CALENDAR EVENTS
May
14-23 SOL Testing
23 Spring Band Concert McLean HS 7:00 p.m.
27 Memorial Day-No School
29 Spring Orchestra Concert McLean HS 6:30 p.m.
30 Spring Choral Concert 7:00 p.m.
30 Last Day for After School Activities
30 Last Day for Late Buses
PTA TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
Thank you to our Teacher Appreciation Week Committee: Emma Blankenbaker, Melanie Coates, Mara Riggins, and Mel Tillotson. They spent 3½ hours on Sunday decorating every door for teacher appreciation week. The doors looked amazing.
The Hospitality Committee provided an awesome Mexican Fiesta on Tuesday. The following parents organized this feast: Victoria Lippincott, Cathy Sarris, Sara Hobbs, Lisa Fraser, Amy Pedulla, Shetal Edwards, Joy Fulkerson, Monette Ta, Michelle DeCarlo and Rie Matsumoto.
Our generous parents donated over 100 gift certificates and other prizes for our teachers. Our parents also provided activities all week such as grab a snack, cheese/cracker reception, and a smoothie bar. We are truly grateful and feel so appreciated!
|
ESSAY CONTEST WINNER WINS AGAIN!
Longfellow’s award-winning writer has won again. Seventh grader Laura Zhang has been recognized as one of only five winners in the nation in Scholastic Scope’s “Kilauea Essay Contest.” In her essay, Laura highlighted how volcanos can be both destructive and constructive. This latest award comes less than a month after Laura won the Falls Church Rotary Club Essay Contest and placed third in the District Rotary Club Essay Contest.
|
LIBRARY BOOK DRIVE
The Library is sponsoring a book drive during the month of May. We are collecting Nearly New and Gently Used Middle School appropriate books. We hope to collect enough books so every student can pick up a new book to take home before summer (Book Swap). Donation boxes will be in the Library. Students who donate books will be eligible for a prize!
If you have Middle School appropriate books at home that your children have outgrown—please consider donating to our book drive!
|
NOTES FROM THE LIBRARY
Please help the library as we switch to a brand new catalog system by returning all library books by Thursday, May 30th. It is necessary that each book in our collection (over 14,000!!) be returned by that date so all of our data can transfer successfully. Please keep an eye out for overdue notices. We will be sending them often for the remainder of the school year. If you have any questions, please email Meghan Saladino (mbsaladino@fcps.edu) or Nora Weiss (nweiss@fcps.edu). Thank you!
SOL SCHEDULING CONSIDERATIONS FOR RAMADAN
We are aware that the testing window overlaps with Ramadan and we will do our best to accommodate this religious observance. Please be aware that all SOL testing at Longfellow takes place in the morning.
If you have concerns regarding the dates or times of testing due to Ramadan, please contact your child’s counselor.
Testing May 14-23
Date Subject
May 14 Reading 8
May 15 Reading 7
May 16 Civics
May 17 Science
May 21 8th Grade Math
May 22 7th grade Algebra and Math 7HN
May 23 Math 7
MORNING ATTENDANCE CALLS
The morning attendance telephone calls, texts and e-mails for reporting student absences will not occur for middle and high schools during AP, IB and SOL testing from Monday, April 29, 2019 through Friday, June 7, 2019. Students involved in testing are often in designated testing sites within the school during the normal attendance-taking time, so morning attendance notifications will be suspended. The evening attendance notifications will remain in place.
DONATE TO LONGFELLOW LOVE SUMMER BREAK DRIVE
As the school year draws to a close, many of our children head to summer camp, and families look forward to vacations at the beach. Did you know that 120 of Longfellow students’ families live at or below the poverty level? Their parents work full time, sometimes 2 or 3 jobs, but still can’t afford meals and essentials. During the school year, students qualify for free breakfast and lunch. But in the summer, there are no free meals from school for these kids. DONATE NOW to Longfellow Love and we will support each of these families as our community comes out strong.
There are 3 ways to donate:
1. CLICK HERE to donate online
2. Place a check written to “Longfellow PTA” in the collection box in the office
3. Place gift cards in an envelope, with “Longfellow Love” written on the outside, in the locked-box in the office (Target, Safeway gift cards are most useful).
Donations Deadline is Friday, May 24, so that we have time to collect and distribute gift cards before the end of the school year.
NOTE: All donations are tax deductible contributions to the Longfellow PTA. 100% of the funds go directly to student families in need for their personal expenses.
Thank you for your support.
-Longfellow Love Committee
|
JUMP START TO SUCCESS PROGRAM
Longfellow is pleased to announce we will be offering our Jump Start to Success Program again this summer. The Jump Start to Success program is a primarily nonacademic transitional program that focuses on helping rising 7th graders get to know LMS and the expectations of middle school. Students will participate in sessions covering topics such as study skills, test taking strategies, and time management techniques with a Longfellow counselor. Jump Start to Success helps ensure a smoother transition to middle school by introducing students to staff, peers, school layout, and basic policies before the school year begins. Students will partake in scavenger hunts, locker relay races, and daily physical education activities throughout the week as well. The fee for the program is $40. Registration is now open on MySchoolBucks. If you have any questions, please contact Riley Barrows (rtbarrows1@fcps.edu) or Alexia Candamo (amcandamo@fcps.edu)
THOMAS JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (TJHSST)
PTSA Diversity Committee cordially invites all prospective students and their parents/guardians to visit our Annual Diversity Open House, Saturday, June 1, 2019, 9:00a.m.-12:00p.m.
