Lincoln Families,

Happy Last Week of School!

What a ride it has been. Here we are just inches from the finish line of a remarkable and unprecedented year at our Fine Fine School. Way back on August 29, 2019, no one could have predicted the adventure and the journey this school year would take us on. A journey that began fairly typically took an abrupt detour about two-thirds of the way in, and well… I guess the rest is history.

However, perhaps that detour is just what we all needed. A swift, uncomfortable nudge that pushed us all outside of our personal realm of comfort. A call to action to be more kind and empathetic to each other and more creative and innovative in our work, and most importantly a humble reminder that we are all equals. So instead of reflecting on everything this school year wasn’t, be sure to celebrate everything that it was and the opportunities it has presented us with to become better in all that we do!

As we close the book on the 2019-20 school year, the “Three Lincoln School Matriarchs” – Ms. Mayer, Ms. Halter and Ms. Moriarty – close the book of their storied careers. Over the years they have taught and inspired thousands of children and, like most teachers, they will never know the infinite impact they have had on humanity. Please see the attached for a special Godfrey-style farewell message I’ve recorded for Barb, Karen and Pam. It is safe to say that their legacies will live on forever within the halls of our Fine Fine School, the village of River Forest and beyond.  So Long, Farewell Ms. Mayer, Ms. Halter and Ms. Moriarty

While the efforts of our kids and teachers have been celebrated often over the past few months, I also want to celebrate each of you. The Lincoln School mothers, fathers, grandparents, nannies, neighbors, etc. The majority of you don’t hold any type of professional teaching credentials, yet you rose to the occasion and literally became teachers overnight. Somehow you managed your household, your career and homeschooling over the past few months with no training or manual. So yes, our teachers and kids deserve a round of applause, but SO DO YOU! If you didn’t get your fill of teaching over the past few months… Lincoln is always accepting substitute applications!

Although it will look quite different than years past, Mr. A, Ms. McDermott and Mr. Peters have been collaborating to plan a celebratory “Virtual” Field Day on Wednesday, June 10. Look for Field Day events to be posted on Seesaw beginning at 9:30 AM on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday morning, I’ll release the much anticipated 4th Grade Celebration video as a Vimeo Link on Seesaw during my morning message.

Like all other school activities, our Fine Arts Night was unable to take place how we’d expected. However, that didn’t stop Ms. Kozbur and the Lincoln School artists from creating their masterpieces! This week on Seesaw, Ms. Kozbur will be sharing an incredible gallery of “virtual” art created by our eagle artists!

As one chapter ends, so another begins. Looking ahead to the 2020-21 schoolyear, there are a few adjustments to our staff and some new faces we are excited to welcome to the Lincoln Family.

• Music: Ms. Mona Mann
• Instructional Specialist: Ms. Joy O’Reilly

I’ll be at Lincoln on Tuesday, June 9 from 8:30-3:30 for any families still needing to pick up their student belongings. Please let me know if you’ll be coming by. I’ll be happy to coordinate another time for anyone unable to come on Tuesday.

Finally, thank you for your ever present support of Lincoln School. This year we’ve proven that even in the most challenging of circumstances, there’s no school in the land quite as special as our Fine Fine School! I look forward to the day when your kids again fill our school and bring it back to life, but until then, I wish you and your family a happy, healthy and safe summer! Lincoln Love to you all!

CG

Calendar

Monday, June 8

• E-Learning

Tuesday, June 9:

• E-Learning
• 8:30-3:30  Pick-Up of Student Belongings

Wednesday, June 10: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

• 4th Grade Video Celebration
• Virtual Field Day

Lincoln’s Got Talent

WOW! Lincoln’s REALLY Got Talent! Thanks to everyone who submitted a talent. This was a labor of love and I truly enjoyed compiling this treasure of your kids unique gifts! Here again is a link to view the show:  Lincoln’s Got Talent

Last chance for yearbook sales!

We have a limited number of yearbooks remaining after our pre-sale.  The Web Store is now taking orders for the remaining books until Friday June 12 or until the books are sold out – whichever comes first.  Books are $30 and include a souvenir pen.  Order today – you won’t want to miss out!

Library update

Oh the Places You’ll Read!

Attached is a checklist of various ways and places to read.  It encourages them to read a lot over the summer and to do it in a fun way. You can print out and keep in a safe spot over the summer.  If they return the checklist at the beginning of the next school year, they will receive a small prize.

Send us a Reading Photo

You can send in a photo of your child reading and I will post it on the library website and in the library.  The photo can be in an exciting place like Paris or in your own backyard.  Doesn’t matter where – we’d just love to see them reading.

Bluestem Challenge List

Attached is the Bluestem Challenge list for 3rd and 4th graders.  They are able to get started reading from the list this summer through the public library.   (Don’t read Ambrose Deception / Hope in the Holler / Van Gogh Deception during the summer – may not be on the Lincoln list) 

Stories and Reading and Books, Oh My!

