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Dear Lancer Families:
Last week I attended a variety of after school activities. On Tuesday night, Longfellow hosted Cooper MS for our annual basketball game. The girls played in the first game where they displayed some impressive defensive skills. Cooper ended up with the win but the girls nearly made a valiant comeback in the fourth quarter. The second game was an all-time great rivaling the drama of many March Madness classics. Longfellow led for most of the game. Unfortunately, Cooper came back to sneak out a last second win in dramatic fashion. Overall, I am proud of our Lancer coaches and players and grateful for all who were involved in putting on this event for our community.
On Wednesday evening, I attended the countywide Battle of the Books competition among 16 FCPS middle schools. An entire gymnasium was set up for the event which included a relay event and the energy was contagious. A picture of our team is shared below. I got to speak with our team before they competed and it was clear they were excited for the opportunity to represent Longfellow.
As a reminder, on Tuesday, April 21st there is no school due to the election day. This week we also have our spring musical, Beauty and the Beast. We hope to see you there! Next week on April 30th we are having an open house event for our rising 7th graders and families to come tour the school and learn about which math class might be the best fit for them based on what classes they have taken thus far. We will also have some food trucks that evening in partnership with our PTA. If your family has some future Lancers for next year, we look forward to seeing you then.
As always, I appreciate your ongoing partnership and encourage you to stay connected through our website and weekly newsletter. I hope you and your family have a good week.
Chris Butzer
Principal
Longfellow MS
Battle of the Books Cross-County Competition
The Longfellow Battle of the Books Team competed on Wednesday, April 15th in the Cross-County Competition against 15 other middle schools in the county. Although this was the first time the LMS team didn't place, the whole team worked hard, had fun, and supported each other throughout the competition. As 7th grader Giuliana said, “We’ll do better next year!” We are proud of our Lancers! (Pictured: Elisa Ridoret, Cara Dillaman, Laura Ridoret, Giuliana Della Loggia, and Jack Klupt).
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UPCOMING EVENTS
April
21 No School - Election Day
22 McLean Activities Fair (during lunches @ LMS)
23 McLean Athletics Fair (during lunches @ LMS)
23-25 Spring Musical
30 Community Open House & Math Curriculum Night 5:30pm
May
1 Trivia Night 6:00pm
5 SOL - Reading
5 Night of Percussion @ McLean HS 7:00pm
7 SOL - Math
13 SOL - Science
25 Holiday-Memorial Day
26 Student Holiday-Teacher Workday
27 Holiday-Eid Al-Adha
Bell Schedule
DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS
Teacher Appreciation Week – May 4th – 8th
Donate to TAW and help us say THANK YOU in a big way!
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4th-8th, and we’re on a mission to show our incredible educators just how much they mean to us. Every day, they go above and beyond supporting our students in ways that truly make a difference.
The PTA is raising funds to provide thoughtful gifts, treats, and a delicious lunch for our teachers.
If you’re able to contribute, no amount is too small. Together, we can make this week unforgettable and show our gratitude for the dedication and passion our teachers bring to the classroom every day.
April Statewide Election: No School for Students
There will be no school for students on Tuesday, April 21, for the Virginia statewide election. Student activities, athletic practices, and events may proceed as scheduled.
FCPS will offer lunch and a snack at no cost to children aged 18 and under on April 21 at participating schools. The meals must be eaten on site. For more information, visit the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services webpage.
McLean High School Activities and Athletics Fair
On April 22nd and 23rd, McLean HS students will be at Longfellow during lunches to advertise opportunities for rising 9th grade students. All current 8th grade students will have the opportunity to attend during their regular lunch block.
LMS Theater Department Spring Musical-Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Be Our Guest and join the Longfellow Theater Department at their spring musical production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.! The show runs Thursday, April 23, Friday, April 24th, and Saturday, April 25th at 7 pm. There is also a 1 pm matinee on Saturday. Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults, and can be purchased in advance online. Tickets will also be sold at the door. See you there! https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15629/
Longfellow Yearbook Ordering Deadline-April 25
The deadline for ordering a yearbook is 04/25/26 and time is running out.
Head over to https://yearbookordercenter.com/ and use school order # 21584 and complete the order online.
The cost of the Longfellow yearbook is $40.00. If you want to ensure that you get a yearbook, please pre-order online before 04/25/26.
