OCTOBER 17, 2016

ULTIMATE RECESS! A Call for HELP

Because our Lincoln Students went above and beyond our 2016 Laps for Lincoln GOAL, ALL classrooms have earned the Ultimate Recess.

The Ultimate Recess consists of 8 stations (2 bouncy house, 1 face painting, and 5 athletic/game stations).

Groups of students spend approximately 10 minutes at each station.

But, we can’t do this without HELP from parents & grandparents!

Below is the schedule for our Ultimate Recess (weather permitting):

Thursday, October 20 (C Day)                                                       Volunteers Arrive

8:43-10:19 am          2^nd Mrs. Laukus & 3^rd Mrs. Ettinger                         8:00 am

10:19-11:55 am        2^nd Miss Donohue & 5^th Mrs. Briney-Kelm             10:00 am

12:10-1:46 pm          Y5s Mrs. Schmidt & 4^th Mrs. Goniwiecha               11:50 am

1:46-3:22 pm             1^st Mrs. Robertson & 4^th Mrs. Abbott                      1:30 pm

3:22-4:00 pm             Station break-down crew                                          3:20 pm

Friday, October 21 (D Day)                                                                        Volunteers Arrive

8:43-10:19 am          1^st Ms. Harmening & 3^rd Mrs. Peek                          8:00 am

10:19-11:55 am        K Mrs. Bartz & 5^th Miss Rajewski                            10:00 am

12:10-1:46 pm          K Mrs. Mutschler & 4^th Mrs. Alsbro                        11:50 am

1:46-3:22 pm            2^nd Ms. Borah & 5^th Mrs. Holzapfel                         1:30 pm

3:22-4:00 pm                        Station break-down crew                                         3:20 pm

We REALLY need 8 volunteers from each classroom to make this work, 4 to man the stations & 4 to stay with each classroom group.  Can you PLEASE give an hour and a half to two hours to help make this work?

If you are able to help, please email Mrs. Trumbley at JTrumbley@sjschools.org by noon this Wednesday, October 19^th.

Thank you!

itsLearing Parent Accounts

Attention Parents:  Please remember to activate your itsLearning parent account so you can log into the system and receive classroom information from your child’s teacher.  As well as building information from the office.  You'll want to monitor the Lincoln Elementary Group and your child/childrens' Teacher's Course(s).

Directions for activating your account can be found at this link:  

https://sjschools.org/images/District/Using_the_itsLearning_Parent_Portal.pdf

A short video tutorial for activating your account and navigating the system can be found by clicking this link:  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3DvAdAoKTFhUHZ1ZHRodkxRR2s/view?usp=sharing  

If you are having trouble activating your itsLearning Parent Account, please don't hesitate to contact me or Mrs. Trumbley in the office.

Thanks for taking time to register for this important communication tool!

Title I Parent Meeting

If your child is receiving Title I support in the area of Reading &/or Math, you should have received an invitation to attend one of two Title I Information Meetings for Parents at Lincoln School.  You need only to attend one of these meetings.  Meetings are scheduled for Monday, October 24 at 10:00 am or 5:30 pm at Lincoln School.  Child care will be provided at the 5:30 pm meeting if enough RSVP's are received showing interest in child care.  Please see information in invite you should have received.  

If you are unable to attend, please ask your child's teacher for information at Parent Teacher Conferences, or call me at (269)-926-3700.

Volunteers & Volunteer Consent Form

The St. Joseph Public Schools recognizes that certain programs and activities can be enhanced through the use of volunteers. Any volunteer who works with or has access to students shall submit to a criminal history records check, prior to being allowed to participate in any activity or program. Any person who volunteers to work with the District shall be screened through the internet sites for the Public Sex Offenders Registry (PSOR) list, the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) criminal history records check and the Offender TrackingInformation System (OTIS) prior to being allowed to participate in any activity or program.

Our Volunteer Consent Form must be completed annually and can be picked up in the office.

