We are excited to announce that the Mitchell School district will now be using a new app called Thrillshare by Apptegy. You will notice changes in how we communicate with you and how you can communicate with us. We appreciate your patience as we are still learning. At this time, communication will probably go to all email addresses and phone numbers set up in the system but you will be able to go in and adjust that. You will need to let the office know if your email address or phone numbers change so that you can receive any important alerts.
School announcements, such as weather related dismissals, late starts, or cancellations, in addition to reminders about Longfellow Elementary events, can be sent to you via text. You can download the app on your device by visiting the app or google play store and searching for ‘Mitchell School District’. Just a reminder that this is how you are notified when your child/ren’s school times are affected by weather. The school does not call individual parents.
Also, please make sure your phone number is updated and stays updated in Campus and with the school. You will receive text notifications, as long as you choose to accept them. These notifications would be primarily for weather related school late starts, early dismissals, and cancellations. These texts will come from the number “87569.” If you chose not to accept but wish to change your preference, you can text that number at any time.
Our Parent/Teacher organization meets the 1st Tuesday of each month at 3:30 pm. Our meetings last 30-45 minutes.
In the past, our PTO has hosted fun family events such as The Decade Disco, movie nights, Culver's night, Pizza Ranch night, etc. All of these great events help us provide things like water bottles, new student gift bags or even playground equipment for the students of Longfellow!
Get involved! Meet other parents! Help our students!
Band Blast Off
The band program will launch off with an informational meeting on Tuesday, September 6th at the Performing Arts Building at 821 N. Capital St. At this time, the students will have an opportunity to sign up to join band and choose an instrument. From 5:30 - 7:00 pm, representatives from Williams Music Repair (Mitchell), Popplers Music (Sioux Falls) and Schmitt Music (Sioux Falls) will be there with instruments to rent or buy.
A group meeting will be held at 6:00 pm for all parents. I am looking forward to meeting you and working with your child. Please contact me if you have any questions.
mary.krell@k12.sd.us or 995-7510.
Mrs. Krell
Fri Sept 2 - Snack Pack Forms Due
Fri Sept 2 - Student Store is OPEN
Mon Sept 5 - NO SCHOOL Labor Day
Tues Sept 6 - PTO meeting
Tues Sept 6 - 5th grade band night-letters were sent home
Wed Sept 7 - Fall Picture Day
Fri Sept 9 - First Snack Packs go home
Fri Sept 16 - Student Store is OPEN
Sept 27-Oct 11 - Raffle Ticket Sales
Fri Sept 30 - Decade Disco
Den Learning at Longfellow-What does it mean?
What does it mean to be a part of a den? If you were to ask a Longfellow learner from grades second through fifth, they would tell you that it means you are a part of a community.
We have a K Den, comprised of our kindergarten students. They have been focusing on what their new ‘job’ should look like within the school. Kindergarten teachers have been working on modeling expectations, how to play, being kind to others, how to go through a lunch line, and following directions, to name a few. It is amazing how different kindergarten looks after only two short weeks of school and I have to say, “We have OUTSTANDING kindergarten learners and teachers at Longfellow Elementary!”
Next, we have our 1st grade den. They are recalling everything they learned in kindergarten and have already grown into great role models for our younger learners. Their reading skills are already soaring and they are so eager to share their talents! Our first grade teachers and learners have a very big job and that is to become fluid readers. First grade is where reading really takes off! In addition to all they are learning academically, they are working hard to be safe, responsible, and respectful and they sure are “ROCKING First Grade!”
Finally, we have Dens A, B, and C. These dens consist of Minors, Majors, Masters, and Mentors, in grades two through five. Learners in these dens are building a strong community/family within each den. They are great role models for each other and with the Habits of Mind (HOM) they are learning and applying, they are working together, understanding empathy for others, finding humor in everyday life, and learning what it means to manage their impulsivity, to name a few. These learners are taking the word, COMMUNITY, and really understanding that in order to be successful, you have to learn to work together (INTERDEPENDENTLY would be the word a minor, major, master, or mentor would use if you were to ask him/her). Dens have enjoyed the HOM activities and lessons and it has truly brought the learners together. The den bonds are growing stronger each day and they have been working hard to STRIVE for ACCURACY as they have pushed through their assessments.
