It doesn’t seem possible that we are already looking at “springing” our clocks ahead. Daylight Saving Time, March 9th, is fast approaching, so don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead an hour.

Thank you for attending parent/teacher conferences on February 6th. We always look forward to meeting with each of you and sharing the learners’ highlights and academic successes. We had an awesome turnout (about 92%), and it was so wonderful to be able to see so many of you!

All 3rd-5th grade learners will take part in the South Dakota Smarter Balance Testing March 31-April 16. Please try to avoid scheduling any appointments or school absences during the testing dates. We appreciate your help and the encouragement you can provide your child. Please watch for more detailed information to come from your child/ren’s teacher. Please note the Dates to Remember section as there are many upcoming events and happenings.

Thank you to all the teachers and staff who are helping put on the LO Family BINGO Night for our LO families – TONIGHT from 5:30-7:00 (Friday, Feb. 28). Fun will be had and several prizes and family games will be given out. Thank you to our Title I teachers for organizing the games for the Family Engagement evening.

Think Spring!

Mrs. Heckenlaible

It can be cold in the morning. Please be aware that the doors do not open and supervision doesn't start until 7:30 am. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

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.

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.

You are encouraged to fill out a free and reduced meal application at any time throughout the school year. When in doubt, fill it out. If you completed the 2024-2025 application already this year, then you should have already been notified of your status. If you have experienced a financial change due household membership or job change, you are encouraged to apply again.

You can create an online account to monitor your child/ren’s meal account, balances, and add money to their account. Visit the district
the school website and click on

“Mealtime Online Access”

We are very proud of our attendance rates at Longfellow Elementary as we had a 97% attendance rate for the 2023-24 school year!! We are currently at 97% and want to keep that going! We want to thank our parents for continuing to bring their child/ren to school each day and on time.

Attendance is extremely important to the success of each child's education.

Thank you for making attendance and education a priority in your child's life!!

Student attendance is important, not just to the individual student, but to the entire classroom environment. It is noticed when a classmate is missing. ALL pieces need to be present to make the puzzle complete.

Parents, by encouraging regular reading at home and modeling fluent reading, you can significantly support your child's literacy development! Thanks for all you do to encourage and support reading at home!

Pick up and drop off can be a very stressful time for parents and students. Everyone is in a hurry and ready to move on to the next part of their day. However, safety is the most important factor! Please remember to go to the corner and cross the street with the crossing guards. Please do NOT encourage your child to cross in the middle of the street. We want to keep our students safe and set a good example.

Clocks Spring forward March 9th!

Highlights

• Hungry, Hungry Hippos
• Super Bowl training
• Valentine's games & challenges
• Cups & Cardio
• Sink the Ships
• Froggy unit filled with everything frogs

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.

The Mitchell Community Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)3 organization created in 2001 and maintained to provide scholarships for every graduating senior from MHS or MCHS that qualifies. This fund assists Mitchell’s graduating seniors to attain their goals of continuing educational opportunities and to demonstrate Mitchell’s belief in their youth. The student must attend a postsecondary institution to receive the scholarship money and complete the necessary claim form. A board of directors oversees the efforts, and all monies raised are done through fundraising and special events. Community members and school representatives are members of the board that has no fiscal relationship with the Mitchell School District or Mitchell Christian School. Funds are held and managed by the Mitchell Area Charitable Foundation with 100% of money raised dedicated to scholarship awards.

Mar 3-7 - Read Across America Week - See the library section of the newsletter for dress up days

Mon. 3rd - Young Festival Choir

Tues. 4th - PTO Meeting

Tues. 4th - LO Fine Arts Night

Wed. 5th - Spring Pictures (optional)

Sat. 8th - Caring Closet

Sun. 9th - Clocks Spring Forward (not optional)

Mon. 10th - School Board Meeting

Wed. 12th - Student Council Store OPEN

Wed. 12th - End of 3rd Quarter

Thurs-Mon 13-17 - NO SCHOOL (Spring Break & Teacher Inservice Day)

Wed 19th - Group Band Begins

Tues. 25th - Kindergarten Jumpstart

Thurs. 21st - Report Cards Go Home

Thurs. 27th - Kindergarten Jumpstart

Fri. 28th - Student Council Store

Tues. April 1st - Festival Band

April 18 & 21 - NO SCHOOL Easter Break

May 6 - 5th grade district band concert 7 pm @ the PAC

May 13 - 5th grade show choir concert 6:30 @ the PAC

May 22 - 5th grade recognition night 6:30 pm @ the PAC

May 23 - Field Day!!!

Towards the end of the school year (which will be here before we know it), each grade level/den has the opportunity to attend a field trip. Please note that field trips must be earned by the following rules, showing and being respectful to others, being a positive leader, and upholding their grades (to name a few). Teachers will review their lists and determine all who have earned the privilege.

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.

Doctor Appointments? Vacations?

The South Dakota summative testing window runs from March - May 3rd. We do most of our testing in April. Please avoid scheduling appointments during the school day, if at all possible. Testing with their peers is the most normal testing environment for our students. If they miss testing dates, they will have to make them up during important class time. Your help is much appreciated! More detailed grade-level information will come out when the schedule is finalized.

Please check out the Dates to Remember section of this newsletter as well as the section above for dates that we do not have school. They would be the perfect time to schedule appointments or travel.

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.

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