Nearly everything you need to do to prepare for the new school year is right here on this website!  Yea!

FIRST THING:  OPEN OR CHECK YOUR FREE LONGFELLOW PTA WEBSITE ACCOUNT/PROFILE 

Longfellow PTA publishes two Student Directories -- an ONLINE Student Directory and a PAPER Student Directory.  Both are available for all Longfellow families regardless of PTA membership, however, PTA members receive one FREE Paper Directory.  Extra paper directories are for sale for $5.00.  This is the IMPORTANT Part:  The ONLINE Student Directory is the source of data for the PAPER Student Directory.  By creating a FREE PTA website account/profile, you are providing the data we need for the PAPER Directory. 

The other nice feature of "owning" a PTA website account/profile is that your profile is integrated with Lancer Shoppe and our PTA Volunteer Webform. 

If your have a returning student, you might want to check your account/profile.

Establish a FREE PTA website account/profile by clicking HERE or on the "Create new account" link on the left sidebar.  The account/profile asks you to provide your students Grade-Team assignment.  You won't know that until Open House (Last names A-K on Tuesday, August 31; Last names L-Z on Wednesday, September 1) which means you should come back and edit your account/profile. 

NEXT:  FORMS REQUIRED BY THE SCHOOL

Below are links to all of the FCPS and Longfellow MS forms that families are required to complete and return to the school --  Longfellow MS Blanket After-School Permission, Emergency Care Information, and Health Information -- or forms they may choose to complete. 

There are also links to various medical forms located in the right sidebar of this website.  NOTE TO PARENTS:  Epi-pens and medications should be delivered to the school clinic, with appropriate forms, during the first week of school.  The school clinic will not be open during the two scheduled Open Houses or Orientation.

All required forms need to be returned to the school during the A-K Open House on Tuesday, August 31 (5:30 to 7:30 PM) or the L-Z Open House on Wednesday, September 1 (5:30 to 7:30 PM). Families are welcome to attend the alternate date if a schedule conflict arises.

Here Are The Required Forms:

There are several Opt-Out Forms that families may want to consider:

Directory Opt-Out   School Counseling Opt-Out

7th Grade Family Life Education (FLE) Opt-Out*    8th Grade FLE Opt-Out* 

  *Click HERE For Information About The FLE Program

FLE Opt-Out Forms And Information Are Available In Arabic, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Scoliosis Fact Sheet: FCPS requires each parent to read through this informative fact sheet regarding scoliosis. Click HERE For Translated Versions Of The Scoliosis Fact Sheet. Please take a moment to read through this important, required material.

NEXT:  VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

We have plenty of opportunities for parents to volunteer with Longfellow PTA.  The Hospitality Committee and Library Committee are great ways to get into the school and be hands-on.  The Reflections Committee handles the PTA's Fall Creative Arts competition. 

We have a special committee to manage 50th Anniversary events (November Alumni Brunch in the Library and June Family Picnic) and the associated Legacy Fundraising campaign that will help the schoolpay for lecture hall seats, several Lightboards, computers and science tables.  A major part of this is the Winter Online Auction.

One more special mention:  The 8th Grade Party is a June event that celebrates another rite of passage for our students.  Parents of 8th graders manage this event while parents of 7th graders act as chaperones.   

Click HERE To Sign-Up For One Or More Volunteer Opportunities

AND:  RENEW PTA MEMBERSHIP AND DONATE

Donate more than $250 to the Legacy Fund and have your name added to a plaque.

Pay by personal check, credit card, or PayPal.

Locker Organizers will be distributed during Start to Success and the Open Houses.

ONE MORE THING:  GROCERY CARD RE-DESIGNATIONS

Re-Designate or Register Your Safeway and Harris Teeter Awards Cards NOW. (Giant's award card program will re-open in September.)

The funds that Safeway/eScrip, Harris Teeter, and Giant donates directly to Longfellow MS are based on the revenue you generate when you shop at these grocery stores (subject to some restrictions).

Click HERE To Renew Your Commitment To Longfellow MS And Safeway/eScrip. Longfellow MS's Safeway/eScrip code number is 6530330. You may need to change or update your designation(s) from another school to Longfellow. Safeway/eScrip allows supporters to designate up to three schools.

Click HERE To Renew Your Commitment To Longfellow MS and Harris Teeter. The Longfellow MS school code is 6489. Or, next time you shop at Harris Teeter, ask the cashier to link your Harris Teeter VIC card to organization account number 6489. 5% of your Harris Teeter private label purchases will be contributed by Harris Teeter directly to Longfellow MS.

Click HERE To Renew Your Commitment To Longfellow MS and Giant A+. The Longfellow MS school code is 01928. The Giant A+ program opens for re-designation in September.

Rising 7th Graders Will Be Picked-Up By School Bus At Their Former Elementary Schools And Taken To Longfellow MS For Orientation. Orientation Includes Receiving Their Class Schedule, Running Through Their Schedule, Meeting Their Teachers And Assistant Principals. They Will Be Returned To Their Former Elementary Schools At The Completion Of Orientation.

