The Lion's Roar
News & Events for Lincoln Families | January 12, 2020
IMPORTANT DATES/THINGS TO REMEMBER
January
NWEA MAP and AIMSweb Assessments begin January 13th
Fieldtrip for 1st grade & Big MAC to the Museum of Science and Industry - January 21, 9:00-2:00
Vision Screening in the Auditorium - January 17, 8:00-3:00
M. L. King's Birthday - NO SCHOOL - January 20
Parent Teacher Conferences-Half Day of School - January 30 & January 31, 8:00am-11:00am
February
- President's Day - NO SCHOOL - February 17
- **CHANGE* Principal's Community Meeting - Lincoln Improvement Plan Update - February 19, 6:00-7:00pm (will be combined with the PTO meeting)
- End of 2nd Trimester - February 28
A Message From Principal Zaniolo...
Happy New Year Lincoln Families!
We are so excited to be back and in session. I hope your break was filled with family, excitement, and rest. As we come back into the school year, we are taking the opportunity to renew and reset school-wide and classroom expectations. In morning meetings across every classroom, there is a renewed focus on community building as well as what it means to be a Lion...safe, responsible, and respectful. To launch this revisiting of expectations, we are putting the responsibility of teaching others on our students with a school-wide challenge! The "Play Like A Lion" Video Challenge started this past week. Ask your child(ren) about the video project their classroom is working on. You can also see more information in the video linked below.
On a personal note, I am very excited to share that this weekend, yours truly tied the knot. My partner, Megan and I got married. We enjoyed our wedding day surrounded by friends and family, and I wanted to share this important moment in my life with my Lincoln community as well!
I will be out of the building this Monday, but will return on Tuesday. If you have immediate requests, please contact the school directly.
In partnership,
Laura Zaniolo
(she / her / hers)
Lincoln Lion & Principal
Abraham Lincoln Elementary
New Year...New School-Wide Challenge!!!
"Play Like A Lion" Video Challenge
See Principal Zaniolo and two Lion helpers launch the "Play Like A Lion" School-wide Challenge during morning announcements in the video below!
A Little Fun Before The Holidays... "Up At Lincoln"
Dress for the Outdoors
Lunch / Recess Schedule
D97 Summer Launch Information
Save the Date: District 97 Summer Launch 2020
District 97 is excited to announce the dates for the upcoming 2020 Summer Launch Program. Summer Launch will be held June 15 through July 10, 2020 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon). The program for Grades K-4 will be held at Holmes Elementary School, and Grades 5-8 will be held at Brooks Middle School.
Summer Launch is a summer program designed for students in kindergarten to seventh grade who are identified as needing intervention support in reading and/or mathematics during the school year and fall below the 11th percentile in reading and/or math.
Our Summer Launch Program will include Reading/Writing Workshop and Math support, in which students will be able to build upon the reading and writing strategies they have learned during the regular school year, as well as participate in math activities.
The Summer Launch program is designed to support students:
- In continuing to build their skills towards becoming strong, confident readers and writers.
- By allowing them personalized instruction in reading, writing and math.
- By supporting them in sharing their voices and helping to feel valued.
- By supporting them in building meaningful connections with their teacher and peers.
Parent Information Session for Early Admission to Kindergarten/First Grade
Please Complete! - 5 Essentials Parent Survey
We went from 17% to 24%...we're getting there. Last year we had a 33% parent participation rate. Our goal for this year is 40%. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.
Illinois 5Essentials Parent Survey
The parent survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer, but the survey must be completed in one sitting and cannot be retrieved once it is submitted. If you have more than one child enrolled in a building (i.e., two students who attend the same school), you have the option of completing multiple surveys for that building. In addition, if you have children enrolled in multiple schools (i.e., a District 97 elementary school and middle school), you may participate in the survey for each school. However, only one parent/guardian per household may fill out the survey.
Please complete the survey today! It can be accessed until Friday, February 14, 2020 by visiting http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/.
You can access general information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey by visiting https://illinois.5-essentials.org/.
Parent workshop on Erin's Law
Families are invited to learn about Erin's Law and tips for protecting their children.
Facilitated by Karina Gil and Laura Daily from the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center
"Erin's Law," or Illinois Public Act 097-1147, requires all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented program that teaches students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade age-appropriate techniques for recognizing sexual abuse and ways to tell a trusted adult. The program also includes training for school personnel, and provides education and resources to parents and guardians.
