It’s that time of year again when all the hustle and bustle of Christmas gets everyone excited for a break. We hope that everyone can take a moment to reflect on all the positives that happened in the 2023 year. This time also offers a great opportunity to settle into a good book or two. The students will be completing their winter benchmark testing when they return to school and sharing this reading time with their family and friends is an excellent way for the students to showcase their first semester progress!
Family is such a precious gift, and we want to thank all of our Longfellow Families for sharing their children with us. It has been a great first semester and the students have made leaps and bounds in reading and math. We can’t thank you enough for encouraging and reading with your child/ren. It truly makes a difference in their education, and we feel very fortunate to have your home support.

As we return to school on January 3, 2024, it will bring with it opportunities for families to be involved in school sponsored events: kindergarten and first grade music concert, parent/teacher conferences, which will be held on February 1, 2024, and our annual Family LO BINGO Night, which is scheduled for February 23, 2024. We hope everyone has a blessed Christmas break and fabulous start to 2024!!!

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Mrs. Heckenlaible

As it stays dark and cold in the mornings, we want to make you aware that the doors do not open and supervision doesn't start until 7:30 AM. Thank you for your attention on this matter!

Let's take a vote. Who else thinks we should ALL be able to join in on an art class? These look like so much fun!

Don't forget that we serve breakfast each morning before school! Please have your child arrive BEFORE 8:10 AM to get through the breakfast line.

Studies show that eating breakfast at school has many advantages.

According to healthychildren.org

• Kids perform even better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast. Maybe because they're eating closer to test time.
• Kids who eat breakfast at school have improved attendance and behavior.
• Kids who eat breakfast at school have improved academic performance.
• Students who eat at school are tardy less often and their math scores are higher.

If your child(ren) qualified for free or reduced lunches last year, you need to reapply each year and it expired October 31st. If you did not reapply, your child(ren)'s lunch account has been adding up. Please ask the office for an application or click the link above and return it to the office ASAP!

There are a lot of things happening in Mitchell! One way to keep up with that is to look at the monthly events calendar for Mitchell Main Street and Beyond.

Please remember to go to the corner and cross the street with the crossing guards. Please do NOT encourage your child to cross in the middle of the street. We want to keep ALL of our students safe and set a good example.

• Stuffy noses ,coughs, etc., are common occurrences and we do not expect kids to stay home for every sniffle.
• Vomiting, diarhea and fevers are reasons to stay home....please.
• You are welcome to bring OTC medications for your child(ren) but they must be kept locked in the nurse's office.
• Lice seem to be an ever-present issue. Don't panic. Follow the steps listed below and pay close attention to cleaning your home and you will be fine.

Mrs. Borgan's 2nd graders hosted a poetry reading. The students stood in front of family and friends and read poems. That takes a lot of bravery. Great job, 2B! We're proud of you!

Cooler weather is no longer approaching, it's here and will only get colder. Please make sure your children are dressed appropriately. We go outside unless it is raining or the tempurature or wind chill dips below zero. If your child needs a coat, please register for an appt at the Caring Closet!!

2J did their own take on the Thanksgiving Day Parade. This is only a small section of the lovely display of balloons!

PE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MONTH

We have worked on building edurance this month with the following activities:

• Dancing
• Running and other locomotor skills activities
• Climbing our amazing climbing wall
• Sink the ships
• Turkey games

*Remember Tennis Shoes On Gym Days

Use what is learned; Consider prior knowledge and experience; Apply knowledge beyond the situation in which it was learned.

Open to new experiences to learn from; Proud the humble enough to admit when you don't know; Welcome new information on all subjects.

Den C asked their lions what education meant to them. They understood the assignement!

We had dress-up days each day of the week. One of our days was flip-flop. Teachers dress as students and students dress as teachers. The students of Longfellow really surprised us. They went all-in on this and had so much fun!

Dr. Martin Christensen was in the US army for 33 years and traveled all over the world caring for wounded soldiers. He received the Bronze Star and the Medal of Allegiance and continues to serve his community and other Veterans. Dr. Christensen is very much a part of the VFW here in Mitchell. He came to the Library on Veteran's day, to talk to the students. The students asked a lot of interesting questions, not only about what he did in the service and where he had been but what his favorite color and food was. It was an honor to have Dr. Christensen visit our Library; we are so grateful for his past and present kindness and servant heart.

Mrs. Brink

Librarian

• "I know I asked the doctor's office to send a note for that appointment, but did they remember to do so?"
• "I sent the doctor note with my child. Did she remember to deliver it to the office?"

The best way to check on that is to log on to your parent portal. You may not see daily grades but you will be able to see their quarter grades and, of course, attendance. The parent portal will become extrememly important as your child moves on to Middle School and High School as you can check on missing assignements and current grades. Also, the parent portal is where you update your info at the end of each year, which registers your child for the upcoming school year. PLEASE, famlilarize yourself with the portal. If you do not remember your log on info, please ask the office.

Does your child look forward to school each day?

Does your child tell you that a person in the lunch line greets them with a smile each morning?

Does your child say music is there favorite day?

Does your child tell you that math is so hard but they love how their teacher explains it?

Here's your chance to let that person know that they make a difference! Every person in this building, from the teachers, to the paras, to the custodians and office, care about your children. They care about educating students but also making them laugh; keeping them warm and fed; showing them that they can be anything and go anywhere. If there is someone at Longfellow who has done that for your child, please take a moment to recognize them and nominate them for Teacher OR Classified Staff of the Year.

Teacher of the Year includes: classroom teachers, music, art, physical education, title and special education.

Classified Staff of the Year includes: Librarian, Custodian, Paraeducator/Aide, Food Service, Secretary, Nurse, etc.

Click the links below to fill out the form online. It's as simple as that.

NOTE: Paper forms will not be sent home this year.