Lincoln School Families,

I hope you had a great weekend. The weather was perfect for any outdoor fall activities, football, and playoff baseball. By Friday the sting of the Cubs victory over my St. Louis Cardinals wore off enough for me to hold true to the challenge with our kids, that I would wear a Cubs shirt if they beat the Cardinals. The kids really enjoyed seeing me in Chicago blue on Friday. To all of you Cubs fans out there, I hope you get your World Series this year!

We are always in search of ways to make our school systems and procedures more efficient and convenient for families and kids. On any given day, upwards of twenty students forget their lunch at home causing families the need to drop it off in the office. To prevent the sometimes constant interruptions of instructional time by calling students to the office to get their lunch, beginning this week there will be a “Late Lunch” cart in the foyer outside the main office. Therefore, if ever you have the need to drop off a late lunch, please place the lunch on the “Lunch Cart.” Our 4th Grade Lunchtime Leaders will then push the cart to the gym before lunch where students can retrieve their lunches.

On Monday of this week, our students will participate in bus safety evacuations. Although the majority of our students don’t ride the bus to school, they do ride a bus for field trips; therefore, this interactive safety drill is important for the purposes of ensuring our kids’ safety in the unlikely event of an emergency while on the bus.

I hope to see many of you at Thursday evening’s Blue Ribbon Pep-Rally at 5:00 pm. This celebratory evening will include cookies, hot chocolate, music, a few speeches, and a guest appearance by Mrs. Hyde! For more information, see the official invitation which came home in Friday folders on Friday. Additionally, please be sure to thank the PTO for the Blue Ribbon car magnet souvenir! Additionally, magnets and spirit wear will be available for purchase at Thursday’s celebration.

As always, thanks for your continued support of Lincoln School. Please never hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can do for you or your kids. Have a great week.

As much as it pains me …. Go Cubs Go!

CG

Calendar this Week

Monday, 10/19 through Friday, 10/23:  Foodbucks Drive for OPRF Food Pantry

Monday, 10/19:  Bus evacuation drills

Tuesday, 10/20:  Kindergarten field trip to Shedd Aquarium

Thursday, 10/22:

• Blue Ribbon School Celebration at 5:00 p.m.
• Lincoln School SPIRIT Day (wear spirit wear or school colors)

Friday, 10/23:

• FUN LUNCH: Pizza

• Deadline for Yearbook Cover Contest

Future Events

Thursday, 10/29:  Pasta Fun Lunch  (moved from Friday to Thursday)

Friday, 10/30:  Halloween Costume Parade at 12:40pm around the Franklin Blacktop; classroom parties, storyteller

Saturday, 10/31:  Pancake Breakfast and Half K / 5K Run

Monday, 11/2: PTO meeting – all are welcome

Friday, 11/6: No school – parent/teacher conferences

Blue Ribbon Celebration!

Lincoln spirit wear and Blue Ribbon car magnets ($5) will be available for purchase at the Blue Ribbon celebration!  If you are unable to attend the celebration and would like to purchase an additional magnet, please email Amy Dwyer “amyadwyer AT gmail.com”.

This Year’s Fall Food Drive is Here!

But there’s no need to lug in a bag of groceries.  This Fall we’re running a “Foodbucks” drive to support the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry.

Save your small bills and change, and together we can make a difference to fight hunger in our community.

This week (October 19th to the 23rd), pack your donation in your students’ lunch boxes, and they can contribute!  The Lunchtime Leaders and Heartworks will be collecting the donations during lunch.

Did you know–your dollar is worth more at the Food Pantry…ten times more!  Working with their hunger relief partners, the Food Pantry can purchase food at a dramatic discount. A typical food allotment (pictured) costs $126.83 at a retail grocery store. But the Pantry was able to provide this food to their clients for just $12.89.

Questions? e-mail Christine Khaledan “chrissy_conroy AT yahoo.com” Thank you for your generous support!

Important Fall Party Information

Please click this link Fall Party & Costume Info for Mr. Godfrey’s message about Fall Parties and the Book Character Costume Parade.

News from Mrs. Payton about the Rainbows Program

Rainbows consists of peer-support groups for children who have experienced a significant loss. This loss may involve a separation, divorce, death, or other difficult transition. The group is open to all Lincoln students, and it gives the children an opportunity to work through their feelings and come to an increased acceptance of the life-changes they are experiencing.  Please click this link Rainbows Program for more information and a permission slip.

Spirit Wear Challenges are Coming–make sure you’re prepared!

Starting in November, the Lincoln Lunchroom will be hosting a weekly Spirit Wear Challenge on Fridays. Classrooms wearing the most Lincoln Gear will be awarded a small token.   Make sure your Lincoln wardrobe is ready!

Spirit Wear Sales at the Blue Ribbon Celebration on 10/22 and at the Pancake Breakfast on 10/31 will feature our winter line, including beanie hats, canvas bags, a new line of girls’ and ladies’ shirts with sparkle logos, sweatshirts, and flannel pants, most with the new Blue Ribbon School seal!  Check it out at the Spirit Wear Table (cash, check and credit cards accepted).   Sales will be limited to our existing inventory.

