Back to School 2018

This Blog post will be long... I apologize and promise that it won't be this long regularly. Please take some time between now and Ice Cream Social (August 29 from 6:00-7:00pm) to read and watch all the information.

I will typically send out a blog post every Sunday evening. 

Welcome Back Letters were put in the mail yesterday!

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year!  If you haven't seen the news, I want to share with you that St. Joseph Public Schools was ranked as #1 for school districts in Berrien County by Niche!  For more information check out:  
https://www.niche.com/k12/d/st-joseph-public-schools-mi/

2018-2019 Attendance Times

8:25 a.m. Students Enter Building

8:30 a.m. Tardy Bell Rings

3:48 p.m. Dismissal
Students enter at 9:25 a.m. on Late Starts

Half-Days Dismissal is at 12:05 p.m.

Back-to-School Ice Cream Social Event

The PTO invites you to attend our annual Ice Cream Social Event on Wednesday, August 29th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on our school playground. This is the perfect opportunity for students to visit with friends and meet new classmates. School staff members will be there to welcome you back as well. All Lincoln School families are encouraged to attend.

Be Sure To Add These To Your Calendar!

September 4th   First Day of School - FULL DAY
September 17th Back to School Night

Early Literacy is a main focus within our district and for schools across the country. Our home-school partnership is vital for your child's success. Please click on the link below to access an article from Scholastic that will support you in setting the stage for reading routines at home.
Four Helpful Habits for Back-to-School Season

Attention New Families
All enrollment/registration materials need to be complete before the school year begins. If you still need to bring in your child’s birth certificate, immunization record, physical, hearing/vision tests, or your proof of residency, please do so as soon as possible. You can bring them with you to turn in at Ice Cream Social or drop them off at the office anytime before then.

Contact Information

Our school phone number is (269) 926-3700. The school office is open Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Please leave a message if calling after hours. You may also reach office staff via email at:

chubble@sjschools.org (Craig Hubble, Principal)

jtrumbley@sjschools.org (Janet Trumbley, Lincoln School Secretary)

Lincoln School Family News!
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Steve Persenaire to our team of 4th grade teachers and Mrs. Krista Climer to our Kindergarten team! We are excited to have them both. In addition, we congratulate Mrs. Briana Jun on her summer marriage (previously Miss Donohue) and we also welcome a new little bear to our family! Mrs. Goniwiecha and her husband Scott had a healthy baby boy this past Monday!


Now for the Nitty Gritty

Most of the sheets included in your mailing will be self-explanatory, but I do want to draw your attention to a few.

1)   The Application for Ridership only needs to be filled out if you are using bus transportation to and/or from school.  This form is not necessary for field trips.

2)   There is a white half sheet that indicates transportation instructions for your child.  We use this as our main source of information when directing children at the end of the day.  Please complete it and turn it in at Ice Cream Social or in the school office before the start of school.

3)   Our PTO provides many wonderful experiences for our students.  Please review the information they have included and find some time to volunteer!

Instructions for Drop Off and Pick Up 2018-2019
First, I want to encourage everyone to either walk or ride the bus! The less car traffic we have around the school at drop off and pick up the better. If you are considering riding the bus, please do so from the very first day of school. Routes will run long the first few days, but once everyone has met the drivers and taken their "First Days of School" pictures things will run very smoothly.

If you choose to drive, do NOT leave your car parked in the roadway and please do NOT block the driveway of any of our Lincoln School neighbors! If you must leave your car to pick up your child, you must be parked in an appropriately marked parking space. These spaces are limited around our neighborhood school. You can find parking along Morton Avenue, by the church, or on Orchard Avenue to the west of Sunset. Slant parking on the south end of the building is sometimes available, but if you park there, be prepared to wait to leave as traffic flow will be heavy. Walking to and from school and riding the bus are the 2 best options! Please refer to the diagram and watch the video for more detailed information.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxTckyP42FTVSGFWTWZQeVlPMVE/view?usp=sharing

Remember, you're your child's first role model!  They see and hear what you do and say.  Be kind and courteous to others.  Although you might only be concerned about your own child, we're concerned about all 400+ of our students and their safety! 

Students eating breakfast at Lincoln may be dropped off at the front entrance beginning at 8:00 a.m. NO earlier please!  There is no supervision of students prior to 8:00 a.m.

Students NOT eating breakfast may be dropped off, to report to the playground or their entrance door, NO earlier than 8:15 a.m.

There is NO playground supervision before 8:15 a.m.

