CALENDAR EVENTS
May
15-30 SOL Testing
28 Memorial Day Holiday-No School
30 NJHS Induction Ceremony-Dragons, Renegades & Dream Teams 6:30 p.m.
31 NJHS Induction Ceremony-Cavaliers & Titans 6:30 p.m.
31 Last Day for Late Buses
31 Last Day for After School Activities
31 Last Day for Homework Club
June
1 Music Department Field Trip
5 Spring Choral Concert 7 p.m.
6 Fond Farewell 6 p.m.
7 Spring Orchestra Concert McLean HS 6:30 p.m.
7-8 Math Finals
8 Spring Band Concert McLean HS 7 p.m.
11-12 World Language Final Exams
13 8th Grade Party 7:00-9:30 p.m.
15 Last Day of School-Early Release 12:15 p.m.
 CONGRATULATIONS SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM!
Longfellow’s Science Olympiad team travelled to Colorado State University in Fort Collins last weekend to represent the state of Virginia in the Science Olympiad National Tournament. They competed in 25 diverse, challenging events and finished 10th among 60 of the nation’s best teams. Longfellow was well-represented with 7 of the 15 core team members earning medals (given for top-6 finishes), including a first place National Championship Medal in Dynamic Planet! The medal count was as follows:
Dynamic Planet (Evan Guo, Mikhail Mints): 1st
Solar System (Mikhail Mints, Gabriel Witkop): 3rd
Write It Do It (Elaine Li, Manda Xie): 3rd
Crime Busters (Grace Guan, Ethan Hu): 4th
Optics (Ethan Hu, Elaine Li): 4th
Meteorology (Evan Guo, Mikhail Mints): 5th
The team was represented in Colorado by some of the original 30 team members (names in bold): Vicky Chen, Emma Cox, Michael Danilov, Michelle Du, Pulak Dugar, Jessica Feng, Grace Guan, Evan Guo, Keira Hansen, Zayya Htut, Ethan Hu, Connor Humphreys, Pratyush Jaishanker, Harry (Sunjoon) Kim, Kyuree Kim, Pranav Kuruba, Elaine Li, Isaac Lin, Mikhail Mints, Faraz Mirza, Akshan Sameullah, Benoy Sen, Riley Turk, Alison Wan, Andy Wang, Victoria Wang, Gabriel Witkop, Kaiden Wu, Sanne Wu, and Manda Xie. Big congratulations to all!
Longfellow’s coaching staff includes Susan Boomer, Julie Cox, Vivian Jiang and Cathy Witkop. The team was supported by many parents who willingly mentored groups of students for 7 long months, and parents who travelled with the team to the State Championship in Charlottesville and the National Championship in Colorado. The 2017-18 Longfellow Science Olympiad team continued a long tradition of excellence by bring home its 13th state championship, more than any other team in Virginia.
The team was recognized by the Fairfax County School Board at its May meeting for the team’s accomplishments this season. The team is grateful for the support of the Longfellow community, Virginia Science Olympiad and the Fairfax County School Board!
|
LMS GUEST SPEAKER
Colonel Charles McGee will be a guest speaker at Longfellow Middle School on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.
He is one of the original Tuskegee Airmen. Colonel McGee has over 6,000 combat hours, the average air force pilot as 1,500 combat hours. He fought in World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Colonel Charles McGee is currently 98 years old.
If you have any questions you can contact Janell Finley at jfinley@fcps.edu.
 NEON NIGHT: LET’S GLOW!
8TH GRADE FAREWELL PARTY
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Longfellow MS
Tickets include:
- DJ & dancing
- Photo green screen
- Fun games including an inflatable
- Domino’s Pizza, Chick Fil-A, & Duck Donuts
Wear your NEON clothing and get ready for FUN! Parent volunteers needed to make the party a success.
Tickets must be purchased in ADVANCE!
$25 through June 5th; $30 June 6-10
Click here NOW to buy your tickets for the 8th Grade party. Tickets will also be available to purchase during lunch on May 31st and June 5th. Simply send $25 cash to school with your student to purchase a ticket.
TICKETS WILL NOT BE SOLD AT THE DOOR!
Ticket prices will increase to $30 on June 6 and online sales will end at midnight on June 10th. A list of all students that have purchased tickets will be at the door for admission to the party. NO PHYSICAL TICKETS WILL BE ISSUED AND NO TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT THE DOOR. This party is in lieu of a graduation ceremony and for 8th grade students only.
We want all 8th grade students to attend this fun event. If financial assistance is needed for the ticket cost, please contact your student’s counselor ASAP.
