New Parent FAQ
Whether you're a new family or more seasoned, we all need a refresher sometimes on what's happening at Longfellow. Everything you need to know from the what time school starts, to how does lunch work you can find here. If there is a question not answered here, please email me at [email protected]
What do I need (and need to know) for the first day of school?
When does school start and end each day?
The bell rings at 7:57am every morning. Students line up at this time and their teacher will meet them and bring them into the building. Students should aim to arrive on the playground between 7:45-7:55am. Your teacher will tell you where to line up.
School ends at 3pm every day except Wednesday when dismissal is a half hour earlier at 2:30pm. If your child is not picked up by 3:10 or 2:40pm, they will be in the office.
What happens if we're late?
If you arrive after 8am, your student will be marked as tardy. They will need to go into the building through the office, give their lunch choice (home or school), and get a tardy pass up to their classroom.
What if my student will be absent?
Please notify the school. You can call 708-665-3068 or email [email protected]. It's a good idea to notify your teacher via email as well.
How do 'Drop Off' and 'Pick Up' work?
All students, grades 1-5*, are picked up and dropped off on the playground.
Dropping Off: Many families walk or park and walk their kids to the playground. If you are dropping off from a car, use the cul-de-sac on Cuyler on the south side of the playground. Please be respectful of other parents and keep the line moving.
Picking Up: You will retrieve your child from the door they exit from. Your teacher will tell you which door. There is no pick up or drop off on Jackson.
What if the weather is bad?
Drop off and recess is inside the building on inclement weather days. Bad weather is heavy rain, lightning, or a temperature below 15 degrees.
A sign will be on the front window at the main entrance indicating if drop off is IN or OUT. Students can go in through the main entrance or through the doors 9S, 11W, and 13N. A staff member will be there directing students to the appropriate waiting location inside the building.
Grades 3 and 4: go to the Lunchroom
Grades 1, 2, and 5: go to the Auditorium
Kindergarten and PKP: main entrance hallway
Can we get to school early?
Sure! Playground supervision starts at 7:45 am.
There is also Sunrise Study Hall and Open Gym starting at 7:30. Students go through the office and get a pass for the library or gym. There are a limited number of passes for Open Gym and Sunrise Study Hall. If it's full, they'll be directed to their line at 7:45 when supervision begins. Students are dismissed to their line.
Breakfast is also available from 7:15-7:45am. Students can enter through 10S and head to a supervised breakfast in the cafeteria. They are released to the playground at 7:45 to line up with their class.
What if my child forgets something and I need to drop it off?
There is a shelving unit with individual bins in the front vestibule where you can drop the items off. This system lessens class disruptions and traffic in the office.
1. Simply fill out a post-it note with your child’s name and class room teacher
2. Put it on the item and place it in an empty bin by grade level
3. Office Staff will make morning deliveries by 9am and then throughout the day.
What are "specials?"
Your homeroom teacher is not your child's only teacher. Each grade participates in Gym, Spanish, Art, Music, and Library every week. Your teacher will give you the schedule.
How much recess does my child get?
Every child gets recess at lunch. Most classes also get an additional 1-2 recesses per day, depending on the schedule for the day. The lower grades tend to get more recess than the upper grades. Recess is up to the teacher and the schedule for each class. Most teachers try to squeeze in a recess when they can.
How does lunch work?
Students can either bring a lunch from home or get the school lunch. Milk is also available for purchase. Lunch lasts 55 minutes; 30 minutes in the lunchroom and 25 minutes for recess. Students can bring any lunch they want (no glass), but cannot share food. Our school is nut-free.
Lunchroom Schedule:
11:00 am - 11:30 am: K and 4th lunch
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: 1st and 5th grade lunch
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm: 2nd and 3rd lunch
Lunch Recess Schedule:
11:30 am - 11:55 pm: K and 4th grade
12:00 pm - 12:25 pm: 1st and 5th grade
12:30 pm - 12:55 pm: 2nd and 3rd grade
Where can I get Longfellow T-shirts and spirit wear?
Info to come. Email [email protected]
Can my child bring a snack?
Yes! All classrooms allow a snack, but each grade has a different list of appropriate items based on allergies in that grade. All classrooms are NUT-FREE. Your child is also encouraged to bring a water bottle every day to stay hydrated. Please label it! Your student's teacher will provide an updated snack list at the beginning of the year.
