Lincoln Families,
I hope you had a nice weekend. How is it that January is already coming to a close? Happy February!
Spring parent teacher conferences are right around the corner. Please don’t forget to reference the message sent by D90 last week for instructions on how to schedule your spring conference. The conference sign-up window will open on Wednesday, January 31.
Please remind anyone you might know with an incoming Kindergartner in the fall about our annual Kindergarten Sneak Peek. This Thursday, February 1 at 7:00pm, new families are welcome to come learn all about Kindergarten at Lincoln School. This event will serve as the kick-off for 2018-19 Kindergarten registration.
As you are aware, D90 has embarked upon a voyage of learning about and implementing growth mindset practices in our school, community and personal lives. Over the past few weeks D90 has hosted learning events for teachers and community members. On Saturday, February 3 we are excited to present another community learning opportunity. Kids are also welcome to attend. More information can be found below. I hope you’ll consider joining us!
Finally, don’t forget to save the date for Friday, March 16 for the annual Lincoln School Auction, Hoops and Heels! This is always a fun evening to come out and celebrate our Fine Fine School!
As always, please never hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can do to better support your family/kids. Have a great week. CG
Monday, 1/29:
Tuesday, 1/30:
Wednesday, 1/31:
Thursday, 2/1:
Saturday, 2/3:
Please consider attending a Town Hall Forum on social media use by students. The Forum will be held on Wednesday, January 31 at 7 p.m. in the Roosevelt Middle School Auditorium. The topic is iScreen, You Screen, Wii All Screen: A Family Guide to Media Use. [Town Hall Flyer]
Drs. Scott Goldstein and Rebecca Unger of Northwestern Children’s Practice will provide information regarding the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines for screen use by youngsters including introducing technology to children, balancing media use with healthy behaviors, benefits and drawbacks of social media, and addressing some of the issues that arise from screen and technology use. They will also provide practical tips for parents to help oversee their children’s screen and technology use. Members of the D90 technology staff will also review pertinent Board of Education policies regarding technology use and how the District uses technology to support classroom instruction. The presentations will provide useful information on monitoring and managing your student’s screen time, while also offering suggestions to help develop sound digital citizenship among students.
This Town Hall Forum will serve as the Committee of the Whole meeting. Please bring your questions, insights, and a friend.
District 90, in partnership with the PTOs, will be hosting several upcoming events as part of the shared reading experience, the One District/One Book effort. This community-wide reading initiative encourages families and residents to read, reflect, and discuss the same book together. All District 90 families, faculty, staff, students, and River Forest residents are encouraged to read and join in the discussion of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, by Carol Dweck.
The Mindset approach offers a framework to advance one’s efforts in the classroom (for students), at work, with personal relationships, and in the community. School and local librarians are offering other potential book titles with similar themes for novice or young readers.
Join the Conversation
Please join the discussion about adopting and/or supporting a growth mindset. Several events will expound on the growth mindset approach and its importance to school success. Suggestions and practical tips will also be provided to help participants support growth mindset concepts at work, in relationships and community service, and in the classroom. The session will help you identify your own personal mindset approach and ways to strengthen or transform it.
Saturday, February 3
Roosevelt Middle School
11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Please join the discussion during an interactive presentation by Dr. Ann Batenburg of Mindset Works. This presentation will help everyone learn about the benefits of applying the growth mindset concepts to all aspects of their lives. Participants are invited to continue the conversation following Dr. Ann Batenburg’s presentation by joining facilitated breakout sessions afterward.
Mid-February (Coming Soon)
Please plan to participate in an interactive webinar for anyone interested in understanding the components of the growth mindset approach. More than a concept that relies on positive thinking, the growth mindset approach encourages meeting challenges through a variety of methods. Participants will be able to leverage practical suggestions about the growth mindset approach as they learn how to apply its tenets to all aspects of their lives.
All events are free and open to the public. Please plan to attend one or all of the upcoming One District/One Book events, see attached flyer.
