Dear Parents:

Here’s the latest news from Lanier:

*Your Views and Opinions are Important to Us! This winter, a random sample of Lanier MS parents will receive the Parent Opinion Survey.  This survey is part of the Principal Performance Evaluation Program and offers parents an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various issues related to our school.  These include safety, parent involvement, curriculum, communications, and expectations for student achievement and behavior. The survey will arrive in the mail in early December 2009 and will be returned directly to the FCPS Office of Student Testing for processing.  If you receive a copy of the Parent Opinion Survey, please take a few minutes to complete and return the survey. Thank you for your assistance.

* Lanier Presents Alice in Wonderland, Jr.:  Please join us on November 19th, 20th and 21st at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 22nd at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $5.00.  Click on the following link for more information: http://www.fcps.edu/LanierMS/alice.pdf or call Brenda Scott at 703-934-2400. You may also email her at Brenda.Scott@fcps.edu . 

Reminders:

*Late-Work Policy Changed: Please know that the school-wide policy for late work has been changed to make it more effective. In particular, teachers have indicated that some students were turning in work many weeks after it was due and that doing so had little or no educational benefit due to the sequential learning needed to understand many subjects. As a result, you should expect teachers to change the school-wide policy for late work posted on their Blackboard 24-7 account so that is reads as follows:

Students are required to submit late work as soon as possible without academic penalty. Missing work will be recorded as incomplete or I in teacher gradebooks. Work not turned in within one week of its due date will be recorded as a zero when the 4.0 scale is used and as 50 when the 100 pt. scale is used.

Teachers have been directed to continue requiring students to make up missing work as soon as possible through Pride Time, Lunch and Learn, and after-school help. All other grading policies will remain as currently posted. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to develop practices aimed at maximizing student achievement.

*The November PTA newsletter is posted on Lanier’s homepage. The link is:
http://www.fcps.edu/LanierMS/pta/nov09.pdf.

In the Community:

*The City of Fairfax School Board will hold its monthly work session on Monday, November 16, 2009.  The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. and will be held at Fairfax High School in the multi-purpose room. The following topics will be discussed:
- Projections:  Denise James, Ajay Rawat and Larry Bizette, Facilities Planning, Fairfax
  County Public Schools
- Status Report on School Board Communications Plan:  Ann Monday, Superintendent and
  Hope Katz Gibbs, Communications Specialist
- Review of FY 2011 Budget:  Ann Monday, Superintendent
- Legislative Program:  Jon Buttram and Janice Miller, School Board Members
 PLEASE NOTE:  AGENDAS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. For the most accurate, up-to-date information about what will be discussed at a public meeting, feel free to call the School Board office for details, Thank you.

*Arthritis Foundation to Hold Winter Carnival: There are about 5,000 children in our area living with arthritis.  As the 6th most common childhood disease, more children have arthritis than those with muscular dystrophy, sickle cell and cystic fibrosis combined. As we work hard to one day find a cure, the Arthritis Foundation also wants to increase awareness so that families can know where to turn when they receive a diagnosis of arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation, Metro DC Chapter is holding a winter carnival at George Mason University to benefit local kids with juvenile arthritis. We would like to invite families who may be interested in coming out to have fun and learn more about the disease.  For more information click on the link:   http://www.fcps.edu/LanierMS/GMU-carnival.pdf or you can call Katie Sperberg; Health Education Coordinator for Arthritis Foundation at 202-537-6800 Ext. 3339 or email her KSperberg@arthritis.org.
*Fairfax County Park Authority to Hold Countywide Listening Forum:  This is your opportunity to join in a casual conversation with Park Authority Director John Dargle. Over the past few months, Director Dargle has met with dozens of citizens at similar forums. What topics or issues concern you? Do you have a suggestion for streamlining a process or improving customer service? Maybe you wish to discuss a problem you've experienced at one of our parks or facilities? Listening forums are the right place and time for open, sincere and transparent dialogue, as well as a lot of listening by Park Authority staff members and leadership. Please join us in rooms 4/5 at the Government Center on Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 7 p.m.  For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662.
*Message to Parents from Fairfax City Police about Texting: Texting is the upcoming generation’s telephone conversation. Have you ever tried to read your son’s or daughter’s Live Journal, text messages, Facebook, Twitter or MySpace and had such a hard time understanding it, that you give up after only a few sentences?  Most children use slang in their messaging to keep outsiders guessing and keep conversations secret. Because of the rapid changes in technology, City of Fairfax Police urge concerned parents and loved ones to maintain awareness and keep in touch with ever changing text slang. Parents should be alert to children who are secretive about their text messages and Internet use or tend to display obsessive behavior especially during late night hours. The following are two recommended websites that can assist in translating texting slang: www.noslang.com and www.teenchatdecoder.com. Contact: Sergeant Pam Nevlud, Public Information Office (703) 273-2889 or PIO@Fairfaxva.gov.

*Calling All Girls:  Come to the free cheerleading clinic Saturday, November 14, 2009, at 8:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. at Infinity Cheerleading; 2940A Prosperity Ave, Fairfax, VA  22031. See attached link for more information: http://www.fcps.edu/LanierMS/bryc.pdf. 

Have a good weekend,

Scott Poole, Ph.D.
Principal, Lanier Middle School