Family and Community Newsletter

Welcome to the Lion's Den, your Longfellow An IB World School Newsletter. Here you will get weekly updates on what is happening in our school.

At Henry W. Longfellow, an IB World School, we are committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment that empowers every student to reach their full potential. Through the International Baccalaureate program, we cultivate inquisitive, knowledgeable, and caring young people who are motivated to succeed and make a positive impact on the world. Our mission is to inspire lifelong learners who are prepared to thrive in a global society, embrace diversity, and contribute to creating a better and more peaceful world.

We are reaching out to seek your support in reinforcing our school’s dress code policy and cell phone policy. Beginning Monday, students who receive more than two dress code violations will be ineligible to participate in after-school activities for a period of four weeks. Your assistance in ensuring that your child adheres to the dress code and cell phone policy is greatly appreciated. By working together, we can maintain a respectful and focused learning environment for all students. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Students will not be permitted to use cell phones between 8:40 a.m. and 4:05 p.m., which includes all instructional time. At the beginning of each school day, from 8:40 to 8:55 a.m., students will be required to place their cell phones in designated lock boxes located with their last period teacher. Phones will be returned to students at 4:05 p.m. before dismissal. If a student arrives late, they must leave their cell phone with the office for the duration of the day.

It's important to note that failure to comply with this policy will result in the confiscation of the cell phone by school administration and implementation of the following progressive discipline:

• 1st Offense: Cell phone will be confiscated, held in front office, and returned to student at dismissal.

• 2nd Offense: Cell phone will be confiscated, held in front office, and can be picked up by a guardian.

• 3rd Offense: Cell phone confiscated, held in office for parent conference and pick-up.

Starting Monday August 5th we started enforcing our dress code policy. Below you will find what our dress code is here at Longfellow. Students that receive a dress code violation will be asked to get a change of clothes if there is anything available at the school, if not students will call home. Students cannot miss instructional time due to dress code violations, though after 6 dress code violations students will start receiving either lunch detention or after school detention.

Indianapolis Public Schools is a district committed to racial equity in both mindset and action. As such, students and their parents/guardians hold the primary responsibility in determining a student’s personal attire, hairstyle, jewelry, and personal items (e.g. backpacks, book bags). Schools are responsible for ensuring that student attire, hairstyle, jewelry, and personal items do not interfere with the health or safety of any student and do not contribute to a hostile or intimidating environment for any student.

Students CAN wear...

• Jeans that are free of rips or holes
• Leggings as long as their shirt covers their bottom
• Shorts or skirts that are finger tip length
• ANYTHING THAT IS SCHOOL APPROPRIATE

Students CAN NOT wear...

• Open toed shoes
• Sleeveless or spaghetti strap shirts or dresses

We wanted to inform you that currently, we have substitute teachers in both our band and art classes. Please rest assured that our administration is actively working to find permanent teachers to fill these positions as soon as possible.

In addition, our 7th-grade ELA teacher is on medical leave. A substitute teacher is covering her class during her absence, and we expect her to return once she is well.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to the school and speak with our administration. We are here to support your students and address any needs you may have.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

We want to inform you about the new Indiana law, SB 282-Absenteeism, which took effect on July 1, 2024. This law introduces important changes regarding chronic absenteeism for our 6th-grade students.

If a 6th grade student misses 5 days within a 10-week period, the school is now required to schedule a mandatory parent conference. During this meeting, we will work together to create an action plan aimed at reducing unexcused absences.

Additionally, if any student (6th-8th) reaches 10 days of unexcused absences, the law mandates that the school refer the case to the Marion County Prosecutor’s office for truancy. Any student with 10 unexcused absences will also be referred to the Department of Children’s Services as a habitual truant.

We are here to support you and your child’s success, and we encourage open communication to avoid reaching these thresholds.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. For any questions please do not hesitate to call the school!

• Hispanic Heritage Night 9/26 5-7pm
• Picture Day October 7th

Sporting Events

9/23

• Girls Golf Match @ Fedrick Douglas 5:45pm
• Baseball Game @ Manual 6:30pm

9/24

• Boys Tennis Match @ Tech 6pm

9/26

• Cross Country Meet @ Rhodius Park 5:45pm
• Girls Volleyball Match @ NW 5:30pm & 7:10pm

9/30

• Cross Country Championship @ Floro Torrence 5:45pm
• Girls Golf Tournament @ Fedrick Douglas 5:45pm

🚨 Exciting News! 🚨

We just confirmed that Mixteca Foodtruck LLC will be at our Hispanic Heritage Night next Thursday, 9/26! 🎉🌮 Bring your wallets and come hungry for some delicious food while enjoying a night of art, salsa dancing, and more! Don’t miss it! 💃🎨

#HispanicHeritageNight #SupportLocal #DeliciousEats

We are thrilled to invite you to the Ambassadors of Hope Family Empowerment Series! Join us for four engaging, interactive sessions where parents and children will practice real-life skills together. Each week, we’ll dive into essential topics like self-care, building self-worth, praising children, and discipline with dignity.

