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Dear Lancers:
Last week a parent brought to our attention that someone set up a phishing email scam using my name. The email came from a gmail account, and the sender was pretending to be me and was requesting payment to a Venmo/Zelle type of account. Please note that emails from me and all Longfellow staff members will come from our official fcps.edu accounts. We also would not ask for payment to one of these types of accounts. If you are ever unsure if an email is legitimate, please contact the school and check with us. If anyone receives any further phishing emails, please forward them to me at cmbutzer@fcps.edu and I will have our IT department look into them.
We have also noticed an uptick in the amount of cologne/perfume/body sprays in our school. This often becomes a problem when students spray these products multiple times. This has caused challenges for students and staff with asthma in both our hallways and locker rooms. Please have your student(s) swap out these products with non-aerosol deodorants and keep the cologne/perfume/body sprays at home.
For your long-term planning, next week is the end of the 2nd quarter. It is truly hard to believe that this school year is nearly halfway over. Wednesday, January 28th will be a two-hour early release. There will be no after school programs that day so please make a plan for an early dismissal/pickup that day. There is also no school on Thursday, January 29th and Friday, January 30th. School will resume on Monday, February 2nd with the start of the 3rd quarter.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. I appreciate your ongoing support and partnership.
Chris Butzer
Principal
Longfellow MS
UPCOMING EVENTS
January
22 An Evening of Chorus 6:00pm
22&23 Kids Lit Competition 4:30-7:30pm
28 End of Quarter-Two-Hour Early Release
29 Student Holiday
30 Student Holiday
February
2-6 8th Grade Finance Park Field Trip
5 Spelling Bee Qualifying Test
11-13 Spring Musical Auditions
16 Holiday-President’s Day
17 Student Holiday-Teacher Workday
26 Spelling Bee
26 Pre-Assessment Band Concert-Symphonic Band
7:00 PM @ McLean HS
Schedule for the next two weeks
DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS
Langley HS Rising 9th grade Course Selection Information
For those students attending Langley HS next year, Langley HS has created a Rising 9th grade page on our webpage just for you! We recommend printing out our RISING 9th Grade Course Selection Sheet and attending our rising 9th grade Curriculum Night for Parents on Monday, January 26th at 7pm.
Please know that all of this information can be found on the LHS Student Services Course Selection (Academic Advising) website: https://langleyhs.fcps.edu/student-services/9th-grade-academic-advising
Spelling Bee
Students interested in participating in the Longfellow Middle School Spelling Bee may register for the Spelling Bee Qualifying Test. The Qualifying Test is a written spelling test that will be given on Thursday, February 5th during LS4 in the Library. Students can register for the Qualifying Test by filling out the Google Form posted to the Library’s Schoology course. The top scorers on the Qualifying Test will earn a spot in the Longfellow Spelling Bee to be held during LS4 in Rm. 122 on Thursday, February 26th.
Student Experience Survey
In the coming weeks, FCPS will be administering the Student Experience Survey to all students in grades 3-12. It will help the school division better understand students’ experiences in our schools. It will take about 30 minutes and be completed during school hours on February 24, 2026. If you would like to view the survey, please visit the Student Experience Survey webpage at www.fcps.edu/student-experience-survey.
If you do not want your child to participate in the survey, you may opt them out using the online form on the Student Experience Survey webpage. You only need to complete the opt-out form by Friday, February 13, if you do not want your child to participate in the Student Experience Survey.
Thank you for supporting our efforts to make improvements in FCPS schools. If you have questions about the Student Experience Survey, please contact research@fcps.edu.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Academic Advising
Our 8th grade counselors are currently conducting individual meetings with each rising 9th grade student about course offerings and how to maximize academic success. Details and course information can be found on the McLean HS website.
Starting on February 19th, our 7th grade counselors will conduct individual meetings with each rising 8th grade student. Details including our course catalog can be found on the Longfellow MS website.
All course selections are due in StudentVue March 4, 2026.
Please reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions.
Family Life Education (FLE)
Family Life Education (FLE) is starting soon. Below are the dates that each unit of FLE will begin as well as a link to the overview of these units and opt out forms.
• Human Growth and Development: 7th & 8th grade: January 26th-28th
• Emotional Social Health: February 2nd – March 27th (students will cycle through the unit at different times in this window)
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle
For questions or concerns, please contact your child’s Health and Physical Education teacher.
