Hello Tiger Families,

We are starting a Little Free Library (LFL) to be located next to the nurse's office on the first floor. The LFL will consist of a small book shelf and sign. Students and families will be invited to take and leave books as they please. No check out. No due dates. You don't even have to bring the book back that you borrowed. The goal is to get as many books circulating among students as possible. There are a couple ways you can support this effort.

1. Donate a bookshelf.  We are looking for a donated bookshelf in good condition (needn't be fancy) that will fit in the space provided. I believe that anything around 3.5 feet tall and maybe about 3 feet wide would work.  If you have a bookshelf to donate (or have a neighbor or friend who has one), let me know! It all begins with a shelf.

2. Volunteer to be a steward.  Let's share responsibility in making sure the books remain orderly. This means stopping by periodically to organize the shelves and make sure they're free of trash. I plan to breeze by routinely when I pick up my son, but I would love some help. Anyone who passes by is invited to help clean up the library - no need to be a formal steward. But if one or two folks could volunteer to more intentionally help organize the shelf periodically, that would be fantastic. AP Jennings will also keep an eye out as it is near her office. Together we can keep it looking nice at all times.

3. Bring in your books. Do you have books your child has outgrown or is no longer interested in? Does your neighbor or friend have old books their child has outgrown? Once we have the shelf set up (I will email this list), we invite you to bring your books in to share. And, while you're there, pick up a new book to take home. The school will also be donating some of their old books to put on the shelf.

4. Help us spread the word. Once the book shelf is up, we want to make sure the word gets out. If any of the committees are sending home written materials to parents, I would love to include a blurb about the LFL. Also, if you are hosting an event and there is some way to advertise the LFL (a quick announcement or some fliers at a table), I would appreciate it. If you have opportunities I would appreciate you letting me know!  The more we can get the word out, the more families will partake in the exchange.

Answers to questions you may have...

Children's laughter rang through the halls, parents rushed busily from one room to the next and a large group of teachers assembled at Langley.

Sounds like a typical day at school. But this was Saturday.

In honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, Tiger families spent Jan. 19 painting walls, moving furniture, cleaning shelves and organizing books. The commotion of improvements underway in the library stood in contrast to an adjacent room, where 35 teachers and aides quietly listened and took notes during a training session.

Though the two groups were on site for different activities, both sought the same purpose: the enrichment of our beloved community. Thanks, teachers and families for all your hard work today.

A group of determined Langley parents, staff and community volunteers spent a muddy Saturday clearing out the garden in front of the school. Friendship and kid-baked pumpkin bread made an ambitious project manageable, and after a few hours we saw great progress. Only the safety enclosure for our hibernating rescue turtle was left standing.

Why?

As little kids grow and develop, so do schools. We’ve welcomed more students, growing to three PK-3 classrooms and a larger total enrollment. Conscious Discipline is in its second year, and our partnership with FRESHFARM’s Foodprints is teaching gardening, cooking and nutrition to more and more kids. The rooftop beehives, the butterfly garden, the little turtle and flourishing plants - all these things bring our children learning and joy. And with your support, the PTSA has grown from a dogged startup to a small but fierce Tiger parent organization. All of this has been made possible with the support of our community—volunteers, neighborhood businesses, generous donors, and everyone who wishes us well.

We couldn’t be prouder of Langley’s growth! But we have a challenge this year. The garden needs a full overhaul to accommodate our growing school and our ambitious plans. We’re hoping to install permanent seating for an outdoor classroom so classes can easily gather and learn in the space. It’s important to have accessible garden beds and pavers between them so that we can welcome all of our children, parents and grandparents, even those with limited mobility or wheelchairs. The garden will need an irrigation system so it can be managed efficiently and we’d love to have a space where we can host chickens too.

A garden should be built to last, and all of these things have a cost. We have set a fundraising goal of $20,000--- several times more than the PTA has raised in any previous year. Grant applications are underway, and we’ll have a Parents Night Out at Spark on January 11th as a general fundraiser. Please come! But we’re also asking you to consider us in your year-end giving. The PTSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and would be thrilled to receive your donations. We use PayPal at LangleyPTApayments@gmail.com, receive mail at 101 T St. NE, and can make other arrangements for your convenience.

