Looking for a furry way to reduce stress? Try “Therapy Dog Thursday!” Therapy dogs visited Langley HS this morning as part of Wellness Week organized by Student Services. According to School Psychologist Anna Davis Brown, Wellness Week is “a week of providing events and treats to hopefully decrease stress and bring some joy to our students!”
The week started with “Mindful Monday.” The activities during Langley Links included mandala coloring, gratitude journaling and arts and crafts. On “Tasty Tuesday,” PTSA volunteers helped bag and deliver popcorn to over 2,000 students during lunch. On “Wellness Wednesday” during Langley Links students participated in fidget making, origami, and coloring. “Feel Good Friday” will feature a movie or games in the Lecture Hall during the Langley Links period.
Here’s a glimpse of "Tasty Tuesday!"
~ Jamie H. Loving, PTSA President
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Student Services needs parent volunteers to help in administering AP testing from May 1-11. You will be paired with a knowledgeable member of the Student Services team and only be tasked with assisting in handing out and collecting materials and supervising the test. Test proctoring runs about 4 hours per test, and the exams generally begin at 8 am and 12 pm.
You can see how AP tests are administered and get to know some of our student services staff better. The only rule is that you can’t proctor a test your student is taking. Sign up here.
Because of the vast amount of testing done in the building, every proctor is greatly appreciated!
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Our next Saxon Service will be held tomorrow Fri, Mar 24. Encourage your students to participate and help others in need!
Students need to log into x2vol to have this service hour verified for credit.
Questions? See Julie Zimmerman Hohl in the College and Career Center or email her at jbzimmerman@fcps.edu.
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This past weekend was a fantastic one for the Langley bands! Langley hosted the District Band Assessments event – the SOL for bands – last-minute, when the original host school had water damage issues.
All three Langley curricular bands earned an overall Superior rating – the only high school in our district to do that – and it’s only the second time in Langley history that's happened! What it represents is a band program that achieves excellence with all students, which is incredibly meaningful.
Also, because the Marching Saxons earned a Superior rating at the Marching Band Assessment this fall, Langley bands are designated a Virginia Honor Band – for only the third time in Langley history! This is a singular honor from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, recognizing band programs that achieve at the highest level in both marching and concert programs. In addition, Langley has been named a Blue Ribbon School by the Virginia Music Educators Association for the 12th straight year. Bravo!
Huge thanks to Assistant Band Director Kai Smith, Cooper Assistant Band Director Alex Singer and Langley Band Parent Association President Deb Worden for the immense amount of work they all did to organize and support the Assessment event. And the event could not have been run without the tremendous help of all the parents and students who volunteered last weekend. Thanks to you all!
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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 $35 for students 6-18 years old and $40 for adults through Mar 31. All participants will receive an official race t-shirt and children 5 and under are free! Registering by Mar 31 also guarantees your t-shirt size. Sign up here today!
Want to promote your business? Interested in becoming a sponsor of the Bands on the Run 5K? All donations are tax-deductible. Sponsor information is available here.
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March is Youth Art Month! The McLean Project for the Arts celebrates youth art in McLean with our annual Youth Art Shows, recognizing the work of FCPS elementary, middle and high school students. The Langley Pyramid show runs through Mar 25 and will be open until 7 pm on Fri, Mar 24.
MPA’s exhibition galleries and art studio are located in the McLean Community Center. Click here for more info and gallery hours.
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Thank you to everyone who helped make Senior Ethics Day a meaningful experience for our Langley seniors. Thank you to all the volunteers who served as table leaders and to those who helped with lunch, set up and clean up duties.
A huge thank you goes out to our Senior Ethics Day committee members Margaret Brown, Danica Alink, Jill Farah, and Joy Hohenthaner who were able to bring this opportunity to our seniors. Another big thank you goes out to Senior Ethics Day Session Speakers Ezra Crawford and Elaine Monaghan for sharing their time and talents in support of this impactful event, and to Corinne Magee, Officer Scott Troen and the talented student actors Ava Carter, Brady Kastner, Katie Murchison, and Scarlett Spano for bringing the Mock Trial to life.
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Langley has a new 3D art teacher, named Kate Bagnoche, who is passionate about teaching and art.
Ms. Bagnoche is the instructor of four different classes of 3D art: 3D studio 1, 2, 3, and AP. She not only teaches art, but she also has a personal interest in ceramics.
“I started my first semester in college and I hadn't ever done anything with clay and my advisor said, ‘take a fun class.’ [It] wasn’t going to be my major, but then I just fell in love with [ceramics] and wanted to learn everything I could about it and then ended up getting my first degree in it for education,” Ms. Bagnoche said.
