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The Weekly Roar

Monday, October 13, 2025

Student Rockets Blast Off in STEAM!

Last week, thanks to a special grant recently awarded to our STEAM team (Mrs. Christopher and Mrs. Sperry), students in several grade levels were able to build a their own bottle rockets and send them soaring. By combining an acid (vinegar) with a base (baking soda), they created a carbon dioxide gas that sent the plastic projectiles skyward. Check out our Facebook page for some action shots.

Fall CARE Night Spotlights Multicultural Seasonal Celebrations

Last Thursday evening, the cafeteria came to life with the sights and sounds of fall holidays and celebrations from several different cultures during our first CARE (Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event) Night of the school year. Crafts included Mexican paper flowers, beaded Native American mini maize, Diwali paper diyas, apple-shaped suncatchers for Rosh Hashanah, and thank-you cards for Veterans Day. Other stations offered the chance to learn more about Disability History and Awareness Month and music traditions from multiple cultures. Lane 3rd graders presented a Mexican dance, and one of our families from Ecuador performed a selection of international songs—both of which were special highlights. Our Winter CARE Night will be held on Thursday, February 5, as part of our 2026 Celebration of Cultures Night. Stay tuned for more information in the weeks ahead!

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, 10/14 – Lion Loop Fun Run Spirit Day: “Favorite Athlete and Superhero Day”
  

• Wednesday, 10/15 – 3-Hour Early Release, dismissal at 1:05 p.m. UNLESS the school has been notified that student needs to stay

• Wednesday, 10/15 – Lion Loop Fun Run Spirit Day: “Lane Spirit Day”

• Wednesday, 10/15 & Thursday, 10/16 – PTA Restaurant Night at Badd Pizza, 2 - 8:30 p.m.

• Thursday, 10/16 – Lane Lion Loop Fun Run Spirit Day: “Pajamas and Stuffies Day”
  

• Friday, 10/17 – Lane Lion Loop Fun Run, each grade level will have a specific time and designated color to wear; spectators and volunteers welcome!

• Monday, 10/20 – Diwali Holiday, School and Office CLOSED

• Thursday, 10/23 – Math & STEAM Night, 5 – 7 p.m.

• Sunday, 10/26 – PTA Trunk or Treat, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday, 10/30 – Full-Time Advanced Academics Program parent meeting, 6 p.m., Lane Library
• Friday, 10/31 – End-of-Quarter 2-Hour Early Release, dismissal at 2:05 p.m., no afterschool care for students available
  

In This Issue

• Next Early Release Wednesday Is This Week on October 15; Please Notify the School of Changes to Your Plans
• PTA Lane Lion Loop Fundraiser Continues; Fun Run This Friday, October 17!
• Loop Run Spirit Days This Week
• Join Us for Math & STEAM Night Next Thursday, October 23!
• PTA News: Restaurant Nights at Badd Pizza this week, Trunk or Treat on October 26
• Parent Resources: Lightspeed online activity reports, cell phone policy, upcoming free webinars
• FCPS News & Activities: Bond referendum, boundary review meetings

News & Notes

Next Early Release Wednesday Is This Week on October 15; Please Notify the School of Changes to Your Plans

Our next Early Release Wednesday will be this week on October 15. Students will be released three hours early that day at 1:05 p.m. We will once again offer supervised activities after school for those families with child-care hardship because of this Early Release scheduling. This option is designed to be for students who have no other option.

To plan for our after-school groups this month, we will follow parent responses provided for the first Early Release on last month. If you need to change your child’s plans from last month, please call the school office at 703-924-7700 by 12 p.m. tomorrow, October 14. You may also reach out via email to our family liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy at macrosby@fcps.edu.

If we do not hear from you, we will send your child home as previously directed.

PTA Lane Lion Loop Fundraiser Continues; Fun Run This Friday, October 17!

The Lane PTA is excited to announce the first-ever Lane Lion Loop Fun Run, coming this Friday, October 17! The group is currently accepting donations to celebrate our runners and support our school. This fun run will be one of their biggest fundraisers of the year.

If the total raised reaches $20,000, the PTA will be able to fully fund field trips with no cost to families and roll out other initiatives like literacy programs, technology upgrades, classroom improvements, and more! They are aiming for even more to do more for the school. The group has set several fun incentives, including teacher scooter races and sliming the principal, when those higher goals are met.

If you'd like to support the fundraiser, please check the packet sent home in Wednesday Folders or go straight to the donation link on the PTA website.

If you would like to come volunteer or cheer students on as they loop the field on Friday, here is the schedule, by grade level:

• 4th Grade & 6th Grade: 9:40 – 10:40 a.m.
• EAC and IDS self-contained classes: 10:15 – 10:45 in the gym
• 5th Grade: 10:40 – 11:40 a.m.
• 3rd Grade: 11:40 - 12:40 p.m.
• 2nd Grade: 12:40 - 1:40 p.m.
• 1st Grade: 1:40 – 2:40 p.m.
• Kinder: 2:40 - 3:40 p.m.

Please Note:

• No one will be allowed on the field unless they have a yellow volunteer tag.
• No students will be dismissed from the field for any reason.
• All students leaving after the run must be signed out in the office as usual.
  
  

Volunteers Needed!

The PTA needs volunteers to help in several ways throughout the day on October 17. They will set up our 1/6th mile track with music and other fun areas for kids of all abilities, add marks to students race bibs each time they pass the start line, and tally the results and report them to the PTA. If you’re available and would like to help, please sign up here: https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/76818580057/#/invitation. There is a particular need for additional help in 4th through 6th grade.

