Lincoln Families,

Welcome back to Lincoln! I hope this message finds you enjoying every moment of these fading summer days. It’s hard to believe in less than two weeks your kids will return to Lincoln once again and bring our Fine, Fine School back to life. Like every summer, this one seemed to go by exceptionally fast. As the summer days draw to a close, I am hopeful that you and your family are able to capitalize on some quality time together before the school year kicks off. On behalf of everyone here at Lincoln School, we are anxious to welcome your family for the excitement of the first day of school on Wednesday, August 28th.

The Godfrey’s had an incredible Summer. In addition to continuing to celebrate the St. Louis Blues winning the Stanley Cup, (see picture below) we spent time as a family in Michigan, Martha’s Vineyard and the Ozarks. After lots of time to rejuvenate, I’m ready and excited for the start of the new year. In addition to school, I’m also highly focused on St. Louis Cardinal baseball these days!

On Wednesday, August 21, your child’s 2019-2020 class assignment will be emailed to your family’s primary email address. Please keep in mind that hours of preparation, discussion, and perhaps a few sleepless nights go into the creation of class lists and the various other intricacies of preparing for the start of school. The overall objective when creating these lists is to ensure that all students are placed in the best possible learning environment to meet their social, emotional, and academic needs. The input so many of you provided about your children in the spring was helpful in this time-consuming process.

In addition to over 60 new kindergartners and over 30 new families, we are also excited to welcome several new staff members to the Lincoln family this year:

• Assistant Principal- Ms. Christine Gerges
• 3rd Grade, Ms. Roksolana Ponzio
• Social Work- Part Time- Ms. Bridget Gilmartin
• PE-Part Time- Ms. Mary McDermott
• Speech Language Substitute- Ms. Sabrina Mandelbaum
• Orchestra- Ms. Lisa Minish

I know you will find them to be amazing assets to our already Fine, Fine Faculty! Below is a breakdown of grade level teaching assignments for 2018-19:The beginning of a new school year always brings with it great excitement and optimism. There is something infectious about a clean school, new clothes, new faces, and the energy surrounding the beginning of a new year. Through positive collaboration and open channels of communication, we can carry this same excitement through the entire school year. Please know that my door is always open and welcoming of your feedback and support.

I couldn’t be more excited to embark upon year five with the staff, kids, and families at our Fine, Fine School!

Please tell your kids Ms. Gerges and I say hello and can’t wait to see them soon!

All my best – CG

Meet Mrs. Gerges
Hello Lincoln Families! I am so excited to join the Lincoln Family and become a part of this Fine, Fine School! I have had the privilege of serving the wonderful community of River Forest as a Willard Teacher for the last thirteen years. During my time north of Chicago Avenue, I taught both second and third grades. I value family and school partnerships greatly and am eager to meet your children and collaborate with you to ensure a happy and successful school year!

On a more personal note, my husband Mike and I have been married for eight years. We live in South Loop and love exploring our beautiful city of Chicago. I have a very close knit family, and am sandwiched between my older brother and younger sister. When not spending time with my family, I enjoy socializing with friends, singing, and cooking yummy Egyptian cuisine-although I am not ready to compete on a Food Network show.

Much like Casey, please never hesitate to reach out if there is anything I can to do support your family. I look forward to meeting your kids very soon.

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Calendar

Wednesday, August 21:

• Teacher Assignments Emailed Home

Thursday, August 22:

• PTO Webstore Opens at 7am

Sunday, August 25:

• World Languages Registration

Monday, August 26:

• 6PM: Lincoln New Family Welcome (Kids are welcome)

Wednesday, August 28:

• FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: Full Day for 1-4
• Kindergarten Orientation, AM: 8:15-9, PM: 10:15-11
• Back to School Coffee on the Park Playground

Thursday, August 29:

• • First day of Kindergarten
  • Back To School Picnic, 5:30PM – 7PM

Wednesday, September 4:

• PTO Meeting, 8:45am

Thursday, September 12:

• Back to School Open House, 6:30PM

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School Supplies 

If you ordered School Supplies through the PTO they will be delivered to your child’s classroom.

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Webstore Opens Thursday, 8/22 at 7am!

