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Dear Lancers:
I’m excited to share that this has been another outstanding week here at Longfellow Middle School! Our students and staff continue to demonstrate wonderful focus and enthusiasm across all classrooms and extracurricular activities. The daily routines are running smoothly, fostering a positive and productive learning environment where students feel engaged and supported. I've enjoyed watching our students collaborate on projects and tackle their academic challenges with great effort.
We look forward to carrying this momentum into this week when we have our Winter Dance on Thursday from 6-8 pm and next week where we will be having an SCA sponsored spirit week and preparing for the upcoming winter break. Winter break begins at the end of the day on Friday, December 19th and ends at the start of the day on Monday, January 5th. For your planning purposes, the main office will be closed over winter break, so if you have anything timely that needs addressing, be sure to bring it to our attention this week or next week.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. I appreciate your ongoing support and partnership.
Chris Butzer
Principal
Longfellow MS
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 9: Winter Orchestra Concert @ McLean HS
7pm
December 10: Winter Band Concert @ McLean HS
7pm
December 10&11: History & Geography Bee Tryouts
December 11: Student Dance
6-8 pm
December 15: Rising 9th Grade McLean HS Electives Fair
December 22-
January 2: Winter Break - Office will be closed
Schedule for the next two weeks
🐝 History and Geography Bee! 🌎
Get ready to test your knowledge of the world and the past! Longfellow Middle School will be holding tests for both the National History Bee and the National Geographic Geography Bee on Wednesday & Thursday this week.
📅 Tryout Details
• When: Wednesday, December 10th, and Thursday, December 11th.
• Where: The school cafeteria.
• The Test: The qualifying exam for both Bees consists of 50 multiple-choice questions and must be completed within a strict 20-minute time limit.
Students who score high enough on the qualifying test will earn the chance to represent Longfellow at the regional level!
• Regional Competition will be held in Washington, D.C., on January 31st.
📝 How to Sign Up
• Students who would like to participate in the qualifying competition must sign up with their Social Studies teacher. If you have additional questions please feel free to email Ms. Layton at jhlayton@fcps.edu
Rising 9th Grade McLean Electives Fair - December 15, 2025
Current 8th grade students will explore McLean High School elective options in our Electives Fair on Monday, December 15 during their 6th period class. Representatives from McLean High School will be present to share more information about elective options for 9th grade. More resources for course selection will be available on the McLean High School website in the coming weeks!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
✅ Please Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to complete a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete the survey as soon as possible.
Paper forms were sent home with your students on Monday, November 17th. For more information, please visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page or watch this video about why Impact Aid matters.
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2025
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Elaina Bafaro (erbafaro@fcps.edu) no later than December 15, 2025.
Each year, families can submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.
Next Steps for Parents
Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing Elaina Bafaro (erbafaro@fcps.edu).
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
McLean High School Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night- January 13, 2026
McLean High School will be holding a Curriculum Night for parents of the class of 2030 (current 8th grade students) at McLean HS on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:00pm in the auditorium. The evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 9th grade student with the transition to high school. Topics include getting involved with extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and the registration process for 9th grade courses. We will also have a panel of core teachers sharing information on their content areas. Following the presentation, teachers from various departments will be available to answer questions about 9th grade classes until 7:30pm. Students are welcome to attend; 8th grade students currently enrolled at Longfellow Middle School will receive similar information from McLean High School counselors during the school day on Monday, January 12.
Snow date: January 20th at 6:00pm, McLean High School Auditorium
Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night - January 14, 2026
Longfellow Middle School will be hosting a Curriculum Night for rising 7th grade families (current 6th grade students) at Longfellow MS on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 7th grade student with the transition to middle school. Families will have the opportunity to explore elective course offerings and hear from a variety of Longfellow staff about the courses and programs offered to 7th grade students. Students and staff will also be available to answer questions.
If inclement weather occurs, the event will be rescheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
We look forward to welcoming you to Longfellow!
🙋♂️ Attendance Is Important Every Day!
Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after winter break. Give your child the gift of education and help build a habit of attendance. Visit the FCPS website for more attendance resources.
❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
⛄ Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
🎤 Share Your Thoughts With Superintendent Reid
At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid are underway across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. We encourage you to attend, share your thoughts, and ask questions about FCPS. Events are planned for the following dates from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.:
•Tuesday, December 9, at Fairhill Elementary School
• Thursday, December 11, at Bull Run Elementary School
Click on a date above to register. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Community Conversations are open to all. Please check FCPS’ website for additional updates.
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter. View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
Model UN Results
Congratulations to the Longfellow Model UN team on an outstanding performance at the George Washington Conference on International Affairs. Competing against over 400 students from more than 20 schools, Longfellow earned the Best Large Delegation Award.
The following students received Best Delegate awards in their committees: Veronica Mei, Ian Boyd, Navya Sahay, Alessandra Vasquez, Daniel Kim, Jaiden Olson, and Noelle Yu. In addition, the team earned one Outstanding Delegate award, four Honorable Mentions, and four Verbal Commendations. We are incredibly proud of their achievements.
