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Dear Lancers:
As we return to our normal routines here at school, I wanted to remind families that due to Virginia state law, students cannot have their cell phones out from the beginning of the day to the end of the day. If you need a message to be shared with your student during the day, please call the main office and we will deliver it to their classroom. Students are allowed to have their phones out before and after the school day.
We are also working on improving students’ on-time behaviors by being in their classrooms before the bell rings to maximize our instructional minutes. Please encourage your student to keep their phone away during the school day and to be on time to all of their classes throughout the day. We have positive incentives for students who are consistently doing the right thing by being safe, respectful, and responsible. These students are awarded Lancer cards and from these students, we do a weekly drawing to see who wins a gift card. As part of our behavior refresher, administrators will be reviewing these and other Student Rights and Responsibilities with all students at the start of the third 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
14 Curriculum Night 6:00pm
15 iReady Testing
16 No After School Activities
19 Holiday-Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday
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
Schedule for the next two weeks
DETAILS ON UPCOMING EVENTS
McLean High School Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night- January 13, 2026
McLean High School will be holding a Curriculum Night for parents of the class of 2030 (current 8th grade students) at McLean HS on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:00pm in the auditorium. The evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 9th grade student with the transition to high school. Topics include getting involved with extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, and the registration process for 9th grade courses. We will also have a panel of core teachers sharing information on their content areas. Following the presentation, teachers from various departments will be available to answer questions about 9th grade classes until 7:30pm. Students are welcome to attend; 8th grade students currently enrolled at Longfellow Middle School will receive similar information from McLean High School counselors during the school day on Monday, January 12.
Snow date: January 20th at 6:00pm, McLean High School Auditorium
Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night - January 14, 2026
Longfellow Middle School will be hosting a Curriculum Night for rising 7th grade families (current 6th grade students) at Longfellow MS on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 7th grade student with the transition to middle school. Families will have the opportunity to explore elective course offerings and hear from a variety of Longfellow staff about the courses and programs offered to 7th grade students. Students and staff will also be available to answer questions.
If inclement weather occurs, the event will be rescheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
We look forward to welcoming you to Longfellow!
The Longfellow ECO-Action Team and the McLean Envirothon Team would like to invite you to Dark Skies & Astronomy Night!
Date & Time: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:00-8:30 pm.
Where: Longfellow Lecture Hall & PE Field
Who: This event is open to the Longfellow and McLean community as well as our greater community. Please invite your neighbors.
Description: Come learn how the natural world thrives in darkness. Students and guest speakers will discuss light pollution and ways to be better stewards of our night skies. After the presentations, a local astronomer will lead stargazing on the Longfellow PE field. Bring warm clothes (hats and mittens) for the outdoor portion. We'll have telescopes and binoculars available.
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
Rising 9th Grade Academic Advising
Rising 9th grade students attended Academic Advising Overview sessions with McLean & Marshall HS counselors via science classes today. Starting January 13th, our 8th grade counselors will conduct individual meetings with each rising 9th grade student about course offerings and how to maximize academic success. Students are encouraged to make course selections by March 4, 2026.
Rising 8th Grade Academic Advising
On February 12th & 13th, our counselors will be visiting your student’s 7th grade English class to give an Academic Advising overview of course offerings and electives for their 8th grade year. Starting on February 19th, our 7th grade counselors will conduct individual meetings with each rising 8th grade student. Course selections are due in StudentVue March 4, 2026.
Course Selections - Students will be making their course selections in StudentVue. When counselors visit the classes, they will be walking your student through the process for making these selections. Information has been posted on the website on how to request course selections in StudentVue.
Advising Website - Our website is the main hub of information. There you will find our course catalog, information about each of our core courses and electives.
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.
Dark Skies Community Event
Our Eco-Action Club is partnering with McLean’s Envirothon Team to host “Turn Down the Lights, Turn Up the Stars,” a Dark Skies presentation. The event will take place at Longfellow on Thursday, January 15, from 7:00–8:30 PM. All are welcome to attend, and no registration 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.
After-School Program Reminders
• There are no late buses on Fridays. All after-school students must be picked up by 4:30 PM.
• There will be no after-school activities on Friday, January 16, and Wednesday, January 28. Students must leave the building at the end of the school day on these dates.
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 you can find 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.
Follow Our Budget Process
Encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process and look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education. Key decision dates and engagement opportunities are coming up in the next few weeks:
• The Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly will hold a public hearing regarding the upcoming 2026 session on Saturday, January 10, at 9 a.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Fairfax County residents can sign up in advance to speak at the hearing online or contact the Department of Clerk Services at 703-324-3151, TTY 711, by Thursday, January 8, at noon.
• Thursday, January 22, Dr. Reid will present the proposed budget to the School Board.
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