Principal's Message Archive
Principal's Message 8/12/24
Good Afternoon Long Mill Families,
Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year at Long Mill Elementary!
We are excited about the upcoming school year and look forward to working with you and your child this year. As we approach the start of school on Aug. 26, I would like to provide you with a few updates.
Student Devices
FCS will host a Technology/Device event on Wednesday, August 14th from 8:00am-5:00pm at Cedar Creek Middle School. The FCS Technology department will be there to answer any questions and assist parents with device information. Parents can pay technology usage fees, purchase device warranties, and ask any other technology-related questions during this time (see attached flyer). Please note: the Technology department will also have a table set up at our Open House from 4-6pm on Aug. 22 for those who do not attend the Technology/Device event at CCMS.
School Supply Lists
Please check our school’s website for Pre-K-5th grade School Supply Lists. These recommended supplies/materials will be utilized throughout the year. If you have any specific questions, please call the front office or feel free to discuss them with your child’s teacher at Open House.
Open House
Open House will take place on Thursday, August 22 from 4:00-6:00pm for 1st-5th grade students. During Open House, you will meet your child’s teacher and find out more information regarding:
- Daily Schedules
- Breakfast & Lunch
- Bus Transportation
- Carpool Numbers
Families will also have an opportunity to support our school by purchasing flavored treats from Kona Ice!
Kindergarten Students
We look forward to welcoming our upcoming kindergarten students to Long Mill Elementary! Please take time to review the information below and feel free to reach out to the front office if you have any questions.
- Aug. 23, 9:00-10:00am Popsicles on the Playground
- Parents will have an opportunity to meet the kindergarten teachers and other kindergarten families. Students can play outside on the playground and enjoy popsicles with their future classmates.
- Aug. 26- Aug. 28 Kindergarten Assessments
- Please use this link to sign up for a time slot. The assessment will take 30-45 minutes. Parents should plan to remain at school with their child to complete a brief questionnaire.
- Aug. 29, 5:00-6:00 pm Kindergarten Open House
- Parents will meet their child’s teacher and learn more information about the upcoming school year. We encourage parents to drop off school supplies for their child at this time and discuss transportation (car rider, bus rider, etc.).
- Sept. 3 - First Day of Kindergarten
- Kindergarten students attend school daily from 7:45am-2:30pm. Students may begin arriving in the carpool at 7:20am.
Pre-K Students
Our newest Leading Lions (Pre-K students) will also start school on Tuesday, Sept. 3rd. Mrs. Carrie Diaz, our Pre-K teacher, will send more information regarding individual meetings with families to discuss our Pre-K program. We look forward to supporting your child as they transition to a new learning environment!
School Information
Our instructional day begins at 7:45am and ends at 2:30pm. Car riders can be dropped off in the carpool line starting at 7:20am. Students can eat breakfast in the cafeteria from 7:20-7:40am. All students should be in their classroom, and ready to begin learning by 7:45am.
Breakfast & Lunch
All students will have free meals (breakfast and lunch). If students would like to purchase snacks (chips, ice cream, etc.) they will need to have money added to their accounts or bring money to cover the cost of those items. You can add money to your child’s account using the following link:
https://www.k12paymentcenter.
Before & After Care
Our school offers Before and After Care for K-5th grade students. The Before Care program starts at 6:00 am, and the After Care program ends at 6:30 pm. Please click here for more information on Before and After Care enrollment, fee schedules, program guidelines, etc. The online enrollment form can be found using the following link:
LOMES Before & After Care Enrollment
Bus Riders
Parents will be given information about their child’s bus stop at Open House. Be sure to visit the Bus table to receive your child’s information. As a reminder, there may be some delays during the first few days of school. We encourage parents to have their child at the bus stop at least ten minutes before the designated pick-up time.
*Please note: Parents of Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd-grade students must be present or have a designee or older sibling waiting at the bus stop each afternoon. Bus drivers will not be allowed to release students without a parent/guardian or older sibling present at the bus stop to receive the child. (School Board Policy 6305).
Upcoming Events
Aug. 14 Technology Event @CCMS 8:00am-5:00pm
Aug. 22 Open House (1st-5th Grade) 4:00-6:00pm
Aug. 26 First Day of School (1st-5th Grade) 7:45am-2:30pm
Aug. 29 Open House (Pre-K & Kindergarten) 5:00-6:00 pm
Sept. 2 Holiday (Labor Day) - No School
Sept. 3 First Day of School (Pre-K & Kindergarten) 7:45am-2:30pm
We hope you enjoy the last few weeks of summer and look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dunn
Principal
2/19/24
Good Afternoon Long Mill Families,
Below are a few reminders about upcoming school events.
