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Dear Lancers:
I hope you all had a nice weekend. As the weather gets colder, I wanted to share a few reminders about our Kiss and Ride procedures. On an average school day, we have over 400 cars pass through our Kiss & Ride line. On days with bad weather, we often exceed 600 cars in the morning. Simply put, this is a large number of vehicles to move safely though our property. Please remember to be patient with everyone; our staff and our families are all doing the best they can to ensure a safe, smooth process for all.
Safety is a top priority during arrival and dismissal. This is a reminder to families to please be mindful during our arrival and dismissal. If you choose to drop-off your child in the morning, drop-off is available as early as 6:55am. The Kiss and Ride line early in the morning is a much shorter wait than it is as we move closer to 7:30.
Additionally, we have seen an increase in families dropping their children off while not on our property. This can lead to dangerous situations as children in this situation often cross in areas without crossing guards or crosswalks. In recent years, students have unfortunately been hit by vehicles as they run across Westmoreland because they were dropped across the street. Please remember to be patient and only drop your child off in the designated zone near door #4. We have staff designated there to assist you and to help your child safely exit the car.
Thank you for all of your help with this procedure!
Jim
Jim Patrick
Principal
Longfellow Middle School
CALENDAR EVENTS
 Lancer Parent/Caregiver Academy: January 10, 2024
Please join assistant principal, Amy Smith, and AVID site coordinator & science 7 teacher, Shelby Hill for January’s Parent/Caregiver Academy for information, tips, and strategies around executive functioning and organizational skills. The session will be held from 5-6:00 PM and you can sign up here.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Conversation to Raise Awareness of Fentanyl and Other Drugs
In this video, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid interviews the Fosters, a family who tragically lost their son Cayden to a half pill of fentanyl mistaken for Percocet. This heart-wrenching yet eye-opening video of their experience is essential to raise awareness among parents/caregivers and students about the dangers of fake painkillers.
Please join Dr. Reid on Wednesday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m., at Edison High School for a community conversation about opioid awareness. You may register to attend. However, registration is not required; it is simply for space considerations.
The evening’s program is appropriate for parents/caregivers and students in grades 6-12. All attendees will receive free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.
FCPS’ website also has resources to help you to start the conversation and additional support for families struggling with substance misuse.
Family Life Education
Family Life Education (FLE) is starting soon. Below are the dates that each unit of FLE will begin as well as a link to the overview of these units and opt out forms.
Human Growth and Development: 7th & 8th grade: January 22nd – 25th
Emotional Social Health: January 30th – March 22nd (students will cycle through the unit at different times in this window)
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle
For questions or concerns, please contact your child’s Health and Physical Education teacher.
Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begin This Month!
Is your child interested in architecture and construction, information technology, or health science? FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January.
A high school Academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses. Learn more and view the calendar of Academy open houses.
Safe Students, Safe Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools believes that academic success is built on the foundation of a safe learning environment. This includes physical safety, and mental health and wellness.
FCPS has a comprehensive approach to safety that involves physical security measures, online monitoring by security staff, and crisis intervention support. The division has created the Safe Students, Safe Schools Brochure (PDF) to enhance your awareness of potential hazards and to equip you with practical tips for how you can help. Visit the FCPS website for more information.
PARENT INFORMATION
Student Intention Forms
Moving this summer? If your family plans include relocation, please notify us by completing the Intention Form and send it to Ms. Jordan Reina - jareina@fcps.edu at your earliest convenience.
Parent Workshop at McLean
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 - McLean High School - 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Studies have shown that pressure to achieve is one of the top four risk factors for teenagers in the United States. Students under this kind of pressure are one and a half to two and a half times as likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders than national norms. With the achievement-oriented culture of Northern Virginia, our students can feel this pressure strongly.
How can parents build our children’s resiliency when the pressure to achieve can be overwhelming? This workshop will provide practical strategies for parents to help their child find balance between achievement and mental health. It will be presented by Kathleen Otal, McLean School Counselor and 2021 Virginia School Counselor of the Year.
Parents are encouraged to fill out this optional survey before attending the workshop:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1xXZXR0jIpHeO4tZ0z010cxaPs47bvV_ep3pJH74Nf3k/edit
Parents are encouraged to listen to this podcast in advance of the event:
https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/affluence
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