Our weekly family message is designed to keep you informed and prepared for the week ahead. From important reminders and upcoming events to schedule changes, deadlines, and school announcements, our goal is to make sure you have the information you need. We may also celebrate highlights from the previous week and share some of the great things happening around Center School. Weekly messages will be archived here with the most recent message at the top.
Embedded Files
August 26, 2026
Happy Wednesday, Center Families!
Many of you have been asking and it’s finally here! The first video of the 2026-2027 school year!!!
Dismissal Plans:
Please complete this form with your child’s dismissal information so we can ensure they are safe and follow the correct dismissal routine at the end of each school day.
From here on out, you can expect our weekly messages to go out on Monday mornings at 9:00am. In addition to the important updates and announcements, you will also get a link to watch our weekly Cardinal Reports that students view in their homerooms on Monday mornings.
In case you missed it, our plan for arrival tomorrow is below. We are so excited to welcome everyone back and see you tomorrow!
Best,
Andy Villamaino, Principal
Skylar Schmittlein, Assistant Principal
- - - - - - - - - - - -
First Day (Thursday, August 27 - Grades 1-5)
Our teachers and staff will be outside at 8:25am to greet students and families! Look for signs with the teacher's name! Listen for the tolling of our bell!!
1st graders: Meet at the top of the esplanade (concrete area between our two buildings) near the doors to the gymnasium.
2nd graders: Meet at the top of the esplanade (concrete area between our two buildings) near the doors to the main building.
3rd and 4th graders: Meet on the blacktop at the back of the school.
5th graders: Meet in front of the gymnasium.
After the First Day
Kindergarten, 1st, and 5th grade; Line up and enter through esplanade doors on the gymnasium side.
2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade: Line up in front of the school and enter through the main entrance.
Bikers: There is an expectation that all students walk their bikes to the back of the school, park their bike in a bike rack, and walk Longfellow Drive to the front of the school and then to the appropriate entrance. The back stairs to the esplanade are NOT accessible. Never travel to or from the playground on the driveway near the gymnasium-always travel in front of the school.
Walkers: Go directly to the appropriate assigned entrance. Walk to the front of the school to get to your entrance - please do not use the back stairs. Never travel to or from the playground on the driveway near the gymnasium-always travel in front of the school.
Carline: The carline moves efficiently when all community members follow procedures. We respectfully appeal to families to kindly use the carline and do not create other unsafe drop offs and pick ups around the school. PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP OR DROP OFF ON LONGFELLOW DRIVE OR IN THE BACK OF THE SCHOOL.
August 24, 2026
Happy Monday, Center Families!
It’s back-to-school week! This morning, all Longmeadow staff are returning to their buildings to begin our work together for the 2026–2027 school year. The excitement in the air is contagious! We are thrilled to see all of our students in grades 1–5 on Thursday and welcome our newest Cardinals for their first day of Kindergarten on Friday.
There is a lot of important information included in this week’s newsletter to help everyone get ready for a smooth and successful start to the school year. Please take a few minutes to read through the updates and make sure you have all the information you need for the week ahead. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back!
Be on the lookout
This Wednesday a special Welcome Back Video will be shared with families to show our students!
Playground Party
The rainy weather delayed our Back-to-School Playground Party - but we are set to make up for it tonight from 5:00-6:00pm. See you there!
Kindergarten Orientation
Our Kindergarten Orientation Day is Thursday, August 27. Families will meet on the esplanade (the area between the two buildings) and will be directed to their classrooms.
Orientation times are:
9:30–10:30 a.m. — Families with last names A–H
1:15–2:15 p.m. — Families with last names I–Z
Arrival/Dismissal
First Day (Thursday, August 27 - Grades 1-5)
Our teachers and staff will be outside at 8:25am to greet students and families! Look for signs with the teacher's name! Listen for the tolling of our bell!!
1st graders: Meet at the top of the esplanade (concrete area between our two buildings) near the doors to the gymnasium.
2nd graders: Meet at the top of the esplanade (concrete area between our two buildings) near the doors to the main building.
3rd and 4th graders: Meet on the blacktop at the back of the school.
5th graders: Meet in front of the gymnasium.
