Hard to believe we are entering the final stretch of the school year with the end of the third quarter tomorrow. Although another quarter to go, the slate of the PTSA Executive Officers for the 2024-2025 school year was announced at Monday’s General Membership Meeting (GMM). Voting for the following positions will be at the May 1 GMM:

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

Thank you to these enthusiastic volunteers who have agreed to share their time and talents with us next year! I am confident that under their leadership the PTSA will continue to support and fund programs that benefit our students, teachers and families.

I also want to thank everyone who helped make Senior Ethics Day a meaningful experience for our seniors. Thank you to all the volunteers who served as table leaders and to those who helped with lunch, set up and clean up duties.

A huge thank you to our Senior Ethics Day Committee members Danica Alink, Margaret Brown, Jill Farah and Dianne Emery, who organized and executed this important event for our seniors, despite losing the original venue a few weeks before the event. Another big thank you goes out to Comstock Companies and Tim Stefan for generously providing a venue free of charge, as well as to Langley parent Jon Paul of Megawatt for providing audio visual equipment and Laura Davis of Seven-Eleven for donating drinks for the event. Their support was crucial, and we would not have been able to hold the event without their support and generosity.

I hope you have a fun and relaxing spring break next week!

~ Joy Hohenthaner, PTSA President

band assessment: Congrats to the Langley Bands! The District Band Assessments event – the SOL for bands – was held at South Lakes HS this past weekend, and the Langley Bands had amazing performances!

The Symphonic Band earned an overall rating of "Excellent," an outstanding accomplishment playing a challenging and mature program, and represents tremendous progress this year. The Wind Ensemble, led by Assistant Band Director Kai Smith, earned "Superior" from every judge and has earned Superiors at Assessment every year since 2018! They, too, have grown a ton this year and performed beautifully. A huge thank you and congratulations to Mr. Smith for leading them through this process! 

The Wind Symphony also earned "Superior" ratings from every judge, and straight "A’s" down every sheet. Their truly astonishing performance was a culmination and celebration for our seniors in particular, and it was a joy. This accomplishment, paired with the fact that the Marching Saxons also earned a Superior rating this fall, means that, for the fourth time in Langley history, the Langley Bands are designated a Virginia Honor Band! This is a singular honor from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, recognizing programs that achieve at a high level in both marching and concert band. Langley has also been named a Blue Ribbon School by the Virginia Music Educators Association for the 13th straight year! 

Bravo to all the Bands!

Congratulations to LHS’s own Lina Liakakos, who is one of the recipients of the 2024 Student Peace Awards of Fairfax County. This award is designed to recognize young people who work as peacemakers. Every year, the high schools in Fairfax County select one junior or senior, or a group of students, whose work has promoted peace. Read more about the award and recipients here.

Experience the magic of musical theater with Langley's Saxon Stage! Join us for an unforgettable evening with the timeless classic Guys and Dolls.

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of New York City, filled with love, laughter, and catchy tunes. Our talented cast and crew are ready to transport you to the golden age of Broadway!

Follow the intertwining tales of high-rolling gamblers, and captivating and unlikely love stories. Will the charismatic Sky Masterson win the heart of straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown? Can Nathan Detroit organize the perfect craps game while dealing with his own romantic troubles?

Tickets are now on sale: $16 for Adults, $10 for Students and $5 for Senior Citizens.

Performances are Apr 12, Apr 13 and Apr 15 at 7 pm, and Apr 14 at 2:30 pm.

Don't miss out on this spectacular production! Grab your tickets here and join us for a night of entertainment that will leave you tapping your feet and humming the tunes long after the final curtain falls. #SaxonStage #GuysAndDolls #MusicalMagic

Shop Langleyboosters.org for some great hats and bracelets. Our baseball hats are now available in black, white, wheat and green! Click on Shop/Spirit Wearable Accessories.

April 8-12 is Wellness Week at LHS. The PTSA Family Network is helping Student Services by bagging and distributing over 2,000 bags of popcorn on Thurs, Apr 11. We need volunteers to help bag popcorn so it is ready to pass out to the students during lunch. Help bring a smile to their faces by signing up to assist 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!

On Mar 8, the Science Honor Society (SHS) and the Math Honor Society (MHS) hosted a presentation by Dr. Nancy Chabot, a distinguished figure in planetary science. Dr. Chabot, who served as the Coordination Lead for NASA's pioneering Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, shared details on how her team successfully altered an asteroid's orbit via a spacecraft collision.