Following her attendance at Northern Arizona University, Ms. Bagnoche started her teaching career at overseas schools in Qatar, Germany, and Japan. She also worked in the district of Fairfax, Virginia.
“I worked at an international school in Qatar and then my time in Japan was with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), so I taught on the Air Force base and then lived off base in Japan, which was amazing,” she said.
While teaching in different schools around the world, Ms. Bagnoche noticed that many aspects of her previous schools differed from Langley.
“Obviously if you're abroad you have the local culture that you're in, whereas here, we are in America, so that's a big difference. But I feel like here at Langley there are so many great opportunities for us, so I feel like that's a major difference from other schools I’ve been at, and all the AP classes you all take are very impressive,” Ms. Bagnoche said.
After teaching at schools abroad, she decided to come to Langley to continue her career teaching ceramics.
“I always wanted to teach ceramics because it’s my passion. It’s my medium. I love it so much, and [I put] my resume out there and got the opportunity to come to Langley and I absolutely love it. We have an amazing facility here,” Ms. Bagnoche said.
As this is Ms. Bagnoche’s first year teaching at Langley, she has a few goals she would like to achieve.
“I want everyone that takes the class to just have a good time and not be stressed out. I want everyone to get their hands in some clay, and even if art is not their thing, just to at least try it out and see where it goes,” Ms. Bagnoche said.
Ms. Bagnoche has been satisfied with her experience here at Langley so far.
“I'm just really passionate about what I do. Sometimes I'm like ‘they actually pay me to come do this?’ because I just love it so much,” Ms. Bagnoche said.
~ Leila Ayoub and Sonia Qiao, Saxons Scope Reporters, Photograph by Regina Maza-Rion
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Polar Bear Girls Regatta 2023 |
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Polar Bear Boys Regatta 2023 |
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Langley crew launches 30th anniversary season: The Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association's first race of the year is called the Polar Bear regatta for a reason. On Sat, Mar 18, hundreds of parents braved 40-degree weather to pack the grandstand on the bank of the Occoquan River at Sandy Run Regional Park. This year one group of rowers and their shivering parents had an extra reason to cheer. This race marks the 30th anniversary of Langley's crew team.
In 1993, a dedicated group of students, parents, and friends decided to organize a rowing team at Langley HS. They established the co-ed club's strong culture of athletic and academic excellence, teamwork, and volunteer service. The robust culture helped keep the team together during the pandemic.
"One of the proudest moments of my time as a crew president was during Covid when we could keep the team going," commented Langley Crew President Tine Kristensen. "We could get the athletes out of the house to do practice outside. With all the restrictions that we had, it was a lifeline for a lot of our athletes. I think they keep that with them."
Rowing has become increasingly popular in Northern Virginia since the early 1990s. It is one of the few sports that don't require years of previous experience to make the high school team. Each year the Langley team organizes Learn to Row events in the fall on the Occoquan to let 8th-12th graders try rowing. Their indoor Winter Conditioning program helps both novice and experienced athletes prepare for the season with aerobic exercise, weightlifting, and many, many hours perfecting their form on erg rowing machines.
Langley's team has become one of the region's strongest teams. It has grown to 130 athletes from freshman to seniors and is the second most popular club at the school. Since 2012, Langley rowers have captured 15 first-place trophies in the Virginia State Championships. In 2022, two women's varsity eights competed at the US nationals.
Like many area teams, Langley Crew operates as a club sport so they receive no direct funding from FCPS. The parents and athletes work together on two major fundraisers to pay for equipment, buses, coaches and regatta expenses. In November, the team hosted a 5K Turkey Trot race for the community. In January, they organize a Tag Day fundraiser to reach out to the local community for donations.
Langley High School's Crew team is an incredible example of what can be achieved when a group of dedicated individuals come together in pursuit of a common goal. Through the hard work and dedication of its members, coaches, and volunteers, the team has been able to maintain a strong culture of excellence for 30 years.
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softball: Langley HS Softball Youth Night will be on Wed, Apr 12. We will have games and prizes for kids in attendance!
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… Christina Pierpaoli Parker PhD from Psychology Today writes, “People with chronic insomnia experience difficulties falling and/or staying asleep at least three nights per week for three months or longer. Symptoms cause distress and daytime impairment including fatigue, mood disturbance, anxiety, irritability, and reduced quality of life, as well as difficulties with motivation and concentration. Here are 5 counterintuitive ways to get to sleep.
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Read below for class news. Click the green class buttons to go to each class's webpage.
