a flurry of activity ...

langley eNews

February 23, 2023

from the ptsa president

February is speeding toward conclusion! As March approaches, we have not seen snow but there continues to be a flurry of activity at Langley.

Last week the All Night Grad Party (ANGP) committee wrapped up a very successful sale of Valentine’s Day Treat Bags. A huge thank you goes to the LHS Community B Work Awareness and Transition class, which created all the attractive treat bags. The class is looking for other projects like this so reach out to Work Awareness and Transition teacher Pam Dodd at pmdodd@fcps.edu or Employment and Transition Representative Bonnie Kolbenstetter at bdkolbenstet@fcps.edu if your club or committee needs help with a large task.

Just this week, the PTSA Career Connections event was held in-person for the first time in several years (more details next week). The New Family Forum was yesterday, Saxon Service was this morning, the Junior Class Forum is tomorrow and the Sophomore Class Dinner and College Case Studies Night is on Wed, Mar 1 - see class notes below for more info on this event and registration details.

The Summer Opportunities Committee has added more resources to the PTSA webpage and the DIVERSEartLANGLEY art exhibition is on Mon, Feb 27! With respect to PTSA volunteer opportunities, DIVERSEartLANGLEY and the Ethics Day Committee are still actively accepting volunteers. Sign up here to help with DIVERSEartLANGLEY and here to help with Ethics Day. See more details in this newsletter about these interesting, enjoyable, and important programs.

Finally, Dranesville School Board Representative Elaine Tholen will be the guest speaker at our Mar 8 General Membership Meeting and she is eager to answer your questions. Click here to submit your questions for Ms. Tholen by Sun, Mar 5.

I hope to see you at one of the many upcoming PTSA events!

~ Jamie H. Loving, PTSA President

saxon stage news

winter one-acts: The Theatre 4 class is proud to present a series of One-Act plays. Join us tonight, Feb 23 and Fri, Feb 24 at 7 pm in the Black Box/Langley Hall as senior directors Michael Thomas, Talia-Rose Diorio and Conor Farah celebrate their directorial debuts! We also have a fun performance on Thursday by Nico Morandi-Zerpa and Brady Kastner performing their Superior ranking Duet Acting piece! Tickets are $5 and you pay in cash at the door! View the Winter One-Acts Flyer for more info. Hope to see everyone there!

vhsl regional one-acts: Saxon Stage's One-Act Fortress was the runner-up at the Regional One-Act round. Scarlett Spano was named as one of the top two performers of the competition and Langley received the 2nd Place Trophy!

diverseARTlangley

The Langley PTSA DEI Committee's DIVERSEartLANGLEY art exhibition is this Mon, Feb 27 from 6–7:30 pm in Langley Hall followed by a discussion in the Auditorium from 7:30–8:30 pm.

Students submitted original works of art and were asked to answer the question: American Voices Telling American Stories: What is YOUR American story?

We need volunteers to make this event a success! If you can help set up on Sun, Feb 26, or Mon, Feb 27, and/or provide finger foods, sweet bites or beverages for the event, please sign up here.

The entire Langley community is invited to attend this free event! Questions? Contact heathermcxx@gmail.com or stefaniestayin@earthlink.net.

langley bands at carnegie hall

The Langley Bands had a fun-filled and event-packed three-day trip to New York City this past weekend, highlighted by an outstanding performance in Carnegie Hall on Mon, Feb 20. Langley’s concert performance, entitled Simple Gifts, was part of the Distinguished Concert International Series, which invites accomplished band, orchestral and choral groups to perform at Carnegie Hall. It goes without saying that the Langley band did not disappoint, and they played magnificently to an appreciative audience. Congratulations to the band, Director Doug Martin and Assistant Director Kai Smith!

girl up

Girl Up successfully held their 2nd Annual Girl Up International Day on Sat, Feb 4! They raised over $300 dollars in their effort to combat ‘period poverty’. Co-presidents Nava Berwick and Anupriya Roy send their thanks to Ms. Steele, the PTSA, Ms. Greer, and their volunteers.

tutor.com webinar

Learn more about Tutor.com, where students are able to get personal help 24/7. For example, students can work through Java/Python code together with a tutor, get in-depth feedback on college and scholarship application essays and even get help in Spanish from bilingual tutors for all students still learning English. For those families with soon-to-be college students, students also have access to all of the Princeton Review’s SAT/ACT coursework with unlimited tutoring at no additional cost!

