langley eNews
September 24, 2020
from the ptsa president
Wow! Fall has come fast this year – but I’m so happy that the chill in the air is yielding to some beautiful early autumn weather. Although we can’t be together enjoying many of our usual fall community and sports events right now, a lot still is happening in our Langley community.

Another successful Back-to-School Night happened on Monday, but in an entirely new way. I have to say that I liked the option to “visit” my son’s classrooms at my own pace. I didn’t really miss the BTS in-person aspects of a crowded school parking lot and the annual scramble of running between classrooms as much as I thought I would! Many thanks to our teachers and administrators, who are all working so diligently to come up with new ways to engage our students and communicate with all of us virtually.

Adding to the activity this week, yesterday, Langley seniors came to campus to take the SAT, while we held our first of five virtual PTSA Principal’s Coffee and General Membership Meetings. It was great to be with everyone to officially kick-off our PTSA year! One perk of the virtual environment, if you missed the live meeting, you can visit here to find a link to the recorded version and watch when it’s convenient for you.

I’d like to thank our dedicated team of PTSA committee chairs, who began working this summer to build on past programs and create new ways to engage us all. We want to hear from you, too. Share your ideas with us! If you have creative ideas for how we can work together to connect and support our community in the current virtual environment, please let us know by using this Google form.

Finally, note that now is the time to join the PTSA or renew your membership for this year if you haven’t already. It’s easy! Just click here to join online. Your generous donations support many important initiatives that the FCPS budget can’t fund. Our past efforts have included physical school improvements, substance abuse and distracted driving prevention programs, and teacher appreciation and development. We’re currently working on new ways to help support programming and learning in the virtual environment.

Thanks for your help and engagement in the Langley community!

~ Kitty Gonzalez, PTSA President
behind the wheel
Is your student learning to drive? Behind the Wheel (BTW) courses are a part of the process and are available both privately and through FCPS. After closing due to the pandemic, BTW classes through FCPS are back in session! Click here to register.
library books
Library book check out begins Mon, Sept 28! Students will be able to check out books from the Langley library’s online catalog and pick them up curbside at LHS on Mondays from 1-3 pm. View this flyer for details. Questions? Email Mr. Clark at paclark@fcps.edu or Ms. Ortiz at klortiz@fcps.edu.
mock act
There’s still time to register for the mock ACT on Sat, Oct 3. The test is a full-length practice test in a simulated environment at home via computer, complete with a score report afterwards. Students will need access to an internet-connected computer on which they’ve installed Zoom.

The event is offered by the Langley Academic Boosters with Novastar Prep and is open to all, but especially recommended for sophomores and juniors. Click here for info and to register. Questions? Email langleyacademicboosters@gmail.com.
reflections contest
Students! Entries for this year's PTSA Reflection contest are due in just two weeks, on Wed, Oct 7. This year's theme is, "I Matter Because..." Share your artistic side with this contest! Categories are: dance, film production, music composition, literature, photography and visual arts.

Click here for guidelines, category rules and to see some winning entries from last year. Submitting your entry has never been easier as we'll do everything digitally via DropBox and email. Interested? Email Sara Koenig at langleyreflections@gmail.com.

Note that students must be PTSA members to submit entries. Student membership is only $5. Click here to join.
join the ptsa
Join the Langley PTSA today! Your annual PTSA membership and donations provide Langley with many programs, materials and equipment that the FCPS budget cannot supply and that directly benefit our staff and students.
 
Your PTSA membership and donation dollars will support students’ Langley experience this year with:
 
  • Virtual and in-classroom teaching tools and technology
  • Student programs and guest speakers
  • Staff support and professional development
  • Student awards and scholarships
  • Student members gain eligibility for PTSA Reflections Art Contest and more
 
Click here to become a member and to donate. New parent members for the 2020-21 school year will be eligible for a raffle on Oct 19 to win one of two Saxon fleece blankets (a $40 value), so act now!
 
Thank you for supporting Langley!
sports notes
Optional athletic conditioning days are open to all students who wish to participate. Before attending, students must complete VHSL physical and concussion education forms and file them with the Activities Office and turn in an Emergency Care card to the coach with whom they’re conditioning.

