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Dear Lancer Families:
I would like to thank our staff, students, and families for making it a great first week at Longfellow! Our students are starting to get more comfortable changing classes, and learning our routines. We do know that Middle School is a big change for students, even when they simply transition from 7th to 8th within the same building. I hope your students are starting to feel more comfortable as the week went on.
As we shared at back-to-school night, our weekly newsletter is full of timely updates and reminders. These are typically sent out on Monday afternoons, and whenever there may be a need for timely updates. This year we will send our newsletter in English and Spanish. If you would like to receive our newsletter in Spanish, you will need to subscribe to “Longfellow MS Noticias y anuncios en español”. You can subscribe at the following link.
Como compartimos en la noche de regreso a clases, nuestro boletín semanal está lleno de actualizaciones y recordatorios oportunos. Por lo general, se envían los lunes por la tarde y siempre que sea necesario realizar actualizaciones oportunas. Este año enviaremos nuestro boletín en inglés y español. Si deseas recibir nuestra newsletter en Español, deberá suscribirse a “Longfellow MS Noticias y anuncios en español”. Puedes suscribirte en el siguiente enlace.
As always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
Jim
Jim Patrick
Principal
Longfellow Middle School
UPCOMING EVENTS
 Schedule for the next two weeks:
Celebrate McLean 8-29-24
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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PTA Meeting - 9-18-24 @ 9:30 AM
Our first PTA meeting of the year will be on Wednesday, September 18th at 9:30 AM in the Lecture Hall. In this meeting the school will share information about new FCPS grading policies in place this year, as well as how to utilize schoology and ParentVue to help your child this year.
Click here and learn more about the Longfellow PTA. Longfellow offers numerous programs and an abundance of educational resources due to our strong PTA membership.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Things to Remember When Visiting Schools
Please know we take the safety and security of our students and staff very seriously. All school visitors must enter schools by way of “Door 1.” Upon ringing a school’s front doorbell, visitors will be asked to identify the reason for their visit before the door is opened. All school visitors will need to check in to the school visitor system in the front office before entering the school.
When outside, visitors are not permitted to visit school buses or playgrounds or to observe students from parking lots or other areas on school campuses.
While you may want to peek in on your child during the day, this can be alarming to our staff. Parents/caregivers are welcome to check in with their child's teacher via email during the first week if they are anxious about how their child is transitioning.
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.
Support Your Child’s Success in SIS ParentVUE
Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE: Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.
Update Contact Information: Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from our school and FCPS by adding your cell phone number and email to SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon.
Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to our front office
Complete Permission Forms: Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. You can easily opt your child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. You may also change how your student’s information is managed.
Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool.
Submit Absences: Parents/caregivers can submit up to two full-day absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Absences longer than two days, partial day absences, and changes of transportation should still be reported to our front office.
Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet?: 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.
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
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.
Debate Team
The information session for the LMS Debate Team will be held on Tuesday, September 10, from 3:30-4:30 and tryouts will be held on Tuesday, September 17, from 3:30-4:30. At the September 10 session, students should bring a laptop. They will receive all the info they need to understand how to prepare for tryouts and what the team expectations will be for the year. Questions? Please email Ms. Oney at nsoney@fcps.edu.
Quiz Bowl
The information session for Quiz Bowl will be held on Thursday, September 19th, from 3:30-4:30 in Room 206.
Are You Interested in Running Cross Country This Fall?
Cross Country is a fall sport which begins on September 9th. 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 an 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
Cross Country Schedule:
Practices will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays starting September 9th from 2:30 – 3:15
September 28th at Herndon MS 8:30 am
October 5th at Kilmer MS 10:30 am
October 19th at Franklin MS 10:30 am
We’re going to France and Spain in Summer 2025, and you’re invited!
We’re excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please join our information session on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the lecture hall. Be sure to register for this info session to be considered for this opportunity: https://bit.ly/46D2YBz
When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow, and we would love to have your student join us on this adventure.
In this info session, we’ll talk about:
• How this opportunity will benefit your student
• What we’ll see and do on our trip
• Everything that’s included in this experience
• How your child can earn academic credit
• How we’re keeping this safe and affordable
• How to enroll on this trip (before it fills up!) during EF’s risk-free enrollment period
There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
Please note this is a non-school sponsored trip.
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