PANTHER PROGRESS
February 2024 Issue 7
Message from our administrators
Greetings Lincoln Family –
February is the time of year to recognize multiple celebrations, including Black/African American History Month and the celebration of love for Valentine’s Day! Lincoln encompasses both of these themes: love and preservation.
Lincoln has a RICH history that we pride ourselves with, "honoring history while making history." With term 2 report cards distributed last week, there is much to celebrate, but much to support when it comes to meeting grade level expectations. In addition to maximizing our last 77 days of school, our current attendance rate is at 93.6%. Our current attendance goal is a minimum of a 96% attendance rate. Unfortunately, we currently have 118 students that have already missed 10 or more days of school, which is considered “chronically absent.” Attendance is also another factor of achievement. Let’s continue to work together to get your child to their highest achievement levels; “making history.”
For the third year in a row, Lincoln will celebrate a “Lincoln Love Day” on Wednesday, February 14th. As referenced in our Find Out First communication last week, students/families should not purchase Valentine’s Day cards as your child’s class will be with their Buddy Class to fulfill the opportUNITY to show appreciation for each other, without the cost.
Again, we are beyond grateful to serve in our Lincoln CommUNITY and we appreciate the partnership between home and school.
In your service,
Eric Rhodes - Principal
Mary Beth Smith - Assistant Principal
Important February Dates
February 7: SHIP office hours 3 - 4pm
February 14: Lincoln Love Day
February 16: 2 hour early dismissal
February 19: School closed (President's Day)
February 22: Judy Center Dinner 5:30 - 7pm
February 27: Parental Advisory Council 5 - 6pm
February 29: Lincoln Learner Series #3 9 - 10am (Topic is internet safety)
February Learning
Select the link below to check out what your child/children will be learning this month! Grading polices for grades PK-1, grades 2-5, and Encore classes have also been added for your review. If you have any questions regarding your child/children’s learning and grading policy, please reach out to the classroom teacher.
Events in the commUNITY
Family Partnership Calendar: February calendar
UNESCO: February Newsletter
United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) appointments are available until April 15: https://www.unitedwayfrederick.org/taxprep
4th Dimension Report Card Rewards Program
Breakfast and Lunch menus
Our students are offered breakfast and lunch every day. Click the links below for this month's menu. For more information about FCPS food and nutrition, visit their website.
National School Counseling week Feb 5 - Feb 9
This recognition is designed to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. Sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), this week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success. In fact, our lead counselor, Mrs. Quill, was invited to the ASCA conference in Washington D.C. to be the national representative for the state of Maryland! While there, she had the opportUNITY to share ideas with counselors from across the country. She also spent time with the U.S. Department of Education in round table discussions to share successes of our social emotional learning program and to continue to advocate for student needs.
Mrs. Quill, Ms. Ellis, Ms. Dodson and Mrs. Nelson - you make us Panther Proud! 💙💛
Lincoln's Teacher of the Year
We'd like to congratulate one of our kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Rebecca Delp, for being nominated as Lincoln's 2024 Teacher of the Year! As one of the most prestigious awards for FCPS, it recognizes outstanding performance in the classroom. Mrs. Delp has been a teacher for seven years, the last four at Lincoln. Her favorite part of teaching is when students have an "aha" or "lightbulb" moment and they can start making connections and applications independently. When asked what she hopes her students remember about her, she says, "the love."
Parental Advisory Council (PAC)
Calling all parents and guardians! Do you have one hour you can spare every month? Our PAC is a way that you can share feedback and suggestions into our decision making process. The meeting is an open environment where everyone's ideas are valued and appreciated. FCPS interpreters are available when needed. We'd like to thank the parents that were able to attend our inaugural session last week. We meet on the last Tuesday of every month from 5 - 6pm in the media center. Our next session is Feb. 27th. Please email our CommUNITY School Coordinator, Crosby.Blair@fcps.org if you'd like to join.
Outreach events
Did you know Lincoln staff, in partnership with Judy Center and some of our affiliated organizations, host regular outreach events in the neighborhoods in which we serve? Last week, school staff was on site in Windsor Gardens to connect with families, to share resources and to spread the Lincoln Love! If you are interested in having an outreach event in your neighborhood, email our CommUNITY School Coordinator at Crosby.Blair@fcps.org.
Spelling Bee champion
Congratulations to 4th grader, Evan Kolysh, for becoming Lincoln's Spelling Bee champion! He competed against seven other students in an intense competition. Evan and our alternate, Ryan-Pierce, exhausted all the 4th AND 5th grade spelling words. Not until receiving 6th grade spelling words could we determine a winner. Evan and Ryan-Pierce will represent Lincoln and the county spelling bee on March 2nd.
Attendance
Students that have missed 10% or more of the school year meet the criteria for being chronically absent. The FCPS goal for overall school attendance is 96%. Reach out to our CommUNITY School Coordinator at Crosby.Blair@fcps.org with any attendance questions or concerns. You can help us by:
- Making sure your child is coming to school regularly unless they have a fever of 100.4 or higher, are vomiting or have diarrhea.
- Providing written documentation from a guardian or medical provider anytime your child is absent
- Written documentation can be in the form of an email, Talking Points message or handwritten note
Check out these flyers from Attendance Works for more information English Spanish
Current attendance rates
Whole school: 93.6%
PreK: 92%
Kindergarten: 93%
1st: 94%
2nd: 94%
3rd: 94.9%
4th: 94%
5th: 93.2%
Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP)
Did you know that we get regular visits from representatives with SHIP? SHIP provides critical resources and urgent services to hundreds of Frederick County youths experiencing homelessness. If you have lived in more than two places over the last few months, SHIP can provide a wide variety of resources to you including hygiene items, transportation and food. Representatives are here on the first Wednesday of each month from 3 - 4pm. Check out their website for more information.
