Longfellow School

💦What a splash-tastic end to an amazing school year!☀️
Today, our playground was filled with giggles, smiles, and lots of water play as we celebrated our last day of school. We want to extend a massive **THANK YOU** to all of our incredible early childhood education families. Thank you for partnering with us, trusting us with your precious little ones, and making this school year so deeply special.

As we slide into summer, please keep these important dates and updates on your radar:

📅 Key Dates to Remember

* July 28, 2026: The Longfellow School office will officially re-open.
* August 13, 2026: First day of school for our students! We already can't wait to see those smiling faces.

📝 California State Preschool Enrollment is ONGOING

Spaces are filling up! If you or someone you know is looking for an exceptional preschool program for the upcoming year:

* 📞 * Longfellow School Office: 626-815-4700
* 👤 *Contact: Reach out to Theresa Ramirez CSPP Secretary to schedule your enrollment appointments and information.

☀️ A Quick Summer Reminder: For our families in the Full-Day-Full-Year Preschool program, the fun doesn't stop! This program will continue to operate at Longfellow School throughout the entire duration of the summer.

Have a safe, happy, and sun-drenched summer break, families! 🏖️✨

🌿 Beyond the Playground: Why Outdoor Play Matters 🌿 Paramount CSPP students learn through play-based opportunities.
When we think of preschoolers playing outside, we usually think of physical energy—running, jumping, and burning off steam. But the great outdoors isn't just a place for active play; it’s a fully equipped, living classroom that can fuel every single area of a child's development.

When we intentionally bring learning outside, here is what happens:

🧮 Math in Motion: Nature is full of patterns and numbers. Children practice early math concepts naturally by counting pinecones, sorting leaves by shape or size, and measuring how many steps it takes to cross a fallen log.

🔬 Living Science: The outdoors is a giant science lab. Whether they are observing bugs under a magnifying glass, testing what floats in a puddle, or noticing how shadows change, children are actively testing hypotheses and exploring the natural world.

🗣️ Foundational Language Development: Nature sparks rich conversations. Describing the texture of rough bark, the squish of mud, or the sound of the wind builds robust vocabulary and communication skills far beyond the four walls of a classroom.

🤝 Social-Emotional Growth: Outdoor play naturally builds resilience and cooperation. Navigating an uneven path builds self-confidence, while working together to build a stick fort or taking turns on a swing teaches negotiation, empathy, and problem-solving.

🌍 Early Social Studies: Children learn their place in the world by exploring their immediate environment. They learn about community helper roles (like park rangers or gardeners), map out local trails, and develop an early sense of citizenship and care for the earth.

Let’s reframe how we look at outdoor time. It’s not a break from learning—it is where some of the deepest, most integrated learning happens!

👇 Educators and parents: What is your favorite learning activity to take outside? Let’s share ideas in the comments!

May 15th, our community came together for a truly magical evening at the 1st Annual Early Childhood Education Art Exhibit ⭐️ 🎨 -We are incredibly proud to feature artwork from all AUSD Preschool Classes across the entire district. Art is so much more than just paint and paper- It is a vital part of their development. Engaging in creative expression helps our youngest learners: Build fine motor skills ( those tiny muscles needed for writing!) Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills, Explore and express big emotions in a safe, fun way, Boost confidence and spatial awareness.
A Massive Thank You! A huge shoutout and heartfelt Thank You to our amazing early preschool education team! Your dedication, patience, and passion inspire these young minds every single day. To our incredible AUSD preschool students: thank you for sharing your beautiful imagination, bright colors, and hard work with us. You are true artists! 🧑‍🎨
A Magical Conclusion 🐇 🪄 - We also want to thank the community for showing up in such a big way to support early childhood education. Your attendance made the evening unforgettable! The kids and adults were absolutely mesmerized. Thank you again, AUSD family, for making our first annual exhibit a massive success. We can’t wait to see what these little hands create next year! # AUSDProud

🎨✨ Big hearts, little hands, and a whole lot of creativity! ✨🎨

Last Friday, May 15th, our community came together for a truly magical evening at the 1st Annual Early Childhood Education Art Exhibit! 🌟

We are incredibly proud to feature artwork from all AUSD Preschool Classes across the entire district. For children ages 3 to 5, art is so much more than just paint and paper—it is a vital part of their development. Engaging in creative expression helps our youngest learners:

Build fine motor skills (those tiny muscles needed for writing!)

Develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Explore and express big emotions in a safe, fun way

Boost confidence and spatial awareness

💖 A Massive Thank You!
A huge shoutout and heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing early preschool education team! Your dedication, patience, and passion inspire these young minds every single day.
To our incredible AUSD preschool students: thank you for sharing your beautiful imagination, bright colors, and hard work with us. You are all true artists! 🖌️👩‍🎨👨‍🎨
🐰 A Magical Conclusion
We also want to thank the community and extended staff for showing up in such a big way to support early childhood education. Your attendance made the night unforgettable! And what better way to wrap up a celebration of wonder than with a live magician? The kids (and adults!) were absolutely mesmerized. 🪄✨

Thank you again, AUSD family, for making our first annual exhibit a massive success. We can’t wait to see what these little hands create next year!

