Longfellow News

There are only about 85 schools days left in the school year!

There are only 23 school days left until IREAD 3 testing begins for grades 2-4!!

There is still so much work to do and I am so thankful to have so many wonderful partners in education. We can see the efforts of students, staff, parents, and community because Longfellow students ARE SHOWING GROWTH academically and behaviorally.

Attendance Competition

One thing parents/guardians can do to help is to make sure students are successful and grow is to make sure their children are in school all day. See below for an attendance competition where PARENTS are eligible to win a $25 gas card if their child misses 2 or less days over this next quarter!!

Chromebooks and Chargers

With some sketchy January weather, we are going to allow students to take their devices and chargers home each day. Please make sure students care for these devices and bring them back in the same condition they left EVERY DAY. Students use their Chromebooks daily in the classroom so participation can become difficult if they left their device at home.

Adventure Club

If you are finding it difficult to get your child to school on time or pick them up before 4, Adventure Club may be your answer!! Please see the information in this newsletter to apply. Don't forget, they accept the Indiana Child Care Voucher!!

IREAD 3

The state assessment, IREAD 3 will begin on March 4th for grades 2-4. Legislatively, the State of Indiana is seriously considering retaining 3rd grade students who do not pass this year. We have opted our 2nd grade in to test to give them an extra opportunity to pass before even entering 3rd grade. This also provides us with data to help those students who need extra help BEFORE 3rd grade.

Parents of students in grades 2-4, please do everything in your power to make sure your child is at school every day from March 4 through March 15. Also, help make your child's environment as text rich as possible. Here are some extra resources for parents/students... https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/resources/parent/primary/

Students who showed the MOST GROWTH on the NWEA English Language Arts and Math assessment from Fall to Winter won a trip to Aurelios for lunch and were taken in a limousine on Friday, January 19!

THANK YOU TO ELITE TRANSPORTATION AGENCY in Schererville for donating the limousine service!❤️ 1-800-306-9610

Thank you to Josie Cantu (Ms. Reyes' mama) for taking photos!

Congratulations to these students!

These teachers also showed the most growth in English Language Arts or math on NWEA from Fall to Winter AND they joined our students for Lunch-n-Limo.

Congratulations to...

Longfellow Elementary is kicking off a "One School, One Book" event THIS Monday, January 22 at 5 PM. All Longfellow families will receive a copy of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". The kickoff event will feature games, prizes and some ways to engage families in reading. All events will be held at Longfellow Elementary and are open to the whole family.

Dates are as follows:

• January 22 @5 PM
• February 26 @ 5 PM
• March 18 @ 5 PM
• April 22 @ 5 PM
• May 20 @ 5 PM

Jan 17 - WIDA testing begins

Jan 22 - "One School, One Book" at 5 PM

Jan 23 - IREAD 3 after school prep begins (by invite)

Jan 26 - 100th Day of School!

Jan 29 - 101st Day of School! Wear your spots!

Feb 12 - Random Acts of Kindness Week!

Feb 14 - Valentine's Day! Parties start at 1:45 pm.

Feb 16-19 - President's Day Weekend No School

March 4 - IREAD 3 State Assessment Window Opens!

BEFORE and AFTER SCHOOL CARE HAS STARTED! Longfellow students MUST be signed up with The Adventure Club (TAC) prior to attending.

The Adventure Club provides before and after school care for students signed up with TAC. They accept vouchers and school district employees get a discount.

Are you getting the Remind texts from Longfellow and your child's teacher? If not, be sure to log into PowerSchool and update (or add) all contacts and phone numbers to Form D (Contact Management). Click here to log into PowerSchool!

Lake Ridge New Tech Schools has partnered with Kelly Educational Staffing (KES) for our substitute teacher and paraprofessional needs. KES will handle all the aspects of our substitute employee program including hiring, training, and scheduling. There are several advantages to this partnership, such as the opportunity for substitute employees to have year-round employment and additional incentives exclusive to employment with KES.

To apply for a substitute teacher position in the Lake Ridge New Tech Schools, please contact the local Kelly Educational Staffing branch office at 219-879-6131 or 2359@kellyservices.com.

Principal, Melissa Rettig

Instructional Coach, Holly Plowman

Dean, Jodi Garcia

4500 Calhoun Street

Gary, IN 46408

219-923-7004