Tis the season for pumpkin-carving contests, the annual Haunted House in the Fitness Center, giant spider webs sprouting in basements and a good, old-fashioned scary movie at Longwood’s High Street Theatre.
It’s plain to see all over campus that your Lancers are up to their eyeballs in Halloween spirit this year. Below are some examples of their talents in creating creepy, cute and creepily cute costumes—proof that you never get too old to dress up for Halloween.
—Sabrina Brown
The next few weeks are full of fall events where your Lancers will be showing off what they have learned and also having some silly—and even scary—fun (boo!). All work and no play is definitely not a recipe for success, so, along with encouraging them to work hard, put in a word for taking an occasional study break.
Students present their academic work, from biology research to graphic design projects, in this twice-yearly event. Ask your student if they’re planning to participate. (The registration deadline is this Friday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m.)
The showcase is set for Wednesday, Nov. 17, from 2-5:30 p.m. Parents can see their students in action via Zoom for oral presentations and performances. Poster presentations and visual art displays will be virtual and will be posted on the ForagerOne Symposium platform.
You can find more information here.
If you weren’t able to come to campus for Family Weekend, you missed a great showcase of our students’ musical talents. There was a sizable crowd in Jarman Auditorium, and the students got a boost from performing for a live audience again after last year.
There is something to be said for live-streamed concerts, however: Parents can watch them from home.
If your student is in the Camerata Singers, the Chamber Singers, the Wind Symphony and/or the String Ensemble, mark these dates and times on your calendar. All three concerts will be live in Jarman Auditorium and live-streamed at “Elwood’s Recital” on YouTube.
Camerata and Chamber Singers
Thursday, Oct. 21, 7:30 p.m.
The students in these ensembles not only sing, but also share their own reflections in words and in images throughout the concert.
Wind Symphony
Tuesday, Oct. 26, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring clarinet professor Dr. Roland Karnatz in the 1940s swing-style piece “Artie Shaw Clarinet Concerto” and a Veterans Day tribute that will include service songs of the U.S. military followed by Sousa’s “The Stars and Stripes Forever.”
String Ensemble
Saturday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring works by Gustav Holst, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Jay Ungar, Ledah Finck and Gordon Ring.
If your student is telling you there’s nothing to do, see if they know about these entertaining events.
Magic Show: Matt the Knife
Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, 8 p.m.
Organized by Lancer Productions
Described as an “intense mentalist, magician and speaker who’s wickedly humorous, occasionally dangerous and unapologetically irreverent.”
Haunted House with Campus Recreation
Friday, Oct. 29, 8-11 p.m.
Screaming encouraged 🙂
Pumpkin Carving and Costume Contest
Monday, Nov. 1, throughout the day
Organized by Alumni and Career Services
Students can submit photos of their pumpkins and costumes, which will be posted online for community voting to determine prize winners. Tell your student to let you know if they enter so you can vote for them! Winners will be announced on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Step Afrika!
Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, 8 p.m.
Organized by Lancer Productions
A dance troupe that performs and teaches the history of stepping.
—Sabrina Brown
OKTOBERFEST: BONFIRE, COLOR WARS AND MORE
Ask your student if they had fun at Oktoberfest, which wrapped up this past Saturday with a full slate of activities and lots of live music. Some of Longwood’s most cherished traditions—including Color Wars and bonfire—take place during this fall semester celebration. (Color Wars pits students graduating in odd years against those graduating in even years in a battle of red and green paint. Bonfire is all about hot apple cider and telling stories from Longwood’s history.) You can see a full album of photos here—and maybe even catch a glimpse of your student.
PREPARING FOR SUCCESS: CAREER WEEK OCT. 11-14
Hearing that your child has gotten a job in a field they’ve worked so hard to prepare for, or been accepted to graduate school, rank toward the top of life’s best moments.
Longwood—and many of our alumni—are committed to helping students achieve those goals, and Career Week, coming up Oct. 11-14, is a perfect example of that commitment.
The week is designed to help your student navigate the job-search and graduate-school application process, as well as connect with Longwood’s alumni network and meet potential employers.
All students are welcome at the sessions noted below. It’s really never too soon to start crafting a killer resume or thinking about what it takes to get into graduate school. How to land an internship will also be on the agenda.
Please encourage your student to take full advantage of the week’s activities, which are detailed below.
Any parents, and especially those who are Longwood alums, are welcome to attend the networking session Wednesday evening (Oct. 13). Alumni parents also are invited to attend the alumni reception Thursday evening (Oct. 14). If you have any questions, you can reach out to Megan Miller, associate director of campus career engagement, at millermp@longwood.edu or 434-395-2064.
