The Lion's Roar
News & Events for Lincoln Families | August 23rd, 2019
IMPORTANT DATES/THINGS TO REMEMBER
August
Supply Drop-off and Meet Your Teacher (Kindergarten only) -- August 27th, 5:00-5:45pm
Supply Drop-off only (grades 1-5) See details below-- August 27th -- 5:30-7:00pm
(new) Medication & Documentation Drop Off Event -- August 27th -- 5:30-7:00pm (same as supply drop off) more info below
First Day of School -- August 28th -- 8:00-2:30pm
First Day of School Coffee, Donuts & Photos for Kindergarten families (hosted by our DIVCO) -- 7:30-8:00am
September
Labor Day -- No School -- September 2nd
(PTO Sponsored) Lincoln Parents Happy Hour 5:00-7:00pm Murphy's 7414 West Madison, Forest Park -- September 6th
Picture Day - September 9th (Details to follow)
Curriculum Night -- September 11th -- (Details to follow)
PTO Back to School Picnic – September 13th – 5:00-7:30pm – Maple Park
Discussion of Liaison Group for Developing Our Spanish Immersion Program - September 25th from 6:00-8:00pm
October
Coffee & Conversation with Principal Zaniolo (Roundtable discussion format) -- 3 Sessions: October 15, 17, & 23 from 6:00-8:00pm
A Message From Principal Zaniolo...
Hello Lincoln Families,
The excitement is palpable! We are almost here, ready to start another great year with our Lincoln Lions!
This is an information-packed edition of The Lion's Roar . We want to make sure you and your Lion(s) are ready for the first day, Wednesday, August 28th. Remember, that first day is a shortened day and we will dismiss at 2:30pm. Please read it carefully and reach out with any questions. We are here to serve you!
As I mentioned last week, we will be starting our year refocusing on what it means to be a Lincoln Lion. You may have noticed the different lion designs and representations that have been showing up in my communications with you. This is intentional. As we think about our community, our Lion Pride, I want to welcome the full diversity of our families, our children, and our staff. Our diverse backgrounds, perspectives, cultures, and identities make ours a much stronger community. We are ALL lions. As we work together this year to teach and empower our young Lions to THINK critically, FEEL compassionately, COMMUNICATE authentically, and ACT courageously, I want us to walk this path together. We have many strengths to build on and important work to do.
I truly look forward to partnering with each of you. So get some rest, prepare your LIon(s), we've got an exciting journey ahead.
Warmly,
Laura Zaniolo
(she / her / hers)
Lincoln Lion & Principal
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
First Day Details & What to Know (updated)
Our first day back to school is Wednesday and it is an early dismissal day (2:30pm).
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.
At Lincoln, we line up on the blacktop/playground area located behind the school. We will have colored signs with the teachers' names to indicate where different grade levels line up. We are also including a diagram to help you see the location where your Lion's grade level will line up (see below). Some areas outside will not be available to us on the first day. Once those areas become available in a few weeks, the line up areas for 1st and 4th grade will change.
Thank you for your patience during this construction process. The building is looking fantastic and we can't wait to share it with you on curriculum night (September 11th). You will be able to meet and hear from your Lion's teacher, participate in a community meeting with Ms. Zaniolo, AND get a guided tour of our new facilities from some of our 5th grade Lions. There are more details on the way.
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.
Inclement Weather: 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
You can access the Lincoln Family Tip Guide HERE.
Bus Information
There are no changes to bus schedules, routes, or numbers for this upcoming school year. There may be a second bus #3 added that will follow the first bus. No other changes are anticipated.
Get to know our drivers...
Bus #1 - Sherina
Bus #2 - Juan
Bus #3 - Diane
Bus #4 - Patrick
Bus #5 - Melissa
Bus #6 - Tony
Get your transportation information from our website...
Home Avenue Pedestrian Bridge - Temporary Closure
Specific Classroom / Grade Level Updates
Medication & Documentation Drop Off Event
Tuesday evening (5:30 pm to 7pm) come to the Lincoln Main Lobby, Ms. Donovan our nurse will be present to accept medications, physician's orders, health forms, etc.
Message from Nurse Donovan...
A warm welcome to all new Lincoln Lions, and welcome back to our returning Lions and families!
If your child needs to receive a scheduled prescription medication or over-the-counter medication at school during the school year, you will need to provide a new Physician’s Order at the start of each new school year. (Please use the District 97 Licensed Prescriber Authorization Form for this purpose).
In addition, students with health issues such as asthma, allergies, or seizure disorders will need to have a new Emergency Action Plan provided by their physician with each new school year. Other significant medical issues may need written physician directives as well. Please contact the Lincoln School Nurse if you have any questions about this.
You may obtain and print blank District 97 Licensed Prescriber Authorization Forms through the links on the District 97 web page for Health Services: http://www.op97.org/health-services/forms You will also find blank Emergency Action Plans on that page.
*See links under Important Forms for Prescription Authorization Form, and for the respective Action Plan(s).
After the physician completes the District 97 Licensed Prescriber Authorization Form(s), please review the form, sign the consent section at the bottom, and return it to the school with the respective medication(s) at the start of the school year in August. Please remember that all medications must be in their original box/container - i.e., the pharmacy prescription label must be intact on the box/container, for all prescription medications (including inhalers), and a supply of medication must be in the original box/container, for over-the-counter medications. Expired medications will not be accepted.
