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The Weekly Roar

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

January Is Jumping!

The new year is off to a busy start at Lane! Last week we had not one but TWO special events during P.E. classes. On Tuesday and Wednesday, students in kindergarten through 3rd grade enjoyed a visit from Elite Martial Arts (EMA), a dedicated business partner for our school. Students learned from masters about the strength of body and the strength of spirit practicing these ancient arts can bring. And they had a whole lot of fun, too!

In P.E. on Thursday, students in all grade levels participated in Walk in My Shoes, which featured a series of stations designed to raise awareness among general-education students about the daily situations faced by some of their friends with developmental challenges and learning differences. Activities explored dyslexia, food allergies, limitations with fine motor skills, and limitations with gross motor skills, among other challenges. The program fosters empathy for others and gets students thinking about how they might be able to help a friend. We would like to thank all the parent volunteers who supported this event and the Lane PTA, which provided funding to make it possible.

It was an especially exciting week for our 6th grade Lane Lions who will be moving on to 7th grade next fall. They got to tour their future middle school (Hayfield or Mark Twain) to get an up-close and personal look.

Upcoming Events

• Tuesday, 1/20 & Wednesday, 1/21 – PTA Restaurant Nights at La Fiamma (all day)
  
• Monday, 1/26 – SCA End-of-Quarter Spirit Day: “Swap Day” (Students dress like teachers, and teachers dress like students.)
• Tuesday, 1/27 – SCA End-of-Quarter Spirit Day: “College Shirt Day” (Wear a shirt from your favorite college or university.)
• Wednesday, 1/28 – SCA End-of-Quarter Spirit Day: “Who Will Win? Day” (Wear the colors of the team you think will win the Super Bowl. Color choices will be determined by this weekend's playoff games.)
• Wednesday, 1/28 – End-of-Quarter 2-hour Early Release, students dismissed at 2:05 p.m., NO AFTER-SCHOOL CARE provided by the school
• Thursday, 1/29 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday, students do not report
• Friday, 1/30 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday, students do not report
• Wednesday, 2/4 – Hayfield Rising 7th Grade Parent Coffee, 6 to 7:30 p.m., Hayfield Middle School Lecture Hall
• Thursday, 2/5 – Celebration of Cultures Night/Winter CARE Night, 6 to 8 p.m.
• Friday, 2/6 – First Friday Family Zoom: “Creating a School Where Every Child Belongs,” 10:30 a.m.
• Monday, 2/16 – Presidents Day Holiday, school, office, and SACC CLOSED
• Tuesday, 2/17 – Student Holiday/Teacher Workday, students do not report; SACC open
  
  

In This Issue

• Schedule Changes Next Week for End-of-Quarter Teacher Workdays
• SCA End-of-Quarter Spirit Days Next Week
• Share Your Family’s Culture at Lane’s 2026 Celebration of Cultures Night – Thursday, February 5!
• Would You Like to Help Plan Lane’s 30th Birthday Party?
• Apply for Your Child to Learn in Two Languages
• PTA News: Restaurant Days this week at La Fiamma
• Parent Resources: Health reminders, cell phone policy update, meal accommodations, webinars, and more
• FCPS News & Activities: Safety and security updates
  
  

News & Notes

Schedule Changes Next Week for End-of-Quarter Teacher Workdays

It’s hard to believe we’re coming to the end of the second quarter of the school year already! The quarter officially ends on Wednesday, January 28, and that will be a 2-hour End-of-Quarter Early Release day. 

Unlike our 3-hour Early Release Wednesdays, there will be NO after-school supervision for students.  All students will be dismissed at 2:05 p.m. to go home or to their regular after-school care provider.

Thursday, January 29, and Friday, January 30, are both Student Holidays, and students do not report. This gives staff a chance to start working on grades and other end-of-quarter paperwork.

Please make sure these schedule changes are on your calendar.

SCA End-of-Quarter Spirit Days Next Week

The SCA has planned three themed spirit days to bring the school together with some fun as we finish up the second quarter of the school year.

• On Monday, January 26, students and staff are encouraged to switch styles for “Swap Day.” Students should dress like teachers, and teachers should dress like students. 
• Tuesday, January 27, is “College Shirt Day,” and a chance to show off your favorite college or university.
• Finally, on Wednesday, January 28, all staff and students are invited to wear the colors of the team they think (or hope) will win the Super Bowl on “Who Will Win? Day.” Stay tuned for what those color choices will be after this weekend's playoff games.

We hope your child will participate.

Share Your Family’s Culture at Lane’s 2026 Celebration of Cultures Night — Thursday, February 5!

Our 2026 Celebration of Cultures Night will be held on Thursday, February 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. It will feature displays, performances, and food from all over the world provided by our own Lane families and staff. We would love to have you join us to share your culture. You do not need to be from a foreign country to participate. All families are welcome!

Look for another copy of the flyer in tomorrow's Wednesday Folder. A copy is also pictured below. Take a look to see how you might want to participate and let us know by signing up here.

