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- Principal's Message
- Tree Planting at THE STATION
- AAP Referral Deadline
- SEL Screener Report for Parents
- Prepare for Winter Weather
- FCPS Pauses Volunteer Form
- SHOW UP AND SHINE Challenge
- Winter Band/Chorus Concert
- Winter Sing Along
- Original Works Fundraiser
- Winter Spirit Week
- After School Basketball at Lorton Station
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November 26 - 28: Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL)
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December 1: Deadline for Original Works Orders
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December 10: PTO Meeting @6PM w/School Board Member Mateo Dunne to discuss new Lorton Station Boundaries
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December 11: Winter Band and Chorus Concert
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December 15 - 19: Winter Spirit Week
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December 17: Early Release 1 PM
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December 19: Winter Sing Along
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December 20 - January 4: Winter Break (NO SCHOOL)
Good afternoon, Lorton Station families!
As we approach Thanksgiving, I was inspired by a former colleague to find new ways to speak on kindness and thanks. It is the one thing that costs us nothing but delivers a lasting impact by changing the way we think, feel, and communicate. How many times have you had a rough day? Then a simple act of kindness from a neighbor, friend, co-worker, child, or spouse brightened up your day. As we enter the holiday season, the greatest gift we can equip our students with is kindness. I have selected a few ideas that have had a tremendous impact on me in my lifetime.
Tell someone you’re thankful for them: Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of our lives, moving a million miles a minute, is that we forget to say to someone how much they mean to our lives. During the season of Thanks, it would be an excellent time for children to say thank you to grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, and those adults who take time to be in their lives.
Get to know someone new: When I am out and about, I have tried to consciously refrain from technology because you never know what special friendship you might be missing out on while you are mesmerized by your phone. Take your child to a new place or engage with a family you’ve seen but never spoken to in the neighborhood; it might spark a new lifelong friend.
Leaving positive notes: There is nothing like finding a simple note from a friend, colleague, or family member that says how special you are to brighten your day. The story of the troubled teenager in Oregon who received a hug from a teacher because he was depressed speaks to how powerful a simple message of inspiration and hope can be on someone.
Quick highlights:
- SHOW UP and SHINE Winter Break Challenge
- Thanksgiving Break Wed - Friday next week (NO SCHOOL)
- Math and Language Arts Unit Assessments have been completed, and teachers have notified parents of the results. If you did not get the results from the recent math or language arts assessment, don't hesitate to get in touch with your teacher.
Have a great day,
Dr. Legagneur, Mr. Barton, and Ms. Champion
 Tree Planting at THE STATION
We are excited to share that this week, several classes had the opportunity to help plant six trees at Lorton Station with Fairfax Parks Services. Students in Ms. Durocher, Ms. Cabrera, Ms. Tynes, Ms. Schneider, and Ms. Haslebacher had the opportunity to learn about the importance of planting new trees, their impact on the environment, and why we, as citizens, need to be good stewards of the environment. In the spring, we will have six other classes participate in the planting of six new trees. All twelve trees will impact our environment and community for years to come and shape outdoor spaces.
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Ms. Slye @ moslye@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2025.
Each year, families can submit a referral for full-time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for full-time AAP services will be accepted.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.
Next Steps for Parents
Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing [name and email address of the AART].
At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by the school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year.
At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener: Parent Reports
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener last month, providing information on skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results will be available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE the week of November 17. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be shared by our school.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to school staff.
❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
Volunteer FCPS Helps Community Members Connect With Schools
The new volunteer management system, Volunteer FCPS, allows individuals to search and register for volunteer opportunities at our school or across the school district.
Volunteer FCPS is how FCPS provides a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. Anyone interested in volunteering with FCPS must:
- Create a profile in Volunteer FCPS.
- Register for opportunities through Volunteer FCPS.
- Sign in and out of schools using the visitor kiosk on EVERY visit – no exceptions.
Recent Updates to Volunteer Opportunity LevelsDue to the overwhelming response, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities.
Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a comprehensive background check that includes fingerprinting).
To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal confirmation that you have no history of violent felonies, physical or sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude (dishonesty, fraud, things that are immoral by society’s standards).
Visit the Volunteer FCPS website to complete a volunteer orientation. View Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the volunteer levels.
 Original Works Fundraiser: Accepting Late Orders!
Great news! Original Works fundraiser is accepting late orders until Tuesday, December 3rd!
- Shipping for Late Orders: Please note that late orders will ship separately from the main bulk order.
- Delivery Timeline: Due to this separate processing, late orders are not expected to arrive before Winter Break.
- Estimated Arrival: We anticipate these items will be delivered to you in January.
Even if they don't arrive in time for the holidays, these products make great gifts year-round!
They are perfect for celebrating:
- Birthdays
- Valentine's Day
- Mother’s Day
- Father’s Day
- Teacher Appreciation
For more information about the program, please visit the Original Works website or watch this video on how to place an order online.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOGjxlPkLeM
Thank you for supporting LSES!
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