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The Lion’s Roar
All the Latest News from
Lane Elementary School
Where students communicate, collaborate & care
7137 Beulah Street 703-924-7700
Alexandria, VA 22315 www.fcps.edu/LaneES
Jay Nocco Lisa McNamee
Principal Assistant Principal
November 2010
From the Principal’s Desk …
The leaves are changing and the temperature outside is beginning to drop. Fall
is all around, and we are embracing the season at Lane. We have had a fantastic
first quarter getting to know our students and developing plans to make sure
they reach their academic potential. Our teachers were able to share these
assessments and goals with you at our parent-teacher conferences. Please keep
this communication going throughout the year. Do not hesitate to send an e-mail or call your
child’s teacher when you have a question or a concern.
We want to thank many of you for joining us for our fall Math Night last month. We had over
130 students attend with their parents. This fun and educational evening allowed teachers to
share some of the math games we use with children daily in class during our math workshop
time. For those of you with children in kindergarten through second grade, we hope you will
join us for our upcoming literacy night, “Partners in Print,” on November 11.
We need your help with a specific communication problem: While trying to contact parents
during the day, we have found that we have some incorrect phone numbers on the emergency
care cards that were turned in at the beginning of the school year. When your contact information
changes, please make sure you let the front office and your child’s teacher know. This
information is especially important in a medical emergency. There have been some incidents
over the last few weeks when we needed to let parents know their child was ill but were unable
to reach parents because the phone numbers we had on file were no longer working.
Finally, we would like to remind you that students can access their 24/7 accounts at home.
Teachers have included, on their class sites, links to websites where children can work on math
facts, read nonfiction text, and practice test-taking skills. Please take time to look at these
websites with your children and set aside some time for them to practice with you. We know that
students have a hard time putting away the video games as the weather gets colder and they
spend more time inside. Why not take advantage of their love for technology and channel it in a
productive way by playing the educational games on 24/7?
We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!
~ Jay Nocco
Principal
Lane Wins Green Apple
Wellness Award
Last month, Lane was one of 41 elementary schools in
Fairfax County presented with a 2010 Wellness Award
for excellence in focusing on health and wellness
objectives at their school and in their communities.
Wellness Awards recognize schools that focus on
School Board Student Achievement Goals 2.8 –
“Students will make healthy and safe life choices” – and 3.2 – “Students will be respectful and
contributing participants in their school, community, country, and world.” These awards are a
key component of the FCPS Wellness Policy, which includes goals for nutrition education, food
and beverages served during the school day, food environment, and physical activity and
physical education.
There are four levels of accomplishment in the Golden Apple Awards program. Gold Apple
Awards are presented for the highest achievement, followed by Red Apple Awards, Green Apple
Awards, and Honorable Mention Awards. Lane was one of 20 schools to receive Green Apple
commendation.
Looking for a Night of Old-Fashioned
Family Fun?
If so, please consider attending Hayfield Secondary’s final home football
game of the year this Friday night, November 5. The Hawks will be playing
the Edison Eagles (home team of the other high school for Lane students) in
the Red, Hot & Blue Bowl. This game is also Hayfield’s Senior Night (where
senior football players, marching band members, dance team members, and
cheerleaders are recognized) and the fifth annual Little Hawks Cheer Clinic. The game begins at
7:30 p.m. and will close with a fireworks display. Come show your community spirit and
celebrate this fall tradition!
Make Reading a Family Affair at “Partners
in Print”
Are you looking for ways to help your young child with reading? If so, then
please be sure to attend our annual “Partners in Print” event on Thursday,
November 11, beginning at 6:15 p.m. This special program, designed for
students in kindergarten through second grade and their parents, will offer
tips on how to read with your child, what questions to ask as you read
together, and ways to make the most of the story and your time together. For more information,
please contact our Reading Specialist Patti Exstein at psexstein@fcps.edu.
Advanced Academics Take Center Stage on
November 18
Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) Karen Ambrose will present a
special program for parents on Thursday, November 18, from 5:30 to 6:30
p.m. in the Lane Library. At this program, you’ll get all the details on the
County’s Advanced Academic Program (AAP) and the school-based services provided here at
Lane this year. Topics will include levels of service, testing and identification, and curriculum.
