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Welcome Lane Parents
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to your corner of cyberspace! |
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Here you will find a wealth of information for parents at our school, including parent involvement and volunteer opportunities; information on upcoming school and FCPS parenting programs; and much more! Stay and browse a while or click on a button above to go directly to your destination.
Parents are always welcome at Lane and are encouraged to be active participants in their child’s education, both at school and at home. After all, you were your child’s first teacher and you know a lot about his or her individual learning styles, strengths and weaknesses, and emotional needs. Communicating these needs to your child’s teacher can be a critical contribution to your child’s academic success.
If you have concerns about your child, you are always welcome to schedule a conference with the teacher to talk about those concerns. Teachers welcome e-mails and notes and will respond in a timely manner. If some cases, other specialists, such as Special Education teachers, may be brought into the discussion as well. Ensuring your child’s academic success is our ultimate goal, and it is definitely a team effort!
For those parents who would like to get involved and help our students and staff members on a broader basis, we offer a variety of volunteer opportunities. For example, parents help out regularly in the library, the cafeteria, and, of course, the classrooms. They create and coordinate after-school activities, read to classes, and make presentations about careers and special interests. In short, if you have time to give, we will gladly put you to work!
We welcome volunteers available during the school day, in the evenings, and for at-home work. Parent Volunteer Nights, scheduled in the evenings to allow working parents to come into school and help out with teachers' projects, are held several times a year.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our Parent Liaison and Volunteer Coordinator Melanie Crosby Hardy. She will add you to our Parent Volunteer E-mail list, which we use to keep our volunteers posted about upcoming opportunities. You can also contact your child's teacher about volunteer opportunities within the classroom.
Lane also has a creative, active, and dedicated PTA that provides invaluable invaluable educational and financial support to the school. You can learn more about their activities and volunteering for their programs and events on their website.
Return to Parent Information list
Thanks to a special County program, Lane has two staff members dedicated to helping parents in all their interactions with the school. These Parent Liaisons are trained by FCPS’s division of Family Services and Involvement; they are equipped to help you with a wide array of concerns and interests and can help you and your family get the support and assistance you may need from both the school system and Fairfax County.
Who are Lane’s Parent Liaisons?
Lane is lucky to have not one but two parent liaisons to assist its families. Melanie Crosby Hardy has been our liaison for nearly five years, and Nora Skiba joined the Lane staff this year to provide assistance to our Spanish-speaking families.
Melanie Hardy has been a Parent Liaison since 2003 and was a Lane parent for 11 years. She currently has two daughters at Hayfield Secondary School, one in 7th grade and one in 10th grade. Both girls attended Lane from Kindergarten through 6th grade. With her girls, Melanie has experienced first-day fears, SOL testing tension, mid-year change-of-teacher challenges, and transition to middle school. Her girls have experienced Lane’s unique multiage program in first and second grades; combination classes in higher grades; Lane’s school-based Gifted & Talented program; and a wide variety of after-school activities. Melanie has been active in Lane’s PTA for many years and has served often as a volunteer in her daughter’s classrooms. In short, she’s very familiar with Lane and its programs and is happy to share that knowledge with other parents.
Office Hours: Mondays, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Wednesday, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
plus other hours as needed
You can reach her at 703-924-7700 or Melanie.Crosby@fcps.edu.
Nora Skiba joined Lane’s Parent Liaison team in 2007. She too has two daughters at Lane, one in 3rd grade and one in 4th grade. She also has a son at Edison High School. She too has experienced many of Lane’s academic and extracurricular programs, including multiage and FLEX foreign language. Nora is fluent in Spanish; she is also a Fairfax County interpreter. She works on an “on call” basis and does not hold regular office hours. She can be reached at 703-924-7700 or Nora.Skiba@fcps.edu. She is usually in the office on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.
What can a Parent Liaison do for me?
Lane’s Parent Liaisons are both experienced with many school-based and County education programs and can answer many of your questions themselves or provide the support service that you need. If they can’t, they will be able to point you in the right direction to find the answers and help you need.