The Lincoln PTO webstore will open on Thursday 8/22 at 7am. Parents will need Teacher Assignments and Student ID, which will be emailed out.

Here are a few of the activities you can sign up for:

• PTO Activity Fee – The Lincoln PTO thrives on adding value in support of our children’s education and the teachers and staff who are their guides through this journey. Our success is contingent upon your contribution. Please help support our efforts with this $25 donation, available on the PTO Web Store. Your funds help provide classroom supplies and technology, support student clubs, field trips and special family events, and so much more.
• 2nd Grade Harmonica – The PTO sponsors harmonica lessons for all second grade students during the school day. We pay for the teacher and ask parents to pay for the harmonica. Please add this $12 fee to your shopping basket on the PTO Web Store.
• 2nd Grade Bike Safety – Fall is the time to brush up on bike safety for 2nd graders as well as any child new to Lincoln! This is an informative and fun after school event. Officer Glenn Czernik of the River Forest Police Department conducts a fun, informative and hands-on-the-handlebars bike safety workshop. Second graders are strongly encouraged to complete the workshop and become regular bike riders for the remainder of their Lincoln Eagle days. Classes will be offered after school on the playground on September 4 and September 5. Sign up for one session on the Webstore.
• Theater Club – Theater Club for 3rd and 4th graders will be held on the first and third Tuesday of every month.  The goal is to introduce the children to the how-to’s of theater and give them a base they can build on once they reach Roosevelt School. Some of the subjects to be covered include vocal and physical warm-ups, theater games, improvisation, theater terms, scene study, and auditions. The students will learn that the theater always should be a safe place to express themselves. They will become comfortable living onstage and head toward the more structured Roosevelt experience with confidence and excitement. Contact Carl Bergetz (cbergetz@gmail.com with questions.
• 4th Grade Activities Fee – The PTO sponsors and organizes a breakfast and T-shirt for 4th graders. This $25 fee covers the costs. Please add this fee to your shopping basket on the PTO Web Store.
• 4th Grade Heartworks Service Club – Heartworks is a community service group for 4th graders that will engage in activities designed to 1) heighten awareness of the needs of others in the Lincoln community, as well as the needs of those around the world; 2) create an environment where service becomes a natural part of students’ everyday lives; and 3) provide opportunities for leadership. Generally, Heartworks will meet once per month including a few after school outside field trips.
• 4th Grade Lunchtime Leaders Program – Lunchtime Leaders assist students during the 1st and 2nd grade lunch period. They walk around the cafeteria assisting students in opening milk, supplying various items, answering questions and supporting arrival and dismissal. Depending on student interest level, students will average two lunch periods per month. A monthly calendar is created and distributed to 4th grade Lunchtime Leaders. On their assigned day, Lunchtime Leaders are also allowed to sit at the Lunchtime Leader table and invite any friend to join them.

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FUN LUNCH!

Fun lunch registration will be available on the webstore beginning Thursday 8/22. You may choose 1, 2, 3 or all 4 meal options. The cost for each lunch averages $6. Regular fun lunch registration will close on 9/2. Late registration with an extra $15 fee will be available until 9/10.

Fun lunch options for 2019/2020 will be:

• Week 1: an extra large slice of cheese pizza
• Week 2: Pasta Marinara OR Macaroni and Cheese
• Week 3: Chicken Tenders OR Grilled Cheese Sandwich
• Week 4: Hamburger OR Cheeseburger OR Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Friday, September 6 will be the first day of fun lunch and it will be FREE pizza for all students.

Fun lunch would not be possible without the help of volunteers to serve the meal! Please sign up to volunteer. It’s a great way to see your child and interact with other parents to make everyone’s favorite PTO program happen.

