Lincoln Cluster Schools Newsletter
October 2021
Hello Lincoln Cluster Families
Greetings Lincoln Cluster Families,
During the month of October, all of our students in the Lincoln Cluster took the FAST reading and Demi math assessments. Our Principals and site teams are working as Professional Learning Communities (PLC) to analyze the results of these assessments and develop the next steps for each student’s learning. As a district, we are focusing on implementing a Guaranteed Viable Curriculum (GVC) at all schools alongside a Literacy Acceleration Plan for our earliest learners. Our GVC are the Critical Concepts also known as Priority Standards as each teacher at each grade level aligns thinking, doing, communicating, and teaming tasks to support our learners in both the mastering of the standards and the demonstrating of independence with these standards. Identifying these standards helps us ensure that all students are learning the most critical standards coupled with the cognitive behaviors and skills associated with them throughout their courses for this school year. Each site leader establishes the necessary systems and structures for PLC’s to strategically monitor the student data in order to plan lessons with intentionality and set up the conditions in the classroom for all students to be successful. Lincoln cluster leaders and staff continue to rise above all expectations when navigating new terrain this year with the complexities of covid, the mental health of our staff and students, and the acceleration needed to best support our literacy agenda. Together we are strongest.
Stay blessed,
Bruce
Bruce R. Bivins
Area 1 Superintendent
Lincoln High School
Lincoln High School
Knox Middle School
Knox Middle
Millennial Tech Middle School
MTM
MTM students are learning about hydroponics and growing their very own lettuce and looking forward to a harvesting party with extra to take home. Thanks to a generous donation by Urban Growers all grade levels get to participate. EarthLab is enhancing students' understanding about microbiomes by teaching them about compost and it’s benefits. Students at MTM are putting the “E” in STEAM by learning to program and code using Ozobots, Micro:bit and Spheros.
Porter Elementary School
Porter Elem.
Baker Elementary School
Baker Elem.
Students at Baker Elementary School demonstrated their STEAM skills at a new SmartLab on OCtober 15, 2021, showcasing one of the San Diego Unified School District’s newest high-tech learning spaces before an audience of industry mentors who helped develop the facility.
Funded with a grant of more than $140,000 from Campos EPC, an engineering, procurement and construction firm headquartered in Denver, the lab is designed to help students from kindergarten through fifth-grade produce original ideas, objects, and structures using STEAM concepts and skills. To see a video of students working on projects in the Baker Elementary SmartLab, take a look at this video.
“We are very grateful and honored that Campos EPC has chosen Baker Elementary School in San Diego Unified School District as the first recipient of a Campos EPC SmartLab in the state of California,” said Baker Elementary Principal Kathleen Gallagher. “This will enhance the STEAM education of some of our youngest learners here in San Diego, starting in a very high need and well-deserving school in our district.”
The SmartLab provides opportunities for hands-on exploration, potentially inspiring students to pursue science-based careers in the fields of medicine, engineering and more.
“It’s an opportunity I didn’t have as a child,” said Founder and Chief Executive Marco Campos of Campos EPC. “I know it would have meant a lot to me. Generally, we just need more exposure to STEAM. It’s the future of our country.”
Lab teacher Rich Redmond says the SmartLab is already creating a buzz for students and staff. “My goal is that we hear our students say, ‘I’m going to be a doctor, scientist, geologist, engineer, game designer, robotics expert,’ said Redmond. “It happened today when a kindergartener, without prompting, remembered that it is his day for the lab and told his dad, ‘I’m going to be an engineer when I grow up!’”
Nye Elementary School
Nye Elem.
A big shout out to Nye students who continue to excel and show leadership at school and in the community.
Girl Scout Troop Shout out to Faith, Maddie, and Jenolyn for receiving the Bronze Award, the highest Girl Scouts award at their junior level. They are making the world a better place! See the video to find out how:https://youtu.be/X3qtLB8wKJQ. Congratulations!
Nye students' are running for student council to support our school. We are so proud of our candidates who are committed to making Nye and their community a better place.
Valencia Park Elementary School
Valencia Park Elementary
We started off this school year at Valencia Park with some work on affirmations! Students were invited to share their favorite affirmations with the school in an art contest.
On the day we announced the winners of the contest in a school Zoom assembly, we had a special surprise for the school- Erika Baty, author of the picture book, Chocolates, was on our Zoom! She read the affirming picture book with the school, and that’s not all- each winner of the art contest received a copy of her book! Pictured are our art contest winners with Erika Baty: Vanessa Chavarria, Ava Brown, Isaias Garcia, Sofia Romero, Nevaeha Minfield, and Luz Bella Frias.
We are so proud of the many affirmations we’ve seen our students make so far this year!