Here are just a few of the things our Parent Liaisons do to help our families:
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arrange individual meetings between parents and school staff when needed, including an interpreter if the parents request one
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publish newsletters and fliers to keep parents informed about parenting issues and programs in the school and across the County
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put together educational programs on current parenting concerns as well as special orientation programs for new parents, prospective parents, and parents of different grade levels focusing on specific issues, such as moving on to middle school or questions about SOL testing
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help parents get involved volunteering in their child’s classroom and/or the school as a whole
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give tours of the school to prospective parents and students.
Above all, our Parent Liaisons are here to listen to parents. They always have a friendly ear ready when you have a question, a concern, a suggestion, or anything else you would like to share. Please don’t hesitate to call them. They are here specifically to help you!
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Anyone who says being a parent is an easy job obviously isn’t one. It is one of the most challenging jobs on earth, if not the most challenging. After all, you are literally responsible for the life of another human being. What a daunting task! To make things even more challenging, no two children are exactly alike, which means no two parents or parent-child relationships are alike—even in the same household! Finding solutions can be time-consuming and even frustrating.
Fortunately, there are many ways to find help with parenting issues—family, friends, neighbors, faith-based communities, and of course, the school community. Fairfax County has a vast array of resources to help its families. You’ll find a list of some of these below, both those offered by the school and local community and those from the County level or above. Just click on the links for more information.
School Resources
Within Lane itself, we have several great resources to help Lane families beyond your child’s classroom teacher.
Counselors work with our students to support their educational development and their personal growth. Our counselors work with students on character and citizenship issues, such as bullying, peer mediation and safety concerns. They also work with students to help them understand their own behavior; to learn to deal with emotional issues such as anger and stress; to develop a positive self-image; and to develop respect for the feelings of others and form solid peer relationships.
If you have a concern of this nature you’d like help with, contact your child’s counselor at 703-924-7700 or the e-mail address below:
Matt Beckwith
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Rachel Hoover Grades 1, 3, 5, MOD/AUT & K (Holmes & Reeves) RAHoover@fcps.edu |
Social Worker and School Psychologist
Lane also has on staff a social worker and a psychologist to help families deal with specific issues or concerns that reach beyond the classroom, school, or peer group. The school social worker, while similar in focus to our guidance counselor, brings an additional skill set to the table. She is a link between the home, the school, and the community, and is more likely to get involved with a student and/or family when behavioral or family problems are discovered beneath a student’s difficulties at school. Our social worker can help students improve their interpersonal relationships, resolve conflicts without violence, cope with crisis situations at school or at home, and build self-esteem and motivation. You can contact Lane’s social worker through the information below:
Renee Toyer, Social Worker
703-924-7700
Renee.Toyer@fcps.edu
Another level of support for our families and students is the school psychologist. All FCPS school psychologists have been highly trained in human growth and development, educational psychology, education, mental health, and learning and behavioral change. Like their social worker and guidance counselor counterparts, school psychologists work directly with children and families to help solve problems associated with learning and adjustment to school. Their focus tends to be more on mental health concerns that may be affecting student success. They can even provide psychological counseling for children and families. Lane’s school psychologist is Tonya Blanchard. You can reach her using the information below:
Tonya Blanchard
703-924-7700
Tonya.Blanchard@fcps.edu
County Resources
Fairfax County parents have a vast amount of information at their fingertips, thanks to the FCPS Department of Communications and Community Outreach. This department has compiled lists of resources for parents and provides several convenient methods of communication to disseminate information.
Parents can call the Information Line 24 hours a day to ask a question. The service is also available in Spanish and Korean.
An interactive seminar, "Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Parent Orientation," is offered periodically throughout the school year in English as well as Spanish, Korean, and Arabic.
Community Liaisons can help families help with issues outside of school, such as health care, housing, and employment.
Parent Education
FCPS offers a variety of educational programs and lots of information to help students and their families succeed. Visit the "For Parents" page at www.fcps.edu for more information.
The Department of Communications and Community Outreach, through its Family and School Partnerships program, offers a series of parenting classes each year. Classes are available in both English and Spanish.
Are you looking for information on nutrition and wellness? You can find lots of tips and helpful hints on the FCPS Food & Nutrition Services page. Our Foodservice program incorporates the USDA's MyPyramid program. You can find more nutrition information and activities for kids on the USDA page as well, including a calendar to keep ideas helpful ideas cooking all year long.
