Longleaf School of the Arts
FSNN: Flying Squirrels News Network
More Exciting Information to Come . . .
Updated News and Information
LSA Star Student - Sasha Krings
When a diligent student finds herself absent from Teacher of the Year - Ms. Taylor's class, her commitment to learning didn't waver. In the age of technology, the decision to FaceTime and join the class remotely reflected a strong desire to stay connected and engaged with her education. While the school is not legally permitted to offer remote access, with a smartphone in hand, students in Sasha's group brilliantly bridged the physical gap between the classroom and Sasha's absence. This proactive choice demonstrates not only her dedication to academic success but also her adaptability and resourcefulness. Through a virtual window, Sasha maintained an active presence, attentively listening to Ms. Taylor's instructions, participating in discussions, and ensuring that her absence didn't become an obstacle to her learning journey. This dedication not only helped her stay on track but also showcased her commitment to making the most of her educational opportunities.
September 7, 2023 - PICTURE DAY!
Get ready to strike a pose because Picture Day is just around the corner! It's that time of year again when we capture memories that will last a lifetime. We can't wait to capture your beautiful smiles on Picture Day.
Below is the link to get updates on students' portraits. Students and families should enter their names as they are in official documentation at LSA when they enter student information.
Grade Level Assembly Announcement
We are excited to inform you about our upcoming Grade Level Assembly, where SGA Leaders will discuss important matters, share information specific to each grade level, and lead a fun activity during Advisory!
Assembly Schedule
Tuesday, September 12th - 9th Grade Assembly
Wednesday, September 13th - 10th Grade Assembly
Thursday, September 14th - 11th Grade Assembly
Friday, September 15th - 12th Grade Assembly
Location: Black Box Theatre
Time: Advisory
We we see you there!
SGA Class Representative - Submit Your Application!
Hello LSA student body! If you would like an opportunity to play an active role in your school community, please consider applying to be an SGA representative for your class! The Student Government Association hosts many of the school events that take place at LSA, including the Lock-In, Winter Dance, Candy Grams, Prom, Senior Carnival, and more. If you are interested in helping to build your school community, the SGA will be accepting applications from August 28th to September 15th. Applicants must abide by the following criteria in order to be considered for membership:
- Letter of Recommendation from a non-family member
- Unweighted GPA of at least 2.5
- Filled-out Application Form: https://forms.gle/Y6BbxfSUgjSNW9w88
- If applying for 9th Grade Chair, fill out the additional questions at the bottom of the form.
Other officer positions will be selected based upon recorded interview and school vote.
If you have any questions regarding SGA or the application process, please email the following advisors for your grade level: Mrs. Morice (12th), Mr. Frost (11th), Mr. Pangelinan (10th), Mrs. Scherer (9th), or Mrs. Williams for more information.
Theatre News!
We have a lot of exciting things already happening in our Theatre Department! Please check out this third edition of the LRE Call Board (Theatre Department newsletter) for more information.
Message from PTSA - Update
Hello Longleaf Community!
Longleaf's Parent Teacher Student Association is urgently recruiting general members, a Vice President, and a Reflections Chair, as well as other leadership roles. PTA is one of the oldest American advocacy organizations, working to build strong, healthy, successful school communities. While this is most often visible in terms of support and gratitude for our teachers, we are also here to support students and their families on our shared journey.
Membership adds weight to our collective voice - at the local level (requesting aid with carpool traffic), state level (there's a charter school bill active right now), and national level as part of pta.org! Please join us at https://longleaf.memberhub.com/store
We are still in need of a Reflections Chair for the national arts competition. https://ncpta.org/programs-events/reflections-arts-program/ If you are interested, please contact us at ptsa@longleafschool.com to learn more.
We thank you in advance for all your support! We hope to have our General Membership Meeting during the Open House so we can work on making Longleaf School for the Arts a home for all of us.
LSA Substitutes - Wanted
We are looking for substitutes for the 2023-2024 school year! We pay $100 per day. Please complete the Longleaf School of the Arts background check for our records at https://www.criminalbios.com/. You will need to click on the first "Start Your Background Check" yellow tab. Once there, you will be asked to create an account. https://www.criminalbios.com/dashboard/register Please use the following Employer Code: Longleaf
You also need to complete the application using the following link: https://forms.gle/KMxfDFLot476T8597
Important Dates:
Virtual Open House - Tuesday, September 12th at 5:30 PM
NO School - Friday, September 22nd
NO School - Monday, September 25th
Previous Newsletter Information
CRUISING IN CARPOOL
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you for making adjustments and super suggestions regarding carpool this week! We will continue to make minor adjustments, so please make sure you are always attentive to and follow the directives that are being given by LSA Staff members.
