new perspectives ...

langley eNews

April 15, 2021

from the president

What an active week we’ve had at Langley! One of the highlights was the PTSA's Career Connections, an informative, virtual take on Langley's annual career fair. Open to all students this year, it enabled participants to explore future career possibilities. Professionals in a range of fields, including communications, finance, marketing, technology, science, government and the arts, volunteered their time to this effort. Presenters discussed their career path and experience and gave advice in virtual, interactive breakout sessions moderated by students. Participants moved between sessions during three 45-minute blocks. My sincere appreciation and thanks to the Career Connections Committee for making the event so successful, including PTSA committee chairs Lee Ann Brownlee, Suzie Grieco and Sonaal Luthra; student organizing committee members Dani Grieco (co-chair), Ariana Sanjideh (co-chair), Keelin Byrne, Ella Fedewa, Anjali Fedewa, Alisha Luthra, Caroline Senich and Katherine Senich; and Langley staff members Hannah Wolff and Lindsey Fisher.

Speaking of future opportunities, consider becoming more involved at LHS next year! The Langley PTSA is looking for a few good volunteers! The Student Directory and Summer Opportunities Committees are seeking committee co-chairs, and other options may exist to match your interests and experience. Contact President-Elect Clare Bradshaw at crbradshaw@verizon.net to find out more. You can make an impact in the greater PTA community, too — the Virginia PTA is looking for volunteers for its Advocacy, Bylaws, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Membership and Programs Committees. Interested? Contact me at kittygonzalez@verizon.net and I’ll connect you with VAPTA representatives, or go to VAPTA.org for more information.

~ Kitty Gonzalez, PTSA President

langley career fair

Thank you to all the students who participated in Langley’s revamped career fair, Career Connections! On Monday, participating students heard from 35 remarkable professionals, including an epidemiologist, a foreign policy expert, a local NBC reporter, a CBS news associate producer, representatives from the fashion industry, a cloud engineer, a vice-president from the Washington Football Team, and financial analysts and investors, to name a few! Foreign service officer Ken Tarpley even logged in from Tokyo to share his presentation, where it was 1 am!

A huge thanks to the all-student Career Communications Committee members, who worked hard to create this virtual success!

Congratulations to Aiden Lee, who won the new logo contest. Aiden’s logo will be used in next year’s event programming.

kaleidoscope

The year’s first issue of Langley's literary magazine, Kaleidoscope, was published this month. The editorial team is excited to share students' works with their peers and the Langley community! View the issue here.

ptsa service award

Do you know a junior whose dedication to volunteerism is exemplary? The PTSA Award for Outstanding Service honors a Langley junior who has demonstrated excellent service achievement and an ongoing sense of commitment to a worthy cause at LHS or the community at large. The winner receives a certificate and monetary award.

Nominations can be submitted by 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.

grad announcements

Seniors, the LHS Class of 2021 graduation announcements are now available! To order, go to Balfour and enter Langley High School to access our “shop my school" page. You can choose the standard announcement or an option with a photo. Other mementos also are available, such as diploma frames, souvenir tassels and class rings. Questions? Contact Balfour at balfournova@yahoo.com or 703-941-1436.

saxon parents walk & talk

Saxon Parents Walk & Talk is back! Stroll around LHS and connect with others in the Langley parent community on Mondays at 1:30 pm. We'll meet at Door 14 (note the new location) and walk around the school grounds. Masks are required.

Plan to join us on Apr 19, Apr 26, May 3, May 10 and May 24. Check the PTSA Twitter feed for any weather-related cancellations @LangleyHS_PTSA.

substance abuse prevention

Langley substance abuse prevention specialist Kelly Rankin will present the final segment in a three-part parent education series on substance abuse prevention on Apr 22. In the 20-minute session, Drug Trends: Identifying Common Household Items and Drug Culture, Ms. Rankin will explain today's drug culture to parents and help parents to identify common household items that are associated with drug use. The session is offered twice – choose the time that works for you! Click here to join a 12 pm or 7 pm session. Questions? Contact Ms. Rankin at krankin@fcps.edu or 703-287-2744.

summer epf course

Saxons, are you looking for something to do this summer? 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.

tracking service hours

Saxons, are your service hours up to date and approved? Log on to your x2VOL account through Naviance to make sure. Students earning 40 or more hours of service during their four years in high school receive the Service Learning Cord, to be worn at graduation. Visit the LHS website for instructions on tracking hours. All service hours must be verified by an adult (parents can verify during COVID) before they can be approved. Questions? Contact Mrs. Shomaker at enshomaker@fcps.edu.

saxons, did you know ...

