February will be a very busy month for the PTSA and the Langley community! 

Mark your calendar for our fourth General Membership Meeting and Principal Q&A with Ms. Greer, which will be held on Wed, Feb 14 at 9 am in the Auditorium. In addition, Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Kelly Rankin will hold a discussion and answer questions on how to discuss and deal with alcohol and substance abuse issues with your child.

A reminder that the PTSA is hosting DIVERSEartLANGLEY on Mon, Feb 12 in the Main Hall and Langley Trivia on Wed, Feb 14 after school in the Cafeteria. There will be music and free food. Students must register using this link. The link can also be found in Schoology. For more details on both these events, see the features below. Parent volunteers are needed to set up, check-in and distribute food to students during Langley Trivia. If you can volunteer, sign up using this link.

The PTSA Hospitality Committee will be hosting a winter luncheon for teachers and staff on Fri, Feb 16. Volunteers are needed to bring desserts and help decorate and set up buffet tables. Sign up and help with these links: Hospitality Volunteers / Hospitality Bakers.

A reminder that Spring Sport Tryouts begin on Mon, Feb 19, which is a school holiday. Student athletes should visit the Langley Athletics website or read This Week in Athletics for team and tryout information. Also remember athletes must complete the Athlete Registration Form and a physical to participate in a spring sport.

Hope to see you at next week’s Varsity Basketball Double Header where the PTSA will be handing out pom-poms and cheering our Saxons against rival McLean HS on Mon, Feb 5 beginning at 5:45 pm.

Have a nice weekend,

~ Joy Hohenthaner, PTSA President

Congrats to the debate teams on strong showings in recent tournaments! The Varsity Public Forum debate teams competed at the Sunvite Tournament in Davie, FL on Jan 12-14. Sophomore Connor Chun and junior Vishwa Rakasi reached the Semi Finalist round and earned a Gold Tournament of Champions Bid. 

The Public Forum Debate Team successfully participated in the Washington-Arlington Catholic Forensic League Tournament at James Madison HS on Jan 27. The Novice and Junior Varsity teams made a strong showing, and Connor Chun, Vishwa Rakasi, Ahaan Shah and Sahil Gubbi placed 5th and 6th respectively to move on to the Metrofinals in March. 

Rise Against Hunger – Langley Pyramid

Colvin Run ES

1400 Trap Road

Vienna, VA 22182

Sat, Feb 3, 8:30 am-3:30 pm

The Langley Pyramid Rise Against Hunger event is this Sat, Feb. 3 and we are still in great need of donations! Our Pyramid goal is to prepare 75,000 meal packages for schools and orphanages around the world. We can only pack meals that are pre-purchased and are at 50% of our goal of $20,000 in online donations. Any amount is greatly appreciated. See the website for more info and to donate.

The LHS PTSA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee is excited to announce the third annual DIVERSEartLANGLEY art exhibition!

The exhibition is on Mon, Feb 12 in the Main Hall:

Exhibition Viewing 6-7:30 pm

Moderated Discussion 7:30-8:30 pm

Calling all Langley students to submit your original work of art! Submissions should answer the following driving question: What does freedom mean to you?

Submissions are accepted in these categories: photography, painting/drawing, sculpture, written word, music and dance. Be sure to record any audio or visual submissions (music, dance) on a flash drive. Duplicate submissions to Langley Pyramid Art shows are welcome. Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions.

Submission hours are Thurs, Feb 8 and Fri, Feb 9 between 7:45-8:15 am in Langley Hall.

Students, you can receive one hour community service if you attend the exhibition and present your art to attendees.

Questions? Contact Heather Murphy Capps at [email protected] or Stefanie Stayin at [email protected].

Do you have what it takes to be the ultimate Saxon trivia champion or do you simply want to have fun? Then come join in for Langley Trivia – a free, fun competition after school on Wed, Feb 14 from 3-4:30 pm in the Cafeteria. There will be food, music and prizes, including AirPods, Wireless Speakers and gift cards. See the flyer here. Students must register to participate using this link. Parent volunteers are needed to set up, check-in and distribute food to students during the event. Sign up using this link.

Calling all runners and walkers! 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. 

Early-bird race registration is $30 for students 6-18 years old and $35 for adults through tomorrow, Feb 2. On Feb 3, registration fees increase to $35 for students and $40 for adults, so register now! All participants will receive an official race t-shirt and children 5 and under are free! Sign up here today! 

Want to promote your business? Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Bands on the Run 5K? All donations are tax-deductible. Sponsor information is available here.

View the Bands on the Run webpage for more info or contact Deb Worden at [email protected]. 

Keep yourself toasty warm with the new ladies anti-pill fleece vest with zippered pockets in black. Available online at Langley Boosters.

And go to Shop / Spirit Wearable Accessories to check out the new hand warmers and neck gaiters as well as other cold weather gear!

Want to be (nearly) the first to know what's going on at Langley High School? Looking for a way to contribute that's flexible, fun and (not usually) fast-paced?

Consider joining the eNews team! We are four happy editors who enjoy putting together this e-newsletter each week, and we’re looking to welcome two more helpers for next year when our senior parents graduate in June. To learn more, contact Helen Miller at [email protected].

Langley’s newest Spanish department member is Iris Whitehill. A native of Bolivia, Señora Whitehill graduated from Bolivian Catholic University with degrees in Psychology and Education. Her focus was creating educational programs to test several topics within the educational field from the psychology point of view. Señora Whitehill continued similar work in the U.S. “When I immigrate[d] to the United States, I found that being a teacher is also creating programs for each day to see the results.”

Señora Whitehill has been teaching Spanish for fifteen years, and says . “I love to see my students acquiring the Spanish skills, and to see their growth throughout the year,” she said. Señora Whitehill loves Spanish because it’s her mother tongue, but she also loves to see that it is now the second most spoken language in the world.

