Monday, October 3, 2022
Dear Lancers:
Yesterday was National Custodian Appreciation Day, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank our custodial team for all of their hard work. They are the reason we have one of the best looking buildings in FCPS. Our whole custodial staff is always so willing to support our staff and students. They are truly excellent!
I also just wanted to follow up my message last week regarding our wonderful PTA. Thank you to all of our families who have joined the PTA so far this year, as well as all of the volunteers who have given their time. Your support is why we have a tradition of Excellence here at Longfellow.
If you have not yet had a chance to become a PTA member, or to donate to the No-Fuss Fundraiser, we encourage you to do so. Click here to join the PTA and help support the tradition of Excellence at LMS.
-Jim
Jim Patrick
Principal
Longfellow Middle School
CALENDAR EVENTS
LANCER PARENT ACADEMY, Session #2
You’re invited to join assistant principal, Amy Smith, and members of the LMS school counseling team to learn more about your student’s social and emotional changes during middle school. Learn more about how to help them navigate new friendships and relationships.
The session will be held in the LMS library on Wednesday, October 19th, from 6:30-7:30. Please indicate your plans to attend by signing up at this link.
Q & A with Dr. Reid
On October 19th at 6:00 PM at the McLean Community Center (MCC) 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, VA, Dr. Reid will be answering the questions and concerns from STUDENTS. We encourage all students from kindergarten through 12th Grade to bring their questions or simply come to meet and listen to our new FCPS Superintendent. The Superintendent oversees almost 200 schools and centers in a county serving approximately 180,000 students. This event will be focused on questions and concerns from students attending elementary, middle, and high school students with the McLean, Langley, and Marshall Pyramids.
The agenda
· Dr. Reid Introduction
· Dr. Reid Opening Remarks
· Open forum for questions from students
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Thank You, Custodians!
October 2 is Custodian Appreciation Day. Thanks to the best custodians, we all have a clean, safe place to learn, teach, and work. Across the division, Fairfax County Public Schools employs more than 1,300 custodians, field custodians, and building supervisors. Be sure to thank these rock stars for all their hard work!
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FCPS Strategic Plan
Fairfax County Public Schools is launching the engagement phase that will help us develop our brand new Strategic Plan.
During her Community Conversations listening tour in each high school pyramid, Superintendent Michelle Reid has heard from many of you about your hopes and aspirations for our students. That feedback will become part of our proactive strategic plan that will serve as our North Star—or guide—for the future.
Starting in October, we will be inviting the entire FCPS community to engage in building our shared future. This includes hearing from our parents and caregivers, students, and broader community, as well as surveying students in grades three and above. You will have an opportunity to have your voice heard in one of many sessions (both in-person and virtual) during November and December. We encourage you to join us in this journey by actively participating in the conversation.
For a more detailed overview, visit FCPS’ Strategic Planning webpage.
Tutor.com Resources
FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, 1-to-1, online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families during the 22-23 SY. Student participation is optional and parents/guardians can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Detailed information and FAQs are available on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services website.
Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
Promoting a College & Career Readiness Culture
As we prepare our Longfellow students for a bright future full of possibilities, we are focusing on college and career readiness throughout the building. We invite you to contribute a representative college pennant to help decorate the halls of Longfellow Middle School. Please send them in with your student or drop them off in the main office to the attention of Mrs. Hill.
World Language Credit Exam
The 2022 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 3, 9 and 10, at Centreville HS, West Springfield HS, and Edison HS. Thirty languages will be included. Registration is now open and closes on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted. Check out the World Languages Credit Exam website for more information.
Trivia Night: November 4th 6:30-9:30 PM
Longfellow Middle School is inviting teams of up to 4 people to participate in our annual trivia night. Cost is $5 per contestant and there are prizes for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams. Proceeds from the event benefit the LMS Quiz Bowl Team. Pizza, drinks, and snacks will be available for purchase. You can use the link to sign up, more information is available in the flyer below. We hope to see you there!
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AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
CONGRATULATIONS LMS Model UN!
Congratulations to all of the students who participated in today's Model UN Conference at McLean High School! We had 23 student delegates, and everyone did a great job representing their country delegation and LMS. We were the only middle school that allowed new members to participate, and you did a fabulous job!
The following country delegations won awards:
Verbal Commendation: Japan (Ishaan Jain and Bryce Yang) and Ukraine (Celina Lee)
Honorable Mention: Nigeria (Yeonseo Kim and Ian Kim)
Outstanding Delegation: Saudi Arabia (Claire Zhu and Mustafa Farhan) and Qatar (Artin Safaie and Abhinav Chakrava)
-No After School Activities on Tuesday October 4th and Friday October 7th. No Late Buses available
NJHS, Student Council Association, and LMS Leadership class is sponsoring a Fall Dance on Friday October 21st from 5PM-7PM.
Tickets are $5.00 and will be available for purchase on My School Bucks https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain.action under the school store option, tickets will also be available for purchase during Lunches on Thursdays and Fridays. The NJHS will have a snack bar set up during the dance where students can purchase pizza, drinks and snacks.
PARENT INFORMATION
Second Step Program
On September 9th, we began the Second Step® Middle School program, a research-based social-emotional learning program designed to improve students’ social-emotional skills, such as emotion management, impulse control, problem solving, and empathy. Second Step skills and concepts are designed to help students both in and out of school. Each week during Lancer Time students will receive a lesson.
During the First Quarter, we will cover topics such as Mindsets and Goals. Students will learn how to develop a growth mindset and apply research-based goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives.