Think of reading like playing an instrument or a sport – three months without practice and you can fall behind.  Some quick and easy tips to keep reading:

•      Keep books everywhere in the house so it’s always easy to grab a book
•      Take books with you wherever you go – so you can read in the car and while waiting at the doctor’s office
•      Check out lots of books from the library so there is a variety to choose from

Summer learning opportunities

The end of the school year is upon us, and remote learning for students will be ending on Wednesday, June 10. Though District 90 will not be able to provide our traditional summer enrichment classes through our summer school program, we are pleased to offer additional learning opportunities for our students during the summer months:

Summer Book Clubs:  5-8 Summer Book Club 2020 Information Flier.pdf 
District 90 has partnered with the River Forest Public Library to conduct Summer Book Clubs from Tuesday, June 23 – Thursday, July 16. Book clubs will be facilitated by D90 teachers through weekly live discussions with groups of up to ten students. Book clubs are organized by rising grade level. For example, if your child is attending second grade next year, he or she should sign up for a second-grade book club. River Forest Public Library will facilitate the registration process, which will be open from May 27 – June 5. Teachers will reach out to their book clubs with links to the live discussion and additional details about reading schedules and related activities once registration closes. Most elementary school titles can be accessed through students’ District 90 Epic account on their iPads. River Forest Public Library will provide additional information related to book distribution for the Roosevelt Middle School book clubs if there is no online option. For example, a newly released titled will require a hard copy.

To register your child for a D90 Summer Book Clubs, please follow this link and scroll down to the week of June 23: https://riverforestlibrary.librarymarket.com/events/month/2020/06.

Book clubs are organized by day, time, grade level, and teacher. You only need to sign up once on the day and time of your choice to be enrolled for the four-week program.

Summer Math Opportunities
Summer is a wonderful time for students to continue exploring mathematics in meaningful, authentic ways. To facilitate students’ summer math explorations and to provide a bridge to new learning in the fall, District 90 is providing four weeks of optional math activities for students to investigate independently. Students will have the opportunity to engage in activities, such as games, skill reinforcement, and problems of the week. In addition, these tasks focus on different aspects of mathematics and require few or no materials. Organized by grade level, these activities will be posted on the District 90 website for open access by families. Links will be sent out at the beginning of each week from June 15 through July 13. Answer keys will be posted at the end of each week so that students can check their work. We hope that your student will delve into this opportunity!

STEM Activities
Students may also continue to independently explore the world of coding and other STEM activities over the summer months. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) engages students in an integrated approach to making sense of problems, gathering information, evaluating evidence, and testing ideas. Organized by grade level bands, students will be able to select activities that build on their current knowledge or dive into something new based on their interest. The summer math opportunities and STEM activities will be posted to the District website by Monday, June 22. Website links will also be shared each week with families for efficient access.

While the coronavirus precipitated the need to suspend our normal summer school programming, these summer learning opportunities are designed to help students maintain their learning trajectory. We invite your student to participate in these summer learning opportunities to help minimize the effects of summer learning loss. For more information, please contact hawleya@district90.org.

Beyond Hunger Lincoln contributions

Lincoln Elementary participated in the CAN Do Community challenge benefiting Beyond Hunger. Our school raised $2,539 which is enough to provide 7,617 meals! What an amazing impact this community has when it comes together!

The campaign page is still open if you’d like to make a donation.

SchoolKidz supply kits for incoming 5th graders! – order by 6/21!

Get ready to (finally!) send them back to school in the fall! Teacher-approved kits from SchoolKidz available for purchase, starting Friday, May 1st.

www.shopttkits.com
Enter account number 20848 in the green box.
Sale site will be open from 5/1/20 to 6/21/20.

All SchoolKidz supply boxes will be mailed to your home the week of August 16th (before the first day of school on 8/26/20). Supplies will come in plain cardboard boxes – no “carry handles.”

Here is the 5th grade supply list for reference!

Lincoln Families,

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

As I reflect on the on the events of the past week and weekend, this quote really resonated with me. Despite the uncertainty of these times, I hope your family enjoyed the weekend and are healthy and safe.

We’ve arrived in the “homestretch,” of the school year with only eight days of school remaining, there is still much to do. Our teachers and staff have worked hard to prepare engaging lessons right up through June 10. As difficult as it might be, please continue to encourage your kids to try their best in these closing days.

Don’t forget to send all Lincoln’s Got Talent entries by Monday, June 1 at 7PM. I’m hopeful to have the final production shared by mid-late week.

As reflected in the photo below, the return of student belongs this year seemed sterile and foreign. Despite the circumstances, it was wonderful seeing so many of you during last week’s retrieval of student belongings. There will be another opportunity to pick up belongings during the week of June 8. Stay tuned next week for more specific times and details. Many thanks to Mr. Quincy, Mr. Mike and Mr. Beane for all their assistance in the distribution of student materials. Additionally thanks to Renee Sichlau for her support of the Green 4 Good school supply donations that will be donated to a school in Maywood.

D90 has worked to create Summer learning opportunities for our kids. Please be sure to see the information below regarding these opportunities .