Plan to join us for a Tutor.com lunchtime webinar 12-1 pm on Mar 1 with guest presenter, FCPS Manager of Tutoring Services Joash Chung. The Zoom link will be posted on the PTSA website prior to Wednesday morning and the session will be recorded. More info about Tutor.com in FCPS is available here.

volunteer for ethics day

The Langley Ethics Day Committee is excited to open adult volunteer registration for the annual Senior Ethics Day on Tue, Mar 14! 500 seniors will spend a day learning and practicing ethical decision-making for life after high school. Register here to volunteer for an opportunity to impact high school seniors as they embark on the next chapter of their lives.

anxiety book talk

Come join LHS School Psychologist Anna Brown as she leads a Book Talk on Lynn Lyons’ book, Anxiety Audit and discusses ways to identify anxious thoughts and combat them. The Book Talk will be held on Mar 8 at 11 am in the Lecture Hall immediately following the PTSA meeting. This book talk is a prelude to author Lynn Lyons’ presentation at the McLean Community Center on Mar 15. See the feature below class notes for further info on that event.

bands on the run

Calling all runners and walkers! Our 4th Annual Bands on the Run 5K is on Sun, April 23 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.

Race registration is open and is $30 for students 6-18 years old and $35 for adults through Mar 17. After Mar 18 prices go up to $35 and $40 respectively, so sign up here now! All participants will receive an official race t-shirt and children 5 and under are free!

View the Bands on the Run webpage for more info or contact Deb Worden at deborahworden@yahoo.com.

school board student rep

Each year, FCPS students can apply for the position of the student representative to the School Board. The student rep is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity, representing the interests of FCPS students.

Students currently in grades 9-11 are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to be current members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Applications are due by Wed, Mar 23. Click here for more info.

summer opps

Are you starting to wish it was summer? Be sure to click here to see the new Summer Opportunities Spreadsheet. Additional summer jobs, volunteer opps and scholarships are added continually. Take a look!

need study skills?

Could you use some help with study and organization skills? LHS counselors are hosting drop-ins during Langley Links “A” session, entitled Post-Its for your Mind. The series ends Mar 16 with a session on mindfulness. View the flyer here and use the QR code to register for this session.

sports notes

tryouts: Spring sports tryouts are in full swing! Visit the Langley Athletics website for more information about registration and tryout dates for each sport.

To participate in Langley sports, students must complete a physical after May 1, 2022. The physical must be done on the official VHSL form that can be found here. Send completed VHSL forms to langleyathletics@fcps.edu.

meet the coach: Interested in a sport or team? Want to learn more? Come to Spring Sports Meet the Coach Night, Mon, Mar 6 at 7 pm in the Cafeteria.

hockey: The Langley Varsity Ice Hockey team recently finished its regular undefeated season with a 10-0-0 record, extending its overall win streak to 18-games and securing the #1 spot in the upcoming VA State Playoffs. Led by an eviscerating offense and stellar goaltending, the Saxon Icemen racked up a 57-goal differential by scoring 76 offensive goals while the defense only allowed 19 goals all season!

Sophomore Harry Smith has anchored the Icemen in net with a 2.1 GAA (Goals Against Average per game) while senior Team Captain Kameron Khazai with 16-goals and 21-assists for 37-points has led the scoring. Khazai’s two linemates have also lit the lamp with junior Noah Scheinerman tallying 15-goals and 7-assists and freshman Cole Samburg adding another 9-goals and 6-assists. Thirteen other Saxon Icemen have also contributed to the scoring, creating one of the deepest offensive benches ever fielded by the program.