Click here for the forms. Scan and email the completed forms to Beth Longo at eelongo@fcps.edu or mail them to LHS, Attn: Activities Office, 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101.

Before attending for the first time, students need to log into their FCPS email and choose a sport. Once at Langley, students check in outside Door 12 and wait while staff review the paperwork and perform covid checks before going to the Stadium.

Below are the dates and times for the sports that have started, but please check the News tab of each sport’s varsity page on the LHS sports website for details and updates.

  • track: Tues/Thurs at 6:30-8:30 pm. Questions? Contact Coach Diller at apdiller@fcps.edu.

  • cross country: Mon/Fri at 3:45-5:45 pm. Questions? Contact Coach Krivak at saxonsxc@gmail.com.

  • volleyball: Mondays at 3:45-5:45 pm (arrive 3:15 pm) and Thursdays at 3-5 pm (arrive 2:30 pm). Questions? Contact Coach Shifflett at sshifflett@fcps.edu.

  • girls' soccer: Mon/Wed/Thurs at 3:30- 5:30 pm. Questions? Contact Coach Foster at missfoste@gmail.com.

  • football: Mon/Wed/Fri at 4:30-6:30 pm. Questions? Contact Coach Murray at DCMurray@fcps.edu.

  • softball: Thursdays at 4-5:45 pm. Questions? Contact Coach Sharkey at gfsharks@gmail.com.



  • ice hockey: Goalies or skaters interested in joining Langley’s JV and Varsity ice hockey squads, join us at Skatequest (Reston, VA) on Mondays at 11:30 am! Questions? Contact manager@langleyicehockey.com.
staff spotlight
This is Mrs. Greer’s third year as principal of Langley High School, and when Covid-19 arrived last spring, she may have wondered what she’d signed up for! Nonetheless, we are fortunate to have her expertise, helping our Langley community navigate the uncharted waters of the pandemic.

Mrs. Greer has been an educator in FCPS for over 25 years and previously taught middle school English and Social Studies. Prior to coming to Langley, Mrs. Greer worked as an assistant principal for eleven years at Westfield HS, South Lakes HS and Marshall HS.

Mrs. Greer has served on various leadership committees for school districts, state and national associations, has presented at state and national conferences, and served as chairperson for the inaugural National Assistant Principals’ Conference. Mrs. Greer currently serves as Member At-Large on the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals’ Board of Directors and has been nominated to serve on the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ Board of Directors.

Mrs. Greer earned her undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Education at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction was conferred by Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and she obtained an endorsement in Educational Leadership from George Mason University.

Mrs. Greer is married and is the proud mom of three fantastic children and a very energetic dog. Her eldest daughter attends University of Richmond and her other two children attend Robinson SS. Her second daughter is a current senior and her son is a sophomore.

In the rare moment she has spare time, Mrs. Greer enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family.
saxons, did you know ...
use for the Saxons did you know blurb. stays small on the mobile view.
… Data collected by the Stanford University School of Medicine indicates that teens who vape are at a higher risk of Covid-19 than peers who don't vape. Read about the study here.
class news
Read this section for class news and click the green class buttons to go to each class page for more details.
Senior parents, stay connected! Sign up for the Class of 2021 email distribution list here or on our class website site found here to stay up to date on all class-related news and information.

Don’t miss our virtual Senior Class Parent Forum on Thurs, Oct 1 at 10 am. Local psychotherapist, Jennifer Weaver, will discuss “Parenting in a Pandemic” to help parents and students develop new techniques and habits to help navigate through these uncertain times. A meeting link will be provided closer to the meeting date.
Junior parents! Join us tomorrow, Fri, Sept 25 at 9:30 am on for a conversation with the Class of 2022 Assistant Principal Wayne Biernesser. Click here for the meeting link.