ALL students are to be picked up from school and the playground NO later than 4:00 p.m. Any students remaining on school grounds after 4:00 p.m. must be accompanied by a parent, or must be registered for, or involved in an adult supervised activity.  There is no supervision on the playground after 4:00 p.m.

We appreciate your help in following these procedures!

If you have questions or concerns regarding drop-off and pick, contact me, chubble@sjschools.org, or call at (269) 926-3700 and I will return your call as soon as possible.

Thanks for your support and understanding!

What will I do on the first day of school?

The first day is always exciting, but it can be a little scary too. Here is a diagram that should help!

Lincoln School News! Mid-Summer 2018

Summer is moving right along; I hope everyone is enjoying the great weather.  We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful place!

I was shopping the other day and noticed the Back to School Supplies are out in full force.  I thought the following information would help you out if you are feeling the pressure to start school shopping.

St. Joseph Public Schools provides all necessary supplies, but these are some items that are recommended and used daily in class.  If you choose, please send these items with your child on the first day of school for our classroom use:

Young 5s and Kindergarten

One box Quart Size Ziploc Bags

One box Sandwich Size Ziploc Bags

One box Gallon Size Ziploc Bags (no zipper please)

One large package napkins

One roll white Bounty paper towels

One bottle hand sanitizer (with pump)

One package of AAA batteries

One package Expo brand dry erase markers (black)

One box of Kleenex

One package of large paper plates

One package of glue sticks

One box of 24 Crayola crayons

One pair of headphones (not earbuds)

On the first day of school please remember to bring:

*A backpack large enough to hold a two-pocket folder with room to spare.  Some backpacks are very cute, but are not practical for transporting kindergarten creations.  Also, due to limited space, backpacks/suitcases with wheels are not appropriate.

1^st Grade

*Indicates items that will be only for your child.  All others will be for the classroom.

Backpack (without wheels)*

2 spiral notebooks*

Ear buds*

Gym shoes*

Sealable water bottle*

Pencils (no mechanical)

Glue sticks

Dry erase markers

Kleenex

Clorox wipes

2^nd Grade

Backpack

2 composite Notebooks Wide Rule

2 Dry erase markers (black, not red, orange, or yellow)

Large box of tissues

Small Water Bottle

Gym Shoes - need not be new

Earbuds/headphones

Healthy Snack

*Snack:  We have a daily snack time in second grade.

Good daily snack choices are fruits, cut up vegetables, crackers, cheese fruit roll-ups, or other healthy choices.  Small water bottles are welcome and encouraged. Please do not send cookies, candy, or chips.

3^rd Grade

Gym Shoes - individual

Box of Kleenex

Can of Clorox wipes

Colored Pencils
Pkgs. of Sharpened Pencils (#2 Ticonderoga, yellow)
Lg. Glue Stick

1 Permanent Bound Composition Book
2 Pocket Folders

2 Packs of Expo/Dry Erase markers
1 box sandwich Ziploc bags

1 pair of earbuds or headphones
Please do not bring personal pencil boxes/bags, Trapper Keepers, or large binders.

4^th Grade

Box of Kleenex

Backpack

Art Shirt

Clorox Wipes

Gym shoes (only one pair is necessary/you don’t need a second pair)

Headphones or ear buds

Zip Lock bags (small or large)

All our supplies are shared, so please don’t send pencil cases or boxes.

5^th Grade

Box of Kleenex

Backpack/Book Bag

Art Shirt

One Highlighter

Dry Erase Markers (4+)

Markers/Colored Pencils

Pencil Box or Bag (small 5”x8”)

Crayons

An Old Sock/Rag (whiteboard eraser)

Gym Shoes

Hand Sanitizer

2 Spiral Notebooks (70 pages)

Pencils

Pens (blue and red)

Scissors

Fine Tip Sharpie Markers

Glue Sticks

Pocket Dictionary

Calculator

Small Pencil Sharpener with Lid

Clorox Wipes

6 Pocket Folders (one of each: red, yellow, orange, green, blue and purple)

Music

Kleenex

Wipes wet and dust dry

Earbuds or headphones with an aux jack, not usb

Here are some important dates to put on your calendar!
Lincoln School Office will officially be open for regular hours starting Thursday, August 9.
Ice Cream Social is 6:00-7:00pm on Wednesday, August 29
First Day of School (8:25-3:48) - Tuesday, September 4
Picture Day - Monday, September 10
Elementary Back to School Night - Monday, September 17
Late Starts (one-hour delay) Wednesday, September 19 and Wednesday, September 26
LAPS for Lincoln - Friday, October 5

A plan to honor Mr. Wagner.

