Longfellow Newsletter
Week of March 1st
Every Student Counts, Every Moment Matters!
#ICCSDtogether
First Bell-7:50 am / Tardy Bell-7:55 am
Message From Principal Webb
Dear families,
So much happening in this newsletter edition!
Parent-Teacher Conferences for most families will be March 3rd or March 10th on zoom. Please make sure you received a sign-up from your child's teacher.
Student report cards will be sent via email or hard copy this Tuesday before conferences.
Online student material pick-up will be on March 3rd from 12:00-6:00 pm at the main entrance at Longfellow.
District Kindergarten Registration is all day on Wednesday, March 10th. If you know someone who has a student who will be in Kindergarten next year please let them know to register.
Picture information is below for both online and onsite students as well as some upcoming dates and the latest news on what is happening in specials classes.
Social media and other links for Longfellow are found at the bottom of each newsletter- follow the fun!
Finally, check out the self-love club door project happening at Longfellow!! So Cool!
Most sincerely,
Kelli Webb
Mark Your Calendar
March 2nd- Parent-Teacher Reports are sent via email or hardcopy
March 3rd - Materials Pick Up from 12:00-6:00 at Longfellow for online students
March 3rd and March 10th- Parent-Teacher Conferences
March 11th- Welcome more onsite students for trimester 3
March 15th-19th- Spring Break- No School
March 31st- Picture Day!
School Pictures
**Tuesday, March 30th
ONLINE STUDENTS:
**Tuesday, March 30th, 3:15 - 4:15 PM GYM
Online kids will get their pictures taken. We will create a signup genius and send it out. We will have their pictures taken in the GYM, we will have them enter in the main front door and then exit out the back door.
Latest Happenings In Specials Class:
MUSIC
Music at Longfellow has been so much fun this winter, with K-2 singing, playing instruments, and moving to all kinds of songs about snow and playing outside! Some of us also learned an important and famous song from the civil rights movement called “We Shall Overcome.” Students have done such a wonderful job making music together during these snowy months!
Our 5th and 6th grade students have been studying about the history of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” this past month, and some students have opted to participate in the ICCSD Virtual KidSing Festival this year by submitting a recording of themselves singing the song or a picture of their artwork.
3/4 grade students in the OLP will be receiving recorders to play in their March 3rd pick-up, as we will begin playing them from home! This will be a new instrument for 3rd grade students. Our 3/4 grade students in-person at Longfellow have been able to play on the xylophones and other percussion instruments a lot this winter, and are learning so many new songs!
*Note - if your K-4 student has returned to onsite learning this trimester from the online program, please return their music kits to Longfellow! Thank you!
See you soon! - Ms. Brown and Ms. Stiegelmeyer, Longfellow General Music
LIBRARY
Hello families,
It has been busy and crazy in the library, as everywhere. We are so glad to welcome more students back into the building. We will continue to utilize a check out and deliver system for getting books to kids. Kids in K-2 let me know their preferences and I choose a selection of books for them. Kids in grades 3-6 are responsible for placing holds on the books they would like to check out. Here is a quick screencast on how to do that.
All students continue to receive library lessons every week. Here are some highlights of our recent topics:
Kindergarten: We have looked at differences between fiction and nonfiction books and have been conducting an author study on the books of Jon Klassen. The children really love his simple and funny illustrations for the shape books!
First Grade: It has been a lot of fun to read many books on the current Iowa Goldfinch Award list for 2020-21. These are wonderful picture books. We have since moved on to learning library organization and how to find different types of books when “shopping” in a library.
Second Grade: With second graders we have embarked upon a “read around the world” trip, visiting North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa so far. It has been fun to discuss these great books and then look at the places in Google Maps street view.
Third Grade: Third Grade is just wrapping up our annual Good Reader Program, in which students (independently and in class) listen to books from a wide variety of genres, or styles. Since then we have had a lesson on using Google Read and Write to help understand websites, and utilizing bookmarks to organize your most-visited sites.
Fourth Grade: Our fourth graders are also finishing up the Good reader Program. Currently, we are sharing books, videos, and other sources to honor Black History Month using an interactive timeline. Examples of books shared include Brick by Brick by Chares R Smith (the true story of how slaves built the White House) and Teammates by Peter Golenback (about Jackie Robinson and PeeWee Reese in the 1940s).
Fifth and Sixth Grades: We are all about the Hills Bank Visiting Author for 2020-21, Rita Williams Garcia! We have been learning about Ms. Williams Garcia’s life and the 1960s setting in her books, including the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Panther Party (a part of the book One Crazy Summer), the Women’s Movement, the Vietnam War, and the music of the time. After her visit in late March students will complete an inquiry project based on what we have learned combined with their own research on the 1960s topic of their choice.
GUIDANCE
P.E.
Current:
In February, Longfellow Longhorns worked hard on heart health and body management. Whether students were online or hybrid, they participated in fun activities related to keeping their bodies in control while getting their heart rate up. There have also been various warm-ups and fitness activities throughout the month including a '90s This or That' workout. (A special shoutout to parents who participated while jamming out to some 90s classics!)
Looking Ahead:
As we head into March, online students will be participating in at home bowling, racket, and golf activities. In-person classes will begin to brush up on structured activities and games such as crazy kickball, castle ball, and scooter games.
I have been impressed with our Longhorns this year and all of their hard work!
Keep on Moo'vin!!!!!
Ms. Sobaski
Self-Love Club at Before and After School- Door Decoration Project
Online learners
Kindergarten Registration
The Iowa City Community School District will hold Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-22 school year for children who are 5 years old on or before September 15, 2021.
