Lincoln Families:

Happy Superbowl and Happy 100th Day of School! It’s hard to believe tomorrow marks the 100th day of school! I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed any Superbowl festivities you may have partaken in.

Our annual Valentine parties are quickly approaching. While this is an exciting time for our kids, our main priority is always the safety and inclusiveness of all students. Therefore, 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.

On Thursday, February 9, we will celebrate February Principal’s Birthday Lunch. I really look forward to celebrating with our February birthday kids.

Next weekend will be a busy one here at Lincoln. On Saturday, February 11, Lincoln will host the annual Young Authors Conference. On Sunday, February 12, the PTO will host our 2nd Annual International Festival.

Additionally, on Tuesday, February 14 @ 10:00, AM and PM kindergarten classes will combine to perform their annual Valentine’s Concert. Kindergarten families won’t want to miss the Lincoln School concert debut of our kindergarten classes. More info will be forthcoming from the kindergarten teachers.

Don’t forget Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences are quickly approaching on March 2 and 3.  Please be sure to sign up for a time to chat with your child’s teacher.

Finally, kindergarten registration for the 2017/18 school year is now underway. Please spread the word to anyone you know with a D90 incoming kindergarten aged child.  Early registration is key to accurately predicting class sizes and the number of kindergarten classes needed.

Thanks for your continued support of Lincoln. Please reach out if there is ever anything I can do to help support your family. Have a great week. CG

Spirit Winners 2/3/17

• Mrs. Neilson – 1st Grade
• Mrs. Briggs – 3rd Grade

Calendar:

Monday, 2/6:

• PTO Meeting – 8:45 a.m. in the multi-purpose room – all are welcome!
• Coding Club in the Library during recess
• Yoga – 3:15-4:15 in the Auditorium
• Sports Camp – 3:15-4:15 in the Gym

Tuesday, 2/7:

• 1st-2nd Tennis – 3:15-4:15 in the Gym
• Theater Club – 3:15-4:30 in the Auditorium

Wednesday, 2/8:

• Pack a Waste-Free Lunch
• Sports Camp – 3:15-4:15 in the Gym

Thursday, 2/9:

• Principal Birthday Lunch
• 1st-4th Tennis – 3:15-4:15 in the Gym
• Sugarcup Trading & 16 Suitcases Lincoln Shopping Night

Friday, 2/10:

• Fun Lunch: chicken nuggets/veggie burgers

Saturday, 2/11: Young Authors Conference

Sunday, 2/12: International Festival – 1:00-3:45

A Very Important Message from your School Nurse

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.

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.

This Thursday, 2/9 – Sugarcup Trading & 16 Suitcases 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. Sugarcup Trading’s newly opened sister store, 16 Suitcases, will also be open for the event.  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.

Lincoln Yearbooks Now on Sale

Guarantee your copy of Lincoln’s 2016-2017 yearbook by ordering on the PTO Web Store today.  A 64-page hardcover book and souvenir pen is $20; the price increases to $25 on March 6th.  Books & pens are distributed at the Ice Cream Social at the end of the school year.

Don’t forget to save your confirmation email from the PTO Web Store so you can quickly confirm your order when “end of the school year” panic sets in!

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