Families who attend all four sessions will also receive rental or utility assistance! This is a great opportunity to connect with other families, learn practical tools for everyday life, and build a strong village of support. Don’t miss out on this chance to empower your family!

Sign up today!

Camptown and Longfellow are pleased to offer an exciting field trip opportunity for our 7th-grade students. On October 4, 2024, our students will be participating in an Orienteering Day at Eagle Creek Park, organized by Camptown. During this field trip, students will engage in a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking in small groups, using compass and map skills, and completing team-building challenges. This hands-on experience is designed to develop leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. This will be an all day field trip transportation will be provided there and back and students will be back before dismissal. Permission slips will be provided to students who are selected as good candidates to participate. You will also need to fill out the Camptown wavier here .

After school activities will be held Monday-Thursday and transportation is available for students to get home, after school activities end at 6:30pm. Car riders can be picked up at door 2.

Current After School Activities

• Girls Volleyball
• Cross Country
• Boys Tennis
• Girls Golf
• Baseball
• Robotics (only on Thursdays)
• Chess (only on Tuesdays)
• Inside Out IRL Dance Program (only on Wednesdays)
• Math Hoops will be starting soon

• 6th Grade Tryouts: Mondays
• 7th Grade Tryouts: Tuesdays
• 8th Grade Tryouts: Wednesdays

We are a IndyEast Promise Neighborhood Promise School! The IndyEast Promise Neighborhood is your partner in your scholar’s academic journey, from kindergarten through high school and beyond.

Our Promise: Every child on the Near Eastside and in Martindale-Brightwood will be ready for college and prepared for a career.

As a Promise School parent, you and your student will have access to opportunities, resources, and support designed to ensure all scholars in our community thrive. These resources include:

1. Coordinated family engagement events,

2. Access to family and community councils,

3. Onsite Family Navigators who can connect you to opportunities and resources around housing and food access, financial or employment coaching, and more,

4. Community School Coordinators,

5. Financial aid planning for college and beyond,

6. Expanded Career exploration, and

7. High-dose tutoring

The IndyEast Promise Neighborhood (IEPN) is a 5-year, $30 million place-based initiative that connects scholars and their families to opportunities and resources from early childhood through college and career. Learn more at IndyEastPromise.org.

You must complete an enrollment and consent form for you and your scholar to participate in the initiative. Please plan on spending about 10 minutes to complete the form.

Enroll here: https://enroll.indyeastpromise.org

Longfellow is currently trying to secure a food pantry onsite here at school, when that happens we will let families know. In the mean time we have other pantry resources you can utilize. Thanks to an amazing partnership with ITown Church Longfellow will be resuming weekend food boxes for students soon, be on the lookout for more information!

• Gleaners Home Delivery Line/Weekly Food Delivery for People without Transportation
• Call 317-742-9111
• Good Shepherd United Methodist Free Food Drive
• Every 4th Saturday
• Located on the southside at 2015 S. Arlington Ave from 11am-1pm
• Open to everyone. A short form is asked to be completed
• Southside Food Pantry
• Open to all 4th Thursday of Every Month
• Southside Church of Nazarene 2515 E. Thompson Road Indpls, IN 46227
• Opens at 6:30pm, No ID or proof of residence required
• Eastern Star Church
• Held on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month
• E. 30th Street Location
• Open to the community from 2pm-5:45pm

The Indy Delta's 2nd annual Fall Youth Programs Explosion event will be on Saturday, September 21st! Youth will be able to learn about each of our programs from our youth committee chairs, ask questions, and sign-up for programs on site!

There will also be raffle prizes, interactive audience activities, music, a 'Rep Your HBCU Zone' and more! Please spread the word to interested youth you know in your school and the community.

For questions, please contact Ms. LaToyaBlack, Educational Thrust Chair, at education_chair2@ dstiac.org.

Celebrate Science Indiana is taking place at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 12, 2024. This event is free and open to everyone in Indiana.

Celebrate Science Indiana will feature approximately 50 STEM booths with engaging activities for families, as well as science shows and presentations. It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore and enjoy science together.

For more information, please find the event flyers attached in both English and Spanish.