February is the month of LOVE, and LOVE is in the air at Longfellow Elementary: LOVE of our learners, LOVE for the PTO that optimizes our fund raisers we have coming this spring, PTO and parents organizing the meal for conference night, a LOVE for the opportunity to visit with parents at conferences, LOVE of the On-line Scholastic Book Fair, and LOVE of all the fantastic learning opportunities our Longfellow Lions are experiencing. I LOVE the fact that our technology continues to allow us to share important information and happenings at LO Elementary😊 Longfellow Parent/Teacher Conferences is a great time to touch base with your child/ren’s teacher.

Longfellow Parent Teacher Conferences:
This night is a wonderful opportunity for parents to visit with teachers in regard to their child/ren’s progress. It allows teachers a chance to celebrate their students’ successes and showcase their many educational talents. It also provides an opportunity to discuss educational strategies for parents to assist their children with at home. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have not received your conference time slot. Thank you in advance for attending!
Conferences: Thursday, February 1, from 3:30-8:45 pm

Sincerely,
Mrs. Heckenlaible

Congratulations go out to Longfellow’s Teacher of the Year, Candace Hauck, and Classified Staff of the Year, Kayla Petersen! Mrs. Hauck, kindergarten teacher, and Kayla Peterson, paraeducator, will be presented with their awards at our annual TOY/CSOY Reception later this month. We are so proud of these fine ladies.

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. It can be very cold in the mornings so we want you to be aware that if you drop your children off before 7:30 am and leave, our building is not open and that can be very dangerous for them. Please make other arrangements.Thank you for your attention on this matter!

Please update your info in the Campus Portal OR contact the office at 605-995-3092 so we have your information correct. Why does it matter?

• If your child is hurt or injured and we need to get ahold of you or an emergency contact.
• If school is being released early, we could send you a message alerting you to that.
• If school is cancelled due to weather, you may receive a message alerting you, but you should always listen to the radio and/or watch the local news in case our messaging system is delayed.
• Longfellow, or the school district, ocasionally sends letters in the mail especially at the end or begining of the school year. We need an updated address so you can receive that.
• If you have gotten married or had a baby, we need to get that name listed in your family's household.

We have no way of knowing if you moved or your phone number has changed so we really appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us to update your info.

May is only a few short months away so please check backpacks for important info that will be coming home. Remember, if we do not receive a signed form, your child may miss out on a fun activity. Things to watch for in the next few months include:

• Spring Picture Forms (photos only taken if packet is returned)
• Yearbook Order Forms
• Teacher Request Forms for the 24-25 School Year
• Field Trip Permission Forms
• Longfellow T-shirt Order Form

When asking your child about their day, ask if they have any papers to show you. The classroom teachers are also good about mentioning these things in their weekly newsletters so make sure you are signed up for SeeSaw or Dojo. If you are not, contact the classroom teacher.

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!

Thank you to the Junior Achievement volunteers from the community who have been coming into our classrooms to teach our lions about business. We appreciate all of your time, lessons, and knowledge shared! Thank you for bringing the community into the classroom!!

• Rachel Giblin - DWU
• Carol Grode-Hanks - Mitchell Technical College
• Alex Heidinger - Mitchell Chamber of Commerce
• Aaryona Nedved - Innovative Systems
• LuAnn Backlund - BankWest
• Luke Hagen - Mitchell Daily Republic
• Alyssa Stemper - Trail King
• Katie Niehoff - Guidehouse
• Josh Lawson - First Dakota Bank
• Nick Bakhtiari - Mitchell Technical College

We had SO much going on this past month!! Take a look at what we've been up to!

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.

Thank you, Mrs. Mebius, for visiting our 5th grade Lions to explain what MCL is and how it works. If you would like to know more about the option of MCL at Mitchell Middle School, attend the Parent Informational Meeting on Feb. 5th at THE MIDDLE SCHOOL in room #206 @5:30 pm.

• 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.

President's Day Weekend = Feb 16-19, 2024 (No School)

Spring Break = Mar 14-17, 2024 (No School)

Easter Break = Mar 29-Apr 1, 2024 (No School)

The South Dakota summative testing window runs from March - May 3rd. 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.

As we prepare for the Smarter Balance testing, learners will be required to use their headphones. Ask your child if their headphones work. Can their hear out of both ears? Have they been chewing on the cord like a cat? You may bring your own or purchase some from the office for $5.00.

That's the sweet taste of victory when you win the spelling bee! Great job to all of our spellers!

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, snowpants or boots, please register for an appt at the Caring Closet!!

Thank you for sending your child(ren) to school wearing their warm clothes but please send tennis shoes in their back packs as we do not want our learners in boots all day.

Our Lost and Found buckets are kept just inside the doors in the entrance of the school. Please remind your child to look, or come with them before or after school to see if you have any missing items.

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PE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE MONTH

• The students worked on chasing, fleeing, and agility with some fun tag games.

• Cups and Cardio! We used our speed stacking cups to build different towers and complete a workout within a certain amount of time! It was a tough challenge, but the Longfellow Lions rocked it! They impressed me with their skills!

• We practiced our volley skills with some beach volleyball!

• Everyone celebrated the 100th day of school with many different physical activities and challenges!

*Remember Tennis Shoes On Gym Days - No Snow Boots Allowed!

Towards the end of the school year (which will be here before we know it), each grade level/den has the opportunity to attend a field trip. Please note that field trips must be earned by the following rules, showing and bing respectful to others, being a positive leader, and upholding their grades (to name a few). Teachers will review their lists and determine all who have earned the privilege.

Take time to consider options; Think before speaking or acting; Remain calm when stressed or challenged; Thoughtful and considerate of others; Proceed carefully.

Stop to observe what I see; Listen to what I hear; take note of what I smell; taste what I am eating; Feel what I am touching.

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The Mitchell Community Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)3 organization created in 2001 and maintained to provide scholarships for every graduating senior from MHS or MCHS that qualifies. This fund assists Mitchell’s graduating seniors to attain their goals of continuing educational opportunities and to demonstrate Mitchell’s belief in their youth. The student must attend a postsecondary institution to receive the scholarship money and complete the necessary claim form. A board of directors oversees the efforts, and all monies raised are done through fundraising and special events. Community members and school representatives are members of the board that has no fiscal relationship with the Mitchell School District or Mitchell Christian School. Funds are held and managed by the Mitchell Area Charitable Foundation with 100% of money raised dedicated to scholarship awards.

This librarian is going to spend the month of February SLEEPING!! We ended January with a coin drive AND a pirate themed book fair! Wow did our Lions come through! Stay tuned for photos from the fun final days of January!

The parent portal is a great way to see your child's grades and attendance.

• "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.