Lincoln Families,
Happy Earth Week! I hope this message finds your family remaining healthy, well and sane as we continue to forge ahead into these most uncertain of times. After last week’s April snow, I’m happy to see that our Earth Week forecast looks to be much more seasonal. Hopefully, your family will be able to get outdoors to get some fresh air and celebrate the Earth this week.

Although it seemed inevitable I sat with tears in my eyes as I watched Governor Pritzker’s announcement last Friday to close schools for the remainder of the school year. While I understand the science behind this decision and agree that it is the “right,” decision, like each of you, I find myself riding a constant wave of emotions and attempting to wrap my head around the fact that the close of this school year will look different than any other.

Like every staff member at Lincoln… I genuinely love our school and your kids. There is no perfect science to the work we were each called to do… sometimes we get it right…. sometimes we make mistakes….. and just like your kids… we learn, reflect and become better because of those mistakes. However, in my opinion…. more important than the perfect execution of any lesson, activity or project… is the love, compassion and social emotional space our teachers create for the kids at Lincoln. Lincoln kids, families, and staff have more P.R.I.D.E. in our school than any school I know of. When I think about what sets Lincoln apart from any other school I know…. it is that collective spirit which is the key ingredient to who we are as a Lincoln community. So lucky for us…. we don’t have to be within the “walls” of Lincoln to feel those foundational elements that make Lincoln a Fine Fine School. So although it continues to feel and look different right now….. we can all continue to carry “Lincoln Love” in our hearts despite the social distance between us and for the duration of the e-learning year.

Like you, I also have many questions about what the rest of the school year will look like without many of our traditions including Field Day, 4th Grade Breakfast, the Clap-Out and the recognition of our retiring staff members. Please know that I will be in close contact with our teachers and PTO leadership to find new and creative ways to celebrate the close of the school year and the tenure of the incredible educators who are ending their careers in a way they never imagined. In the meantime, please know our teachers and I remain dedicated to putting forth the most positive and meaningful e-learning experience we can for your family.

Additionally, we all have questions flooding our thoughts about what the next year will look like and how we will “catch” kids up. If we continue to learn anything from this experience, I hope, it is to live for the present moment and celebrate what is truly most important: our health, wellness, families, friends and the space we have in our hearts for personal growth and empathy for others. So for now, my advice is not to fret about academic regression or what next year will be like. In my opinion, no kids are ever behind, they are always right where they need to be…. including right now. The Lincoln teachers are superheroes and are masters at their craft. We will get your kids caught up academically because that is what we do best. So for the time being take this time to share laughs, hugs and Lincoln Love with your kids. The lessons of love, empathy, gratitude and kindness that your kids learn during this time are one hundred times more powerful than any academic content we can teach them. By prioritizing those qualities above all else, just think of what our world will be like when this generation of kids answers the call to become the leaders of the future. That thought gives me great hope during this most uncertain time.

Finally, thank you for the outpouring of well wishes regarding my recovery! Other than feeling constantly exhausted, I’m well on my way to being 100%

CG.

Quote of the Week: Earth Week:
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing’s going to get better, it’s not.” ~ The Lorax- Dr. Seuss

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Calendar

Monday, April 20:

• E-Learning
• Earth Week- Silver Lining Monday

Tuesday, April 21:

• E-Learning
• Earth Week-Turn it off Tuesday
• 3:30 Blue Stem/Monarch ZOOM Party 3rd/4th Grade

Wednesday, April 22:

• E-Learning
• Happy Secretaries Day Ms. Kopriva
• Earth Week-Waste Free Wednesday (Earth Day)
• 3:30 Blue Stem/Monarch Zoom Party 2Berg/2Mayer

Thursday, April 23:

• E-Learning
• Earth Week- Little Changes/Big Impact Thursday
• 3:30 Blue Stem/Monarch Zoom Party 1st Grade

Friday, April 24:

• E-Learning
• Earth Week-Think Globally/Act Locally Friday
• 3:30 Blue Stem/Monarch ZoomParty 2 Jenkins/2Rogers/2/Tanglao

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A message from Ms. Godellas:

Greetings Lincoln Eagles!

I hope you are all doing well and staying healthy. Please remember staying healthy involves eating right, getting enough sleep, and protecting yourself from germs. I miss you and your families like crazy and look forward to seeing you all again soon. I am sending healthy vibes to everyone.

Stay healthy AND safe-
Mrs. Godellas

Know the Symptoms of Corona Virus: symptoms covid

Things to Know about Corona Virus: Things to Know about Coronavirus (Covid-19) – Google Docs

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Lincoln School Celebrates Earth Day!