Halloween Parties & Parade:

A.  Lincoln’s Halloween Parties and Parade WILL be on Halloween, Monday, October 31st, NOT Friday, October 28th.

B.  Students may get into costumes beginning at 1:45 pm.  Costumes are not to be worn to school.

C.  Our Halloween Parade will begin at 2:00 pm or shortly after.  Weather permitting, the parade will be outside on the blacktop portion of our playground.  Parents/Grandparents wishing to see the parade of costumes should first sign in at the office, obtain a visitor badge, and proceed to the playground.  Please surround the outer edge of the playground pavement.

D.  Classroom parties are limited to 1 hour.  You can check your child's teacher's itsLearnng site to find out when your child's party will be.

E.  Halloween COSTUMES are NOT to be too bloody, gutsy, or gory!  Students may NOT carry weapons, even fake ones (knives, machetes, guns, etc.) without prior approval from Mr. Wagner. We are also concerned about clown costumes, but will NOT tell a child they can’t wear one.  Please     remind your child, if a student wears a clown costume, that it’s just that, a costume.

Operation Coats

Each November the members of Women’s Service League collect and distribute thousands of free coats to men, women and children living in Berrien County. Coat drop boxes are set up throughout the twin cities for community members and organizations to donate gently used coats and jackets of all shapes and sizes.

Lincoln School has a collection box and coats will be accepted through October 28th.

If you or your children are in need of a warm, slightly used, winter coat, Operation Coats distribution day for 2016 is:                              Thursday, November 3rd
                                 Salvation Army, Benton Harbor
                                 OPENS TO THE PUBLIC FROM 10AM-11AM

Road Closure

Lincoln Avenue and Vineland Road will be closed for repairs October 17 through November 4. While this is not in the Lincoln bussing area, it could very well delay our Lincoln busses due to detours.

Food Service and Balance Due

Students with a negative balance food service accoun are given notices each Thursday to bring home to their parents.  Please check your child's folder / backpack each Thursday.  These notices are on purple slips of paper.  When a child's negative balance reaches, or exceeds, $12.25 at the elementary level, a letter in a sealed envelope addressed to "The Parents of..." is sent home.  Students whose accounts are $12.25 or more in the red will have their lunch cards pulled and will either need to bring a lunch and drink from home, or will be limited to a selection of a choice of one of two sandwiches until their account is paid.  And, at the same time, they are charged for that lunch.  While we know a negative balance is not the fault of the child, and we will continue to be sure they have something for lunch, this is a debt the District can no longer carry.  If you are in receipt of a letter indicating your child's account is at, or in excess of $12.25, please pay, or complete a free and reduced lunch application. That is what this program is for.  Charges continue to accumulate until the application is processed and approved.  You will be notified whether your application is approved or denied.  All debt incurred prior to application approval is still the responsibility of the parents.

Community Corkboard

Under the Parent tab on our Lincoln or District web-site, you will find a Community Corkboard tab. Information about upcoming community events and elementary community athletic/rec programs can be found here. Below is a link to the Community Corkboard:

https://www.sjschools.org/lincoln-elementary-parents/community-cork-board-lincoln

Check out the Candy Buy Back Program!  Pretty cool idea.

Art Festival

Berrien County Cancer Service, Inc. is sponsoring Art Festival on Thursday, November 10 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Box Factory for the Arts (1101 Broad St., St. Joseph, MI 49085).  For more information, go to www.bccancerservice.org or call (269)-429-3281.

The Flu and Our School

1  Hygiene Counts

     Cover your cough and sneeze with a tissue or your elbow.. NOT your hands!

2  Flu Vaccine Works

     Be brave and get vaccinated against the Flu.

3  Sick?  Stay Home

     Do you feel crummy today?  Headache, body aches, fever, sneezing, coughing?  Help keep our            school healthy.  Stay home when you are sick.

Flu Prevention pamphlets provided by the Berrien County Health Department (BCHD) are available in the office.

Rosetta Stone Foreign Language is Coming

Our hope is to start our Rosetta Stone Foreign Language group on November 1st.  English Language Learners are assigned first.  After that, as we have a limited number of licenses, we send information home for 3rd - 5th graders.  If licenses remain after that, we then send the information home for K - 2nd graders.  

This program will be held one day per six-day cycle here at school during your child's lunch recess time.  And, students in the program have access to use this program at home as well.

Thank You!

