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Dear Lancer Families:
I wanted to share a highlight from last week. Our Health and PE department hosted Gwenyth’s Gift, a nonprofit that works with schools to teach students how to use an AED and do CPR. Last spring some boys from Longfellow used these skills they learned in HPE class to help save the life of one of their Scout leaders on a mountain biking trip…so we have already seen the impact of these amazing lessons in our community. Gwenyth’s Gift has been coming to our school for about 7 years and will be here again next year. I visited one of the HPE classes last week and I’ve never seen a large group of 8th graders so quiet and focused…they were taking the learning very seriously and were definitely invested in what they were learning. Truly awesome work! Thank you to the HPE department for continuing to organize and plan for these amazing, lifesaving skills to be taught here at Longfellow!
For your long-term planning, Wednesday March 11th will be our Integrated Reading and Writing SOL for our 8th grade students. While our 8th graders are taking that assessment, our 7th grade students will be working on some tasks for English, History, and Math. There is no school on March 20th as it marks the end of Ramadan. Finally, the end of the 3rd quarter will be Friday, March 27th which will be a 2-hour early dismissal. There will be no after-school activities that day so please make a plan for your student to leave school 2 hours early that day. March 30th-April 6th is spring break. We will return to start the 4th quarter on Tuesday, April 7th.
As always, we appreciate your partnership and encourage you to stay connected through our website and weekly newsletter. Together, we will ensure a strong and successful remainder of the school year for every student. I appreciate your ongoing support and partnership.
Chris Butzer
Principal
Longfellow MS
Gwyneth’s Gift
Another successful visit with Gwyneth’s Gift for teaching hands only CPR for our LMS students! They’ll be back next year!
UPCOMING EVENTS
March
10 Orchestra Concert 7:00 PM @ McLean HS
11 Integrated Reading and Writing SOL (8th grade only)
20 Holiday - Eid al-Fitr
25 Rising 9th Grade Activities Fair @ Langley HS
27 End of Quarter-2 Hour Early Release
30-April 6 Spring Break
Schedule for the next two weeks
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.
Survey topics include:
• Welcoming environment.
• Communication.
• Student success.
• Advocacy.
• Family and school partnerships.
• Community partnerships.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more information.
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
March Madness Basketball Tournament Reminder
The final day to sign up for the tournament is Monday, March 9 at 4:30 PM. Games will be held on Wednesday, March 11 and Thursday, March 12 during both after-school blocks. Team captains will receive information about the brackets and game schedule.
Please note that only students competing in the tournament will be allowed in the gyms on Wednesday and Thursday.
The championship game will take place on Monday, March 16 during 1st block. Students are welcome to attend and cheer on their favorite team!
Chess Club is Back
Chess Club will meet every Monday during 2nd block, starting Monday, March 16. All students interested in playing or learning chess are welcome to join.
Girls Leadership Committee
The Girls Leadership Committee at McLean High School is hosting their Menstrual Product Drive at grocery stores and local businesses around McLean, lasting all of March. There will be a box available in the main office for donations. The products raised will be donated to several community shelters in the Northern Virginia area, helping impoverished women struggle monthly to obtain the items which they need. Each box donated will receive a Lancer card. Bring your items to the front office.
Garden Grams
SCA will be selling Garden Grams during all lunches this week! Send a kind note to a friend or brighten someone’s day with a small surprise. Garden Grams are $1 each or 3 for $2 (cash only).
All Garden Grams will be delivered to students on Thursday, March 19.
Track and Field Sign-Ups
Interested in joining Longfellow’s track and field team? Use the following link to register. To be eligible to participate students must have completed the following:
1. Use the link to complete the registration form.
2. Complete and turn in the Middle School Athletics Physical Form (PPE) to Mr. Stokes. If you completed this already for cross-country and it is dated after March 20, 2025, you don’t need to submit another form.
3. Complete and turn in the Emergency Care Card (ECC) to Mr. Stokes. This must be filled in for each sport season.
Additional information regarding practices and meets will be provided closer to the beginning of the season.
Model UN Results
Longfellow Model UN received the Outstanding Delegation Award this past Saturday at Langley High School’s Virginia Invitational Model United Nations Conference. Several students also earned individual honors:
Best Delegate Award: Nayva Sahay, Ian Boyd, and Jaiden Olson
Outstanding Delegate Award: Noelle Yu
Honorable Delegate Award: Joseph Li and Riyana Jain
Verbal Commendations: Miles Dorsky and Leah Yu
Congratulations to the entire Model UN team on another great weekend of competition!
Debate Results
Congratulations to our LMS debate team! In last weekend’s tournament against 96 middle school teams and 192 competitors, the team of Erya Chai and Aliya Sahu came in FIRST PLACE, and the team of Alex Wu and Caleb Zhao came in EIGHTH PLACE. Aliya Sahu also came in SECOND PLACE for best middle school speaker.
LONGFELLOW PTA
Community & Volunteer Opportunities
Do your part to mitigate climate change: Save trees!