Information From Our PTO
Carnival Committee Volunteers Needed
Games Chair - The games chair works with the prizes chair to oversee the carnival games. About a month before the carnival, the chair reviews what games are still in good shape from the previous year, thinks of new games that would be appropriate, oversees the volunteers the night before to set up the games and then oversees the games on the day of carnival.
Fundraising Chairs - The fundraising chairs organize the silent auction, ticket of choice and sponsorship opportunities. They oversee a group of volunteers who reach out to local businesses (from a list of businesses we already have) and secure donations. The chairs also think of new businesses to solicit.
Fundraising Committee Members - These volunteers reach out to local businesses, solicit donations and retrieve the prizes from the businesses. This is a great opportunity for people who are looking for a low time commitment and want to work on their own schedule.
Bingo Chair - The bingo chair oversees the bingo game. The chair solicits prizes through emails to the school, puts out a collection bin in the school office the week before carnival, and then sets up the bingo room the night before the carnival. This is a great opportunity for people who are looking for a low time commitment.
Cake Walk Chair - The cake walk chair solicits food donations through emails to the school as well as to local businesses (whose contact information we already have). This is a great opportunity for people who are looking for a low time commitment and want to work on their own schedule.
Please contact rachel.waterston@gmail.com for more info.
Little Lions Read
The Lincoln PTO Diversity Committee is generously supporting Little Lions Read, a free reading enrichment program for K-2nd graders. Students are invited by their teachers to participate in this weekly reading group where they listen to and read books in a safe environment. The goal of the program is to increase the enjoyment of reading, enhance vocabulary, improve fluency, develop reading comprehension skills and foster an ability to work with others. One bonus is that the students get to take home books to add to their home library! We rely on donations of gently used or new books (story books up to chapter books - fiction and non-fiction) or Scholastic Book Club points to purchase inexpensive books.
Please contact stovall.ms1@gmail.com for more info.
World Language Program
School’s back in session, and so is the World Language Program. Winter is the perfect time to learn Chinese, German, French or Spanish! Our talented teachers provide enriching activities to make learning an additional foreign language fun. Classes are small, and students are grouped with their peers so that teachers can tailor their activities.
Please go to https://lincolnoakparkpto.membershiptoolkit.com/world_language_program to learn more about the options for each grade level. Please register for an account prior to signing up your child for the class. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.
This is a program of the Lincoln PTO and is funded solely by the tuition paid by students. Support your PTO today.
For questions, please email stephanie.kissam@gmail.com
Dec. 4 PTO Meeting Minutes
Previous minutes approved
Book Fair payment received from Anderson was $3,708.69
The Read-a-Thon raised $11,554
PTO exploring means of getting feedback from teachers in general
Bike Walk Oak Park presented
Carnival Co-Chair Rachel Hahs presented plans and needs
Sarah Gullette was introduced as heading up the revamped website, among other activities
RevTrak will be closed
Sunday Funday Fundraisers
Sunday Jan. 12th 10am-11am Yoga Kids @Lively Athletics
Join other Lincoln Lions for an uplifting morning of kids yoga, books, music, games and crafts. Taught by Sarah Maxfield, a former grade school teacher, and current yoga teacher. Drop-off $15.
Sunday Jan. 19th 10:30am-12pm Fancy Tea Party + Craft
Hosted by Lincoln mom, Pem Hessing, this tea party will include scones, finger sandwiches, and sweets along with a tea-inspired craft. Stuffed animals and dolls are welcome to join. Not recommended for those with cat or dog allergies. Drop-off $30.
Sunday Jan. 26th 5:30pm-7:30pm Glow Painting @Creativita
Offer your kiddos an early evening of guided creative painting and a pizza dinner. Drop-off them off, grab some dinner and pick-up some happy kids. Drop-off $40.
Sunday Feb. 15 11am-1pm Moms & Mimosas/ LulaRoe Shopping Brunch
Brunch and sip with other Lincoln Mamas but feel free to grab an extra ticket and bring along a friend! Lion mom of two, Vicki Kuo will be showing the latest LulaRoe fashion styles and 30% of each sale will additionally benefit Lincoln. On-site childcare will be available. $35.
For more info, please visit https://lincolnoakparkpto.membershiptoolkit.com/sunday_funday_fundraising_parties
With warmth and thanks,
Pem Hessing & Andrea Kovach
Your PTO Co-Presidents
Previously Communicated Information...
Attendance & Absences
If you prefer, you can call the attendance line at 708-665-3067
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
Twitter: @MsZaniolo
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 Parents' Facebook Group Page - Hosted by PTO
- 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!