-Managing Editor-
Longfellow Elementary School has earned the distinction of being a National PTA School of Excellence for its programs that have helped build and strengthen family-school partnerships.
During a ceremony at the Bixby Knolls school on the morning of Friday, Oct. 3, various dignitaries, representing the local council district up to the United States Congress, addressed the student body and staff to congratulate them on the honor.
U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D—47th District) was among those at the event to commend the school’s staff, students and families.
“I’m just here to really congratulate the PTA, which is all the parents, for working so closely with the teachers here and the administration to make sure that your education is tops,” Lowenthal told the pupils. “I represent you in the Congress of the United States. It’s across the entire country. There are millions and millions of students like yourselves, and you are in the top 170 schools in the United States that have become Schools of Excellence, and, in California, in the top four schools.”
Lowenthal then presented a certificate of recognition to the school, as well as a special gift that drew enthusiastic gasps from the students. “Because you’re so great,” Lowenthal said, “this is a flag— that’s going to fly here— that flew over the Capital of the United States.”
Others in attendance at the ceremony were: Heather Morrison, communications deputy for 8th District Councilmember Al Austin’s office; 7th District Councilmember Roberto Uranga; District 1 School Board Member Megan Kerr; Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent Christopher Steinhauser; School Board President Diana Craighead; District 3 School Board Member John McGinnis; and Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia.
Jeff Price, vice president of membership for the Longfellow PTA, emphasized unity between the various members of the school. “Together, we are stronger,” Price said, as he addressed the student body. “Our PTA does whatever we can to reach out to our community, our parents and our families to get involved, to come to school, to be active participants in your education. So, just to let you know how special this is, there are over 23,000 PTA units in the United States. Only 170 received this recognition. So, that’s less than 1 percent of all PTAs. And, in California, we’re only one of four, so you should all be very proud of yourselves. I’m so proud of you.”
Price then introduced Mayor Garcia, who opened his remarks by focusing attention on family involvement.
“It’s really important the first thing that we do, for winning this award for all of you, is to give a big round of applause to all of your parents and teachers and families. Give them a big round of applause,” Garcia said. “If it wasn’t for all their hard work in working with your teachers and all the leadership of the school and here in the district, this would not be possible. I know we also have a lot of the parents here from the PTA. Thank you all very much for the hard work.”
Two of the school-wide family-engagement programs Longfellow’s PTA has implemented that helped them earn the award are the “PTA Family Reading Experience, Powered by Kindle” and “Reading At Home.” The programs give families the tools to help improve reading skills for students between kindergarten and 5th grade, according to a press release from the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD).
The school also offers a uniform exchange, which encourages re-use and provides parents and community members the opportunity to share or trade gently used school clothes.
“The second you step onto the campus of Longfellow Elementary, it is evident that there is a longstanding and impactful partnership between Longfellow Elementary, its PTA and the community of California Heights and Bixby Knolls,” said Naomie Worrell-Tate, president of Longfellow Elementary PTA, in the LBUSD press release. “Longfellow is truly a unique school with an outpouring of support that is vital to the overall well-being of our students. Through our PTA programs and events, we are very successful in sustaining a positive school environment for almost 1,100 students year after year.”
Otha Thornton, president of National PTA, said the partnership between the school and its PTA is a true example of what can be accomplished when schools and families work together. “Longfellow Elementary School and Longfellow Elementary PTA have put strong practices into place that involve families in the life of the school, and we are pleased to recognize them as a National PTA School of Excellence,” Thornton said.
National PTA launched its National PTA School of Excellence program to help strengthen family-school partnerships across the country and effect measurable progress in the areas of education, health and safety, and arts and cultural exploration, according to LBUSD. To be recognized as a National PTA School of Excellence, PTAs evaluate their current family engagement methods and submit a goal for improvement that families, teachers and administrators have devised together. They improve upon their engagement strategies throughout the school year, while focusing on their goal.
For more information about the National PTA School of Excellence program, visit PTA.org/excellence .
