Lincoln School Update 01-16-2017

PTO Meeting
Please join us tomorrow, January 17 at 7:00 pm in the Lincoln School Media Center for our January PTO Meeting.

PTO Movie Night
This Friday, January 20 at 6:00 pm in the Lincoln School Gym.  The movie is free.  Popcorn and water will be available for purchase.  Students must be accompanied by an adult.  Bring your lawn chair, or sleeping bag and pillow and enjoy the movie "Up".  Hope to see you here.

The Great Kindness Challenge
It's coming!  Be on the lookout for more information about the week of January 23-27.

Half-day Reminder
Just a reminder that we have a half-day of school on Friday, January 27.  Students are dismissed at 12:05 p.m. on half-days.  Staff will be spending the afternoon on school improvement.

SJHS Winter Softball Clinic
SJHS Softball will be hosting a one day clinic on February 19th.  For more information and to register, please click on the link below:
https://www.sjschools.org/images/District/Community%20Cork%20Board/SJWinterSoftball.pdf

Lincoln School Update 01-08-2017

Lincoln Spelling Team
Congratulations to our top 12 spellers for participating in our Lincoln School Spelling Bee this past Friday.  Our top 3 spellers and 1 alternate will represent Lincoln at the Cloverleaf Spelling Bee at Lake Michigan College in  February.
                                                             1st Place     Lillian Shasky
                                                             2nd Place    Elizabeth Fiesbeck
                                                             3rd Place     Delaney Kelley
                                                             Alternate     Priscilla Wang

Staff Parking
Please remember that the parking at the south end of Lincoln School is designated Staff Parking. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Yearbooks on Sale
2016-17 Yearbooks are now on sale.  Order forms were sent home last week.  Extra order forms are available in the office.  Yearbooks are just $11and orders are due no later than February 3, 2017.

HealthWorks Parent Information Night
HealthWorks Museum Staff of South Bend will be presenting a Parent Information Night for 4th and 5th grade parents on Thursday, February 9 from 6:00-7:30 pm at Brown School.  Please be on the lookout for more information coming home soon.

Lincoln School Update 1/3/2017

Welcome Back & Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing break!  We're looking forward to seeing everyone back at school.  Please be sure our students are sent to school with appropriate clothing for the weather and outdoor recess.  It looks like it's going to get very cold again.

Now's a great time to remind our students of our Bear Necessities!  Be Responsible Every Day, Always Be Respectful and Safe!

Looking forward to a great 2017 and a super second half of the school year!

GO BEARS!

Sincerely,

Mr. Wagner


2017 Lincoln School Spelling Bee
Our Lincoln School Spelling Bee for our final 12 students will be this Friday, January 6 at 11:55 am in our Media Center.  Students competing in the spelling bee will eat their lunch at 11:30 am on Friday.  Parents are invited and encouraged to attend.  Mrs. Gruchot has sent an email to the parents of each of the students involved with information about word lists and a practice opportunity.  Good luck to all students as they prepare for Friday's Spelling Bee!

Girls On The Run

Online registration is open from December 14-January 12^th.  Space is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first come/first serve basis so register today at www.gotrberrien.org.  Registration is also available on your mobile device. Scholarships are available to all residents of Berrien County and are based on each family’s income.  You will select your family income during the registration process.   

If you do not have access to a computer or mobile device, our school will hold an open house on: Thursday, Jan. 5^th at 6:00pm in Room 208 at Lincoln Elementary.  Please see more information in its Learning under the Lincoln Elementary Group page.

Girls Biddy Bear Basketball
Biddy Bear Basketball for girls in 2nd - 5th grades begins this Saturday, January 7th.  More information and a registration form can be found on our Community Corkboard.

St. Joseph Winter Softball Camp

The St Joe Varsity Softball Coaching Staff & Players are hosting a youth camp on Sunday, February 19th.

Look for more information to be posted soon on our Community Corkboard.

Where:     St Joe High School

Time:     12:00-2:00 (Grades 3-5)

                3:00-5:00   (Grades 6-8)

Cost:     $40 per camper-includes a camp t-shirt

Max 30 campers per session.

Thank you in advance for supporting the St Joe Lady Bears Softball program.

Tim Farrish

Softball Boosters President

Important January Dates...

January     5     Girls On The Run Registration Open House (6:00 pm Room 208)
                11     PLC Late Start, One-hour Delay

               16     Martin Luther King Jr. Day, NO School

               17     PTO Meeting 7:00 pm in the Media Center

               20     PTO Movie Night 6:00 pm in the Gym

              23-27     The Great Kindness Challenge   (be on the lookout for more information)

              27     Half-day of School for Students

Lincoln School Update 12/13/2016

PLC Late Start / One-hour Delays
I actually get a few questions about late starts and what we do with that time.  The hour is spent in very specific ways, below is a list of what you would see if you sat in on a grade level PLC (Professional Learning Community) late start meeting.