Due to new FCPS volunteer regulations, since this event is during the school day, we also ask that you register to support the Fun Run on Volunteer FCPS here. Please apply for Level 1 when you create your account (unless you'd also like to be a field trip chaperone, for which you would need to apply for Level 3). Thank you!

Loop Run Spirit Days This Week

To help get everyone pumped up for the Loop Run on Friday, the PTA is hosting special spirit days throughout the week. Here’s the schedule of themes:

• Tuesday: “Favorite Athlete and Superhero Day” – dress like your favorite superhero or sports hero
• Wednesday: “Lane Spirit Day” – wear your Lane spirit gear or blue and white/yellow
• Thursday: “Pajamas and Stuffies Day”– come to school comfy in your PJs and bring along a stuffed friend
• Friday: “Fun Run Colors” – students should wear the designated color for their grade level:
  
  • 4th Grade: Purple OR Brown
  • 6th Grade: Blue & Yellow
  • 5th Grade: Red
  • 3rd Grade: Yellow
  • 2nd Grade: Green
  • 1st Grade: Blue
  • Kindergarten: Orange

We hope your child will join the spirited fun!

Join Us for Math & STEAM Night Next Thursday, October 23!

Math + STEAM = A Fun Night of Family Learning! Join us next Thursday night, October 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. for Math & STEAM Night. All families are invited to attend to learn more about how science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) are taught and explored throughout our curriculum and all grade levels at our school. Hands-on exhibits will feature everything from basic building blocks to high-tech robots. Interactive math sessions will include strategies, tips, and games with make-and-take activities to carry a piece of the learning home.

If you’d like to attend, please sign-up here to help us plan and ensure enough materials are available that night.

We hope to see you there!

Diwali Holiday Monday, October 20 – School and Office CLOSED

We wish a fun Diwali to all in our community who celebrate! Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. The festival represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. Next Monday, October 20, is a school holiday in observance of Diwali, and all schools and offices are closed. See the complete school year calendar.

PTA News

October Restaurant Nights at BaddPizza This Wednesday and Thursday

Craving pizza? If so, pop in at BaddPizza, located in the Hilltop Shopping Center near Wegmans, this Wednesday and Thursday, October 15 and 16, between 2 and 8:30 p.m. You can pick up a pie and make a donation to Lane at the same time at the PTA’s October Restaurant Nights. Check last week's Wednesday Folders for flyers.

Lane Trunk or Treat — Sunday, October 26, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Join the Lane PTA for Trunk or Treat at Lane Elementary on Sunday, October 26! There are only 50 parking spaces available for you to set up a table or decorate your vehicle and hand out candy, so reserve your spot now at the signup link: https://signup.com/go/zDoTVpe.

Please remember that this is not a drop-off event, parental supervision is required. Want to participate, but can’t attend? Drop off candy at Lane or send in candy with your student any time before the end of the school day on Thursday, October 25. (Look for the hungry candy monster…she loves candy).

Parent Resources

All Families Opted In to Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report

FCPS provides families with a free service that allows parents and caregivers a way to stay informed about their child's online activity on any FCPS device. Starting Sunday, October 12, all parents and guardians who have access to student records in SIS ParentVUE will be automatically enrolled to receive a weekly Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report.

This report provides a summary of the websites your child visited during the previous week and is delivered every Sunday to your email directly from Lightspeed, our internet content filter.

Each weekly report also includes a link to register for the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides more detailed browsing information. This portal also gives you the ability to pause internet access on your child’s FCPS laptop during non-school hours, such as dinner or bedtime.

Visit the Lightspeed Parent Report page for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.

When Cell Phones Are Down, Learning and Engagement Are Up: Help Keep Our Schools Phone-Free

Cell phones can significantly impact academic performance — research has shown that it takes students 10 minutes or more to shift their focus back to learning after being interrupted by a single cell phone notification! You can help keep our schools phone-free (and your child focused on learning) by:

• Reminding your child about FCPS’ cell phone policy and telling them why you support it.
• Contacting your school’s front office (rather than your child directly) if there is a family emergency during the school day.
• Contacting your child about non-urgent matters before or after the school day.
• Waiting to respond to non-urgent texts from your child until the school day is over.

Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy. Also, view our Media Balance and Well-Being Toolkit for resources to help your child maintain a healthy and balanced relationship with technology at home.

Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center

Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia

Wednesday, October 15, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Join us for an informative webinar on dyslexia awareness, designed for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) families. This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.

What you'll learn:

• Understanding dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
• FCPS support systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
• Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS' Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
• Resources for families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.

This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.

Register here

Reading Plans and Your Student

Wednesday, October 22, 10 – 11:30 a.m.

This 1.5-hour webinar is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the new reading plans in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Parents will learn about:

• What a reading plan is: A reading plan is a support system for students who are not meeting literacy benchmarks. It outlines specific, evidence-based instruction and interventions to help them improve their reading skills.
• Who requires a reading plan: All students from kindergarten through eighth grade who are identified as needing additional support based on literacy assessments will receive a reading plan. This is part of a broader effort by FCPS to implement the Virginia Literacy Act.
• How schools will support students: The webinar will explain how FCPS is using a science-based reading approach and will discuss the role of reading specialists, the curriculum used, and the assessments to monitor student progress.
• Resources and tools for parents: Parents will leave with practical resources and tools they can use at home to support their child's literacy development. The webinar aims to empower families to be active partners in their child's reading journey.

Register here