March 2026

It doesn’t seem possible that we are already looking at “springing” our clocks ahead. Daylight Saving Time, March 8th, is fast approaching, so don’t forget to turn your clocks ahead an hour.

Thank you for attending parent/teacher conferences on February 5th. We always look forward to meeting with each of you and sharing the learners’ highlights and academic successes. We had an awesome turnout (about 90%), and it was so wonderful to be able to see so many of you!

All 3rd-5th grade learners will take part in the South Dakota Smarter Balance Testing during the last week in March through April. Please try to avoid scheduling any appointments or school absences during the testing dates. We appreciate your help and the encouragement you can provide your child. Please watch for more detailed information to come from your child/ren’s teacher.

Please mark your calendars for the following events in March:

• March 2 - 6: Read Across America Week – please watch your child’s classroom newsletter, DOJO, Remind, etc. to see what our dress up days and events will be!

• March 4: Spring pictures (MUST preorder online as they are only taking pictures for those that wish to purchase a packet.)

• March 8: Daylight Saving Time (turn your clocks ahead one hour)

• March 13: End of 3rd quarter

• March 19-23: No School = Spring Break and Teacher Inservice Day

• March 26: Report cards go home with your child

• March 26 & 31: Kindergarten Jumpstart – please call the school if you have a child who will be 5 years old by Sept. 1 and you have not received information. We look forward to meeting your future Longfellow Lion!

• April 3 & 6– No school = Easter break

• May 5 - Fifth grade show choir concert @ 6:30 pm @ the PAC

• May 12 – Fifth grade district band concert @ 7:00 pm @ the PAC

• May 21 – Fifth grade recognition night @ 6:30 pm @ the PAC

• May 22 – Field day!!!

Thank you to all the teachers and staff who are helping put on the LO Family BINGO Night for our LO families – TONIGHT from 5:30-7:00 (Friday, Feb. 27). Fun will be had and several prizes and family games will be given out. Thank you to our Title I teachers for organizing the games for the Family Engagement evening.

Think Spring!

Mrs. Heckenlaible

Please remember that our doors do not open and supervision does not begin until 7:30 am. Student arriving before then will need to wait outside. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

We understand that families need to make doctor appointments and have family vacations. As you are scheduling those, it may help to be aware of these dates.

3/18-3/23 Thru-Mon-NO SCHOOL - Spring Break/Staff Development

4/3-4/6 Fri-Mon-NO SCHOOL - Easter

5/22 Fri-LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

We do the bulk of our statewide testing in April as well (3rd-5th graders). When a student

misses the scheduled testing time, we are required to reschedule for that student. Learners do

better when testing with the rest of their peers. We appreciate you doing your best to avoid

absences or leaving for appointments during those dates.

Doctor Appointments? Vacations?

The South Dakota summative testing window runs from March - May 8th. We do most of our testing in April. Please avoid scheduling appointments during the school day, if at all possible. Testing with their peers is the most normal testing environment for our students. If they miss testing dates, they will have to make them up during important class time. Your help is much appreciated! More detailed grade-level information will come out when the schedule is finalized.

Please check out the Dates to Remember section of this newsletter as well as the section above for dates that we do not have school. They would be the perfect time to schedule appointments or travel.

You are encouraged to fill out a free and reduced meal application at any time throughout the school year. When in doubt, fill it out. If you completed the 2025-2026 application already this year, then you should have already been notified of your status. If you have experienced a financial change due household membership or job change, you are encouraged to apply again.

You can create an online account to monitor your child/ren’s meal account, balances, and add money to their account. Visit the district
the school website and click on

“Mealtime Online Access”

Please dress your child weather appropriate gear each day as students GO OUTSIDE if the 'feels like' temperature is above zero. We do not have outdoor clothing for students to borrow. The temperature can change throughout the day. It may be too cold as they arrive but warm enough by afternoon recesses.

We are very proud of our attendance rates at Longfellow Elementary and want to keep that going! We want to thank our parents for continuing to bring their child/ren to school each day and on time.

Attendance is extremely important to the success of each child's education.

Thank you for making attendance and education a priority in your child's life!!

We celebrate our Lions!

Pick up and drop off can be a very stressful time for parents and students. Everyone is in a hurry and ready to move on to the next part of their day. However, safety is the most important factor! 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 our students safe and set a good example.

The dental bus will not be coming to Mitchell during this school year. We understand they are expected to come in July of 2026. Please watch the Mitchell Community Chamber page for an announcement.

PLEASE remember that students need proper shoes on gym days. Sandals, cowboy boots, snow boots, fashionable boots, flipflops, crocs, etc., are fine shoes but not appropriate for PE days.

