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October 17, 2025
Happy Friday, Panthers!
Our students continue to do an amazing job with our Open-Gate Protocol! By the time the 7:35 a.m. bell rings, everyone is in class and ready to learn. Our LHMS Panthers never cease to impress me!
I am thrilled to share that Langston Hughes Middle School has been named a 2025–2026 Purple Star Award recipient! This recognition honors our ongoing commitment to supporting students and families connected to the military. Way to go, Team LHMS!
Please remember there is no school on Monday, October 20. When students return on Tuesday, it will be a Blue Day.
Next Wednesday, October 22, we encourage all students and staff to wear orange in recognition of Unity Day, the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. At LHMS, we wear orange to stand united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
Finally, our Fall Festival, hosted by the Student Council Association (SCA), is right around the corner—Wednesday, October 29, 2025! Help us make this event a success by signing up for Trunk or Treat or supporting through our Amazon wish list. All food and drinks are free, and we’re looking forward to an evening filled with fun, community, and Panther pride! If you have any questions, please contact our SCA advisor, Ms. Emily Fee, at epfee@fcps.edu.
Have a wonderful extended weekend!
Principal Mizell
Langston Hughes Middle School Outstanding Employee Awards 25-26
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for an Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link:
Hughes Outstanding Employee Awards 25-26
You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category). All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The google-form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. The eligibility categories are as follows: Outstanding Teacher, Outstanding New Teacher, Outstanding Principal, Outstanding School-Based Leader, Outstanding School-Based Professional Employee, and Outstanding School-Based Operational Employee.
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 7, 2025.
If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Duncan-Hudspeth at sdduncanhuds@fcps.edu.
 IMPORTANT DATES
No School/Student Holiday: Monday, October 20, 2025
Choral Concert: Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 7 p.m. in Lecture Hall
Unity Day- Wear Orange: Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Orchestra Concert: Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 7 p.m. at SLHS
Red Ribbon Week- Life is a Puzzle, Solve it Drug Free: Monday, October 27-Friday, October 31
Picture Day: Wednesday, October 29 and Thursday, October 30 - during PE class
Fall Festival 2025: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
End of 1st Quarter: Friday, October 31, 2025
1st Quarter Honor Roll Celebration: Friday, November 21, 2025
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Application
Attention 8th grade students interested in applying to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST): The application window will open on Monday, October 20th at 4 p.m. The last date for students to start an application is Friday, November 14th though we encourage students to apply at the beginning of the application window. For more information on the application process including eligibility requirements, important dates and the application please utilize this link: TJHSST Freshman Admission Process
If you have any further questions please email our TJHSST Liaison, Karen Bach at kabach@fcps.edu
Red Ribbon Week Open House
The Family Resource Center together with the Office of Student Safety and Wellness cordially invites you to our inaugural Red Ribbon Awareness Open House. This event will take place at The Family Resource Center (2334 Gallows Rd, room 100, Dunn Loring, VA 22027) on October 24 from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Recognizing that many families may feel uncertain about discussing substance use with their children, this event aims to equip attendees with essential resources and confidence.
The event will feature current, age-appropriate information on common substances of abuse, along with practical communication techniques. After the presentation, participants will have the opportunity of receiving a private tour of the FRC library and browse through our pre-selected resources. Narcan training will be offered.
Panthers Reading during FLEX
Our LHMS students have time each week during Flex for independent reading. Reading books they choose has countless benefits for students’ academic success, wellness, and connections to others. Please support Read & Recharge time by making sure that your student has a print book or magazine in their backpack each day; they can bring one from home or can borrow one from our school library at any time. Ask your student what they’re reading!
Fall Festival
The Langston Hughes Student Council is getting ready to celebrate our 3rd annual Fall Festival on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, and we cannot wait to see you there! Get ready for an evening packed with fun, games, prizes, food, Trunk or Treating, costume contests and time with our Panther family.
Check out our Amazon Fall Festival Wishlist to help make our evening a celebration to remember! Amazon wish list
If your family or business would like to sign up to host a trunk for Trunk or Treating, please fill out the form provided in the link: Trunk or Treat.
Yearbook Pictures
If you want your child to appear in the yearbook, please make sure you are reminding them about picture days on October 29 and 30 during PE classes. There will be a make-up day on December 2, 2025. If your child is absent on picture day, then they need to report to get their photo taken on the make-up day in order to have their picture in our yearbook. Elementary school photos do not transfer over like you may see in SIS/ParentVUE. If they do not take a picture, their picture and name will not be in the yearbook.
After-School Procedures: What to Expect
Please make sure you know if and where your student plans to be after school. If your student stays after school, here’s what you and your student can expect:
- At dismissal, students report directly to the cafeteria.
- They find their club’s table, sit down, and sign in using their computer (the sign-in link is on the Student All Schoology page).
- Students locate their name on the list (alphabetical by grade, then by club session) and submit the form.
- After signing in, they wait for their club sponsor or teacher to pick them up.
- The first session ends at 3:30 PM. Students return to the cafeteria for a snack.
- After snack, students either go to a second session or prepare to go home.
- At 4:30 PM, all students return to the cafeteria to wait for late buses or exit the building.
Students can find their late bus information in StudentVUE. The process for finding this information can be found on the After-School Schedule link.
Join RoPAWtics
Looking for a hands-on, high-tech after-school activity? Join RoPAWtics, Langston Hughes Middle School's VEX Robotics club, hosted by STEAM Labs Robotics. Students work in teams to design, build, and program robots for the VEX V5 competition, developing critical thinking, teamwork, and engineering skills along the way. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to learn. Our season is just beginning, and we’re looking for new members to join the excitement. If your student is ready to explore the world of robotics, fill out the attached form VEX ROBOTICS INTEREST FORM or contact Leighton Redditt (Coach Red) for more information: ltredditt@fcps.edu
Thank you for supporting your student’s participation in our after-school programs! If you have any questions, please contact our after-school specialist, Mr. Kyle, at FMKyle@fcps.edu.
After-School Clubs Schedule: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fkDtOVASo9Dvoamwm4h56r84B5gWzoR6dX6iawunMiU/edit?usp=sharing
PTA Meetings for the 2025-26 school year!
Mark your calendars now: Nov 10, Dec 8, Jan 12, Feb 2, Mar 2, Apr 13, May 4, June 1.
All meetings are at 7:00 p.m. in our LHMS Library unless otherwise indicated.
 Celebrate Spooky Season and send a treat this Halloween! Boo Grams are on sale during lunches starting Oct. 15th. The SCA will be selling Tootsie Pops in festive costumes for students to purchase and send to a friend on Friday, Oct. 31st. Parents can purchase Boo Grams to send to their student at the Fall Festival on Wednesday, Oct. 29th! Boo Grams are 1 for $2.00 or 3 for $5.00.
 School Picture Day is Coming!
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