Longfellow Weekly News: Week of January 14, 2019
5 Essentials Survey
Thank you to the 17 additional parents/ guardians who took this survey since last week. Our 5Essential survey window is open to all parents/guardians through February 15, 2019. Parents/guardians can take the survey, which is available in both English and Spanish, by visiting https://survey.5-
Science Night
Longfellow's annual science night will be on Wednesday, January 16th from 6-7:30 pm in the Gym and Mini Gym. This year's theme is engineering and we're looking forward to a fun night for all! Please click here to see the flyer with more information!
Longfellow Community Meeting
Please join fellow Longfellow families and teachers on Wednesday, January 23rd from 7-9 pm to learn about Longfellow student achievement and the School Improvement Plan. Learn how to make the most out of upcoming parent-teacher conferences and tips for how to support your child's learning at home. Please RSVP for this important discussion -- all are welcome! Childcare will be provided. Sign up here.
Harambee 2019!
Join us for Harambee on Friday, February 22nd. Harambee is Kiswahili for “Let's Pull Together” and is a tradition in its 13th year at Longfellow School. This performance features the Kuumba Kids led by artistic director Donna Callender, Julian F.L.O.W., Nunufatima Dance Co. Children, and more special guests. Shop the African Market for oils, shea butter, jewelry, purses, dashikis, lotions, sage and B’s Bites and Wings for Jerk chicken dinners and Jerk Black Bean Burger meals. Show starts at 7pm, but the African Market will be open from 6-7 pm. If you’d like to sell items at the African Market please click here to register for a space. Vendor space is limited so please register early! Questions? Contact Ms. Ablan [email protected] or Mrs. Cahill [email protected]
Longfellow Drop Off Station 
Have you ever had to drop off your child’s forgotten lunch, gym shoes, ipad, etc? We're implementing a new solution to lessen disruption to the classroom and create an efficient process for getting items to students. There is now a shelving unit with individual bins in the front vestibule that we've named, "The Longfellow Drop Off Station". Simply fill out a post-it note with your child’s name and classroom teacher, put it on the item, and place it in an empty bin. Ms. Taylor and Ms. Kaye will make morning deliveries by 9 am and then throughout the day. There is no need to send an email to your classroom teacher if you drop an item off.
Second Step This Week 
This week our students will be diving back into the Second Step curriculum. We'll be navigating the waters of anxiety and strong feelings across the school. The grade levels with home links are 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. Kindergarteners will be talking about how to handle waiting. First graders will learn how to calm down anger. Second graders will discuss managing anxious feelings. Third graders will begin a new unit with Intro to Emotion Management. Fourth graders will learn skills to Manage Strong Feelings and fifth graders will learn about Managing Anxiety.
Upcoming General Music Concerts
Get ready for the grade level music concerts! You’ve probably heard your kids signing some of the songs around the house, now you can hear them with their classmates. The concerts will feature all classrooms from each grade level during the same show. Expect each show to run between 45 minutes to an hour. Any questions email Mrs. Ablan at [email protected].
Monday, February 25, 2019 Tuesday, February 26, 2019
8:30am-5th grade 8:30am-3rd grade
10:15am-4th grade 1:00pm-2nd grade
Kindergarten and 1st grade students will be hosting “informances” later in the school year and Mrs. Friesen and Mrs. Ablan will contact families directly about those days and times.
Submit a "Cheers for Peers!"
We would like to recognize children and adults who make a difference at Longfellow School. If you would like to nominate an individual who makes a difference at our school, please fill out this form. The individual you nominate will receive a printed form with a description of their contribution to making Longfellow a great place to be.
Longfellow Larks Sign Up
The Larks will start again next Thursday! The Longfellow Larks is a chorus for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders. We meet during lunch recess on Thursdays. If your child is interested in our spring session of the Longfellow Larks, please fill out this form. Even if you were in the fall session, you need to sign up again. This will be a once-a-week commitment for the rest of the year, so please make sure your child is interested. Please fill out the form by Tuesday, January 15. It's a quick turn around! We have room for 75 kiddos. If there is still space after Tuesday, it will be on a first come, first served basis.
Gum and Testing
As our 2nd-5th grade students begin MAP testing next week and our 3rd-5th grade students engage in state testing in March, please know that some of our teachers offer students the opportunity to chew sugarless gum during the test. If you have strong opinions about this please check with your child's classroom teacher prior to testing.
News from the PE Department
This week all Longfellow students are learning some LaCrosse skills during Physical Education from Coach Dan from East Ave LaCrosse. Check out some pictures on Twitter @LongfellowPE. LaCrosse is one of the fastest growing sports. If your child enjoyed it and you would like them to continue playing it they can take classes through the Oak Park Park District.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, January 16th- Science Night from 6:00-7:30 pm
Monday, January 21st- No School, MLK Day
Wednesday, January 23rd- Longfellow Community Meeting at 7pm
Mon, Jan 28- Fri, Feb 1st- Parent/ Teacher Conference Week
Thursday, January 31st- Dismissal at 11 am
Friday, February 1st- Dismissal at 11 am
Saturday, February 9th- Winter Carnival
Friday, February 15th- No School
Monday, February 18th- No School, President's Day
Friday, February 22nd- Harambee