I thought long and hard this year about what would be an appropriate project to honor Mr. Wagner's memory.  Anyone who knew Mike Wagner, knew he was an avid sports fan and above all, loved baseball and The Detroit Tigers!

I was fortunate enough to have attended several games with Mike, each one has a long list of fun and incredible memories.  So, after talking with the staff, the 5th grade students and the Wagner family, we made the decision to re-furbish the ball field area on the playground at Lincoln.

Once the decision was made, I reached out to area field experts to help guide the work that would need to occur.  I was overwhelmed by the response! Equipment for the project and a crew of workers to complete the majority of the work will be donated.  The district has started the process to upgrade the fencing behind home plate along with adding fencing to other areas around the school.

It was also brought to my attention that Lincoln School has an alumni who recently went to work for the Tigers Organization!  Contact with this individual has led to the Tigers donating 2 autographed baseballs for us to auction off.  Funds raised will help pay for signage and benches for the field area.  Here are pictures of the 2 baseballs available.

The first is signed by Al Kaline!  Albert William Kaline, nicknamed "Mr. Tiger", is an American former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers.








The second is signed by Miguel Cabrera!  José Miguel Cabrera Torres, commonly known as Miguel Cabrera and nicknamed "Miggy", is a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He is currently the first baseman for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball.

These baseballs will be on display Wednesday evening during the picnic. On Thursday, I will send out a link that will allow people to bid on these baseball treasures.

By the end of the summer, we hope to have a field that kids and adults will enjoy for years to come.

Lincoln School News for June 4, 2018

LINCOLN ALL-SCHOOL PICNIC

WHERE: LINCOLN SCHOOL PLAYGROUND

WHEN: Wednesday, June 6, 2018 (rain or shine)

TIME: 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.  (Food served 5:00 to 7:00)

EACH FAMILY PLEASE BRING:

1) YOUR OWN TABLE SERVICE

2) A BLANKET, OR LAWN CHAIRS

3) A DISH TO PASS (ENOUGH TO SERVE 20 PLEASE)

SEE LIST BELOW:

ALL 3rd Grade Desserts

ALL Kindergarten & 5th Grade Fresh fruit, Jell-O, fruit salad

ALL Y5 and 1st Grade Vegetables, i.e., coleslaw, relish tray, deviled eggs, beans, (baked or green)

ALL 2nd & 4th Grades Salads, i.e., potato, pasta, tossed

ALL Teachers & Staff Potato Chips, Corn Chips, etc.

Hot dogs and buns, drink and condiments furnished by your P.T.O.

COME & WATCH THE ANNUAL 5TH GRADERS VS. STAFF KICKBALL GAME (6:00 P.M.)

Lost & Found

Please check the lost and found!  There are many items that have been left behind this school year.  All items remaining on June 15th will be donated to charity.

If you are moving over the summer, please notify the office.

Planning Ahead

• School news and information will be posted on the blog and/or sent via email.  Please be sure your contact information on file is current. We will also post occasional updates and information throughout the summer.
• Kindergarten screening is June 12th and 13th at Lincoln Elementary School.  Enrollment packets are available in the school office, at our Central Office, and on the St. Joseph Public Schools website.

Community Corkboard 
There are several new postings this week on our Community Corkboard. Check it out! From swim class to baseball and local camps, there’s plenty to see and do this summer.

Monday, June 4 - B Day

Lory's Place Group Upper ELE 11:45am – 12:35pm

3rd Grade Reading Camp 12 – 3:30pm

Tuesday, June 5 - C Day

Kiwanis Day – Kdg. -4 only

Wednesday, June 6 - D Day

SJ Summer Sailing to visit students during lunch recess

All School Picnic 5 – 7pm

Thursday, June 7 - E Day

5th Grade Breakfast 9 – 10:30am

Half Day - Dismiss at 12:05

Friday, June 8 - Non-Letter Day

Student Last Day

Awards Assembly 10:35 – 11:35am (5th grade parents are welcome)

Half Day - Dismiss at 12:05

Best wishes for a fun-filled and safe summer!  We will see you on August 29th for our Welcome Back! Ice Cream Social.

It is the policy of the St. Joseph Public School District that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, disability, height, weight, or marital status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to, discrimination during any program, activity, service or in employment.