April 2, 2020
Greetings Lincoln Families! Thank you for being an active part of our school community even during our time away. It’s the power of our connection with each other that will help us get through this trying time. Every effort counts - large and small! From positive Facebook posts and participation in our challenges to sharing resources with each other as families, we thank you!
As we look ahead to next week, we wish you and your family a relaxing spring break. Certainly it isn’t going to be the spring break you may have envisioned, but we know you’ll make the most of it. Time together is what matters most.
In keeping with our published school calendar, there will be no school during the week of April 3-8. Remote learning will resume on Monday, April 13th. Of course, your child’s online learning tools will be available during the break, but we’re not expecting you to keep in contact with school. Our staff will be enjoying time with their families as well.
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/
Virtual Tour of the Box Factory Student Art Exhibition
As you know, the live exhibit for the 2020 Elementary Community Student Art Exhibition at the Box Factory was cancelled due to the outbreak of COVID-19. We are delighted that they have created a virtual tour of the entire show for our families to enjoy. Please click here to view the amazing artwork of our SW MI students.
Stay at Home Stay Safe
Please do everything you can as a family to observe the state and federal guidelines for staying home and staying safe. There are many clever ways to stay social while maintaining physical distance. Google recently released an extension, for example, which allows tile views in hangouts - similar to group FaceTime and Zoom. Share your great ideas with other families via social media!
Talking with and Supporting Your Child Trying to explain what’s going on to your child can be a challenge. We know our children are being impacted by the news coverage, worry about job loss, and stress of working from home. While we are all doing what we can as adults to handle this national crisis, understanding the child’s lens is important during times like these.
There are also some resources available online from other experts in the area of child psychology to help you navigate this new territory together at home. If your child is struggling, please do not hesitate to reach out to us directly. We are here to help! Our School Social Workers are listed with contact info below:
Colette Jasiak - cjasiak@sjschools.org
Brianne Van Hekken - bvanhekken@sjschools.org
Mental Health ResourcesThis is a difficult time for families. As an adult, you may have many mixed emotions, too. Please take good care of yourself and staying as emotionally healthy as possible by disconnecting from the news, recommitting to hobbies and activities that you enjoy, focusing on self care, and social connection. Your child is counting on you to model the way during this time of crisis. If you are struggling or need some additional ideas, please visit www.sjschools.org. Our school social workers and counselors have been working hard to put together a list of mental health resources (see sjschools.org).
If you are in need of food or interested in making a monetary donation to assist in this time of crisis, here’s a list of local Food Bank Options
Join us for District Wide Dress Up days and activities.
Take a photo/video of how you are embracing the theme or activity each day.
Share your photo/video with us using the following google form: forms.gle/6zzX2kmgL9qDhnFM8
Keep an eye on the following sites to see the moments of joy happening all throughout our community!
SJPS Facebook: facebook.com/sjschools
SJPS Twitter: @sjschools
SJHS Student Senate Instagram: @sjstudentsenate
Michigan Needs Volunteers!
MICHIGAN LAUNCHES COVID-19 VOLUNTEER WEBSITE
Medical professionals, everyday residents asked to save lives
Today Gov. Whitmer and MDHHS launched a new volunteer website, www.michigan.gov/fightcovid19, where trained medical professionals can register to serve their fellow Michiganders by assisting hospitals in fighting COVID-19. Other state residents also can use the site to find out how they can help in their local communities, give blood, donate money or needed medical supplies, or assist public health officials in tracking infections.
“We’ve seen an incredible amount of strength and courage of Michiganders during this time of uncertainty, whether it’s from communities donating food, money, and resources to those that need it or from businesses using their technology to manufacture personal protective equipment,” said Gov. Whitmer. “To bend the curve and slow the spread of COVID-19 in our state, we must all work together as Michiganders. Whether you’re a medical professional looking to volunteer, or someone who can give blood or donate to your local food bank, everyone can help out. We will get through this together.”
This website will serve as a single clearinghouse for Michiganders to join the fight against COVID-19. The state will work with hospitals and health systems that are short-staffed to fill gaps if and when necessary.
Residents with a background in public health, healthcare fields, or community organizing may assist with contact tracing. Contact tracing involves speaking with COVID-19-positive patients to determine the people they interacted with and locations they visited in the days prior to becoming infected.
“The time is now to save lives,” said MDHHS Director Robert Gordon. “Doctors, nurses, medical assistants – please volunteer where we need you most. You can save lives. Michiganders in good health who want to serve seniors who are alone – safely, from a distance – please volunteer. You can save lives, too. If you’re ready to use your cell phone to trace infections to their source, please volunteer. You can save lives, too. Visit www.michigan.gov/fightcovid19.”
Easy-to-use-buttons on the website allow users to link to volunteer opportunities in their community, donate or give blood. The Michigan Community Service Commission within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity is a partner in the new website as the state’s expert at using service as a strategy to address Michigan’s most pressing issues and empowering volunteers to strengthen communities.
The American Red Cross is also partnering with the state on the new site. As the demand for blood remains high during the pandemic, Whitmer and the Red Cross encourage eligible, healthy Michigan donors to go to RedCrossBlood.org and schedule an appointment to give in the days and weeks ahead. The Red Cross has implemented COVID-19 mitigation measures at blood drives.
Information around COVID-19 outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
Mental Health ResourcesThis is a difficult time for families. As an adult, you may have many mixed emotions, too. Please take good care of yourself and staying as emotionally healthy as possible by disconnecting from the news, recommitting to hobbies and activities that you enjoy, focusing on self care, and social connection. Your child is counting on you to model the way during this time of crisis. If you are struggling or need some additional ideas, please visit www.sjschools.org. Our school social workers and counselors have been working hard to put together a list of mental health resources (see sjschools.org).
Supplemental Family ResourcesLooking for some fun activities to do with your family at home. Have you discovered some great online resources? Please post your favorite discoveries via social media https://www.facebook.com/SJLincolnPTO/
Many of us may be trying to adjust our Spring Break plans. Looking for some Staycation ideas?
Camp in the backyard or living room
Video Game Olympics - choose short games like tennis, bowling, etc
Learn a foreign language - check out the Mango program through St. Joseph Public Library (Maud Preston Palenske) or go to Rosetta Stone for a free 3 month trial!
Plan a future vacation
Check out an exotic destination using Google Maps Street View.
Family Cooking Challenge
Photo Scavenger Hunt - go on a family hike, explore your backyard and take photos of items on your scavenger hunt list.
WelcomeThis week the Business Office welcomed our new CFO, Brenda Graham. We are very happy to welcome her to SJPS - though it is not a normal welcome with our shut down.
Brenda comes to us with years of experience in school finance having worked for Mattawan Public Schools and most recently, Portage Public Schools. Along with her years of experience she also holds her Michigan School Business Officials CFO Certification.
Brenda is a graduate of Benton Harbor High School, so she is no stranger to the area. She has one son, Ian, two dogs named Jax and Opie, and a cat named Gemma. Who can guess her favorite series when she named these pets?
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.
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