saxon strong ...

langley eNews

May 6, 2021

from the president

Langley PTSA is thrilled to celebrate our dedicated and professional teachers and staff during appreciation week! Parents and students sent dozens of Super Saxon Shoutouts to teachers and staff during the week. The PTSA assisted Langley parent and Lasagna Love volunteer Martha Blue in offering a gift of lasagna to each Langley teacher and staff member, sending them Lasagna Love coupons. Tomorrow, we'll host an outdoor spring appreciation luncheon, featuring made-to-order boxed salads, drinks, desserts and gift cards from favorite retailers. Many thanks to all of our volunteers, especially the Hospitality and Appreciation Committees.

While thinking about the wonderful things that LHS teachers and staff do to make Langley great, here’s another upcoming program not to miss: Join College and Career Specialist Hannah Wolff and Amanda Anderson, undergrad admissions director at University of Miami, next Tues, May 11 at 10 am for a virtual discussion on the college admissions landscape and about college recommendation letters. All parents are welcome! A link will be sent out closer to the event.

Finally, the PTSA runs on the enthusiasm, time and talent of our community members. Yesterday, we held our final general membership meeting of the year, during which PTSA officers were elected for the 2021-22 academic year. See the article below. Congratulations to our new officers!

~ Kitty Gonzalez, PTSA President

kudos

Congrats! The Saxon Stage's cast and crew of Never Swim Alone are VHSL regional champs and move on to the state competition. They put on two fantastic live shows last weekend in the Langley Auditorium, and noted that it was a joy to have an audience share the experience!

an evening under the stars

The weather was perfect last Saturday as Saxon Country was transformed into An Evening Under the Stars for the Class of 2021 prom. Although covid restrictions altered plans this year, seniors greatly appreciated the chance to experience a day of photos and dinners with friends downtown and a beautiful evening of dancing under the stars!

A huge thank you to Langley parent Kim Finch for organizing the prom and to Assistant Principal James Sykes and class sponsors/faculty liaisons Michelle Huang and Jay O'Rouke.

Below are a few photos of the scene, taken before the evening got underway.

support the senior gradfest

Langley families, enjoy dinner from Lebanese Taverna and support the Class of 2021 GradFest! Contactless pick-up is in the LHS parking lot on Mon, May 10 at 5 pm. Click here for menu options and to place your order. Deadline for orders is noon on May 10. Lebanese Taverna will donate 15 percent of every order to the GradFest. Questions? Email events@cateringbylt.com or call 703-841-1503.

senior videos

Seniors, don’t forget to send your “post-grad plans” video to Saxon Broadcast by Mon, May 10! Make sure your phone/video is horizontal, and include your name and your plan for next year (college, gap year, etc). For college announcements, include the college name (and major, if you have one already). College gear is encouraged!

Upload your video using this form (sign in with your FCPS student email). The form also is posted on the Class of 2021's Schoology page and Instagram. Saxon Broadcast will post the compilation on its Youtube page on May 20. Thanks for sending your video!

summer course opps

lhs math camp: Langley's Math Department is holding two-week virtual math sessions during July 5-16 and July 19-30 from 9 am–1 pm. Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 and Pre-calc will be available in both sessions.

The sessions introduce the upcoming curriculum and reinforce prerequisite knowledge, so sign up for the same session option as your 2021-22 math course. Interested? Students, please fill out this interest form by Fri, May 14.

fcps epf course: Many Langley students take the FCPS Economics and Personal Finance course online and over the summer. The online course is self-paced and must be completed between June 28-July 30. Click here for more info and here to register.

new family social

Has this year been your first year in the Langley-Cooper pyramid? The LHS New Family Network invites parents and caregivers of 8th-12th graders at LHS and Cooper MS who are new to the area or transferred from another school during the '20-21 academic year to an in-person social on Fri, May 21 from 6:30-8 pm. Meet and mingle in the LHS Courtyard! Masks required. To help us plan, please RSVP here if you can attend. (Last minute attendees welcome, too!)

Now that spring has arrived, and covid restrictions have lifted, let's close out this unprecedented year by finally meeting in person!

saxon parents walk & talk

Don't miss the next Saxon Parents Walk & Talk on Mon, May 10! Stroll around the LHS campus and connect with others in the Langley parent community on May 10 and May 24 at 1:30 pm. Meet at Door 14. Masks required. Check @LangleyHS_PTSA for any weather-related cancellations.

graduation gift idea

Need a graduation gift? A teacher gift? A thank you to a great coach or mentor? Give a gift that lasts – a leaf on the Legacy Tree! You choose the perfect engraving!

The Legacy Tree is growing in Langley's front entrance (across from the office) for all to enjoy for years to come. Donating a leaf (copper $50, silver $100, gold $200) or bird or acorn ($500), is a great way to pay tribute to your favorite people.