Lincoln Learner Report
Counseling Corner
February
Love of Lincoln Month
During the month of February Frederick County Public schools recognizes Black African American History month (BAAHM). We are especially excited to celebrate at Lincoln as this is the 100th anniversary of our school which was the first school for African American students in Frederick County in 1923. This month we will be focusing on the ways that we can live the Lincoln legacy of love and education for all. We will be talking to our students about how they represent the dreams of their families and community. Students will be making “I am the Dream” signs to hang around the school. We would love it if families could talk to students about their dreams for the future. You can even write your hopes and dreams for your child(ren) on their sign so we can all celebrate their special space in the world and our school family.
The school counseling team: The “Super Support Squad”
Ms. Ellis (grades 3-5) Madison.Ellis@fcps.org
Mrs. Quill (grades PreK-2) Heather.Quill@fcps.org
Ms. Dodson (Behavior Support Specialist) Heather.Dodson@fcps.org
Mrs. Nelson (Social Worker) Amy.Nelson@fcps.org
The team works closely with students, staff, and families, to grow a learning community where all members are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged to be their best self. The three major areas of focus at Lincoln are:
Teaching and practicing emotional awareness and emotional regulation
Developing and maintaining healthy relationships, which includes the use of restorative practices to help all members learn to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts in a positive and productive manner.
Instructing students, staff, and families about the role of the brain in learning in order to increase student independence and academic stamina
This website has multiple resources for students and families. It also has videotaped lessons we use with students and parent videos that explain our emotional regulation program.
Health Room Corner
Reminders from the Health Room
Student health cards need to be completed every year. If you have not completed your child’s health card this year please complete and return to the health room as soon as possible. Call the health room at 240-236-2749 if you have any questions.
February is Children’s Dental Health Month. Follow these four steps for a healthy smile.
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste after breakfast and before bedtime
- Once teeth are touching, floss your child’s teeth daily
- Limit sugary snacks and drinks
- Visit a dental office regularly
- Dental health information (English)
- Dental health information (Spanish)
Judy Center Corner
UPCOMING FUN PLAYGROUP PARTNER ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
- Thursday, FEB 8 – Pediatric Movement Center (gross motor) 2:00
Jueves, 8 FEB – Centro de Movimiento Pediátrico (motricidad gruesa) 2:00
- Friday, FEB 9 – Melody Music Therapy 9:15
Viernes, 9 FEB – Melody Music Therapy 9:15
- Wednesday, FEB 14 – Melody Music Therapy & Book Mobile
Miércoles, 14 de febrero – Melody Music Therapy & Book Mobile
- Friday, FEB 16 – Loaves of Fun (bread making!) 9:15
Viernes, 16 FEB – Panes de diversión (¡hacer pan!) 9:15
- Thursday, FEB 22 – Judy Center CommUNITY dinner with Heather Quill + Madison Ellis (Lincoln’s Super Support Squad) Let’s Talk Social Emotional Learning!
Jueves, 22 de febrero - Cena de Judy Center CommUNITY con Heather Quill y Madison Ellis (Lincoln's Super Support Squad) ¡Hablemos de aprendizaje socioemocional!
- Friday, FEB 23 – Vision screen with the Lion’s Club (optional) 9:15
Viernes, 23 de febrero – Pantalla de visión con el Club de Leones (opcional) 9:15
What does Judy Center do to support young children?
We serve pregnant families & families with children ages birth through 5 years by providing the following at no cost:
- Engaging learning activities, strategies, and tools that target social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development.
- Caregiver workshops and support, learning parties, and family events to create a collaborative and nurturing educational home environment.
- Local service provider referrals, including healthcare, childcare, career and adult education, housing, food, and other areas of need.
- Play and have fun with your children and other families!
Join our Judy Center Facebook page:
Please check out our Facebook page for more information and upcoming events:
Judy Center-LNES Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judycenterLNES/
Parent Interest Survey
Families, please open this link and complete this survey if you are interested in Judy Center. We are interested in learning if you have children in your family between the ages of birth to 4 and if you are pregnant. If you do have young children, we would enjoy having you join our Judy Center events. We can also support you in many ways! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTC82Uv71o29m53_0Ud58kuvCTOUOQMm8nRZ8gRWHJ4jkw3A/viewform
Want to know about our upcoming events? Join Talking Points!
Please sign up for Talking Points to better communicate with Judy Center and receive notifications for upcoming events: Talking Points JC Class Code: SDY1ZH
Instructions to sign up: https://intercom.help/talkingpoints/en/articles/5082947-joining-a-class
Want to help teach your child at home? Sign up for ReadyRosie
Families, YOU play an essential role in the education and well-being of your child. ReadyRosie exists to support you in that role! https://www.readyrosie.com/for-families/
How to reach the Judy Center:
Program Administrator: Holly Sontz Holly.Sontz@fcps.org, 240.236.2744
Outreach coordinator: Erika Rape Erika.Rape@fcps.org, 240.236.2436
Judy Center winter schedule (English)
Judy Center winter schedule (Spanish)
Remaining Family engagement events for the 23-24 school year
February 29: Lincoln Learner Series #3, 9 - 10:30 am
March 20: Multicultural and Encore Night, 5 - 7pm
April 25: Lincoln Learner Series #4, 9 - 10:30am
May 30: Panther Party, 5 - 7pm
Honor history, Make history
Much Lincoln Love!
LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Email: Eric.Rhodes@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/lnes/home
Location: 200 Madison Street, Frederick, MD
Phone: 240-236-2650