Science Olympiad Results
The Longfellow Science Olympiad team is off to a fantastic start this season. On November 15, Longfellow placed 1st and 2nd at the University of Virginia Science Olympiad Invitational, earning top-three placements in 14 of 17 events. On December 6, the team continued its success by placing 1st at the Lake Braddock Science Olympiad Invitational, with top-three finishes in 10 of 23 events. Congratulations to all of our Science Olympiad members on their hard work and success!
School Dance
Our first after-school dance of the year will be held on Thursday, December 11, from 6:00–8:00 PM in the Lecture Hall. Students must purchase tickets in advance, as no tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets cost $5.00 and may be purchased through MySchoolBucks or during lunch on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. All students attending the dance should be dropped off and picked up at Door 1 (the main entrance).
Winter Spirit Week: December 15–19
Get ready to show your school spirit!
• Monday: Winter Pajama Day
• Tuesday: Flannel Day
• Wednesday: White Out (wear white)
• Thursday: Holiday hats, headbands, and sock day
• Friday: Ugly Sweater Day
Please note that there are no after-school activities on Friday, December 19. Students must leave campus at the end of the school day.
PARENT INFORMATION
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 distributed directly to the families in need through the counseling system. This year, our fellow student families need our help more than ever! With the rising cost of food, we would like to provide families with gift cards to help with holiday meals. Click HERE to sign up to donate gift cards from Target or Walmart to Longfellow families who need our help during the upcoming season!
There are two ways you can purchase gift cards:
1. Go to Target or Walmart and purchase gift cards in person. Drop them off at the front office in an envelope addressed to Adriana Rota.
2. Go online to Target eGift Card, or Walmart eGift Card, choose your amount, purchase an ecard, and email it to Michele Core at michelecore@yahoo.com.
Donated gift cards can be mailed to:
Adriana Rota
Longfellow Middle School
2000 Westmoreland Street
Falls Church, VA 22043
Gift cards are needed by Wednesday, December 17th! 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
BRYC GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL
Join us for our inaugural season - spring 2026!
BRYC is thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new Girls Flag Football League - a dynamic, inclusive, and empowering league that provides opportunities for girls to get active, build skills, and have fun on the field!
INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING TO HELP LAUNCH THIS LEAGUE?
Audra Gibson: audra.gibson7812@gmail.com
Sharon Bickmore: smi0466@gmail.com
Rupali Limaye: rjlimaye@gmail.com
Read for Gold Over Winter Break
Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through Saturday, January 31, 2026. Visit your local FCPL branch or their Winter Reading Adventure website to register and get a sneak peek at the prizes. Check out their Winter Reading Events webpage to learn about gingerbread house making, crafting sessions, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and book discussions.
Attention young local actors!
The McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre will host auditions for the 2026 Youth Production of The Wizard of Oz! When Dorothy drops into the Land of Oz, only one thing is certain: she's got to find a way back to Kansas. A funny and fast-paced journey down the yellow brick road ensues, as Dorothy and her new friends travel to the fabled Emerald City to meet the Great Oz. When Oz demands a steep price for sending her home, a perilous new adventure begins. This imaginative adaptation captures the heart of L. Frank Baum's classic tale.
Actors must be residents of or go to school in the MCC tax district, and be between the ages of 10-16 on the date of the audition. Click here to register and for more information; we look forward to seeing you at the auditions on January 13 & 15, 2026!
LONGFELLOW PTA – SUPPORT EXCELLENCE!
Virtual PTA meeting TOMORROW Tuesday Dec 9, 7 pm
Please join via the zoom link below to hear from Principal Butzer with school updates and the PTA board on finances and programming.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78803308903?pwd=oXahu2KQfBatnY3BPA0yLQcSj7LqAe.1
Longfellow Family Climbing Night – Interest Survey
Join us for a fun evening of climbing, community, and fundraising on Saturday, February 21, 2026!
This isn’t a final sign-up — just a quick survey to help us plan.
Please complete it by this Friday, December 12th
[https://forms.gle/mbCS3mRfsPCtBg6i6]
Holiday Cookie Buffet & ☕ Hot Chocolate Bar
In the spirit of the season, the PTA will host a Holiday Cookie Buffet and Hot Chocolate Bar for Longfellow Faculty & Staff on Wednesday, December 17.
As you're doing your holiday baking, please consider contributing your favorite homemade treats (no store-bought, thank you!).
8th Grade students may earn 1 service hour for providing homemade cookies.
Sign Up Here: LMS Cookie Bake 12/17/25
🙋 Parent Volunteers Needed
We are seeking co-chairs for the 8th Grade Class Party in June. To volunteer, contact Weina Dorsky, VP of Programs wfdorsky@gmail.com
💛 Support Excellence Campaign
We’ve raised $2,500 and counting—thank you! Your gifts support:
• Restoring the Rain Garden & Courtyard
• Recess activities (balls, games & more)
• Classroom supplies for teachers
• Coffee & snacks in teacher workrooms
Donate via Givebacks - every dollar helps.
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