After the First Day
Kindergarten, 1st, and 5th grade; Line up and enter through esplanade doors on the gymnasium side.
2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade: Line up in front of the school and enter through the main entrance.
Bikers: There is an expectation that all students walk their bikes to the back of the school, park their bike in a bike rack, and walk Longfellow Drive to the front of the school and then to the appropriate entrance. The back stairs to the esplanade are NOT accessible. Never travel to or from the playground on the driveway near the gymnasium-always travel in front of the school.
Walkers: Go directly to the appropriate assigned entrance. Walk to the front of the school to get to your entrance - please do not use the back stairs. Never travel to or from the playground on the driveway near the gymnasium-always travel in front of the school.
Carline: The carline moves efficiently when all community members follow procedures. We respectfully appeal to families to kindly use the carline and do not create other unsafe drop offs and pick ups around the school. PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP OR DROP OFF ON LONGFELLOW DRIVE OR IN THE BACK OF THE SCHOOL.
Menus
Here is our August lunch menu.
From PTO
The Center School Apparel Store is officially open! The store will be available through September 20, so be sure to check it out and grab some Center gear for the year ahead!
The 5th Grade Carnival is right around the corner, and we could use your help! We’re looking for volunteers to help make this a fun and successful event for our students. Please consider signing up to volunteer and help make this a fun and memorable event for everyone!
It’s going to be a busy and exciting week at Center. Thanks for taking the time to read through everything, and we’ll see you soon!
Best,
Andy Villamaino, Principal
Skylar Schmittlein, Assistant Principal
August 17, 2026
Happy Monday, Center Families!
We are inching closer to the start of the school year next week! It has been great to see the building coming back to life as our staff prepares classrooms and gets ready to welcome our students. There is a lot of excitement around Center, and we can’t wait to have everyone back together soon!
Back to School Playground Party
All Center families are welcome to join us this Thursday, August 20 from 5:00-6:00 p.m. for a casual gathering on the Center playground to meet our friends (and make new friends too!) ahead of the 2026-2027 school year!
New Student Orientation
Friday, August 21 - We will be welcoming families and students in grades 1–5 who are new to the Longmeadow Public Schools for our New Student Orientation at 11:00 a.m. The orientation will include a tour of Center School and an information session.
Class Placement
Your child’s class placement will be available in PowerSchool after 3:00 p.m. this Friday, August 21.
Health Office Newsletter
Please see the September Health Office Newsletter from Nurse Hughes. It includes important back-to-school health reminders, information about required health records and medications, our district wellness policy, and guidelines for when students should stay home due to illness.
Center Stage - Back to School Edition
In case you missed it, here is the Back to School Edition of the Center Stage Monthly Newsletter! Please take a few minutes to look through our upcoming events, the 2026-2027 Family Guide, and all the ways you can stay connected and get involved at Center this year.
I look forward to seeing you on Thursday evening!
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Best,
Andy Villamaino, Principal
Skylar Schmittlein, Assistant Principal
August 10, 2026
Happy Monday, Center Families!
It is hard to believe that we are in the homestretch of the summer! We are working hard to make sure that everything is ready for our students as we kickoff the new school year on Thursday, August 27.
Back to school - Everything you need to know!
Here is our Back to School Edition of the Center Stage Monthly Newsletter! Please take a few minutes to look through our upcoming events, the 2026-2027 Family Guide, and all the ways you can stay connected and get involved at Center this year.
Congratulations Mrs. Root
Over these last couple of weeks, we have been working to hire a new Secretary to the Principal as Mrs. Root transitions to a new role at Central Office. We are incredibly grateful for everything Mrs. Root has done for Center School and are excited for her as she begins this next chapter. We hope to introduce our new secretary to the Center community next week!
Back to School Playground Party
I would like to invite all Center School students and their families to our Back to School Playground Party on Thursday, August 20, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. on the Center School playground. Please click the invitation below for all the details. We hope you can join us for a fun evening of reconnecting, meeting new friends, and kicking off the new school year together!
Enjoy these last couple of weeks of summer! I am looking forward to seeing everyone soon and kicking off a great school year together!
Best,
Andy Villamaino and Skylar Schmittlein
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