I want to thank Parent Volunteers Mallory Getty & Mandy Pfeiffer for organizing another successful Laps for Lincoln! Great job Ladies!  I also want to thank all of our parent volunteers who helped in so many ways, especially counting money during the event.  A huge thank you also to all of our sponsors for their support, and to our students for their efforts and Parents and Staff for supporting this wonderful event!  Have to also thank our Bears that wore that hot costume the night of our event, Elias Coar and Sophie Wagner.  Thank you all so much!  Our School, Students, and Staff are the benefactors of your generosity!

OCTOBER 7th UPDATE...

Laps for Lincoln & Piggin' n' Grinnin' Tailgate is tonight, Friday, October 7th from 5:00-8:00 pm at SJHS Dickinson Stadium.  Hope to see everyone at this Fun, Fantastic, Family event and PTO Annual Fundraiser for Lincoln School.  Bring your appetites, blankets, and lawn chairs and enjoy a little tailgating prior to our walk-a-thon.  Congratulations to the following classrooms for already meeting or exceeding their classroom goal and earning the "ultimate recess":
     Miss Donohue's 2nd Grade
     Ms. Borah's 2nd Grade
     Mrs. Ettinger's 3rd Grade
     Mrs. Peek's 3rd Grade
     Mrs. Alsbor's 4th Grade

BCHD Vision & Hearing Screening is Monday, October 10th.  Students in Kindergarten are screened for hearing while students in grades 1, 3, and 5 have both their hearing and vision screened. If there are any concerns as a result of the vision and hearing screenings, parents will be notified by the Berrien County Health Department.

Fall 2016 NWEA & Spring 2016 M-STEP Test Results will be sent home with students today, Friday, October 7th.  Kindergarten and First grade students will receive NWEA reading and math results.  Second through Fifth grade students will receive NWEA reading, math, and language usage results.  Spring 2016 M-STEP results will be sent home with our current Fourth and Fifth grader students for the testing they participated in last spring.

If you have any questions regarding any NWEA or M-STEP results, please be sure to ask them when you meet with your child's teacher at Parent Teacher Conference.

Walk to School Wednesday was a success!  Look for the number of students that participated in our next blog.  I want to THANK Parent Volunteer, Marsha Osborn for organizing this event for Lincoln School and Mrs. BrineyKelm for supervising in my absence!  Thank you Marsha.  Thanks to all of our Parent Volunteers for making this possible:
     Tabatha Street, Sara Waters, Kelly Roche, Heather Fisbeck, Jeff Bieri, Amy Struwin, Kim Poole,        Dave Hammerschmidt, Amanda Grossman, Amber Clements, Sarah Strait, Erica Walsh, Jenni            Bush, and Shaun Schroeder

October PTO Meeting
Our next PTO meeting is Tuesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm in our Media Center.  Hope to see you here!

Community Corkboard
Be sure to occasionally check out our Community Corkboard on our District web-site.  This is where you'll find event and community event information for kids and families.  I've provided a link below to take you directly to the most recent corkboard.
     https://www.sjschools.org/sjps-parents/community-cork-board-district

Permission to Photograph/Videotape Release to Utilize
Please be on the lookout for a survey in messenger (you will receive via email) regarding School Board Policy 7540 F4 (Permission to Photograph/Videotape Release to Utilize).  This survey will give you the option to allow, or to NOT allow the use of your child's image, name, work product, school, and grade in media presentations (including blogs, Facebook, Twitter, etc.).  Thank you for participating in this upcoming survey!

Volunteers
While we love our Parent and Grandparent volunteers here at Lincoln School, Student Safety is of our utmost concern.  Because of this, we must follow SJPS School Board Policy 4120.08 - Volunteers.  A link to this policy is provided below:

Board Policy 4120.09 - Volunteers

All volunteers must complete and submit our "Confidential Volunteer Consent Form" and be cleared by our Central Office before you will be allowed to volunteer at Lincoln School or any school in our District.  A link to our Confidential Volunteer Consent Form can be found below and MUST be completed ANNUALLY.

