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Dear Lancer Families,
It is hard to believe that we are just three weeks away from the end of the first quarter! As we approach this important milestone, I encourage families to take some time to check in with their students about their academic progress and attendance. Please review grades together in ParentVUE, discuss any missing assignments or opportunities for reassessment, and help your child make a plan to finish the quarter strong. Consistent attendance, strong work habits, and taking responsibility for learning are all important parts of student success. Our goal is for every Lancer's report card to reflect their best effort and the progress they have made throughout the quarter.
I also want to extend a huge congratulations to our Longfellow cross country teams on an outstanding performance at their second meet of the season! Both our boys' and girls' teams earned first place among the schools competing! I am incredibly proud of their hard work, determination, and teamwork. Thank you to our coaches and families for supporting our student-athletes and helping them represent Longfellow so well. I will be at the next meet to cheer you all on so come say hello and keep up the great work, Lancers!
As a reminder, Friday, October 30th is a two hour early release for the end of the quarter. Please make a plan for your student to arrive home early that day. Additionally, there is no school for students November 2nd and 3rd so we will welcome everyone back for a strong start to the second quarter on Wednesday, November 4th. Thank you for everything you do to support our students, staff, and school! I hope you and your family have a wonderful week.
Chris Butzer
Principal, Longfellow MS
UPCOMING EVENTS
October
13-16 Hearing & Vision Screening
17 Cross Country Meet @ Stone MS 7:30 a.m.
19-23 Book Fair
24 Cross Country Meet @ Poe MS 10:00 a.m.
27 Orchestra Fall Concert @ McLean HS 7 p.m.
30 End of Quarter-2 Hour Early Release
November
2 & 3 Student Holiday-Teacher Workday
5 Fall Band Concert @ McLean HS 7 p.m.
7 Cross Country Championship @ Liberty MS
9 Fall Choral Concert 7 p.m.
10 School Picture Make-ups
10 PTA Meeting and Parent Info Session 5:30 p.m. Lecture Hall
19-21 Fall Play Performance
25-27 Holidays-Thanksgiving Break
DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS
Notes from the Library: Fall 2026 Book Fair is next week!
The Longfellow Library is hosting a Book Fair October 19-26 during the school day. 7th Grade students will visit the fair through their English classes. All students can visit the Book Fair before school, during Lunches, after school until 2:30, and during class with teacher permission. Students can use Cash, eWallet, credit card, debit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay. The eWallet allows parents to set a spending limit for their student, but only the exact amount of the sale is charged. Set Up Your eWallet Here.
We are looking for adult volunteers to help with the fair, please see our Signup Genius here.
If you can only spare 30 minutes, we have space for you to volunteer! Thank you for your support of the Longfellow Library program!
Parent-Student Book Club!
Longfellow is happy to announce the return of the Parent - Student Book Club!
Parents and students have a choice of 2 historical fiction novels and will meet in the FACs Room on November 12th at 6pm to discuss books and enjoy appetizers. If you are interested in joining the Parent - Student Book Club, please fill out the linked form by October 26.
Registration for the World Languages Credit by Exam
This year's World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school.
The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. If that language is one of the languages listed below, consider registering your student for the World Languages Credit by Exam!
The World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at Longfellow Middle School on November 11th and November 12th. The makeup date will be November 18th. Students will be notified about what day they will be testing closer to the test dates. Students will test starting in the morning in the Lecture Hall.
Registration closes on October 16th, at 4 p.m.
Late registrations will not be accepted.
More information, including the list of languages offered on the exam, and how to register is available online.
Please contact your student’s school counselor to register for the exam.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
School Photos are now online!
Families should have received an E-proof via email.
Please remember to check your spam.
For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: underclass@vosphoto.com
Twice Exceptional Students
Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.
Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook. For more information, please contact our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Elaina Bafaro.
Advanced Academic Programs- Fall Full-Time AAP Screening
The fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3-8 who are new to FCPS since January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Elaina Bafaro, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at erbafaro@fcps.edu by October 15, 2026. Late referrals will not be accepted.
For students who are not new to FCPS and have been enrolled, the spring Full-Time AAP identification window is open to students in Grades 2-7. Families interested in referring their student for consideration during the spring window must submit a referral by December 15, 2026.
Share Your Feedback on Traveling to and From School
The FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are asking families to share their experiences traveling to and from their child’s school. The feedback will help inform the Fairfax County School Board’s annual assessment of traffic and pedestrian safety near schools.
The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss-and-ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns.
Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15.
Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
📣 After-School Program Updates & Reminders
A few updates as we continue working to provide a structured, engaging, and productive After-School Program for our students!
📱 Cell Phone Expectations
The After-School Program is following the same cell phone expectations as the regular school day. Students may use their phones during the 2:15–2:30 p.m. transition period before First Block begins. Once the 2:30 p.m. bell rings, cell phones should be put away and may not be used during First or Second Block activities. Students may use their phones again after the 4:25 p.m. dismissal bell.
These expectations help provide consistent structure during activity blocks and allow students to stay engaged in their after-school activities.
🏃 Cross Country — Congratulations, Lancers!
A huge congratulations to our Longfellow Cross Country team on an outstanding meet this past Saturday, October 10! Both our Boys and Girls teams earned 1st place! 🎉🏆
Our students did a fantastic job representing Longfellow. Congratulations to all of our runners and coaches!
🏅 Meet Results:
View Girls’ Cross Country Results
View Boys’ Cross Country Results
🏫 Homework Club is Becoming Lancer Hub!
