Connections and community. Our time spent alone in our homes during the most critical moments of the pandemic has shown us that we cannot take these words for granted. We are social beings and we need to interact with each other. As schools and businesses reopen, we are gradually able to return to the relationships and activities that have always been important to us. If you have not already done so this year, now is the right time to reconnect with our Langley PTSA.

When you join the Langley PTSA you also become a member of the Virginia PTA and the National PTA. This expansive community is more powerful than a single person could ever be. To put it succinctly, when you pay your $25 membership fee, you are making an investment in your child. These PTAs support your child’s teachers and curriculum. They advocate on issues impacting your child and affect change at the local, state and national levels. These PTAs build stronger, more diverse and inclusive school communities. A great way for students to get involved with their extended community is by participating in the PTA Reflections contest. Students are invited to creatively share their ideas on how they would change the world. The deadline to enter is extended to Mon, Oct 11. See the details below.

Please join the Langley PTSA because we can do more together than apart. We are all connected; our mission is connected.

~Clare Bradshaw, PTSA President 

The Homecoming dance "Under the Stars" will take place Saturday night, Oct 16 from 8:30 - 11 pm in the LHS Courtyard.

Get your tickets! Tickets are $20 from MySchoolBucks. Students must show their Langley student ID and tickets to enter the dance.

Get ready for Spirit Week! Pick up your Homecoming t-shirt at lunch Oct 12-15.

Mon - Student Holiday (Indigenous Peoples' Day)

Wed - PJ Day (note - PSAT/SAT testing is happening)

Fri - Black Out Day (wear your Homecoming t-shirts). There will be a senior picnic and panoramic photo taken on the football field.

Wear your class t-shirts and come out to the stadium for the football game against Wakefield Fri at 7:30 pm!

The deadline for entries for the National PTA Reflections contest is extended until Mon, Oct 11 due to technical issues with the QR code. If you love Dance, Film, Literature, Music, Photography, or Visual Arts, then go for it!

See A Quick Guide - Reflections 2021 for details, and let your imagination run wild. This year’s theme, “I Will Change the World by…” can take you anywhere. Click here to register. Questions? Email langleyreflections@gmail.com.

Parents, consider sponsoring this year's school directory by placing an ad for your business! There are options available in the print edition and the new mobile app. Your business will have exposure for at least a year.

Refer to this link for pricing and available spaces. Reach out to Stephanie Kempter from AtoZ if you want additional info. Phone 240-328-9623 or email stephanie@atozconnect.com.

Get ready for the holidays early! The Girls Lacrosse Fall Poinsettia Fundraiser is under way. Purchase your Red, White or Pink poinsettia from your favorite Lax player today! Your order will arrive the first week of December and will be delivered straight to your home. Please see our flyer to order. Questions? Email Christina Daly (christinadaly6@gmail.com) or Liz Talbot (Lizrtalbot@yahoo.com). Go Saxons!!!

Langley's own Substance Abuse Prevention specialist, Kelly Rankin, is participating in a virtual panel discussion on "Fighting and Overcoming Addiction in Times of Covid 19: Support Systems and Community Resources" on Thurs, Oct 14 at 7 pm. Click here to view the flyer for more information and here to register for this free event.

testing: This coming Wed, Oct 13, students in grades 10-12 will be taking the PSAT or SAT at LHS, while 9th grade students will have a virtual asynchronous learning day. All 10th and 11th graders currently enrolled at Langley are automatically registered for the PSAT. Any 12th grade student not registered for the School Day SAT is encouraged to use the day to participate in civic engagement activities or other prearranged activities.

early release: Due to the PSAT and SAT testing, all high schools and secondary schools have a 2-hour early release on Oct 13.

The FCPS School Board has approved an 18-question screener to review students’ social and emotional learning (SEL) skills, which include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making and other measures. Screener data will be used with other data to inform practices for SEL skill development and mental wellness and help staff plan interventions for students with identified needs. Parents and guardians will receive an individualized report regarding their student’s screener results following each assessment window. 

Click here for more information. If you do not want your student to participate in the SEL screener, return the opt-out form by Oct 8. On the opt-out form, indicate your student's 3rd block (Langley Links) teacher. Questions? Contact Alex Mantel at armantel@fcps.edu or Langley's testing coordinator Jan Dabroski at jldabroski@fcps.edu.

Jessica Shoemaker is a familiar face at Langley. She is a dedicated and hardworking teacher who brings her many talents to the school community.  

Mrs. Shoemaker attended Lehigh University on a softball scholarship and majored in liberal arts. She moved from California to Pennsylvania for the opportunity to play at Lehigh, which brought her to the east coast and ultimately to northern Virginia. Mrs. Shoemaker has taught for 19 years, 14 of which have been at Langley.