Carpool Updates:
We have 70 additional students who have joined our school this year! Our number of students increased from 380 to 450! As a result, we had to make changes to carpool.
1. NO vehicle should make a LEFT turn from S. Wilmington Street to enter the school's pick-up lanes. Please drive past the school to get in line or use Hammond Road to turn onto Chapanoke Road.
2. Make a RIGHT turn as you exit the school parking lot. Do NOT turn left as you exit; it will slow down the traffic of the cars trying to leave the parking lot. If you need to return to Hammond Road, make a left turn onto S. Wilmington Business (the street behind Bojangles). Continue straight to Tryon Road after stopping at the stop sign next to Captain Stanley's Restaurant. Make a left on Tryon Road and continue on to Hammond Road.
3. Single-Student Pick-up vehicles should not line up at the school to pick up your student until 3:40PM. However, if needed, Multi-Student Carpoolers, please drive past the cars waiting for single-student pick-up on Chapanoke Road and enter your carpool lanes.
4. There are three new lanes at the Single-Student pick up location (a total of 5 lanes). Again, please make sure you are paying attention to the directions of LSA Staff members to know which lane to drive into for student pick-up.
Remember to sign up below for Multi-Student Carpool if you have more than one student you pick up from Longleaf! The first window tag and decal are FREE!
Thank you for your continued patience! We welcome assistance with carpool!
Carpool Window Tags and Decals - READY FOR PICK-UP
In order to pick up your window tag and decal, please make sure you complete the following Google Form: Multi-Student Carpool Form
The tags and decals are available in the front office. Please see our Administrative Assistant, Mrs. Bonnie Benjamin.
LSA Dress Code
Clothing must fit and be suitable for all classroom activities, including courses where unique hazards or specialized attire or safety gear is required.
1. Tops must have straps and cover the entire chest, back, torso, and stomach.
2. At no time may any part of a student’s buttocks be exposed.
3. Clothing must cover all undergarments. No underwear or undergarments may be visible at any time.
All students should be able to have a full range of motion while sitting in various positions, reaching up, bending, leaning, or standing without exposing underwear/undergarments or private areas. Please check attire in ALL of the previously mentioned positions if you are uncertain about whether or not the attire will meet school dress code.
Our School Social Worker is available for families needing assistance.
2023-2024 Student Fees
Student Fees should be paid at https://student-fees23-24.cheddarup.com. Please see the website for forms and more information.
**Only Juniors and Seniors are permitted to go off campus for lunch and have a student parking permit.
Important Flyers, Forms, and Information
My Hot Lunchbox - ONLY
We will no longer accept DoorDash, Grubhub, or Uber Eats orders.
Interested in carpooling to LSA with other families?
What to Know
1. LSA does not create carpools; we curate information on families interested in carpooling and then share that information with those families.
2. Parents reach out to other parents on their own to plan carpool times, locations, and carpool members.
3. You may need to be creative in how you define “carpool!”
Since LSA is not a neighborhood school, you might not find someone that lives in your neighborhood. We suggest finding people in your general area and perhaps agreeing to carpool from a central meeting point. This has worked really well in the past. People often meet at local shopping centers, a coffee shop, or other public places. Some families have carpooled to a bus stop and had the kids take the bus downtown from there. We also have families that pay older students to carpool their kids.
Complete this Google Form to share your interest with others at LSA:
Contact information and a map of carpooling families will be shared with survey respondents throughout late summer and early fall.
For questions, contact Brianna Johnston:
Brianna Johnston
LSA Parent Volunteer for Carpool
A Note on Attendance
School attendance will always be of significant priority here at Longleaf School of the Arts. Not only is school attendance mandated by law, but we pride ourselves on being able to help our students prepare for college and the outside world through our 16-day force failure policy, which states that "in order for a student to receive credit for a class at Longleaf School of the Arts, the student must not be marked absent for more than sixteen (16) days per year." Please be aware that the school will send home letters for all documented absences, whether excused or otherwise noted. While we understand that circumstances beyond our control occur, we ask that you provide documentation to support any absences your student may have throughout the school year. All absences can be reported on the school website through the following link: REPORT AN ABSENCE. If you have any questions about attendance or the forced failure policy, please contact Mrs. Victoria Jones, LSA's school social worker.