CONFIDENTIAL VOLUNTEER CONSENT FORM - TO BE COMPLETED ANNUALLY

What is ACCESS?
Access is a non-denominational elementary youth group run by an outside group.  This is not a School sponsored club/activity, but they do meet at Lincoln School in Room 208 the second Tuesday of each month beginning this Tuesday, October 11th.  They meet from 8:10-8:25 am when they meet. Students are NOT allowed to attend without Parent permission.

Parent Teacher (PT) Conferences
Our expectation is that Teachers will meet with 100% of their Students' Parents for Fall Parent Teacher Conferences!  Our first Fall PT Conference days are Thursday, October 13 and Friday, October 14.  These will be Half-days for Students.  Students will be dismissed at 12:05 p.m. on half-days.  Our next PT Conference dates are November 10 and 11.  Thanks for attending Parent Teacher Conferences and for being an active participant in your child's education.  What's that saying... "It takes the entire village to raise a child."

CUB Students of the Month for September
Congratulations to our September CUB Students of the Month!  Because they were Caught Using our Bear Necessities, they were awarded with lunch on September 30th hosted by Mrs. Crawford, Ms. McElroy, Mrs. Warsow, and Mr. Wagner.  Way to go Lincoln September CUB Students!

     Clayton Floyd                          Kendra Hawkins
     Ben Kirshenbaum                    Kennedy Hawkins
     Madison Molineaux                 Jack Travis
     Avery Lannert                          Alyse Peden
     Maisy Gable                            Elizabeth Fisbeck
     Ja'Kobe Reed                           Nicole Cickoki
     Isla Strait                                 Emerson Flynn
     Gavin Wynegar                        Asher Tunnicliff

A glance at the week of September 26-30 at Lincoln School

Tuesday, September 27
     Team Up for Cancer Student Assembly

Wednesday, September 28
     PLC Late-Start, classes begin at 9:30 a.m.

     3:48-5:30 p.m. First Lego League Robotics in Media Center
   
     4:00 p.m. Lincoln Bear Credit Union Job Applications are DUE
   
     Dig Pink Volleyball for Team Up for Cancer at SJHS
               Go BEARS, beat Lakeshore
   
Thursday, September 29
     Lincoln School Picture Day!
          * Pictures are taken in the morning & ALL students are photographed

     3:48-5:00 p.m. Mini Mozarts Registration in our gym.

Friday, September 30
     Lincoln Bear Credit Union Job Interviews for 3rd through 5th grade students that returned
     an application on time.

     September CUB Luncheon
          * Caught Using the Bear Necessities

     7:00 p.m. SJHS Football Pink-OUT, Team Up for Cancer football game at Dickinson Stadium.
          * Please remember that students are to be seated with an adult during home SJHS
             athletic events

2016 Laps for Lincoln

Laps for Lincoln & Piggin' N' Grinnin' fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, October 7th!  This is a wonderful family friendly event and is our PTO's main fundraiser for the school year.

Mark your calendar & plan to attend.  The event is held at SJHS's Dickinson Stadium.  The tailgate is held from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.  Meals are $6  and you may choose from a Brisket or Pulled Pork Sandwich and chips, or Brisket Chili and cornbread.

We want to than Piggin' N' Grinnin' for donating any profits right back to Laps for Lincoln!  Very cool!

Our tailgate is picnic style so please bring a blanket and/or chairs if you would like.  All food items are available as long as supplies last.  So, come early and come hungry!

The remainder of our evening's schedule looks like this:

     6:00-6:15 pm     Families proceed to stands where students will sit in a designated classroom
                                location.

     6:15-6:30 pm     Welcome, Introductions, and Prize Winners Announced

     6:30-7:00 pm     30 minute Laps for Lincoln (Please Walk!)

     7:00-8:00 pm     Tailgate continues while supplies last

Many THANKS to our Sponsors:

     Art & Image
     Berrien Hills Golf Club                    Katie Hess Photography
     Biggby Coffee                                  Kelley's Bowl
     Buffalo Wild Wings                          Piggin' N' Grinnin'
     Clementine's Too                              Silver Beach Pizza
     Colby Event Services                       Taylor Rental Party Plus of Michigan
     Competitive Edge                             Team Teal: Food Allergy Awareness
     Funny Face Face Painting                Timothy's Restaurant
     Honor Credit Union                          The Getty Family
     Insurance Management Service        The Neuser Family
     Jimmy John's                                     United Federal Credit Union
     Karen Galanger Designs                   Zoup! Downtown St. Joe

Mini Mozarts

Program registration and instrument sizing is scheduled for this Thursday, September 29th after school in our gymnasium.  Registration ends Thursday, October 6th.

