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Dear Lancer Families:
Due to the snow and ice last week, we have some updates to our end of quarter timelines. This is the current information. If things change further, families will receive an email to let you know. Wednesday, February 4th, will be the end of the second quarter. Schedules for 3rd quarter classes (in case any students have different classes the second semester) will be available in StudentVue on February 4th at 4 pm. They also will receive a paper copy of their schedule at school. The 3rd quarter will start on Thursday, February 5th. Report cards for 2nd quarter will be available in StudentVue and ParentVue on Monday, February 9th. We look forward to returning to some semblance of normal this week as routines are important especially for adolescents (and I would argue, the adults that work with them).
This week is also our counselor appreciation week. Our school counselors are amazing, trusted adults in our building that support and advocate for our students and their needs. They are able to build great relationships with our students and help them through challenges with peers, stress/anxiety, and any other situations that arise. We appreciate all of their hard work and support of our students and are so glad that they are part of our team!
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
February
2-6 8th Grade Finance Park Field Trip
4 End of 2nd Quarter
5 Start of 3rd Quarter
5 Spelling Bee Qualifying Test
11-13 Spring Musical Auditions
16 Holiday-President’s Day
17 Student Holiday-Teacher Workday
21 LMS Family Climbing Night 6-10pm @ Sportrock Alexandria
26 Spelling Bee
26 Pre-Assessment Band Concert-Symphonic Band 7:00 PM @ McLean HS
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 tonight, 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
Cooper Middle School Curriculum Night – February 3, 2026
Cooper Middle School is hosting a curriculum night for rising 7th and 8th grade students and guardians on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. For more information regarding the course selection process at Cooper, please see their website.
Marshall High School Rising 9th Grade Orientation – February 5, 2026
Marshall High School is hosting an orientation for Rising 9th grade students on February 5th from 6-8 PM. Students will have the opportunity to see the building and meet with their counselor. For all information regarding Marshall HS course offerings and academic advising, please see their website.
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.
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.
PTA Update
Thank You & Supporting Our Staff
Thank you to everyone who took the time to read last week’s PTA budget update and to those who have contributed so far. While a small number of additional donations have come in to date, the PTA remains significantly behind its fundraising goal, and continued support is still very much needed. Support Excellence funds at Longfellow make possible programs like Lancer Bucks, teacher stipends, and staff hospitality. If you haven’t yet, families can still join the PTA and/or make a donation through Givebacks.
Another immediate direct way to support our staff is coming up soon:
🍲 Show Our Staff Some LOVE: Soup Lunch – February 13
It's cold outside! Please help us show our LMS staff LOVE on February 13th with a warm lunch. We are requesting food contributions and donations. Check out the sign-up genius to see how you can help. Contact Melissa Vayra, 646-467-3506, with questions.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090F4FA8AE2EABFA7-61796450-soups
🧗♀️ Climb, hang out, and have fun with friends!
Come to Longfellow Family Climbing Night on Saturday, February 21st, 6–10 PM at Sportrock Alexandria (5308 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria, VA)!
No experience needed — just bring your energy! Warm up and stay active on a cold winter night while enjoying great climbs with friends. Pizza and drinks will be available for purchase, and proceeds support our PTA and school programs. Grab your friends and join us for an awesome night off the ground! 🎉
Registration link: https://portal.sportrock.com/l?t=DWzeBVgZWa54xVBg
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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.
❄️ 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.
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
Due to recent school closings, the after-school program will begin its second semester schedule on Monday, February 9. Volleyball and Dance Club will also start on this date. The Girls Leadership Committee’s second peer mentoring program will be at Longfellow on Thursday, February 5th from 3:30-4:30pm in the Lecture Hall. No sign up is required.
We are introducing a new club, the Military Youth Mentorship Program. The Military Youth Mentorship Program is meant to establish community and connection for incoming military connected McLean/Longfellow students, create a social support system for military youth new to the area, educate military youth about resiliency, academic support, and scholarship and job opportunities. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE MILITARY CONNECTED TO ATTEND MEETINGS!! All are welcome to learn new skills, gain support, and get connected to the McLean High School Community. The first meeting will be on Thursday, February 12th at 3:30-4:30pm.
