Weekly News- Week of March 11, 2019

Week of March 11, 2019

State Testing Information- Illinois Assessment for Readiness (IAR)

Our district will begin state testing this week.  The state is no longer administering the PARCC assessment for 3rd-5th graders, but will give a very similar test called the "Illinois Assessment for Readiness".  It is important that every student have a working pair of headphones for the assessment.  Our schedule is still being finalized for this test and your child's classroom teacher will communicate exactly when and at what times your child will test during the testing window between March 11th and March 22nd.  As is required by law, every student who is eligible to take the IAR 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 IAR testing window (March 11, 2019 to March 22, 2019).

Class Placement Information

Next week Principal Dolezal will send parents a form to fill out to let our school know more about your child’s learning styles for class placement. Please click here to see a presentation about changes to class placement for next year. 

Stacey Gibson Lecture at Irving School on 3/14 

The Longfellow PTO's Diversity Committee is excited to welcome Stacey A. Gibson for an interactive lecture on parenting racially aware youth. Stacy A. Gibson is an educator, consultant and writer who is interested in moving beyond the 'diversity conversation' to exploring how we can be more aware of how race-based oppression shapes institutions. She will give practical strategies to recognize systemic patterns of race-based oppression and help us move toward justice based equity in our schools. Professor Gibson will help us understand how the institutional and individual behaviors observed in 'America to Me' appear at very early ages. This event will take place on Thursday, March 14th at Irving School from 6:30-8:30 pm.  Please register for childcare and/or pizza by clicking here.  

 

 

 

Science Fair

All Longfellow students are invited to participate in the 2019 Science Fair!  The event will take place on Tuesday, March 19th from 7-8 pm at Longfellow Center (at Longfellow Park).  If your child is interested in participating, please apply via this link by Thursday, February 28th.  Any questions, please email Mr. Pod at [email protected]  Note: Event space is limited. If the number of entries exceeds the space limits, participants will be chosen at random.  Parents/guardians will be notified via email on March 1st confirming whether or not their child has secured a spot as a participant.

 

Students in a circle participating in an activity

Erin's Law and the Child Protection Units

In accordance with Illinois State law all public schools must implement Erin's Law.  Erin's Law is aimed at preventing child sexual abuse.  The Child Protection Units is the curriculum we use to teach this and also a component of the Second Step program. Topics have included important skills about personal safety, touching safety, and assertiveness.  In December all parents received a letter regarding this instruction that can be found by clicking here.  If you have any questions about this instruction do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or Ms. Canika Gulley at [email protected]

Home links for our last lesson that will take place on Wednesday can be found by clicking on your child's grade level below:

Reading Olympics

This last Monday afternoon, several fifth grade teams competed in the Longfellow Reading Olympics Challenge.  We are pleased to report that the Book Queens (Jamie C, Mikayla M and Hannah M) were the winning team.  The Book Queens will go on to compete at the area competition in River Forest next week.  We wish them luck!!

 

 

Spelling Bee for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grades

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 Tuesday, March 12th in the Longfellow Auditorium. The entire Longfellow community is invited to come out to show their support of our spelling bee finalists! If you have any questions about the bee, or if you're interested in helping out on Tuesday, March 12th, from 5:15 until about 8:00 PM, please contact Mrs. Nelson at [email protected]

 

 

 

Always Learning at Longfellow (ALL) News 

The Spring session of ALL is coming soon! Registration opened on Friday March 8 @8:30am and will close Friday, March 22nd @ 5pm. The session will run from April 28th- May 23rd.  You can find times, cost, class descriptions, and all you need to know in the brochure listed below.  Hard copies of the brochure will be sent home on Thursday, February 28th. As always, any info related to ALL (brochure, registration link, scholarship link, general info) is on the ALL tab  of the PTOwebsite.  Need based scholarships are available.

Dunking for Diversity 

Get ready for some 3 on 3 basketball!  Longfellow's Dunking for Diversity event will take place on Saturday, March 16th from 9 am- 12 pm. Recruit your friends for a team or come and get picked up as a free agent by another team.  Cost is $5/person and please bring a light and dark shirt. The winning team gets at $50 Scratch Kitchen Gift Card. Click here for more details. 

 

Pack Assorted Colors for Kids (P.A.C.K.) Week

As part of our March Nourish to Flourish theme of Nutrition, Longfellow will be celebrating P.A.C.K.  (Pack Assorted Colors for Kids) Week on April 18th-April 22nd.  Kids are encouraged to both wear and eat the color of the day, via a fruit or vegetable.  Kids bringing snacks and lunches to school are encouraged to bring fruits/veggies that match the color of the day.  This celebration has also been coordinated with our hot lunch food service provider.  Below is a summary of the fruits and vegetables that will be served:

Date

Color

Vegetable

Fruit

Monday 3/18

Purple/Blue

Rainbow Carrots (with PURPLE carrots in mix)

Purple Grapes

Tuesday 3/19

Tan/Brown/White

Garbanzo Beans

Bosc Pear

Wednesday 3/20

Red

Beet Sticks

Blood Oranges

Thursday

Orange/Yellow

Yellow Grape Tomatoes

Nectarine

Friday 3/22

Green

Broccoli

Kiwi

Open Gym Canceled March 22nd and April 11th- April 24th

There will be no morning open gym on Friday, March 22nd and from Thursday, April 11th- Wednesday, April 24th because the gym will be set up with gynmastics equipment for Physical Education classes.  During this time students are welcome to attend the breakfast program or Sunrise Study Hall. 

D97 Music Camp

District 97 is excited to offer it's annual Music Camp again this summer. Students from Oak Park and the surrounding areas are invited to attend this week-long camp and explore creating music through many avenues. Sign up for one session or many. Some sessions require previous experience, but there are plenty that don't! Register here to save your spot!

Upcoming Events  

Tuesday, March 12th-                Spellling Bee

Thursday, March 14th-               Red Carpet Recital in the Auditoirum 

                                                    Stacey Gibson Lecture at Irving School

Friday, March 15th-                    Report Cards Go Home

Saturday, March 16th-                Dunking for Diversity

Mon, March 18- Fri, March 22-  PACK Week (Pack Assorted Colors for Kids (see above for more information)

Tuesday, March 19th-                 Spring Picture Day

                                                     Science Fair

Friday, March 22nd-                    Opera for the Young

Mon, 3/25- Fri, 3/29-                   Spring Break

Tuesday, April 2nd-                     No School, Teacher Institute Day

Monday, April 8th-                       D97 Choral Festival @ OPRF High School from 7- 8:30 pm