Each week, students will be chosen to have breakfast with our school resource officer(s), get deputized, and make rounds to check that the building is safe! Thank you to our 4 kindergarten students and our SROs, Officer Brian Perez, Lake County Sheriff's Dept. and Officer Dan Gutierrez from the Gary Police Dept. for participating!

BEFORE and AFTER SCHOOL CARE STARTS THIS WED, AUGUST 30!! Longfellow students MUST be signed up with The Adventure Club (TAC) and the $55 registration fee paid to TAC prior to attending.

The Adventure Club will be providing before and after school care for students signed up with TAC starting Wednesday, August 30. They accept vouchers and school district employees get a discount.

To register and pay the registration fee or for more information click here…

https://theadventureclubs.com/product/longfellow-registration/

If you have questions, call TAC's corporate office at 219-865-6283!

Students and staff surprised Mr. Keith for his birthday on Friday! Mr. Keith is usually the only maintenance/custodial person during the day. If someone spills milk, gets sick, clogs a toilet, if the grass needs to be cut, it's too hot, or too cold in a classroom, THIS IS OUR GUY! We are thankful everyday for Mr. Keith and the students were so excited to share his special day with him!

Parents and Guardians,

We are looking forward to partnering with you for the 2023-2024 school year! We know it is a parent’s support and enthusiasm that inspires children to do their best. We are emphasizing safety, responsibility, and respect in all our expectations this year. To know our behavior approach, please read the parent behavior letter. To know your child's bus expectations, please read the bus letter. Discuss bus expectations with your child. They will be more likely to follow expectations if they have your support. To know our school-wide expectations, please read the behavior expectations with your child. Please discuss the definitions, examples, and non-examples with them to help them understand. We thank you for supporting your child's understanding of these important expectations! We want an environment conducive to learning where children feel safe and successful!

https://forms.gle/dAMc6xUAyUDgFfo46

Thank you,

Ms. Garcia

As we start the 2023-24 year, we will be implementing several updated procedures at Longfellow Elementary School to enhance security and ensure a productive learning environment. As always, safety remains our top priority.

Beginning August 16, guests will only be allowed to enter the building when accompanied by a staff member. Exceptions will be made for individuals who have passed background checks, such as volunteers.

There will be a new process in place for caretakers picking up students early. Upon arrival, you will place your ID in the RAPTOR system to verify your identity. Afterwards, we ask that you wait in the vestibule until your student is released. Students will be guided to their caretaker at the vestibule doors by a staff member.

In situations when caretakers need to pick up materials or homework, we ask that you communicate in advance with the teacher or staff member responsible. These materials will be placed on a designated table in the vestibule, and caretakers will be asked to sign a form to acknowledge that the materials were received.

Recognizing that our students only spend 7½ hours a day with us, it is important that we all respect and value this time. We must refrain from unnecessary absences, late drop-offs, early pick-ups, and excessive demands on school staff.

As a united team, we can pave the way for student success and create a nurturing and productive environment for our students. Thank you for your partnership as we make this happen.

Principal, Melissa Rettig

Instructional Coach, Aaron Carter

Dean, Jodi Garcia

Website: https://www.lakeridge.k12.in.us/
Location: 4500 Calhoun Street, Gary, IN, USA
Phone: 219-923-7004
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063867283019

Kind hearts are the gardens,

Kind thoughts are the roots,

Kind words are the flowers,

Kind deeds are the fruits,

Take care of your garden

And keep out the weeds,

Fill it with sunshine,

Kind words,

and kind deeds.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow