Welcome back Saxon families! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break. December is a very busy month in Saxon country and I hope you take advantage of all the activities LHS will offer. Our performing arts groups showcase their talents this month. From the chorus’ Renaissance Feaste this weekend to holiday concerts by the band and orchestra programs next week, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Our next PTSA General Membership Meeting is Wed, Dec 6 at 9 am. Our guest speakers will be Alex Mantel and Natalie Malone, Counselors in Langley's Student Services Department, who will review the academic advising resources available to students as well as explain course selection and registration for next year’s classes. Get a leg up on all the information necessary to get the most out of Curriculum Night on Jan 9! For anyone unable to attend in-person, use use this Zoom Link to attend the PTSA meeting virtually.

Join LHS Psychologist Anna Brown and LHS Social Worker Jordan Payne for a discussion on Raising a Kid Who Can – Simple Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Adaptability and Emotional Strength on Wed, Dec 13 at 9:30 am in the Lecture Hall. This is a great opportunity to meet fellow parents and learn how to start an engaging and thoughtful conversation with your teen.

Finally, a reminder that the Homecoming Dance was moved to Sat, Dec 9, 8-10 pm.

I look forward to seeing you at next week’s PTSA meeting!

~ Joy Hohenthaner, PTSA President

Renaissance Feaste performances begin tomorrow! Come out and support the Langley High School Chorus as you jump start your holiday season with this annual tradition of music, costumes and merriment on Fri, Dec 1 or Sat, Dec 2 at 7 pm.

Student (non-dinner) stadium seating is still available for purchase for $10 at Feaste Tickets or at the door!

musical triumphs: The Langley Bands have had a stellar month! The Wind Symphony was featured at the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) conference in Richmond on Nov 17 and their performance was one for the record books! They gave an incredible performance and received an ecstatic response from the audience. In addition, the Langley Flute Quartet and the Wind Ensemble had wonderful and well-received performances as well. Selection to perform at VMEA is based on a blind audition process and only a few bands from around the Commonwealth are selected each year, making this a wonderful distinction for the bands.

Following shortly on the heels of VMEA, the Langley Bands learned they have been named a "Program of Excellence" by the National Band Association! This award recognizes band programs that achieve excellence throughout all aspects of the curriculum - all concert bands, marching band, jazz band and more. Moreover, the application requires material from the last five years, so it rewards excellence over a long period of time.

This is a first for the Langley Bands and a huge honor. Only about half of the states in the country have ever had even one school earn this award, and last year only five high or middle schools across the country received it. No high school in Virginia has gotten it for five years and the last Virginia school to earn it was our very own Cooper MS (in 2019)!

This honor represents the hard work of a lot of people over a long period of time including: numerous staff members over the last five years; the three marvelous assistant directors we’ve had with us over the time period, including our current assistant Mr. Smith; the many parent volunteers and generous donors who’ve supported so many great opportunities; the unbelievable experiences provided by Mr. Baker and Mrs. Singer over at Cooper; the generous support of Principal Greer; and of course, the hundreds of students who have done the actual practicing and performing. It is the students that create the success of the Langley Bands, and thus the students, including countless alumni, who are the “Program of Excellence.” Bravo!

debating dynamos: The Varsity Public Forum debate teams continued their exciting winning streak in November. At the Laird Lewis Tournament in Charlotte, NC, on Nov 11-12, Connor Chun (Sophomore) and Vishwa Rakasi (Junior) reached the Finalist round and earned a Gold Tournament of Champions Bid. Juniors Ahaan Shah and Sahil Gubbi reached the Quarters round to earn a Gold TOC Bid as well. 

On the following weekend at the Villager St. Joseph Tournament in Philadelphia, PA, Connor and Vishwa reached the Quarters to earn a Silver TOC Bid and received the First and Second Place Speaker Awards respectively. Congratulations!

From left to right: Vishwa Rakasi, Connor Chun, Ahaan Shah, Sahil Gubbi

From left to right: Connor Chun, Vishwa Rakasi

Saxon Scribes Cappies critics attended the South County HS production of Much Ado About Nothing. With 75 critics in attendance, the Cappies committee only publishes seven reviews to different news outlets. It is with great honor that Langley HS critics had five of the seven published reviews!



Ava Carter - Cappies News

Jacqueline Gauthier - Cappies News 2

Josephin Friedrich - FCPS Community News

Alden Walcott - Patch-Fairfax, Alexandria

Isabella "Izzy" Steenburgh - Fairfax County Times

orchestra: Langley Orchestra is selling Krispy Kreme Donuts on Tues, Dec 5!

