We will “spring ahead” by one hour this coming Sunday, just as our seniors will soon “spring ahead” into the next phase of their lives. As parents, we have been preparing them for this launch into adulthood for years. On Wed, Mar 20, the senior class will be given an opportunity for personal growth through group discussion and self-reflection when they participate in Senior Ethics Day. The program’s objective is to help students develop and define their own framework for making ethical decisions so that they may act, not just react, when they find themselves facing ethical dilemmas in the future.

A big thank you to Langley parent, Tim Steffan, who helped the PTSA find a new venue in which to hold the event free of charge. With less than two weeks to go we need volunteers, no experience necessary, to assist the committee on numerous tasks including:

• Set Up on Tues, Mar 19
• Assist in the morning of the event with registration and check-in
• Assist as table leaders and floor monitors
• Distribute lunches to students from 11 am to 1 pm
• Help with clean-up

If you can volunteer, sign up here. Senior parents, please sign up for any position, including table leaders!

Students, we will give volunteer hours to anyone who helps us set up after school on Mar 19 and/or clean up after school on Mar 20. Sign up here. The location is Office Building 4, 1800 Reston Row Plaza, Reston VA 20190. Free garage parking is available.

This is an all-hands-on-deck situation given the change of venue, so we appreciate everyone's help! Questions? Contact Margaret Brown at [email protected] or Danica Alink at [email protected].

Lastly, a reminder that our next General Membership Meeting will be on Mon, Mar 18 in the Lecture Hall.

Have a nice weekend,

~ Joy Hohenthaner, PTSA President

national merit finalists: Congratulations to Langley’s National Merit finalists!

Pictured left to right: Jolie Wu, Milan Nguyen, Katherine Davis, Ashley Headrick, Khalid Foraida, Scarlett Adams, Anna Chen, Collin Le and Lucas Kinkead.

Not pictured: Sai Charan Chaduruvelly, Jacqueline Gu and Aditya Gupta.

2024 regional scholastic art awards: Congratulations to the following Langley art students, who won an impressive 29 Scholastic Art Awards in the 2024 regional competition! In addition, Meredith Yu was one of five FCPS students nominated for the best-in-show American Visions Award for her work Shake It Off.

The Gold Key and Silver Key artworks will be displayed at NVCC’s Ernst Community Cultural Center in Annandale from Wed, Feb 28 to Thurs, Mar 14. Read more about the awards here.

Gold Key award-winning works will be judged at the national level against other gold key work from regions across the country.

Gold Key

Isabella Duque, Photography (two entries)

Lillian Su, Drawing & Illustration

Silver Key

Shoshana Marcus, Art Portfolio

Shoshana Marcus, Expanded Projects

Shoshana Marcus, Painting

Shoshana Marcus, Sculpture (two entries)

Renee Shi, Editorial Cartoon

Renee Shi, Film & Animation

Meredith Yu, Painting

Honorable Mention

Carol Ding, Mixed Media

Isabella Duque, Photography (two entries) 

Caroline Fu, Drawing & Illustration

Christian Kim, Mixed Media

Shoshana Marcus, Art Portfolio

Shoshana Marcus, Mixed Media

Celia Myers, Ceramics & Glass

Cristina Pak, Film & Animation

Riley Seewer, Design

Renee Shi, Film & Animation

Renee Shi, Painting

Alyssa Sun, Photography 

Zachary Ulman, Drawing & Illustration

Jiaying Ying, Digital Art

Chenchang Zhang, Drawing & Illustration

Isabella Zhang, Drawing & Illustration (two entries)

debate: Langley Public Forum debaters competed at the University of Pennsylvania Tournament on Feb 11. Novice students, sophomores Sonia Qiao and Sophie Li, broke to the Doubles round, and Varsity students, junior Vishwa Rakasi and sophomore Connor Chun, became Quarterfinalists and earned a Gold Tournament of Champions Bid. On Feb 24 at the Millard North Milo Cup online Tournament, juniors Ahaan Shah and Sahil Gubbi became Quarterfinalists and earned a Gold Tournament of Champions Bid. Both teams will compete at the Gold Tournament of Champions in Kentucky in April. Congrats on reaching the Nationals. Good luck!

Pictured Left to Right: Junior Vishwa Rakasi and sophomore Connor Chun.

