Dear Longfellow Families,

As our 100th day of school approaches, I would like to thank our parents for their many wonderful contributions to our school. I often observe parents quietly working in many ways to support the learning and positive development of Longfellow students. At a time when resources are very limited, our parents have provided us with unconditional support and have truly enriched our school. On behalf of all of the Longfellow, thank you.

At this time, we are focused on academic achievement in our school. We will begin our Before & After School Intervention Program for students needing additional support in Language Arts and Math in grades 1-8 on Tuesday, February 9. Classes, tutoring, and homework clinics will be offered to students on Tuesdays and Thursdays until the end of April.

Since February is the month for enrollment in magnet schools, I would like to invite parents to visit our middle school classes so you can see the wonderful teaching and learning in our classes. All classes have i21 interactive technology and students will soon receive their own netbooks. We are very proud of the fact that all students in grades 6-8 are mastering national technology standards, using technology for cross-curricular units and projects, and they will all graduate from Longfellow with advanced technology skills, in addition to being biliterate global citizens. You will find that our Spanish classes are truly impressive and for the first time, Longfellow will take the National Spanish Examination this spring. We are also currently preparing to offer the Advanced Placement Spanish Language exams in the future, which are college credits. We have a rigorous academic program and small classes, where the teaching team collaborates to provide a very orderly learning environment where we can get our students ready for high school and beyond. Come visit us!

I encourage all parents to communicate regularly with your child’s teachers. Don’t hesitate to ask or email them regarding what standards the students are working on and how you can support or enrich learning at home. Parents are our most important partners, so we encourage you to be involved in our school.

Sincerely, Cynthia Arce, Principal