For more information, contact Karen Ambrose at KAAmbrose@fcps.edu.
Picture Make-Up Day Is Wednesday, November 10
On Wednesday, November 10, photographers will return to school to take individual portraits
of students who were absent on the original October Picture Day or who have joined our school
since that day. Students who were photographed before but wish to have their pictures retaken
will also be photographed. Order forms and payment envelopes will be sent to all students who
were not photographed in October.
From the Shelves of the Lane
Library: Book Fair Is Coming
Soon!
Submitted by Carolyn Koehler, Lane Librarian
The Lane Library will host its annual Book Fair the
week of December 6. During the school day, students
will have a chance to browse and make purchases. The
big shopping night is Family Night on Tuesday,
December 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. Mark your calendars
now, because you won’t want to miss this exciting
Lane tradition that celebrates books! This is a great chance to get a jump on holiday shopping for
the whole family. Books make great teacher gifts, too. Purchases can be made with cash, check,
or credit card.
All purchases at the Book Fair benefit our school. We purchased Netbook computers for the
library with last year’s Book Fair proceeds.
We hope to see you in the library on December 7!
Lane’s SCA Is Off and Running!
Submitted by Libya Doman and Laura Jacobs, SCA Sponsors
Now that our officers have been elected and our class representatives and alternates
have been chosen, Lane’s SCA is ready to start leading programs to help our
school and the community. Three exciting events are scheduled for the
month of November:
Annual Food Drive
November 8 – November 12
Celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving by bringing canned and/boxed food items for a local food
program that serves families in need. Nutritional, hearty items, such as peas, peanut butter, jelly,
pasta, tuna, etc. will all be appreciated. Collection boxes will be placed in the Bus Lobby.
Sports Jersey Day
Friday, November 19
All students are encouraged to wear a jersey or T-shirt from their favorite team or favorite
sport to show their school spirit.
Toys-for-Tots
November 29 – December 3
We’ll finish out the month, and move into the holiday season, with our annual
toy drive. Please bring in new and unwrapped items to help make the holidays
special for local children in need.
Art News: Art Grades?
Submitted by Libya Doman and Allison Santala, Lane Art Specialists
People often think of Art as simply an expressive outlet during an academically
rigorous week. While we truly want art classes to be expressive and fun at Lane,
we also follow FCPS’s structured Program of Studies.
There are three major strands that we make part of every art lesson sequence: 1)
planning, 2) product, and 3) understanding. These three areas of focus ensure that the students
are prompted to consider many options before making art; to create artwork that demonstrates
thoughtful processes; and to reflect on multiple creative choices. Grades in Art reflect students’
work from start to finish in this sequence.
In the art room, we would love to help students become the next Picasso, DaVinci, or Ringgold.
We are more interested, however, in students becoming creative individuals who are willing to
plan, create, and comprehend “outside-the-box.”
Music Notes: The Sounds of First Quarter
Submitted by Bev Ogden and Joy Petty, Lane Music Specialists
During the first grading quarter, that ended at the end of the October, the
upper grades worked on recorder-playing skills and reading notes on the
staff. All students should continue to review and practice their recorder
at home daily to build up the skills necessary to play at their grade level.
Recorders and Music folders should be kept in backpacks so they are at home for practice AND
at school on Music days. All students are expected to come to Music with the correct supplies
each time; it is part of their effort grade.
By the end of October, parents of fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students should have signed and
sent back to school two tests: the Star Spangled Banner word test and the Sousa biography test.
If you have not yet seen these tests and signed them, please look in your child’s Music folder.
Returning signed tests is also part of the student’s effort grade in Music each quarter.
During this past quarter, primary-grade students have been learning about pitch, playing pitch
matching games, and exploring and playing different instruments. They have also reviewed
steady beat and rhythm and have listened to different styles of music.
All Lane students will soon be involved in a big Music event: A new school song will soon be
coming to our school! Students will be voting on two choices to see which they like best. Stay
tuned and keep listening!
From the P. E. Department:
Pedometers in P.E./Movement Skills
Submitted by Linda Farace and Tiffany Schutt, Lane P.E. Specialists
We got off to a running start in P. E. in October. While we focused on
aerobic fitness, we spent a great deal of the month on personal fitness
and goal-setting. As part of these lessons, we introduced pedometers.
