PTA Budget Approved, 172 members to date!
Thank you to everyone who voted! The 2026–27 PTA budget passed unanimously. PTA members will receive quarterly updates on how spending and revenue compare with the approved budget. Any future budget amendments will also be submitted to members for a vote. As of October 12, Longfellow PTA has 172 members, including 15 student members! Thank you to everyone who has joined. Please encourage other Longfellow families to join, every member helps us support our school community. Join the PTA
Student Committee: Next Meeting October 21
The new PTA Student Committee is off to a great start! Approximately 15 students attended the October 7 interest meeting, with students signing up to help with Reflections, advocacy, PTA events and parent education programs.
Students can earn documented volunteer service hours, including for committee meetings and project work.
Next meeting: Wednesday, October 21 | 3:30 p.m. | Room 148
Pizza will be served! All 7th and 8th graders are welcome, even if they missed the first meeting.
Student PTA membership is free. Students interested in participating should register through Givebacks under 2026–2027 PTA Student Membership, using the student's name and a parent's email address.
Families can also watch the October 7 meeting recording (passcode: 5@r?6kjp).
National PTA Reflections Program
Longfellow is pleased to participate in the 2026/2027 National PTA Reflections program! This event provides students an opportunity to self-reflect and create original art based on a theme. This year's theme is "What my culture means to me".
Reflections accepts multiple types of submissions across seven categories: accessible art, visual art, literature, dance/choreography, music composition, photography and film production. Participants attend a celebration award ceremony, and one art submission from each category will progress to the Fairfax County level. Awards are given at the school, county, state and national level with a monetary prize for national winners. Learn more about the PTA Reflections program, theme and categories here: https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections
The Longfellow deadline to submit art for the Reflections program is November 15.
Submissions will be accepted digitally via Dropbox, and in the school office, starting Wednesday October 14. Students will find details about how to submit in flyers posted throughout the school. Instructions will also be posted on the Givebacks website. Reflections Dropbox
Our goal this year is for every student to participate, whether exploring a brand new art form, or diving deeply into an art form they already love. We encourage family discussions about culture and art, and how they are interwoven into our daily lives.
Reflections call for community artists!
Are you a visual artist, songwriter, photographer, writer, videographer musician, dancer, architect choreographer, or other artist? Can you participate in a live panel or recorded message to students sharing what art and culture mean to you? Would you like to share or demonstrate a culturally meaningful art form?
Let us know! Please email reflections.ptalms@gmail.com.
Franklin Sherman Elementary: Student Volunteers Needed
Franklin Sherman is looking for middle and high school volunteers for two upcoming events. Great opportunities to earn service hours!
• Friday, October 16 | 7–9 p.m. — Movie Night, late-shift volunteers needed. Sign up
• Thursday, October 22 | 5:15–7:30 p.m.Sign up — PTA Meeting & Academic Showcase. Help with setup, event activities and cleanup. Sign up
McLean & Langley Crew Turkey Trot 5K
Support both McLean and Langley Crew at their annual Thanksgiving weekend Turkey Trot! The two programs split the event proceeds equally.
Saturday, November 28 | 9 a.m. | Langley High School
Runners and walkers are welcome. Arrive at 8 a.m. to enjoy the coffee truck and bake sale.
Register before November 1 for discounted pricing.
Register for the Turkey Trot 5K
Sparks — Free Creative Writing Workshops for Grades 6–12
Does your student enjoy creative writing? Sparks is a free, drop-in creative writing workshop led by Summer Hsu, a local high school student and experienced youth writer and editor.
Tuesdays | 4:30–5:30 p.m. | Dolley Madison Library
Students explore fun, low-pressure writing prompts and have the opportunity to publish their work in a seasonal anthology. All experience levels are welcome!
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