Parents of students with special needs can find a wealth of information through FCPS's Parent Resource Center, both online and at several brick-and-mortar locations throughout the County (one of which is housed at nearby Hayfield Elementary School).
The Family and School Partnerships program also provides parenting tips and publications on its website.
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Tours of Lane Elementary are offered through the Parent Liaison. A school tour should be scheduled in advance. The average tour takes about 30 minutes.
School tours can vary depending on the grade level of the student, but most tours include visits to all common areas, such as the library, the cafeteria, the computer lab, and the gym. Occasionally, visitors can catch a glimpse of a classroom, but as instruction goes on continually throughout the day, these chances are limited (so that students are not interrupted). There is no limit to the questions that can be asked during a tour!
To schedule a tour, please contact Parent Liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy at 703-924-7700 or Melanie.Crosby@fcps.edu.
Return to Parent Information list
Here are some of the most common questions we receive from parents at Lane Elementary. Perhaps you’re considering a move to our school and want to know these things too, or maybe you’re already here and have always wondered. Read on, and you’ll know!
How can I be sure that my child is supposed to attend Lane Elementary?
If you are moving into our area, your realtor or leasing agent should be able to provide you with a list of schools in your area. You can also determine your attendance area by visiting http://www.fcps.edu/boundaries and typing in your address. The web site will return a list of schools (elementary, middle, and high) for your area.
Can my child attend Lane if we live in another school district?
Fairfax County Public Schools does, in certain circumstances, allow children to attend a school that is outside neighborhood boundaries. Reasons and procedures for pupil placement can be found at http://www.fcps.edu/dss/osp/StudentRegistration/student-transfer/index.htm.
How long is the school day? What are the hours?
Lane’s school day is 6 hours and 40 minutes long, Tuesday through Friday, from 9:15 a.m. until 3:55 p.m. On Mondays, the day begins at the same time but students are dismissed at 1:25 p.m. Kindergartners follow this schedule just like all the other students.
Why is Monday a shorter day?
Early dismissal on Mondays follows a county-wide schedule. Most FCPS elementary schools dismiss earlier on Mondays. This gives teachers, administrators, and other staff members a chance to plan for the week as well as attend staff meetings and professional development programs. Unlike middle school and high school schedules, where teachers have a free planning period built in to their schedules, elementary school teachers are with their students throughout the day, all day, except for brief periods where the students are with specials teachers (P. E., music, art, etc.).
How will my child get to and from school?
Student transportation is determined by County guidelines. If you live close to the school and do not have to cross any major streets to reach it, your child will most likely walk to school. Walkers usually enter the school in the morning and exit at the end of the day through the cafeteria entrance. Parents are welcome to walk their children to school and pick them up in the afternoon, but it is not required.
Students who live more than a mile from school, or whose route to school would require crossing major roads, can take a County school bus to and from school. If you live in a bus-in area, you will receive a schedule of times and stops in the packet mailed out to all students in August.
Some parents choose to drive their children to school. Our Kiss & Ride lane, located on the north side of the school in the small parking lot, is staffed for 15 minutes before school begins and 15 minutes after dismissal each day. Both staff members and student patrols are present.
What if my child needs to change the way he or she usually goes home?
If your child’s transportation at the end of the day will differ from his or her usual routine, you need to let the teacher and the school office know. This includes changes from riding a bus to being picked up at Kiss & Ride (or vice versa) and changes due to playdates or after-school activities. If a student needs to ride a different bus home with another student, he or she must bring a note and pick up a bus pass in the school office. Students going home together should have notes from both parents.
Are extracurricular activities available to students?
Through its PTA and other dedicated parent volunteers, Lane offers a variety of after-school programs throughout the school year for students in all grade levels. This year, for example, the offerings include Math Club; Science Club; Arts & Crafts Club; classes in theater arts, Spanish, and French; newspaper (The Paws Post); and yearbook. Information on all of these programs is sent home through the Tuesday take-home folders.
Although Lane doesn’t sponsor any sports teams itself, many sports programs are offered through the Fairfax County Parks & Recreation Department. Practices and games are often held at Lane or at other nearby schools. For more information on Parks & Rec programs, visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks.
What safety and security precautions are followed at Lane to protect students during the school day?
