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Lancers-
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it is often a time to reflect and give thanks. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to your entire community. I am reminded daily of just how special it is to be a Longfellow Lancer. Thank you for your support! I hope that you are able to have some time to relax and reconnect with family and friends. I hope you all have a safe Thanksgiving break.
Jim
Jim Patrick
Principal
Longfellow Middle School
CALENDAR EVENTS
7th Grade Author Visit
The Longfellow English Department is proud to announce that the best-selling author, Gordon Korman, is coming to Longfellow for an author visit with our 7th graders on November 30th. Mr. Korman said he is happy to sign books–so if your student bought a Gordon Korman book at the bookfair (or another retailer)–they can get it signed! We are so excited he is visiting Longfellow and we would like to extend a big thank you to Kent Garden Parent Firoz Dattu for making this happen.
Trivia Night
Friday, December 1st, 6:30pm
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/31W8gsZ4fxbceLBKA
Questions? Contact bezachariah@fcpsschools.net
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Staying Healthy This Cold/Flu Season
Cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses often rise this time of year. It is important for students to wash their hands regularly and cover their coughs and sneezes. Please monitor your child’s health daily and keep them at home if they are sick. Visit FCPS' Health and Safety Guidance webpage for more tips.
Student Attendance and Engagement
During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.
Data shows that:
o Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance.
o Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
o Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
o By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
Attendance is critical for academic success!
Missing School Over the Holidays
Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.
Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available online in SIS ParentVUE. If you have not already filled out the form online, your student received a paper form on Friday, November 3. Forms were due last Friday. Please return forms to the main office as soon as possible.
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
There are no after-school clubs today, Monday, November 20th or Tuesday, November 21st and no late buses.
There will be a Model UN interest meeting on Wednesday, November 29th after school during 1st block.
Science Olympiad
Congratulations to the Longfellow Science Olympiad team on their 3rd place finish at the Dodgen invitational last week! Seventy-three teams from across the country participated in the tournament - the Science Olympiad team is off to a great start!
The following students are members of the Longfellow Science Olympiad team: Tala A., Cleary C., Anna C., Ben C., Mohan E., Benjamin G., Molly H., Karrie H., Gavin K., Myra K., Chaemin K., Lauren K., Noah K., Alex L., Joshua L., Linda L., Yanling L., Knox M., Timothy O., Charlie P., Nikitha R., Juliet S., Neel S., Edward S., Andrew T., Grant X., Anne Z., Elaine Z., Emma Z., and Michael Z.
Best wishes to the team as they compete in the Dick Smith Memorial Invitational, Boyceville Invitational, Lake Braddock Invitational and Rustin Invitational in December!
Keep up your amazing work, Science Olympians - we are proud of you!!!
Congratulations to our Quiz Bowl Team. They did fantastic last weekend in the TJ Tournament.
Team:
3rd/22 overall (Tarek Elbehiry, Sabina Hagen, Karin Leverett, Hudson Hu)
Individual:
5th/93 - Hudson Hu
Made Top 50/93 - Tarek Elbehiry, Julius Li, Constantine Erikson, Evan Li, Sabina Hagen, Samuel Emory
PARENT INFORMATION
Longfellow Love
At Longfellow Middle School we have approximately 150 students who live at, or below, the poverty level. Their families welcome our help with expenses such as school supplies and holiday meals. Longfellow Love is a student assistance program that supports Longfellow students in need through donations from families like you, as well as contributions from local businesses. The contributions and gift cards are then anonymously distributed directly to the families in need through the counseling system. In years past, we have only supported families during the holiday season, however, with the rising cost of food, we would like to provide gift cards to families for Thanksgiving as well as the holidays. This year, our fellow student families need our help more than ever! Click HERE to sign up to donate gift cards from Lidl and Walmart to Longfellow families who need our help during the upcoming season!
There are three ways you can purchase gift cards:
1. Go to Lidl and/or Walmart and purchase gift cards in person. Drop them off at the front office in an envelope addressed to Juanita Baptiste.
2. Go online to Walmart eGift Card, choose your amount, purchase an ecard, and email it to Juanita at jbaptiste@fcps.edu
3. Go online to Walmart Gift Card to mail, choose your amount, and mail or drop it off to Juanita Baptiste at Longfellow Middle School.
Donated Gift Cards can be mailed, dropped off, or emailed to:
Juanita Baptiste
Longfellow Middle School
2000 Westmoreland Street
Falls Church, VA 22043
jbaptiste@fcps.edu
Holiday gift cards are needed by Monday, December 11th!!
Let's show our Lancer family some LOVE this holiday season! Thank you for your support!
Questions? Contact Longfellow Love chair, Michele Core at michelecore@yahoo.com
Join the driving force in education, call 571-423-3023. FCPS bus driver pay starts at $24.55/hour.
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