Greetings and welcome back Longfellow Families! It is so wonderful to be back in session and have our awesome Lions and teachers here to start off another successful year at Longfellow Elementary! The beginning of our school year has brought in about 60 eager to learn and excited Begindergarten and Kindergarten students, in addition to the many new Longfellow families. We look forward to seeing all our families at the various activities that Longfellow staff and PTO put on throughout the year. Our biggest event is right around the corner: Longfellow Decade Disco on Friday, September 27th!! (see more information in this newsletter’s edition). Raffle sales will run from September 3-20. It is our only fundraiser Longfellow Lions do throughout the year. Let’s see if we can continue the tradition of “We are small but we are so MIGHTY!” The students raised over $16,000 for last year’s raffle. Let’s see if we can meet that goal once again this year!!!

With a new year, also brings with it new staff to Longfellow Elementary. Please join me in welcoming the following new staff:

Mrs. Hilaray Shelton - paraeducator/computer aide

Mrs. Rachel Wortman - paraeducator

Miss Cameo Irwin - paraeducator

1) Attends school daily and arrives by 8:00am
2) Reads daily to develops a love for reading and to improve literacy skills
4) Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life
5) Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject
6) Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school

Communication is key to an effective partnership. Together we can encourage our learners to make positive choices and to be productive members of the Mitchell community. The staff and I look forward to building positive working relationships with all Longfellow families. Please contact your child’s teacher or myself at 995-3092 if you have any questions or concerns.

Yours in education,

Mrs. Heckenlaible

We understand that families need to make doctor appointments and have family vacations. As you are scheduling those, it may help to be aware of these dates.

9/2 Mon- NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

10/14 Mon-NO SCHOOL - Indigenous People's Day/Teacher Inservice

11/8 Fri-NO SCHOOL - McGovern Debate

11/11 Mon-NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day

11/27-29 Wed-Fri-NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

12/23-1/3 Mon-Fri-NO SCHOOL - Christmas Break

1/20 Mon-NO SCHOOL - MLK Jr. Day/Teacher Inservice

2/14 Fri-NO SCHOOL

2/17 Mon-NO SCHOOL - President's Day

3/13-3/17 Thurs-Mon-NO SCHOOL - Spring Break/Teacher Inservice

4/18-4/21 Fri-Mon-NO SCHOOL - Easter

We do the bulk of our statewide testing in April as well (3rd-5th graders). When a student

misses the scheduled testing time, we are required to reschedule for that student. Learners do

better when testing with the rest of their peers. We appreciate you doing your best to avoid

absences or leaving for appointments during those dates.

Mrs. Eitemiller has lots of fun activities planned to keep our lions moving in PE this year.

PLEASE remember that students need proper shoes on gym days. Sandals, cowboy boots, snow boots, fashionable boots, flipflops, crocs, etc., are fine shoes but not appropriate for PE days.

Longfellow does NOT have spare shoes for students to borrow. Thank you.

Mon. Sept 2 - NO SCHOOL-Labor Day

Tues. Sept 3 - PTO Meeting

Tues. Sept 3 - 5th Grade Band Open House

Wed. Sept 4 - Fall Picture Day

Fri. Sept 6 - Snack Pack Form Due

Fri. Sept 13 - Student Council Store OPEN

Fri. Sept 27 - Student Council Store OPEN

Fri. Sept 27 - Decade Disco Night

The school doors open at 7:30 am. Even if it is cold or raining, we do not have staff in the building to supervise so students will wait until 7:30 am to enter the building. Likewise, our staff leaves by 3:45 and students will need to be picked up before that time. We appreciate you making arrangements to have your children dropped off and picked up within those times.

Building doors open 7:30 am

Breakfast served 7:30-8:10 am

First bell rings at 8:10 am

School begins at 8:15 am (meaning a student is tardy at 8:16 am)

School dismissed at 3:15 pm

If your child needs to leave during the school day or will come late due to an appointment, simply alert the school office at 605-995-3092. If you need to take your child out early, we appreciate you alerting the office ahead of time, if possible. Your child will remain in class until you come inside to sign them out and we will do our best to have them prepared and ready to go as quickly as possible.

Please ask your child if they have headphones for school. If you forgot to send some or they are no longer working, we have headphones in the office available for purchase for $5.00. Our lions use headphones daily.

The library is buzzing with activity. I am ready to start my 2nd year as Longfellow's librarian! Please read through this as there is a lot of info.

• We reviewed library expectations and how to care for books.
• Learners played fun STEM activities.
• Students filled out a survey to help me select books that each class is interested in. I am excited to review them and choose books to add to our shelves.
• There is an ice cream social for those students who completed the summer reading program and turned the sheet into their classroom teacher or the library. Forms must be turned in by Tuesday, September 2nd. The ice cream social will be held after school, in the commons, on Friday, September 6th.

Try to take a few minutes everyday to relax and read with your student. It is a warm and fun moment that you both will treasure. It is beneficial whether you read to them or they read to you.

We have a new program called The Library Ambassador Program for 4th and 5th graders. If your student brings home a Library Ambassador Program form, please read, sign and return to the teacher as the teacher will also have to sign. If you have any questions, you may contact me at Lydia.Brink@k12.sd.us

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

All medications must be administered through the office. Students may keep cough drops in their lockers or desks but allergy meds, cold & flu, antacids, inhalers, etc., as well as all prescription medications will be held in the nurse's office. Please stop in to see Mrs. Snoozy, Longfellow's nurse, or call 605-995-3092 and ask for our nurse, if you have any questions.

Mrs. Snoozy's hours at Longfellow vary but she will be available at open house and will call you back should you leave a message.

Please remember that students are NOT ALLOWED to carry any medications on them (even aspirin). It is not safe to have elementary students carrying meds as we don't want them to get into the wrong hands. We are happy to keep OTC medications in the office for your child when/if they need them.

In the next couple of months, we will be screening all K-3rd graders, as well as any new students, for hearing and vision. You may receive a letter or phone call from our nurse if any results are at all concerning.

If your child had any health concerns in the past (milk allergy, asthma, etc.) our nurse may be contacting you via a letter in your child's backpack, mail or phone call to confirm. If your child HAS any health conditions we need to be aware of, please fill out the form below so we can be prepared