Dear Langley High School Community,

I have highlighted a few items, and be sure to check the Langley website for the latest updates.

First, a recap from the meetings about the youth surveys that Fairfax County does every year of 10th and 12th graders to assess their perceptions on healthy living. The Langley Pyramid has made great progress, as the numbers of these teens reporting drinking, binge drinking, and marijuana use have declined sharply. The more "assets" students have -- i.e., an adult to talk to, extracurricular opportunities, a safe school -- the less likely they are to engage in unhealthy behaviors. We still have 1 in 5 teens reporting such use, so we will continue to work with community groups, such as Family Network and Safe Community Coalition to bring these awareness programs to our community. Of course, the best way to address this issue is for parents to reinforce positive behaviors at home. Did you know that 82% of 12th graders and 89% of 10th graders reported NO marijuana use in the last 30 days? Or, 78% of 12th graders and 86% of 10th graders reported NO binge drinking in the past 2 weeks? So, when your teenager tells you "everybody does it" or "if I don't drink, then I'll never be able to go out," you can tell them, "No. Most teenagers DON'T drink or smoke marijuana."  Of course, we still have work to do, and when we work together as a community, good things happen. 

Second, Langley has received approval from FCPS to conduct an all staff training for Collaborative Teaming. This staff development is the last step in a series of professional trainings. So, mark your calendars now, as students will have a half day on Jan 15. 

Third, to address the issue of computer availability during Saxon Time and after school, we are announcing to students this week a list of classrooms where computers are available for academic use. Also, we are happy to announce our Computer Lab, Room 195, will now be open every day after school with a teacher monitoring from 2:30-4pm for any student who wishes to use a computer for academic purposes. 

Last, as winter break approaches, I want you all to know that I continue to expect from my faculty that "a break is a break." Students should expect about the same amount of homework, as they would get for a weekend, not an entire week. In keeping with that philosophy, the LHS Main Office will close for Winter Break at 2:30pm, Fri, Dec 21 and reopen Wed, Jan 2 at 7am. I hope you all will be able to enjoy the time with your families.  

Take care, Matt Ragone, Principal 

hockey:  The Langley - McLean ice hockey game is Fri, Dec 14, 6 pm at Skatequest in Reston. It's free, so please come out and cheer for the Saxons!

winter sports: Come and support your Saxons, including teams for Basketball, Gymnastics, Indoor Track, Swim & Dive, and Wrestling!!

Visit www.langleysports.org for Winter schedule.

chorus: The Langley High School Choral Department will present their annual holiday winter concert on Tue, Dec 18 at 7:30pm in the Auditorium.  The concert will feature all six Choral Department choirs including Women's Treble, Women's Select Treble, Concert Choir, Women's Chamber Choir, Voicemale, and the award-winning Langley Madrigals (pictured below) singing a variety of winter and holiday favorites. Admission is free and all staff, faculty, students and their families are welcomed to attend.

blackout bullying week: Tomorrow is the last day of this year's Blackout Bullying Week at Langley, and students still have the opportunity to sign an anti-bullying pledge and wear a black wrist band. 

lost & found donations: On Dec 21, items remaining in our lost and found, located in the Attendance Office, will be donated to a shelter. Please have your students visit the lost and found in the next few days to see if they can recover any of their lost clothing and items.

college knowledge: Yorktown High is presenting a program on college entitled, "Spend Less Getting In, Spend Less Staying In: Lessons Learned from Current Freshmen and Parents" on Thu, Jan 3 at 7:30pm in their cafeteria. This program is geared for sophomores, juniors, and their parents/guardians. Panelists include recent grads and parents. Contact Allison Walker <allisonwalker@verizon.net> with any questions.

binge drinking: The Perils of College Drinking program will be shown at McLean High on Jan 17 at 7pm. A few years ago Langley PTSA presented this program, which offers a very powerful message about the dangers of binge drinking. The film contains graphic imagery, but is a must-see for all parents, their college-bound teens, and anyone who is concerned about the dangers of underage and high-risk drinking.  

online math books: FCPS is taking steps to respond to concerns raised by parents, students, and teachers about the new online math textbooks. We realize that many hurdles still exist and are working on solutions that will support student learning through the use of online technology. In an effort to resolve the situation immediately, FCPS negotiated with the textbook publishers to order additional printed math textbooks. (Copied directly from FCPS KIT 12/12/12)