Virtual Learning Week 2
Hello Lincoln School Families,
As an elementary team, our collective focus for week two and three of our shutdown is Family Time! We hope that you and your family are enjoying this “found time” together as much as possible. We understand that there are many strains for all of us in finding a balanced approach to work, learning, and playing during this time in our country’s history. We appreciate all you are doing as a family to stay connected to one another, to our school family, and to learning in general.
Don't Forget to Read Your Teachers' Blogs
Mrs. Schmidt https://aschmidtyoungfives.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Confer https://conferkindergarten.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Mutschler https://rmutschlerkindergarten.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Jun https://jun19-20.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Fiesbeck https://fiesbeck19-20.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Harmening harmening2019-20.blogspot.com
Mrs. Laukus https://laukus2018-19.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Starks starks2019-2020.blogspot.com
Mrs. Ettinger https://ettinger2019-2020.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Peek https://peek2019-20.blogspot.com/
Miss Reimers https://reimers2019-2020.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Abbott http://abbottsdreamteam.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Goniwiecha https://goniwiecha2018-2019.blogspot.com/
Mr. Persenaire https://persenaire5thgrade.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Briney-Kelm https://bk18-19.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Schermerhorn https://schermerhorn19-20.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Sheldon http://mrssheldonspecialed.blogspot.com
Mr. Pfahler https://pfahler1819.blogspot.com/
Mrs. Warsow https://mrswarsowsartroom.blogspot.com/
SJ District Special Education https://spedsjps.blogspot.com/
Staying Strong & Healthy in Uncertain Times
Staying positive and upbeat in times of uncertainty can be a challenge. We know how hard you are working to stay calm in face of worry and to be present with your children in face of competing demands on your time. Thank you for ALL you are doing! There’s no recipe book or “one size fits all” solution that we can offer. However, please know that we are here as a school community to help in any way that we can. Our elementary school Social Workers are busy working with the rest of the SJPS Guidance department to provide social and emotional learning (SEL) resources and supports for families, including weekly SEL lessons linked by the classroom teachers and a comprehensive list of mental health resources posted on our district website www.sjschools.org.
Your children will be taking direction from you during these challenging times. Please consider minimizing conversations about your stress and worry while little ears are present. In addition, please try to limit access to news coverage for your child and do what you can to answer any questions your child may have with information from reputable sources.
Helping Young Kids Through Coronavirus Infographic provides some additional guidance for families.
How Much is Enough?
Our teachers are working to provide options for you and your family to keep learning alive during this time away. The goal is enrichment and practice so that your child stays strong academically and has a routine. Please know that it is not the expectation that you do school all day, every day or that you complete every assignment that is offered. We are simply asking you to stay connected with us as a school family and are focused on doing something that inspires your child’s math and literacy development each school day.
Remember that if you’re baking or cooking together, getting out to explore nature, making a project, or doing anything else that requires thinking, planning, and discovery, it counts as learning! Getting outside together is not only a great way to learn, it is good for our mental health too! Just remember to keep your physical distance from those who you see that don’t live with you and to wash your hands coming back inside.
An important message we share with all families:
Feeding Our Bears Continues
We will continue to offer ‘grab and go’ meals on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Lincoln School (1102 Orchard Avenue in St. Joseph). Families will have the opportunity to pick up several free student meals to last them throughout the week. Please note that meals will not be available during spring break week (April 6-10).
Please click here for other lunch programs available throughout the county.
For additional updates related to our district’s response to COVID-19, please be sure to check our district’s website, sjschools.org.
Kindergarten Registration
You can access all of the necessary Young Fives & Kindergarten enrollment information on our district’s website or by clicking here. These fillable forms can be downloaded and emailed directly to jtrumbley@sjschools.org or can be printed and handed in to Sue Patzer in our central office once it is reopened to the public.
It is Still Reading Month!
Please consider taking part in our Fun Friday Dress-Up Days by posting a picture of your child to our PTO's closed Facebook page and encourage your child to keep working on his/her reading month goals.
Friday, March 27
Be a Bright Reader/Wear Neon
Friday, April 3
Slip into a Good Book/PJ Day
Help Tell Our Story
We are making history together! Please help us tell the story of our amazing school family’s efforts to stay connected and engaged by sharing your learning experiences online via social media. We ask that you consider joining Governor Whitmer’s campaign on Twitter by adding #DoingMIPart.
Not yet a member of our Facebook group?
Now is the PERFECT time to become a member. Our school staff and families are posting inspirational messages, pictures, and videos in an effort to stay connected to each other.
Click here to join the SJLincolnPTO closed FB group. https://www.facebook.com/SJLincolnPTO/
Thank you!
Michigan School Grade System
The Michigan School Grades System was started in 2018. Schools receive up to five letter grades and three ranking labels based on various school performance components, but no overall letter grade. The 2018-19 reports became publicly available (www.mischooldata.org) beginning Monday, March 23rd. We have so much to celebrate as a school family!
Stay Informed!
The COVID-19 pandemic is uncharted waters for all of us and a very dynamic situation. Information seems to change daily. Thank you for your efforts to stay connected to credible news sources and to follow recommendations designed to help you stay safe. Together, we can flatten the curve! See sjschools.org for access to CDC and other news sources.
In addition to the sources we mentioned last week, Michigan and Berrien County have also set up COVID-19 hotlines.
Supplemental Family Resources
Looking for some fun activities to do with your family at home.
Curious Kids’ Museum has been posting fun activities to do at home on their Facebook page
Card Games for kids that use a standard card deck
Ren Baldwin Student Technology Festival
This is a great time to work on a project for our technology festival.
Ren Baldwin projects are due April 15th! The festival provides an opportunity for students and teachers to showcase how technology is being used and integrated to demonstrate learning in St. Joseph Public Schools. Digital projects are submitted via an online form for either showcasing or judging and those submissions are then displayed and honored at a community event held each spring. Visit tinyurl.com/rbtechfest2020 for more information.
Planning for 2020-2021
If you haven’t already, please help us with our enrollment projections by responding to our Family Survey letting us know what your family’s plans for next year are. The survey was sent via email and is available via this link. Only one response per household is needed.
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.