March is Youth Art Month! The McLean Project for the Arts celebrates youth art in McLean with its annual Youth Art Shows, featuring work by FCPS Langley and McLean Pyramid students from elementary through high school.

The Langley Pyramid show is running now through Mon, Mar 11. The galleries will also be open until 7 pm tomorrow, Fri, Mar 8.

MPA’s exhibition galleries and art studio are located in the McLean Community Center. Click here for more info and gallery hours.

The second and final Fairfax County Teen Job Fair and Career-Building Workshop is this Sat, Mar 9, 11 am at West Springfield HS. Click here to learn more and to register.

Join a community conversation addressing the opioid crisis within Northern Virginia and FCPS on Mon, Mar 18, 6:30-8 pm, in the auditorium at Lake Braddock SS (9200 Burke Lake Rd, Burke, VA 22015). Enter through Door #14. 

All attendees will receive free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.  

This discussion will provide families, staff, and students with valuable knowledge about the dangers of drugs and deadly fentanyl. The material discussed is suitable for students in grades 6 to 12. Together as a community, we aim to explore collaborative strategies to minimize the impact of these harmful and too often fatal substances. Click here to learn more about the event and to register.

Each year, FCPS students can apply for the position of the student representative to the School Board. The student rep is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity, representing the interests of FCPS students.

Students currently in grades 9-11 are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to be current members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Applications are due by Fri, Mar 22. Click here for more info.

What Is It Like to Serve on the Fairfax County School Board? Rida Karim, the current student rep to the School Board, describes the demands, expectations and rewards of the position in this short video.

Seniors, the Fairfax County Council PTA has a Scholarship Program with multiple awards of $500 available for students enrolled in a 4-year academic degree program, students enrolled in a 2 or 3 year tech, vocational or associate degree program, students enrolled in a school of design or fine arts, and special education students. More info can be found here. Applications are due Mon, Apr 1.

A student must be a member of the PTSA to apply for scholarships. Join the PTSA by clicking here.

Are you starting to wish it was summer? Be sure to click here to see the Service and Job Opportunities page on the PTSA website. This page includes info on upcoming teen jobs fairs as well as the Summer Opportunities Spreadsheet. Additional summer jobs, volunteer opps and scholarships are added continually. Take a look!

How can students participate in mathematics throughout high school in a way that is relevant to and supportive of post-secondary and career interests? FCPS High School Math Specialist Jennifer Allard and FCPS Math Specialist Erin Sylves will host a webinar Understanding High School Mathematics Course Offerings tomorrow, Fri, Mar 8 from 10-11:30 am. 

During this session they will discuss mathematics graduation requirements and how to support students in navigating the various course offerings currently available in FCPS. Students and their families may start thinking about what course pathways are available beginning in middle school. Register here and join us to learn more.

Parents, Langley HS has established ‘push-out’ days so you can be informed of your student’s progress. On these days, teachers will 'push out' grades to ensure grades are up-to-date for you to best assess their current grade. Be on the lookout for these emails from your child’s teacher! If you do not receive any communication, please reach out to the teacher directly.

Quarter 3 -

Mid-Way: Tues, Feb 27 / 2-weeks out: Fri, Mar 8

Quarter 4 -

Seniors: Mid-Way: Fri, Apr 26 / 2-weeks out: Fri, May 17

9th-11th Grades: Mid-Way: Fri, May 10  / 2-weeks out: Wed, May 29

Mark your calendars for these end-of-year exam dates! 

Senior Exam Day 1: May 22 (Gold) 2/4

Senior Exam Day 2: May 23 (Green) 1/3

Senior Exam Day 3: May 24 (Gold) 6/8

Senior Exam Day 4: May 28 (Green) 5/7

Underclass Exam Day 1: June 6 (Gold) 4/2 (note class switch!)

Underclass Exam Day 2: June 7 (Green) 1/3

Underclass Exam Day 3: June 10 (Gold) 6/8

Underclass Exam Day 4: June 11 (Green) 5/7

Save the date! On Mon, Apr 29 at 7 pm in the McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre, the Safe Community Coalition and the MCC will host an evening with New York Times best-selling author and journalist, Jeff Selingo, titled Stress-Less Admissions: Navigating the College Journey with Your Sanity Intact. 