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Time: 7:40 a.m. - 7:10 p.m.
Place: At your child’s elementary school
We would like to encourage only one family member to come on-site for registration due to COVID-19 health and safety requirements. To encourage social distancing we would like families to sign up for a registration time at their school by completing the following form: https://iowacityschools.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_50hQpMrT52zBEk6.
Requirements at registration:
- Verification of your child’s birth date [Examples include a copy of your child’s birth certificate or passport. For additional options, please contact the Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000.]
- Child’s immunization records
- Proof of residency [Examples include a lease/rental agreement or utility bill.]
If you do not have the needed documentation, please come to registration and we will assist you.
If you are unable to register your child on March 10, 2021, please contact your child’s school. Please note, registration may take up to 45 minutes.
ELP Nominations
Grades 3, 4 and 5 ELP Parent Nomination
The yearly screening of students for participation in the Extended Learning Program
(ELP), the elementary program for gifted and very high ability students, is underway for
the 2021-2022 school year. This program is appropriate for students who are at the
highest academic levels in their grade. Students can enter this screening pool by Iowa
Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) scores, teacher nomination or parent
nomination.
More information is available on the district website
www.iowacityschools.org: Departments: Curriculum: Curriculum Areas: Extended
Learning Program (ELP): Elementary Services.
Only grades three through five are
included in this screening process. Kindergarten and first grade students are being
screened for ELP services through in-class lessons and collaboration with the classroom
teacher throughout the school year. All second graders will be screened in the Spring.
Parents will receive notification about second grade screening when it is scheduled at
their child’s school. No parent or teacher nominations are necessary for grades K-2. If
you would like to nominate your third, fourth or fifth grade child to be tested for ELP
services, please complete a parent information form. Forms will be available online
between February 21 and March 26, 2021 at https://forms.gle/y8nRipaSbDW6fR6h8.
PTA News
DPO Information:
District Parent Organization (DPO) monthly meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM and are open to all parents. It is currently held over Zoom and the Zoom meeting link is here, and the meeting ID is 994 7336 4206. Here is a Facebook link for the DPO facebook page where meeting recordings are posted.
Mar 10, 2021
*6:30-8:00 PM
Support and Inclusion of LGBTQ Youth
Speaker: Jordan Mix of Iowa Safe Schools & Laura Gray of the ICCSD Equity Team
Apr 14, 2021
Vaping: Prevalence and Concerns
Speaker: Jessica Jimmerson, Kate Callahan
Apr (date TBD)
Scholarship Reception & Celebration
May 12, 2021
Behavior Management in the Classroom - Care Assessment
Kate Callahan, Director of Student Services & Dustin Gehring, Care Assessment Coordinator
Positive Principal phone calls!
Since we are not able to celebrate as an entire student body with an all-school assembly Principal Webb will be making positive phone calls home and sending PBIS awards in the mail to acknowledge all the great LONGFELLOW LEADERS working in-person and online. Keep up the great work Longhorns! WE ARE LONGFELLOW PROUD!
Monitoring your child's device
Using Securly to Monitor and Restrict Your Child’s Internet Activity
Did you know that parents have the ability to see your child(ren)'s internet activity on District devices, and to set additional limits beyond those established by the District? ICCSD is entering its fourth year of using Securly, a service that filters internet access on District devices and also includes the SecurlyHome Parent Hub, which parents can use to monitor internet usage, receive usage notifications, and establish limits on what your child can access. You may have already received an email from Securly when your child was issued their 1:1 device. You can access Securly at https://www.securly.com/parent-login, and your login email will be the primary email address listed for your child(ren)'s contacts in PowerSchool. If you have trouble accessing Securly, please verify your primary contact email in PowerSchool or contact your child's school to do so. You can also contact Securly support if you've confirmed your email in PowerSchool and are still having trouble accessing Securly.
Longfellow Library Check Out Video
A few reminders:
**And there is also an attachment with a guide on who to contact for attendance, Tech Problems., and social and emotional wellness. (please see below)
1.) Email your students teacher and Lily Dirks ( dirks.lily@iowacityschools.org) that your student is having tech. problems (for attendance purposes)
2.) Call the Tech Center at the district office: 319-688-1950 to report the problem or email: helpdesk@iowacityschools.org
3.) If the Tech Dept. asks you to drop off your students device, you will take it to:
the ESC @ 1725 North Dodge Street Iowa City, Iowa
(not Longfellow, unless directed to by the help desk)
4.) If you have not heard back from the Tech Dept. by days end, we are encouraging you to reach out again. They are there M-F 7:30AM - 4:30PM.
WHO TO CONTACT AT LONGFELLOW:
Attendance
Longfellow Elementary stands with all people of color in the fight against racial injustice and inequality. We all deserve to be safe and secure. Longfellow Elementary, as part of the Iowa City Community School District, will not tolerate racism, hate, and other discriminatory acts. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” We will work hard to not let today’s injustice stop us from creating a better tomorrow for our school community. Please know that even though it is summer, you can reach out anytime.
Below you will also find links to resources that are available for our staff and our community. Stay safe and take care. #ICCSDtogether
follow us on Twitter- @LongfellowScho1
Longfellow Elementary School
Every student counts. Every moment matters.
ADDRESS: 1130 Seymour Ave., Iowa City, IA 52240
PHONE: 319-688-1135
FAX: 319-688-1136
Kelli Webb, Principal
Amanda Mosley, SFA
Stacia Nkumu, Principal Secretary
Non-Discrimination Policy:
It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the Director of Equity, 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245, (319) 688-1000.