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Dear Lancer Families:
Last week was another strong one across our building. Our teachers have maintained an ongoing focus of high-quality instruction as we wrap up the second quarter. I got to see the culmination of students learning about and utilizing dance in Health and Physical Education classes as well as students thinking through what trench warfare might have been like during World War I in US History 7. As a school, we are committed to keeping students at the center of all things.
This week was supposed to be the end of the 2nd quarter. That date will be slightly adjusted due to the weather closures and will be shared with staff, students, and families once it is finalized. It is truly hard to believe that this school year is essentially halfway over. If we have school tomorrow on Wednesday, January 28th, it will be a two-hour early release. There will be no after school programs so please make a plan for an early dismissal/pickup that day if we have school. There is also no school on Thursday, January 29th and Friday, January 30th.
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
January
28 Two-Hour Early Release
29 Student Holiday
30 Student Holiday
February
2-6 8th Grade Finance Park Field Trip
5 Spelling Bee Qualifying Test
11-13 Spring Musical Auditions
16 Holiday-President’s Day
17 Student Holiday-Teacher Work Day
26 Spelling Bee
26 Pre-Assessment Band Concert-Symphonic Band
7:00 PM @ McLean HS
Bell Schedule for the next two weeks
DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS
Langley HS Curriculum Night & Rising 9th grade Course Selection Information
Langley HS’s curriculum night has been rescheduled to Monday, February 2, 2026 at 7 p.m. Please see the LHS Student Services Course Selection (Academic Advising) website for more information on Curriculum Night and the Course Selection Process: https://langleyhs.fcps.edu/student-services/9th-grade-academic-advising
Spelling Bee
Students interested in participating in the Longfellow Middle School Spelling Bee may register for the Spelling Bee Qualifying Test. The Qualifying Test is a written spelling test that will be given on Thursday, February 5th during LS4 in the Library. Students can register for the Qualifying Test by filling out the Google Form posted to the Library’s Schoology course. The top scorers on the Qualifying Test will earn a spot in the Longfellow Spelling Bee to be held during LS4 in Rm. 122 on Thursday, February 26th.
Student Experience Survey
In the coming weeks, FCPS will be administering the Student Experience Survey to all students in grades 3-12. It will help the school division better understand students’ experiences in our schools. It will take about 30 minutes and be completed during school hours on February 24, 2026. If you would like to view the survey, please visit the Student Experience Survey webpage at www.fcps.edu/student-experience-survey.
If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, you may opt them out using the online form on the Student Experience Survey webpage. You only need to complete the opt-out form by Friday, February 13, if you do not want your child to participate in the Student Experience Survey.
Thank you for supporting our efforts to make improvements in FCPS schools. If you have questions about the Student Experience Survey, please contact research@fcps.edu.
PTA Update: Support Excellence
As we close out Quarter 2, the Longfellow PTA would like to share a candid update after the board reviewed finances last week.
Unfortunately, the PTA is approximately $10,000 behind its fundraising goal for the year.
In a school of more than 1,200 students, we currently have just over 100 PTA members and have only elicited 57 donations totaling about $5,800. That has created a massive budget shortfall with donations to the PTA lagging behind previous years amounts by almost 70%.
PTA membership and donations directly support programs that benefit students teachers and staff, including:
• Lancer Bucks program support to supply small rewards teachers use to recognize positive behavior, effort, and kindness by students
• Teacher stipends to enable the purchase of essential classroom supplies that teachers would otherwise have to purchase on their own
• Teacher hospitality and staff appreciation including stocking the breakroom and providing occasional meals around holidays or events
If participation does not increase, the PTA will need to reduce support for some of these programs later this year.
How you can help:
• Join the PTA ($25 annual membership) Approximately $5 pays the dues to the State PTA, The remaining $20 per person goes directly into the Longfellow PTA budget to support our efforts on behalf of the students and teachers. Both parents can join for $25 each and membership is not limited to parents (some grandparents are members as a way to support their grandchildren). Remember to choose the 2025-26 PTA Membership option.
• Make a donation through Givebacks
o This is our primary method of raising money for the PTA programs. Visit the Givebacks “store” to add a $100 donation to your cart through the “Support Excellence Campaign” or choose any amount that you are comfortable with by choosing “PTA Donation”.
o Families can both purchase PTA memberships and make an additional donation in the same transaction.
This year, the PTA’s primary ask is donations, which allow us to continue supporting students and teachers at current levels.
