Tuesday, February 18, 2025 Lancer Times
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Tuesday, February 18, 2025 UPCOMING EVENTSSchedule for the next two weeks:
DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration (Note: Date Change)FCPS’ Chief Equity Office invites the community to an Inaugural Black History Month Kickoff Celebration on Wednesday, February 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Carter G. Woodson High School.
The event begins with a light reception followed by a formal program, From the Threads of Our Past to the Fabric of Our Future. The program will honor the enduring contributions of Black history and culture while envisioning a future rooted in equity and excellence. It will include inspiring performances, personal stories, reflections, and opportunities to connect and celebrate. The event is open to the entire community.
For more information, contact Nina Thomas, senior manager for Professional Learning and Cultural Responsiveness.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION SEL Opt-Out InformationThe Spring SEL Screener will be administered on Thursday, March 20th to 7th and 8th graders during Learning Seminar 4.
SEL Screener - The SEL Screener is administered to students twice a year (fall and spring) for students to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. More information is available about the SEL Screener by accessing this link: https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener
SEL Opt-Out Info - Complete the opt-out form (Must be logged into fcps student account to access) in SIS ParentVUE or return the form back to Student Services by Friday, March 14th.
If you have any questions, please reach out to our SEL Screener Lead, Jill Scharl at [email protected].
Upcoming Survey!Our school, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Virginia Department of Education, is conducting the Virginia School Survey of Climate and Working Conditions. We will survey students in grades 7, and 8, as well as classroom instructors and staff, beginning in February 2025. The purpose of the student survey is to measure student support, student engagement, school discipline, and safety conditions in each school. This information will be used to guide educational practices that produce a safe and supportive school environment.
The student survey will be completed on February 21, 2025. The survey does not ask for your child’s name and all answers are anonymous. No one, including teachers and administrators, will know how your child answered the survey questions. You will not have access to your child’s survey answers. You may preview the questions asked in the student survey at this website: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey.
The survey will ask questions such as how students feel about their school, how students get along with one another and their teachers, how students feel about school rules, and their perceptions of their teachers’ willingness to help them. Please note that there are questions about topics that may be sensitive to some, including questions about bullying, mental health, and suicide. This is a great time to talk to your child about these important issues. For guidance and more resources on these topics, please see https://tinyurl.com/MentalHealthdcjs or https://tinyurl.com/VDOEstudentservices.
All students in your child’s grade level are eligible to participate in the survey. The survey is voluntary, and you and/or your child can decide they prefer not to participate. No action will be taken against you, your child, or the school if your child does not participate.
The Virginia School Survey results are provided to the school around the end of the school year. You can find survey results for your school and division here: https://tinyurl.com/VaSchoolSurvey. The results are used by the school, the division, and the state to identify strengths and to address relevant needs to improve learning environments for your child as well as students across the state.
New date for Gwyneth’s Gift!Thursday, March 13th and Friday, March 14th, we will be hosting an all-day AED and hands-only CPR training for our entire student body. This amazing opportunity is all thanks to our ongoing partnership with the Gwyneth’s Gift Foundation. If you would like to donate your time to help us manage students during the event, please email Amanda Creeden at [email protected] to let us know the day and time you would like to assist. Below are the time slots we would welcome assistance:
Thursday 3/13:
Period 1: 7:30-8:55
Period 3: 9:00-9:45
Period 5: 10:45-12:15
Period 7: 12:50-2:15
Friday 3/14:
Period 2: 7:30-8:55
Period 3: 9:00-9:45
Period 6: 10:45-12:15
Period 8: 12:50-2:15
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.
Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student.
To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28, and the week of March 3, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
College Partnership Program (CPP)The application process for the College Partnership Program (CPP) is now open. Interested 8th Grade students need to apply now to participate as a 9th grader in high school. See FCPS website for more information about this program and the support it provides to students.
Applications are due February 28, 2025: CPP Application
For more information, visit the FCPS CPP Website.
Questions: Contact Bruce Walker, School Counselor
LMS and the PTA will be hosting a Movie Night on March 21st at 7p.m. More information to come soon.
Can you sing, dance, play an instrument, recite a poem, tumble or perform a short skit?
Heritage Night is March 26th, and we are looking for more performers! If you are interested in performing, meet after-school this Thursday during 1st block.
Ready for some basketball? March Madness is right around the corner - we will have an interest meeting for girls on Friday, February 21st after school.
Boys March Madness Tournament will begin on February 27th. If you are interested in playing, fill out this form. Last day to sign up is February 25th
The teams that win our March Madness tournament will go on to play in the Longfellow vs Cooper Basketball game on April 10th.
The Third Quarter schedule can be found here.