Stay current! Join our LHS Class of 2022 Parents Facebook page here, and sign up for the email distribution list found here and on our class webpage. Updates and information are posted regularly on these sites.
Mark your calendars to join us online for our first Sophomore Parent Forum, Thurs, Oct 15 from 9:30–11 am. A link will be sent closer to the date. View our Class of 2023 webpage for more sophomore info!
Freshman parents, connect to the Class of 2024 via our webpage and subscribe to our class email distro group. Stay tuned for the announcement of our first Freshman Class Forum, coming soon!
return to school metrics
At Tuesday's School Board meeting to discuss metrics for returning to school, the School Board voted in favor of bringing some students and teachers back to school on a limited basis. Health and operational metrics for Fairfax County are currently favorable, and Superintendent Scott Brabrand’s plan is for a gradual return to school of a small cohort of students during October. The cohort will include young children with autism, ESOL students, and high school students studying select Career and Technical Education courses. View the presentation here.

Dr. Brabrand will provide the School Board with an update in October on the potential readiness to return to in-person instruction for other cohorts. The FCPS Return to School website has complete back-to-school info.
mental health and wellness conference
FCPS is hosting its seventh annual Mental Health and Wellness Conference over a three-week period. The conference began Mon, Sept 14 and continues thru Sat, Oct 3. The conference features multiple keynote speakers who will address social emotional learning and resiliency, and will include sessions specifically for students. Click here for the complete schedule and registration info.
i-495 express lanes extension project
VDOT is holding several forums in the upcoming weeks on the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) Project, which would extend the I-495 express lanes from the Dulles Toll Road to the GW Memorial Parkway.

q&a sessions: VDOT is offering two virtual opportunities for the public to ask questions about the 495 NEXT Project on Mon, Sept 28 and Wed, Sept 30, both from 7–9 pm. Each Q&A session will begin with a short presentation by VDOT staff. To join these sessions, click here for Monday’s session and here for Wednesday’s.

public hearings: VDOT is holding two public hearings to present draft design plans for the 495 NEXT Project.

  • a virtual public hearing on Mon, Oct 5, 7-9:30 pm (This meeting had been previously scheduled for March 12.) Click here for the meeting links and more info.

  • an in-person public hearing (reservations required) on Thurs, Oct 8, 4-8 pm at the McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave). To reserve a spot at this meeting, call 703-691-6715 or email 495NorthernExtension@VDOT.virginia.gov with “495 NEXT Public Hearing In-person Request” in the subject line.
mclean 5k
The McLean 5K Run is going virtual! There are multiple opportunities to join in the fun to support the McLean community. ​Register here by Sat, Oct 3. Run/Walk anytime and any route you choose and go the distance for McLean!

Proceeds from the McLean 5K Run benefit the McLean Community Foundation (MCF), which offers community grants that enhance the quality of life in McLean. At Langley, MCF has supported the Courtyard Renovation, ANGP and Ethics Days.
service opp
Virtual MPAartfest 2020 will kick-off with a live concert Oct 4 – “drive-in style” – featuring original members of the Drifters, Four Tops, Platters, and Temptations now performing as “Voices of Classic Soul.” Performances on Oct 4 are at 4 pm and 6 pm in the McLean Community Center parking lot, and MPA seeks volunteers ages 16 and older to welcome attendees and guide cars into parking spaces. Click here for more info and to sign up. Volunteers are welcome to stay and enjoy the concert!
upcoming events
Sept 25: Virtual Junior Class Parent Forum, 9:30 am
Sept 28: Textbook Distribution Makeup (LHS)
Sept 28: Library Book Pick-Ups Begin (LHS)
Sept 28: VDOT I-495 Express Lane Extension Q&A, 7 pm
Sept 30: VDOT I-495 Express Lane Extension Q&A, 7 pm
Oct 1: Virtual Senior Class Parent Forum, 10 am
Oct 3: Practice ACT (via Zoom)
Oct 5: VDOT I-495 Express Lane Extension Virtual Meeting, 7 pm 
Oct 8: VDOT I-496 Express Lane Extension In-Person Meeting (MCC), 4 pm 
Oct 12: Student Holiday
Oct 15: Virtual Sophomore Class Parent Forum, 9:30 am
Langley PTSA eNews Editors
Michelle Francis, Stephanie Maxwell, Helen Miller and Amy Prewett
Amy P
Submit items by Tuesday noon for publication on Thursdays to enewslangley@gmail.com  
 
The Langley eNews is published by PTSA volunteers and includes news that pertains to LHS, PTSA and FCPS.
Any opinions expressed herein are those of the submitter and not necessarily those of LHS, PTSA or FCPS.