Lincoln School News for Sept. 25-29, 2017

Circle of Friends and Conflict Managers 

Third, fourth, and fifth grade students are all encouraged to participate in the Conflict Managers program.  Conflict managers serve in pairs to help students on our playground solve peer conflicts about equipment use, rules of games or friendship quarrels.  

Fourth and fifth grade students are also invited to join a Circle of Friends team.   This is a team of students who is assigned to be peer role models for a student who struggles due to social, academic, or emotional needs.  

Mrs. Jasiak, our school social worker, runs these programs at our school and recently visited the third-fifth grade classrooms to encourage students to consider participating in these programs this year.  She will provide training and support for the student volunteers.  No parent permission is needed for kids to participate - however, if you'd prefer your child not participate, we would like to hear from you. 

Thank you for considering this special opportunity with your child.

Drop Off and Pick Up

Things seem to be going pretty well.  Please remember that you may not park and leave your vehicle in the traffic lanes on Coles Avenue.  If you need to park and get out of your vehicle, please find an appropriate parking space.  Also, on Morton Avenue, there is a driveway adjacent to the sidewalk that enters the playground.  This is a homeowners driveway.  Please do not use it for parking or for turning around and please do not block the driveway of any neighborhood residence.  Here is a link to a quick screencast about drop off and pick up. Drop Off & Pick Up Screencast 

This Week at Lincoln School

Monday, Sept. 25 – C Day

School Board Meeting at Central 6:00pm

Tuesday, Sept. 26 – D Day

Lincoln PTO Meeting at 7:00pm

Honor Credit Union presentations between 8:35 & 9:45

Wonder Books Delivery – Congratulations Miss Rajewski!

Wednesday, Sept. 27 – E Day
Wear PINK

Late Start - One Hour Delay

Thursday, Sept. 28 – F Day

Friday, Sept. 29 – A Day

Popcorn Day

Laps for Lincoln at SJHS from 5:00-8:00pm

COMING UP

Wednesday, Oct. 4 – Count Day, Late Start-One Hour Delay

Thursday, Oct. 5 – Walk or Ride Your Bike to School Day

Monday, Oct. 9 – School Board Meeting at Central 6:00pm

Wednesday, Oct. 11 - Late Start - One Hour Delay

Thursday, Oct. 12 – 1/2 Day 12:05, PT Conferences Begin, Fire Prevention 10 Min. talks in AM

Friday, Oct. 13 - 1/2 Day 12:05, PT Conferences

Lincoln School News for Sept. 18-22, 2017

Look in your child's backpack for important information about Laps for Lincoln

Monday, Sept. 18 – D Day

Constitution Day! Wear Red, White & Blue

Tuesday, Sept. 19 – E Day

Dress and Talk Like a Pirate Day! 

Scout Leaders to visit with students at lunch

Wednesday, Sept. 20 – F Day

Late Start - One Hour Delay - If you need to drop at regular time, we do provide supervision from 8:00am-until school starts.  We also serve breakfast starting at 8:00am.  Everything else, including bus routes, run exactly one hour later than normal.

Thursday, Sept. 21 – A Day

Boy Scout Sign-Up from 6:00-7:00pm

Friday, Sept. 22 – B Day

School Pictures and Roof Top Shot

COMING UP

Monday, Sept. 25 – School Board Meeting at Central 6:00pm
Tuesday, Sept. 26 - Lincoln PTO Meeting at 7:00pm
Wednesday, Sept. 27 – Wear PINK, Late Start - One Hour Delay

Friday, Sept. 29 - Popcorn Day and Laps for Lincoln at SJHS from 5:00-8:00pm

Wednesday, Oct. 4 – Count Day & Late Start-One Hour Delay

Thursday, Oct. 5 – Walk or Ride Your Bike to School Day

Monday, Oct. 9 – School Board Meeting at Central 6:00pm

Wednesday, Oct. 11 - Late Start - One Hour Delay

Thursday, Oct. 12 – Half Day 12:05, PT Conferences Begin

Friday, Oct. 13 - Half Day 12:05, PT Conferences

Lincoln School News for Sept. 11-15, 2017

Announcements

What a great week!  Even with the excessive rain, things ran pretty smoothly this week.  Please remember that students need to be here before 8:25am, that is when they enter classrooms.  The tardy bell rings at 8:30 and students should be inside and in classrooms by then.

Tuesday will be our annual Back to School Night!  Times are listed below.  This is a parents only meeting where you will get important information about your child's classroom and school. Please come prepared to donate $5 per child or a family donation of $10 for student field trips for the year.  Your child’s teacher will collect donations.

Thank you!

