Lincoln Families,

Happy Earth Week!

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend. I enjoyed Easter in Chicago hanging out with friends and watching some St. Louis/Chicago playoff hockey! I am hopeful our two cities will meet up again in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs!

This week our 3rd and 4th graders will continue PARRC Testing. The schedule for the Math PARCC Assessments is below:

Attached again is the class placement letter for 2017-18.  Class Placement Letter 17-18  Please respond by May 5 if you are interested in providing this optional feedback.

We’ve reached the point in the school year where 2017-18 has begun to take shape. A big part of that process is hiring new staff and making modifications to staffing assignments. There are a few noteworthy staffing-related topics that will further enhance Lincoln next year.

For starters, we are very excited to have Mrs. Kozbur as our full-time art teacher here at Lincoln next year. As you might know, for the past several years, she’s been assigned as the art instructor at both Willard and Lincoln Schools. The D90 School Board recently approved the addition of a full-time elementary art instructor, which will allow Mrs. Kozbur to enhance the art experience of our kids while also collaborating more closely with grade level teams at Lincoln and possibly providing other supports to our students.

Additionally, the D90 School Board recently approved the addition of an Assistant Principal to be shared between both Willard and Lincoln Schools. The addition of this role will have a positive impact on many aspects of our schools and district.

Finally, the retirement of Mrs. B and the relocation of Mrs. Kiep in Kindergarten have also served as the catalyst for a few staffing adjustments for next year:

• Mrs. Lori Suzuki will be moving from 1st grade to teach Kindergarten.
• Mrs. Kathryn Stasys will be moving from 1st grade to teach Kindergarten.
• Mrs. Kendra Meyers will be moving from 2nd grade to teach 1st grade.

Therefore, we will be hiring new staff members for the openings in both 1st and 2nd grade. As you can see, things have been and will continue to be quite busy around Lincoln as we continue to focus on the successful completion of this year while also strategically planning for the next!

As always, thank you for your continued support of our Fine, Fine School! Please never hesitate to contact me with anything that I can help with.

Have a great week.

CG

Calendar

Monday, 4/17:  

• Coding Club (grades 2-4) during recess – library
• Yoga – 3:15-4:15 pm in the Gym

Tuesday, 4/18:

• PARCC testing for Grades 3 & 4
• Girls on the Run – 3:10-4:15 – gym

Wednesday, 4/19:

• PARCC Testing for Grades 3 & 4
• Spirit Day – wear GREEN for Earth Day

Thursday, 4/20:

• PARCC testing for Grades 3 & 4

Friday, 4/21:

• PARCC testing for Grades 3 & 4
• Wonder Writers – 7:30am – 8:15am in the multi-purpose room
• Fun Lunch – SUBS

Lincoln Celebrates Earth Week April 17-21

 

Walk and Bike to School Every Day!

We would like to encourage all Lincoln students to walk or bike to school each day.  When walking/biking students get to school, teachers and staff members will be handing out the ever-collectable t-shirt strings to tie onto their backpacks!

There will be walking school buses available for busy parents who might not be able to accompany their children.  The bus stops will be “manned” by at least one adult Lincoln parent.  The bus stops will be at:

• Washington and Keystone—Renee Sichlau 708-926-4948
• Washington and Ashland—Alexis Murphy 314-882-0606
• Franklin and Oak—Vicki Freund 773-848-8932
• Thatcher and Oak—Laura Maychruk 708-205-7044

Please drop your child at the “bus stop” between 7:45-7:50 am each day.  You can text or call the bus “drivers” to let them know you are joining them!

Waste Free Lunch Challenge

Pack a waste-free lunch every day this week!  We will be counting waste-free lunches each day to see if the 1^st & 2^nd graders or the 3^rd & 4^th graders are the winners.  There will also be raffle prizes for waste-free lunch participants on Friday!

Wear Green on Wednesday

There will be raffle tickets given out to those wearing GREEN on Wednesday!  Prizes will be drawn on Friday.

Monarch Garden Kits for Sale!

These images can be expanded and read on your phone.  Click here to purchase a kit.

Connect4Kids PARCC Bonus Recess Support

C4K is creating a bonus recess for the third and fourth graders during PARCC testing. We are reaching out to PTO members in the hopes of filling the volunteer time slots. You do not need to have a child in third or fourth grade to volunteer.  Please see our Sign Up Genius schedule.

Please come rain or shine. Arrive a few minutes early to sign in at the office and meet on the black top on the Franklin side. If it is raining the school secretary will share the alternate plan at sign in.

Casey, the teachers, and the C4K group thank you in advance for supporting this initiative!

SchoolKidz Supply Kits are now available to order for the 2017-2018 School Year!

The Lincoln PTO sponsors a School Supply Kit process to simplify your life! You can order a school supply kit online and the kit will be delivered to your child’s classroom in August before school starts. Orders are online only and they are only accepted in April. The PTO does not buy extra kits, so if you miss the deadline, you will be unable to order the prepackaged kit. The supplier cannot accept late orders. Please remember to buy a kit for NEXT YEAR’s Grade Level.

Order your kits on the SchoolKidz website:   www.shopttkits.com
Lincoln Account Number: 20838

The DEADLINE for ordering kits is APRIL 28.  Don’t Delay!