The Saxon Icemen face their first round of VA State Championship playoffs on Mon, Feb 27 at 7:40 pm at the Reston SkateQuest rink on Michael Faraday Court. If the team is successful on the 27th, they will travel to the Ashburn Ice House on Wed, Mar 1 for a semi-final playoff game at 6:40 pm, and if successful in that game, the VA State Championship game will be played on Fri, Mar 3 at 7:40 pm at the Ashburn Ice House.

Friday the JV team (sitting on 6 wins and only 3 losses) is taking the ice against the Yorktown Patriots in their final game of the season. JV puck drops at 9:30 pm at Reston SkateQuest. Come out to both games and show your support! Hail Saxons!

hockey honors: Kameron Khazai, Varsity captain of the Langley Hockey team, was honored to represent Langley's 2022 State Championship with Dmitry Orlov of the Washington Capitals before the Caps game on Sun, Feb 12!

saxons, did you know . . .

Most overdoses are preventable. The thinking among teens is “I don’t want to get my friend in trouble.” The Good Samaritan Laws in Virginia state no one will get arrested for reporting a someone in trouble. Those that make a 911 call are asked to remain on the scene and cooperate with law enforcement.

class notes

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

senior class dues: Seniors, dues are mandatory! They cover the cost of cap and gown, Senior Breakfast, bus transportation to DAR and all other graduation expenses. Dues are $100 and can be paid online at MySchoolBucks.

ethics day volunteers: The Ethics Day Committee needs parent volunteers on Mar 14 for the Senior Ethics Day event. Parents are needed for set-up, tear down, handing out lunches and directing traffic. Senior parents cannot be table leaders, but if you have a relative, friend or neighbor who would be interested they are welcome to sign up. Click here to volunteer.

senior parent forum: Our last Senior Parent Forum is Mar 28 from 9:30-11 am in the LHS Lecture Hall. We will cover Senior Class end of year activities, Langley Leap, Graduation, and All Night Grad Party. Our guest speaker Jennifer Weaver, Psychotherapist, LCSW, RPT-S, will present tips for parents on how to prepare for their senior’s transitional summer, leaving for college and attending their freshmen year.

Save the date! Class of 2024 parents, join Langley’s College and Career Counselor Karen Burke for a guided tour of the Naviance system on Feb 24 at 9:30 am in the Lecture Hall. Naviance is the tool that is used by our students throughout their HS career and is especially useful as our students and their parents navigate the college application process. Ms. Burke will explain the system and provide hints and tips for its use.

Additionally, mark your calendars for the Class of 2024 College Panel on Tues, Mar 14, 7 pm. The forum will be held in the LHS Auditorium and will be led by visiting college admission professionals and is for both students and parents.

Questions? Contact your 2024 Class Parents at ollilaamy@gmail.com or stefaniestayin@earthlink.net.

Sophomore parents and students, join us for the Sophomore College Case Studies Night and Sophomore Class Dinner on Wed, Mar 1. Dinner will be in the Cafeteria starting at 5:45 pm, catered by Cafe Rio. Tickets are $20 per person and are non-refundable. Please click here to purchase your dinner tickets by Feb 27.

Following dinner, the Case Studies begin at 7 pm. This program will allow you to work alongside a college admissions representative as part of a mock admissions team to review applications and discuss applicants’ strengths and weaknesses. You will gain a better understanding of the college admission process to plan for the rest of your high school experience.

Parents and students are both invited to attend. Note that only one registration per family is necessary. To Register please click here. Registration will close on Feb 27.

It may seem like a long way off, but our students’ graduation will come sooner than you can imagine. One of the most memorable moments of Senior Week (the week leading up to graduation) is the class video that is viewed at the Senior Breakfast attended by seniors and their families. Do you have photos of this year's events to share? Include only pictures of the Class of 2026 and only Langley High School events, i.e. sports, concerts, dances, clubs, theater, treat days, Saxon Time, field trips, etc.

