Our final General Membership Meeting will be on Wed, May 1 at 9 am in the Cafeteria, during which the Langley High School PTSA will vote to elect its Executive Committee Officers for 2024-2025.

As announced in March, the proposed slate of officers is:

President – Bonnie Myshrall

VP of School Support – Margaret Brown

VP of Volunteer Management – Sara Koenig

VP of Membership and Fundraising – Melissa Schwartz

VP of Communications – Kristi Grgeta

Treasurer – Mary Lee

Secretary – Karen Hall

Only PTSA members are eligible to vote, however all Langley parents are invited to attend the meeting and converse with our guest speakers Dranesville School Board Representative Robyn Lady and Principal Greer following the vote. Submit any questions you may have for Ms. Lady here. Questions must be submitted by Mon, Apr 29.

On Tuesday, the Senior Class attended a hazing prevention presentation by the Love Like Adam Foundation. Adam Oake’s family shared his story and how he died of alcohol poisoning while pledging for a fraternity at VCU. The PTSA is happy to have supported such a powerful and educational experience for students. Thank you to Lauren Lipton and Kelly Ranking from Student Services for bringing awareness to the issues of hazing, binge drinking, and alcohol poisoning.

A reminder that Prom 2024 "Hollywood" is this Sat, Apr 27, 8-11 pm at Capital One Hall. I would like to thank Al’s Towing & Storage, which for three consecutive years has provided LHS students with a real-life example of why drinking and driving is unacceptable. Distracted driving - whether from alcohol, drugs, phones or food or drink - can have tragic consequences. The wrecked car outside the school is a reminder to students to be safe this weekend as well as every weekend leading up to the end of school.

I hope to see you at our meeting next week, and would like to wish our students a fun and safe Prom 2024 weekend!

~ Joy Hohenthaner, PTSA President

For the 5th year in a row, members of the Langley Chapter of the National English Honor Society have earned scholarships in a national writing competition. Congratulations to Sam Isler, who won a $3,000 scholarship for his essay on The Botanist Daughter, and Ashley Headrick, who won a $1,500 scholarship for her submission. We also want to celebrate the NEHS members who participated in “Adopt a Grandparent” centers or making friends in our “Pen Pals Across the World” programs or sharing Shakespeare’s Birthday. They demonstrate their astute analytical writing talents. Congratulations to our students!

Attention Class of 2024 parents and students: All Night Grad Party (ANGP)* is at Spring Hill Rec Center on Jun 3 from 10:30 pm to Jun 4 at 4 am!

Tickets, senior signs and graduation limo/box seat raffle tickets are available for purchase!

• Tickets are $85 from now until May 15. After May 15, they increase in price to $100. No tickets will be available at the door.
• Senior graduation signs are $50 each.
• Additionally, we have 5-hour limo service and box seats at DAR Constitution Hall for two lucky families! Raffle tickets for this opportunity are available for $10/one or $25/three. The winners will be drawn at the Senior Breakfast on Thurs, May 30. 

New this year, we are offering a ANGP Bundle that includes a ticket, your sign, a $50 donation and three raffle tickets for $200. Buy your tickets today!

Be on the lookout for volunteer opportunities coming soon!

*ANGP is an alcohol, drug, and smoke free event that takes place in a safe and supervised environment. Our goal is to reduce the risk of teen drinking and drug use on graduation night, saving the lives of our teens and other drivers. For any questions about the event or waivers click here.

Student Services needs parent volunteers to help in administering AP testing from May 6-17. 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!

Do you know a junior whose dedication to volunteerism is exemplary? The PTSA's Award for Outstanding Service honors a Langley junior who has demonstrated excellent service achievement and an ongoing sense of commitment to a worthy cause at Langley or the community at large. The winner receives a certificate and monetary award.

Nominations may be submitted by teachers, peers, parents, coaches, guidance counselors, club and organization sponsors. Self-nominations are allowed, too! Nominations are due Fri, May 10.

Click here to nominate a Langley junior for this award.

Juniors, sign up now for the College Application and Essay Workshop! This workshop is open to Langley Class of 2025 students only.

We are offering two sessions this year:

• Thurs, Jun 13 and Fri, Jun 14 from 9 am - 12 pm
• Mon, Aug 12 and Mon, Aug 13 from 9 am - 12 pm

Registration is open in MySchoolBucks! Register early as space is limited. The workshops will cover the same info, so select only one date.