Food Drive – CAN DO Community Challenge through April 21st

Join Heartworks and Lincoln school for the  CAN DO Community challenge! We will be collecting donations for the Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry in conjunction with many other schools and churches in our community.  Let’s work together to help our neighbors in need!  We will be collecting donations from April 10 – 21.  You will get donation bags from your teacher the week of April 10.  We CAN DO this!   Thank you for your support.

Join the 2017/2018 PTO Team!

The mission of the PTO is to support and enhance the education of the children at Lincoln School. But without input, ideas and support from the families at Lincoln, fulfilling this mission is not possible. Volunteer opportunities are available for working and stay at home parents; for events during the week and on weekends; and for you to work on from your home.  Please click here to view the list of positions available for the 2017-18 school year.

Wonder Writers Meet Again Friday 4/21

Mrs. Moriarty & staff will facilitate creative writing opportunities for our students in grades 1 through 4.   No RSVP is needed; enter through Park doors.

Attention parents of FLIP French, Italian and Spanish students!!

FLIP students will perform songs in French, Italian and Spanish during a special assembly in the Lincoln School Auditorium at 2 pm on Friday, April 28.  To ensure that there is adequate space for all visitors, please email lincolnschoolflip@gmail.com if you plan to attend the performance.  Your response is appreciated by Friday, April 21.

Please note that FLIP Chinese students will not be performing during this assembly.  These students performed for families in February as part of the Lunar New Year performance at the Oak Park Library.

If you are unable to attend this event, please email lincolnschoolflip@gmail.com if you would like a video recording emailed to you.  Thank you!

5/2 Shop and Share Event: Beauty Counter, Smitten Boutique, Stella & Dot Shop

Please join us for a trifecta shop and share event and browse products from Beauty Counter, Smitten Boutique and Stella & Dot in one place! It’s the perfect time to stock up on school year-end gifts (e.g. – teachers, coaches, graduation), Mother’s Day or just a splurge for yourself! A percentage of all sales will be donated to the Lincoln PTO. The event will take place at 715 Franklin in River Forest from 8:30a – 4:30p on Tuesday, May 2nd.  Please see the attached flyer for more information.  Thank you for your continued support of the Lincoln PTO!

ATTENTION PARENTS OF 4TH GRADERS

Incoming 5th Graders – SchoolKidz Supply Kits will be available soon for the 2017-2018 School Year! 

Please check the following website later this week…

Step 1 – Go to www.shopttkits.com     Roosevelt’s account number is 20848.

Step 2 – Choose your incoming grade level and follow instructions to complete your order. Note that the 5th grade pack will include a binder, geometry template and atlas.

School Supply Pick up for Roosevelt Students will be the week before school starts (date TBA).

Questions – Please contact Vickie Freund (“vmfreund” AT sbcglobal.net) or Dee Dee Carr (“dwn1878” AT gmail.com).

Join in 4th Grade Field Day Activities

Would your son or daughter like to participate in one of Lincoln School’s Field Day traditions? Our kids have excitedly been watching the “big kids” (aka – 4th graders) over the years entertain and kick off Field Day with Drumming and the Maypole Dance. Now it’s their turn to participate! Field Day is currently scheduled for the last day of school, Thursday, June 8. Your 4th grader can choose to participate in the Maypole Dance and/or Drumming. Practices will take place the 3 weeks leading up to Field Day. We hope to start practice the week of May 15th. Practice days/times will be announced soon, but they will most likely take place before school and during recess. Practices for each activity will not overlap. If your son or daughter is interested in participating – please Click Here for the sign up sheet. We will follow up with you when practice times have been confirmed. If you are experiencing issues w/ the sign up sheet, please email Amy Dwyer at “amyadwyer” AT gmail.com. The deadline to register for the Maypole Dance and/or Drumming is May 10.

Sincerely, 4th Grade parents – Jean Bacom (Drumming Queen), Nikki Elza (Maypole Queen)

Please Don’t Forget to Pay 4th Grade Activities Fee

Please click here to pay your $25 4th Grade Activity Fee.This money goes toward the t-shirts that your 4th grader will wear during Field Day and the cost of the 4th grade breakfast celebration on the last day of school.

If you are unsure if you have already paid, please click here and log in to review your order history on the PTO webstore.

Any questions? Contact Amy Dwyer (“amyadwyer” AT gmail.com) or Suzanne D’Agostino (“suzanne.dagostino” AT gmail.com).

Commemorative Video for 4th Graders: Pictures Needed

A video will be shown at the 4th grade breakfast on the morning of June 8. The video will contain pictures of the 4th graders and their years at Lincoln School. So grab a box of tissues and scroll through your old photos. Please send a variety of photos of your child commemorating all of their years at Lincoln, grades K through 4. We suggest photos from school events, school concerts, class parties, field trips, PTO events, back to school pictures, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, other clubs, youth sports teams, pictures with good Lincoln buddies, etc.  Please refrain from sending photos from birthday parties, holidays or religious events.

We have set up a drop box to collect these photos. Please click here for the drop box location as well as for instructions on how to upload your pictures. You are free to use the Drop Box website or app, whichever is easier for you.  The deadline for submitting photos is Friday May 19.

If you are having problems or have questions, please contact Suzanne D’Agostino (“suzanne.dagostino” AT gmail.com).

Lincoln Yearbooks

Lincoln Yearbooks are available for order on the PTO Web Store until May 24th or while supplies last.  Books will be distributed at the Ice Cream Social on June 2nd.