Parent and Student Book Club
Longfellow is excited to launch a new Parent and Student Book Club! Join us on Thursday, March 12, at 6:00 PM in the Lecture Hall for our first meeting.
Families may choose one of two books to read together: New Kid by Jerry Craft or When Stars Are Scattered by Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson. Parents and students will read the same book and then come together to share thoughts and participate in a group discussion at our book club meeting.
If you and your child are interested in participating, please complete the interest form. We look forward to reading with you!
Track and Field Sign-Ups
Interested in joining Longfellow’s track and field team? Use the following link to sign up. To be eligible to participate students must have completed the following:
1. Use the link to complete the registration form.
2. Complete and turn in the Middle School Athletics Physical Form (PPE) to Mr. Stokes. If you completed this already for cross-country and it is dated after March 20, 2025, you don’t need to submit another form.
3. Complete and turn in the Emergency Care Card (ECC) to Mr. Stokes. This must be filled in for each sport season.
Additional information regarding practices and meets will be provided closer to the beginning of the season.
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.
Mott Million Dollar Challenge
Young people across the country are full of powerful ideas, and the Mott Million Dollar Challenge is giving them the stage to share them.
This national pitch competition invites K-12 students to submit a short, 30-90 second video showcasing an idea that would make a positive impact in their school, home, or community. Students may enter individually or in teams of up to three, and a total of $1 million in prizes will be awarded. Submissions are due February 27, 2026.
Let's put Virginia on the national stage for kids and teens with game-changing ideas, featuring their awesome concepts that solve problems at school or in their afterschool programs.
Submit your pitch today!
PARENT INFORMATION
FCPS Ombuds Office Provides Confidential Guidance
The Office of the Ombuds engages with families, students, and staff to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help answer questions, offer options to resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Anyone seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, text 571-496-8284, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit the ombuds webpage, where you may submit a question. Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
📱 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.
2026 Summer Media Camp Information
As Fairfax County’s community public media station, during the summer season we offer teens interested in television studio production, post-production video editing, and radio production an outlet to learn, experience and create.
This summer we are offering three separate camps with various dates to choose from. The TV Studio Production camp offers a chance to learn the ins and outs of creating a television show, use of the equipment, and crew roles and responsibilities. The TV Post-Production camp offers a chance to learn the process of editing video projects using Adobe Premiere. While the Radio Production camp offers a chance to learn how to produce a radio show, use of the studio equipment, and our programming procedures.
Additional summer camp information is available online at:
https://www.fcac.org/summer-camp-registration-forms
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
2026 CTE Summer Academy
CTE Summer Academy is a weekly enrichment program that allows students to dive deeper into CTE program areas and encourages skill development and career exploration.
Students choose 4 classes each week they participate and learn new content, discover interests, and build their skills.
About: This enrichment program allows students to dive deeper into Career and Technical Education (CTE) program areas, develop new or existing skills, and begin career exploration. Students choose the classes they want to take and create their own unique schedule. Classes are introductory and most do not require previous knowledge. By participating in this program, students will have a better understanding of the FCPS CTE electives.
Eligibility: Current 6 to 11 graders
• Time - 8:30 am to 2 pm*
*Early drop off begins at 7:30 am; after care ends at 5 pm
New to 2026! We’re offering after care!
• Location - Robinson SS
• Transportation from select FCPS schools is provided!
• Cost - $300 per week
Back for 2026 programs, we will be offering tuition assistance. More information on our webpages.
• Dates -
• Week 1: July 6 - 10
• Week 2: July 13 - 17
• Week 3: July 20 - 24
• Week 4: July 27 - 31
New to 2026! We’re offering a 4th week of our programs!
• Different weekly offerings, weekly themes and class offerings can be found on our webpages!
Registration is open from February 2 to June 5, 2026.
Register online through the CTE Summer Academy website - bit.ly/FCPS_CSA There are a limited number of seats for this camp. To guarantee a spot, register early!
Additional Information: More details are on our webpage: bit.ly/FCPS_CSA
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