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Dear Lancer Families:
What a great first day back to school! It was so good to see our returning students, as well as welcoming our newest Lancers. As with all first days, many students were navigating new spaces and finding their way around. All in all, we had a great start to the 24-25 school year!
I do want to highlight two upcoming events for our families. We welcome parents to our Back to School Night this week! Wednesday, August 21st from 6-8pm. This is a great way to meet your child’s teachers and hear about what they’ll be learning this year. We also have our first PTA meeting of the year on September 18, 2024 in the LMS library at 9:30am.
I would like to thank all of the PTA for their support so far this year. We hope you get involved with our PTA, and I look forward to partnering with our community throughout the year! We hope to see you there!
As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Jim
Jim Patrick
Principal
Longfellow Middle School
UPCOMING EVENTS
Back to School Night
Wednesday, August 21st from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
We are thrilled to welcome you to Longfellow’s Back to School Night on Monday evening! Back to School Night is an opportunity for parents/guardians to walk through their child’s class schedule and meet their teachers. On Wednesday, your child will bring home a copy of their class schedule for you to follow. You can also view the class schedule online through ParentVUE. More detailed information was sent home earlier today through enotify.
Parents/guardians walk through their child’s class schedule based on the times below. You will be walking through an Anchor Day (1,2,3,5,6,7,8). If you arrive after 6:00pm, please report to the class period that is in session when you arrive. Limited overflow parking available at Temple Rodef Shalom, consider carpooling or walking, as parking is limited. Please DO NOT park in a private neighborhood, as you may be towed.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Calendar & Attendance
Longfellow is committed to reducing chronic absenteeism. As you plan ahead, please review this year's calendar to minimize the days missed from school. We know you agree that it is imperative for your students to be here every single day. Please note that absences due to family trips or vacations are unexcused absences unless they are due to family emergencies or observations of religious holidays.
Longfellow’s procedures for reporting absences can be found on our website. If your student is going to be absent on the first day of school, please make sure to notify LMS in one of the following ways:
• Absence Phone Line: (703) 533-2626
• SIS ParentVue Account
📵 Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy
Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our 703-533-2600.
Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights
Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents and caregivers to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.
In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available: a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents/caregivers with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice, because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level.
Get more information and view the 2024-25 Opt-Out Booklets.
Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office.
If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form.
Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.
Online Verification Update (OVU)
The 2024-25 Online Verification/Update (OVU) packet is available in ParentVue. Please log in to ParentVue to verify your student’s emergency contact information. Instructions and detailed information are available at the following sites: SIS ParentVUE Online Verification/Update (OVU) Packet.
Parents should contact the school directly for data corrections that they are not able to update or submit a Parent Support Request ticket for technical assistance in ParentVUE.
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.
Student Consent Forms are now located in the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC)
Starting August 1, 2024, student consent forms that were on ParentVUE have moved to the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC).
Families can log in to the PDC using their ParentVUE credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child. School staff will have access to view consent status and edit consent with permission from the family.
Forms available in the PDC starting in the 2024-2025 school year include:
• School Counseling Opt-Out
• Digital Resources Consent
• SEL Screener Opt-Out
• Consent for Release of Student Records in Support of Postsecondary Applications
• Denial of Access to Military Recruiters
• Family Life Education Opt-Out
• SOL Retest Permission
• Hazel Health
• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Opt-Out
• SOS Screener Opt-Out
• Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations
• Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public
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.
Celebrate McLean– 2024
Please save the date for August 29, 2024 for Celebrate McLean. It will run from 4pm-6:30pm, prior to our football home opener vs Meridian. We will have games, food, DJ and tables from our clubs and sports. We look forward to another amazing day!
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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. The schedule for the first quarter will be posted next week. 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
Are You Interested in Running Cross Country This Fall?
Cross Country is a fall sport which begins on September 3rd. To participate in Cross Country students must completed the registration form, have a completed the Fall 2024 Middle School Sports Participant Registration Form have a physical exam and corresponding completed Middle School Sports PPE Form and a Emergency Care Card.
The PPE form and the Emergency Care Card can be turned into the front office.
More information about the dates of the meets will be available during the second week of school. If you have additional questions about Cross Country, please contact LMS athletic coordinator, Eric Stokes ebstokes@fcps.edu.
Science Olympiad Team Information
If you're interested in learning science, working hard and having fun, you should consider joining the 2024-25 Longfellow Science Olympiad team!
Information about the 2024-25 season and team selection will be provided at an interest meeting on Thursday, September 5th from 6-8pm in the Longfellow Library. We strongly suggest that both parents and students participate in the interest meeting to learn more about the team and the family commitment involved. If you are interested in the team, please fill out this form and we will send you detailed information: 2024-25 Science Olympiad Interest Form
Note that there will be a qualifying test on Saturday, September 7th from 9 - 10am in the Longfellow Cafeteria. Bring a pencil! (If you are unable to attend, there will be a makeup test on Monday, September 9th immediately after school in Room 159 (Ms. Boomer's Room).) Semifinalists will then submit an application, teacher recommendation and participate in a "fun" building expo. The build test will take place on Saturday, September 21st.
Questions about Science Olympiad and/or the qualifying test / team selection process can be e-mailed to Susan Boomer.
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