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Dear Lancers,
Can't believe it's already the end of the first quarter! Just a quick reminder about this week's schedule:
- Thursday, October 31st: We have a 2-hour early release. Please note that there will be no after-school activities.
- Return to School: Students will be back on Wednesday, November 6th, which is an anchor day.
When we return, we'll be diving back into executive functioning and organizational strategies during our advisory lessons. This is a key focus for our school this year, as these skills are essential for success in middle school, high school, and beyond.
How can you help? Encourage your child to show you their agenda, binder, and Schoology calendar.
Here's to a fantastic week at Longfellow!
Jim
UPCOMING EVENTS
Schedule for the next two weeks:
DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS
End of Book Fair
Friday, October 20th was the last day for the In-school Book Fair. However, if you are looking for more books or if your student forgot to use their eWallet, you can still order on our Book Fair website until October 31 and our school will receive 25% of the profits!
We are so grateful to our parent volunteers for the time and support in making this endeavor a successful one for Longfellow MS. Thank you once again for supporting the Longfellow Library program.
Retake & Makeup Picture Day @ Longfellow Middle School
• Thursday, November 7, 2024
• During all lunches in the Cafeteria (stage, behind the curtain)
This photo day is for students who were absent, new to the school, or who were not happy with their original package (students are required to return their original package to the photographer). No purchase is necessary.
• Anyone who has not ordered can still preorder retake photos using this link https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001133192#login
Coming Soon: Youth Survey
The Fairfax County Youth Survey, a collaboration between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The survey examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County's youth. The results, published each year at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey, identify trends and areas of need, providing a snapshot of the county's youth and serving as a barometer of the community's effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people.
Longfellow Middle School will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey on November 15, 2024 during Learning Seminar 4.
While it is our hope that as many students as possible will participate, if you do not wish for your child to take part in the Youth Survey, please complete the form linked here and return it to your child's school counselor no later than November 8, 2024. If you have already opted your child out of this survey using the Parental Digital Consent Portal you do not need to provide additional information to the school counselor.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.
For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, we will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
🎤Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions at the final community conversation this fall. It will be held Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School. Click the date to register. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
Private School Recommendations
With any Private School Recommendation, there are 3 steps that parents and students are asked to do prior to teachers completing the recommendation forms.
This site explains more: https://longfellowms.fcps.edu/student-services/record-request-and-private-school-application-process
Next to #3, you will see the required LMS Student Information form.
This form must be completed and sent to the teacher before the recommendation can be written.
In accordance with the application procedure, the LMS Student Information form is expected to be emailed at least two weeks in advance to the private school application deadline.
Longfellow Love
At Longfellow Middle School we have many students who live at, or below, the poverty level. Their families welcome our help with expenses such as school supplies and holiday meals. Longfellow Love is a student assistance program that supports Longfellow students in need through donations from families like you, as well as contributions from local businesses. The contributions and gift cards are then anonymously distributed directly to the families in need through the counseling system. In years past, we have only supported families during the holiday season, however, with the rising cost of food, we would like to provide gift cards to families for Thanksgiving as well as the holidays. This year, our fellow student families need our help more than ever! Click HERE to sign up to donate gift cards from Lidl and Walmart to Longfellow families who need our help during the upcoming season!
There are two ways you can purchase gift cards:
1. Go to Lidl and/or Walmart and purchase gift cards in person. Drop them off at the front office in an envelope addressed to Juanita Baptiste.
2. Go online to Walmart eGift Card, choose your amount, purchase an ecard, and email it to Juanita at jbaptiste@fcps.edu
Donated Gift Cards can be mailed, dropped off, or emailed to:
Juanita Baptiste
Longfellow Middle School
2000 Westmoreland Street
Falls Church, VA 22043
jbaptiste@fcps.edu
Gift cards for Thanksgiving are needed by Wednesday, November 20th, and holiday cards are needed by Monday, December 16th!!
Let's show our Lancer family some LOVE this holiday season! Thank you for your support!
Questions? Contact Longfellow Love chair, Michele Core at michelecore@yahoo.com
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
Debate turns in dominant performance:
The LMS debate team cooked, served, ate, and left no crumbs while competing in their first competition of the year on Saturday. In a competition of 7 middle schools and 140 students, four LMS teams placed in the top 10, more than any other school. The team of Leena Melkote and Vivian Li placed 2nd, Chandler Mehta and Will Rucker placed 5th, Eileen Zou and Victoria Glass placed 6th, and Ashley Yan and Elaina Wang placed 8th. Six LMS students placed in the top 10 best speakers, including Ashley Yan who received first place. Other best speaker winners were Joe Lewis, Elaina Wang, Will Rucker, Leena Melkote, and Vivian Li. Congratulations to our amazing debate team.
Cross Country Wraps up the Season!
Our Cross Country Team Wrapped up their season at Liberty Middle School for the FCPS Middle School Championship this weekend. We had great performances. Out of 26 teams, our girls team finished 4th and our boys team finished 5th overall. Grant Dougherty finished in the top 15, placing 6th overall in the boys competition. Congratulations to the following athletes that competed:
Girls:
Riya Alalasundaram
Gabriella LeMoigne
Logan Bennett
Claire Klein
Sophie Bittenbender
Boys:
Grant Dougherty
Declan Nguyen
Mathis Laree
AJ Samson
George Nguyen
Schedule
Our most updated after-school schedule can be found here.
Late buses
Late buses are offered Monday - Thursday. Buses typically leave Longfellow between 4:40p.m. - 5:00p.m.
After-School Office Staff
Staff are available in the main office until the last late bus departs. If you have any questions after 5pm., you may contact Transportation at 703.249.7100 or Safety and Security at 571.423.2000.
PARENT INFORMATION
Outstanding Employee Awards Program
Nominations will be/are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Longfellow Middle School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: https://forms.gle/C8TKKdSY9EE528aR8 You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. The eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal) at their current location
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership at their current location
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, After-School Specialist, MTSS Coordinator, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grades
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee at their current location
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons
The deadline to submit a nomination is Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact Tara Fortune at tdfortune@fcps.edu.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
• Federal Impact Aid Survey
• Football Players Tackle Literacy
• Tips to Keep Children Safe
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
McLean High School Crew Club Turkey Trot 5K (with Langley Crew Club)
Please join McLean High School Crew Club, in partnership with Langley Crew Club, on Saturday, November 30 at 9 am for a Turkey Trot 5K. The friendly rivals are joining together as ONE team to support and strengthen rowing in our McLean and Great Falls community. Proceeds from the event will be shared equally between the two teams.
Register here:
https://potomac.enmotive.com/events/register/2024-langley-crew-turkey-trot-5k
In addition to a scenic 5K run, there will be a dj with music and a coffee truck for specialty coffee and hot chocolate, starting at 8 am on the day of the trot. For those who cannot join in person, please consider registering for the virtual trot.
Grab your friends and family, and let’s run/walk!
Registration Fee:
5K: $35 before November 1, then $50 November 2 through Race Day
All pre-registered runners will receive a commemorative shirt.
Be sure to register by November 1 to be guaranteed a shirt.
Toy Drive
Share of McLean's Holiday Program kicks off on November 16! This year, Jack, a regular Share volunteer and former Longfellow student, is leading a toy collection drive. He has created an Amazon wish list with items for kids ages 1 to 11, ranging from $10 to $15. Please check out the Amazon wish list if you would like to contribute, preferably by November 14.
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