors to McLean Central Park by volunteering your time. Invite your friends to join you! Our volunteers are essential to make this community festival a success! View our Volunteer Signup Sheet for a list of opportunities.

Sept 15: Class of 2026 Parent Coffee, 9:30 am, Lecture Hall

Sept 18-22: Spirit Week

Sept 22: Homecoming Football Game vs. Lightridge, 7 pm

Sept 23: Homecoming Dance, 8 pm

Sept 25: Holiday - No School

Sept 26-29: Senior Photos

Sept 27: Late Buses Begin

Sept 28: Saxon Service

Oct 9: Holiday - No School