Finally, despite the anticlimactic end to this school year, please don’t forget that registration is open for the 2020-21 school year. Please contact Ms. Josephine Ribaudo at ribaudoj@district90.org to register or for any questions you might have.

As always, please feel free to reach out with anything I might do to better support your family .I wish you a wonderful week. Stay safe and be well. CG

Calendar

Monday, June 1

• E-Learning

Tuesday, June 2:

• E-Learning

Wednesday, June 3:

• E-Learning

Thursday, June 4:

• E-Learning

Summer Learning Opportunities

The end of the school year is upon us, and remote learning for students will be ending on Wednesday, June 10. Though District 90 will not be able to provide our traditional summer enrichment classes through our summer school program, we are pleased to offer additional learning opportunities for our students during the summer months:

Summer Book Clubs
District 90 has partnered with the River Forest Public Library to conduct Summer Book Clubs from Tuesday, June 23 – Thursday, July 16. Book clubs will be facilitated by D90 teachers through weekly live discussions with groups of up to ten students. Book clubs are organized by rising grade level. For example, if your child is attending second grade next year, he or she should sign up for a second-grade book club. River Forest Public Library will facilitate the registration process, which will be open from May 27 – June 5. Teachers will reach out to their book clubs with links to the live discussion and additional details about reading schedules and related activities once registration closes. Most elementary school titles can be accessed through students’ District 90 Epic account on their iPads. River Forest Public Library will provide additional information related to book distribution for the Roosevelt Middle School book clubs if there is no online option. For example, a newly released titled will require a hard copy.

To register your child for a D90 Summer Book Clubs, please follow this link and scroll down to the week of June 23: https://riverforestlibrary.librarymarket.com/events/month/2020/06.

Book clubs are organized by day, time, grade level, and teacher. You only need to sign up once on the day and time of your choice to be enrolled for the four-week program.

Summer Math Opportunities
Summer is a wonderful time for students to continue exploring mathematics in meaningful, authentic ways. To facilitate students’ summer math explorations and to provide a bridge to new learning in the fall, District 90 is providing four weeks of optional math activities for students to investigate independently. Students will have the opportunity to engage in activities, such as games, skill reinforcement, and problems of the week. In addition, these tasks focus on different aspects of mathematics and require few or no materials. Organized by grade level, these activities will be posted on the District 90 website for open access by families. Links will be sent out at the beginning of each week from June 15 through July 13. Answer keys will be posted at the end of each week so that students can check their work. We hope that your student will delve into this opportunity!

STEM Activities
Students may also continue to independently explore the world of coding and other STEM activities over the summer months. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) engages students in an integrated approach to making sense of problems, gathering information, evaluating evidence, and testing ideas. Organized by grade level bands, students will be able to select activities that build on their current knowledge or dive into something new based on their interest. The summer math opportunities and STEM activities will be posted to the District website by Monday, June 22. Website links will also be shared each week with families for efficient access.

While the coronavirus precipitated the need to suspend our normal summer school programming, these summer learning opportunities are designed to help students maintain their learning trajectory. We invite your student to participate in these summer learning opportunities to help minimize the effects of summer learning loss. For more information, please contact me at hawleya@district90.org.

Lincoln’s Got Talent – send in by 6/1 if you want to participate!

Who: All kids K-4 @ The Fine Fine School. At Lincoln we have incredible hidden talents including athletes, dancers, actors, artists, musicians, comedians, singers, equestrians, martial artists, and many more. So be as creative as you like.

What: “Lincoln’s Got Talent” – Send me a short video (no longer than 2-3 minutes in length) of your child or your family engaged in a special talent.  I’ll compile all the submissions for the first ever episode of “Lincoln’s Got Talent.” Students are free to perform solo acts or include siblings or even make it an event for your entire family. However, do not join a group of friends/neighbors and break the “Social Distancing” guidelines.  There is no obligation or expectation for participation. It’s simply a fun way to gather as a school community and showcase the hidden talents of the Lincoln Eagles.

When: Please submit entries to Mr. Godfrey no later than Monday, June 1 by text or email: godfreyc@district90.org or 312.765.9360

Where: The “Virtual” airwaves of River Forest.

** Should your child/family wish to submit a talent, but prefer only for me to see it, then I am more than happy to not include it in the final video. Please be sure to notate this request when you submit.**

School Supply Collection at Lincoln

Each year on the last day of school, Green 4 Good at Lincoln collects leftover gently used school supplies, organizes them, and donates them to our neighbors in School District 89 serving Melrose Park, Maywood, and Broadview.

This year due to Covid-19, our process changed and we ended up with fewer collected supplies while at the same time there is a greater need in School District 89.

Renee Sichlau will be collecting additional school supplies in bins in front of her house (130 Keystone) all of next week until Sunday June 7. Please feel free to drop off unopened or gently used glue, glue sticks, markers, crayons, colored pencils, notebooks, folders, scissors, erasers, etc.