New-To-FCPS 8th Graders Are Invited To Participate In Orientation.

NOTE:  DO NOT BRING EPI-PEN/INHALER FORMS AND MEDICINES TO THE ORIENTATION.  PLEASE BRING THEM TO THE SCHOOL CLINIC AFTER THE SCHOOL YEAR OPENS.

BUS SCHEDULE:

Colvin Run ES: Pick-up 8:15am

Spring Hill ES: Pick-up 8:15am

Timberlane ES (2 buses): Pick-up 8:25am

Franklin Sherman ES & Westgate ES (1 shared bus): Pick-up 8:25am & 8:40am, respectively

Cooper MS & Churchill ES (1 shared bus): Pick-up 8:15am & 8:20am, respectively

Kent Gardens ES & Chesterbrook ES (1 shared bus): Pick-up 8:30am & 8:40am, respectively

Lemon Rd ES & Haycock ES (1 shared bus): Pick-up 8:30am & 8:40am, respectively

Parents should be at the above schools by 11:10am to pick-up their students at the end of orientation.

Is there any work my student should complete over the summer?

Yes! Longfellow has a summer reading requirement for all students.

For more information, read the letter at www.fcps.edu/LongfellowMS/pages/2010SummerReadingLetter.pdf and see www.fcps.edu/LongfellowMS/pages/2010SummerReading.pdf for a list of suggested books.

When does my 7th grader (or 8th grader who is new to Longfellow) get a schedule?

During orientation: September 3, 2010 from 9 to 11 am.

When does my returning 8th grader get a schedule?

Longfellow will mail schedules for returning 8th graders toward the end of August.

When is Back-to-School Night?

September 14, 2010, for 7th grader parents; September 22, 2010, for 8th grader parents. This event is for adults only. Plan to arrive early as parking can be difficult.

What other medical forms might FCPS need for my student?

EpiPen/Inhaler Forms and medicines: Please feel free to download and complete any necessary medicine forms available on this website in the Forms, Application, Etc block located in the right sidebar column. However, please do not bring those forms or the medicines to the Open House. You will need to bring both the form and medicines to the Longfellow’s clinic when the school year begins.

Scoliosis Fact Sheet: FCPS requires each parent to read through this informative fact sheet regarding scoliosis. Click HERE For Translated Versions Of The Scoliosis Fact Sheet. Please take a moment to read through this important, required material.

What other information or links should I know about?

Blackboard: FCPS’s homework website found at www.fcps.edu/DIT/fcps247.html. All students will need access, which is provided through the school. Parents may also wish to have access and will need to apply through the school at the Open House and Back-to-School night.

Attendance Line: To tell Longfellow your child will be absent or tardy, call the attendance line at 703-533-2626.

What if I need more information about Longfellow Middle School?

Please feel free to call the front office at 703-533-2600 or look over our Lancer Website at www.fcps.edu/LongfellowMS.

ANNOUNCING THE 2010-2011 REFLECTIONS PROGRAM THEME -

"TOGETHER WE CAN"

Through the PTA Reflections Program at Longfellow Middle School parents and teachers can encourage students to explore their artistic talents in the areas of photography, literature, visual arts, musical composition, dance choreography and film/video production.

We are hoping for a lot of participation in the next school year, but your student can start thinking and creating their artistic entry this summer! Participation in this program can also promote social and organizational skills, as well as self confidence and self esteem.

All Longfellow students who submit a Reflections Program entry will receive recognition for their work. Entry forms and rules for Reflections Program are available by Clicking HERE.

Fairfax County Public Schools Suggested Summer Reading Lists

Middle School

High School

The follow-up in the fall will be determined by each school. The Summer Reading lists contain suggestions for reading; although students may read any other book that is approved by their parents, except where individual schools have issued their own summer reading requirements.

Any school-based requirements supercede the County requirement. Some schools and courses, particularly at the high school level, have additional summer assignments. Parents and students should inquire at the time of registration. Most of these assignments are posted at the individual school web sites.

If you plan to buy any summer reading material, please consider using our PTA's special www.Amazon.com link so the school earns while your child learns! Bookmark the link below so you can easily find it every time you shop at www.Amazon.com.  http://www.amazon.com/?&tag=lopt-20

The Longfellow Middle School 50th Anniversary Committee is pleased to announce not one, but TWO Special 50th Anniversary Events to commemorate the opening of Longfellow Middle School:

Alumni Brunch, Sunday, November 21, 2010 in the Brand New Library.

Picnic, Sunday, June 12, 2011 on the School Grounds.  Alumni, Parents of Alumni, Current Students, Parents of Current Students, and Current and Retired Teachers are invited to the Picnic. 

A Dinner for Current, Former, and Retired Faculty and Staff is tentatively planned for mid-April, 2011.  More information on this later.

Unable to attend Longfellow PTA's "How to Thrive at Longfellow" presentation? No worries . . .

Just Click HERE To Download The Entire Slideshow (in pdf)