AFTER SCHOOL CORNER
Lost and Found Reminder
As the second quarter ends, our lost and found has once again filled up with clothing, water bottles, and lunch bags. Tables will be set up outside the school from January 20–22 for families to check for missing items. Any items not claimed by January 22 will be donated.
New Dance Club
Longfellow is excited to launch a Dance Club beginning Monday, January 26. The club will meet Mondays from 3:30–4:30 PM and will be led by two members of McLean High School’s dance team. The club is open to all students, and no sign-up is required.
Student Council Puzzle Drive
The Student Council Association is sponsoring a Puzzle Drive from January 12–23. Students may donate gently used puzzles, board games, or LEGO sets. Donations can be dropped off in the front office. Students will earn one Lancer Card per item donated.
There are NO after school activities on Wednesday, January 28th due to the early release. We will resume our normal schedule on Monday, February 2nd.
Track and Field Sign-Ups
Interested in joining Longfellow’s track and field team? Use the following link to sign up. To be eligible to participate students must have completed the following:
1. Use the link to complete the registration form.
2. Complete and turn in the Middle School Athletics Physical Form (PPE) to Mr. Stokes. If you completed this already for cross-country and it is dated after March 20, 2025, you don’t need to submit another form.
3. Complete and turn in the Emergency Care Card (ECC) to Mr. Stokes. This must be filled in for each sport season.
Additional information regarding practices and meets will be provided closer to the beginning of the season.
Team Results
Longfellow Model UN had an excellent showing at the Chantilly Model UN conference last weekend. Navya Sahay and Ian Boyd were yet again the best delegation in their committee! Jaiden Olson received an outstanding delegate award, Leela Rattehalli, Eleanor Rabe, Veronica Mei and Nathan Liu received honorable delegate awards, and Noelle and Leah Yu received a verbal commendation.
On December 11, Longfellow’s Science Olympiad team placed 1st out of 77 teams at the Rustin Invitational. On January 10, the team placed 1st at the TJ invitational out of 42 teams.
Congratulations to Olivia Cho, who placed FIRST in Speaker Awards at Saturday’s regional debate at GMU. Olivia won against 170 other middle school students from 13 other middle schools.
Congratulations to all of our teams for their outstanding performances.
PARENT INFORMATION
2026 STEM Essay Contest-Now Open!
Our STEM Essay Contest challenges 7th and 8th girls and boys to discover and publicize women including women of color (non-white) who made a difference in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields, but who received little or no recognition for their contributions while they were alive. Strong preference is given to essays about women who are not well known even today. Each student is asked to write an essay of no more than 500 words to describe one woman's contribution to STEM, discuss the impact, and clearly state why he or she picked that woman. We will award five prizes: First Place ($100) and four Honorable Mention prizes (each $25).
Here are the two application forms (a PDF and a Word document), which include the essay guidelines and instructions for submission. The deadline is February 8, 2026, at 11:00 pm ET, and the McLean Area Branch will recognize the winners at its annual potluck dinner on March 24, 2026, at the McLean Community Center.
Healthy Habits to Reduce the Spread of Flu and Other Germs
Fairfax County is seeing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. Visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings.
Consider these tips from the Fairfax County Health Department to help reduce the spread of flu and other germs.
When Should Your Child Stay Home?
Help your student succeed in school by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. Visit the FCPS website for helpful insights regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school to minimize impacts on learning.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to let us know so we can provide assistance, if needed.
Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be available throughout the school year.
Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. View immunization resources on the FCPS website.
Meal Accommodations Provide Safe, Nutritious Meals
FCPS’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) works to ensure every student has access to school meals that are safe, nutritious, and meet their individual dietary needs.
FNS works closely with families to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students whose medical needs affect what they can eat at school. To support students appropriately and safely, families are asked to submit medical documentation to FNS from a U.S. licensed health care provider so we can tailor meals to each child’s needs.
Learn more about the documentation required and the steps to develop a menu for your child.
Did Your Student Get a New Phone or Device?
For a distraction-free start to the New Year, please remind your student about FCPS' policy for cell phones and personal devices. This policy helps students focus, interact more with their peers and teachers, and build independent problem-solving skills.
Visit FCPS’ cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions, including:
• Exceptions for students with medical conditions or IEP/504 plans.
• Cell phone use on buses and field trips.
• Consequences for cell phone policy violations.
If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call our main office.
BRYC Girls Flag Football
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