Questions? Please contact Ashley Bryce (ashleyfb92@yahoo.com) or Cathy O’Neill (cathy102976@yahoo.com)

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Lincoln PTO World Languages Program

The PTO World Languages Program is an optional, supplemental language program offered at Lincoln School. This program offers your child an opportunity to learn a new language and experience the culture of another country. During the Lincoln School year, French, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are all offered as options for students to learn. Weekly class options to choose from are before school, during lunch and after school and are available for all 1st through 4th grade students. Registration through the WebStore starts in mid-August for programming that begins the week of September 9th.
Cost: $175 Number of sessions: 28
Morning Classes meet from 7:30-8:15 am
Lunch-Recess Classes meet from 11:30 am-12:25 pm
After School Classes meet from 3:15-4:00 pm
Classes begin the week of Sept. 9th and end the 3rd week in April through the beginning of May, depending on the class and sessions missed due to holidays.
The primary goal of the Lincoln PTO’s World Languages Program is to capitalize on the important windows of opportunity for language acquisition which many studies show exist in young children, and to do so in a fun and stimulating environment! Children in the program acquire listening skills and develop the basis for conversation. They are also exposed to the cultures of the countries in which their chosen language is spoken. To meet these objectives, the instructors incorporate games, songs, art projects, story telling, play-acting, and other teaching methods appropriate for elementary level students. English is used as little as possible. The World Languages program is facilitated by instructors who are native speaking and/or have global language instructional backgrounds. Instructional materials are rotated to ensure that students do not receive the same curriculum within a language level. Textbooks and other materials, carefully selected by the instructors, are used in class and included in the class fee.
Unsure about which language or level to sign your child up for?
​The World Languages Program is designed to introduce the fundamentals of world languages and cultures to children before they are required to choose a world language as a core element of their education at Roosevelt Middle School. The World Languages Program offers two broad approaches to language learning:
● Approach 1:
Your child could choose a different language option each year at Lincoln, thereby sampling and gaining insights into each, being able to make a more informed choice as to which single language they would prefer to commit to at Roosevelt Middle School.
Please note that Mandarin Chinese is not currently offered at Roosevelt Middle School, but has been added to the Lincoln World Languages lineup in the spirit of broadening students’ world views and by popular demand.
● Approach 2:
Your child might decide to use the three years exposure to the World Languages Program at Lincoln to focus on only one language, i.e. Spanish, Italian, or French, thereby gaining more advanced knowledge of that specific language prior to moving on to Roosevelt.
Please use your best judgment about what is the right approach for your child(ren) and feel free to contact the World Languages Committee for guidance.
Please keep in mind that most beginner classes open to Grade 1 – 4 tend to be filled with younger students. Frequently fourth graders are unhappy in a class with predominantly first and second graders and this is something you may want to discuss with your child prior to enrollment. Also, note that during the first two weeks of the program, your child’s ability will be re- assessed by the World Languages teachers, and at that stage recommendations may be made for level switches, if deemed necessary, by the World Languages teachers and/or yourself.
All participating families are expected to complete the World Languages Code of Conduct form. World Languages fees are not refundable once classes begin.
Questions? Please email lincolnworldlanguage@gmail.com

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Announcing Lincoln’s New Volleyball Club!

We are excited to be offering a NEW sports program for 3rd and 4th grade girls this school year. The Lincoln Eagles Volleyball Club will meet one time per week on Friday’s from 3:15-4:15pm. The girls will learn basic volleyball skills (serving, passing, setting and hitting). The max per session is 15 to ensure a lot of opportunity to scrimmage with limited substitutions.

The curriculum will have a very strong focus on teamwork, sportsmanship and developing sound leadership skills on and off the court. The Volleyball Club will be coached by Ann Bath. Ann is a D90 parent, Girls on the Run Coach, RFYBS Coach and very passionate about the positive impact that team sports can have on kids. And, She LOVES volleyball and still plays to this day.

Attire: Kneepads (not provided), comfortable clothing and gym shoes
Fee: $80 per session
Max: 15
Session Dates:
session 1: 9/6, 9/13, 9/20, 10/4, 10/11, 10/18
session 2: 10/25, 11/1, 11/15, 11/22, 12/6, 12/13
session 3: 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14
session 4: 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 4/3, 4/17, 5/1

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Green 4 Good Club

Registration Opens Thursday, August 22!

Green4Good is District 90’s Sustainability Committee with parent-led teams at each of our three schools. Last year, Lincoln launched Green4Good Kids, a club open to 3rd graders interested in learning more about sustainability and environmental stewardship in our community. We had a great inaugural year including: Trash Talk from George Strom of the Roy Strom Company; Stories from an Eco Adventurer’s Trip to Bali; and Love Food Not Waste with SugarBeet Food Co-op.