The event was both informative and interactive, featuring a dynamic Q&A session that allowed attendees to deepen their knowledge of planetary defense and explore various scientific career opportunities. Members of SHS, MHS and numerous STEM clubs, including the Science Olympiad team, Astrophysics Club, and Math Olympiad Club, participated in this enriching experience.

The success of this event was made possible thanks to the support and dedication of SHS Sponsor Dr. O'Malley and MHS Sponsor Ms. Douglas.

Pictured l-r: Dr. Christina O’Malley, Dr. Nancy Chobat, Ms. Pam Douglas, Scarlett Adams (SHS and MHS President), Caire Knaggs (SHS Treasurer), Mansi Bhardwaj (SHS Vice President).

The McLean Citizens Association, with support from McLean, Langley, and Marshall High Schools, is hosting a summer job fair today Thurs, Mar 21, from 4:00 - 6:00 pm at the McLean Community Center (Community Hall, 1234 Ingleside Avenue, McLean, VA 22101).

Students do not need to sign up - just walk in. Students, bring copies of your resume to leave with potential employers. You will have the opportunity to fill out applications on the spot! Questions? Send them to e-y_committee@mcleancitizens.org.

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 on 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.

Spring sports have begun! Come out and support your Saxons! Check the schedules for all sports on the Langley Athletics website.

… The weather may not correlate but spring has officially arrived! Are you looking to plant Virginia native plants? Here is a guide to plants in Virginia.

service hour deadline: Class of 2024, all service hours must be entered and verified in X2Vol no later than Wed, Apr 24. Service hours are not required for graduation but are needed to apply for the Service Cord and specific seals. Hours that will be considered must have been entered between Jul 1, 2020 – Apr 24, 2024. Hours submitted prior to Jul 1, 2020 will not count towards the service cord or seals. 

When entering hours into X2Vol, make sure to review the Service Learning Guidelines. 

If you need help entering hours into X2Vol, watch this video tutorial.

Hours that have been entered into X2Vol but are not verified will not be reviewed or considered.

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 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 parents prom volunteers needed: Langley HS 2024 prom is on Sat, Apr 27 at Capital One Hall. Junior parents, we need your help for this event! If you are interested in volunteering, sign up here.

summer service & job opps: Are you starting to wish it was summer? Be sure to click here to see the Service and Job Opportunities page on the PTSA website. This page includes info on upcoming teen jobs fairs as well as the Summer Opportunities Spreadsheet. Additional summer jobs, volunteer opps and scholarships are added continually. Take a look!

pta scholarships: Seniors, the Fairfax County Council PTA has a Scholarship Program with multiple awards of $500 available for students enrolled in a 4-year academic degree program, students enrolled in a 2 or 3 year tech, vocational or associate degree program, students enrolled in a school of design or fine arts, and special education students. More info can be found here. Applications are due Mon, Apr 1.

A student must be a member of the PTSA to apply for scholarships. Join the PTSA by clicking here.

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 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.

Each year, FCPS students can apply for the position of the student representative to the School Board. The student rep is not a member of the School Board but serves in a nonvoting, advisory capacity, representing the interests of FCPS students.

Students currently in grades 9-11 are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to be current members of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. Applications are due tomorow Fri, Mar 22. Click here for more info.

What Is It Like to Serve on the Fairfax County School Board? Rida Karim, the current student rep to the School Board, describes the demands, expectations and rewards of the position in this short video.

FCPS encourages everyone to provide feedback through the Family Engagement Survey. Survey topics include: A welcoming environment, communication, student success, advocacy, family and school partnerships, and community partnerships. The survey is available in 10 languages and is open through tomorrow Fri, Mar 22. 

Mar 22: End of 3rd Quarter

Mar 25-29: Spring Break

Apr 1: No School

Apr 2: No School

Apr 10: No School

Apr 12-13: Spring Musical, Guys and Dolls, 7 pm, Auditorium

Apr 14: Spring Musical, Guys and Dolls, 2:30 pm, Auditorium

Apr 15: Spring Musical, Guys and Dolls, 7 pm, Auditorium

Apr 21: Bands on the Run 5K, 8 am, Langley Parking Lot

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