Celebrate the heart of our schools! 🏫 🍎 Today we recognize the incredible educators who spark curiosity, foster creativity, and build the foundation for our future leaders.

To the teachers at Longfellow School, our Early Childhood Education Team, Azusa Unified School District Teachers and Educators across the Golden State: Thank you for your passion, your patience, and your dedication to every student’s journey. You make the world🌍️ a brighter place, one lesson at a time.

Happy California Day of the Teacher!
✨ Ms. Jane Aguilera ✨Mrs. Tiffany Carey✨ Ms. Cecilia Cervantes
✨Mrs. Gheycell Flores ✨Ms. Maria Garcia ✨Mrs. Viridiana Jimenez
✨Mrs. Jenny Le ✨Mrs. Araceli Valenciano Lopez ✨Ms. Liya Ma
✨Mrs. Patricia Corona Martinez ✨Mrs. Claudia Martinez ✨Mrs. Emilia Miranda ✨Ms. Lily Phillips ✨Ms. Veronica Ramirez ✨Mrs. Yaneth Rodriguez
✨Mrs. Alicia Vargas Smith ✨Mrs. Jenny Le ✨Mrs. Georgianna Taylor
✨Ms. Melissa Wojcik

We are still smiling after our incredible Multicultural Day celebration at Longfellow School! Guiding our little learners to understand and appreciate different customs and traditions is such a vital part of their growth.
Why Multicultural Awareness Matters? Building Empathy: Learning about others helps children understand different perspectives and fosters kindness.
Celebrating Identity: It allows students to feel proud of their own heritage while respecting others.
Sparking Curiosity: Exploring new music, dance, and food makes learning an exciting adventure!
A huge highlight of our day was watching the vibrant performance by guest Folklorico dancers, including our very own Geta Cansino and Ms. Belinda! The energy and tradition they shared brought the beauty of Mexican culture to life for our students. Thank you to everyone who helped make this day a colorful success. Let’s keep the conversation going at home—ask your child what their favorite part of the celebration was! 🪅🥳🎈

We’re excited to announce the grand opening of Azusa Unified School District’s ECE Family Resource Center/Lending Library!
This new space was created with our youngest learners and their families in mind. The Family Resource Center offers a welcoming hub where parents and caregivers can access tools, guidance, and support to help their children thrive from the very start.
Our Lending Library gives families the opportunity to borrow books, learning kits, and educational materials at no cost. This means more chances for children to build early literacy skills, explore creativity, and develop a love of learning right at home. From storybooks to hands-on activities, families can take home resources that make learning engaging, accessible, and fun.
By expanding access to high-quality materials, we’re helping ensure that every child—regardless of background—has the opportunity to grow, learn, and succeed during these critical early years.
We invite our community to stop by, explore the space, and take advantage of all the resources available. Together, we’re building stronger foundations for lifelong learning!

🌎🔍 Little Scientists at Work! 🐞🐦🐢
Preschoolers are naturally curious about the world around them, and exploring animals in their environment is a powerful way to spark early science learning. Whether it’s watching a bird build a nest, observing ants working together, or noticing a butterfly in the garden, these everyday moments help children develop important skills like observation, questioning, and critical thinking.
Hands-on experiences with animals also nurture empathy, respect for living things, and a deeper connection to nature. When young children explore the animals in their world, they aren’t just playing—they’re building the foundation for scientific discovery and lifelong learning.
Let’s encourage our youngest learners to look closely, ask questions, and celebrate the amazing creatures that share our world! 🐛🌼✨

🌱 Little hands, big growth! 🌱

Our amazing students at Hodge CSPP have been busy getting their hands in the dirt and learning all about planting! 🌻

You might wonder, why is gardening so important for early learners? Teaching children to plant and care for living things is about so much more than just playing in the soil. Here is why it is a crucial part of early childhood development:
Builds Responsibility & Patience: Waiting for a tiny seed to sprout teaches delayed gratification and the importance of consistent, daily care. 💧
Sparks Scientific Curiosity: It is hands-on science! Children learn firsthand about life cycles, sunlight, water, and where our food and flowers come from. ☀️
Develops Motor Skills: Scooping dirt, pinching tiny seeds, and gently pouring water are fantastic ways to strengthen fine and gross motor skills. 🤲
Cultivates Empathy & Stewardship: Learning to gently care for a delicate plant helps foster a lifelong love, respect, and sense of responsibility for our environment. 🌍
We are so incredibly proud of our little gardeners and can't wait to watch their seeds (and their minds!) grow this season.
What is your favorite plant, herb, or flower to grow at home? Let us know in the comments! 👇