Well-known for his years of experience monitoring and researching the higher-education industry, Jeff will share his insights on current trends in college admissions and tips on managing the process and preserving the peace.

Moderators Dr. Heather Tedesco, Psychologist, and Hannah Wolff, former LHS College and Career Counselor, will take questions from the audience and share their expertise and experience working with students and their families.

Don’t miss it! Register here.

Spring sports games begin the week of Mar 11. Come out and support your Saxons! Check the schedules for all sports on the Langley Athletics website.

… The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a study showing smoking cannabis is associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The study found that daily use of cannabis, predominantly through smoking, was associated with a 25% increased likelihood of heart attack and a 42% increased likelihood of stroke when compared to non-use of the drug. Here is the full news release from NIH.

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.

slideshow photos: Be a part of the Class of 2024's 'farewell tribute' to LHS!

Deadline for submission of photos for the Class of 2024 Slideshow is May 1! Submit your photos to [email protected] or [email protected] as soon as possible!

Some tips and guidelines:

● submit in JPG/JPEG format

● no large groups please! small groups are best (2-4 people)

● lhs seniors only - no outside friends/siblings/family members

● casual photos are best - portraits are great but we are looking for fun!

● recent pictures please - no baby pics

The slide show will be aired during senior week activities.

mcc call for youth candidates: Students, run for a seat on the McLean Community Center governing board! MCC is looking for high school students who wish to serve the community by playing a leading role in helping to carry out MCC's goals.

The board includes two youth seats, one each from Langley HS and McLean HS, and youth members serve a one-year term. Candidate Petition Packets are available for pickup at MCC. Completed petition packets are due to MCC by this coming Mon, Mar 11 at 5 pm. Requirements and info are on the MCC website.

pave scholarship: Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE) co-sponsors a STEM scholarship opportunity available only to students in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC.

The 2nd Annual PAVE Essay Contest and Scholarship Program encourages high school students to imagine the future with automated vehicles and write a well-crafted essay about what that could mean for their communities. Submissions are due Mar 15 and winners will be notified in late spring 2024. The top three awardees will win $2500, $1500, and $1000, respectively. Click here for the flier and more info.

Contest sponsors are PAVE, which is a 501c3 education nonprofit, as well as STEER Tech, an autonomous vehicle technology company, the Maryland Department of Transportation and the District Department of Transportation.

Questions? Reach out to PAVE Membership Manager Marsha Camp at [email protected].

spring hill fun fair: Are you a student who needs volunteer hours? Do you remember all of the fun of going to Fun Fair in elementary school? We’d love for you to volunteer your time to support Fun Fair at Spring Hill ES on Mar 16! We will provide all the verification you need to earn your service hours. There are a few set-up spots on Fri, Mar 15 as well. Click here to volunteer and earn service hours. Spots fill up fast, so volunteer early! 

Questions? Contact Beth Franker at [email protected].

art competition: Looking for a chance to showcase your artistic skills? The 2024 Congressional Art Competition is now open to all high school students. Students are invited to enter the competition by submitting their best paintings, drawings, collages, computer designs and other types of artwork. Winners have the chance to have their art featured in the U.S. Capitol building alongside winning pieces from around the country.

Artwork must follow the Congressional Art Competition rules and regulations and all artwork must be submitted through your local Congressional representative. Here is the link for Don Beyer of the 8th District and here is the link for Gerald Connolly of the 11th District. Artwork and required forms must be submitted by Fri, Apr 26 at 11:59 pm for the 8th District and close of business Mon Apr 29 for the 11th District. Refer to each Representative's website for more details for their office.

Mar 7: Band Concert, 7 pm, Auditorium

Mar 9: Fairfax County Teen (16+) Job Fairs & Career Building Workshops, 11 am, West Springfield High School

Mar 14: Saxon Service

Mar 18: PTSA General Membership Meeting, 9 am, Lecture Hall 

Mar 20: Senior Ethics Day

Mar 22: End of 3rd Quarter

Mar 25-29: Spring Break

Apr 1: No School

Apr 2: No School

Apr 10: No School

Apr 21: Bands on the Run 5K, 8 am, Langley Parking Lot

Apr 29: Stress-Less Admissions, 7 pm, Alden Theatre at MCC