During this voluntary program, students will have the opportunity to:

• Walk through the components of the Common Application
• Learn the art of writing a personal essay
• Organize the college application information
• Get helpful hints on letters of recommendation

Registration is first come and seats are limited. No refunds will be issued.

The Saxon Scope – Langley’s student-run, State-Championship-award winning news magazine – is a self-funded class that costs around $10,000 to operate on a yearly basis. Since the pandemic, The Scope has faced hardships when trying to find businesses willing to advertise and is at risk of not being able to print for much longer. To keep this (almost) 60-year-old publication alive, please consider any of the following ways that you could help out:

1. Become a Friend of The Scope. In MySchoolBucks, search for “Friends of The Scope” and donate. Any donation will get your name into our sponsor list that is published in each issue.
2. Subscribe to the magazine. In MySchoolBucks, search for “The Saxon Scope” and subscribe to receive all 6 issues of the magazine including the much-anticipated Senior Scope that features senior memories from their time at Langley and the Senior Plans list where seniors who wish to share their post-graduation plans.
3. Consider advertising your business in an upcoming issue. To do so, email either saxon.scopebusiness@gmail.com or the class adviser, Chrissy Mitro at camitro@fcps.edu.

Do your part to reduce food waste by donating uneaten, whole fruit from school lunches to SHARE of McLean -- look for the donation bins now located in the cafeteria. Just in the past three weeks since this effort began, Langley students have donated more than 400 apples, bananas, oranges and pears to SHARE's food pantry. 

If you'd like to help collect and deliver fruit to SHARE (deliveries occur twice a week), contact sophomore Elliot Pomper at elliot11137@gmail.com.

Stress-Less Admissions: Navigating the College Journey with Your Sanity Intact

The Safe Community Coalition, in partnership with the McLean Community Center (MCC), is excited to host The New York Times best-selling author and journalist Jeff Selingo this coming Mon, Apr 29, at 7pm in the MCC’s Alden Theatre (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean). Well known for his years of experience monitoring and researching the higher-education industry, Jeff will share his insights on current trends in college admissions and offer advice to optimize the journey.

Joining Jeff are co-moderators, Dr. Heather Tedesco, McLean Psychologist and co-author of Raising a Kid Who Can, and Hannah Wolff, Associate Director of College Counseling at Georgetown Preparatory School. With Mr. Selingo’s insight on college admissions, Ms. Wolff’s experience working with students and their families throughout the application process and Dr. Tedesco’s understanding of family relationships and the mental health challenges facing our teens – this is a program you won’t want to miss!

Advance ticket price is $15 online. Click here to register. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20. Space is limited and tickets will likely sell out, so don’t delay! A Q&A session will immediately follow the program.

softball youth night: Join us for some spring sport fun! Langley Girls Softball Youth Night is tonight, Thurs, Apr 25, 6:30 pm vs Wakefield. Kids get in free – wear your jersey! There will be raffles and giveaways, plus halftime fun!

ppe night: Langley will host an opportunity to get your physical form completed for the 2024 - 2025 school year by our wonderful volunteer doctors on Wed, May 1 during the Pre-Participation Physical Exam (PPE) Night!

The physical night raises funds for the Langley High School Athletic Training Program.

The cost for a physical is $50, with an appointment made in advance. This fundraiser goes directly to purchasing tape and first aid supplies/equipment that certified athletic trainers use every day to provide healthcare to all student athletes.

Click here to register for your athlete’s 2024 Student Athletic Physical Registration.

Volunteers, click here for 2024 Athletic Physical Volunteer Registration.

... Here is the latest data from the Virginia Department of Health on marijuana related emergency room and urgent care visits in Fairfax County since the laws changed. Although the 2023-24 numbers-to-date are lower, there are still 3 months of data to collect for a full comparison. The previous three years show an upward trend.

seal & service cord apps: Seal & Service Cord Applications are due Wed, May 1 at 12 pm (noon).

Seal & Service Cord Applications are required if you would like to be considered for any of the following:

Service Cord Application: Click here for the application

Civics Seal Application: Click here for the application

Science & Environmental Seal Application: Click here for the application

Students must be logged into their fcpsschools.net account in order to access the apps.

senior trip to hershey park: Seniors, tickets for our trip to Hershey Park on Wed, May 29 are on sale now through Thurs, May 2. Price is $56 and includes admission and a meal voucher. Buy your ticket here today!

senior graduation dues: Senior graduation dues are required of all seniors. The funds will be used to pay for your student's cap and gown, and to offset the cost of graduation and related expenses. Click here to submit payment.

slideshow photos: Be a part of the Class of 2024's 'farewell tribute' to LHS!

