Weekly News- Week of Feb 19, 2018

Hello Longfellow Community,

Our Annual Harambee celebration will be taking place in the auditorium this Friday!  Harambee is Swahili for "Let's Pull Together" and is a tradition we take a great deal of pride in at Longfellow School.   We hope you will be able to join us at 6pm for the African Market and at 7pm for the performance.  This year's show will be featuring the Kuumba Kids led by artistic director Donna Callender, Julian F.L.O.W., Nunufatima Dance Co. Children, Beye Gospel Choir and more special guests!

Mrs. Cahill, Asst. Principal

Nourish to Flourish

Each year, the Longfellow Wellness Committee promotes monthly "Nourish to Flourish" initiatives which begin in January and end in May. This month's nourish to flourish themes are adequate sleep and a healthy breakfast.  In honor of these themes, we are having an All-School Pajama Day tomorrow, Friday February 23rd.

Fee Reminder

If you have not yet paid your school fees for the 2017-2018 school year, please do so at your earliest convenience.  You can pay on line at op97.org through the WebStore or you can write a check payable to Oak Park District 97. As always if you have any questions please call the Longfellow office at 708-524-3062. 

Kindergarten and New Student Registration

If you have an incoming Kindergartener or know of anyone who does, please share this important registration infomation with them!  

Spelling Bee

Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 recently took a Spelling Bee qualifying test in their homerooms.  As a result, the top 3 spellers from each of our intermediate homerooms were identified and invited to participate in the upcoming Spelling Bee.  There will be a separate bee for each grade level held on Thursday, March 8th in the Longfellow auditorium.  The third grade bee will begin promptly at 5:30 PM, with the fourth and fifth grade bees immediately following.  The entire Longfellow community is invited to come out to show their support of our spelling bee finalists!  Our third grade finalists are: Chi Chi A, Calvin B, Rex F, Maggie F, Aubree H-D, Luka Mae H, Tavish H, Dylan L, Zohaib N, Evie O, Tyson M, and Darrell V.  The fourth grade finalists are: Norah B, Maxwell C, Eva E, Miles G, Tony G, Michayla M, Kinan S, Graham S, Jonah T, Ruby T, Tate V. and Keldon W.  The fifth grade finalists are: Elisabeth D, Clara F, Graham H, Rayya K, Sonia L, Julia M, Sydney N, Evan R, Gracie W, and Galen W.   We could use a few parent volunteers are on the day of the bee to greet finalists and their families, and help direct attendees into the auditorium.  If you have any questions about the bee, or if you're interested in helping out on Thursday, March 8th, from 5:15 until about 8:00 PM, please contact Mrs. Nelson (aka: Ms. Ibarra) at [email protected].

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 we taught the Child Protection Unit lessons for Erin's Law.  Our district emailed information about Erin's Law last month.  Over the next 4 weeks students will be taught about personal safety.Students will learn important safety rules and ways to stay safe. They will also learn ways to help them decide if something is safe or not.  They will learn about touching safety.  Students will learn about safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches, and rules about touching private body parts.  And finally they will learn about assertiveness. These lessons will also give students a chance to practice asking an adult for help, telling an adult about an unsafe situation, and being assertive to get out of unsafe situations.  Please let your child's teacher or our school social worker, Mrs. Gulley, know if you have any questions about these lessons.

Red Carpet Recital Coming Up!

The Red Carpet Band & Orchestra Recital will be taking place on Thursday, March 15th at 7pm in the Longfellow Auditorium (students should arrive by 6:30pm). This performance is a short recital featuring Longfellow band/orchestra students performing in small chamber groups.  There will be a catered reception following the recital. If you are able, please DONATE to the cost of the caterer. Click here for the donation form. Questions? Please email Ms. Vogt at [email protected].

Spring ALL Registration

ALL (Always Learning at Longfellow) will be rolling out a new spring session that will begin the week of April 9th.  Registration will open on Friday, March 9th at 8:30 am and will close March 23rd at 5:00 pm. No late registrations will be accepted.  Scholarships awards and confirmation emails will go out to families on April 2nd.  There will be great, new classes such as Crossfit Kids, The Art Factory, NASA Blastoff, So You Think You Can Add and Wifflot.  Many favorites are returning, as well!  Click here for more information about ALL registration and the class schedules and descriptions. To register click here.  To apply for a scholarship click here. *Note- links will not be active until 3/9!

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).  If you would like your child to refuse the test please make sure that you notify your child's teacher and/or Mrs. Cahill.  

Summer Bravo

Bravo Performing Arts Academy will host auditions on March 5th, 6th, and 8th for their summer performances.  Please click here or visit bravoperformingarts.org for more information!

Upcoming Events

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 at 5:30 in the Auditorium

Friday, March 9th:  Spring ALL Class Registration Begins at 8:30 am

Monday, March 13th:  Dining for Dollars at Panera

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

Wednesday, March 21st: Mother/Daughter Female Empowerment Event at 6:30 pm in the Auditorium

Thursday, March 22nd:  D97 Choral Festival

Friday, March 23rd:  Spring ALL Registration Closes at 5pm

Monday, March 26th- Friday March 30th:  No School- Spring Break

Monday, April 9th: Spring ALL Classes Begin

Wednesday, April 11th:  Art Night