Funds raised will be used to landscape the third (and final!) Langley courtyard. The more metallic leaves on the Legacy Tree, the more actual leaves there will be in the courtyards. To order your leaf – or leaves! – visit the PTSA website. Questions? Email chrissielavin1@gmail.com.

'2021-22 lhs ptsa officers

At the PTSA General Membership meeting this week, the following PTSA officers were elected for the 2021-22 academic year:

President: Clare Bradshaw
President-Elect: Jamie Loving
1st VP, Membership: Kristen Simko
2nd VP, Fundraising: Melissa Schwartz
3rd VP, Professional Development Fund: Heather Murphy Capps
4th VP, Appropriations: Ally Weingast
Corresponding Secretary: Annette Bellino
Recording Secretary: Jackie Grayer
Treasure: Julianna DeLong

Thank you all for serving the Langley community!

saxons, did you know ...

… Dr. Clifford Sussman, a psychiatrist who helps people with internet and video game addiction, and Julianna Miner, author of Raising a Screen Smart Kid: Embrace the Good and Avoid the Bad in the Digital Age, recently presented a talk on gaming and screen addiction at the FCPS Special Education Conference. Click here to watch “Kids love screen time, what could go wrong.”

class notes

Read below for class news. Click the green class buttons to go to each class's webpage.

parent forum: Join us for College Crash Course 101, the final Class of 2021 parent forum on Fri, May 7 at 12 pm. During this virtual forum, parent panelists will discuss the next chapter! We’ll cover budgeting, meal plans, health care, orientation sessions, finding a roommate, dorm room setup, letting go and keeping in touch. Bring your questions and your advice to aid in the discussion. Click here to join the forum and see you there!

gradfest and car parade: Save the date! We’ll celebrate the day after graduation on Thurs, June 3 with a Senior Car Parade in the morning, followed by GradFest (in lieu of All-Night Grad Party or ANGP) from 11 am to 2 pm. Stay tuned for more details.

grad announcements: To order announcements, go to Balfour and enter Langley High School to access our “shop my school" page. Choose the standard announcement or the option with a photo. Other mementos are available, including diploma frames, souvenir tassels and class rings. Questions? Contact Balfour at balfournova@yahoo.com or 703-941-1436.

congratulations graduate signs: Don’t forget to order your "Congratulations Graduate!" yard sign! These signs are a great memento and look good both inside and out. Click here to order. Deadline is Mon, May 10. Pick-up will be in mid-May in McLean and Great Falls. Questions? Email saranapkoenig@gmail.com.

lhs junior service awards: Last chance to nominate! Know a junior whose dedication to volunteerism is exemplary? The LHS PTSA Award for Outstanding Service honors juniors who've demonstrated excellent service achievement and an ongoing commitment to a worthy cause at LHS or the community at large. Winners receive a certificate and monetary award.

Anyone can nominate — teachers, peers, parents, coaches, guidance counselors, and club and organization sponsors. Self-nominations are allowed, too! The deadline is Fri, May 7. Click here to nominate a student.

vote for mcc board student rep

Voting is underway for the McLean Community Center Board through Sat, May 15. Good luck to the three Langley students running for the LHS slot!

Ivy Chen, Rowan Johns and Charlotte Loving each have written very thoughtful application statements. Click here to read their statements and for details about voting.

award opps

art contest: The 60th Anniversary National Student Art Competition, sponsored by the White House Historical Association, invites submissions on the theme The White House: An American Story. Entries are due May 21 and will be judged in three categories: grades K-3, 4-8 and 9-12. Click here for more info.

summer opps

The information below is provided for your convenience and perusal. Postings do not indicate endorsement or sponsorship by the PTSA or LHS.

stem camps: Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is hosting a series of virtual STEM camps. The curriculum includes some hands-on projects coding with micro:bit and scratch, VEX robotics, fabrication and cybersecurity tools. Camps are offered for rising 4th-12th graders. Click here for more info.

water mine lifeguards: The Water Mine is hiring over 150 lifeguards for the summer and is holding a series of drive-through open hires throughout May. Lifeguards must be 15 years of age or older. Certain swimming skills are needed, but prior life guard experience or certifications are not required. Click here for more info.

fcps camps: Registration is open for in-person, summer FCPS camps for middle school and high school students in fine arts, performing arts and several areas of career and technical education (CTE). Don’t wait to register! Camps are small due to social distancing guidelines and space is very limited. Click here to register for the one-week CTE camps. Click here for the two-week and four-week fine arts/performing arts camps. All are held at Robinson SS.

fbi camp: The Washington field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) invites high school students to apply to its Future Agents in Training program, held virtually Aug 3-5. Students will learn about terrorism, cyber crime, SWAT teams and other FBI operations. They'll hear from agents and analysts about gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and solving cases. View or print this flyer and click here for more info and the application. Apps are due May 31.