Longfellow Weekly News: Week of Sept 10, 2018
Dear Longfellow Families,
Being present and on time daily is important to the success of your child at school and in their future endeavors. Although we are making this a priority this year, we did not intend for the call you received last week to be so far-reaching. Moving forward our monthly attendance message will only go to Longfellow households on the first school day of each month. Please extend our apologies to your emergency contacts and assure them that they will not continue to get messages from our school.
We look forward to seeing you at the first Longfellow Community Meeting this Wednesday, September 12th at 7 pm in our auditorium. These meetings (formerly called "PTO Meetings") will take place three times a year. Come and find out what's happening ‘behind the scenes’ at our school. At this meeting you’ll hear from Principal Dolezal and the PTO about upcoming events and issues we’re working on. You'll have an opportunity to meet the new teachers at our school and hear an update about the upcoming instruction. There will also be a talk about parenting strategies for childhood anxiety and stress from Colleen Cira, clinical psychologist & local Lincoln Elementary parent. Whether it is back-to-school transitional challenges, or just run of the mill worries, Dr. Cira will present practical suggestions for supporting our children’s mental health at home. Time for audience Q&A will be incorporated into her presentation. Babysitting is available at this meeting and every meeting this year. Click here to sign up if you need child care. Hope to see you there!
Maggie Cahill, Asst. Principal
Second Step This Week
Our classrooms are teaching the third lesson of Second Step this week. This social emotional learning curriculum teaches valuable skills to help build empathy, solve problems, and cope with feelings. The following grade levels have homelinks this week: Kindergarten, First Grade, Second Grade, Third Grade, Fourth Grade, and Fifth Grade.
New School Hours
Our school day begins promptly at 8 am each morning and will end at 3 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesday our school hours are 8 am- 2:30 pm. This is a change from last year so please be sure to make note of it! We hold a strong belief that every instructional minute counts at Longfellow School. Please tame the tardies and be here on time! Any student arriving at or after 8:00 am will need to report to the office to receive a tardy pass. Here are a few important things to note:
- Supervision begins at 7:45 am on the playground
- The first bell rings at 7:57 am and students will begin entering the building at that time
- At and after 8:00 am all students will need to report to the office to receive a tardy pass
- Our morning Breakfast Program begins in the cafeteria at 7:15 am and ends at 7:45 am. Students can enter the front of the building or the lunchroom doors at entrance 9W for breakfast
- Sunrise Study Hall is offered every day from 7:30-8:00. Students should enter the main office and receive a pass to report to the library for an opportunity to read, complete work, and have a quiet start to the day.
- Before School Open Gym is an opportunity for students to come to school early and play before the school day begins. By participating in physical activity before school students will enhance learning, concentration, memory, and mood. Students should report to the office to get a pass and then meet in the Longfellow gym at 7:30 am.
Create healthy habits now and have your child at school and ready to enter the building with their teacher well before 7:57 am!
Indoor Morning Arrival Procedures
On days when there is a steady rain or temperatures below 10 degrees fahrenheit we will hold an "Indoor Arrival". On indoor arrival days students are welcome to enter any door of the school. Kindergartners report to the PKP hallway to line up with their classes. First, third, and fifth graders should report to the auditorium. Second and fourth graders report to the mini-gym. There will be a sign indicating "Indoors" on the window of the front office and staff stationed at entrances welcoming students on these days.
Traffic Safety at Drop Off & Pick Up
Please refrain from picking up and dropping off students on Jackson Street at arrival or dismissal. This is our bus loading and unloading zone and stopping in this area is hazardous and might result in a ticket from the Oak Park Police. Students can be picked up and dropped off in the roundabout on Cuyler at the Southwest side of the school and parking is available on Highland and Cuyler Avenues. Also, please be sure to adhere to roundabout etiquette in the Cuyler cul-de-sac and pull forward as far as possible to pick up and drop off. Parking in this circle is not permitted and traffic should keep circulating as much as possible and allow children to safety enter and exit vehicles.
Background Checks
A background check is required for individuals who want to serve as a chaperone on a field trip or volunteer within the school. To obtain a one-time background check, please visit our online sign-up page. To your appointment please bring your driver’s license or State ID to your appointment. Results take about 7-10 business days (sometimes longer), so please plan accordingly. If you have any questions, please email Ellen McKay or call the district office (708-524-3000).
Financial Support
Please consider completing the Free/Reduced form, even if you think there is a remote chance it will be approved. This form assists families with cost of lunch, milk, school fees, field trips, fee-based PTO programs, and any other money items that may come up over the course of the school year. This is a confidential process that can be started by filling out this form and returning it to the school office. Completing this form is mutually beneficial as additional school funds may be available depending on the number of students who qualify. Please contact Ms. Dolezal if you have further questions or concerns
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.
PING!
Does your child want to play a band or orchestra instrument, but you feel instrument rental is beyond your budget? PING!—Providing Instruments for the Next Generation—can help. PING! provides instruments to D90, D97, and D200 students so they can participate in instrumental music regardless of family income. We have expanded our eligibility beyond free/reduced lunch families to “families in need” and will be doing sign-ups in September for 4th & 5th graders. If you have any questions, please check out our website at www.pingoprf.orgor call us: 708-524-3001 ext. 2995.
Spirit Wear
Every Friday is Spirit Day at Longfellow School! Bring in the new school year with some new spirit wear! The new design for the 2018-2019 school year highlights Longfellow’s 125th year. Options available include: Dry-Fit, Baseball Raglan, Girl's Cut, Retro Stripes, Tagless Tee, and a Hoodie. Available in Youth AND Adult (pink shirt is youth only). Orders taken online and delivered to your home around September 25. Money raised from this fundraiser will help fund the Back to School Picnic, New Family Dinner and busses for Fall field trips!
Follow Us on Twitter!
Did you know that you can follow Longfellow School on Twitter? Simply follow the hashtag #longfellowbears and you will receive updates from all of our classrooms and staff members using Twitter. Also you can follow Principal Dolezal at @AngelaDolezal98 and Assistant Principal Mrs. Cahill at @MrsCahill97.
Art News from Ms. Raia
Please click here to see news from Ms. Jenny Raia, our full time art teacher at Longfellow School.
What's Happening At Longfellow (WHAL)
Click HERE to subscribe to the "What's Happening at Longfellow" newsletter (also know as the WHAL) that is published by our PTO. You'll get information about volunteering, getting involved, and other important news in our Longfellow community.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, September 11th- Dining for Dollars at Culvers in Berwyn (be sure to mention Longfellow School!)
Wednesday, September 12th- Longfellow Community Meeting in the Auditorium at 7pm
Monday, September 17th- Always Learning at Longfellow (ALL) Classes Begin
Thursday, September 20th- Picture Day
Tuesday, October 2nd- New Family Dinner
Friday, October 12th- Fun Run