Lincoln Families,

Hopefully you were able to stay in and keep warm during the weekend’s wintry weather. I spent the weekend nestled on my couch attempting to recover from a sickness bug that’s had a hold on me for a few weeks! Looking ahead to this week, it will be a busy one at Lincoln.

Mrs. Halter, Mrs. Kozbur and all our 1st-4th graders have been working hard in art and music class in preparation for our annual Winter Concerts to be held on Friday, December 16. All performances will take place in the auditorium.  Please plan to use the Franklin Street entrance when arriving for the performances.

• 1st Grade- 9:45
• 2nd Grade- 10:30
• 3rd Grade- 1:00
• 4th Grade- 1:45

December is always a busy time of year, but please consider taking a few minutes to provide your feedback on the annual Illinois 5 Essentials Survey. Currently we’ve only reached 9% of the required 20% participation rate. Thanks in advance for taking the time to provide your feedback that will help in continually improving our school. Parent Survey Login

Winter weather in Chicago always complicates our daily recess procedures. We make every attempt to provide our kids the opportunity to be outside during recess time; however, oftentimes winter weather elements keep us indoors. Whenever the “wind-chill” is 10 degrees or below we implement our indoor recess plan. We utilize the Weather Bug station housed at Roosevelt Middle School as our source when making this decision. If you wish to download the free Weather Bug Smart Phone App, it can be found in both the Apple and Android app stores.

On outdoor recess days, students who have snow pants, boots, gloves etc. are allowed to play in the snow. Because indoor recess is much more frequent this time of year, I’m excited to announce Lincoln’s collaboration with the PTO’s Connect 4 Kids Committee in providing our kids a wider variety of activities on indoor recess days. Please see the Connect 4 Kids information below on how you can help!

The next ten days of school promise to be busy and full of excitement. As you begin to plan your Winter Break, please remember students will be dismissed at 2:30 on Friday, December 23 and classes will resume on Monday, January 9. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything else that I can help with. Thanks for your continued support of our Fine Fine School! CG

Spirit Wear Friday, Dec. 9:

• 1st-2nd- Ms. Jenkins
• 3rd-4th- Ms. Baiocchi

Calendar:

Monday, 12/12:

• Coding Club – Pizza Party!
• Yoga after school

Wednesday, 12/14:

• Pack a Waste-Free Lunch

Thursday, 12/15:

• Principal Birthday Lunch

Friday, 12/16:

• Winter Concerts – Grades 1-4
  • 1st grade – 9:45
  • 2nd grade – 10:30
  • 3rd grade – 1:00
  • 4th grade – 1:45
• Fun Lunch: Pizza

Holiday Party Information from the School Nurse

A Very Important Message from your School Nurse:

As Holiday parties approach it is important to remember District 90’s food allergy practices that help keep all our children safe.

Room Parents, please remember to check with your class teacher or the school nurse for a list of food allergies unique to your classroom. Please remember that ALL food items MUST be store bought or made in a licensed commercial kitchen that is nut free. All items must be nut free and not manufactured in a nut facility or on equipment that is shared with any type of nut. This is a school-wide practice regardless of whether there is a child with a nut allergy in the classroom.

In addition, all food items must be free of all allergens unique to the classroom and not manufactured on equipment that is shared with that allergen. (Example: soy, egg, milk)

Also please remember that food cannot be prepared in any way in your homes, i.e., slicing fruit or assembling themed food items. Please also bring in all food items in their original packaging so labels can be reviewed.

We ask for your full cooperation with this. Unfortunately, if something comes in that does not adhere to these rules or contains an allergen, the food will not be able to be served.

Thank you all for helping keep all of our students at Lincoln safe. Please contact me with any questions. Please feel free to take a picture and forward any ingredient label that you may have a question about.

Erin Godellas RN, BSN
School Nurse
708-366-7340 x-8034
godellase@district90.org

Coding Club Pizza Party!

This Monday, Dec 12, is the final Coding Club of Semester I.

We will order pizza from Domino’s to celebrate, so no need for Coding Club members to pack a lunch Monday! Hope to see everything there.

Please Donate to the Heartworks Mitten Tree

Heartworks is sponsoring an annual holiday tradition at Lincoln: our Mitten Tree, which benefits the Hephzibah Children’s Association.

Lincoln families can donate NEW mittens, gloves, hats, and scarves for children ages 4-13 under care at Hephzibah. Hephzibah is a group home located in Oak Park that provides long-term support for traumatized children.

Students can hang their donations on the Tree in the Park Ave. Lobby through December 16th.

Connect4Kids Indoor Recess Donations

Casey, the teachers, and C4K team are shaking things up during indoor lunch recess.

We are happy to announce the children will be trying a new format of rotating stations during inclement weather. Options at indoor lunch recess may include movement, enrichment videos, art, creative building, board games or puzzles.

