Tuesday, September 3, 2024 Lancer Times

Tuesday, September 3, 2024


Lancers-

I hope everyone was able to relax during the Labor Day weekend after the rush of the first two weeks of school. It was great to welcome back all of our lancers today. Now that we are settling into routine, please take a few minutes to review our newsletter. I know that at times it can be long, but there is a lot of relevant information you do not want to miss!

I would like to thank everyone that has completed the Digital Resource Consent form. We currently have over 75% of families having completed this form. The digital resource consent form is necessary for your student to be able to access various technology platforms.

Lastly, our after-school program starts next week. Be sure to see important information related to clubs and activities in the “After School Corner” towards the end of the newsletter.

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Thanks,

Jim

Jim Patrick
Principal
Longfellow Middle School


UPCOMING EVENTS

calendar events

Bell Schedule for the next two weeks:

bell schedule

DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS:

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.

School Picture Day is Coming!

📅 Date: Thursday, September 26th & Friday, September 27th, 2024
📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day
🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001132516#login
📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Information Session

On Tuesday 10/1/24 at 2:45 pm, Longfellow will hold a Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) admissions presentation in the Lecture Hall. TJHSST is a selective secondary high school, and students must submit an application, pass the admissions exam, and receive an acceptance to attend. To learn more about the TJHSST admissions process, visit TJHSST Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Admissions | Fairfax County Public Schools (fcps.edu),

Please RSVP for the Longfellow session by completing this Google Form. Email Ms. Ricker at jmricker@fcps.edu with any questions.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION

World Language Credit Exam

The 2024 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered in November 2024, at Longfellow MS. Exam date will be shared in the near future. Thirty languages will be included. Please visit the website below for a list of the languages offered.

What is the World Language Credit Exam?
The exam assesses language proficiency. Students must be able to read and comprehend exam instructions and writing prompts in the exam language. The Credit Exam requires students to write multiple well-developed essays about personal experiences using complete sentences and at least three cohesive paragraphs. Students earn credit based on the level of proficiency demonstrated by their writing. Students who take the exam may earn up to three pass-or-fail credits (levels one, two and three) in the language.

How and when can I register?
Registration will open September 4 - October 4, 2024. All students must register for the exam through their school counselor. If you are interested in registering for an exam, please complete the World Language Credit Exam Interest Form. Late registrations will not be accepted.

Where can I find more information?
Check out the World Languages Credit Exam website at:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages

FCPS Calendar & Attendance

Longfellow is committed to reducing chronic absenteeism. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) defines chronic absenteeism as missing ten percent or more (18+ days) of the academic year for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. 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.

Damaged Chromebooks:

All students have been given a brand new Chromebook for the 2024-2025 school year. Students are responsible for these devices. If a Chromebook is damaged (willfully or due to carelessness) families will be charged through MySchoolBucks. Please partner with us and remind your students of proper care of their laptop both at home and at school.

FCPS News ICYMI!

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:

     • Understanding the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)
     • School Safety Reminders
     • Community Conversations with Dr. Reid
     • Cell Phones Off, Learning On
     • Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! FCPS Attendance

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.


AFTER SCHOOL CORNER

Art/Clay Club Lottery Sign up

Last day to sign up is Thursday, September 5th. You will be notified on Friday, September 6th if you were selected.

When do after school programs start?

The official kick off date is September 9th. However, there are some activities that won’t start until after interest meetings and testing. Interest meeting dates can be found here.

How do I sign up?

Parents/Guardians need to fill out this google form to give your student consent to attend the after school program.

Students can attend after school clubs on any day, but must sign in for after school attendance every day that they are present.

Can students attend any after school activity?

Students can attend most activities at their leisure. There are some activities that require testing or a commitment. The following activities require testing and/or a commitment to attend on required days.

Debate
Science Olympiad
Science Bowl
Math Counts
Quiz Bowl
Model UN
Clay/Art Club - lottery due to limited seats

Schedule

Our schedule for the first quarter can be found here. Please note that we will still be adding programming. We do post new schedules every quarter.

Late buses

Late buses are offered Monday - Thursday. Buses typically leave Longfellow between 4:30p.m. - 4:45p.m.

If you have any questions about the after school 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 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.

Cross Country Schedule:

Practices Starting 9/9: Mon & Wed from 2:30 – 3:15

Meet Schedule:
September 21st at Hughes MS 8:30 am
September 28th at Herndon MS 8:30 am
October 5th at Kilmer MS 10:30 am
October 19th at Franklin MS 10:30 am

Paris trip

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.