Class Picture Day (Feb. 20)
Students will take class pictures tomorrow morning. Please check your child’s folder for the class picture day order form. New students or students that missed individual pictures in the Fall, will have an opportunity to take individual pictures on Feb. 26.
Progress Reports (Feb. 21)
Your child will receive their Quarter 3 progress reports on Wednesday. Please take time to review your child’s progress so far this school year. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
Countdown to Kindergarten (Feb. 22)
On Thursday, Feb. 22 at 9:00am, we will host an event titled "Countdown to Kindergarten" for our rising kindergarten families. We are inviting families to join us to learn more about Long Mill's kindergarten program. Parents will have an opportunity to visit our kindergarten classrooms and talk with our kindergarten teachers. Please use the link below to sign up for this event.
https://forms.gle/
Read Across America Week (Mar. 6)
Our school will be hosting guest readers (parents, grandparents, community members, and others) on Wednesday, March 6th for Read Across America Week. If you would like to sign up to read, please visit the link below. As a reminder, guest readers must be approved FCS volunteers.
Spirit Wear
The PTO is selling spirit wear for students, staff, and families! You can order online by clicking here. Spirit wear sales will end on Feb. 23rd. Please see the image below of this year's design.
March Dates
Mar. 5- Battle of the Books 9:30am
Mar. 5- PTO Meeting 3:15pm
Mar. 12- Title I Math Night 5:00pm
Mar. 14- Early Release Day
Mar. 15- Teacher Work Day
Have a good evening.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dunn
1/26/24
Good Afternoon Long Mill Families,
Below are a few reminders about upcoming school events.
Report Cards (Jan. 26)
Your child will receive their Quarter 2 report card today. Please take time to review your child’s progress so far this school year. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
Spirit Night (Jan. 31)
The PTO will host a Spirit Night at Fiesta Mexicana on Wednesday, Jan. 31. Families are encouraged to eat in or take out anytime between 11am to 10pm. Please be sure to provide the Spirit Night flyer to the restaurant staff in order to support our school’s PTO. Also, don’t forget to wear your Long Mill gear. We look forward to seeing you there!
Franklin CARES program (Feb. 2)
If you are interested in being a volunteer with the Franklin CARES program at Long Mill, please complete this form by Friday, Feb. 2nd. Orientation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8th. Volunteers in this program will read with students in kindergarten and first grade for an hour once a week. Please reach out to shavon_wilkins@fcschools.net if you have any questions regarding this upcoming program.
Awards Day (Feb. 9)
We will celebrate students by having a mid-year Awards Day on Friday, Feb. 9th. These awards ceremonies will take place in the gym. Please see the schedule below:
Kindergarten 9:00-9:45am 3rd Grade 12:15-1:00pm
1st Grade 11:00-11:45am 4th Grade 1:15-2:00pm
2nd Grade 10:00-10:45am 5th Grade 8:00-8:45am
Countdown to Kindergarten
On Thursday, Feb. 22nd, at 9:00am, we will host an event titled "Countdown to Kindergarten" for our rising kindergarten families. We are inviting families to join us to learn more about Long Mill's kindergarten program. Parents will have an opportunity to visit our kindergarten classrooms and talk with our kindergarten teachers. We’ll send out a sign-up form in the February newsletter.
February Dates
Feb. 9- Awards Day
Feb. 13- Virtual PTO Meeting
Feb. 15- Early Release Day
Feb. 16- Teacher Work Day
Feb. 22- Countdown to Kindergarten
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dunn
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1/18/24
Good Afternoon,
As a part of standard Safety and Security procedures, our school will participate in our middle-of-the-year lockdown drill tomorrow (1/19) around 1:45pm. This drill usually lasts about 10-15 minutes. If your child has an appointment, we encourage you to pick your child up before 1:30pm to avoid any delays. School will dismiss at the normal time.
Thank you,
Mrs. Dunn
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11/21/23
Good Afternoon Long Mill Families,
Below are a few reminders about upcoming events.
Vision Screenings
The school nurse and other health staff will have vision screenings for students in 1st, 3rd, and 5th grade on Thursday, Nov 30th. A form will be sent home with your child on Monday. If you do not want your child to participate in these screenings, please notify the school nurse by marking “no” on this form. If your child wears glasses, please be sure that your child wears their glasses on this day.