A thriving neighborhood school is possible only with your support. Thank you so much for believing in us and sharing our dream for an inclusive and effective learning garden!

Langley school family, we need your help!

First: just close your eyes.

Picture yourself walking toward the school's front doors, passing our garden on the way. Imagine a welcoming gate, open and beaconing. Beyond the gate lay  pavers that wind through the space - to green bean teepees that provide shade and whimsy for imaginative play, to accessible garden beds where all our students can learn, to a corner where students can sit and paint portraits of our new chickens. This, and so much more, are within reach through our partnership with FoodPrints.

But, we can't do it alone. We need help raising money -  if that's an interest of yours please contact PTSA President Christina Robbins (svop18@gmail.com). And we need to secure grants  (contact Sandra Vijn at sandra.vijn@gmail.com). And on Dec. 1 from 10-4, we need some hard workers willing to assist in cleaning the space out.

If you're able to pitch in that day please confirm with Sarah Gaudreau at sarahg@freshfarm.org.

​Together we can bring this dream to life.

Public schools such as Langley Elementary face many challenges. Donations of money and supplies are always welcome and go a long way to close gaps in school funding. If your family runs on a tight budget, or if you're the sort of person who likes to get your hands dirty, there are other ways to support the school - and many require only your time and energy. Learn more about how you can get involved at Langley. With a robust team of volunteers, we can accomplish anything!

PTSA
The Parent Teacher Student Association is a chance for parents (or other caregivers), educators, students and citizens to be active members of the school community. The meetings have historically been held on Tuesdays, less than once monthly, and usually last for an hour.  Elections for the officer positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary are happening now and the chosen leadership will set the schedule for upcoming meetings. The PTSA's goals often center around fundraising efforts, community service, educational enrichment, community-building events and identifying opportunities for improvement. Members are invited to pay $10 in annual dues, though that is optional. Whether you'd like to just sit back and learn more about the school and its needs or you've got a list of awesome ideas ready to share, come to the next meeting. It's a perfect start to getting involved.

Contact: LangleyPTA101@gmail.com or stay tuned for the date and time of the next meeting

Pre-K Committee
This committee is concerned with issues and planning related specifically to our two early childhood education grades, pre-K 3 and pre-K 4. It is headed by Langley's Family Engagement Coordinator, LaToya Smith, as well as two elected co-chairs and a secretary, who have been selected for the 2018/19 school year. The group meets on the third Thursday of every month, from 8:30-9:30 AM, and its second meeting is planned for Thursday, Oct. 18th. The group tackles goals such as improving preschool attendance, supporting childhood development, planning preschool-focused events and ensuring Kindergarten readiness. The Pre-K Committee hosts a popular family dinner and support group series called Pre-K Parent Cafe, which is an excellent way to get to know other families, share experiences and learn about your growing kids.

Contact: LaToya Smith; LaToya.Smith@dc.gov

LSAT
The Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) is a group of elected and appointed members that exists for every District of Columbia Public School. The LSAT is a key lever to increasing transparency at DCPS and ensuring decisions affecting school communities are made collaboratively with the help of a diverse group of school stakeholders. The team, which has been elected for the 2018/19 school year, meets once monthly with teams from all other schools and reports back to Langley's principal and vice principal. Other community members are welcome to attend meetings as well. 

Contact: Principal Drumm; Vanessa.Drumm@dc.gov or AP Jennings; Shaunte.Daniel@dc.gov

Classroom or Special Subjects Volunteer
Volunteers who want to be really effective on a grassroots level should consider working in the classrooms. Extra hands are needed during events like field trips and field day. Classrooms with struggling readers could use help working one-on-one with students. To learn more about classrooms with these types of needs, contact the front office and you'll be connected with the right teacher. Please note: volunteers in the classrooms are required to get clearance through DCPS first.

Contact: Main Office;  (202) 724-4223