We need lots of parents to make this party a great success. Please click here to either help at the party or donate drinks and fruit platters. Many hands are needed!!
|
 LONGFELLOW LOVE SUMMER BREAK GIFT CARD DRIVE
Imagine it's Friday, the last week of school. Kids and families are excited to begin their summer plans. But many Longfellow families aren’t sure how they will be able to put food on the table each day, they struggle to afford basic clothing, pay utility and medical bills, or purchase back to school supplies. In preparation for the 3-month Summer Break, we ask you to please donate to Longfellow Love now in order to support our families in need with their many needs over the summer.
THANK YOU to all of our Longfellow parents that donated generously to Longfellow Love over course of the 2017 – 2018 school year. So far we have raised $9,215, we were able to purchase 75 Safeway gift cards to assist families in need with their Thanksgiving meals, 75 Safeway and Target gift cards before the holiday break, and 80 Safeway gift cards before spring Break.
Our goal is to raise another $5,000 to get our families through the Summer, and help them prepare for back-to-school in the fall, or more if we can! Your donation makes a huge immediate impact on a LMS family in need, so please consider donating $25, $50, $100 or more! Again, ALL FUNDS go to the families for their personal expenses.
· Click here to donate online, or
· Drop off the checks written to Longfellow PTA in the Longfellow love collection box in the front office, or
· Drop gift cards in the Longfellow love collection box in the front office.
Please donate by the end of the day Friday, June 1st, so that we may distribute the cards before the summer break.
— Longfellow Love Committee
|
LONGFELLOW QUIZ BOWL SUMMER CAMP
August 6-10 @ Longfellow MS, Room 209
9:00–12:30
For more information, contact Eugene Huang at ehuang1@fcps.edu
EATING DISORDERS
Eating disorders are behaviors that can lead to serious health problems. These behaviors can begin as a child, and affect both girls and boys. When discovered early, eating disorders are treatable. In 2013, Virginia passed a law requiring every school system provide information to parents annually about eating disorders. This information is given to parents of students in the fifth through twelfth grades.
It is important to note that eating disorders are not identified based on weight changes as much as behaviors and attitudes. Signs of eating disorders may differ between males and females and in different age groups. Often, a young person may not recognize the signs that they might have an eating disorder. Parents/guardians and family members are in a position to notice behaviors that cause concern. It is important that a child with an eating disorder be treated early by someone who understands this type of care.
After reviewing the information on the eating disorder fact sheet, if you think your child may be showing signs of a possible eating disorder, please contact your doctor, school nurse, or one of the resources listed below.
• Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) https://www.aedweb.org/
• Families Empowered and Supporting Treatment of Eating Disorders (F.E.A.S.T.) www.feast-ed.org
• National Eating Disorders Assn www.nationaleatingdisorders.org Toll free, confidential Helpline, 1-800-931-2237
Additional resources may be found at:
• Virginia Department of Education
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/health_medical/index.shtml, under the section titled, Eating Disorders
EATING DISORDER FACT SHEET
What Are Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders are conditions that can have a serious effect on health. They are serious behaviors that affect every aspect of the child’s life. Eating disorders may be identified based on weight changes, but also based on behaviors and attitudes. Be alert for any of these signs in your child.
Key things to look for around food:
• Eating a lot of food that seems out of control (large amounts of food may disappear, you find a lot of empty wrappers hidden)
• Develops food rules—may eat only a particular food or food group, cuts food into very small pieces, or spreads food out on the plate
• Talks a lot about, or focuses often, on weight, food, calories, fat grams, and dieting
• Often says that they are not hungry
• Skips meals or takes small portions of food at regular meals
• Cooks meals or treats for others but won’t eat them
• Avoids mealtimes or situations involving food
• Goes to the bathroom after meals often
• Uses a lot of mouthwash, mints, and/or gum
• Starts cutting out foods that he or she used to enjoy Key things to look for around activity:
• Exercises all the time, more than what is healthy or recommended – despite weather, lack of energy, illness, or injury
• Stops doing their regular activities, spends more time alone (can be spending more time exercising)
Physical Risk Factors:
• Feels cold all the time or complains of being tired all the time. Likely to become more irritable and/or nervous.