Thank you!
Lincoln G4G

Beyond Hunger Lincoln Contributions

Lincoln Elementary participated in the CAN Do Community challenge benefiting Beyond Hunger. Our school raised $2,539 which is enough to provide 7,617 meals! What an amazing impact this community has when it comes together!

The campaign page is still open if you’d like to make a donation.

SchoolKidz supply kits for incoming 5th graders! – order by 6/21!

Get ready to (finally!) send them back to school in the fall! Teacher-approved kits from SchoolKidz available for purchase, starting Friday, May 1st.

www.shopttkits.com
Enter account number 20848 in the green box.
Sale site will be open from 5/1/20 to 6/21/20.

All SchoolKidz supply boxes will be mailed to your home the week of August 16th (before the first day of school on 8/26/20). Supplies will come in plain cardboard boxes – no “carry handles.”

Here is the 5th grade supply list for reference!

Happy Memorial Day, Lincoln Families,

Overall, it was a beautiful holiday weekend and I hope your family was able to enjoy some time outdoors. Although the “un-official” start of Summer 2020 went without the annual parades, cookouts and social gatherings, I’m confident you each made the best of this time with those you are closest to!

As we enter the home-stretch of the school year, there are still twelve days of school remaining. Even when school is in “regular” session, teachers have to dig deep into their bag of creative tricks to keep kids engaged to combat “Summer Fever.” As you are likely experiencing this year, the challenge to keep kids remotely engaged in learning as the countdown to summer accelerates is even all the more challenging. The Lincoln teachers have been working tirelessly to design engaging and creative learning experiences for our kids right up until June 12. Therefore, as difficult as it may seem, continue to keep in place whatever E-Learning routines have been working for your family.  Take short exercise breaks throughout the day to break up the work.  As the biggest cheerleader for Lincoln School, please text or call me if your child might need a Mr. Godfrey Pep-Talk!

Pick Up of Belongings

For the past few weeks, teachers have been visiting Lincoln with the purpose of compiling individual student belongings. Beginning this week, we will use the following schedule for families to stop by Lincoln to pick up these items.

Wednesday, May 27 

8:00 – 11:30 AM – Letters A – G

12:30 – 3:30 PM – Letters H – N

Thursday, May 28 

12:30 – 3:30 PM – Letters O – Z

*** Please do your best to adhere to these times. In the event you are unable to attend any of these times, there will be other opportunities in the future for pick-up.

Please note the following important directions and guidelines for this process:

1) Retrieval of belongings will occur at the Franklin entrance.

2) There will be “Social Distancing” markers. Please be sure to adhere to these markings.

3) Please be sure to return any library books or classroom instructional materials. There will be bins set up for each teacher as well as for the return of library books.

4) Student iPads will not be returned. Students may keep these for the duration of the summer.

5) Any medications can also be picked up at this time.

6) The Lincoln playgrounds remain closed, so please refrain from letting kids play on the equipment or congregating in groups.

I share your desire to visit and catch-up, however, with our intention being to return student belongings safely and efficiently,  please help us to keep this process as expeditious as possible.

YMCA and Lincoln School – Summer Use

At the D90 School Board Meeting held Monday, May 18, the Board of Education voted unanimously to partner with the West Cook YMCA this summer to support their continued mission to provide emergency childcare for families of essential workers.  This partnership with D90 provides the YMCA with space at Lincoln from June 15 – Aug 7  to host this important service for families of essential workers, allowing them to continue serving all of us in the community.  During this time, the YMCA will have limited access to specific, designated areas of Lincoln.   Since these children’s caregivers are “Essential Employees,” the YMCA will follow strict daily protocols outlined by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH),  including checking temperatures before admittance each day as well as the use of all required PPE, social distancing, caps on group sizes, and disinfecting procedures.  Additionally, the YMCA will contract with their own cleaning company that will disinfect the utilized areas daily with medical grade/style equipment.  I’m so pleased that Lincoln is able to provide this space for such an incredible purpose this summer.

River Forest Tour

As always, thank you for your continued support of Lincoln School and District 90. As I made my way through the village last week visiting the homes of each 4th grader, I was humbled by all the “Social Distance,” visits and kids of all grade levels who gathered to wave and cheer as I traveled from home to home. I truly felt like a local celebrity and thoroughly enjoyed my thirteen hour tour of River Forest. As always, Lincoln Love was on full display further illustrating what a Fine, Fine School we have.  (Attached is one of many memorable moments from my tour of RF).

Whether you’re embarking upon your final twelve days as a kindergarten family or your final twelve days as a Lincoln School family, soak up every moment of remote learning and virtual Lincoln Love. As always, please reach out with anything I can help with.

Have a great week. CG

Calendar

Tuesday, May 26:

• E-Learning
• PTO Meeting – 9am

Wednesday, May 27:

• E-Learning
• Pick up/Drop off of Student Belongings
  • 8:00 – 11:30 AM – Letters A – G
  • 12:30 – 3:30 PM – Letters H – N

Thursday, May 28:

• E-Learning
• Pick up/Drop off of Student Belongings
  • 12:30 – 3:30 PM – Letters O-Z

Fun Lunch Refund – $5,000 to Hephzibah Home!