Celebration of Cultures Night will also serve as our Winter Cultural Awareness & Recognition Event (CARE) Night and will include special areas with displays and activities recognizing Black History Month, Lunar New Year, and Ramadan. We’ll have music, snacks, and crafts to make and take home.

We hope to see your family on February 5!

Upcoming Student Experience Survey at Lane Elementary

Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All students in grades 3 through 6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 23. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 23, and Friday, March 6. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose. The electronic opt-out form can also be accessed at this link.

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

Would You Like to Help Plan Lane’s 30th Birthday Party? As you know, Lane is celebrating 30 years of serving students and the community this year. To mark that milestone, we — with the support of the Lane PTA — are planning a big community celebration for Friday, April 17, as well as other mini celebrations leading up to it, and would like to put together a committee to help develop these plans. We will likely meet once a month from February to April. (Meeting dates to be determined.) If you would like to participate, please fill out this form to let us know. We will follow up with more details in the next couple of weeks. Thanks in advance for your interest and support. All are welcome!

Apply for Your Child to Learn in Two Languages

FCPS’ 2026-27 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program lottery is now open! The program offers students in kindergarten and 1st grade the opportunity to learn in English and another language — French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish — for half of each instructional day.

The online, countywide lottery is open to Fairfax County residents. Families must have a SIS ParentVUE account. Students not currently enrolled in FCPS should register at their base school before applying for the immersion program.

Families applying for 1st grade must do so by Thursday, February 12, at 4 p.m. Those applying for kindergarten must do so by Monday, March 2, at 4 p.m.

Informational meetings will begin in January. View dates and details on the FCPS calendar. If you have questions, please contact Brigid Williams at 571-423-4600.

PTA News

Savor Some Italian Fare at La Fiamma on Lane Restaurant Nights This Week!

La Fiamma Italian Kitchen is hosting Lane Elementary families on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, January 20th and 21st. A percentage of all sales to Lane families all day will be donated back to our school.

Parent Resources

Healthy Habits to Reduce the Spread of Flu and Other Germs

Fairfax County is seeing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. Visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings.

Consider these tips from the Fairfax County Health Department to help reduce the spread of flu and other germs.

When Should Your Child Stay Home?

Help your student succeed in school by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. Visit the FCPS website for helpful insights regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school to minimize impacts on learning.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to let us know so we can provide assistance, if needed.

Immunization Events for FCPS Students

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be available throughout the school year.

Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. View immunization resources on the FCPS website.

Did Your Student Get a New Phone or Device?

For a distraction-free start to the new year, please remind your student about FCPS' policy for cell phones and personal devices. This policy helps students focus, interact more with their peers and teachers, and build independent problem-solving skills.

Visit FCPS’ cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions, including:

• Exceptions for students with medical conditions or IEP/504 plans.
• Cell phone use on buses and field trips.
• Consequences for cell phone policy violations.

If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call our main office.

Strategies for Better Sleep

Sleep is essential to good health, and getting enough sleep has big benefits to your physical and mental health and well-being. Sleep is restorative, allowing your body time to recover and repair.

This is true for your child, too. In fact, adequate sleep in children supports healthy brain development, learning, and memory consolidation, as well as their mood. And it is important for a strong immune system and the prevention of infections. Read about how much sleep a person needs and get some sleep strategies you can use with your family.

Access Schoology to Support Your Child

Schoology is the learning management system used in FCPS. Parents and students can use Schoology to view assignments and messages from teachers. Learn more about how to access and navigate Schoology.

Visit the Schoology Snippets YouTube playlist to watch short tutorials that walk you through how to use Schoology.

Need help logging in or accessing Tech Support? Visit the Schoology for Parents page.

Meal Accommodations Provide Safe, Nutritious Meals

FCPS’ Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) works to ensure every student has access to school meals that are safe and nutritious and meet their individual dietary needs.

FNS works closely with families to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students whose medical needs affect what they can eat at school. To support students appropriately and safely, families are asked to submit medical documentation to FNS from a U.S. licensed health care provider so we can tailor meals to each child’s needs.

Learn more about the documentation required and the steps to develop a menu for your child.

Winter Resources for Families

A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or others they know need assistance during these cold winter months. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.

Upcoming Free Webinars from the Family Resource Center

The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together

Thursday, January 22, 2026, 6:30 – 8 p.m. in person at West Potomac High School, 6500 Quander Road in Alexandria

Technology connects us like never before, but it’s important to know how to stay safe while using it. This family workshop provides hands-on learning about internet safety to inform families of:

• Today’s popular social sites and apps used by students
• Effective strategies to engage youth in discussions regarding internet safety
• 7 primary topics to discuss with youth that will remain important from kindergarten through adulthood.

Join FCPS Intervention and Prevention Services to learn how your family can build healthy, secure, and positive habits online together.

Interpreters and childcare will be available.

For details and registration information, visit the FCPS Family Academy website.