The pedometer is a technological tool we have been using at Lane
with students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grade to help them count their
steps during activities. The pedometers help increase awareness of movement; students chart
their progress in the number of steps taken during activity in our P.E. journals. The pedometer is
a relatively inexpensive tool, but it’s a great way to increase motivation and movement!
Speaking of movement, our students in kindergarten through second grade have been traveling
throughout the gym using their locomotor movement and reading skills. We want all of our
Lane students to understand it is important to know how and why to move but also to have fun
while doing it. As we move into November, our skill theme will be throwing and catching.
Counselors’ Corner: Battling Bullying with Education
Submitted by Rachel Hoover and Matt Beckwith, Lane Counselors
Bullying has become a major topic in schools throughout the nation, which is why October is
now National Bullying Prevention Month. Incidents of bullying are frequently being reported in
all areas of our country, many of which have been serious or tragic enough to become national
and global news. The concept of bullying prevention is to proactively talk about these issues
before they start so that students, parents, and school staff and faculty are prepared to handle
each unique situation as it comes. Unfortunately, bullying and harassment are inevitable perils in
our society. Our goals are to attempt to limit these occurrences and to educate our students and
those that raise, guide, and teach them to be able to respond appropriately when necessary.
During the month of October, the Lane counselors talked about bullying prevention with all of
our classes. Depending on the grade level, the counselors used books, PowerPoint presentations,
interactive activities, surveys, and more to introduce or further students’ knowledge about
bullying and bullying prevention. Points that we talked about included definitions of bullying,
types of bullying, examples of bullying, and knowing what to do if a student or others around
them are being bullied.
For more information on our bullying prevention program or for guidance on what to do if your
child is being bullied, contact Ms. Hoover at RAHoover@fcps.edu or Mr. Beckwith at
MMBeckwith@fcps.edu.
Let the Lane PTA Help You With Your Holidays
As the holidays approach, life gets busier and busier. Fortunately, the Lane PTA has a few
upcoming programs that can help ease some of that holiday stress.
First, we hope you’ve taken advantage of our Honeybaked Ham fundraiser to get your
Thanksgiving ham or turkey. Just order through us and you can skip the long line at the
Honeybaked store and pick up the centerpiece for your holiday menu right here at school. A
percentage of every purchase is also donated back to our school to help support PTA programs.
Order forms and payments are due no later than Friday, November 12, and purchases will
be delivered on Monday, November 22. You will be able to pick up your purchases right after
school between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. or later in the evening, between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Second, if you need some kid-free time to get some holiday shopping done, the PTA will be
there to help on Friday, December 10, at our first Holiday Stop and Shop event. For a simple
donation to the PTA, we’ll watch your little ones from 6 to 9 p.m. while you go shopping, or just
go out to enjoy some time with your spouse or friends. Watch Wednesday folders for more
details.
Thank you to all the families who have supported our PTA programs this fall. Our fundraisers,
including flower bulbs, restaurant nights, and Boosterthon, set new records for support. We’ve
also signed up nearly 300 members. If you haven’t joined yet, there’s still time. Just visit the
Lane PTA website for more information and download a membership form.
We wish all of our families a wonderful Thanksgiving and hope to see you at many upcoming
PTA events, this fall and throughout the year.
Upcoming Events
Monday, November 8 – SCA Annual Food Drive
Friday, November 12
Wednesday, November 10 Picture Make-Up Day
Thursday, November 11 Partners in Print, Reading Program
for Grades K – 2 and their Parents
6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, November 16 PTA Restaurant Night at
Red, Hot & Blue (Grades K – 3)
Wednesday, November 17 PTA Restaurant Night at
Red, Hot & Blue (Grades 4 – 6)
Thursday, November 18 Advanced Academic Program
Parent Information Night
5:30 p.m., Library
Friday, November 19 SCA Sports Jersey Day
Wednesday, November 24 Early Release for Thanksgiving Holiday
1:55 p.m. Dismissal
Thursday, November 25 Thanksgiving Holiday
& Friday, November 26 School and Office closed.
Monday, November 29 – SCA Toys for Tots Toy Drive
Friday, December 3
Monday, December 6 – Library Book Fair
Friday, December 10