… synthetic cannabinoids are sometimes misleadingly called synthetic marijuana (or fake weed), and they are often marketed as safe, legal alternatives to that drug. In fact, they are not safe and may affect the brain much more powerfully than marijuana. Their effects can be unpredictable and in some cases very dangerous or even life-threatening. For more infor about synthetic marijuana, visit NIDA.

class notes

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

senior prom: Save the date! Langley will hold an outdoor Evening Under the Stars senior prom on Sat, May 1 in the LHS bus parking lot. Masks are required. Students will sign up for a time slot to attend the event. Ticket and sign-up details coming soon! Questions? Contact class sponsors Jay O’Rourke at jdorourke2@fcps.edu or Michelle Huang at mihuang@fcps.edu.

fccpta scholarships: The Fairfax County Council PTA (FCCPTA) is awarding five scholarships at $500 each to FCPS seniors planning to attend college or an accredited vocational school this fall. Applications are due Apr 25. Click here for the application and more info. Questions? Contact scholarship@fccpta.org.

Class of 2022 parents, our last forum this year is Mon, Apr 26 at 9:30 am. Assistant Principal Wayne Biernesser and our Class Lead Parents will talk about senior year and what to expect for our students. They will walk through a typical year, since FCPS is planning for a traditional school year next year.

Join the class forum here. Can't attend? The session recording link will be posted on our Class of 2022 Parent Facebook page.

Sophomores, the PSAT 10 is in-person at LHS on Mon, Apr 19 and begins at 8:20 am. Confirmations were emailed to sophomores parents and students before spring break. Questions? Contact Janice Dabroski at jldabroski@fcps.edu.

After the PSAT, stay for Sophomore Treat Day! Come to bus loop between 12-2 pm for a treat, and stay to catch up with Langley teachers and other sophomores. Not taking the PSAT 10? Come anyway!

The Sophomore Class Parent Forum scheduled for Tues, Apr 20, has been cancelled.

fcps career fair

FCPS and Arlington Public Schools invites students to participate in the 2021 Virtual Career Exploration Fair. The event includes both live and recorded sessions and workshops from Mon, Apr 19 through Fri, Apr 30. Over 100 local industry professionals from in-demand fields are participating.

Students can learn about work-based learning (WBL) opportunities; attend industry panel discussions; take part in mock interviews; attend resumé workshops; and learn about postsecondary education, training and apprenticeship opportunities, and can participate in college- and career-ready workshops and info sessions.

For more info and to register, click here. Questions? Email workbasedlearning@fcps.edu.

math curriculum changes

There are two more info sessions on the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) plan to revamp mathematics course options. The plan includes, among other details, removing the option of 9th and 10th graders to take differentiated math classes, such as Honors and AP math courses. Click here for a more general infographic on the initiative.

Sessions will be live-streamed on YouTube here at 6:30 pm on these dates:

Apr 27 - Essential Concepts in Grades 8-10
May 25 - Advanced Pathways in Grades 11-12

All prior and upcoming session recordings are posted on this VDOE webpage. Submit questions or comments using this form or via email to vdoe.mathematics@doe.virginia.gov.

award opps

aapi essay contest: In preparation for May’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the Chinese American Parents Association of NOVA (CAPA NOVA) invites all students in grades 4-12 to submit an essay contest entry on the theme Multi-Culture, One Community: Life as an Asian American. Essays will be judged in three age groups: grades 4-6, grades 7-9 and grades 10-12. Cash prizes go to all three age categories ($100 for 1st place, $50 for 2nd place and $25 for 3rd place).

View all essay contest info here. Entries are due Apr 30 by 11:59 pm. Share your perspective and make your voice heard!

community service: Innerview, a national platform that facilitates and promotes student service, offers national community service awards. There are awards at different levels of service -- 20, 40 and 100 hours. Students can create an Innerview account, provide details and photos from volunteer, philanthropic and leadership activities, and earn recognition. Recommendation letters are not required. The deadline is tonight Apr 15 at midnight.