Highlights from Longfellow Parent Groups

PTA: The PTA is happy to report that we’ve raised $26,650 to date. In the last 2 months, we’ve been able to issue five teacher mini grants, ranging from $50 to $300. We publish our 2019-2020 Student Directory in a few weeks. A copy will be available for every family. We are currently looking for a secretary and treasurer for next year. If you are interested, please contact us at longfellow.pta.busd@gmail.com. We’d love to show you the ropes this year. Our next PTA meeting is Thursday, January 16^th. Come on out and join us!

ELAC (English Language Advocacy Committee): Our first ELAC meeting of 2019-20 school year held on 11/21/19. The team voted in Patricia Rodriguez as our District ELAC representative and is working on regular representation at School Site Council. We have recommended 15 of our 86 English Language Learner students for redesignation as English Proficient (RFEP). and learner from the district EL lead Gloria Munoz-Hughes that Berkeley is considering moving away from using SBA as one of the primary requirements for redesignation - stay tuned. The team is looking for more input from all members of our community on how to best serve our EL community - reach out to Longfellow's Literacy Coach and EL Coordinator patrickcollins@berkeley.net if you can contribute. Moving forward we are looking to work closely with the PTA on hosting educational forums with former and current students, families, and community members on topics like: Parenting a middle schooler vs an elementary child, vaping awareness, career knowledge, and internet security/cyber-safety. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, January 16th - we begin before the PTA meeting and then recommending joining.

SSC: Our 2019-20 SSC has begun. We've selected officers, reviewed the previous and current budget, and discussed supporting great programs like Eye to Eye, Be A Scientist, CalPerformances and Americorps. This year's School Site Council continues to work to clearly and consistently lift up Longfellow needs and review if the systems and strategies connected to Title I and LCAP funding work. Community members are welcomed. The larger Longfellow community is welcomed, see how you can be involved.