Longfellow Weekly News: February 8, 2018
Dear Longfellow Community,
The Winter Carnival is this weekend! We hope you can join us for the fun between 12-4. Please click here to find out how you can prepare for the big event!
Maggie Cahill, Asst. Principal
Longfellow Kindness Market Makes the News!
Our second grade students raised over $1,000 for Housing Forward through their annual "Kindness Market" that took place in December. We are so proud of them! Please click here to see a special video about their efforts!
Supports at Longfellow School
There are a variety of supports that our students can access at Longfellow. Each week we will be highlighting a support in depth to help our community understand what it is, who it serves, and how it can be accessed. This week's featured support is:
Passport to Reading: Passport to Reading is 30 minutes of differentiated reading instruction that takes place at each grade level. Every student participates in Passport four times a week and works on developing reading skills at their level. Students skills are screened three times a year and their progress is monitored frequently, which keeps the groups fluid and changing every 6 weeks. Groups vary in size and are taught by the homeroom teachers, the Language Arts Specialist, and our Resource Teachers.
Harambee- Call for Vendors!
Harambee is Swahili for "Let's Pull Together" and is a celebration of African culture and heritage. It takes place in the Longfellow auditorium at 7pm on February 23th. Each year a market is held before the performance from 6-7 pm. We are currently recruiting vendors to sell African inspired arts, products or artifacts. There is a $3 PTO donation per vendor to participate and each vendor will receive a table and space to sell their products. There are no ticket fees or required purchases for shoppers/attendees. Please click here to sign up to be a vendor. Response deadline is 2/20.
Transracial Adoption and Racial Identity Seminar with Karen Thomas
Karen Thomas, a teacher at Hatch Elementary School, will lead a seminar on Transracial Adoption and Racial Identity in the Longfellow Auditorium on Thursday, February 15th at 6:30 pm. As a biracial and transracial adoptee who grew up in Arlington Heights, Ms. Thomas has a strong desire to understand her place in the world. Over the last decade she has researched racial identity and colorism in America and continues to have conversations around these topics. Click here to register.
Student Recognition
We would like to recognize students 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. Have you observed a child making an effort to improve our school, to make a positive impact on another student, or contribute to the community? This is a great way to recognize them!!
Second Step
This week during Second Step our students watched a video called, "Bears Caught Being Good" and saw footage of respect, responsibility, and safety across our school. Classrooms also set and monitored behavioral and academic goals and had a refresher about our expectations across the school.
St. Jude's Mathathon Update
Longfellow raised $2,215.00 for the St. Jude's Mathathon! Thank you to everyone that participated to make this such a successful event. Ms. Bennett's class raised the most money and earned the bear necessities!
PTO Winter Carnival on Feb. 10
The PTO Winter Carnival is coming soon on February 10th! New This Year: A Facebook page dedicated to all things Winter Carnival! It’s your one stop for Volunteer Opportunities, Pre-Sale Ticket info, Pie-in-the-Face updates, Auction and Raffle prizes, and much more!! Like our page: @LongfellowPTOWinterCarn
PARCC Testing
Longfellow third, fourth and fifth grade students will take the PARCC assessment from March 5th- March 19th. As is required by law, every student who is eligible to take the PARCC assessment will receive a test ticket or test booklet. However, in accordance with our practice, anyone who elects not to take the assessment will be permitted to read a book after the teacher has read the directions to the class and students have begun the testing process. Since students will not be allowed to go to the school library during the administration of the test, we ask that you please make sure your child brings his/her book to class during the PARCC testing window (March 5, 2018 to March 19, 2018).
Upcoming Events
Monday, February 5th- Friday February 9th: Parent/Teacher Conferences and Book Fair
Thursday, February 8th & Friday, February 9th: Half Days, Dismissal at 11am
Saturday, February 10th: Winter Carnival from 12-4 pm
Tuesday, February 13th: Spring, Yearbook, and 5th Grade Picture Day
Thursday, February 15th: Transracial Adoption Seminar at 7 pm in the Auditorium
Monday, February 19th: No School- President's Day
Friday, February 23rd: Harambee Market from 6-7pm and Harambee Performance at 7pm in the Auditorium
Monday, March 5th- Friday, March 20th: PARCC testing for 3rd-5th Grades
Thursday, March 8th: Spelling Bee
Thursday, March 15th: Red Carpet Band and Orchestra Recital at 7pm
Friday, March 16th: Winter ALL Classes End
Tuesday, March 20th: No School- Institute Day
Monday, March 26th- Friday March 30th: No School- Spring Break