Mini Mozarts is taught by Mrs. Rachel Cabanilla-Sinnett (UMS orchestra teacher) and her husband, Mr. Sean Sinnett.  Any questions about the program should be directed to:

     Mr. Burke Lokey at blokey@sjschools.org or

     Mrs. Rachel Cabanilla-Sinnett at rcabanilla@sjschools.org

This Suzuki Instrumental Program is open to Lincoln 3rd-5th graders.  Students may learn on either a violin, or a viola.  The eight-week program is a tuition-based program and the cost of the Fall session is $120 (please make checks out to St. Josp  This cost covers your 3-month instrumental rental and supplies, and 8 group lessons.

The Fall Session runs from 3:50-4:50 p.m. right here at Lincoln School for 8 weeks.  The Fall Session dates are October 13, 20, and 27, November 3 and 17, and December 1, 8, and 15.  There will also be a Winter session with dates yet to be determined.

What a GREAT opportunity for our students!

Lincoln Bear Credit Union

Lincoln Students were treated to a short assembly on Friday, September 23 sponsored by Honor Credit Union.

Students were taught about the importance of saving money now for their education &/or training in the future.

Honor Credit Union sponsors our very own Lincoln Bear Credit Union and we are preparing for our October 13th Grand Opening here at Lincoln School.

Beginning October 13th, our Lincoln Bear Credit Union will be open from 8:00-8:25 a.m. each Thursday. 

Students in grades 4 and 5 may apply to work as managers or tellers.  Students in 3rd grade may apply to work as part of our marketing team.

Applications are due in the office by 4:00 p.m. this Wednesday, September 28th.

Student job interviews will be held during school hours on Friday, September 30th.

Students selected to be a part of the Lincoln Bear Credit Union Team will be trained here at school on Monday, October 3rd.  Members of the Lincoln Bear Credit Union will also receive a team t-shirt.

All students in grades Y5-5 are encouraged to open an account and start saving today.  Students must complete a member application (sent home last Friday), and have parent permission to participate.

Back to School Night is TONIGHT!

We sure hope to see all of you at tonight's Parents Only Back to School Night!  If you can't find someone to watch your children, please plan to attend anyway.  Children may sit in the hallway outside the classroom while you learn from your child's teacher about their classroom and the curriculum.  If your child must accompany you tonight, please be sure they have something to read or work on while they wait for you outside of the classroom.  The playground will not be supervised by staff tonight.

Parking is at a premium for events like tonight's.  The pavement portion of our playground will be open for additional parking.  Mr. Eric will be out there directing traffic.  Please enter and exit this parking area ONLY from the south entrance off of Lincoln School Drive.

5:30-6:15 p.m.     Young Fives, Kindergarten, and First Grade

6:30-7:15 p.m.     Second and Third Grades

7:30-8:15 p.m.     Fourth and Fifth Grades

The computer lab in our Media Center will be open at the times posted below for parents wanting to register for our new LMS.  Staff will be present to assist you, but you must know the email address you listed on the Student Emergency Form you returned at the ice cream social.

Computer Lab times for Parents:

     6:15-7:45 p.m. and 8:00-8:45 p.m.

Family Field Trip Fund Donation

Each year we ask Parents/Families to donate to our Elementary Student Field Trip Fund.  Our District and PTO each contribute 1/3 of this fund, and our hope is Parent/Family donations will account for the final 1/3.  We are asking for a $5 per child donation with the maximum donation per family of $10.  Your thoughtfulness and donation are greatly appreciated!

Lincoln Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

You're already a member & there are NO dues!  Please plan to attend our first PTO meeting this Tuesday, September 20th at 7:00 p.m. in our Media Center.  See you there!

Lincoln School Parent, Student, Teacher Compact - is a document you'll receive tonight that outlines each of our responsibilities for a successful school year.  Please complete & return by Friday.  Thank you!