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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. For those of you who cannot attend in person, the forum will be live streamed on FB Live. Join us via our Class FB page under Events.
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angp tickets: The All Night Graduate Party Committee is happy to announce Early Bird ANGP ticket sales are on sale now! ANGP is a safe and drug-free party the night of graduation, Jun 7 from 10:30 pm-4:00 am at Oak Marr Rec Center. Activities include mini golf, games, casino, swimming pools, spray tattoos, dancing, karaoke, prizes, giveaways every 15 minutes, food and more. Ticket price is $75. Hurry, the price goes up Mar 31! Click here to purchase tickets.
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support our angp fundraisers!
yard signs: Let your graduate know how proud you are of them. Purchase a Congrats Class of 2023 sign with their name on it to display in your yard! Signs are $45. Click here to purchase.
limo raffle: Attend graduation in style! Purchase our Limo Van and Priority Seating at Graduation Raffle Tickets. Chauffered Ride provided by Burki Limo Service. Purchase raffle tickets here: 1 ticket @ $10 or 3 tickets @ $25.
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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.
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pta scholarships: Seniors, the VA PTA Scholarship Program has multiple awards of $500 available for students enrolled in a 4-year academic degree program, students enrolled in a 2 or 3 year tech, vocational or associate degree program, students enrolled in a school of design or fine arts, and special education students. More info can be found here. Applications are due Thurs, Mar 30.
A student must be a member of the PTSA to apply for scholarships. Join the PTSA by clicking here.
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langley leap: Looking for an internship for Langley Leap? Check out the internship info on the PTSA website under Summer Opportunities here.
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save the dates for senior class activities:
May 20 - Prom (More info TBD)
Jun 2 - Senior Trip (Location TBD)
Jun 5 - Senior Breakfast (LHS Cafeteria, 8:30-10:30 am)
Jun 7 - Graduation (DAR Constitution Hall, DC,10 am-12 pm)
Jun 7 - All Night Grad Party (Oak Marr Recreation Center, 10:30 pm-4 am)
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teen character awards: Do you know a teen with an ethical and compassionate character? The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) is again sponsoring Teen Character Awards! These awards recognize teens who have, on their own and without compensation or formal recognition, cared for elderly relatives or younger siblings, or who have helped out in the neighborhood or community (defined as the Greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area), and deserve to be recognized not only for themselves but as examples to others.
Awards will be presented on the outdoor stage at McLean Day at 3 pm on Sat, May 20. Click here to view the nomination application and criteria. Apps are due no later than Fri, Apr 21 and must be submitted by email to e-y_committee@mcleancitizens.org.
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teen job fair: Fairfax County is hosting the last Teen Job Fair and Career-Building Workshop this Sat, Mar 25 at Chantilly HS. The registration link and more info can be found here.
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oratorical contest: The Optimist Club of Great Falls is hosting an Oratorical Contest on Tues, Apr 11 (new date!) at 6:30 pm at the Old Schoolhouse on Georgetown Pike in Great Falls. The topic for this year is “Discovering the Optimism within Me.” Scholarships will be awarded to the first, second and third-place winners. For more information about the contest, click here. Email Sheela Rao at greatfallsoptimistclub@gmail.com with questions.
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Early voting is open for the McLean Community Center (MCC) Governing Board! Residents may vote in-person or by mail. To request a ballot for your household, you may fill out an online form here, phone 703-744-9348 or send an email to elections@mcleancenter.org.
To be counted, all ballots must be received at MCC by 5 pm on Wed, May 17. As is tradition, in-person voting will be available at McLean Day, Sat, May 20, 10:30 am–5 pm (Lewinsville Park, 1659 Chain Bridge Road, McLean).
Six Langley students are running for the LHS youth candidate position: Sophia Bruno, Cabot Fisher, Charlotte Loving, Mikey (Duy) Nguyen, Ethan Pwu, and Sonya Thott. Click here to meet all the candidates and view more election info on the MCC website.
Questions? Contact Holly Novak at 703-744-9348 or holly.novak@fairfaxcounty.gov.
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Mar 24: Saxon Service
Mar 28: Senior Parent Forum, 9:30-11 am, Lecture Hall
Apr 3-Apr 7: Spring Break
Apr 13: End of Third Quarter - Two Hour Early Release
Apr 14: Student Holiday
Apr 23: Bands on the Run 5K, 8 am
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Join the LHS PTSA! Click Here.
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LHS PTSA eNews Editors
Gary Coetzee, Pamela Fox, Julianne Kass, Helen Miller and
Stephanie Maxwell (Technical Advisor)
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.
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