Longview Elementary School, Hickory NC

06/07/2026

Our junior Beta club works on service at almost every meeting and collected dish soap this spring for the Catawba County Humane Society. Upon delivery, club co sponsor, Ms. Snider fell in love with a dog and adopted him the next day! What a great Beta story! So thankful our Beta club led to the adoption of Dex!

05/27/2026

Let’s read this summer, Lions! 🦁 📚✨

Hickory City Schools is excited to launch our new Rooted in Reading Summer Reading Challenge for students in Pre-K through 6th grade from June 1 – August 31!

Students can:
✅ Earn FREE monthly reading rewards
✅ Watch weekly read-aloud videos featuring HCS staff & community members
✅ Earn a BONUS local event voucher after meeting goals all summer long!

Parents will set and track monthly reading goals using a reading app, making it easy to keep students engaged in reading throughout the summer.

📲 Be on the lookout for more information coming soon through SchoolStatus Connect!

05/26/2026

Congratulations and good luck to these educators on completing their National Board certifications and renewals. They will find out results in December but we are confident in all of their hard work!
April Icard is working to achieve certification as an Early Childhood Generalist and just completed her 23rd year teaching. She teaches PreK.
Chelsea Hartness is working to achieve certification in Early and Middle Childhood Literacy: Reading and Language Arts and just completed her 21st year teaching. She is our Teacher Leadership Specialist.
Lora Snider is working to renew her current National Board certification from 2011 and has renewed once already in 2021. She is certified Nationally as a Middle Childhood Generalist and just completed her 25th year of teaching. She teaches 3rd grade.
Other National Board certified teachers at our school are April Kehoe-ESL and the recently retired Peter Rothenberger-4th grade.

05/22/2026

Today after 29 years of teaching, Peter Rothenberger had his very last last day of school. His retirement means no more Star Wars light saber doorways and hearing about the Buffalo Bills during lunch (kind of glad about that one! 🤣). No more funny nicknames at car riders. No more of seeing him every day. However the lasting impact he has made on hundreds of students and numerous colleagues will continue to make a difference for years to come. We cannot thank him enough for his leadership, his dedication, and his fierce commitment to our students and to public education in Hickory. He is a man of excellent character and loyalty-a true class act. While he may be the brother I never wanted I’m glad he is the friend I’ll never forget. We have all become better by knowing him. Thank you for loving the often hard to love, for expecting greatness, and for demanding we all show up with excellence-each and every day- the Longview Way. The beeping of our families at car riders sent us all over the edge of emotions as we had one last ride. What a ride it has been. We love you and thank you for all you have done for Longview 💛💛🖤🖤

05/22/2026

We’re so grateful to the Rotary Club of Hickory for supporting our Lions and providing opportunities for students to discover the joy of reading! ✨📖

This year Rotary Club of Hickory has asked many of our guest speakers to sign new books that we then give to Longview Elementary in Hickory City Schools. President Mandy Pitts Hildebrand dropped off three more books today to Assistant Principal Zabrina Pitts. Rotary District 7670

05/22/2026

📣 Let’s hear it for Mrs. Pierce, the newest recipient of the Heart of a Lion award! 🥇

Mrs. Browning says:

Mrs. Pierce, you embody the true definition of the "Heart of a Lion" with your strength, courage, and bravery in all circumstances. Your preparedness in teaching two grade levels and your perseverance is unwavering. You encourage and amaze me every day as a friend, teammate, and person. Your determination and dependability is seen, heard, and valued. You're a true teacher from the heart and I am so thankful for you! Pierce is Fierce! You are MY LION!

Congratulations, Mrs. Pierce! 🙌

05/21/2026

Congratulations to our fifth graders on completing the D.A.R.E. program! 🎓👏 We were proud to celebrate their hard work during the graduation ceremony alongside Officer Null from the Hickory Police Department. Students received certificates of completion, and our D.A.R.E. essay winners did an outstanding job presenting their essays.

We are so proud of all of our students and the positive choices they are making! 💙🚔

05/15/2026

So proud of one of our former students! Way to go Cruz!

Cruz Z., a senior at Hickory High School, signed his national letter of intent to play football at Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina.

05/14/2026

🎉 Join us for end of year awards ceremonies on Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21!

Congratulations to all our amazing Lions! 🦁 ✨

05/13/2026

Congratulations Ms. Pitts! 🎉🎊 Thank you for all you do for Longview! 🦁💛🖤💛

Congratulations to Assistant Principals from Hickory High School, Alanda Johnson, and Longview Elementary School, Zabrina Pitts, who received their master’s degrees last week as part of the Appalachian State University Principal Fellows Program!

Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to educational leadership are truly inspiring. We are proud of you and excited to see the impact you will continue to make for our students, staff, and community.