Winter Concert
Our school will have a Winter Concert on Thursday, Dec. 14th. Our 1st, 3rd, and 4th grade violin students will perform at 4:30pm. The K-2 students will perform at 6:00pm. There will be holiday activities for families to participate in from 5:00-6:00pm. More information will be provided in the December newsletter.
Pre-K
The Pre-K application will be available on the district website beginning on Monday, Dec. 4th. If you have any questions about the Pre-K application process, please feel free to reach out to our District Pre-K Specialist, Tomekca Sidberry (tomekcasidberry@fcschools.net
School Improvement Plan
Based on the 22-23 EOG reports, our school exceeded expected growth for the 2022-2023 school year! We are very proud of our students for continuing to reach their goals as they become lifelong learners and independent thinkers. Although we saw significant progress last year, we had one subgroup that was identified as underperforming based on the EOG results. Our teachers and staff will continue to meet and review student progress in core subject areas to address learning gaps with individual students. We are committed to working together to support your child’s learning. Please take a few minutes to read more about being a Targeted Support and Improvement school. (letter attached)
Upcoming Dates
Dec. 1- Make-Up Picture Day
Dec. 6- Early Release Day (dismiss at 11:45am)
Dec. 6- Progress Reports Sent Home
Dec. 14- Winter Concert
We wish you and your family a wonderful Thanksgiving break!
See you soon,
Mrs. Dunn
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9/15/23
Good Afternoon Long Mill Families,
Below are a few reminders about upcoming school events
Literacy Night (Sept. 21)
LoMES Literacy Night will be held on Thursday, Sept. 21 from 5:00-6:30pm. Families will have an opportunity to purchase books from the Book Fair, play literacy games, and learn more about our new reading program. In addition, the PTO will provide pizza and snacks for families. An overview of this event is attached. We look forward to seeing you there!
Book Fair (Sept. 18-22)
Students can purchase books, posters, bookmarks, and other items from the Book Fair during their Specials next week. Students will go to the Book Fair on their Media/STEM day. If you would like your child to purchase items from the Book Fair, you can send money to school with your child. Please find your child’s homeroom teacher on the attached Quarter 1 Specials schedule in order to know which day to send money with your child.
Please note: The Book Fair will also be open from 5:15-6:15pm on Literacy Night.
Spirit Week (Sept. 18-22)
We will have a School Spirit Week from 9/18-9/22. We will incorporate our school theme “In this school, We grow together!” Please see the attached flyer for more information.
School Fundraiser (Sept. 20-29)
The PTO is hosting a Boosterthon Fun Run fundraiser beginning on 09/20/2023! We’re excited for this year’s fitness and character-building fundraiser! The PTO’s goal is to raise $7,500 for outdoor learning spaces, and other resources that support Long Mill’s students and staff.
Here are some important dates:
- REGISTRATION OPENS - 09/06/2023 | Register on MYBOOSTER.COM
- Long Mill Elementary's Fun Run Kickoff - 09/20/2023
- Event Day - 09/29/2023 (8:00am-2:00pm)
Watch this video featuring YouTube Trick Shot stars, Dude Perfect!
In order for us to START strong - please register your family on MYBOOSTER.com! Don’t wait!
If you have any questions, please reach out to longmillpto@gmail.com.
Upcoming Dates
Sept 18-22 Scholastic Book Fair & Spirit Week
Sept 21- Literacy Night 5:00-6:30pm
Sept 28- Progress Reports Sent Home
Sept 29- Boosterthon Fun Run 8:00am-2:00pm
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8/23/23
Good Afternoon Long Mill Families,
Our teachers and staff returned to the building last week to begin preparing for students. We are so excited to welcome students back on Aug. 28! Below are a few reminders/updates for this school year.
Open House
As a reminder, Open House will take place on Thursday, August 24 from 4:00-6:00pm for 1st-5th grade students. Parents will meet their child’s teacher and learn more information about the upcoming school year. In addition, parents can also bring their child’s school supplies at this time. Your child can label their supplies and place them in a designated area for the first day of school.
Please see the information below regarding Open House table locations.
- Enrollment/Registration- Front Office
- Student Devices/Technology- Lab
- Bus Riders- Cafeteria
- Before & After Care- Cafeteria
- PTO- Main Lobby
- Car Riders- Gym
- School Counseling- Gym
- Girl Scouts & Cub Scouts- Gym
- School Nutrition-Gym
Student Devices
K-5 students will utilize a school-issued device in their classrooms. During Open House, parents can pay technology usage fees, purchase a device warranty, and address any other technology-related questions. The usage fee is $10 and the warranty is $26. The Technology department will accept cash (exact change only) and checks (made out to Franklin County Schools). Please complete the technology forms in your child’s classroom first and bring the completed form to the technology team located in the Lab. Our kindergarten and first-grade student devices are on campus and payments will be accepted for these devices as well.