The Media Center has a small display case holding a flag that flew on a medic helicopter in Iraq in 2006 (with a Lincoln alum), along with a plaque.  We would like to add pictures of family members of Lincoln students and staff who are on active duty, or are veterans to the display.  Pictures can be from recent or earlier conflicts (Vietnam, Korea, WWII) .  Photographs can be given to Mrs. Gruchot in the media center, or transmitted digitally to jgruchot@sjschools.org.  Thank you very much.

This Week at Lincoln School

Monday, Sept. 11 – E Day

-    NWEA Testing Begins

Tuesday, Sept. 12 – F Day
Back to School Night - This "Parents Only" meeting will provide you important information about our school year.

-       5:15 - 6:00pm - Young 5, 4th and 5^th

-       6:15 - 7:00pm - Kdg. and 1^st

-       7:15 - 8:00pm - 2nd and 3^rd

Wednesday, Sept. 13 – A Day
FLL Robotics 4:00-5:30pm in Media Center

Thursday, Sept. 14 – B Day

Friday, Sept. 15 – C Day

-    Assembly for Laps for Lincoln in Media Center 3rd-5th at 2:40/Y5-2 at 3:10

COMING UP

Monday, Sept. 18 - Constitution Day! & Scout Leaders visit with students at lunch.  

Tuesday, Sept. 19 - Dress and Talk Like a Pirate Day!   

Wednesday, Sept. 20 - Late Start - One Hour Delay

Thursday, Sept. 21 - Boy Scout Sign-Up from 6:00-7:00pm

Friday, Sept. 22 - School Pictures and Roof Top Shot

Monday, Sept. 25 – School Board Meeting at Central 6:00pm
Tuesday, Sept. 26 - Lincoln PTO Meeting at 7:00pm
Wednesday, Sept. 27 - Late Start - One Hour Delay 
Friday, Sept. 29 - Popcorn Day and Laps for Lincoln 5:00-8:00pm at SJHS

Lincoln School News for Sept. 5-8, 2017

Announcements
We're almost there!!!   Thank you to everyone who attended the Ice Cream Social, I enjoyed meeting so many Lincoln Families.  I promise the blog posts will get shorter :-)
Reminder that students should arrive in plenty of time to enter the building at 8:25am. For a more informative schedule, please review the blog post from August 15 with Back to School Information.

The following are excerpts from an article by: Karin A. Bilich, Ilisa Cohen, and the editors of Parents magazine

What You Can Do Before School

Preparing your child for school before his first day can greatly reduce any separation anxiety your child may feel when you leave. 

Don't minimize the importance of easing your fears as well as your child's. If you feel guilty or worried about leaving her at school, your child will probably sense that. The more calm and assured you are, the more confident your child will be.

Tips for Tear-Free Goodbyes

Saying goodbye on that first day can be the hardest moment for parents and children. Here are five tips on how to ease the separation anxiety.

Reintroduce the teacher to your child. Allow them to form an initial relationship. Make it clear that you trust the teacher and are at ease with her watching your child.

When it's time to go, make sure to say good-bye to your child. Never sneak out. As tempting as it may be, leaving without saying good-bye to your child risks her trust in you.

Once you say good-bye, leave promptly. A long farewell scene might only serve to reinforce a child's sense that school is a bad place.

Don't linger. The longer you stay, the harder it is. Let your child know that you'll be there to pick her up, and say "See you later!" once she's gotten involved in an activity.

Create your own ritual. One of the moms in Shanon Powers's class, in Kansas City, Missouri, says goodbye to her son the same way every day: She kisses him on the lips and gives him a butterfly kiss (her eyelashes on his cheek), and then they rub noses and hug. When the embrace is over, he knows it's time for her to go to work.

Leave the lovey at home: Get a T-shirt made with a picture of her Woofie or Teddy at zazzle.com.

Lunch-box love notes are a great way to let your child know you're thinking of her while she's at school.

Time will tell: His own digital watch will make him feel like a big boy, and he can look at it every so often to remind himself that you'll be picking him up soon!

Source: The American Medical Association - Copyright © 2008 Meredith Corporation. Originally published in American Baby, the August 2003 issue of Parents magazine and the September 2007 issue of Parents magazine.

Severe Allergies
We have severe nut allergies in both of our 4th grade classrooms.  Please watch for important information regarding snacks to come home the first week of school.

Lego League

Calling all returning 4th and 5th grade Lego League Members!

It is time to commit to the team!

Space is limited to 16 members who are committed to professional cooperation.

We will meet on Wednesdays in the media center during late starts and from 4:00 – 5:30pm.

Pay to play fee of $35 is due at the first meeting during the parent meeting.  Checks payable to SJPS.