Congratulations to the Debate Team!The Longfellow Debate Team crushed, decimated, and utterly wiped out the opposition on Saturday in their final debate tournament of the season. Out of 130 students competing from 11 middle schools, Longfellow had 5 of the top 10 speakers: Benjamin Wang, Vika Glass, Ashley Yan, Charles Lowe, and as top speaker overall, Will Rucker.
Out of 65 teams competing, Longfellow had 6 of the top 10 teams: Leena Melkote and Vivian Li, Charles Lowe and Will Rucker, Henry Janicke and Joe Lewis, Joshua Sun and Aidan Xuan, Vika Glass and Eileen Zou, and losing first place by just 2/10 of a point, Ethan Li and Benjamin Wang.
Congratulations to all our phenomenal debaters! Now it’s on to Metro Finals in March.
PARENT INFORMATION Invasive Plant Species remediation eventTrees do an excellent job storing carbon and cooling the earth. Join in a community effort to save trees from invasive vines in the Haycock Longfellow Park (which is behind the Haycock playground) on Sunday, March 2 from 2-4 pm. We’ll be led by trained Tree Rescuers. No prior experience or great physical strength necessary. Supplies provided, but if you have garden tools and gloves, please bring them. All ages are welcome although elementary school students must be accompanied by an adult. Directions to the meet-up location are in the Sign Up Genius link found here, Invasive Pull Sign Up
Heritage NightJoin us for a feast from around the world on Wednesday, March 26th from 6:00 p.m. until 8p.m at Heritage Night, Longfellow's largest community event of the year!
Show off your cooking skills and represent your home country or simply cook a favorite dish to share with our LMS families. Please bring enough for 12-15 people.
Students who make a dish from scratch or volunteer to help can receive one service hour for their time.
Please be sure to include the name of your dish and ingredients when bringing your delicious contribution to Heritage Night.
Food Drop off: Drop off at cafeteria or students will be available at kiss and ride for food collection from 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Questions? Contact Weina at [email protected] 617.365.0831 if you have any questions.
Date: Wednesday, March 26th, 2025
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: LMS Cafeteria & Gym
Sign up here Heritage Night Sign Up
The Longfellow PTA is seeking your support for the upcoming school year! Several board positions are available, and we need dedicated parents to help continue our efforts. The teachers and staff at Longfellow depend on the PTA to support important learning initiatives for our students. Thanks to the dedication of past parents, our students benefit from new technology, essential classroom supplies, and inspiring murals that enrich their learning environment. Please contact Beth Coyne to learn more about the PTA and how you can help! [email protected]
Open board positions for 2025-2026 - PTA Position Descriptions
President
Treasurer
Hospitality
Communications
Fundraising
Fairfax County is experiencing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. The Fairfax County Health Department reports that visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings. Read a letter from the health department.
The health department suggests taking the following steps to reduce the spread of flu and other germs:
• Cover coughs and sneezes. If you must be around others while ill, wearing a mask can help reduce spread.
• Wash hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water are not available (with supervision for younger children).
• Clean frequently touched surfaces.
According to the health department, to help prevent or reduce the spread of illness it is important for individuals who are sick to stay home and away from others until symptoms improve and until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours. Visit this Attendance webpage for guidance on when your child should go to school.
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
• Flu Prevention
• Students Spread Joy
• Investing in our Classrooms
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Concerned Citizen Project - 8th grade Civics ClassesLocal Alternative Assessments were adopted by VDOE in place of the Civics SOL. This year our Civics teams will complete a PBA (performance-based assessment) called Concerned Citizen as their Local Alternative Assessment. Over the next week students will take an active role in our democratic process by communicating with a legislator of our federal / state / local government. Students will be required to research a problem of their choice and write a letter to the appropriate level of government advocating for a solution. All standards align to the Virginia Civics Standards of Learning and the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate.
Middle School Transition FairFuture Planning for Elementary and Middle School Students in Special Education
For families, caregivers, and educators of students receiving special education services.
March 12, 2025
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Luther Jackson Middle School 3020 Gallows Road
Falls Church, Virginia 22042
Join Career and Transition Services (CTS) to learn about planning for life in and after high school!
It’s never too early or too late to start preparing for your future. We want to help you start planning for a successful transition from school to life as a young adult. Ensuring postsecondary success of our students with disabilities is dependent on what is known as transition planning. Please join CTS and other support service personnel for an evening focused on planning for the future.
You will have the opportunity to meet and ask questions of representatives from CTS programs and services for students with disabilities, as well as learn about short and long-term postsecondary supports, employment, postsecondary education considerations, Supported Decision Making, and student self-determination as an evidence-based predictor of post school success.
This event also includes two speakers who will discuss IEP transition planning, special education services, and postsecondary options for younger students as they navigate FCPS and plan for their future. A questions/answer session will follow.
Click here to register: http://bit.ly/3Cjke4b
2000 Westmoreland Street, Falls Church, VA 22043 | Main Office: 703-533-2600
Attendance: 703-533-2626 | Web | Twitter