Deadline for submission of photos for the Class of 2024 Slideshow is May 1! Submit your photos to elizabethmburke@me.com or aamartinuk@yahoo.com as soon as possible!

Some tips and guidelines:

● submit in JPG/JPEG format

● no large groups please! small groups are best (2-4 people)

● lhs seniors only - no outside friends/siblings/family members

● casual photos are best - portraits are great but we are looking for fun!

● recent pictures please - no baby pics

The slide show will be aired during senior week activities.

junior/senior prom: Langley HS 2024 prom will be held on Sat, Apr 27 at Capital One Hall. Junior parents, we still need a few more volunteers to assist with this event! If you are interested in volunteering, sign up here.

Freshman parents, join us for our last Parent Forum of the school year on Tues, Apr 30 at 9:30 am in the Langley Auditorium! In addition to updates about all things Class of 2027, we will be joined by Langley’s Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Kelly Rankin and Langley's Student Resource Officer (SRO) Officer Michael Mathwin for a presentation and discussion on substance abuse information and prevention strategies. Ms. Rankin will provide training on the use of NARCAN at the end of her presentation for those who are interested. Email Tracy Rohrbaugh at trohrbaugh@gmail.com if there are any specific questions on these topics you’d like addressed. Hope to see you there!

student opps

teen character awards: Do you know a teen with an ethical and compassionate character? The McLean Citizens Association (MCA) is again sponsoring the Outstanding Character Awards for Teenagers! 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 McLean Day at 3 pm on Sat, May 18. Click here to view the nomination application and criteria. Apps are due no later than Fri, Apr 26 and must be submitted by email to e-y_committee@mcleancitizens.org.

Questions? Contact the MCA E&Y Committee Chair at e-y_committee@mcleancitizens.org. 

art competition: Looking for a chance to showcase your artistic skills? The 2024 Congressional Art Competition is now open to all high school students. Students are invited to enter the competition by submitting their best paintings, drawings, collages, computer designs and other types of artwork. Winners have the chance to have their art featured in the U.S. Capitol building alongside winning pieces from around the country.

Artwork must follow the Congressional Art Competition rules and regulations and all artwork must be submitted through your local Congressional representative. Here is the link for Don Beyer of the 8th District and here is the link for Gerald Connolly of the 11th District. Artwork and required forms must be submitted by tomorrow Fri, Apr 26 at 11:59 pm for the 8th District and close of business Mon, Apr 29 for the 11th District. Refer to each Representative's website for more details for their office.

community opps

health acceptance day: The Fairfax County Community Service Board’s Equity and Youth & Family Divisions will celebrate National Children’s Mental Health Acceptance Day on Fri, May 3 from 12-3 pm. May 3 is a student holiday/teacher workday, so stop by to enjoy food trucks, prizes, music, wellness activities, a panel discussion, and more! The event will highlight the diversity in our community with a focus on celebrating inclusion and acceptance of all.

The event is at the James Lee Community Center, 2855 Annandale Rd Ste 101, Falls Church, VA 22042. Register here.

vote for MCC rep: 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 Mon, May 13. 

In-person voting will be conducted in the voting tent from 4–8 pm at T.G.I.F. Carnival Rides on Fri, May 17, and from 11 am–5 pm on McLean Day, Sat, May 18 at Lewinsville Park (1659 Chain Bridge Road, McLean).

Three Langley students are running for the LHS youth candidate position: Anastasiia Dudnik-Dubiniak, Sonya Thott and Luke Understein. Click here to meet all the candidates and view more election info on the MCC website.

Apr 27: Junior-Senior Prom, 8 - 11 pm, Capital One Hall

Apr 29: Stress-Less Admissions, 7 pm, Alden Theatre at MCC

Apr 30: Freshman Parent Forum, 9 am, Auditorium

May 1: Principal Q & A | PTSA General Membership Meeting, 9 am, Cafeteria

May 1: Langley PPE Night

May 2: Small Ensemble Band Concert, 7 pm, Auditorium

May 3: Student Holiday/Teacher Workday

May 6-7: Rising Senior Portraits

May 6-10: AP Exams

May 13-17: AP Exams