School Supply Lists
Our Pre-K-5th grade School Supply Lists are linked here. These items are recommended in order for your child to be prepared for the first day of school. If you need any assistance with school supplies, please let the front office know by Aug. 28.
Breakfast & Lunch
Parents will need to complete the lunch application form by going to the FCS website or by clicking the following link: https://www.
First Day Transportation
For any families that cannot attend Open House, please send a note with your child stating your child's mode of transportation. We want to ensure the classroom teacher knows if your child will be a car rider, bus rider, or After Care. Please call the front office before 11:00am if there are any changes to your child’s transportation.
Morning Carpool
Our instructional day begins at 7:45am. Our goal is for all teachers to maximize instructional time for students. Teachers have been given the guidance to begin teaching promptly at 7:45am to ensure they are covering all of the required learning targets for the day. If you would like your child to eat breakfast at school, you will need to arrive in the carline by 7:30am. This will allow enough time for your child to eat breakfast and walk to their classroom before the tardy bell rings at 7:45am. All students should be in their classrooms and ready to begin learning by 7:45am.
Below are a few tips to help our carpool line move quickly
- Encourage your child to gather their belongings when first arriving on campus
- Bookbag, lunch box, water bottle, Chromebook device, etc.
- Remember students can exit the vehicle unassisted once the vehicle has come to a complete stop
- Staff members will be there to assist students, but please feel free to allow your child to exit on the passenger side when it is safe to do so
- Parents should remain in their vehicles at all times
- Pre-K parents will use the outside lane for drop off, and it’s imperative that parents do not get out of their vehicle in the carpool line for safety reasons
Late Arrival
If your child is still in the carpool line at 7:45am, your child is considered tardy and will need to get a tardy slip. Please note: your child must be inside of the classroom at 7:45am, not on route to class, to be counted on time/present for the day. Carpool staff will assist students exiting vehicles in the carline starting at 7:20am. I would encourage you to arrive in the carline by 7:30am to avoid any traffic delays. After 7:45am, parents will need to pull into a parking space and walk their child up to the building to sign in. Students that are tardy, must be escorted to the front office by a parent or guardian.
Afternoon Carpool
We will begin dismissing car riders at 2:30pm. Both lanes will be open for the afternoon carpool starting at 1:45pm. The Long Mill carpool tag should be hanging from the mirror and visible to the carpool staff. Due to fire lane regulations, we ask that parents refrain from lining up in the carpool line until 1:45pm. If you arrive prior to this time, you will be asked to park in a parking space until 1:45pm. If you are picking up early for an appointment, please park in the parking lot and come inside to sign out your child before 2:00 p.m. Please note: there may be some delays during the first few days of school as students are learning their carpool numbers. Thank you for your patience as we work to ensure all students, staff, and parents are safe in the carpool lane.
Bus Riders
Parents will be given information about their child’s bus stop at Open House. Please remember that there may be some delays during the first few days of school. We encourage parents to have their child at the bus stop at least ten minutes before the designated pick-up time. Please note: In the afternoon, there must be an adult or designee at the bus stop to meet any PreK-3rd grade student exiting the school bus.
Before & After Care
The Before & After Care program will begin on the first day of school. Parents that have submitted applications before Aug. 25 will receive a confirmation email. Any families that would like to sign-up after Aug. 25, must submit the enrollment form using the following link: Before & After Care Enrollment. Parents must wait to receive a confirmation email before sending their child to the Before & After Care program. *Please note: returning students will still need to complete this form for the 23-24 school year.
Kindergarten Students
Our kindergarten students will participate in assessments the week of Aug. 28. We still have available time slots for parents that have not signed up yet. Please use this link to sign-up for a time slot. The assessment will take 30-45 minutes. Parents should plan to remain at school with their child to complete a brief questionnaire. During this time, you will also be able to turn in any missing enrollment paperwork for your child. Open House for kindergarten students will be held on Thursday, Aug. 31 from 5-6pm.
Pre-K Students
Pre-K parents will have individual meetings with our Pre-K teacher, Mrs. Carrie Diaz, next week. Open House for Pre-K students will be held on Thursday, Aug. 31 from 5-6pm. Parents are encouraged to drop off their child’s school supplies during Open House or at the Parent/Teacher meeting.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 24 Open House (1st -5th Grade) 4:00-6:00pm
Aug. 28 First Day of School (1st-5th Grade)
Aug. 31 Open House (Pre-K & Kindergarten) 5:00-6:00pm
Sept. 4 Holiday (No School)
Sept. 5 First Day of School (Pre-K & Kindergarten)
We look forward to an amazing 2023-2024 school year!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8/2/23
Good Afternoon Long Mill Families,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year at Long Mill Elementary!