• Any vomiting after eating (or see signs in the bathroom of vomiting – smell, clogged shower drain)
• Any use of laxatives or diuretics (or you find empty packages) Other Risk Factors:
• Believes that they are too big or too fat (regardless of reality)
• Asks often to be reassured about how they look
• Stops hanging out with their friends
• Not able to talk about how they are feeling
• Reports others are newly judgmental or “not connecting”
If Your Child Shows Signs of a Possible Eating Disorder
Seek help from your doctor as soon as possible; a child with an eating disorder should be seen by someone who understands the treatment of eating disorders. The earlier a person with an eating disorder seeks treatment, the greater the likelihood of physical and emotional recovery.
AUDITIONS FOR THE CAPPIES CRITICS TEAM
Do you love to write? Do you enjoy discussing theatre? Do you want to see shows for free? Want free food?!
JOIN MCLEAN HIGH SCHOOL’S AWARD-WINNING CAPPIES TEAM!
What are the Cappies?
The Cappies are a student-led awards program designed to recognize outstanding high school theatre. Cappies critics see shows, write reviews, and vote to determine awards, which will be presented at DC’s Kennedy Center in June!
How do I audition?
At auditions, you will watch a recording of a show and write a review of it. The best reviews will be selected by the returning critics. All students who will attend McLean High School in 2018-19 are eligible.
Questions? Email kristen.waagner@gmail.com
Auditions will be held: Friday, June 8th at 3:00; McLean High School’s Black Box (R138)
FOR PARENTS OF 8TH GRADE STUDENTS - STUDENT LEARNING PLAN
Your student has been periodically working on his or her Student Learning Plan (SLP) in Family Connection. Your child’s plan includes:
• results of the strengths and career surveys
• goals
• Resume Builder
• draft course plans for high school
You and your student can view his or her SLP in Family Connection by either logging into your Blackboard Parent View account or by having your student log into his or her Blackboard account and clicking on Family Connection. Once in the Family Connection account, click on the “about me” tab, scroll down and click “portfolio”.
Once you have reviewed your child’s plan, use this link: https://goo.gl/forms/zTfhXDHr2yXqFN1C2 or this Google form to complete the verification form. The completion of this form will serve as your signature. This should be completed by Wednesday, July 11, 2018. Please note that Blackboard will be unavailable from noon on June 15, 2018 until noon on June 25, 2018.
For more information about your child’s SLP, visit https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/student-learning-plan or the SLP website and/or contact your child’s school counselor.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING STUDENTS TAKING SUMMER SCHOOL CLASSES OUTSIDE OF FCPS
• Earning Credit in Non-FCPS Courses In the Summer (July-August)
Per Regulation 2408, students enrolled in FCPS are expected to earn standard credits from FCPS programs. The exceptions for courses completed during the summer are outlined below. Since participation in summer programs is elective and there is an associated cost, students are granted more flexibility in accessing non-FCPS programs. Standard credit for advanced academic courses may only be transferred if the advanced academic course is offered through FCPS summer programs. Middle school students may not take a mathematics course during the summer as their first high school level mathematics course. Students must submit all required forms to their school counselor for prior written approval before enrolling in the course:
• IS-158 Request to Earn High School Credit from Programs Outside of Fairfax County Public Schools
Please contact your child’s school counselor if you have additional questions.
MCLEAN HS FRESHMAN 101
Helping Rising Freshmen Transition to McLean High School
Monday through Thursday, July 23- 26, 2018
The MHS Freshman 101 program welcomes rising ninth-graders
Overview of the Summer Institute Program: McLean High School is pleased to present our Summer Institute for rising freshmen. McLean teachers will be working with students in July to jump-start the year with fun and engaging sessions designed to help rising ninth-graders at McLean succeed in high school. Students will become acclimated to a new level of learning through sessions on topics like note-taking and study skills, Algebra 1 or 2 Prep, English 9 or English Honors Prep, time management, organization and high school life. While the goal is to learn how to be successful at McLean High School, there will also be SGA (Student Government Association) ice-breaker activities to meet other students. All rising ninth-grade students are invited to register for this institute.
An exceptional value…
There is no fee for the four-day Freshman 101 program. If you have any questions, please contact Jeffrey Barham, Assistant
Principal at McLean at 703-714-5703 or email at jbarham@fcps.edu.
▪ Bus transportation from your neighborhood elementary school will be provided
▪ Engaging and fun activities
▪ Snacks
*Registration forms can be found in the Longfellow MS main office.
“LA FIESTA”
Tour Spain with Sra. Valentine!
April 11-20, 2019
Would you like to experience a new culture? Let's go to Spain for Spring Break!
Parents and students are welcome! This is the REGISTRATION LINK where you will find the dates, itinerary, and other detailed information about the tour.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions: senorabv@gmail.com.
|