We need your help! Share photos of your child's happy LHS memories as they happen - upload them here right from your phone or computer.

lynn lyons at the mcc

Save the date! Join us Wed, Mar 15 for a Safe Community Coalition Speaker Event. Lynn Lyons is author of Anxiety Audit: Seven Sneaky Ways Anxiety Takes Hold, and How to Avoid Them (2022); Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous & Independent Children (2013) and additional books, videos and webinars on managing anxiety.

Based on current research and over 30 years of clinical experience, Lyons presents a strategic approach based on skill-building with prevention. Using creativity, connection and awareness of their own patterns, parents will learn how to increase their child’s flexibility, support the tolerance of uncertainty, and emotionally and preventatively equip themselves and those they love.

The event is at the McLean Community Center on Wed, Mar 15 at 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased here.

student opps

mcc call for youth candidates: Want to be a leader? Want to earn valuable community service and outreach experience? Run for a seat on the McLean Community Center governing board! MCC is looking for high school students who wish to serve the community by playing a leading role in helping to carry out MCC's goals.

The board includes two youth seats, one each from Langley HS and McLean HS, and youth members serve a one-year term. Completed petition packets are due to MCC by Fri, Mar 3 at 5 pm. Requirements and info are on the MCC website.

fun fair: Students, do you need volunteer hours? Do you remember all of the fun of going to Fun Fair in elementary school? We’d love for you to volunteer your time to support Fun Fair at Spring Hill ES and will provide all verification you need to earn your service hours. We can’t make Fun Fair a success without your help!

To volunteer at Fun Fair on Sat, Mar 18, please click the Student Volunteer Sign-up button on our website and fill out the I Want to be a Student Volunteer at Fun Fair Form. You must answer all the questions to submit your registration. A Fun Fair Committee member will contact you about volunteer opps.

summer job fair: The McLean Citizens Association (MCA), with support from McLean, Langley and Marshall High Schools, is hosting a summer job fair on Mar 18 from 10 am-1 pm at the McLean Community Center. Students, no signup is required and you may just walk in. It is recommended that you bring copies of your resume to leave with potential employers. You can also fill out applications on the spot. Questions? Email the MCA Education & Youth committee at e-y_committee@mcleancitizens.org.

boys state: Are you a junior who is interested in learning more about politics? Do you want to be a lawyer? Do you want to develop into an outstanding leader? if so, the Boys State Program may be a great fit for you! Those selected will stay at Radford University for one week and participate in activities and classes geared around political matters.

If you would like to apply for this program, please see Ms. Morrison in room 2732 in the Student Support Services Office.

branchout: If your student is interested in volunteering in areas they are passionate about, BranchOut! offers a variety of opps to get involved in service. Student mentors can volunteer at credit recovery programs across FCPS and Howard County, MD, teach at STEAM outreach programs to a K-8 audience, host college and career-oriented interviews and panel discussions, create apps that have won the Congressional App Challenge, and write creative pieces and edit works for our international magazine The Explorer.

Every summer, about 150 high school mentors, many from Fairfax County and Langley HS, volunteer in all of these events. BranchOut! offers year-round opps with rolling applications, as well as summer enrichment opps for mentors flexible to your schedules.

Interested students should apply here. Deadlines: Early Bird: Mar 1; Regular: May 1; Rolling Late until Jun 1.

know your school bus safety

Parents and student drivers, help all our students arrive at school and back home safely each day.

Drivers must stop in both directions when a stopped school bus is loading or unloading children, unless separated from the bus by a median. When there is a median, all lanes of traffic following the bus must stop (see configuration 4 in the diagram). It is considered reckless driving - a criminal offense - if you pass a stopped school bus unloading children.

See more about transportation safety on the Fairfax County Government website.