The Lincoln Yearbook Cover Artwork Contest Has Started

“Lincoln Wears A Blue Ribbon”  is this year’s book title.  Get your ideas down on paper!  See all the contest guidelines here Yearbook Cover Contest.

Turn in your entry to the Lincoln office on or before Friday, 10/23.

All contest entries are featured in our Cover Gallery near the back of the yearbook.  The top 5 winners grace the front & back covers!

Lincoln’s Pan-K 5K & Breakfast Fundraiser

When:  Saturday,  October 31st

Breakfast Served:   8:00 – 10:30 a.m.

You don’t have to run in order to enjoy a delicious breakfast! Pancake “breakfast-only” tickets are $5 online at the PTO Web Store or at the door. Breakfast is served in the gymnasium and includes pancakes, sausage, fruit, juice and coffee. Click here for menu Allergy Information.   Ordering tickets in advance helps us plan our food purchases.

Early Bird Pricing for Race tickets has been extended to Friday, 10/23–don’t delay! Race tickets will be available until Run time, but the prices below will increase by $3 per ticket after the 23rd.

• Kids Half K /Dash = $12
• Youth (under 18) 5K Run/Walk = $15
• Adult 5K Run/Walk = $25
• Race Registration includes Pancake Breakfast and a tee shirt.

The race starts and finishes at Lincoln. This year, the 5K course will be lined with blue ribbons on every tree!  Buy Tickets Here.

Sign Up to Volunteer Here. We need lots of race volunteers–please lend a hand and cheer on our athletes!   Fourth Grade Students (and Middle School students!) can volunteer to manage the games at the breakfast, or to hand out water on the race course. Hope to see you there!

For more information, see the attached Pan-K Flyer or contact Steve Lefko “s_lefko AT hotmail.com” (breakfast) or Cal Davis “cdavis1052 AT aol.com” (half K / 5K).

Kindergarten Daisies Informational Meeting

Do you have a Kindergarten daughter who is interested in joining the Girl Scouts as a Daisy Scout?

If so we are going to have an informational meeting Wednesday, 10/21 at 7:00 p.m. in Mrs. Bruzek’s room at Lincoln School.

Feel free to bring your new Daisy Scout with you.

We will discuss meetings, registration, events, and cookie sales to give you a feel for the Troop.

If you are interested in joining Daisy Troop 45243 at Lincoln School please join us. If you cannot make it that night let us know and we will help you get signed up.

Any questions please email or call/text Gina Hardy at “gfrioli AT hotmail.com” or 708-363-6071 or Nikki Elza at “njselza AT comcast.net” or 708-289-8453.

International Festival

On Sunday, February 7, Lincoln School will be hosting our first International Festival where children will interactively learn about the many countries represented in our student body.

We’ve only just begun planning the event and are looking for international families to participate. Whether you are from another country, or simply passionate about another country, let us know!

Please fill out this form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Fofu7bMD0I2ADcxgeY4AoLrFdBOhsygvpLMkfcPrGvo/viewform?usp=send_form) or email Vanessa Druckman “vanessadruckman AT gmail.com”.

Support our PTO with your pre-order of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School

It’s the book that so many kids have been waiting for!  We are accepting orders for the latest book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. Just $13.95 for a hardcover copy, no tax!  Order on the Web Store now. The book release date is Tuesday, November 3rd.  Anderson Books will deliver all pre-orders on that date and books can be picked up in the LLC (the Lincoln School Library). All proceeds benefit Lincoln’s PTO and the LLC. Questions? Email Suzanne D’Agostino “suzanne.dagostino AT gmail.com” The deadline for pre-orders is FRIDAY, Oct. 30th at 2pm.

Please Support the “One Community-Hyde Trust”

Former Lincoln Elementary Principal Pam Hyde has tirelessly applied her gift for helping people for over two decades in this community. Thousands of students, hundreds of staff and one grateful community are endeared to this woman.

Last school year the very same gift lead Pam to announce her decision to retire earlier than planned so that she can help her own family in their time of great need. Increasing medical and nursing needs, coupled with reduced insurance coverage, create a scenario where ‘Nurse’ Pam is more helpful than Principal Hyde.

The mission of the One Community–Hyde Trust is to offset healthcare expenses so that, between care giving, there is time for Pam to be mother and wife. Pam has left Lincoln, but these needs won’t go away for Pam and her family. Join us in this great cause so that a courageous woman has the time and dignity she deserves to wear the wonderful hat of Mother and Wife in her retirement.

Your non-deductible contribution to the One Community – Hyde Trust can be made by visiting  https://www.youcaring.com/onecommunityhydetrust, or any branch of Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest.

Our thanks to all the River Forest Families who have already contributed to this trust.  We appreciate your generosity, and we know Pam does too.

Young Filmmakers Contest

The contest is open to Grades 3 through College, with recognition in each category: elementary, middle school, high school and college.

Create a 3-8 minute film or a shorter animation on a specific topic related to climate change or sustainability.  See the attachment One Earth Film Contest  for details or click here for the One Earth Website.