Lincoln Families,
Its hard to believe we are one full month into 2017! I hope you had a great weekend with your family. I enjoyed relaxing, seeing a few movies and laying low this weekend.

February looks to be another busy month at Lincoln as we gear up for our Second Annual International Festival, Young Authors Conference, Kindergarten Registration, and our Connect 4 Kids Book Talk. Please read below for more information on these exciting events.

It was so wonderful to see so many young scientists and families in attendance at last week’s Junior Science Expo. The projects and presentations of our kids were so inspiring. It has been incredible to witness the growth of this event over the past two years. I look forward to next year. Many thanks to the PTO and the Science Expo Committee for coordinating this event.

Believe it or not, it is time to being signing up for Spring Parent Teacher Conferences. The official sign-up window will open on Tuesday, January 31 @ 7:00AM. Please note you must create a new username and password to schedule Spring conferences. Other instructions for signing up and any questions you might have can be addressed in the instructional message sent from D90 last Friday.

Please continue to spread the word to any families you might know with an incoming Kindergartener for 2017-18. At 7:00 PM on Thursday evening February 2 both Lincoln and Willard School’s will host a Kindergarten, “Sneak Peek,” informational night. This is a great opportunity of new families to D90 to learn more about Kindergarten and the Lincoln community. Please see this District 90 post for more information.

Finally, don’t forget to mark your calendar for Friday, March 10 for our annual Lincoln School Auction, “Jeans ad Gems.” I look forward to celebrating our Fine, Fine, school with you that evening. More information on this event can be found below.

As always, thanks for your continued support of our school. Please reach out if there is anything I can ever do to better support your kids or your family. Have a great week.
CG

January, 27, 2017- Spirit Winners
1st-2nd: Mrs. Donnelly
3rd-4th: Ms. Baiocchi

Calendar:

Monday, 1/30:

• 3rd and 4th Grade COGAT Testing
• coding club begins during recess
• Yoga 3:15-4:15 in the Auditorium
• Sports Camp 3:15-4:15 in the Gym

Tuesday, 1/31: 

• Sign up for parent teacher conferences begins
• 2nd Grade Field Trip – Ruth Page
• 3rd and 4th Grade COGAT Testing
• 1st-2nd Tennis 3:15-4:15 in the Gym

Wednesday, 2/1:

• 3rd and 4th Grade COGAT Testing
• Pack a Waste-Free Lunch
• Sports Camp 3:15-4:15 in the Gym
• Chess Club 3:15 – 4:00

Thursday, 2/2:

• 4th Grade ONLY – Pasta Fun Lunch
• 3rd and 4th Grade COGAT Testing
• 1st-4th Tennis 3:15-4:15 in the Gym

Friday, 2/3:

• Last day to register for International Festival
• 4th Grade Field Trip – Chicago History Museum
• Fun Lunch for Grades 1-3:  Pasta

 

A Few Spots Left for International Festival 

Send your child on a journey around the world at Lincoln’s second International Fest!

• Who:  Lincoln Students, grades K to 4
• When:   Sunday, February 12, 1:00 pm to 3:45 pm
• Where:  Lincoln School
• Volunteers Needed:  Sign up here!

Make Haitian metallic art, play Indonesian music, paint Austrian lanterns, and so much more. In one afternoon, your child will travel through ten countries, hosted by Lincoln parents and teachers from around the world, 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 snacks and drinks will be available for sale in the 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.

Want to travel with your child? We need tour guide volunteers to go through the festival with groups of 10 kids as well as food sales, registration, and clean up! Please sign up at the Volunteer Sign up Genius Page.

Due to space and logistics constraints, this event is limited to 120 Lincoln Students.  PTO Web Store registration is open until February 3.

WE EXPECT INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL TO SELL OUT QUICKLY!  In the event that registration is full, please consider the Wait List option and you will be contacted if space opens up.

Questions?  Contact Vanessa Druckman (vanessadruckman at gmail.com) or Katie Iammartino (katie_strauss at hotmail.com).

February 9 – Sugarcup Trading Lincoln Shopping Night

Join us for a Parent’s Night Out Shop and Share at Sugarcup Trading (110 North Marion in Oak Park) on Thursday, February 9th from 6pm-8pm. Look forward to an evening of fun and fashion!
15% of total sales from the event will be donated to the Lincoln School PTO (excluding clearance items)
Get first dibs on new arrivals
Fun giveaways and raffles
Enjoy Sugarcuptini’s
Don’t forget to bring your Downtown Oak Park Shopper’s Rewards gift certificates! Thank you for your continued support of the Lincoln PTO.

Don’t Forget to Sign up for Lunchtime Coding Club! Grades 3-4 Begins 1/30

Mrs. Clasky, joined by librarian assistant Mr. Taylor, will once again be hosting a Coding Club on Mondays during lunch. This is a repeat session of the fall club (repeat exercises not intended for past club members), and is limited to 15 Third and Fourth Grade students.

Meetings are on Mondays during lunch/recess for 10 weeks. Students should bring a nut free lunch to each class.

Meetings are held on school days, January 30, Feb 6, Feb 13, Feb 27, March 13, March 20, April 3, April 10, April 17, April 24.

Registration is now open on the PTO webstore. The cost for this club is $3.

Connect4Kids 2017 Book Talk  on Thursday Feb. 16th at 7:00pm

We invite Lincoln, Willard and Roosevelt parents to our second Connect4Kids Parent Book Talk on February 16, at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln Multi-Purpose Room. 

The talk will be moderated by Dr. Cara Lanza Hurley. Dr. Hurley is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with nearly a decade of specialized training and expertise. It will be her second time joining us as facilitator. She will lead an intimate post-discussion encouraging us to reflect on insights and process details pertaining to the book. 

The title we will dive into is:  Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World By Michele Borba.

Did you know teens today are 40 percent less empathetic than they were thirty years ago? 

UnSelfie is a blueprint for parents and educators who want kids to shift their focus from I, me, and mine…to we, us, and ours. Michele Borba tells us that being empathetic can strengthen problem-solving skills, self regulation, and even improve academic scores. The author also believes empathy is a trait that can be taught and nurtured.

Dr. Borba offers a framework for parenting that yields the results we hope for: successful, happy kids who also are kind, moral, courageous, and resilient. 

We hope to see you at our talk, please join us whether or not you read the book. It should be an enlightening discussion either way. 

Connect4Kids Indoor Recess Donations

As previously announced, Casey, the teachers, and C4K team are shaking things up during indoor lunch recess.  The children are 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.

Thank you for your generous donations thus far of games and other great items!  We are still in need of blocks such as Lincoln Logs as well as art supplies like crayons colored pencils and markers (no paints, please).

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

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 $175 for 12 week season).  5K Race to be held in Grant Park on Saturday, May 20.

Lottery sign up is open now on the GOTR website.

WHERE can I learn more? www.gotrchicago.org

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 AT gmail.com if interested.

Jeans & Gems  –  Friday, March 10th 

Jump Rope for Heart at Lincoln is on February 15th

Share your photos with the Lincoln Yearbook

See instructions on this document: Yearbook Photo Share