Happy Thursday! As we start the second half of the school year, the PTSA will continue to provide informative and fun activities for Saxon families. Get up-to-date information at one of the Class Forums (Freshman Forum is tomorrow 9:30 am, Sophomore Forum is on Jan 17 at 9:30 am, Junior Class Night is Feb 6).

Our next student event – Langley Trivia – is a free, fun competition that will take place after school on Wed, Feb 14, 3-4:30 pm in the Cafeteria. There will be music, prizes, free Chick-fil-a and pizza. Students must register for the event using this link. Compete, eat and win all in time to take the late bus home!

I want to thank the student and parent volunteers who gave up part of their Sunday afternoon to make last week’s Open House for Rising 9th Graders a success. In particular, I want to thank Geoffrey Yuan, Katie Myshrall, Zifei Zhao, Shumvobi Mitra, Finn Fitzgerald, Allison Cheng and Michaela Frey, who showcased their musical talents and showed future Saxons why they should join orchestra. I also want to thank the students from National Honor Society, Crew, the JV Cheering Squad, and other sports and organizations who welcomed, gave tours and answered questions from prospective students and parents. Finally, a big thank you to Keuri Patel, Bonnie Myshrall, Clare Bradshaw and the other wonderful parent volunteers who helped with the event. Your help was essential!

A reminder that there is no school on Mon, Jan 15. Enjoy the long weekend!

~ 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.

The Virginia Thespian Festival took place last weekend. Students performed, presented, attended workshops, auditioned for colleges, and more. Mainstage dance performers Vela Pascual and Winnie Emerick are shown in the photo. Below are all the results. Congrats to these students!

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 music, prizes, free Chick-fil-a and pizza. See the flyer here. Students must register to participate using this link.

The Langley Nice Cream Club is sponsoring a SHARE food drive. Donations can be dropped off in Senorita Stocks' room (#1216) from Tues, Jan 16 through Fri, Jan 19. SHARE has an abundance of canned vegetables and soup, but is currently in need of canned fruit, diced tomatoes and sauce, canned or dried beans, cereal, pasta, crackers, powdered milk, coffee/tea, laundry detergent, toothbrushes and toothpaste. More info is on the SHARE website and a complete list of requested items can be found here. 

Rise Against Hunger – Langley Pyramid

Colvin Run ES

1400 Trap Road

Vienna, VA 22182

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

On Sat, Feb 3, families in the Langley Pyramid will join together to help children in need. In partnership with Rise Against Hunger, our Pyramid goal is to prepare 75,000 meal packages for schools and orphanages around the world. Help by donating for meal purchases or volunteering to help package meals! View the website for more info and to donate. Volunteer spots are already full for this popular event, but click here to sign up for the volunteer waitlist.

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. 

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

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.

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

... the difference between Empathy and Compassion? Here is an article that helps navigate the difference.

When empathy grows into compassion, it becomes more helpful for both you and the person for whom you demonstrate it. Each one leads to a different response: 

• Empathy is feeling their pain and wanting to remove the hardship they’re enduring.
• Compassion is feeling their pain and wanting to equip them to overcome it from now on.

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.

Save the date! 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, followed by the College Forum at 7 pm in the Auditorium.

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.

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

4-H camp counselor: Fairfax Arlington Alexandria (FAA) 4-H will host their annual 4-H Summer camp June 23-27 and are looking for camp counselors. The camp is a residential summer camp for youth ages 9-13, where teens ages 14-19 serve as camp counselors. Students can earn 100+ service hours for helping during the week. The deadline to apply to has been extended to Fri, Jan 26. 

View the flyer here and the FAA 4-H summer camp website for more info.

performing arts scholarship: 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].

bingo night: Churchill Road ES (CRS) PTA is looking for student volunteers (middle school and high school students) to assist with setting up, running and cleaning up at Churchill Road ES Bingo Night on Fri, Feb 2. Sign up here. 

Questions? Contact Erin Moreno, CRS PTA VP of Membership, 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 and are encouraged to listen to this podcast in advance of the event.

Jan 11: Curriculum Night, 6:30 pm, Auditorium, Rescheduled

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

Jan 15: Holiday - No School

Jan 17: Sophomore 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: Holiday - No School

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

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

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

Feb 6: Junior Class Night, 7 pm, Auditorium