Longfellow 45-15 Elementary School

Greetings Longfellow Families, Thank you for welcoming our Pinewood students and families so warmly today! It was an awesome day! Here are our "Tips of the Day": 1. Longfellow DOES have school on Friday, August 30th. 2. Longfellow students will not have bussing on Friday, August 30th. 3. Consider alternate park and walk to drop off and pick up your student: McQuillan, parking spots behind Longfellow. Thank you for your patience and support!

Today is the first day of school for elementary students, and we expect some delays in bus transportation, especially as our bus drivers learn the new route structure with the changeover from transporting elementary students home and turning around to pick up our secondary students. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we navigate this and continuously work to improve our processes. Families using Transportation can download the First View app to see where their student's buses are. The district code for the app is M6QE.

If the "Ignite Student Learning" referendum fails, class sizes will increase, school closures will be unavoidable, and RPS will need to make major cuts to student programs, support services, and teachers and staff. Find out more details at RochesterSchools.org/referendum.

We have a new cell phone procedure that goes into effect starting this school year. For our elementary students, this means if students choose to bring a cell phone/device to school, the device(s) will remain in student backpacks/lockers/cubbies during the full school day, including lunch/recess. Smartwatches may be worn to tell time only. View more information at www.rochesterschools.org/cell-phone-procedures

8/26/24: Due to an excessive heat warning issued for this afternoon and evening, all outdoor athletic sports and activities are canceled. However, some coaches may still have indoor practice plans. Please check in with them for this information.

Beginning in Fall 2024, elementary school students across Rochester Public Schools will use Xello, a new online platform, to: - Encourage Self-Discovery - Create Career Awareness - Build Future-Readiness Skills In elementary school, this program will be led by school counselors in classrooms. Caregivers can expect to receive information about Xello Family Account Access in September. To learn more about supporting your student’s Xello experience at home, visit https://help.xello.world/en-us/Content/Get-Started/Xello-Families/GS_Families.htm

The Ignite Student Learning referendum seeks voter approval of an operating levy increase to stabilize our budget and protect the programs & services that help our students thrive. 🏫 To find out how the proposed levy would impact your property taxes, use our tax calculator https://www.ehlers-inc.com/microsite/rochester2024/ 👈

"Dear RPS community, I hope you had a great summer and that you are as excited as I am for the school year that is about to begin. One of the most important events for our school district this year is the referendum to increase local funding for Rochester Public Schools (RPS) that will be on the ballot on November 5." Read Superintendent Pekel's full letter: https://www.rochesterschools.org/article/1724172

What's for lunch? Plan ahead for the start of the school year by downloading this month's meal menu. August and September meal menus are available for download. Download here: https://www.rochesterschools.org/documents/school-meals-and-menus/493023

Greetings Longfellow Families, Thank you to all that were able to join us last night for our Family Picnic! Here are our "Tips for the Day" for 8.21.24: 1. Our PTA has created a wonderfully drawn diagram to guide our drop off and pick up procedures (see attached photos). 2. There is an alternative drop spot on Marion Road that is next to the crossing guard location (see attached photo). 3. Pinewood students and families will be joining us next week. Have a great day! Best wishes, Amy Adams Principal

If approved by voters this November, the additional funding from the Ignite Student Learning plan will protect critical resources such as: ⭐Reading specialist positions ⭐School counselors ⭐Advanced learning teachers ⭐Career and technical education classes Learn more ➡️ RochesterSchools.org/referendum

Did you see an RPS student overcome a challenge? Has an RPS staff person gone above and beyond to help you? Do you want to acknowledge an RPS colleague for their work? We're kicking off an initiative to #CelebrateRPS! Share your stories with us so we can share them with the RPS community. Share your positive stories at https://www.rochesterschools.org/celebraterps and we'll highlight them!

Mark your calendars and save the date for our inaugural State of the District on Monday, September 16. Superintendent Pekel will be joined by voices and performances from RPS students. Stay tuned—more information will come!

#RPSinfo New year, New bell times! At the start of the school year, we’ll transition to our new school bell time schedule. • RPS Preschool - Morning session: 8:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. • RPS Preschool - Afternoon session 12:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. • Elementary schools: 7:55 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. • Middle schools: 8:35 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. • High schools: 8:50 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. • Phoenix Academy, RAIL, and Right Fit: 8:20 a.m. - 2:20 p.m. Visit https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/school-bell-times or print our 2024-2025 School Directory and Bell Times document.

Greetings Longfellow families, I hope that you are well! Here are our "Tips for the Day": 1. Reminder: students do not have school on Wednesday, August 21st. 2. We have welcomed our Pinewood staff this week! Parking will be limited; please plan accordingly. 3. Back to School Picnic Alert! Join us tomorrow for a fantastic evening at our Back to School Picnic from 5:30-7:30pm! We’ve got pulled chicken sandwiches, friendship BINGO, and awesome music thanks to DJ Ron! It will be a blast, and we’d love to see you there! If you’re up for a little extra fun, we need volunteers to help out as grade-level parents for our Bingo game. Sign up here: https://signup.com/go/rRknbYB We also have spots for clean-up, set-up, and backup food-serving help for our staff. Your support is super appreciated! Let’s kick off the school year with a great time together. See you there! Thank you! Best wishes, Amy Adams Principal

RPS faces a $19.4 million budget deficit that could force school closures, larger classes, and major cuts. This Nov., voters will consider a levy increase on the ballot to stabilize our budget and “Ignite Student Learning.” Visit RochesterSchools.org/referendum to learn more.

As the school year approaches and we see big yellow buses around town, here are some reminders for our motorists to help keep our students safe. Always be prepared to stop for school buses, especially during pick-up and drop-off hours. Drivers must: 🛑 Stop for a school bus with its flashing red lights activated and the stop-arm extended. 🛑 Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus. 🛑 Remain stopped until the stop-arm is retrated and the red lights turned off. There is a minimum $500 fine for stop-arm violations, and the buses RPS uses are armed with cameras.

Free meals will continue for our students in Kindergarten through 12th grade, but it's important to share that funding for the MN Free Meal Program was only allocated for two school years. You can help show the need for this program by completing an Application for Educational Benefits: https://www.rochesterschools.org/page/application-for-benefits

Have you visited www.RochesterSchools.org/referendum yet? Come learn about why our district is proposing a referendum to voters this November, how the "Ignite Student Learning" plan would support students, and how you can make your voice heard on Election Day.

Greetings Longfellow Families, I hope you are well! Here are our "Tips for the Day": 1. If you are planning to utilize district transportation via the hubs and registered online, please check the information that you received in the mail. 2. Our district has been updating Talking Points. If you are being asked for a class code when you log in, please call our office at 328-3600 so that we can help you move past this step. 3. No school for students on Wednesday, August 21st; This is a professional development day for staff. Thank you! Best wishes, Amy Adams