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Dear Lancer Families:
Last week we had our spring musical, Beauty and the Beast. I went on closing night to see the show and was so impressed by our students’ hard work. I want to congratulate all the cast members, tech crew, and staff/families who have been supporting the show on a job well done! Additionally, this weekend I attended Longfellow’s first track meet of the season. I love watching our students compete and challenge themselves in new ways. If your student competes in track, come say hi at the next meet.
This week on April 30th we are having an open house event for our rising 7th graders and families to come tour the school and learn about which math class might be the best fit for them based on what classes they have taken thus far. We will also have some food trucks that evening in partnership with our PTA. Additionally, next Friday, May 1st there is a trivia night for families who are interested in joining the fun. More information on these and other future events is listed below.
Finally, in two weeks we will begin our spring SOL testing schedule. The reading SOL will take place on Tuesday, May 5th. The math SOL is on Thursday, May 7th. And the science SOL (8th grade students only) will be on Wednesday, May 13th. If at all possible, please do not schedule appointments for those three days. Also, be sure students get a good night of sleep and eat breakfast for SOL days so they can do their best.
As always, I appreciate your ongoing partnership and encourage you to stay connected through our website and weekly newsletter. I hope you and your family have a good week.
Chris Butzer
Principal
Longfellow MS
FCPS Students Chosen for 2026 All-Virginia Middle School Chorus Group
56 FCPS students have been selected for the 2026 All-Virginia Middle School Chorus event, April 16-17.
Students throughout Virginia went through a rigorous audition process to compete for positions in these ensembles. Participants rehearsed with nationally recognized conductors and collaborated with fellow musicians during the events.
Congratulations to the following Longfellow students who selected for the middle school groups:
Treble Choir - Guiliana Della-Loggia, Ruohan Du, Alessandra Vasquez-Lemu, Chloe Woo, and Madeline Yu
Mixed Choir - Alexandre Grimaldi-Sotton and Abigail Mills
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UPCOMING EVENTS
April
30 Community Open House & Math Pathways Night 5:30pm
May
1 Trivia Night 6:00pm
2 Track Meet @ TJHSST
5 SOL - Reading
5 Night of Percussion @ McLean HS 7:00pm
7 SOL - Math
9 Track Meet @ Marshall HS
13 SOL - Science
16 Track Meet @ Oakton HS
25 Holiday-Memorial Day
26 Student Holiday-Teacher Workday
27 Holiday-Eid Al-Adha
30 Track Championship @ Robinson
Bell Schedule
DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS
Community Open House & Math Pathways Night-This Week!
Thursday, April 30, 5:30-7:30pm
Welcome Rising 7th Grade Families
• Math Pathways Presentation + Q&A
• Open building + Student ambassador tours
• Meet Principal, PTA, & families
• Meet classmates
• SHAVED ICE AVAILABLE ON SITE
*Hosted by the Longfellow Faculty & Staff + Longfellow PTA
Teacher Appreciation Week – May 4th – 8th
Donate to TAW and help us say THANK YOU in a big way!
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4th-8th, and we’re on a mission to show our incredible educators just how much they mean to us. Every day, they go above and beyond supporting our students in ways that truly make a difference.
The PTA is raising funds to provide thoughtful gifts, treats, and a delicious lunch for our teachers.
If you’re able to contribute, no amount is too small. Together, we can make this week unforgettable and show our gratitude for the dedication and passion our teachers bring to the classroom every day.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar
The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Find additional information on BoardDocs. View the updated complete school year calendar on FCPS’ website.
The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.
Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and Rising 12th Graders
The following immunizations are required for students entering 7th and 12th grade each school year.
All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
• To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
• To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
• To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 to 12 or as early as 9 years old.
As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child will not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
All students entering 12th grade are to receive two doses of the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. To meet the MenACWY 12th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and healthcare providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations.
Dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are also available.
Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments
Students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
FCPS encourages all families to support their students in taking these tests. Virginia requires schools to test at least 95% of students on SOLs, so when families choose not to participate in testing, it can impact a school’s accreditation, accountability ratings, and ability to measure student progress accurately.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify your student’s school as soon as possible.
Learn more about how to support your child and why test participation matters.
Our Office of the Ombuds Is at Your Service!
Ombuds staff engage with FCPS staff, families, and students to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, resolve concerns, and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Ombuds staff do not make or change decisions, policies, or regulations. They do not take sides, and they do not provide legal advice.
Anyone with concerns, questions, or complaints to share with the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, or visit their webpage, where you may submit a question.
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
Trivia Night
Longfellow is hosting its annual Trivia Night on Friday, May 1st. Doors open at 5:30PM and Trivia begins at 6:00. Gather the family and join us for a fun evening of trivia! Teams of up to 4 people can register using the following link – https://forms.gle/NfH5urJ4t9P9Vrqr6
Cost is $20 per team, and all proceeds will support the after-school program. This event is open to the entire community, so feel free to bring neighbors and friends. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams! If you have any questions, contact Bindhu Zachariah at bezachariah@fcps.edu.
New Clubs
The fourth quarter schedule is officially live! You can find the full lineup on Schoology under All Schools > Materials (on the left-hand sidebar).
We are thrilled to introduce three new outdoor sports to the mix: Pickleball, Flag Football, and Tennis. Don't worry about gear—we provide all the equipment you’ll need to play.
• Pickleball: Mondays | 2:30 – 3:25 PM
• Flag Football: Mondays | 3:30 – 4:30 PM
• Tennis: Thursdays | 2:30 – 3:30 PM
School Dance
We are excited to host a school-wide dance on Thursday, May 14th directly after school. All other after-school activities that day will be cancelled so that students can attend the dance. The dance will run from 2:30-4:30PM and is free for all students. Concessions will be sold at the event and proceeds will benefit the afterschool program. Late buses are available that day.
LONGFELLOW PTA
Calling all 8th Grade Parents/Guardians
It’s time to start planning the 8th-grade party! The end-of-middle-school party for the 8th graders is scheduled for June 12th from 6pm – 8pm, at Longfellow. For this event to take place, the PTA needs parent/guardian volunteers to plan and chaperone the event. Volunteer commitments are needed by May 4th. If there are not sufficient volunteers, this year's 8th-grade party will not take place. Please sign up here to volunteer to plan and/or chaperone, Volunteer for 8th Grade Party.
PARENT INFORMATION
LMS Career Day 2026
Do you have a job you love? A unique career path? We want to hear from YOU!
We are looking for enthusiastic parents, family members, and community partners to speak at LMS Career Day on the morning of Thursday, June 4, 2026 (exact time TBD). No teaching experience is required – just a passion for what you do and a willingness to engage with our curious Lancers!
Interested? Please complete this Google Form.
Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.
Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 18.
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families.
Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.
FCPS Family Cafe: Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
Join Family and School Partnerships to explore career pathways, academies, and the wide range of courses and certifications available in FCPS.
This virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. and will highlight the various career and technical education courses available to middle and high school students in FCPS. Currently, there are more than 160 Career and Technical Education (CTE) course options available to students. Many CTE programs include industry credentials, work-based learning, and career and technical student organizations, allowing students to develop the skills needed to be successful in future education, training, and careers.
Register in advance for Career Pathways to receive the Zoom link. Email FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu for more information or call 703-204-4300.
Start an Unskippable Conversation With Your Teen
When was the last time you talked to your teen about fentanyl and overdose? Learn how to start an Unskippable conversation, and find resources to share with your teen on how to spot an overdose and how to respond.
McLean High School Sports Physical Night
WHO: All students who plan to play a sport in 2026-2027 school year
WHEN: Thursday, May 28, 2026
TIME: 5:30pm - 8:00pm
WHERE: McLean HS
COST: $50
REGISTER HERE
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