We take safety and security very seriously here at Lane. During the school day, the only door unlocked is the front door. All visitors must enter through this door. Once inside the building, all visitors must report to the Main Office, where they sign in, show a picture I.D. and receive an official visitors badge. Volunteers follow the same procedure. Any persons in the school without either a County employee badge or a school visitor or volunteer badge will be questioned by staff and asked to report to the school office. Staff, parents, and even students take an “eyes on the street” approach to safety ~ everyone watches out for each other to make sure that these basic but critical rules are followed.
All students practice fire drill procedures monthly (weekly during the first month of school). Periodic tornado and lock-down drills are also held to ensure that all students and staff know how to handle such situations.
Should a real crisis situation occur, administrators will follow a strict emergency plan put together by the County, which includes both shelter-in-place and emergency dismissal procedures. To protect the integrity of this plan and reinforce security, few details are made available to the school community.
Can you tell me about Lane’s student population?
You can find demographic information, as well as other statistics, in Lane's FCPS School Profile.
How are behavior/discipline issues handled at Lane?
There are several different levels of discipline at our school, based on both the seriousness of the incident and the number of times it has occurred. The teacher is the first link in the discipline chain. When an incident occurs, he or she will bring it to the child’s (children’s) attention and help them solve the problem and/or change their behavior. Sometimes, depending on the nature of the incident, a parent will be called or a note will be sent home. If a second incident occurs, the parent will be notified. If the teacher has tried multiple times to rectify the problem behavior, the child (children) will be referred to the office, where either the assistant principal or the principal will get a full account of the incident from all parties involved and will discuss the issue and possible solutions. Parents are usually notified when their children are sent to the office for disciplinary action. When an especially serious incident occurs or the child is sent repeatedly to the office, parents will be called in for a conference.
Please refer to the Student Responsibilities & Rights handbook for information regarding FCPS behavior policy.
Can I visit my child’s classroom?
Parents are always welcome at Lane Elementary! We encourage parents to volunteer in both their child’s classroom and other schoolwide programs. Classroom volunteers are organized through the individual teacher; volunteers for schoolwide programs are coordinated through the PTA or the Parent Liaison.
Parents are not allowed to visit classrooms or teachers unannounced. Every minute of the school day is scheduled for instructional time, and parents without appointments or scheduled volunteer time cannot be accommodated. General classroom observation is also very limited, if allowed at all, as this can be distracting for all students in the class and for the teacher. Due to student privacy concerns, parents—current and prospective—are never allowed to observe a class in which they do not have a child.
Can I take a tour of the school?
Tours of Lane Elementary are offered through the Parent Liaison. A school tour should be scheduled in advance. The average tour takes about 30 minutes.
School tours can vary depending on the grade level of the student, but most tours include visits to all common areas, such as the library, the cafeteria, the computer lab, and the gym. Occasionally, visitors can catch a glimpse of a classroom, but as instruction goes on continually throughout the day, these chances are limited (so that students are not interrupted). There is no limit to the questions that can be asked during a tour!
To schedule a tour, please contact Parent Liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy at 703-924-7718 or Melanie.Crosby@fcps.edu.
What is SACC?
SACC stands for School Aged Child Care, the onsite before- and after-school daycare program offered at most elementary schools in Fairfax County. Although the program is housed at Lane, the school does not coordinate it or handle registration. You can learn more about the program at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ofc/Sacc.htm.
Please note: SACC is a very popular program and there is currently a lengthy waiting list.
Can you recommend other daycare providers in the Lane area?
The school does not make recommendations for daycare providers. There are a large number of daycare centers in the immediate area, most of which offer transportation to and from Lane on school days. Information can be obtained by contacting these facilities directly.
Fairfax County Government's Office for Children (OFC) provides information on a variety of child-care topics on its "Child Care Central" website.
What is the BEST thing about Lane Elementary?
There are many best things about Lane Elementary - so many that it’s hard to name just one. Some of the things that make Lane special are its wonderful teachers that work so hard for each and every student in their classrooms; its wonderful specialists who add so much variety and support to students’ days; its sense of community, where everyone - students, teachers, administrators, parents, and community members - work together and take care of each other to make everyone secure and successful; and its diversity - Lane really is a melting pot of cultures, and everyone shares their riches and learns from one another.