Students and parents who plan to attend should register here: http://www.longwood.edu/career/career-week/. A full schedule and descriptions of events are also available on this website.
If your student has any questions, they can email alumni@longwood.edu or career@longwood.edu.
Monday, Oct. 11
Resume and Cover Letter Workshop | 3 p.m. | Upchurch University Center, Room 300
Tuesday, Oct. 12
Graduate School Preparation Workshop | 1 p.m. | Upchurch University Center, Room 300
LinkedIn and Networking Workshop | 3 p.m. | Maugans Alumni Center, Martinelli Room
Wednesday, Oct. 13
Alumni, Student and Employer Networking Event | 6 p.m. | Upchurch University Center, Soza Ballroom
Thursday, Oct. 14
Career, Internship and Engagement Fair | 1 p.m. | Maugans Alumni Center, Blackwell Ballroom
Alumni Reception | 6:30 p.m. | Radcliff Hall
—Sabrina Brown
Today’s Parent Pipeline post was contributed by Larry Robertson, Longwood’s assistant vice president for student development and former dean of students.
Fall break is just around the corner—there will be no classes Oct. 7 and 8. Your student may be heading home for the first time this semester or, if they’re a freshman, for the first time since they headed off to college.
Just like any family vacation, especially when it’s been a while since everyone has lived together under the same roof, there can be a few pitfalls. Harmony can be achieved, however, with a little forethought and planning.
Since this post is for parents, here’s my Top 10 list of things to think about before your student comes through the door.
You may not be aware that you’ve become accustomed to your house being a little quieter since your student moved to campus. You will likely be amazed at how much extra noise their two feet can make—and a lot of that noise may be generated at night after you’ve gone to bed. Your student may have become a night owl.
Curfews can be a point of friction, but discussing this issue before your student comes home will go a long way toward an amicable solution. Remember they’ve been coming and going as they please for several weeks—but it’s still your home and you set the rules. Even if you don’t intend to set a curfew, you may want to remind your student to let you know where they are and when they plan to return.
Many of you may want to do your student’s laundry, and that is fine. However, some of you may want to remind them that they are capable of doing it for themselves. That’s OK, too. Again, it will help to discuss this before they get home.
Don’t plan too much. It’s a good idea to check first with your student to see what their plans are before completely filling their time at home with family activities. Your student may have plans to connect with friends. It might be better to choose one or two times designated for family activities and give your student some flexibility to do other things. If you plan to take them out for meals, avoid Chik-fil-A, Applebee’s and other restaurants that are in Farmville. Trust me—they are ready for something different.
Be prepared to see some changes in your child’s behavior, though they will probably be minor. They might have new favorite foods (sushi, for example), new favorite snacks (Flaming Hot Cheetos, for example), new exercise routines or even be using Longwood lingo you’re not familiar with (“The Wood,” “CHI,” “D-hall,” etc.). Don’t be afraid to ask them to explain. Also be aware that they may have incorporated some colorful language into their vocabulary.
Try not be alarmed if they come home with a noticeable change in appearance, like a new hair color, bangs, a new tattoo or a new piercing. This is very common among college students. They may just be looking for a way to assert their newfound “freedom.”
Some students may bring home loads of homework. These students may have procrastinated or suddenly realized that midterms are fast approaching. If this is your student, encourage them to take some breaks and relax a little. Some students may not bring home any homework at all. Depending upon the classes they’re taking and their personal study habits, they may have stayed on top of their assignments. If this is your student, don’t pry or nag, but ask them what midterms they have coming up. Or you may be able to find out how they’re doing by asking them about their favorite and least favorite classes.
It’s not uncommon at this point in the semester for students to share that they are struggling in a class or that they are thinking about changing their major. Encourage them to talk to their professors during office hours or after class. Remind your student that help is available through tutoring and the Writing Center.
If you hear the words “I am failing,” ask for clarification. Your student may think they are failing when they really have a C. Or they might be concerned about earning an A minus. In some cases, it may be important to remind them that doing their best doesn’t always mean being perfect.
October can be a difficult time for a lot of new college students. In addition to adapting to their new life at college, they’re also starting to realize that life is continuing at their high school without them and their friends at other colleges are having different experiences. It may seem that everyone else is changing. What they don’t realize is that they’re changing, too. Be prepared for them to be quieter or seem down. You can ask them how they’re feeling, but don’t be surprised if they don’t know what’s wrong. It’s all well within the range of normal.
Finally, don’t forget to have some fun with your student over fall break. And don’t be surprised if you’re somewhat relieved to have the house back to yourself when they return to school. That’s within the range of normal as well.