WOW!!! Our school community is amazing and so incredibly generous. We are able to donate $5,000 to the Hephzibah Home with the Fun Lunch Refund money!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

The staff and directors there are so thrilled and with our money they are able to meet an immediate need they have – we are supporting their in-house education program that will occur this summer at Hephzibah Home for the 26 children who live there. If there are any silver linings in this COVID pandemic, this is definitely one of them – we have come together as a community to support this wonderful organization and the children they serve. Thank you!!!!

Lincoln School Auction – will not be rescheduled

PTO Appreciation – no end of year event

Unfortunately, we are not able to thank all of the PTO volunteers with a glass of wine, a brownie, and a fun night out, but please please know that we are so incredibly grateful for each and every volunteer that has stepped up this year. We are an amazing community and it is inspiring to see the time and dedication that so many parents have put forth for our organization. Thank you for being the best ever – we appreciate you so much! Have a happy summer and we look forward to seeing many of your faces again next year.   Ginger Timchak and Devin Howe

PTO Meeting – Tuesday, 5/26 at 9am via Zoom

Please join us for our final PTO meeting of the 2019/2020 School Year.All are welcome to join!

Lincoln’s Got Talent – send in by 6/1 if you want to participate!

Who: All kids K-4 @ The Fine Fine School. At Lincoln we have incredible hidden talents including athletes, dancers, actors, artists, musicians, comedians, singers, equestrians, martial artists, and many more. So be as creative as you like.

What: “Lincoln’s Got Talent” – Send me a short video (no longer than 2-3 minutes in length) of your child or your family engaged in a special talent.  I’ll compile all the submissions for the first ever episode of “Lincoln’s Got Talent.” Students are free to perform solo acts or include siblings or even make it an event for your entire family. However, do not join a group of friends/neighbors and break the “Social Distancing” guidelines.  There is no obligation or expectation for participation. It’s simply a fun way to gather as a school community and showcase the hidden talents of the Lincoln Eagles.

When: Please submit entries to Mr. Godfrey no later than Monday, June 1 by text or email: godfreyc@district90.org or 312.765.9360

Where: The “Virtual” airwaves of River Forest.

** Should your child/family wish to submit a talent, but prefer only for me to see it, then I am more than happy to not include it in the final video. Please be sure to notate this request when you submit.**

SchoolKidz supply kits for incoming 5th graders! – order by 6/21!

Get ready to (finally!) send them back to school in the fall! Teacher-approved kits from SchoolKidz available for purchase, starting Friday, May 1st.

www.shopttkits.com
Enter account number 20848 in the green box.
Sale site will be open from 5/1/20 to 6/21/20.

All SchoolKidz supply boxes will be mailed to your home the week of August 16th (before the first day of school on 8/26/20). Supplies will come in plain cardboard boxes – no “carry handles.”

Here is the 5th grade supply list for reference!

Lincoln Families,

It’s hard to believe that sixty days have come and gone since we embarked upon this E-Learning adventure. I hope you were able to take advantage of Saturday’s beautiful weather before today’s washout. I visited Oz Park for a “Social Distancing” picnic with some friends. It was so nice to be outdoors and bask in the fresh air and sunshine! 

Over the past few days teachers have been visiting Lincoln with the task of gathering student belongings and bagging them for the eventual retrieval of these personal items for your kids. Both Willard and Lincoln are working through the logistics of safely returning items to students while also adhering with the Social Distancing guidelines. Look for communication regarding these logistics in the near future. This process will incorporate the distribution of personal student belongings from classrooms as well as the return of student medications and other items remaining at school. At this same time, students/families will be asked to return library books and any other classroom items they might have at home. Please note that iPads will remain with students for the summer. Final details are forthcoming.

4th Grade Surprise

4th grade families, on Thursday and Friday of this coming week, I’ll be making a special delivery to each of your homes to help celebrate your kids’ final days as Lincoln Eagles. I’m not planning to tell kids that I am coming, but didn’t want you to be caught off guard if you see me in your yard. Look for me on Thursday from 11-4 and Friday from 9-1. There is no need for you to be home, but if you are feel free to wave from the window. If not, I’ll be sure to leave your kid’s treasures in a safe place outside of your home. 

The teachers and I were hopeful that we’d be able to host a Lincoln School “Drive By” where teachers would have gathered 6-12ft apart on Park Ave. while  families/kids had the opportunities to “drive by” to wave and celebrate the start of summer. However, after consulting with the RFPD, I’ve learned that such a gathering would be in violation of the Village’s Social Distancing and Group Gathering ordinances. That being said, the staff and I have resorted to “Plan B” and have created a fun way to virtually celebrate all of your kids’ hard work this year.  Stay tuned for more information!

I’ve been spending lots of time thinking of ways to virtually come together as a school community during these continued times of Social Distancing. As I was lying sleepless in bed this weekend, it finally came to me. To wrap up the year, I’ll be hosting the first ever:

“Lincoln’s Got Talent!” 