April 22, 2020 will mark 50 years of Earth Day.
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans — 10% of the U.S. population at the time — took to the streets, college campuses and hundreds of cities to protest an environment in crisis — oil spills, smog, rivers so polluted they literally caught fire.
Earth Day is now recognized as the planet’s largest civic event.
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action.

While we can’t “take to the streets” together this year, we can all engage in collective action to feel connected to one another in support of an important cause.

FAMILY SIDEWALK CHALK CHALLENGE: Spread the word about this important day! This week, wear GREEN and chalk up your sidewalk with Earth Day messages!

GREEN4GOOD KIDS: Every morning, these environmentally-minded kids will join Casey’s morning announcements with an Earth Day FACT and CHALLENGE along the following themes:

• Silver Lining Monday
• Turn it Off Tuesday
• Waste Free Wednesday (Happy 50th Earth Day!!)
• Little Changes / Big Impact Thursday
• Think Globally / Act Locally Friday

Watch STRAWS a film about reducing single-use plastics.
Here is the trailer.
Here is the link to the film on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/302131350.
Our password is STRElementary

VIRTUAL MINI FILM FEST: Watch free virtual screenings provided by One Earth Film Festival every day of Earth Week, including one by Roosevelt student Samantha Older on Saturday.

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Virtual Blue Stem and Monarch Parties

In order to celebrate with those students who completed the Bluestem and Monarch parties, I will be inviting students to a virtual celebration “after school”. Those children who turned in a permission slip will be receiving an invitation via Seesaw.

The dates are below – time is at 3:30.

Tuesday, April 21 – 3rd/4th
Wednesday, April 22 – 2Berg / 2Mayer
Thursday, April 23 – 1st grade
Friday, April 24 – 2Jenkins / 2Rogers / 2Tanglao

Please contact me directly with any questions. I look forward to celebrating with everyone.
Mrs. Brauweiler

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Challenge from Mrs. Kozbur – Art for Rush Oak Park Hospital!

The staff at Rush Oak Park Hospital would love to see artwork from kids displayed on their walls to help cheer them up. They are working very hard and a little color would go a long way to make their days a little more cheerful.   Here is my idea! Think about flowers, butterflies, rainbows, trees, birds singing …anything that is colorful and happy. Take a piece of paper (no larger than 11 x14, no smaller than 8.5 x 11) and create your masterpiece. If you have paints, then you can paint, if you have markers and crayons or cray pas, then use those (please don’t start with pencils :). Please remember Mrs. Kozbur’s recommendations – take your time, use the entire page, don’t be afraid to go off the edges, make it big so everyone can see – and most important – LOTS OF HAPPY COLORS!!!!  It’s okay to include a message in you art work if you’d like.
We are working on having a bin set up at the main door on Park Avenue so you can drop your art work off starting next Monday, April 20! We will collect through Wednesday, April 22 and then your art work will be delivered and put up in the hospital. Let’s put a smile on everyone’s face and make their day a little brighter! – Mrs. Kozbur

Here are more details: ROPH call for art

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Lincoln Yearbooks are now on sale!

Yearbooks are now available to order on the PTO Web Store.  The hardcover books are available at a pre-order price of $25/book now through May 15.  Pre-ordered books will be distributed at the Ice Cream Social on 6/5 along with a souvenir pen.  Save your confirmation email from the PTO Web Store so you can quickly confirm your order when the “end of the school year” madness sets in!

Any books that remain after the initial online orders are taken will be available for purchase on a first come first serve basis at the Ice Cream Social for $30/book.  Keep in mind that the yearbooks are quite popular, so we highly recommend ordering in advance!

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Join the 2020-21 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. All of the planning for our 2020-2021 PTO related events starts soon, so even though things are up in the air for the next few weeks in our school community, we are still working hard to put together our slate for next year.

There is a lot you can do for the PTO and for Lincoln School whether you are a working parent or a stay at home parent. Volunteer opportunities are available for events taking place at school during the week or on weekends. And opportunities are available for you to work from the comfort of your own home while younger children nap.

Thank you for your continued support of the Lincoln PTO! Please click here to view the list of positions available for the 2020-21 school year.

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SchoolKidz Supply Kits – Order by May 15

SchoolKidz supply kits are now available to order for the 2020-2021 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 accepted only until May 15. The supplier cannot accept late orders. Please remember to buy a kit for NEXT YEAR’s Grade Level.

Order your kits at www.shopttkits.com, Lincoln Account Number: 20838 The DEADLINE for ordering kits is May 15. Don’t Delay!