October 13th - Virtual Q & A with LoES Admin at 6:30 pm

• Families can join this virtual event here: meet.google.com/pyg-jnbm-snr

October 13th - LoES PTA Meeting at 7:00 pm

October 15th - HCPSS Schools closed for students

October 18th - Reading MAP Assessments for Grades 1, 2 & 5

October 19th - Reading MAP Assessments for Grades 3 & 4

October 20th - Mathematics MAP Assessments for Grades 1, 2 & 5

October 21st - Mathematics MAP Assessments for Grades 3 & 4

October 29th - Individual Picture Day (new date)

Click HERE to access the full HCPSS calendar for the 2021 - 2022 school year

Students in Grades 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 will take the Measured Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment online. The MAP assessment measures student academic growth over time. It assesses instructional strengths and needs, as well as supports differentiated instruction in the classroom. Here is an overview of grade-level assessment sessions dates & times:

MAP Assessment: Reading

• Monday, October 18, 2021

  • Grades 1: 9:00 - 11:00 am

  • Grade 2: 9:00 - 11:00 am

  • Grade 5: 9:00 - 11:00 am

• Tuesday, October 19, 2021

  • Grade 3: 1:15 - 3:15 pm

  • Grade 4: 1:15 - 3:15 pm

MAP Assessment: Math

• Wednesday, October 20, 2021

  • Grades 1: 9:00 - 11:00 am

  • Grade 2: 9:00 - 11:00 am

  • Grade 5: 9:00 - 11:00 am

• Thursday, October 21, 2021

  • Grade 3: 1:15 - 3:15 pm

  • Grade 4: 1:15 - 3:15 pm

Here are some important facts to know about this administration of the MAP assessment:

• Students will take the MAP assessment on their school-issued devices at school. Please make sure students bring their well-charged devices to school on the day(s) of testing.

• The MAP assessment will not affect your child’s grades in any way.

• Teachers and staff members will monitor and assist students with technology when and if needed throughout the assessment.

• The MAP Assessment does not have constructed responses. Only selected responses.

• Most students do not take the full two hours to complete the assessment. It is very common for students to complete the assessment in less than 45 minutes

• In order to measure student growth, the MAP assessment will be administered to students in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.

To learn more about the MAP assessment, please visit: https://www.nwea.org/the-map-suite/common-questions-families/

In accordance with Maryland’s Ready to Read Act (2019), COMAR(2021), and the request from the Howard County Board of Education, all Howard County Public School System students¹ in grades kindergarten to 5th grade will participate in a screener for identifying potential reading difficulties. Click HERE to learn more about plans for students at LoES and across HCPSS.

This week in Library Media class 5th graders learned about Battle of the Books, a reading competition for Howard County 5th graders. Longfellow teams for the Battle of the Books are forming now. If you would like to participate in Battle of the Books, follow this link to complete the interest form and be matched up with a Longfellow team. Please be sure to ask for your grown up's permission and complete your form by Tuesday, October 12. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Jankoski at jody_jankoski@hcpss.org.

Battle of the Books Introduction Video

Longfellow Battle of the Book Interest Form

There will be a virtual session co-sponsored by HCPSS and The Council of Elders on Saturday, October 9, from 9:00-10:30 a.m. This free session will focus on HCPSS resources that are available to help families support their child’s education. Parents/guardians of students at all levels are invited to attend. Register online to receive a confirmation email with login information.

HCPSS families interested in the Gifted and Talented (GT) Program are invited to come learn about the advanced-level offerings available and how their students can become involved. The evening will begin with an overview of GT Education Program offerings followed by a question and answer session with Central Office GT Education Program staff. Elementary and Secondary programs will be covered on separate days. Families may attend one or both nights. Registration is required for these events.

• Elementary Focus: Wednesday, October 13, 7 – 8:00 p.m., being held virtually via Microsoft Teams

• Secondary Focus: Thursday, October 14, 7-8:00 p.m., being held virtually via Microsoft Teams

For more information and to register, please visit the HCPSS GT Program Parent Academy announcement.

84% of our Longfellow families have completed their Family File! Thank you!

Unfortunately, 16% of our families have not updated their Family File. The early closing last Wednesday illustrated the importance of a completed Family File! Safety is very important, and many students were unable to provide the necessary information, especially if it has been changed. Thank you for your help!

How To Video: https://video.link/w/Mv56c

HCPSS Connect: https://www.hcpss.org/connect/

Directions: https://www.hcpss.org/connect/guides/#family-file-guides

Staff is available Monday-Friday to support you in completing your Family File. You just need to reach out through email (patricia_shifflett@hcpss.org) or call @ 410-313-6879.

Please stop in your tracks, drop what you are doing, and log in to complete your child's Family File through HCPSS Connect.

Parents/guardians should keep their children home if they are experiencing symptom(s) associated with any communicable disease, including COVID-19. In addition, parents/guardians are to perform the following COVID-19 health check every day before the student leaves home.

A child should NOT come to school with any of these symptoms:

• Fever of 100.4 degrees or higher


• Sore throat


• Cough


• Difficulty breathing


• Diarrhea or vomiting


• New onset of severe headache (especially with fever), or


• New loss of taste or smell


For persons with chronic conditions such as asthma, the symptoms should represent a change from baseline. Children exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 may not attend school.

• Please visit the HCPSS website for additional information on self screening, contact tracing and quarantining procedures. Additionally, visit the HCPSS website for more information on the 2021-2022 school year and answers to frequently asked questions.