Before purchasing new materials we invite you to donate colored pencils, markers, crayons, paper, madlibs, journals, games, legos, rainbow looms, or lincoln logs.

Please deliver them to the office through December 22. Thanks in advance for your generosity.

Jr. Scientist Expo Registration is Now Open!

Are you mad about science? Does the word “experiment” make you bubble over? If this raises your temperature, then the Lincoln Junior Scientist Expo is for you! Groups of 1, 2 or 3 scientists can share a science project, completed at home, with friends and family. All will be recognized for their efforts and be eligible for prize drawings during the expo – including a grand prize!

To participate in the Jr. Scientist Expo, teams will need to register by 12/23 at the PTO Webstore. If registering as a group, you must enter the names of all team members.

For more information, please see our flyer: lincoln-elementary-jr-scientist-expo-2017.

Lincoln Chicago Wolves Event – 1/22

Cheer on the Chicago Wolves hockey team vs. the Milwaukee Admirals this January 22nd at 3p. Each ticket purchased will receive a free Chicago Wolves hat! Tickets may be purchased by mail, phone or fax and a portion of all ticket sales will go back our PTO. Please see the attached flyer (linocln-school-jan-22-2) for more details. Thank you for your continued support of the Lincoln PTO!

Spring Math Circle Registration NOW OPEN

The Lincoln Math Circle is opening up for Spring Semester registration.
Math Circles bring students together with mathematically sophisticated leaders in an informal setting to work on challenging problems or interesting topics in mathematics. Meets on Mondays during lunch.
Spring Math Circle Registration now open on the PTO Webstore.
$25 fee
3rd grade only, limited to 28 students, first come first serve.

10 weeks:
Jan 9, 23, 30
Feb 6, 13, 27
March 13, 20
April 3, 10

Math Circle Volunteer Needed

Volunteer Needed!
We are looking for a volunteer to assist Katie Iammartino with the Lincoln Math Circle Groups for the Spring Semester. This is a very limited but impactful commitment: 1 hour (11:30 to 12:30) for 10 Mondays. No math expertise needed – just enthusiasm to work with some bright and eager third graders. Please contact Katie at katie_strauss@hotmail.com if you are able to assist. Thanks!

Winter Sports Camp Registration NOW OPEN

Looking for a way for the kids to run off some energy during the cold weather? Back by popular demand: winter sports camp by Legacy Sports. Kids will play games like Battleship, Dodge Ball and Keep Up the Yard, while learning sportsmanship, respect and teamwork.

$70. Spaces limited.

The sports camp will be on Mondays for grades 3-4 and Wednesdays for grades 1-2. Actual Dates:

Grades 3-4 (Mondays):
1/9, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/27
Grades 1-2 (Wednesdays):
1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15

The program is run by Legacy Sports and will take place in the gym. Registration now open on the PTO webstore.

Chess Club Registration NOW OPEN

Open to all students. All abilities. $25
After school. 3:15-4pm
Wednesdays.
1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 3/1

Only 2 Weeks Until the Young Authors Deadline

Just a gentle reminder that the Young Authors Contest entry deadline is 12/23. Still plenty of time to get your child started in this wonderful event.
Any questions? Stop and see Mrs. Moriarty at any time.

Connect 4 Kids Book Club

The Connect 4 Kids Committee is happy to announce the 2nd Annual Lincoln School Family Book Club.  Please review the selected titles in the attached document and provide your feedback using the following survey link: Book Club 2017 Survey.

Custom Holiday Cards & Stationary Fundraiser

Smitten Boutique is offering a special deal on custom stationary products that also benefits our PTO.  Please see the attachment for details Smitten Boutique Fundraiser.  You can order on line http://www.smittenboutique.com/ or visit the store in the West Loop.   Thank you for your continued PTO support!

Share your photos with the Lincoln Yearbook

See instructions on this document: Yearbook Photo Share

Save the Date

The Lincoln School Benefit: Friday, March 10

More details coming soon.

D90 School Board Seeking Candidates

The River Forest Community Caucus seeks candidates for the D90 School Board for the April 2017 election. If you’ve considered participating in the school board or know someone who’s talked about it, now is the time to come forward. The County filing deadline is December 19; Caucus interviews will be conducted in January. Contact Calvin Davis, 2016 River Forest Community Caucus Chairperson, at CDavis1052@aol.com

Halloween Costume Collection

Before you put away your Halloween costumes for the year, consider taking part in the Willard Halloween costume exchange. Drop off your gently used costumes at 919 Monroe or 1430 Jackson and pick up a coupon to use for a costume exchange before Halloween next year. Questions? Email erinellen17@yahoo.com.

Broken Holiday Lights Collection

Broken Holiday Lights will be collected again this year by the Village of River Forest. A dumpster will be located near the Village Hall Parking lot. Collection begins Dec.15 and runs through January 19th.