Starting right after school, find the Langley Orchestra and Krispy Kreme donuts in Langley Hall. Sales are cash only - $15 for a dozen glazed doughnuts or $2 for a single donut. Support Langley Orchestra and get your end of day sugar rush!

spirit wear: Check out the newest Spirit Wear item! Custom-made fleece Hand Warmers to keep your hands toasty. Comes in three color variations: green, white or gold, just $15. Go to the Langley Boosters website and click on Shop, then Spirit Wearable Accessories to order yours today.

Come join LHS School Psychologist Anna Brown and LHS Social Worker Jordan Payne for an engaging parenting conversation. They will review the book, Raising a Kid Who Can – Simple Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Adaptability and Emotional Strength, written by local clinical professionals. The book talk will be in the Lecture Hall on Wed, Dec 13 at 9:30 am. 

RSVP to [email protected] if you can attend.

PTSA New Family Network (NFN) Winter Social; Families new to the Langley pyramid are invited to join us at the 3rd annual NFN Winter Social at The Union restaurant in downtown McLean (1379 Beverly Rd) on Sun, Dec 10 from 5-7pm. Food and drinks are available for purchase. Come for an appetizer, dinner and/or drinks, but mainly to socialize with other Langley parents. RSVP here.

new family forum: Save the date! Is your family new to LHS? Did you relocate from another country, state, county or FCPS pyramid? Or from a private school/homeschool program?

Join Director of Student Services Dr. Braden Peterson and the LHS counselors to learn more about next year's course selection prior to Curriculum Night on Jan 9. This New Family Forum will be held Mon, Jan 8 from 9:30–10:30 am in the Lecture Hall. There will be a social coffee starting at 9 am.

RSVP to LHS Family Liaison Julie Zimmerman Hohl at [email protected].

Langley's Saxon Broadcast is shown every other day in 4th period Advisory via YouTube.

Use the Announcement Request Form to submit announcements. Contact the advisor Michelle Gabro at [email protected] and/or Editor-in-Chief Izzy Lee at [email protected] with ideas or requests for special features. 

Submitting an item for eNews? Consider submitting to the Broadcast as well for students and faculty to get the info, too!

FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services webpage.

Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to [email protected].

Please note: Students are not allowed to receive food deliveries during the school day due to security concerns. If a student needs food, they can contact their counselor, cafeteria staff or administrator for assistance.

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].

crew open house: The Langley Crew Team will host an Open House on Sat, Dec 2 from 9 am-12 pm at Langley HS. Our rowers have started Winter Conditioning, which includes rowing on ergs at the high school. Come to learn about crew, meet our team and coaches! 

If the weather is nice the team will be out in the bus loop; if it’s cold or rainy we will be in the Science Hall. Enter by Door 8 or 9.

Questions? Contact [email protected] or visit www.langleycrew.com.

langley crew virtual info session: Langley Crew is hosting a virtual info session for families interested in joining crew. Hear from the coaches, the board and the captains about what crew is all about. Here is the Google Meet Link to participate on Wed, Dec 13, 7:30-8:30 pm.

… Caroline Miller from Child Mind Institute writes, “Why are holidays so fraught? Because expectations are heightened, and holidays can feel like a test of how happy and successful your family is.” Here are some tips to minimize holiday stress.

class forum: Senior parents! Our next Class of 2024 Forum is Tues, Dec 5 at 9 am in the Lecture Hall. Applied Early Decision? Early Action? Still working on applications? Financial aid questions? What’s next?!

Join College and Career Counselor Karen Burke, LHS Family Liaison Julie Hohl, and Class of 2024 AP Jim Robertson to find out answers to these questions and more in a discussion regarding next steps in the college admissions application process. Submit questions in advance using this form.

senior portraits: Seniors, last chance to have your portrait taken! Legacy Studios is returning to Langley for final make-up and re-take senior portraits, today, Nov 30 and tomorrow, Dec 1.

Students must make an appointment with Legacy Studios. Seniors not photographed by Dec 1 will be listed as not pictured in the yearbook.

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.

Nov 30: Senior Portraits Make-up

Dec 1: Senior Portraits Make-up

Dec 1-2: Renaissance Feaste, 7 pm, Langley Hall

Dec 5: Class of 2024 Parent Forum, 9 am, Lecture Hall

Dec 5: Orchestra Concert, 7 pm

Dec 6: PTSA General Membership Meeting, 9 am, Auditorium

Dec 9: Homecoming Dance, 8 pm

Dec 10: PTSA New Family Network Winter Social, 5-7 pm, The Union Restaurant

Dec 12: Choir Concert with Cooper MS, 7 pm

Dec 13: Book Talk Raising a Kid Who Can, 9:30 am, Lecture Hall

Dec 13: Langley Crew Virtual Info Session, 7:30-8:30 pm

Dec 14: Band Concert, 7 pm

Dec 18 - Jan 1: Winter Break

Jan 8: New Family Forum, 9:30 am, Lecture Hall