Trees do an excellent job storing carbon and cooling the earth. Join in a community effort to save trees from invasive vines in the Haycock Longfellow Park on Sunday, March 15 from 2-4 pm. We’ll be led by trained Tree Rescuers. No prior experience or great physical strength necessary. Supplies provided, but if you have garden tools and gloves, please bring them. All ages are welcome although elementary school students must be accompanied by an adult. Directions to the meet-up location are in the SignUpGenius below. Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508044FA8AE2BA57-62657251-invasive#/
Lake Fairfax Park Volunteer Opportunity
EarthEcho Water Challenge is looking for volunteers to help clean up at Lake Fairfax Park on March 22 from 2 PM to 4 PM. If you would like to volunteer, please go to this link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-4Ult5oQIy9DsVRlC3Mz_DZNsNVNBnwnYI9MZiLrNyrcJeA/viewform
Spring Hill Elementary Fun Fair, Saturday, March 14th
Are you a student who needs volunteer hours? Do you remember all of the FUN of going to a Fun Fair in elementary school? We’d love for you to volunteer your time to support the Fun Fair at Spring Hill Elementary School! We will provide all the verification you need to earn your service hours. Spots fill up fast, so volunteer early!
Click here to volunteer and earn service hours.
Questions? Contact springhillptostudentvolunteers@gmail.com
Chesterbrook Elementary Fun Fair, Friday, April 10th
Chesterbrook Elementary is looking for many teen volunteers to help run our annual Fun Fair happening Friday, April 10th. There is no school for students on this teacher workday. Set-up shifts are available 2-4pm, Activity Station shifts run 4-5:30, and 5:30-7pm, clean up shifts run 7-8:30pm.
Volunteering at Fun Fair is a great way to support Chesterbrook, have a great afternoon spending time with young McLean students and earn those volunteer hours. Thank you for your support!
Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B45AFAC2EAB9-62282727-funfair#/
PTA Reminder:
The Longfellow PTA continues to seek additional support to sustain programs like Lancer Bucks, teacher stipends, and staff hospitality. Families who are able can join the PTA or make a donation through Givebacks at any time. Every contribution helps Support Excellence at Longfellow.
PARENT INFORMATION
Rooted in Resilience, Echoes of Excellence: FCPS’ Second Annual Black History Month Celebration
The spirit of heritage and the promise of the future filled the air at Carter G. Woodson High School as FCPS held its second annual Black History Month Celebration with the theme, Rooted in Resilience: Echoes of Excellence. This year’s event was especially significant as it coincided with the 100th anniversary of the movement that became Black History Month.
Students from across the division took center stage as the true "echoes" of this excellence. The program featured student-led Moments of Pride that connected local and national history to contemporary achievements. A spirited keynote speech was delivered by Vernon Walton, senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Vienna. Another highlight of the night was the FCPS Black Excellence video tribute.
Sleep Awareness Week
The National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Awareness Week is March 8 to 14. The observance highlights the critical link between sleep and health, both physical and mental. Read more about sleep health and sleep strategies you can try at home.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
• Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
• Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
• Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
• Monday, April 20, at Westgate Elementary School.
• Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Celebrating the Power of School Breakfast
Multiple studies show that school breakfasts are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school breakfast consume more fruit and fiber than their peers.
This National School Breakfast Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds families that they are dedicated to providing flavorful, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.
Would you like to know what’s for breakfast? Nutrition Services has printable menus available.
Become Unskippable: Share the Facts About Fentanyl With Teens
Talking with teens about the facts of fentanyl is a conversation you can’t skip. Learning about fentanyl gives teens a better understanding of the risks and effects of the drug, and what they can do to keep themselves and their communities safe.
Share these important facts with your child:
• Even half a fentanyl-laced pill can be fatal. Just a few salt-sized grains of fentanyl are enough to cause an overdose.
• More than half of local street pills contain a deadly dose of fentanyl. As of 2023, seven in
10 counterfeit pills in the U.S. contain enough fentanyl to cause a fatal overdose.
• Fentanyl is usually taken accidentally. Many people have no idea they’ve taken it until they overdose because you can’t see, smell, or taste it in pills and powders.
• Overdose can happen in an instant. In as little as four minutes, the lack of oxygen can lead to brain damage and even death.
Learn more about how to have conversations with your child in a way that will make you Become Unskippable.
Family Academy Offers Support to Parents and Guardians
The Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in March:
• Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
• The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World Together
• Introduction to Career Pathways for Students
• Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Family Orientation (for military families)
• Mind in the Making: Making Connection and Critical Thinking
There will also be Family Resource Center webinars on topics including reducing parent stress and anxiety, parenting neurodivergent kids, why smart kids struggle, and a countdown to kindergarten.
Visit the Family Academy Catalog to explore these and other resources.
Encore Stage & Studio Presents: Sherlock in Wonderland
March 20-29, Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre
 Fairfax County Health Department Measles Update
Measles is a highly contagious virus that infects 9 out of 10 people who are exposed, if unvaccinated or not immune. It has been in the news lately due to cases in Northern Virginia and among people who have traveled through local airports.
If your spring break or summer plans include traveling abroad or to an area in the United States with high measles activity, the Fairfax County Health Department encourages you to ensure your family is protected. Children 12 months and older should have 1 or 2 doses before traveling. Depending on your specific travel plans, your health care provider may also advise you to vaccinate infants 6 to 11 months old. Read more about these recommendations.
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch thisvideo about CTE camps. Registration is open for these programs through Friday, June 5.
Institute for the Arts (IFTA) is a two-week camp for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 60 classes in art, dance, music, and theater. Rising freshmen have the option to take Health and PE 9 through IFTA as well!
Production Camp is a four-week summer theatre intensive for students in grades 6-11. Students in performance or technical theatre tracks rehearse, design, and build a musical in a collaborative atmosphere. The show is presented to the public at the end of camp.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
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