To better reflect the purpose of this activity, our general Homework Club will now be called Lancer Hub.
Lancer Hub is a flexible, supervised after-school space where students can catch up on schoolwork, read, use their laptops, play board games, or spend time with friends.
📚 NEW: Tutoring & Homework Club
For students looking for a more academically focused environment, we are excited to introduce a designated Tutoring & Homework Club in the Library on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Eighth-grade student mentors will support seventh-grade students across a variety of subject areas. This opportunity is designed to help students maximize their after-school time, receive peer academic support, and develop positive study habits in a structured environment.
✅ Daily After-School Attendance Reminder
Students have access to the “After School Program” course page on Schoology, where they are required to sign in and mark their attendance every day they stay after school and select the activity or activities they will be participating in that day.
Accurate daily attendance is an important part of helping us account for students and maintain a safe and organized After-School Program.
Parents/guardians do not need to sign their student in for After School. Students are responsible for completing their daily attendance through Schoology.
📅 After-School Calendar & Current Offerings
Families are encouraged to regularly visit the Longfellow MS After-School Program webpage for the After-School Program calendar, current club and activity offerings, schedules, and other important program information.
Questions? Please contact Sofia Mora, After-School Program Coordinator, at smora@fcps.edu.
Thank you for helping us keep After School a safe, engaging, and positive experience for our students!
PARENT INFORMATION
✨DO YOU KNOW AN AMAZING EMPLOYEE? ✨
We are now accepting nominations to recognize our outstanding employees at Longfellow for the 2026 - 2027 school year! If you have worked with an outstanding employee at Longfellow, FCPS wants your help recognizing them. Lancer colleagues and families are invited to nominate:
🏆 NOMINATIONS FOR...
• Outstanding Teacher
• Outstanding New Teacher
• Outstanding Principal or New Principal
• Outstanding Professional Staff Leader
• Outstanding Educational Services Employee
• Outstanding Operational Services Employee
🗓️DEADLINE: The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
📝SUBMISSIONS: Submissions can be made by completing the form linked here.
🤺Thank you for supporting our outstanding Lancer Staff!
Legos Needed
Hi Parents! Do you have any Legos laying around the house that aren’t being used anymore? Want them out of the house but going to a good cause? The Lego Masters enrichment could use your blocks! Please bring your donation to the front office and tell them they are for Ms. Weidus and the Lego Masters enrichment. Thank you!
🎉 Celebra EL MES DE HERENCIA HISPANA en Fiesta Hispana McLean! 🎉
Tuesday 10/13 3:30-5 pm in the McLean High School Cafeteria
Join the Spanish Honor Society and Hispanic Heritage Club for our biggest event of the year! Enjoy food, music, games, and time to share and celebrate the cultures represented in our school community. Come with your family and friends and help us pack the house! We want to make this the best Fiesta yet! We encourage anyone that is interested to bring an authentic dish or perform a song, dance, poem, etc (we will provide service hours!). Admission is $5 for Longfellow students and families and free for students who bring food or perform!
Contact alpituch@fcps.edu if interested.
Join Safe Community Coalition for Our Fall NARCAN Training Session
Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools to recognize and respond to an opioid overdose - so that you're prepared to save a life.
FREE REVIVE training--hosted by the Chris Atwood Foundation and the Safe Community Coalition.
HIGHSCHOOLERS CAN RECEIVE VOLUNTEER HOURS FOR PARTICIPATION.
REVIVE is Virginia's Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education Program for Lay Rescuers and is available to all:
· there is no cost for anyone to attend or for the NARCAN
· there are no pre-qualifications necessary
· anyone over 16 is welcome to attend (under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).
· everyone leaves with ready-to-use NARCAN upon completion of training
You'll walk away knowing:
· how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose
· how to safely and effectively administer Naloxone (Narcan)
· what steps to take after administering Naloxone
All participants who complete the full training will receive FREE dose of Naloxone — so you’ll be prepared if you ever need it.
Date: October 22, 2026
Time:7-8:30 PM
Location: McLean Community Center
Space is limited. RSVP as soon as you can!
If you have any questions, please reply to this email or contact sarah.t.tyler@gmail.com.
We hope to see you there!
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
• Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
• Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
• Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
• Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
AVID Tutors Needed
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is hiring AVID tutors for the 2026-2027 school year. Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) tutors work with groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called AVID. These groups use inquiry to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $21.77 per hour and must be currently enrolled in college or be college graduates.
If interested, please email your resume to AVID@fcps.edu.
Celebrating the Power of School Lunches
Multiple studies show that school lunches are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school lunches consume more fruit, vegetables, and fiber than their peers.
This National School Lunch Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) reminds families that they are dedicated to providing delicious, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.
Want to know what’s for breakfast or lunch? View the Nutrition Services menus.
School Supplies Available
Longfellow Middle School has a limited number of school supply kits to share with our families. If your family needs assistance accessing school supplies, please contact our Family Liaison, Josue Escobar at jaescobar@fcps.edu.
Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students
Register now for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students. The free conference will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School.
Hosted by FCPS in collaboration with community partners, the conference highlights the power of partnerships in supporting student success. Families, educators, and community members are invited to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources.
The conference will feature an inspiring opening session, engaging breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall with local resources, and lunch for all participants.
Register for the conference and visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations.
Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are available.
McLean High School Football Games
Please remember that middle school students must be accompanied by an adult to attend McLean High School varsity football games. Students should also bring their school ID. Students who arrive without an ID and without an accompanying adult will not be admitted.
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