Dear Longfellow Families,

Welcome to the 2012-2013 School Year! This school year marks Longfellow’s 100^th anniversary and we hope to celebrate the centennial with continued academic success and community involvement! For those of you who are new to our school this year, I want to extend a warm welcome to the Longfellow community. For returning families, I hope you are ready for another exciting year full of academic adventures!

This year we will continue our focus on high academic achievement for all students using quality instruction that is data driven, Individual Learning Plans, and curriculum that is supported by scientifically based research. We will also continue to use strategies to make sure all students are engaged in learning along with lessons and activities that are of high interest to the students.

Along with our academic focus, we will also strive to make Longfellow students good citizens by helping them make positive choices and giving them an awareness of the world around them. Field trips, visiting artists, assemblies, and volunteers will help us in bringing a well rounded experience to our students.

It is my hope that we can have all parents involved in their children’s education. Involvement in your child’s school can take many different forms. It can be checking your child’s homework nightly and asking about school on a daily basis, it can be reading everything in the Wednesday folders on a weekly basis, it can be going on a field trip, or it can be volunteering in the classroom or at the school on a regular basis. I fully appreciate that parents are very busy, but I ask that you make the time to engage in your child’s education. Research shows that students whose parents are visible at school do better.

The first day of school is Wednesday, August 22^nd. School will begin promptly at 7:50 and end at 2:15. Monday’s dismissal time is 12:35. Please make sure that your child arrives to school on time daily. Children who are absent and/or late to school miss out on valuable instruction. Tardy students disrupt instruction and adversely affect the focus and concentration of the other children in the class. Students need to be at school every day on time.

The PTA will be hosting a Popsicle Social on Tuesday, August 21^st from 12:30-3:00. At that time, you can view the class lists, buy uniforms, and learn about PTA sponsored events including volunteer opportunities. The LEARNS after school program will be available to enroll interested students as well as representatives from their unique music program, The VYMA Music Project at Longfellow will now be accepting students who are not enrolled in LEARNS.

On Friday August 17^th from 5:30-7:30, the PTA will be welcoming new and returning families back with a Bring-Your-Own-Picnic at the school. The PTA will provide dessert and fun activities for the kids.

Our goal at Longfellow is to create the best learning environment possible for our students. This can only be achieved if the teachers, students, parents and the community are all united for the good of the students. It is important that what we do at school is supported at home. In an effort to achieve this home/school relationship, communication is paramount. Please feel free to contact me or your child’s teacher with any questions you may have throughout the year.

Enclosed you will find a copy of the 2012-2013 calendar with, general information about Longfellow, and a letter from the PTA.. You can also get more information at our website www.longfellow.pasadenausd.org or www.ptalongfellow.org

I look forward to working with you to ensure a positive and enriching school year for your student.

Sincerely,