We are excited about the upcoming school year and look forward to working with you and your child this year. As we approach the start of school on Aug. 28, I would like to provide you with a few updates.
Student Devices
FCS will host a Technology Day on Wednesday, August 9 from 8:00am-5:00pm at Cedar Creek Middle School. The FCS Technology department will be there to answer any questions and assist parents with device information. Parents can pay technology usage fees, purchase device warranties, and ask any other technology-related questions. Please see the attached flyer for more details.
School Supply Lists
Please check our school’s website for Pre-K-5th grade School Supply Lists. These recommended supplies/materials will be utilized throughout the year. If you have any specific questions, please call the front office or feel free to discuss them with your child’s teacher at Open House.
Open House
Open House will take place on Thursday, August 24 from 4:00-6:00pm for 1st-5th grade students. During Open House, you will meet your child’s teacher and find out more information regarding:
- Daily Schedules
- Bus Transportation
- Carpool Numbers
Families will also have an opportunity to support our school by purchasing flavored treats from Kona Ice!
Kindergarten Students
We look forward to welcoming our upcoming kindergarten students to Long Mill Elementary! Please take time to review the information below and feel free to reach out to the front office if you have any questions.
- Aug. 22, 9:00-10:00 am Popsicles on the Playground Parents will have an opportunity to meet the kindergarten teachers and other kindergarten families. Students can play outside on the playground and enjoy popsicles with their future classmates.
- Aug. 28- Aug. 30 Kindergarten Assessments Please use this link to sign-up for a time slot. The assessment will take 30-45 minutes. Parents should plan to remain at school with their child to complete a brief questionnaire.
- Aug. 31, 5:00-6:00 pm Kindergarten Open House Parents will meet their child’s teacher and learn more information about the upcoming school year. We encourage parents to drop off school supplies for their child at this time and discuss transportation (car rider, bus rider, etc.).
- Sept. 5, First Day of Kindergarten Kindergarten students attend school daily from 7:45am-2:30pm. Students may begin arriving in the carpool at 7:20am.
Pre-K Students
Our newest Leading Lions (Pre-K students) will also start school on Tuesday, Sept. 5th. Mrs. Carrie Diaz, our Pre-K teacher, will send more information regarding individual meetings with families to discuss our Pre-K program. We look forward to supporting your child as they transition to a new learning environment!
School Information
Our instructional day begins at 7:45am and ends at 2:30pm. Car riders can be dropped off in the carpool line starting at 7:20am. Students can eat breakfast in the cafeteria from 7:20-7:40am. All students should be in their classroom and ready to begin learning by 7:45am.
Breakfast & Lunch
Parents will need to complete the lunch application form by going to the FCS website or by clicking the following link: https://www.
Before & After Care
Our school offers Before and After Care for K-5th grade students. The Before Care program starts at 6:00 am, and the After Care program ends at 6:30 pm. Please click here for more information on Before and After Care enrollment, fee schedules, program guidelines, etc. The online enrollment form can be found using the following link: LOMES Before & After Care Enrollment
Bus Riders
Parents will be given information about their child’s bus stop at Open House. Be sure to visit the Bus table to receive your child’s information. As a reminder, there may be some delays during the first few days of school. We encourage parents to have their child at the bus stop at least ten minutes before the designated pick-up time.
*Please note: Parents of Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd-grade students must be present or have a designee or older sibling waiting at the bus stop each afternoon. Bus drivers will not be allowed to release students without a parent/guardian or older sibling in place in compliance with the amendment of School Board Policy 6305. More information regarding this updated policy will be shared at Open House.
Upcoming Events
Aug. 9 Technology Event @CCMS 8:00am-5:00pm
Aug. 24 Open House (1st-5th Grade) 4:00-6:00pm
Aug. 28 First Day of School (1st-5th Grade) 7:45am-2:30pm
Aug. 31 Open House (Pre-K & Kindergarten) 5:00-6:00 pm
Sept. 4 Holiday (Labor Day) - No School
Sept. 5 First Day of School (Pre-K & Kindergarten) 7:45am-2:30pm
We hope you enjoy the last few weeks of summer and look forward to seeing you soon!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Dunn
Principal