First Build Session: Wednesday Sept. 13th, Media Center 4 pm parent meeting at 5:15 pm

First Project Session: Wednesday Sept 20th, Media Center 8:15 am – 9:15 am

Last Build Session: Wednesday Nov 8th

Competition Day: Sat. November 11th, Location and time TBD

Register here: https://goo.gl/forms/Mge3UhV4NDlCq3Jl2 

This Week at Lincoln School

Tuesday, September 5 - A Day

Wednesday, September 6 - B Day

Thursday, September 7 - C Day

Friday, September 8 - D Day

Coming Up

Monday, Sept. 11 - NWEA Testing Begins

Tuesday, Sept. 12 - Elementary Back to School Night - PARENTS ONLY
5:15 - 6:00pm - Young 5, 4th and 5th
6:15 - 7:00pm - Kdg. and 1st
7:15 - 8:00pm - 2nd and 3rd

Friday, Sept. 15 - Laps for Lincoln Assembly in the PM

Monday, Sept. 18 - Constitution Day

Tuesday, Sept. 19 - Dress and Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Wednesday, Sept. 20 - Late Start (1 hr. delay) Supervision available if you need to drop at regular time.

Thursday, Sept. 21 - Boy Scout Sign-Up from 6:00-7:00pm at Lincoln School

Friday, Sept. 22 - Lincoln School Picture Day

Lincoln School News for August 24, 2017

We're getting closer! Thank you to everyone for all the warm welcomes, I know this is going to be an amazing year. Please take some time to read through the information below and to review last week's blog post about drop off and pick up and lining up on the first day. As always, if you have questions, feel free to email me at chubble@sjschools.org
The countdown has begun,
Craig Hubble

Click on this link to see the 2017-2018 Calendar

Ice Cream Social
Aug 29 - Ice Cream Social from 6:00-7:00pm
Our staff is excited to meet you at the Ice Cream Social! The event begins at 6:00pm. We will have grade level areas set up and ready for you on the playground this year. At the social, you should plan to turn in: 

-Week one transportation forms
-Emergency contact information forms - We will draw from this pile for a $50 Pizza Hut Gift Card!
-Free and Reduced Lunch Forms 

-PTO Volunteer Forms

Teachers will not accept any medication, medication forms or allergy / asthma action forms! Parents should drop those items off directly in the office and make contact with Janet Trumbley.
Ridership Forms (yellow cards) and lunch deposits should be dropped off at the tables for food service and transportation.

Tuesday, 9/5 - A Day - First Day of School!!!
Welcome back, Students! Remember that quick goodbyes are best. Let your children know that school is a great place by not lingering and feeding their potential fears.
Mrs. Jasiak will be visiting classes to quickly assess students needs.
I will visit 3rd-5th grade classes to read and to introduce myself.
Dismissal 3:48 p.m. Buses will be running late the first few days.

Wednesday, 9/6 - B Day
I will continue with classroom visits to Young 5s and K-2.

Thursday, 9/7 - C Day
Classrooms will practice fire drill procedures.

Friday, 9/8 - D Day

Tuesday, 9/12 Elementary Back to School Night
Please plan to attend - this evening communicates much of the information you will need for the year! The meetings are for parents only. Please come prepared to make your $5 per child donation for field trips for the year. Thank you!

5:15 - 6:00pm - Young 5, 4th and 5th
6:15 - 7:00pm - Kdg. and 1st
7:15 - 8:00pm - 2nd and 3rd

Monday 9/18 - Constitution Day!

Tuesday 9/19 - Dress and Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Wednesday 9/20 - Late Start - One Hour Delay

Thursday 9/21 - Boy Scout Sign-Up from 6:00-7:00pm

Friday 9/22 - School Pictures and Roof Top Shot

Tuesday 9/26 - Lincoln PTO Meeting at 7:00pm

Wednesday 9/27 - Late Start - One Hour Delay

Friday 9/29 - Popcorn Day and Laps for Lincoln

Class Lists
Class Lists will be posted on the front entrance windows by the end of the work day on Friday, August 25.

Bear Necessities - Reminders
In addition to classroom routines and procedures, it is important that the first week of school focus on school-wide expectations. Students will actively rehearse and model expectations for our hallway quiet zones, bathroom procedures (sign-out, "in use", no peeking, and picking up after self), and lunchroom. Here is our student rubric for discipline:

Back to School Information for Fall 2017

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.

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year!  If you haven't seen the news, I want to share with you that St. Joseph Public Schools was ranked as one of the Top 10 Districts in West Michigan, coming in at #6!  For more information check out: 

http://mychannel957.com/the-10-best-public-school-districts-in-west-michigan/

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!