Please call me if you have any questions.
Respectfully,
Georgia Donovan, R.N., BSN, CSN
708-524-3108
Previously Communicated Information...
Supply Drop Off Day & School Supply Lists
We are hosting a school-wide supply drop off this year. This will NOT be a formal meet-and-greet with teachers. Due to the construction, we will only have a short time to prepare the school, so most teachers will be finishing the set up of their classrooms. While some teachers may be ready for a meet and greet, most will not. If individual teachers anticipate being able to host a meet-and-greet for their specific homerooms, they will reach out directly to their families with that information. Those events will also take place on Tuesday, August 27th. Times will vary based on the teacher’s availability.
The school-wide supply drop off event will be for grades 1-5 on Tuesday, August 27th from 5:30-7:00pm. You will be able to bring your Lion’s supplies, bagged and clearly-labeled with their NAME and HOMEROOM TEACHER’S NAME, to Lincoln’s main lobby. We will have volunteers ready to receive those supplies and deliver them to the homeroom teachers’ classrooms.
Because not all families are able to purchase supplies for school, we will also have boxes located outside the office to collect any school supplies you would like to donate to support another Lincoln Lion.
If you need a copy of the supply list, I have included a direct link to the supply lists here for easy access.
Lincoln Is Hiring for Lunch & Recess Supervisors
Emergency Practice Drills - 2019-20 School Year
We take safety seriously at Lincoln. We have several safety drills we practice each year to ensure that students and staff know what to do if we are ever faced with these types of emergencies.
Our teachers are extremely caring and want to ensure that our students aren't scared during these drills. Teachers have age-appropriate conversations with students to prepare them for the drill and reassure them that they are safe.
Fire Drills
The school will conduct several fire drills during the 2019-2020 school year. This is a Fire Code requirement as well as a requirement by the Oak Park D97 Elementary School District.
Severe Weather Drill
The school will conduct one severe weather drill. Students will be escorted by staff members into our severe weather locations. Students are instructed as to what they would do in case of an actual weather-related emergency.
Lockdown Drill
The school will conduct one lockdown drill over the course of the school year. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff, and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. In the event of an actual lockdown, no one will be allowed to enter or leave the building until the authorities authorize such a release.
Snack Procedures at Lincoln
When your Lions come to Lincoln School, our first priority is to keep them safe. Due to the number of students with food allergies in our school, we have put the following snack guidelines in place for all classrooms. Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe learning environment for ALL of our Lions!
Students will keep their zippered lunch boxes in our lunch bin outside of the classroom.
Students may eat a healthy snack, such as fresh fruits or fresh vegetables, in the classroom mid-morning.
Students will wash hands at the beginning of the day, after snack, and after lunch to help minimize traces of allergens in our classrooms.
Students should not share food at any time.
We are grateful to you and your students for understanding the need for these precautions. Our teachers and entire Lincoln staff appreciate your help in keeping our children safe! There will be additional communication from Mrs. Donovan, our school nurse.
2019-2020 Student Fees
Student fees may be paid beginning July 1 and are due by September 30, 2019
· Elementary Grades K – 2 $160
· Elementary Grades 3 – 5 $180
Student fee payments can be paid online at http://www.op97.org by selecting WebStore under Payments tab. You can also pay directly via https://oakpark.revtrak.net/. The preferred method of payment is online but you may also pay by check or cash attached to the appropriate fee form. Fee forms are available at op97.org, at the schools, and at the District Office. For more information regarding student fees, please contact the Business Office at (708) 524-7625.
Please note that students qualifying for free or reduced lunch may be considered for a school fee reduction or waiver based on economic hardship. If you are applying for free or reduced-price meals, then it is important to complete the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Application and submit to your student’s school or to the Business Office as soon as possible to ensure timely processing. These applications must be filled out on an annual basis and are available online at http://www.op97.org/business-office/food-service, at the individual schools, and at District 97 Administrative Office located at 260 Madison. For additional information regarding the foodservice program or the Federal Free and Reduced Lunch Application, please call (708) 524-7629.
If you have applied for a fee waiver, please wait for approval before paying fees.
Be Ready for Lunch on the First Day of School
Mealtime Online is available to monitor student balances and make lunch deposits You can pay by clicking the following Mealtime link. https://www.mymealtime.com/
Celebrating the Lincoln Team
Families, have you noticed a Lincoln teacher or staff member who deserves a compliment or a thank you? Has this person made a difference for your Lion? Please share the reason in a brief message to me using this link, WeAreAllLions!, so that we may recognize and thank them!
Contact Principal Zaniolo
Email: lzaniolo@op97.org
Website: https://www.op97.org/lincoln
Location: Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Grove Avenue, Oak Park, IL, USA
Phone: (708) 524-3110
Contact Our Lincoln PTO
- Send Us An Email: We'd love to hear from you!
- What's Up at Lincoln (WUAL): Lincoln PTO's e-newsletter to stay up to date with all the offerings, activities, and opportunities provided by your PTO. Make sure to subscribe using the link above.
- Lincoln PTO Facebook Page
- Lincoln PTO Website
- Kindergarten - Oak Park Lincoln Class of 2025 Facebook Page: Led by Lincoln kindergarten parents and assisted by PTO, this is a new resource page for 2019-20 Kindergarten parents to connect, meet some other new families, and ask questions!