-Teachers might be preparing for a unit by identifying the essential standards of knowledge from the unit.
-They might be developing a common formative assessment of those essential standards to monitor which students have mastered the knowledge and to help guide instruction.
-They might be analyzing assessment data and comparing results and teaching practice.
-They might be planning for WINN (What I Need Now) time.  A period of the day or six-day cycle where kids are broken into groups based on what they need to master the essential skills.

Our goal is to insure that all children master the essential standards from each unit and those that master the knowledge early get a chance to explore the concept in depth.  To do so, we focus on 4 main questions:

1.  What do we want ALL kids to know?
2.  How will we know if they know it?
3.  What do we do if they don't know it?
4.  What do we do if they do know it?

Sounds simple, but it really helps us focus on learning for all students.  Thank you for allowing us the time to do this important work!

K-5 Buddy Ice Skating Monday, December 19th & Volunteers NEEDED!
Please check out the following our Lincoln School Group Page for Ice Skating information and schedule as well as the adjusted lunch recess / lunch schedule for that day.  We will need a boat load of volunteers to make this happen.  Thanks!

Top 12 Spellers & Upcoming Lincoln Spelling Bee
The following 3rd-5th graders have made our Lincoln Top 12 and will compete in our building's spelling bee on Friday, January 6 at 11:55 a.m.

   3rd Grade -  Brandon Urias
   4th Grade - Isaac Dahlke
                      Priscilla Wang
                      Betsy Fiesbeck
                      Violet Waters
   5th Grade - Brad Rohaly
                      Lily Shasky
                      Jack Hammerschmidt
                      Kayde Williams
                      Hannah Webb
                      Delaney Kelley
                      Ceci Ruchti

Good luck in your quest to be in our Top 3!

A Few Reminders...
   Outside Recess - Students will go outside for recess unless the temperature (with or without windchill) falls below 10 degrees Farenheit.  Students may only stay in from recess with a note from a doctor.  Students must have winter boots, snowpants, winter coat, hat, and gloves or mittens.

   Drop-off & Pick-up - Please remember that students are NOT to be dropped off at school before 8:00 am if eating breakfast and 8:15 am if not eating breakfast.  And, students must be picked up, or be headed home if walking, by 4:00 pm unless accompanied and supervised on the playground by a parent.
  Out Parent/Student drop-off & pick-up area is at the south end of Lincoln School on Lincoln School Drive.  The north end is for bus drop-off & pick-up.  Please  use the south end!  Do NOT park and leave your car in the drop-off/pick-up lane to walk your child to, or pick your child up from their line. You must park in a designated parking area if you must walk your child.  And, parking is very limited.
  The winter weather appears to be here to stay for awhile.  Please be patient and move cautiously looking out for all of our students!

PTO Movie Night at Lincoln
Our next attempt at PTO movie night at Lincoln is Friday, January 20th.  The movie will be Up.
Hope to see you there.  Movie begins at 6:00 pm and admission is free.  Popcorn and water will be available for purchase.  No outside food is allowed with the exception for students with severe food allergies.  Students MUST be accompanied by a parent.  Bring your lawn chair, or a blanket and pillow!
We'll need volunteers to help make this happen!

Grief Support Group to Start in January
Mrs. Jasiak, our School Social Worker, with support from Lory's Place will be starting a Grief Support Group in January.  If you are interested in more information about this group, please contact Mrs. Jasiak at cjasiak@sjschools.org or call her at 926-3657.

Lincoln School Talent Show
Information and permission forms are available in the office for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders interested in trying out for this year's Talent Show.  All forms are due back in the office by Friday, January 6, 2017.  Stage crew is needed and students interested in this should also complete the same forms with help from a parent.  Our volunteer director, parent Tina Shasky can be contacted at tinashasky@yahoo.com or by calling 930-3835.

Adult Sound & Light Volunteer Sought for Talent Show
If you have experience working sound & lights, and would be available and interested in helping with this year's Talent Show, please contact Mr. Wagner at 926-3700.  Thanks for considering!

Girls On The Run Coaches Needed!
This is an extremely popular, and very cool event for our 3rd-5th grade female students.  We're looking for new coaches for the Spring 2017 Season!  You do not have to have a daughter in the program to coach.  The season consists of 2 practices per week for 10 weeks beginning the week of February 27th and ending with the Girls On The Run 5K on Thursday, May 18th at the Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds.  Check out the link below for more information:
   https://www.raceplanner.com/volunteer/signup/berrien-coach-2017

First Lego League (4-5) and Junior First Lego League (2-3)
Both begin the week of January 9th.  If your child is interested, please see more information in itsLearning under the Lincoln Elementary Group page.