All kids K-4 are invited to participate. Everyone has some special talent, and if your kids are interested,  just send me a short video (no longer than 2-3 minutes in length) of your child or your family engaged in a special talent.  I’ll compile all the submissions for the first ever episode of “Lincon’s Got Talent.” Students are free to perform solo acts or include siblings or even make it an event for your entire family. However, do not join a group of friends/neighbors and break the “Social Distancing,” guidelines. Remember, talents aren’t just musical. At Lincoln we have incredible hidden talents including athletes, dancers, actors, artists, musicians, comedians, singers, equestrians, martial artists, and many more. So be as creative as you like. Of course, make sure your content is appropriate for Lincoln School. There is no obligation or expectation for participation. It’s simply a fun way to gather as a school community and showcase the hidden talents of the Lincoln Eagles. Please submit entries to me no later than Monday, June 1 by text or email: godfreyc@district90.org or 312.765.9360. I’ll aim to share the video as part of our last days of school celebrations! I’ll be announcing this to our kids in this week’s Mr. Godfrey’s Morning Messages. 

** Should your child/family wish to submit a talent, but prefer only for me to see it, then I am more than happy to not include it in the final video. Please be sure to notate this request when you submit.**

As the the cool spring days begin their transition to summer in Chicago , the limits of  “Remote Learning” are beginning to get pushed for us all. As difficult as it might be, attempt to maintain a somewhat routine “school” schedule for your kids and continue to encourage their daily participation in as many “Remote Learning” activities and assignments as possible. Our teachers and staff continue to put in countless hours for the planning and preparation of meaningful, engaging and rigorous learning opportunities for our kids. Equally, just as much time is dedicated to providing feedback on student work.  So while the novelty of Remote Learning has likely worn off, please continue to encourage your child’s engagement.  The teachers, staff  and I are always here to support in any way possible. Please never hesitate to reach out with anything I can do to be more supportive.  Thank you for your continued support of our Fine Fine School. Have a wonderful week. CG 

“Accept what is. Let go of what was and have faith in what will be.” ~Buddha

Calendar

Monday, May 18:

• E-Learning
• Deadline to request Fun Lunch refund
• Deadline to submit pictures for 4th grade commemorative video

Tuesday, May 19:

• E-Learning

Wednesday, May 20:

• E-Learning
• Waste Free Wednesday

Thursday, May 21:

• E-Learning

Tomorrow 5/18 is Deadline for Fun Lunch Refunds

When it became official that we were not going to go back to school this year, the D90 PTOs got to work to figure out the logistics of Fun Lunch.  There were 10 fun lunches left in the 2019/2020 school year and we have decided upon the following options for parents that purchased Fun Lunch for their students.

Option 1: Click here for a refund for these lunches.  https://lincolnpto.revtrak.net/fun-lunch-grades-1-4/#/v/fun-lunch-refunds

Option 2: Do nothing and your unused Fun Lunch payment will be a donation to the Lincoln PTO.  We will be giving a portion of the unused Fun Lunch money to the Hephzibah Home in Oak Park.  They currently have 25 children sheltered in place and are in need of support.

As we all know, this is an unprecedented time and we are all trying to figure things out day by day.  If you are asking for a refund, please be patient with us as it has to be done individually and will take some time.

If we don’t hear from you by May 18th, we will assume you are donating your payment to the PTO/Hephzibah Home. Thank you for your support of the Lincoln PTO and if you have any questions, please contact Ginger Timchak at gingertimchak@gmail.com

Library News

Wanting more stories to read? The Lincoln Library now has a spot to go to if you are looking for some fun picture book read-alouds – called Books with Mrs. Brauweiler.  The link is located below and also on the Lincoln Library website.  Keep checking back – there’s more being added all the time!

Books with Mrs. Brauweiler

Lincoln’s Got Talent!

Who: All kids K-4 @ The Fine Fine School. At Lincoln we have incredible hidden talents including athletes, dancers, actors, artists, musicians, comedians, singers, equestrians, martial artists, and many more. So be as creative as you like.

What: “Lincoln’s Got Talent” – Send me a short video (no longer than 2-3 minutes in length) of your child or your family engaged in a special talent.  I’ll compile all the submissions for the first ever episode of “Lincoln’s Got Talent.” Students are free to perform solo acts or include siblings or even make it an event for your entire family. However, do not join a group of friends/neighbors and break the “Social Distancing” guidelines.  There is no obligation or expectation for participation. It’s simply a fun way to gather as a school community and showcase the hidden talents of the Lincoln Eagles.

When: Please submit entries to Mr. Godfrey no later than Monday, June 1 by text or email: godfreyc@district90.org or 312.765.9360

Where: The “Virtual” airwaves of River Forest.

** Should your child/family wish to submit a talent, but prefer only for me to see it, then I am more than happy to not include it in the final video. Please be sure to notate this request when you submit.**

May’s PTO meeting – moved to 5/26!

