Thursday, August 1, 2024 Lancer Times

Thursday, August 1, 2024

Dear Lancer Families:

I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer so far! We are working hard preparing to welcome all of our students in the coming weeks. Please read below about information related to the start of school.

I hope you all continue to have a fun and safe summer vacation. As always, please reach out directly to me if you have any questions or concerns.

Jim

Jim Patrick
Principal
Longfellow Middle School


CALENDAR EVENTS

calendar events

Welcome Events for the 2024-2025 School Year

Jump Start to Success

Session A:
Monday, August 5th and Tuesday, August 6th from 8:30-12:00pm
Session B:
Wednesday, August 7th and Thursday, August 8th from 8:30-12:00pm

Jump Start to Success is a nonacademic transitional program that focuses on helping rising 7th graders get to know Longfellow and the expectations of middle school by introducing them to staff, peers, school layout, and tips for navigating middle school. The fee for the program is $50.00, registration is open on MySchoolBucks. Financial assistance is available for students in need. If you need financial assistance, contact Ms.Gangwani at lkgangwanico@fcps.edu.

If you do not have a MySchoolBucks account, you can register using this link: MySchoolBucks: Jump Start.

Jump Start registration for Session A will close August 2, 2024
Jump Start registration for Session B will close on August 5, 2024

Open House

7th Grade Open House: August 13 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm
8th Grade Open House: August 14 from 3:30pm to 5:30pm

This event is for students and families. Students receive their class schedule and locker assignment. Your student’s schedule will only be available on their assigned grade level day. Students and families may take a self-guided tour of the building, locate their classrooms, and practice opening their lockers. Parents/guardians may also drop off medication in the clinic. Parking is limited. Spaces are available in the front lot and on the back blacktop.

Orientation: August 15, 2024, 9:00-11:00 AM

Orientation is a student-only experience intended for rising 7th graders and new to FCPS 8th graders. This is an opportunity for students to experience a mini-school-day by walking through an odd and even school day. They will meet their teachers and some classmates. Bus transportation is provided from the following elementary schools- Chesterbrook, Churchill Road, Franklin Sherman, Haycock, Kent Gardens, Lemon Road, Spring Hill, Timber Lane, and Westgate. More information will be sent out.

Parents & caregivers are invited to attend an informational session from 9:15-10:15 a.m. during orientation to learn more about the social & emotional changes adolescents experience as they transition to middle school. The event will be led by Amy Smith, Assistant Principal. Due to limited space, please RSVP so we can plan accordingly. Should we have more interest than we have space available on the morning of August 15, the session will be offered at a future date as well.


AFTER SCHOOL CORNER

Longfellow Middle School offers a robust afterschool program offering a range of activities for our students. You can learn more about our After School program on our website. After school activities start on September 9, 2024.
In order for students to participate in our after school program, parents must fill out the registration form.

If you have questions about our program, please contact our After School Specialist: Lavina Gangwani-Colaco


IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Support Your Child’s Success in SIS ParentVUE

Signing up for a SIS ParentVUE account helps you to support your child’s academic success. Caregivers can view important information in ParentVUE such as attendance, grades, progress reports, and assessment scores.

Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. A SIS ParentVUE app is available for Apple and Android devices.

Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video explains the steps. Find out more. To create a new account, please contact Dania Paz at dlpaz@fcps.edu for an activation letter.

If you already have an account, be sure your contact information is up-to-date. Parents/guardians can update their phone numbers or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section. View more information.


PARENT INFORMATION

Stay connected this summer!

You can sign up for News You Choose emails by clicking on the link. Please subscribe to both Longfellow Middle School “News and Announcements” AND “Longfellow MS PTA” newsletters to receive our regular communications.

Join the Longfellow MS PTA

We highly encourage you to join the Longfellow PTA by visiting their website. Click here and learn more about this incredibly supportive organization. Longfellow offers numerous programs and an abundance of educational resources due to our strong PTA membership.

INOVA Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs

Inova Cares Clinic (ICC) will provide children ages 5 and older with free school entrance physicals and immunizations at summer health fairs for children on Medicaid or who are uninsured. The clinics will take place 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the following dates:

     • Saturday, August 17, at ICC for Children - Falls Church

Appointments are required; no walk-ins will be allowed. Call 703-698-2550 for an appointment.