5th Graders Interested in 6th Grade Fine Arts (Band, Orchestra, or Choir)
Our Middle School and High School Fine Arts Teachers will be meeting with all 5th graders to discuss participating in the Fine Arts at Upton Middle School in 6th Grade.  Please see important dates below:

     January 30, 2017     5th Graders to SJHS for a Fine Arts Concert.
     January 31, 2017     Fine Arts Staff meets with 5th graders during music class.
     February 3, 2017     5th Graders participate in Instrument Trial Zoo at Lincoln during the school
                                     day.
     February 6 OR 7, 2017     Parent Informational Meetings at 7:00 pm at Upton Middle School.
                                               Parents must attend one of these dates, but need not attend both.

This seems early, but it's important as Administration at UMS starts scheduling for next year in the Spring.

Congratulations CUB Students!
The following students were Caught Using the Bear Necessities and were selected to attend the CUB Luncheon with Mr. Wagner and Staff:

November CUB Students
Khai Lloyd, Tobey Burritt, Sophia Lawhead, Kamari Fester, Milah Renbarger, Aaron Espinoza, Chris Prince, Logan Webb, Finn Monahan, Stiles Miller, Kyra Miller, Gabi Queiroz, Ellie Fischer, Heidi Krohn, Daniel Fedewa, and David Rojas

October CUB Students
Sydelle Wright, Jillian Morris, Hunter Grigereit, Julie Ann McClure, Tyler Thompson, Shilynn Cain, Gracelyn Sheldon, Mya Haught, Sophia Brainard, Sally Shelby, Bridget Anderson, Corey Poole, Christian Blazina, Luke Tinkey, Brittany Grigereit, and Cam'ron Warr

Congratulations!

Earth Day 2017 Poster Contest
Information available in the office.  Open to all K-5 Students.  Entries must be received by contest promoters by February 17, 2017.  Winners will be honored Thursday, April 20, 2017, at Constitutional Hall in Lansing, Michigan as part of the DEQ, DNR, and Michigan Department of Agriculture's Earth Day Celebration.

2017 Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest
Information available in the office.  Open to students in grades 3-5.  Entries must be received by the National Weather Service Office by February 13, 2017.  Winners receive cash prizes.

Winter Break is December 21 through January 3.  

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

An Opportunity for Our International Students

Student Culture Event sponsored by Mrs. Lear (3rd Grade Teacher, Brown School)

Calling all International Students... Come share your experiences so far in local schools with other elementary students new to the United States. Learn about upcoming United States holidays and traditions and taste some student favorite foods.

Turkey, gravy, and stuffing will be provided for tasting by Bistro on the Boulevard.

Class Time: November 16th from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Saint Joseph Public Library 

Sign up link: https://goo.gl/forms/28kOhtcGQSYB5ayF3

11/11/16 Movie Night CANCELLED

My apololgies, but PTO's Movie night and showing of Finding Nemo, scheduled for tomorrow evening, Friday, November 11 at Lincoln School at 6:00 p.m. has been cancelled due to a shortage of volunteers.  Be on the look-out for other volunteer opportunities coming soon... Thanksgiving Luncheon, Pancake Breakfast, Book Fair, Ice Skating, and another Movie Night scheduled for Friday, January 20th.

Lunch Accounts
It's Thursday!  Please check your child's backpack &/or daily folder today!  Students/Families that owe money on their lunch account will receive notice today.  These notices are sent out each Thursday.

If your account is over for an amount up to $12.24, then you receive a purple notice slip.

If your account is over $12.25 or more, then you will receive a letter in an envelope and your child's lunch card will be pulled on Monday, November 14th unless payment is made so less than $12.25 is owed on the account.  If your child's lunch card is pulled, they will only be able to choose an alternative lunch (soybutter & jelly or a cheese sandwich, fruit, vegetable and milk).

Our free and reduced lunch program is a wonderful program for our kids, and the kids, nor staff ever know who is or is not on the program.

If you would like a free and reduced lunch application, please stop by the office, or let Mr. Wagner know and he'll send one home in an envelope with your child.

Lunch accounts are charged for a full lunch even when a child has to have one of the alternative lunches.  Families who are awaiting for their free and reduced lunch application approval are responsible for payment of lunches taken/eaten prior to approval.

When lunch cards have to be pulled, it puts school personnel in a tough situation.  We do NOT want to be the ones who have to explain to a child why they have to have an alternative lunch, a lunch they generally do not want.  This is the responsibility of the child's parent.