Lincoln Family Tip Guide
Know What to Expect on the First Day of School
First Day Details & Tips for Families
We want to welcome all our new families and give you a good start, so we have compiled a list of tips that may ease the transition. If you are unsure about things, please reach out to Lincoln's main office (contact info below). There is always help available.
The first thing you need to know is where to go to line up the first day of school. At Lincoln, we line up on the blacktop/playground area located behind the school. We will have colored signs with the teacher’s name to indicate where different grade levels line up. On the first day of school, teachers will be outside a little earlier than normal (7:45 am) and will be standing at their line. We will also have other staff members outside with class lists to help direct you if you are unsure. These staff members will be wearing orange vests. One the first day, I will say a brief welcome and introduce all Lions to the morning entry procedures. We suggest all Kindergarten families drop their Lion(s) off on the first day of school.
Our Lincoln team values children arriving on time for school. This helps everyone's day get off to a good start by minimizing disruptions as the day begins. There is a line-up bell that rings at 7:57. Teachers will greet the Lions at their line and walk classes into the school. The regular entry doors are locked after the last class enters. If tardy, your Lion(s) will need to enter through the main office door, which is monitored by staff. All Lions arriving before the morning bell should line up with their class as opposed to entering the building through the office. Everyone who arrives after 8:00 is considered tardy, even those that are just a few minutes late.
Many children walk to school, some are dropped off by car, and some ride the bus. The streets around the school are filled with cars, buses, and children just before 8:00. If you drive to school, please park/drop off your child on Harvard Ave. west of Kenilworth Ave., on Kenilworth Ave. or Filmore Ave. We will have staff members out in our drop off area. THE CUL-DE-SAC IS CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC.
Buses: District 97 has designated that all Lincoln Lions who live north of the Eisenhower Expressway are eligible to ride the bus. Bus route information and morning pick up times can be found at https://www.op97.org/lincoln/bus under the transportation tab. Please be sure that a parent or caregiver is waiting at the bus stop after school. The goal is for the buses to depart from school at 3:10 (2:40 on Wednesdays). This will enable you to estimate the arrival time home. Buses line up along Harvard Street. It is important that your child only ride the bus to which they have been assigned to. Bus passes will be distributed the first week of school. ONLY BUS ELIGIBLE STUDENTS CAN RIDE THE BUS.
When it rains or is unusually cold, the children can enter the building at 7:45. The Lions will wait in their designated area for the bell and their teachers will pick them up from the following locations:
Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd & 3rd grade – Lunchroom
4th, and 5th grade - Auditorium
Wednesday is a shorter day. On Wednesdays, school is dismissed at 2:30 due to staff development sessions. Make sure you pick up your child promptly at 2:30.
When you receive anything from the school that says "Return this form to the office", including lunch money, you can give it to your Lion to take to his or her teacher and the teacher will collect everything and make sure it gets to the office.
All children have a 55-minute break that includes lunch and recess. When a teacher takes attendance in the morning, he or she will ask each Lion if they are eating a cold lunch (lunch from home) or a hot school lunch for that day. To take part in the hot lunch program you must pay in advance. Please refer to the District 97 Elementary School Fee Form (http://www.op97.org/business-office/food-service) or contact the lunchroom supervisor (Mary Raad) for further details. Lions who bring lunch can bring insulated lunch bags or boxes that are deposited in a basket and brought down to the lunchroom and then returned to the classroom after lunch. There is no place to refrigerate lunches that children bring from home or to heat items from home.
If you have computer access, email is a good way to get in touch with your Lion’s teacher or any school employee. You may also want to check out the District website at www.op97.org, which has links to the school sites and other helpful information, such as the school calendar.
COMMUNICATION -- Principal Zaniolo, sends home weekly newsletters at the beginning of the year with important dates and information. The Lion's Roar will be emailed on Fridays. It also includes information from our Lincoln PTO and Diversity Committee (DIVCO).
Once teachers beginning sending home their biweekly classroom/grade level newsletters, From The Lions' Den..., Principal Zaniolo will switch to biweekly communication and alternate weeks. If there are special announcements or other time-sensitive communications, they will be sent out as needed.
Label everything a child does not have attached to their body (and even some things that are attached): coats, shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes, hats, gloves, etc.
If you have any tips to add to this list, please email us.
Contact Lincoln School
Email: lincolnoffice@op97.org
Website: https://www.op97.org/lincoln
Location: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Grove Avenue, Oak Park, IL, USA
Phone: (708) 524-3110