May’s PTO meeting has been moved to May 26th at 9:00 AM.  This will be a virtual meeting and a Zoom link will be available in the Lincoln Log that will go out on Monday, May 25th.  We look forward to seeing everyone and discussing end of the year business as well as planning for next year.  All are welcome to join.

Attention 4th grade families – Last Call for Pictures!

Commemorative video for 4th graders: pictures needed by Monday, May 18!

It is a tradition at Lincoln School to assemble a video collage of photos for the graduating 4th graders commemorating their years at Lincoln, grades K through 4. The video will contain pictures of the 4th graders through their years at Lincoln School. So grab a box of tissues and scroll through your old photos. We suggest photos from school events, school concerts, class parties, field trips, PTO events, PTO Clubs, back to school pictures, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, pictures with good Lincoln buddies, etc. Please refrain from sending photos from birthday parties, holidays or religious events. (We cannot use photos from non-school related events, as cute as they may be.)

Photos can be emailed to Lincoln4thgradeclass@gmail.com.  DEADLINE TO SUBMIT PICTURES IS MONDAY, MAY 18!!

Feel free to contact Adrian Dinu and Debbie Kellogg at Lincoln4thgradeclass@gmail.com or Amy Dwyer at amyadwyer@gmail.com with any questions.

** The video is typically shown at the 4th grade breakfast on the last day of school. Unfortunately, as we all know, the breakfast gathering is not possible this year. We plan to work with Mr. Godfrey and the District 90 technology team on a way to share this video privately and securely. If you do not want your child included in this video, please let Mr. Godfrey know.

SchoolKidz supply kits for incoming 5th graders! – order by 6/21!

Get ready to (finally!) send them back to school in the fall! Teacher-approved kits from SchoolKidz available for purchase, starting Friday, May 1st.

www.shopttkits.com
Enter account number 20848 in the green box.
Sale site will be open from 5/1/20 to 6/21/20.

All SchoolKidz supply boxes will be mailed to your home the week of August 16th (before the first day of school on 8/26/20). Supplies will come in plain cardboard boxes – no “carry handles.”

Here is the 5th grade supply list for reference!

Lincoln families,

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing Lincoln School Moms! I hope you enjoyed a day of love an celebration with family. While I was unable to be in St. Louis with my mom, like many of you we embraced the opportunity celebrate virtually. Hopefully the mounting list of “virtual,” celebrations will instill within each of us a renewed and grateful perspective of togetherness when we finally reach the other side of this mountain.

On behalf of the entire Lincoln School faculty and staff, thank you for the outpouring of Lincoln Love during Staff Appreciation week. All the creative and virtual “thank you’s,” were very much appreciated by everyone at Lincoln.
It’s no secret just how dedicated and passionate our Fine Fine teachers are about their profession. Those efforts have been on full display over the past two months has they have embraced new ways to connect with kids, creatively design lessons and to transform their homes into mini recording studios and movie sets!

We have reached the juncture of the school year where we are fully dedicated to successful completion of this academic year, yet also highly invested in planning for the start of the 2020-21 school year. Over the next few weeks, there will likely be sporadic days where teachers will be working closely with me, attending virtual meetings or even being given time to work in their classroom to prepare for the return of individual student belongings. Therefore, on these days, while teachers will still provide tasks and learning opportunities for students, there will likely be minimal or in some cases no feedback to student work submissions. Teachers and I will provide your families with advance notice of these particular days. We appreciate your support and understanding of the various complexities we face as we prepare for the “virtual” conclusion of the school year.

As you are aware, the current landscape of the world has caused us to re-imagine many of the annual celebratory events that make the end of the school year so special for our students, families, staff and retiring teachers. However, we are in the final stages of planning some noteworthy and creative “Covid 19” ways to celebrate the end of the year. Stay tuned to next week’s Lincoln Log for the unveiling of some exciting plans.

It’s hard to believe that Wednesday, May 13 will mark exactly two months since we all last gathered together at our Fine Fine School. However, as we continue to venture forward into the unknown I am often reminded that our school is much more than the physical address of 511 Park Ave. Lincoln Love and the genuine spirit of our Fine Fine teachers, kids and families, has transcended these uncertain times and in my opinion only strengthened and unified our learning community, resulting in an even Finer Lincoln School!

As always, thank you for your continued support of Lincoln School. I’m always available for your feedback and to assist in anyway I possibly can. Please tell your kids I miss them terribly, but look forward to my daily visits to your home via SeeSaw. Wishing you continued health and wellness.

CG

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”- Maya Angelou

Calendar

Monday, May 11:

• E-Learning

Tuesday, May 12:

• E-Learning

Wednesday, May 13:

• E-Learning
• Waste Free Wednesday

Thursday, May 14:

• E-Learning

Friday, May 15:

• NO E-LEARNING

Last Chance to Order Lincoln Yearbooks – order through 5/15!

Yearbooks are now available to order on the PTO Web Store.  The hardcover books are available at a pre-order price of $25/book now through May 15.  Pre-ordered books will still be distributed, but with the cancellation of school we are still determining the details. Save your confirmation email from the PTO Web Store so you can quickly confirm your order when the books are distributed.