Longfellow does not have spare shoes for students to borrow. Thank you.

2025-2026

WHAT IS THE FITNESS CHALLENGE?

Mrs. Eitemiller will post a video at the beginning of each month. The video will show the different activities to complete with your family that month. As you complete the challenges, take a selfie of your family in action and post it to our private Facebook group. If you do not have Facebook, please email the picture to Heidi.Eitemiller@k12.sd.us. Once your picture has been posted on Facebook or emailed, I will enter your name into the drawing for that month. We will draw for prizes EVERY MONTH! These activities are designed to keep your family active and to have fun!

WHERE DO I POST ON FACEBOOK?

Search the group 2025-2026 LONGFELLOW LIONS FITNESS CHALLENGE and ask to join the group. Once I see your request, I will let you in the group. If you are having trouble, just send me an email at Heidi.Eitemiller@k12.sd.us Don’t forget to post because there are some amazing prizes that you don’t want to miss out on!

MARCH FITNESS CHALLENGES: BASKETBALL, CORE STRENGTH & BALANCE

March

2 - 6: Read Across America Week-Dress up days listed below
Wed. 4: Spring pictures (Order forms only available online)
Sun 8: Daylight Saving Time (turn your clocks ahead one hour)
Mon 9 - School Board Meeting

Fri 13 - End of 3rd quarter
19-23 - No School = Spring Break and Teacher Inservice Day
Thurs 26 - Report cards go home with your child
26 & 31 - Kindergarten Jumpstart – please call the school if you have a child who will be 5 years old

by Sept. 1 and you have not received information.

April

3 & 6– No school = Easter break

Tue 7 - PTO Meeting

May

Tue 5 - Fifth grade show choir concert @ 6:30 pm @ the PAC
Tues 12 – Fifth grade district band concert @ 7:00 pm @ the PAC
Thurs 21 – Fifth grade recognition night @ 6:30 pm @ the PAC
May 22 – Field day!!!

Yearbook order forms

Teacher request forms for students entering 1st & 2nd grade

The school doors open at 7:30 am. Even if it is cold or raining, we do not have staff in the building to supervise so students will wait until 7:30 am to enter the building. Likewise, our staff leaves by 3:45 and students will need to be picked up before that time. We appreciate you making arrangements to have your children dropped off and picked up within those times.

Building doors open 7:30 am

Breakfast served 7:30-8:10 am

First bell rings at 8:10 am

School begins at 8:15 am (meaning a student is tardy at 8:16 am)

School dismissed at 3:15 pm

If your child needs to leave during the school day or will come late due to an appointment, simply alert the school office at 605-995-3092. If you need to take your child out early, we appreciate you alerting the office ahead of time, if possible. Your child will remain in class until you come inside to sign them out and we will do our best to have them prepared and ready to go as quickly as possible.

Please ask your child if they have headphones for school. If you forgot to send some or they are no longer working, we have headphones in the office available for purchase for $5.00. Our lions use headphones daily.

School announcements, such as weather-related dismissals, late starts, or cancellations, in addition to reminders about Longfellow Elementary events, can be sent to you via text. You can download the app on your device by visiting the app or google play store and searching for ‘Mitchell School District’. If you just want Longfellow information, please select our school. You can select multiple schools if you have children in other levels. Just a reminder that this is how you are notified when your child/ren’s school times are affected by weather. The school does not call individual parents.

Also, please make sure your phone number is updated and stays updated in Campus and with the school. You will receive text notifications, as long as you choose to accept them. These notifications would be primarily for weather related school late starts, early dismissals, and cancellations.

All medications must be administered through the office. Students may keep cough drops in their lockers or desks but allergy meds, cold & flu, antacids, inhalers, etc., as well as all prescription medications will be held in the nurse's office. Please stop in to see Mrs. Snoozy, Longfellow's nurse, or call 605-995-3092 and ask for our nurse, if you have any questions.

Please remember that students are NOT ALLOWED to carry any medications on them (even aspirin). It is not safe to have elementary students carrying meds as we don't want them to get into the wrong hands. We are happy to keep OTC medications in the office for your child when/if they need them. However, if you would like your child to have Ibuprofen, Aspirin, etc. in school, you will need to supply that for them.

In the next couple of months, we will be screening all K-3rd graders, as well as any new students, for hearing and vision. You may receive a letter or phone call from our nurse if any results are at all concerning.

If your child had any health concerns in the past (milk allergy, asthma, etc.) our nurse may be contacting you via a letter in your child's backpack, mail or phone call to confirm. If your child HAS any health conditions we need to be aware of, please contact our nurse so we are aware.