What happens if my child loses something at school?
First, check with the teacher and their locker. If it's not there, you can check 'lost and found' by the Main Office. As with most lost items, your highest chance of locating the item is to check right away! Make sure to label hats, mittens, water bottles, jackets, etc. with your student's name.
I'd like to chaperone a field trip, how do I do that?
Teachers will put a call for chaperones a few weeks before the event. All chaperones need a background check through the district before they can chaperone. Learn more and sign up for an appointment.
What about after school care?
There are many after school programs available. Some options are listed below.
Located at Longfellow:
ALL Classes: Always Learning at Longfellow classes. 3 sessions are offered throughout the year. Each class lasts 1 hour after school.
Hephzibah: Often has a waitlist, but takes place at the school.
Clubhouse: Run through the park district. Counselors meet the kids and walk them to the rec center. Locations at both Longfellow Park and Fox Park.
Offered at another location:
Magical Minds: Register for two to five days per week. Bussing available from Longfellow. They also offer a drop-in program for middle schoolers.
West Cook YMCA: Bussing from Longfellow has been offered in the past, contact the YMCA for details.
Seed Montessori: Bussing may be available
Oak Park Friends: Transportation provided from Longfellow
ABC Toon Town: Transportation provided by ABC
La Casa Montessori
How do I know what's going on at Longfellow?
Online:
What do I need (and need to know) for the first day of school?
- The bell rings at 7:57am and pick-up is at 3:00pm because it is Thursday. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays have a 3:00pm pick up time. Pick up time on Wednesday is 2:30pm
- Who your teacher is and where they line up. *You will know this before school starts.
- Backpack.
- Water bottle.
- School Supplies!!
- Lunch box or money on lunch account.
- Snack. Be sure to consult snack list from teacher. When in doubt, a fruit or vegetable is usually a good choice.
- Label items for personal use (headphones, extra clothes, folders, etc).
- Join other parents on the playground to either celebrate or cry about the first day :)
When does school start and end each day?
The bell rings at 7:57am every morning. Students line up at this time and their teacher will meet them and bring them into the building. Students should aim to arrive on the playground between 7:45-7:55am. Your teacher will tell you where to line up.
School ends at 3pm every day except Wednesday when dismissal is a half hour earlier at 2:30pm. If your child is not picked up by 3:10 or 2:40pm, they will be in the office.
What happens if we're late?
If you arrive after 8am, your student will be marked as tardy. They will need to go into the building through the office, give their lunch choice (home or school), and get a tardy pass up to their classroom.
What if my student will be absent?
Please notify the school. You can call 708-665-3068 or email [email protected]. It's a good idea to notify your teacher via email as well.
How do 'Drop Off' and 'Pick Up' work?
All students, grades 1-5*, are picked up and dropped off on the playground.
Dropping Off: Many families walk or park and walk their kids to the playground. If you are dropping off from a car, use the cul-de-sac on Cuyler on the south side of the playground. Please be respectful of other parents and keep the line moving.
Picking Up: You will retrieve your child from the door they exit from. Your teacher will tell you which door. There is no pick up or drop off on Jackson.
What if the weather is bad?
Drop off and recess is inside the building on inclement weather days. Bad weather is heavy rain, lightning, or a temperature below 15 degrees.
A sign will be on the front window at the main entrance indicating if drop off is IN or OUT. Students can go in through the main entrance or through the doors 9S, 11W, and 13N. A staff member will be there directing students to the appropriate waiting location inside the building.
Grades 3 and 4: go to the Lunchroom
Grades 1, 2, and 5: go to the Auditorium
Kindergarten and PKP: main entrance hallway
Can we get to school early?
Sure! Playground supervision starts at 7:45 am.
There is also Sunrise Study Hall and Open Gym starting at 7:30. Students go through the office and get a pass for the library or gym. There are a limited number of passes for Open Gym and Sunrise Study Hall. If it's full, they'll be directed to their line at 7:45 when supervision begins. Students are dismissed to their line.
Breakfast is also available from 7:15-7:45am. Students can enter through 10S and head to a supervised breakfast in the cafeteria. They are released to the playground at 7:45 to line up with their class.
What if my child forgets something and I need to drop it off?