Looking ahead, the PTA recognizes the need for greater parent engagement and will be sharing opportunities to get more involved in the 2026–27 school year.
Please consider joining or contributing if you are able. Your participation makes a direct and immediate difference in the lives of the students and the ability of the teachers to bring out the best in them.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
❄️ 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.
Academic Advising
Our 8th grade counselors are currently conducting individual meetings with each rising 9th grade student about course offerings and how to maximize academic success. Details and course information can be found on the McLean HS website.
Starting on February 19th, our 7th grade counselors will conduct individual meetings with each rising 8th grade student. Details including our course catalog can be found on the Longfellow MS website.
All course selections are due in StudentVue March 4, 2026.
Please reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions.
Family Life Education (FLE) Date Changes
Due to inclement weather, the start date for Family Life Education (FLE) has been revised. Below are the new dates as well as a link to the overview of these units and opt out forms.
Human Growth and Development: 7th & 8th grade: February 3rd – 6th
Emotional Social Health: February 9th – April 3rd (students will cycle through the unit at different times in this window)
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle
For questions or concerns, please contact your child’s Health and Physical Education teacher.
PARENT INFORMATION
McLean Math Tournament for Grades 5-8
On behalf of the McLean High School Highlander Math League, we are excited to share that we will be hosting the McLean Math Tournament (McMT) for local elementary and middle school students in Grades 5–8 in early March.
McMT is designed to be a fun and engaging math competition for students with a wide range of backgrounds. The problems will span from beginner to advanced levels, making the contest welcoming to all students who are interested in math. In addition to the competition, students will have the opportunity to meet peers with similar interests, participate in fun activities, and enjoy snacks. The contest is completely free, and awards and prizes will be given to participants.
Students who are interested can sign up using the interest form: https://forms.gle/Nc3LvS1uHzpG1cHv6.
2026 STEM Essay Contest-Now Open!
Our STEM Essay Contest challenges 7th and 8th girls and boys to discover and publicize women including women of color (non-white) who made a difference in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, but who received little or no recognition for their contributions while they were alive. Strong preference is given to essays about women who are not well known even today. Each student is asked to write an essay of no more than 500 words to describe one woman's contribution to STEM, discuss the impact, and clearly state why he or she picked that woman. We will award five prizes: First Place ($100) and four Honorable Mention prizes (each $25).
Here are the two application forms (a PDF and a Word document), which include the essay guidelines and instructions for submission. The deadline is February 8, 2026, at 11:00 pm ET, and the McLean Area Branch will recognize the winners at its annual potluck dinner on March 24, 2026, at the McLean Community Center.
📱 More News and Updates — on the go — With the FCPS App
Gone are the days of digging through emails or hunting for bookmarks. The FCPS app provides a custom experience that is both powerful and easy to use. Here is how it makes life easier:
● Customized for Your Family: Do you have students at two (or more!) different schools? You can "follow" multiple schools to get a feed of news, notices, and events specific to your family.
● No Sign-In Required: Access essential content like district-wide announcements, live updates, and school calendars instantly — no password to remember, no login required.
● Real-Time Notifications: Get push notifications for urgent updates — including weather announcements! — ensuring you never miss an important announcement from the district or your school.
● Everything in One Place: From bell schedules and staff directories to athletic event locations and school menus, the app is a central hub for all things FCPS.
To ensure every family stays informed, the app supports automatic translation for more than 100 languages. Learn more about the app, or download it today in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Winter Resources for Families
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter weather. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during snow or inclement weather days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
Join the Fairfax County Youth Global Leaders Program!
Are you a middle school student with a passion for change? We invite you to apply for an opportunity to join the Fairfax County Youth Global Leaders Program!
What is the Fairfax County Youth Global Leaders Program?
As a member, you'll work alongside other middle school students to develop and implement a project addressing your assigned Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in your local community. You will share ideas, propose solutions, and fully participate in meetings (in person and online) from February to May.
Who We're Looking For
● FCPS student in 7th or 8th grade with a minimum 3.5 GPA
● A proactive individual ready to address a local need through your assigned SDG
● Students with strong communication and collaboration skills
Benefits
This is a great opportunity to:
● Develop leadership skills
● Make a tangible difference in your community
● Collaborate with middle school students from across Fairfax County
Ready to Lead?
Apply here: https://forms.gle/YZKeZVq7BM2Fakr9A
● Please use your FCPS email address
Applications are due by: 2/11/2026
Contact 1698646@fcpsschools.net for questions
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