Any books that remain after the initial online orders are taken will be available for purchase on a first come first serve basis at the TBD distribution date/location.  Keep in mind that the yearbooks are quite popular, so we highly recommend ordering in advance!

Last Chance to Order SchoolKidz Supply Kits – order by 5/15!

SchoolKidz supply kits are now available to order for the 2020-2021 School Year! The Lincoln PTO sponsors a School Supply Kit process to simplify your life! You can order a school supply kit online and the kit will be delivered to your child’s classroom in August before school starts. Orders are online only and they are accepted only until May 15. The supplier cannot accept late orders. Please remember to buy a kit for NEXT YEAR’s Grade Level.

Order your kits at www.shopttkits.com, Lincoln Account Number: 20838 The DEADLINE for ordering kits is May 15. Don’t Delay!

Kindergarten Virtual Author Visit

On Thursday, May 14, we are excited to welcome author, Sara Schacter to Lincoln School virtually. She was scheduled to visit with the kindergarten students on April 3. She has graciously offered to still meet with us through Zoom. Sara is a relative of Ryan in Ms. Stasys’ morning class.

She will meet with the morning kindergarten students at 9:00 – 9:20. The afternoon kindergarten students are invited to meet with her at 9:30 – 9:50.

Sara will introduce herself, read her book “Just So Willow“ aloud, talk about writing and answer questions. Students will have an opportunity to send any questions ahead of time to me through a Seesaw activity on Wednesday 5/13.

If you are interested in purchasing her book, please let me know. I am gathering details on how to purchase. Additionally, if you purchase the book, the author will send a signed bookplate to put in the book and some polar bear goodies.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Brauweiler directly.

May 18 is the Deadline for Fun Lunch Refunds

When it became official that we were not going to go back to school this year, the D90 PTOs got to work to figure out the logistics of Fun Lunch.  There were 10 fun lunches left in the 2019/2020 school year and we have decided upon the following options for parents that purchased Fun Lunch for their students.

Option 1: Click here for a refund for these lunches.  https://lincolnpto.revtrak.net/fun-lunch-grades-1-4/#/v/fun-lunch-refunds

Option 2: Do nothing and your unused Fun Lunch payment will be a donation to the Lincoln PTO.  We will be giving a portion of the unused Fun Lunch money to the Hephzibah Home in Oak Park.  They currently have 25 children sheltered in place and are in need of support.

As we all know, this is an unprecedented time and we are all trying to figure things out day by day.  If you are asking for a refund, please be patient with us as it has to be done individually and will take some time.

If we don’t hear from you by May 18th, we will assume you are donating your payment to the PTO/Hephzibah Home. Thank you for your support of the Lincoln PTO and if you have any questions, please contact Ginger Timchak at gingertimchak@gmail.com

May’s PTO meeting – moved to 5/26!

May’s PTO meeting has been moved to May 26th at 9:00 AM.  This will be a virtual meeting and a Zoom link will be available in the Lincoln Log that will go out on Monday, May 25th.  We look forward to seeing everyone and discussing end of the year business as well as planning for next year.  All are welcome to join.

Attention 4th grade families – Last Call for Pictures!

Commemorative video for 4th graders: pictures needed by Monday, May 18!

It is a tradition at Lincoln School to assemble a video collage of photos for the graduating 4th graders commemorating their years at Lincoln, grades K through 4. The video will contain pictures of the 4th graders through their years at Lincoln School. So grab a box of tissues and scroll through your old photos. We suggest photos from school events, school concerts, class parties, field trips, PTO events, PTO Clubs, back to school pictures, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, pictures with good Lincoln buddies, etc. Please refrain from sending photos from birthday parties, holidays or religious events. (We cannot use photos from non-school related events, as cute as they may be.)

Photos can be emailed to Lincoln4thgradeclass@gmail.com.  DEADLINE TO SUBMIT PICTURES IS MONDAY, MAY 18!!

Feel free to contact Adrian Dinu and Debbie Kellogg at Lincoln4thgradeclass@gmail.com or Amy Dwyer at amyadwyer@gmail.com with any questions.

** The video is typically shown at the 4th grade breakfast on the last day of school. Unfortunately, as we all know, the breakfast gathering is not possible this year. We plan to work with Mr. Godfrey and the District 90 technology team on a way to share this video privately and securely. If you do not want your child included in this video, please let Mr. Godfrey know.

SchoolKidz supply kits for incoming 5th graders! – order by 6/21!

Get ready to (finally!) send them back to school in the fall! Teacher-approved kits from SchoolKidz available for purchase, starting Friday, May 1st.

www.shopttkits.com
Enter account number 20848 in the green box.
Sale site will be open from 5/1/20 to 6/21/20.

All SchoolKidz supply boxes will be mailed to your home the week of August 16th (before the first day of school on 8/26/20). Supplies will come in plain cardboard boxes – no “carry handles.”

Here is the 5th grade supply list for reference!