Community Open House & Math Pathways Night
Thursday, April 30, 5:30-7:30pm
Welcome Rising 7th Grade Families
• Math Pathways Presentation + Q&A
• Open building + Student ambassador tours
• Meet Principal, PTA, & families
• Meet classmates
• SHAVED ICE AVAILABLE ON SITE
• Pre-Order Pizza & Drinks (by Friday, April 24): https://forms.office.com/r/GCsaVAqB5N
Cheese $8/ 1-Topping $9 (pepperoni/sausage)
Soda cans $1/ 2-liters $3.25
*Hosted by the Longfellow Faculty & Staff + Longfellow PTA
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar
The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Find additional information on BoardDocs. View the updated complete school year calendar on FCPS’ website.
The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders
As required by the Code of VA, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.
In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:
• Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older;
• Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;
• A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
o After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment.
Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet (PDF) for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements.
Additional Immunization Resources are also available.
Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments
Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.
Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
Longfellow/Cooper Basketball
On Tuesday, April 14th, our basketball teams faced off against Cooper Middle School. The girls’ team kept the game close until the fourth quarter when Cooper ultimately pulled away for a 25-20 victory. Our team never gave up and played hard the entire game. Team members include Brooke Bender, Colleen Bogacki, Ellie Broom, Ana Cantero, Maria Cantero, Charlotte Crowe, Camryn Cully, Nora Erlanger, Ashley Fouda, Caroline Francis, Stella Gharakhanian, Aliya Sahu, Dimitra Sgardelis, Nadia Stone, Harper Wolking, and Olivia Zhou.
On the boys' side, Longfellow controlled the court for nearly the entire game. In a heart-pounding finish, Cooper managed a late-game surge, clinching a 51-50 win in the final seconds. Boys’ team members include: Liam Ayers, Colin Bell, Ian Boyd, Andrew Brandely, Miles Dorsky, Jeremy Goldberg, Connor Green, Hameed Jafri, Adam Pienta, Miles Rosell, and Charlie Sweeny.
Despite the tough losses, we couldn't be prouder of the hustle, preparation, and sportsmanship our students displayed. Great job, Lancers!
Trivia Night
Get ready for a fun and competitive evening at Trivia Night on Friday, May 1 at 6:00 PM!
Form a team and test your knowledge against for a chance to win prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Teams may include up to four members, and the registration fee is $20 per team. Parents, students, teachers and siblings are welcome to attend. Use the link to register.
Chess Tournament: Saturday, April 25th
The U.S. Chess Center is sponsoring an area wide tournament at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The tournament is open to grades K-12 and includes a premier section for students with OTB rating of 1600+. The entry fee is $10.00 per student, $20.00 for Premier Section. For questions contact admin@chessctr.org. Register at chessctr.org/area-wide.
LONGFELLOW PTA
Calling all 8th Grade Parents/Guardians
It’s time to start planning the 8th-grade party! The end-of-middle-school party for the 8th graders is scheduled for June 12th from 6pm – 8pm, at Longfellow. For this event to take place, the PTA needs parent/guardian volunteers to plan and chaperone the event. Volunteer commitments are needed by May 4th. If there are not sufficient volunteers, this year's 8th-grade party will not take place. Please sign up here to volunteer to plan and/or chaperone, Volunteer for 8th Grade Party
PARENT INFORMATION
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on:
• Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School
• Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but it helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
LMS Career Day 2026
Do you have a job you love? A unique career path? We want to hear from YOU!
We are looking for enthusiastic parents, family members, and community partners to speak at LMS Career Day on the morning of Thursday, June 4, 2026 (exact time TBD). No teaching experience is required – just a passion for what you do and a willingness to engage with our curious Lancers!
Interested? Please complete this Google Form.
Start an Unskippable Conversation With Your Teen
When was the last time you talked to your teen about fentanyl and overdose? Learn how to start an Unskippable conversation, and find resources to share with your teen on how to spot an overdose and how to respond.
McLean High School Sports Physical Night
WHO: All students who plan to play a sport in 2026-2027 school year
WHEN: Thursday, May 28, 2026
TIME: 5:30pm - 8:00pm
WHERE: McLean HS
COST: $50
REGISTER HERE
Fall Sports
If your child is planning on participating in Fall Sports at McLean this upcoming school year, please be advised that Fall Sports will start on Aug 3rd. Students will need a valid physical to be able to participate. Once a physical is completed, the physical will be valid for 14 months. Students will also be required to register, but this cannot happen until late June. More information will go out this summer about registering. The below form must be used for the physical: https://www.vhsl.org/forms/
Fall Sports
Golf
Cheerleading
Field Hockey
Football
Cross Country
Boys Volleyball
Girls Volleyball
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