So as you can tell, no matter which den you belong to at Longfellow Elementary, you are part of the family tradition that Longfellow PRIDES itself on. We encourage you to consistently ask your child about their successes at school and have them retell you what they are learning about the Habits of Mind and how they are applying them to their educational and life journey! Thank you for sharing your children with us as we continue to work together to build a strong community.
Mrs. Heckenlaible
Student Store
Our Student Store is full of awesome items for students to purchase such as pens or pencils, cool erasers and other items that are school appropriate. The Student Store is sponsored by our Student Council and money raised goes right back to the students of Longfellow with the various projects our Student Council does each year. Everything is $1 or LESS!!! Hours are from 7:45 am-8:05 am
Our Student Council Rocks
The Longfellow Student Council purchased water bottles for every student this year! They raise money through events such as the Student Store, t-shirt sales, coin collection challenges, etc.. You will find information on these fundraising opportunities in the monthly newsletter and/or flyers that get sent home.
...handle attendance? - ALWAYS contact the office at 605-995-3092 to report attendance. It is not the teacher's responsibility to let the office know, even if you message them. You MUST contact the office. If you do not notify the office (Dr appointment, illness, vacation, etc.) your child will be marked Absent Unexcused.
...handle Dr appointments? - If you need to take your child during the day for an appointment, please let the office know ahead of time. You MUST come in to sign your child in/out. We cannot let them run out to you. Your doctor/dentist office will be happy to give you a note to get the absence excused from school. Just ask them. They can also fax those to 605-995-3084 or email them to noel.ahlers@k12.sd.us
...add lunch money? - Checks or cash can be dropped off any time to the office. You can also log on to www.mymealtime.com and set up an account. Money can be deposited online through My Meal Time.
...receive bus service? - You are responsible for setting up their bussing as well as contacting the bus if your child will not be riding that day, for any reason. Palace Transit 605-995-8440 Foreman Bus Service 800-310-2708
...get headphones? - You are welcome to bring your own headphones but we also have some in the office for your purchase at $5.00.
It is incredibly important that you have your children use the marked crosswalks each and every time they cross the street. This is for the safety of all students, staff and drivers. Also, be sure you do not park along the yellow curb as it blocks the view of those crossing the street or the crossing guards who keep your children safe.
Over the Counter Medication at School
OTC medications such as Tylenol, cough medicine, cold medicine, etc, are not provided by the school. In fact, we cannot give your child medication without signed consent from a parent or guardian. If you would like your child to have any of the above medications available at school, please bring the medication (in it's original bottle with student's name on it) and fill out a medication consent form. Students are NOT PERMITTED to have medications (other than cough drops) in their lockers or backpacks. We're happy to keep those medications in the nurse's office, specifically labeled for that child or family. Please contact our nurse, Marlett Snoozy if you have any questions regarding medications at school. marlett.snoozy@k12.sd.us
Prescription Medication at School
Whether your child takes a daily medication at school for the entire year or for 2 weeks, we will need to keep that medication in the nurse's office. The medication MUST be brought into the office by an adult in the original prescription bottle and a parent/guardian will need to sign a consent form. You will find a link to the medication consent form above this article. Please contact our nurse, Marlett Snoozy if you have any questions regarding medications at school. marlett.snoozy@k12.sd.us
A Change to the Lunch Program
The federal government funded the free-meals-for-all program at the start of the pandemic and it was a wonderful relief. It meant that all students, even those not previously eligible for free or reduced meals, received breakfast and lunch at no charge! This program has now come to an end. If your child qualifies for free or reduced meals, they can still receive them, but YOU must take action to make that happen.
If you are concerned that you may not be able to afford school meals, we encourage you to fill out an application for free or reduced meal benefits as soon as possible. You will find a copy of this form in the school office but may also click the link below to print the form yourself. Please turn this form into the office as soon as possible and we will forward it to the food service department for processing.
If you already receive SNAP or TANF, you may be eligible for free or reduced meals but you still need to fill out the form.
Lisa Heckenlaible - Longfellow Principal
Noel Ahlers - Administrative Assistant
Phone #: 605-995-3092 ------ Fax #: 605-995-3084