October 3 - Unit 1 Lesson 4
In the 7th grade lesson, Identifying Roadblocks, your student identified and distinguished between internal and external obstacles (or “roadblocks”) that can get in their way when working toward goals.
Question
Tell your student about a roadblock you encountered when you were working toward a goal, and if you had control over the roadblock.
In the 8th grade lesson, Harnessing Your Strengths, your child chose something they’d like to get better at and thought about how they could apply their unique strengths to do that.
Question
Help your child make a list of strengths they have. Ask your child about how they could use these to get better at a new skill.
Cell Phones & Ear Buds
Now that we are six weeks into the school year, we want to remind our students and families of the change to FCPS’ Student Rights & Responsibilities document (SR&R) in relation to cell phone use during the day. SR&R prohibits cell phone use during the school day for middle school students. Students will not be permitted to use their cell phones from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Phones must be silenced and kept away for the duration of the school day. Storage may be in a locker, backpack, pencil bag, etc., during the day. In addition, earbuds/headphones are also not permitted to be used during passing time or instructional time, unless given permission by the teacher.
Please help us by talking to your child(ren) about these expectations. Families are encouraged to review the parental controls available for all iPhone and Android users.
LMS Student Ambassadors Program 22-23
Are you interested in helping new students navigate the halls of Longfellow Middle School? I wanted to share some information about the Student Ambassadors Program here at Longfellow Middle School. The purpose of a student ambassador is to welcome new students to Longfellow during the school year. Student ambassadors will act as tour guides, help answer questions about the school, and be a lunch buddy to new students. This is an exciting program where you will be able to help new students navigate Longfellow Middle School.
If you are interested in learning more about the Student Ambassadors Program and how to apply, please attend the interest meeting on Thursday, October 6th from 9:00AM-9:35AM (Lancer Time) in the cafeteria.
Parent Notification - SOS & SEL Screener Notification & Opt-Outs
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) commits to supporting all students’ mental wellness and social and emotional learning (SEL). In the Month of October, we will conduct the following optional screeners to students:
• SOS Signs of Suicide:
o The SOS Screener is offered to help assess whether or not students may have symptoms consistent with depression. Students who participate in the screening will watch a short educational video on depression awareness and suicide prevention; different versions will be shown to high school versus middle school students. Following the video, students will complete a brief questionnaire. Further follow up with a school mental health clinician will be available if needed, and parents will be notified in the event that follow up is warranted. It will be administered on October 11-12 for 7th graders during H/PE
o SOS Opt-Out Form - Complete by October 6th, should you wish to opt-out your child.
• SEL Screener - The SEL Screener provides information regarding students’ experiences and how staff can support their needs. It will be administered on October 25 for 7th & 8th graders during Lancer Time.
o SEL Opt-Out Form - Complete the opt-out in SIS ParentVUE or return the form back to Student Services by October 17th.
Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents and guardians know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided by Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, at no cost to families. You may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. If you want more detailed information, sign up for the Internet Use Parent portal and log-in anytime to see more detail about your child’s browsing and “pause” access to the internet during non-school hours. Find out more and sign up for these services on our website.
Low-Cost Internet for Free and Reduced-Price Eligible Students
VA DOE has provided the following resources to promote the federal Affordable Connectivity Program.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new FCC program to lower internet costs for families with children who have been eligible for free or reduced-price meals within the last 12 months. A qualifying household will receive $30 per month toward internet services and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Families can check their eligibility and register at AffordableConnectivity.gov or by calling 877-384-2575.Visit our Free and Reduced-Price Meals website for more information on the criteria to be eligible and how to apply.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
Identifying whether your child’s behaviors are normal or a warning sign of a mental health concern can be difficult. Talk to your child and pay attention to their actions. Also, consider these warning signs:
• Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
• Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
• Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
• Lack of sleep, or too much sleep.
• A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
• Alcohol or drug use.
• Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
• Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. All Fairfax County public schools have at least one school counselor, school psychologist, and school social worker. Please reach out to one of these staff members to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Call the school or visit the Student Services website for staff members’ contact information. Find additional information to support your child’s wellness on FCPS’ website.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harm to self or others, please take action:
• Text NEEDHELP to 85511 for the CrisisLink hotline or call them at 703-527-4077.
• Chat online with a specialist.
• Go to the nearest emergency room or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
• Call 911.
ESSER III Public Input
Share Feedback on In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services
Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funding helps FCPS maintain safe school environments and address the impact of COVID-19 on students. We want to hear from you about our work to provide in-person instruction and continuity of services to all FCPS students and families.
Visit our website to learn more about FCPS’ plan to use ESSER III funding to support students and share feedback via an online form. The online form will be available through October 10.
OPPORTUNITIES
Girls’ Lacrosse Clinic at McLean High School
The McLean High School Girls Varsity Lacrosse team is excited to hold a lacrosse clinic this fall for girls in Grades 5th-8th. This clinic will emphasize fundamental instruction in small group drills and competitive games. Players will improve lacrosse knowledge and skills and engage in an enjoyable learning experience. Beginners and experienced players are welcome!
Who: Girls Grades 5-8th
When: October 31, 2022 from 10-Noon
Where: McLean High School Turf Field, 1633 Davidson Rd. McLean, VA 22101
Equipment: mouthguard, stick, goggles. If you need us to provide any equipment, please email us
Cost: FREE but donations are appreciated and will go to support the girls lacrosse program at McLean HS
Questions: Email Coach Emily Geary (emgeary@fcps.edu)
Registration Form: Register HERE!
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