Señora Whitehill is excited to be at Langley HS and she loves the sense of community. Her favorite project to do with her students combines practical Spanish with culture. “There are many projects that we work on, but the one that I really enjoy is the school project where they have to apply grammar and vocabulary to explain how schools are in the U.S. to a foreign country student,” she said.

Outside of school, Señora Whitehill enjoys traveling and spending time with her three grandchildren. Her favorite memory from teaching was reading a novel with her students. “After reading a little novel in Spanish, it was priceless to see the faces of my students, surprised about their own Spanish skills and be able to understand a complete novel. Most importantly, to see that their efforts, to study and complete assignments, had a great reward,” she said.

~ By Ann Gillis, Saxon Scope Reporter

Athlete Registration begins soon! First day of tryouts is Mon, Feb 19. See This Week in Athletics or visit the Langley Athletics website for more information about registration and tryout dates for each sport. 

• Registration must be done each year. If you registered for the 2022-2023 school year, you need to re-register for the 2023-2024 school year. Register your child here.
• To participate in Langley sports, students must 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].

Molly McDonough’s article in Harvard Medical, “A Walk in the Woods May Boost Mental Health,” discusses some doctors “prescribing” a dose of nature as a part of broader treatment plans for mental health issues like grief, depression or anxiety. Here is the full article.

The Class of 2024 All Night Grad Party (ANGP) chair is in search of team members! Volunteer for a committee position now, to help ensure a safe, fun event for our graduates to enjoy after commencement on Jun 3. Click here to volunteer for a committee position and keep an eye out for an email from ANGP chair Kristi Grgeta regarding next steps. Have questions? Email Kristi at [email protected].

This coming week is a busy one for junior families! Our Junior College Forum Night and Class Dinner Fundraiser are Tues, Feb 6. Junior students and their parents/guardians are invited to join us for dinner and an informative panel discussion led by college admission professionals. This is both the biggest class event and the only fundraiser of the year!

Dinner begins at 5:45 pm in the Cafeteria and will be catered by Cafe Rio. Tickets are $25 per person and are non-refundable. Please purchase your tickets on MySchoolBucks by Fri, Feb 2. Dinner will be followed by the College Forum at 7 pm in the Auditorium.

If you are available to help with the class dinner, sign up here.

junior forum: Our Junior Course Curriculum Forum will be held Thurs, Feb 8 at 9:30 am in the LHS Lecture Hall. Director of Student Services Dr. Braden Peterson will talk about course selection and the connection between senior year courseload and post secondary plans. College and Career Counselor Karen Burke will also be available to answer outstanding questions from the Junior College Forum Night.  Please email [email protected] if you would like a link to the livestream (if available).

Sophomore parents and students, join us for the Sophomore College Case Studies Night and Sophomore Class Dinner on Wed, Feb 28. Dinner will be in the Cafeteria starting at 5:30 pm, catered by Cafe Rio. Tickets are $25 per person. A link to purchase tickets will be posted soon. 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. Click here to purchase tickets on MySchoolBucks.com.

Following dinner, Case Studies Night will begin at 7 pm. Sophomores and their parents/guardians are invited to work in small groups alongside college admissions representatives as part of a mock admissions team. Groups will review and analyze college applications. College admissions reps will lead discussion groups to help participants better understand the myths and realities of college admissions. You will gain a better understanding of the college admission process to plan for the rest of your high school experience.

Parents/guardians and students are all invited to attend. Only one registration per family is necessary. Click here to register. Registration will close on Mon, Feb 26.

Save the date! Our final Sophomore Class Parent Coffee will be on Mon, Apr 22, 9 am in the LHS Lecture Hall. Topics to be covered include SAT/ACT testing info and getting ready for junior year.

mcc call for youth candidates: Want to be a leader? Want to earn valuable community service and outreach experience? 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 beginning Wed, Feb 7. Completed petition packets are due to MCC by Mon, Mar 11 at 5 pm. Requirements and info are on the MCC website.

casino bill town hall 

Virginia Senator Jennifer Boysko, along with Delegate Rip Sullivan and Dranesville Supervisor Jimmy Bierman, will hold a Town Hall on the Casino Bill (SB 675) on Sat, Feb 3, 10 am-12 pm at McLean HS in the Auditorium (1633 Davidson Rd, McLean, VA 22101). Our reps will hear public concerns and comments related to this legislation, which would allow for a referendum on the establishment of a casino in the Tysons Corner area of Fairfax County. View the invite here and RSVP for the Town Hall. You can leave comments through the RSVP page if you can’t attend Saturday. Read the legislative summary on the Legislative Information System website.

Feb 3: Rise Against Hunger, 8:30 am-3:30 pm, Colvin Run ES

Feb 6: Junior Class Night (Dinner, 5:45 pm, Cafeteria; College Forum, 7 pm, Auditorium)

Feb 7: Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 6:30 pm, Auditorium. Doors close promptly!

Feb 8: Junior Class Forum, 9:30-11 am, Lecture Hall

Feb 12: DIVERSEartLANGLEY, 6-8:30 pm, Main Hall

Feb 14: Principal Q & A | PTSA General Membership Meeting, 9 am, Cafeteria

Feb 14: PTSA Langley Trivia Contest, 3-4:30 pm, Cafeteria

Feb 16: Saxon Service

Feb 19: No School  

Feb 19: First Day of Spring Sports Tryouts

Feb 20: Orchestra Concert, 7 pm, Auditorium

Feb 22: Winter One Acts, 6:30 pm, Auditorium 

Feb 23: Winter One Acts, 6:30 pm, Auditorium 

Feb 23: Langley After Dark Dance, Main Gym, 8-10 pm

Feb 27: Career Connections