Halfway through her college career, she knew she was going to pursue her passion as an English teacher. “I always wanted to become an English teacher. I come from two teacher parents.” One of her parents was an English teacher and a softball coach as well! 

Mrs. Shoemaker currently teaches English 10 Honors and AP Language and Composition. During her years at Langley, she has been involved as a varsity softball coach, although she stepped back from that now that she has a toddler to keep up with! She also sponsors the leadership honor society, which is a big program at Langley that allows students to embrace the responsibility of guiding others to success, much like Mrs. Shoemaker herself.

Mrs. Shoemaker cares for her students and is passionate about what she does. “I can’t see myself working in an office. [Teaching] just seemed like the right fit for me,” stated Mrs. Shoemaker. “I love what I do and I would not do anything else.”

crew: Our fall interest and membership meeting is Tues, Oct 26, 7 - 9 pm, location TBD. It will include a presentation about the regular season, the registration process and any new rules from covid.

vax info: All athletes 16 years or older who plan on participating in a winter sport, spring sport, or out-of-season workout will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate beginning Nov 8. Any athlete who has not been vaccinated will be required to submit a weekly negative test.

... As the shorter days and colder months are rolling in, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) symptoms begin. Robert Weiss, PhD., MSW, from Psychology Today writes, “What happens when SAD occurs in conjunction with other forms of depression, especially the situational depression we’re currently seeing related to the COVID-19 pandemic, political strife, and other major societal issues?” This is uncharted territory and self-care is more important than ever. What are the options?

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

class activity fee: The $35 fee, payable in MySchoolBucks, covers activities that the class officers have planned in addition to the homecoming t-shirt.  We can no longer guarantee t-shirt sizes but will make every effort to try to accommodate requests. Note: there will most likely be additional fees for graduation, prom and all night grad party later in the year.

yearbook ads: Express congratulations to your senior by placing an ad in this year’s yearbook. Log onto the yearbook order site here and use Langley’s order number 4159. Click the link to Buy a Yearbook Ad. Submit your ad by Oct 22 to guarantee that it appears in the yearbook. Questions? Email the yearbook adviser at KJMulligan@fcps.edu.

grad announcements and rings: caps and gowns will be measured at school, but graduation announcements and class rings can be purchased here. Orders are due by Oct 29.

Don’t miss out! There is still time to get a Homecoming T-shirt. We can no longer guarantee t-shirt sizes, but will make every effort to accommodate requests. To receive a shirt, go to MySchoolBucks and pay your junior class activity fee. Shirts will be handed out next week during lunch on Tues, Oct 12, Thurs, Oct 14 and Fri, Oct 15.

Attention: Our Junior Class Parent Forum date has changed to Nov 3 at 9:30 am in the LHS Lecture Hall.  Please mark your calendar.

Sophomore parents, stay tuned: our Sophomore Class Parent Forum will be rescheduled (TBD).

Pencil it in! Our Freshman Class Parent Forum is Tues, Oct 26 at 9:30 am.

student opps

bot-a-thon: Junior and senior women, General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)'s annual Women + Tech event will take place Oct 11 from 3 - 7 pm. Students will learn about Robotics Process Automation (RPA) and use those RPA skills to solve a problem related to Humanitarianism, Cyber & Social Media Threats, Social Activism and Mental Health.

Today, Oct 7 is the last day to register! Access the registration link and info here. Questions? Contact Maggie Hutzel, GD employee and Langley Dance Team Coach, at langleydancers@gmail.com.

juniors: The Fairfax County Youth Leadership Program is designed to educate and motivate high school juniors to become engaged citizens and leaders in the community. Please visit this website for more information or see this brochure about the 2020-21 program. If you are interested, apply by Nov 5 using this link. Questions? Email Martha Reed at martha.reed@fairfaxcounty.gov.

fcps college week: Virtual College Week is Oct 18-21. Attend one or all of several live virtual sessions! Students and parents, learn about the current college admissions process and how to better prepare for the next chapter of your educational journey. Click here to see more info.

Advance registration is required. You will receive a unique access link 24 hours before the event(s) that you register to attend. Register here.

financial aid: Get your questions answered to complete the Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA). Click here to attend the session on Oct 16 at 10 am or here for the session on Nov 9 at 7 pm.

scholarships: Learn what kind of scholarships are offered, where to locate scholarship opportunities, and how to best complete scholarship applications. Click here on Nov 17 at 7 pm or here on Dec 11 at 10 am.

Questions? For questions regarding the financial aid process, email info@collegeaccessfairfax.org. Email appointments@collegeaccessfairfax.org to request one-on-one assistance completing the financial aid forms.

Seniors, you if were born on or before Nov 2, 2003, and are a US citizen, you can register to vote now. Go here, click on Langley High School, and follow the links to register! The deadline to register to vote in this election is Tues, Oct 12.

upcoming events

Join the LHS PTSA! Click Here.

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