WHAT'S UP AT LINCOLN
Friday, September 10, 2021
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL GORDON
Happy Friday Lincoln Families,
I hope you had a great week! It has been great seeing the kids in their classrooms and outdoors. Thank you for a great turnout this week at our annual Curriculum Night. We enjoyed seeing you "here!" Below you will find pertinent information including updates to our district remote learning plan.
Take care,
Ms. Gordon
IMPORTANT DATES:
SEPTEMBER
14 - School Board Meeting (7pm)
15 - PTO Meeting (7pm)
24 - Picture Day
OCTOBER
11 - No School Indigenous Peoples' Day
Update Around Remote Learning for Students Quarantined for COVID Reasons
I want to make sure that you are aware of the Updated Remote Learning Plan for a child who is unable to attend school due to COVID reasons and meets the eligibility requirements. Since the start of the 2021-22 school year, we have been providing remote instruction for quarantined students through the use of one of our permanent subs. However, this plan is simply not working for our students, who are losing much-needed access to their teachers and classroom instruction when they are required to quarantine at home. Additionally, our district, like so many others, is facing a shortage of substitute teachers, making it more difficult to implement the original plan for remote learning.
Although there are no perfect solutions to the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is our responsibility to meet the needs of our students and provide as much continuity of learning as possible. For the past week, District 97 has been engaged in discussions with leadership from the Oak Park Teachers’ Association (OPTA) to identify a solution that would provide greater access for students while they are quarantined or excluded from school. Together, the District is moving forward with a letter of agreement to provide a “window into the classroom,” or passive learning, to students who are quarantined or excluded from school. This change will be effective Monday, Sept. 13. CLICK HERE to learn more >
Weekly Shield Testing
Tuesday will be our testing day for now. Please note that you will only receive an email (directly from Shield) if your child has a positive result. Additionally, Nurse Donovan will continue to support students and families around these related issues.
PICTURE DAY IS SEPTEMBER 24th
Interstate Studio is our vendor for Picture Day. You can place your order online by clicking here.
The code for Lincoln is 61966FA.
Ordering is available before and after picture day. Orders placed after picture day may be charged shipping and handling.
Extra Clothes and Extra Masks
We are also asking that all students have an extra mask on hand as well.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Second STEP
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports is a systematic approach in teaching behavioral expectations throughout the school. It is based on a proactive model to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture needed for all students to achieve social, emotional, and academic success.
At Lincoln we focus on three essential principles to ensure that all students are doing their best in and outside the classroom. The “Lincoln Lions’ Pride” principles are:
Be Respectful
Be Responsible
Be Safe
Second Step is a framework for protecting elementary school students and promoting their social, emotional, and academic success. It combines a Bullying Prevention Unit and a Child Protection Unit with their foundational Second Step Social-Emotional Learning, that has a simplified approach to create safe, supportive schools.
Second Step is the curriculum we use across our entire district to teach important social emotional learning skills.
This Week in Second Step
This week students will be taught lesson 3 and our Kindergarten, First and Second graders will learn how important it is to repeat directions to themselves or use their “self talk” to focus and follow directions. Our older students are learning about being assertive and how they can express their needs and wants in a way that’s calm, firm, and respectful.
Below are “Home Links” that provide some information about what your student learned and some possible ways you can extend that learning to your own home.
Kindergarten: Following Directions
First Grade: Following Directions
Second Grade: Using Self Talk
Third Grade: Being Assertive
Fourth Grade: Being Assertive
- Fifth Grade: Being Assertive
WELLNESS APPOINTMENTS
"Dr. Pérez makes wellness appointments for acute mental health support for students and families during after school hours on Wednesdays. The slots are 20 minutes and available to reserve on a weekly basis. Please reserve your student slot with some notes on your concerns. Also, parents should ensure their children attend on time to ensure each child is afforded the time needed to discuss their needs with the school psychologist.
FAQ
Who is the type of student that should participate?
If your child is in need of connecting with a mental health professional for issues that are new and impact their academic performance please reserve your slot to meet with Dr. Perez.
When would the appointments take place?
Wednesdays, after school, starting at 3pm for 20 minute sessions
What type of support would the student and or family receive?
The first session is an intake and consultation approach to designate next steps or resources relevant to the child's needs. The appointments can lead to skill building counseling sessions for at least 3 appointments, referrals to school based or community type services for ongoing support.
Where can I find the appointment calendar to reserve my child's spot?
Visit the google calendar webpage to reserve your Wednesday 20 minute slot.
Click the link - Lincoln Wellness Check-ins with Dr. Perez
UPCOMING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Lincoln Boys Running Club Registration to Open Soon
Let Me Run is a nonprofit wellness program that inspires boys to be themselves, be active, and belong. With a comprehensive curriculum that applies the power of running, the program encourages boys to develop their psychological, emotional and social health, in addition to their physical health. Twice a week for seven weeks, two trained volunteer coaches lead the team through practice. Designed to amplify confidence, self-expression, and respect for others, each practice includes a lesson from the Let Me Run curriculum that incorporates running, games and activities. The season culminates in a 5k race festival that celebrates the boys’ personal growth.
Registration at Lincoln Elementary will open soon for grades 4th and 5th. The season will tentatively start the week of September 20th, and will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for seven weeks for an hour and fifteen minutes, and will end with a 5k race on November 20th. Watch this video to learn more and email jgnolfo@gmail.com to get on the list to be notified about registration when it opens. Registration may fill up as we currently have sufficient coaches for 1-2 teams.
Black Girls Matter
Information from District 97
2021-22 Frequently Asked Questions
District 97 has created a 2021-22 FAQ page based on the top questions we have received over the past few weeks. Topics include ventilation, remote learning, vaccination and travel.
Our back-to-school plan is linked below and can also be found, along with other COVID-19 resources and information, by going to https://www.op97.org/back-to-school.
About Us
Email: lincolnoffice@op97.org
Website: op97.org/lincoln
Location: 1111 South Grove Avenue, Oak Park, IL, USA
Phone: 708-524-3110
Twitter: @UpAtLincolnOP