Longfellow Weekly News: March 1, 2018
Dear Longfellow Families,
In light of recent events concerning school safety, many parents have inquired about procedures and protocols at Longfellow to address our students safety. Please know that there are a number of plans and procedures for dealing with a variety of dangerous situations, including lock down drills that we implement as a result of police direction if there are incidents occurring around the school or lockdown drills in response to the presence of an intruder in our building. We practice/review these plans and procedures with our staff and students on a regular basis to ensure that everyone knows how to respond in an emergency (e.g what announcement to listen for, where to go inside the building, the names and addresses of off-side evacuation locations).
We also have protocols and resources in place that we will use to provide parents/guardians with the critical updates and information they need in any situation like these. This includes the emergency notification system that we utilized last month to notify families that school would be closed due to the weather. We encourage you to please make sure your contact information (e.g. phone number and email address) is updated. Please remember at times we are limited in what we can say about an incident by the entities in control of the situation.
In addition to these plans, procedures and protocols, we have preventive measures such as secured entrances, swipe access card and security cameras that hep us monitor who is coming in and out of our schools.
At the beginning of the year the staff participated in a lockdown drill without the students, as we worked to ensure each class had a safe area to go to. Our Resident Beat Officer, Officer Love, was in attendance at this drill. We will be practicing this same drill with students in the upcoming months, and we will be sure to notify parents about when this drill has occurred so that you can talk with your students if you choose. Like all drills (e.g fire, severe weather, bus evacuation), we explain to students that the drill just helps to know what to do should there be an emergency.
We hope this helps address some of your concerns. Should you have further questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to either one of us.
Thank you,
Angela Dolezal and Maggie Cahill
Nourish to Flourish
From February to May, the Longfellow Wellness Committee sponsors "Nourish to Flourish," which is a series of monthly themes designed to promote overall health and wellness. Last month's themes were a healthy breakfast and adequate sleep. This month's theme is nutrition. As part of this month's theme, we will be celebrating P.A.C.K. (Pack Assorted Colors for Kids) Week during March 12th-16th. Kids are invited to both eat (fruits or vegetables) and wear the color of the day. The event has also been coordinated with our school's hot lunch provider. This link contains additional information about the week.
Spring Spirit Wear
Show your Longfellow pride with new colors and styles! Check out the options and place your order from March 2-March 23 at https://www.customink.com/
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 3 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. Here are home links for this week's lesson: Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade. Please let your child's teacher or our school social worker, Mrs. Gulley, know if you have any questions about these lessons.
Nourish to Flourish
From January to May, the Longfellow Wellness Committee sponsors "Nourish to Flourish," which is a series of monthly themes designed to promote overall health and wellness. Last month's themes were a healthy breakfast and adequate sleep. This month's theme is nutrition. As part of this month's theme, we will be celebrating P.A.C.K. (Pack Assorted Colors for Kids) Week during March 12th-16th. Kids are invited to both eat (fruit or vegetable) and wear the color of the day. The event has also been coordinated with our school's hot lunch provider. Click here for additional information about the week.
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
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: Report Cards Sent Home, 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