Please remember during cold and flu season to keep your child home if they are sick. If they have a fever they need to be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before they can return to school. If they are vomiting and/or have diarrhea, make sure it has been at least 24 hours since the last episode before returning to school. If your child has an excessively runny nose or cannot stop coughing, it may be a good idea to keep them home. This is to protect your child from catching something if their immune system is down, as well as to protect the other students and staff. Thank you for doing your part to keep everyone at Lincoln School healthy.
Valentines Day and Party Info:
A Reminder on Class Parties – As Valentine’s Day 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.
A Reminder on Valentine’s Day Cards – Please remember that Valentines should be brought for every student in your child’s classroom. Valentines may NOT contain any type of food or candy items. If your child brings a Valentine with candy attached, we will remove the candy and allow the Valentine to be passed out. If there is no way to separate the candy from the Valentine, unfortunately, the Valentines will not be allowed to be passed out, and we will ask your child to bring the Valentines home. Please help us avoid disappointment and tears and remember not to have candy or food be a part of your child’s Valentine cards.
Thank you all for helping keep all of our students at Lincoln safe.
If you have any questions at all please contact our school nurse, Erin Godellas at godellase@district90.org or 708-366-7340 x 8034. Please feel free to take a picture and forward any ingredient label that you may have a question about.
When reporting your child’s absence please be sure to either use the district attendance e-mail or telephone extension:
1) Lincoln School Attendance Line: 708.366.7340
2) Email 24-7 to lincolnattendance@district90.org
The Lincoln Elementary K-4th Jr. Scientist Exp will be Thursday, February 8th – please sign up to volunteer through Signup Genius.
Fitness, Empowerment, & Fun? Join Girls on the Run!
Girls on the Run is a non-profit, after-school program for 3rd and 4th grade girls that uses the power of running to educate girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. The program combines training for a 5k event with interactive lessons that encourage positive physical and social-emotional development.
WHEN do we meet? Twice a week after school for 75 – 90 minutes with your team. The program will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lincoln School starting in March through May and is led by trained, volunteer coaches. (Cost will be $205/girl for the 12 week season).
Sign up is open! Go to gotrchicago.org to sign up and learn more. 5K Race to be held in Grant Park on Saturday, May 19.
Volunteer as a coach for Girls on the Run! You don’t need to be a runner or have previous coaching experience – just the passion to change the lives of young girls.
Contact Kristin Bailitz at kristinbailitz@gmail.com if interested.
Forms and parent letters were sent home with students in grades 1-4. The students who participate in the fundraising event will have from January 31 until February 21 to collect donations. On February 21 , we will celebrate Jump Rope for Heart Day during PE classes. On that day, all the students will jump rope celebrating being heart healthy. On that day, all fundraising envelopes should be turned in
Lincoln School and PTO is hosting its third International Fest on Sunday, February 25, from 1-4pm.
Send your child on a journey around the world! In one afternoon, your child will travel through four countries, hosted by Lincoln parents from around the world (plus art teachers Ms. Kozbur!), doing locally themed hands-on projects and activities at each itinerary stop.
The cost of this amazing experience is $5 per child. All travelers will receive a personalized passport and duty free bag. World travel will include age appropriate scavenger hunts with token souvenir prizes! World snacks and drinks will be available for sale in our International Food Court (the gym). Parents and siblings are welcome to wait for their Lincoln Travelers alongside a hands-on international exhibit in the gym.
Due to space and logistical constraints, the World Tour is open to Lincoln students only. Parents may accompany Lincoln students on the tour if need be, but qualified “tour guides” will be helping students find their way, and will be available to assist younger travelers. Franklin Entrance Doors open at 1 pm. Students “tour” from 1:15 to 4 pm. WebStore registration is open until February 16 and will be limited to the first 120 Lincoln students who RSVP. WE EXPECT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TO SELL OUT QUICKLY!
In the event that World Tour sells out, please register on the Wait List free of charge and we will contact you if space opens up.
Parent volunteers are still needed — please sign up on the PTO SignUpGenius.
Questions? Contact Vanessa Druckman (vanessadruckman at gmail.com) or Katie Iammartino (katie_strauss at hotmail.com)