There is a shelving unit with individual bins in the front vestibule where you can drop the items off. This system lessens class disruptions and traffic in the office.
1. Simply fill out a post-it note with your child’s name and class room teacher
2. Put it on the item and place it in an empty bin by grade level
3. Office Staff will make morning deliveries by 9am and then throughout the day.
What are "specials?"
Your homeroom teacher is not your child's only teacher. Each grade participates in Gym, Spanish, Art, Music, and Library every week. Your teacher will give you the schedule.
How much recess does my child get?
Every child gets recess at lunch. Most classes also get an additional 1-2 recesses per day, depending on the schedule for the day. The lower grades tend to get more recess than the upper grades. Recess is up to the teacher and the schedule for each class. Most teachers try to squeeze in a recess when they can.
How does lunch work?
Students can either bring a lunch from home or get the school lunch. Milk is also available for purchase. Lunch lasts 55 minutes; 30 minutes in the lunchroom and 25 minutes for recess. Students can bring any lunch they want (no glass), but cannot share food. Our school is nut-free.
Lunchroom Schedule:
11:00 am - 11:30 am: K and 4th lunch
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: 1st and 5th grade lunch
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm: 2nd and 3rd lunch
Lunch Recess Schedule:
11:30 am - 11:55 pm: K and 4th grade
12:00 pm - 12:25 pm: 1st and 5th grade
12:30 pm - 12:55 pm: 2nd and 3rd grade
Where can I get Longfellow T-shirts and spirit wear?
Info to come. Email [email protected]
Can my child bring a snack?
Yes! All classrooms allow a snack, but each grade has a different list of appropriate items based on allergies in that grade. All classrooms are NUT-FREE. Your child is also encouraged to bring a water bottle every day to stay hydrated. Please label it! Your student's teacher will provide an updated snack list at the beginning of the year.
What happens if my child loses something at school?
First, check with the teacher and their locker. If it's not there, you can check 'lost and found' by the Main Office. As with most lost items, your highest chance of locating the item is to check right away! Make sure to label hats, mittens, water bottles, jackets, etc. with your student's name.
I'd like to chaperone a field trip, how do I do that?
Teachers will put a call for chaperones a few weeks before the event. All chaperones need a background check through the district before they can chaperone. Learn more and sign up for an appointment.
What about after school care?
There are many after school programs available. Some options are listed below.
Located at Longfellow:
ALL Classes: Always Learning at Longfellow classes. 3 sessions are offered throughout the year. Each class lasts 1 hour after school.
Hephzibah: Often has a waitlist, but takes place at the school.
Clubhouse: Run through the park district. Counselors meet the kids and walk them to the rec center. Locations at both Longfellow Park and Fox Park.
Offered at another location:
Magical Minds: Register for two to five days per week. Bussing available from Longfellow. They also offer a drop-in program for middle schoolers.
West Cook YMCA: Bussing from Longfellow has been offered in the past, contact the YMCA for details.
Seed Montessori: Bussing may be available
Oak Park Friends: Transportation provided from Longfellow
ABC Toon Town: Transportation provided by ABC
La Casa Montessori
How do I know what's going on at Longfellow?
Online:
- This website! The site will be continually updated and will be your one-stop-shop for what's happening
- The Longfellow webpage
- The District 97 webpage
- The Longfellow PTO Facebook: Each class also has their own closed group. Search for "Longfellow Class of" to find the appropriate group and ask to join. The admin (see below) will confirm you're a parent in that class and approve you.
- Teacher Websites: Find your teacher here.
- Twitter: @BearsLongfellow #longfellowbears You can find retweets from teachers, community news, district news and up to the minute Longfellow news and pictures.
- The WHAL (What's Happening At Longfellow): A weekly email from the PTO. This is a more comprehensive email with events, reminders, and PTO sponsored programs. Subscribe to the WHAL.
- Weekly emails from your teacher.
- Contact your grade liaison:
- Kindergarten - Class of 2030 - Could be you!
- 1st Grade - Class of 2029 - Cristina Ocon
- 2nd Grade -Class of 2028 - Michaela Ruff
- 3rd Grade-Class of 2027-Sarah Enloe
- 4th Grade-Class of 2026-Chris Parente
- 5th Grade-Class of 2025-Emily Gallagher