Lincoln Families,
Welcome back to school! I hope your family had a fun, relaxing and enjoyable Spring Break! I enjoyed the time away traveling to Scottsdale, Boston and Maine. Hopefully the time away rejuvenated your kids for the final forty-seven days of school!

Beginning on Monday, April 10 students in grades 3-4 will participate in the annual PARCC testing. Our students will participate in Math and English Language Arts. To assist in any family planning, the Lincoln PARCC schedule is attached below. Please let me know if you have any questions. Please also note that all 3rd/4th grade instrumental music lessons will be canceled April 10-21. Lessons will resume the week of Monday, April 24.

We are very excited to Beginning on Friday, April 7 we will start a new program on Friday mornings! Wonder Writers will kick off this Friday at 7:30. Mrs. Moriarty and other staff will facilitate creative writing opportunities for our kids. No RSVP is needed. We look forward to offering this opportunity to our kids.

Finally, we’ve reached the point of the school year where we officially begin to plan for the next year. A huge part of that process involves the class placement of students. Tomorrow morning, you’ll be receiving a message from me soliciting your voluntary input in this process.

I’m so excited to welcome your kids back to school tomorrow. As always, please reach out if there is anything I can do to support you or your family. Thanks for your continued support of our school!
CG

Calendar

Monday, 4/3:

• Coding Club (grades 2-4) during recess – library

Tuesday, 4/4:

• PTO meeting, 8:45 am
• Girls on the Run – 3:10-4:15 – gym
• Theater Club meets after school

Wednesday, 4/5:

• Pack a Waste-Free Lunch

Thursday, 4/6:

• Girls on the Run – 3:10-4:15 – gym

Friday, 4/7:

• School Spirit Day
• Fun Lunch:  Pasta

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. As we begin to plan for the 2017-18 school year, we invite parents to join us from 7:00-9:00 pm on Thursday, April 13 at Old School Tavern and Grill (201 Des Plaines Ave, Forest Park). Beer, wine and light appetizers will be offered from 7-9, to share ideas and show support for activities and events organized by the PTO.

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. Volunteers opportunities are available for events taking place at school during the week or on weekends. And opportunities are available for you to work on from the comfort of your own home while younger children nap.

Spread the word and bring a friend! We hope to see you on April 13th at Old School Tavern and Grill! Thank you for your continued support of the Lincoln PTO! Please click here to view the list of positions available for the 2017-18 school year.

4th Grade Parents!

Have a child starting at Roosevelt this fall?
Coffee and Conversation, April 6, 8:45am – 9:30am
Roosevelt Middle School – multi purpose room

The PTO is hosting a coffee for all families with rising 5th graders and/or new families with students joining Roosevelt in the Fall of 2017. Please join us for coffee, conversation and to learn about ways to get involved in the Roosevelt community. From assisting the library staff in the LLC to helping coordinate Roosevelt’s two biggest fundraisers (Fun Lunch and Fall Fun Fest!), there are many ways to meet new parents and help our community. We hope to see you there!

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Piccirilli Wernet, PTO co-president, at stephaniepiccirilli@mac.com.

Lincoln Yearbooks

Guarantee your copy of Lincoln’s 2016-2017 yearbook by ordering on the PTO Web Store today.  Books are distributed at the Ice Cream Social at the end of the school year.

Author David Biedrzycki Coming to Lincoln Next Thursday!

Lincoln School will be hosting Author / Illustrator David Biedrzycki next Thursday morning.  Afternoon kindergarten classes are invited to come to the 10:00 am presentation.

All K – 3 students are receiving a book order form today or tomorrow.  This form is used if they would like to purchase books that are personalized. Here is a link to the form.

There is a quick turnaround due to the author’s schedule and I am asking for all forms to be turned in by Thursday if you want personalized books.  After Thursday, you will still receive a book, it just may not be personalized (it will still be signed by the author).

He is the author/illustrator of the following series:  Ace Lacewing, Breaking News: Bear Alert (last year’s Monarch winner) and Me and My Dragon.  He has also illustrated many books with Jerry Pallotta.  You can see more of his books by googling:  david biedrzycki books   (his website is http://www.davidbiedrzycki.com)

Connect4Kids Family Flow Yoga for Kids grades 1-4 Sign Ups Begin on 4/2

Connect4Kids Family Flow Yoga for Kids grades 1-4

Calling all Yogis. Adrienne Smith and Laurie Solberg of Family Flow Yoga will be teaching children’s yoga class for 1st – 4th grade students.

Classes start Monday, April 10

Class dates are as follows: 3:15-4:15 in the Gym:
April 10
April 17
April 24
May 1
May 8
May 15

$70 for a 6 week session.

The program will provide children with an opportunity to foster greater self-awareness and improve their concentration and self-confidence. The team will introduce the children to the fundamentals of yoga and incorporate social-emotional themes.

Questions? Please contact:
Annie Bergin Dwyer
Loolatopiafairy@gmail.com.

Please be aware that PTO sponsored events are facilitated by volunteers and instructors solicited by the PTO. D90 personnel are oftentimes are not in attendance or on the school premises.

Parents Needed for Grading and Report Card Focus Groups

Dear District 90 Parents and Caregivers,

As part of the 2015-20 Strategic Plan, the District is in the initial stages of researching and developing a multi-year plan that will lead to the implementation of a standards-based student progress reporting system. The District is holding three focus group discussions about revising the District’s report card and grading protocols: one each for parents/caregivers, faculty, and students. I would like to invite you to take part in the session for parents/caregivers. The conversation will take place on Thursday, April 13 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in the Lincoln Elementary School Multi-Purpose Room.

The focus group will provide an opportunity for you to share your perspective about how the District currently communicates information about student progress, student strengths, and areas needing improvement. District 90 will conduct the parent/caregiver focus group with the goal of better understanding whether our current method of providing student performance feedback is clear and coherent with enough detail. We’re interested in whether our grading practices reflect the information that is relevant to families about continued student advancement.

Dr. Alison Hawley, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and I will lead the focus group. Members of the Superintendent’s Leadership Council (SLC) will also attend the session. Our goal is to have a session with 10-12 total participants. After all the sessions are completed, the findings will be used to assist in the eventual implementation of a standards-based progress reporting system. Along with improved communications to our families, the revised progress reporting practices will also align our protocols with the current and future instructional standards.

If you would like to take part in the focus group on Thursday, April 13 starting at 5:30 p.m., please contact Dawne Simmons, Communications and Community Outreach Coordinator, at 708-366-7340 x8028 or simmonsd@district90.org by Friday, April 7. Thank you in advance for your ongoing partnership and consideration!

School Inclusiveness Survey: Deadline Extended

The deadline to participate in the Inclusiveness Advisory Board’s 2017 Inclusiveness Perception Survey has been extended to Friday, April 7. The confidential online survey enables District 90 to determine and monitor the degree to which District 90 fosters an environment of inclusion for students, families, and staff. Please click on the link below to participate in the 2017 Inclusiveness Perception Survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7KS3L8H