• Learn about TJHSST’s academic programs the admissions process
• Talk to TJHSST students, staff, parents, alumni
Register at http://tinyurl.com/TJHSST-Open-House
TJHSST Address: 6560 Braddock Rd., Alexandria, VA 22312
Contact Information: diversity@tjptsa.org
LANGLEY YOUTH FIELD HOCKEY CAMP
June 17th-21st
Langley HS – 6520 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA 22101
Who may attend: Anyone who will be going into 1st-9th grade in the fall of 2019
Location: Langley HS Turf Field (found behind the school)
Cost: $150
Staff: Katie Robinson, Langley Head Coach
Beth McGaughey, Langley Asst. Coach
Current members of the Langley HS field hockey team
Sponsored by: Langley HS Athletic Boosters
Contact Us: 703-287-2736 or kerobinson1@fcps.edu
*Flyers/applications can be found in the Longfellow main office.
TJ PREP CAMP – SUMMER 2019
When: Session One July 15th-July 19th
Session Two July 22nd-July 26th
Where: Luther Jackson Middle School
Camp Time: 8:00am-4:00pm
Cost: $300 (Checks and Cash accepted; please make checks payable to Luther Jackson PTA)
Are you a rising 8th grader thinking of applying to Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology?
TJ Prep Camp is a weeklong, specialized camp, which focuses on preparing students for the TJHSST admissions test. This camp will focus on test-related mathematical and verbal reasoning, essay writing and study strategies. Students will practice skills through group work, interactive instruction, and participation in web casts. There will be 20 hours of mathematical and science preparation and 20 hours of verbal reasoning, essay writing and study strategies preparation.
We are offering two sessions of the same curriculum. Please only register for one session.
Students participating must have completed or be enrolled in Algebra 1 or above and be an 8th grade student.
If you have any questions, please call Ms. Iskander at 703-204-8150, or email at MXIskander@fcps.edu.
*Forms can be found in the Longfellow main office.
VIP SUMMER CAMP
Registration is now open for the Value In Prevention (VIP) Summer Program at Carson Middle School. Families can register on MySchoolBucks. The program is open to all rising 7th graders attending Longfellow, Cooper, Herndon, Hughes, and Carson Middle School. The cost of the entire program is $50 and includes breakfast, lunch, transportation, and 4 field trips. The program will take place July 1st-August 1st and students can choose from a variety of activities including Basketball, Cooking, Soccer, STEAM, and Theatre. If you have any questions, please contact Riley Barrows rtbarrows1@fcps.edu
FRESHMAN 101: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE!
Who: Rising 9th Grade Students at McLean HS (Current 8th graders)
Dates: Monday, July 22-Thursday July 25, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: McLean High School
McLean High School is pleased to present our Freshman 101 for rising ninth-graders! 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, time management, organization and high school life through project-based learning. While the goal is to learn how to be successful academically at McLean High School, there will also be many ice-breaker activities to meet other students. Please use the following link to register by June 30, 2019:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RXtzwSNsyN4fF4gy4Zh9MDRsfbA1-2VofAxEtCSZjcU/edit?usp=sharing
FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL HEALTH PROMOTION
“Some Things Are Not Meant to Be Shared”
More than 20,000 kids a year need medical attention due to medicine misuse. Medications can help us, but only when used as directed by a healthcare professional. Teens need guidance to avoid the hazardous consequences of medication misuse.
Prescription drug misuse involves three behaviors:
1. Taking more of a prescription medication than prescribed,
2. Taking a prescription medication for a reason different than prescribed, and
3. Sharing or taking someone else’s prescription medication.
Help prevent prescription drug misuse by keeping your medications secure, following the instructions on the label and being a good role model. Stick to these safe practices and encourage your family, friends and students to do the same.
Students:
Your peers can be a positive force in your life – but, sometimes friends can influence you to do things that you may not want to do. Negative peer pressure can lead you to skip class, cheat on a test or abuse substances, like drugs or alcohol. Here are a couple of tips to help you steer clear of harmful situations:
• Avoid peers that influence you to do things that seem wrong or dangerous – for example, some friends may convince you to use medication for its unintended purpose. Trust your instincts and speak with an adult if you feel like something isn’t right.
• Learn how to say “no” – advocating for yourself is one of the best decisions you can make. Try spending time with like-minded peers. This may mean avoiding the group that experiments with drugs or alcohol, and joining in with those who participate in extracurricular activities like basketball, musical theater or track and field.
Staff:
To help your students navigate peer pressure, remind them to speak to a trusted adult like a counselor or teacher when they are feeling pressured. Maintain open communication with your students so they feel safe enough to speak with you about their concerns. Talk to your students about certain behaviors that may impact their wellbeing so they can learn to take positive steps towards maintaining good health.
|