If your 3rd grader would like to be a Green4Good Kid, registration opens Thursday, August 22! Meetings are at school from 3:15-4:15 on the 3rd Monday of each month (with the exception of January and February when meetings fall on the 4th Monday due to school holidays).

Our first meeting this year is on September 16. Lincoln’s new G4G Kids will be joined by last year’s club members and together they will plant two new pollinator gardens with the Deep Roots Project.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Lincoln’s Green4Good co-chairs, Alexis Murphy and Renee Sichlau, or Theresa Dubois, Green4Good Kids Faculty Sponsor.

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HERO Boys Running Club

HERO Boys is a youth development and engagement program for 3rd & 4th grade boys. Throughout the 8 week course the boys are taught the skills needed to complete the Lincoln 5K(3.2 mi) held on October 26 at the Pancake Breakfast. Using running as a base activity HERO Boys inspires boys to discover the character and courage that resides inside each one of them to be brave, stand for that which is right, and use their talents and strengths to lead and set the positive example amongst their peers. Each week a different topic is covered and speakers are brought in to discuss the various characteristics that make someone a HERO. Beginning September and ending October 28, HERO Boys will meet Mondays from 3:20-4:20 p.m. Maximum of 20 participants.

Contact anne gall annegall3@gmail.com with questions.

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New This Year: The Lincoln News Crew!

The Lincoln News Crew will be open to 4th graders and will meet on Mondays from 3:15 – 4:15. Students will flex their critical thinking skills and take turns being writers, designers and photographers when they create and publish a school newspaper at the end of the semester!

Students will learn how news is produced and explore topics such as:
– what are different types of news content (features, profiles, editorials) and how do we differentiate between them?
– How are daily, weekly, and monthly publications different? What does each offer?

Guest speakers and a virtual field trip to the Newseum in Washington, DC are being planned. Club meetings will be starting on 9/25. We will open up registration for this club on 9/18.

Please email Elizabeth Condon (elizabethg.condon@gmail.com) with any questions.

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The Library Lowdown

All students received a checklist of fun places and ways to read at the end of school (e.g., read in their pajamas/on a plane). They can turn that list into the library the first week of school for a small prize. I have attached the list if you need another copy.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vUhHnbW9Nezd6K89OYjl1odiYKIA37mPMb2ap-lflY0/edit

Where did you read – send in a photo

Please send me (brauweilerd@district90.org) a copy of your child reading before school starts. Their photo will be in the back-to-school presentation and posted in the library. They love seeing their friends (and themselves) in all the ways they read!

Lost Books

If you have a Lincoln Library book floating around your house and you found it over the summer, please return it to the school as soon as possible. We appreciate your persistence in locating all lost books.

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Lincoln Spiritwear

Shop for Spirit Wear at our Spirit Wear Store: https://pswear.com/LincolnRiverForest

Show your Lincoln spirit with t-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more while raising funds for our school. The Lincoln PTO receives a percentage of the sale proceeds.

Be on the look out for a flyer coming home in our first Friday folder on 8/30 or order online here. All orders will ship directly to Lincoln and will be given to your child to bring home.

Please direct any questions to Jennifer Nelson (jennifernelson77@gmail.com). Thank you for your support!

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New Family Orientation – Monday, August 26 at 6pm!

Are you new to Lincoln this year? Please join us for a new family orientation session on Monday, August 26 at 6pm in the Lincoln Auditorium.  The session will include a presentation by Mr. Godrey and a tour of the school, kids are welcome!  Contact Lauren Behan or Megan Kinsella with any questions!

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Back to School Picnic – Thursday, August 29 from 5:30-7pm!

Join us for the Back to School Picnic on Thursday, 8/29 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm on the Franklin Playground! Meet families in your class and welcome new Lincoln families. Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner.
There will be multiple inflatable games, dunk tank with Mr. Godfrey (!), and sidewalk chalk!

All activity tickets are $1 – proceeds go to the PTO!

Contact Lauren Behan or Megan Kinsella with any questions!

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New Families – Test your Revtrak