Balboa Elementary School
Balboa Elem.
For Latinx/Hispanic/Latino/a families: https://www.flipsnack.com/maricruzld/insumos-educativos-dpmwnkt4ot.html
Movement Cub Video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NpnD93bt3SQdDYKErhDGKXERBcu-Su8f/view?usp=sharing
Chavez Elementary School
Chavez Elem.
Horton Elementary School
Horton Elem. -
October has been an exciting month for Horton students. We held our first Horton Superhawks student recognition. Every month teachers recognize students who are putting forth a strong effort to demonstrate our HAWKS values- H=Honesty, A=Achieve our highest potential, W= Willing to do the right thing, K= Kind and respectful, S=Safe at all times with our bodies and our words. Students receive a shout out in our weekly communication and a certificate.
To honor Hispanic Heritage month, all classrooms read the book, Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood, by Isabel Campoy, award-winning Latina author, poet, and educator, and illustrated by local Hispanic artist Rafael Lopez. Our community circle discussions connected to themes in the book including community, kindness, collective effort, creating beauty in your world, and transformation. This text afforded an opportunity for our students to connect to Horton’s own local beauty- the mural up the walkway to the Horton’s joint-use field.
October has also ignited our school spirit with Red Ribbon Week. Every day of the week students dressed to a theme to commit to being healthy and being drug and tobacco free- Pajama Day, Crazy Hair Day, Wacky Wednesday, Red Ribbon Day, Storybook Character and Superhero Dress Up Day. Check out the photos of our events and activities.
Octubre ha sido un mes divertido para los estudiantes de Horton. Celebramos nuestro primer reconocimiento estudiantil de Horton Superhawks. Cada mes, los maestros reconocen a los estudiantes que están haciendo un gran esfuerzo para demostrar nuestros valores HAWKS: H = Honestidad, A = Lograr nuestro mayor potencial, W = Dispuestos a hacer lo correcto, K = Amables y respetuosos, S = Seguro en todo momento con nuestros cuerpos y nuestras palabras. Los estudiantes reciben un agradecimiento en nuestra comunicación semanal y un certificado.
Para honrar el mes de la Hispanidad, todas las aulas leyeron el libro, Quizás algo hermoso: Cómo el arte transformó un vecindario, de Isabel Campoy, autora, poeta y educadora latina ganadora de premios, e ilustrado por el artista hispano local Rafael López. Las discusiones de nuestros círculos comunitarios están conectadas a los temas del libro, incluida la comunidad, la bondad, el esfuerzo colectivo, la creación de belleza en su mundo y la transformación. Este texto brindó una oportunidad para que nuestros estudiantes se conectaran con la propia belleza local de Horton: el mural en la pasarela hasta el campo compartido de Horton y La Ciudad de San Diego.
Octubre también ha promocionado nuestro espíritu escolar con la Semana del Listón Rojo. Todos los días de la semana, los estudiantes se vistieron con un tema para comprometerse a estar saludables y libres de drogas y tabaco: Día de pijamas, Día de pelo loco, Miércoles chiflado, Día del listón rojo, Día de personajes de libros de cuentos y de disfraces de superhéroes. Vea las fotos de nuestros eventos y actividades.
Webster Elementary School
Webster Elementary
On a lighter note, on October 29th Webster will hold its annual Costume Parade. Because parents are still not allowed on campus we will live-stream the parade for all to see. This is just one way Webster is engaging students into the fun of school. As with most schools due to Covid, we are struggling with our attendance. Webster values attendance above all. If you are not here, you are missing out!
Encanto Elementary School
Encanto Elementary
Encanto Elementary is a Two Way Dual Language Spanish-English Program. Students and staff embrace the culture year-round. From September 15 - October 15, all students celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month. Students engaged in learning about the history, celebrations, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino of people. Our 5th grade students utilized old boxes to create their own ofrenda, an altar for Dia de los Muertos.
Guidance Assistant, Isaac Santillan, hosted a school wide contest focused on famous Hispanic people. Students were able to read about Hispanic contributions and accomplishments around the world. At the end of the Heritage Month, students answered trivia questions to earn recognition and prizes.
Ms. Woods-Tynes taught the students the capitals of all the South American countries. Take a listen!https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Tk5cSzsxUEB4FTTZUkKWEf1AwCqP9f3F/view?usp=sharing
Chollas-Mead Elementary School
Chollas-Mead Elem.
Hello Lincoln Community. Here at Chollas Mead the Votes are in. The students at Chollas Mead spent the month campaigning for student ASB. We believe that student voice matters. Students 3rd through 5th grade have the opportunity seek data from their peers at school to help the staff at Chollas Mead make student centered decisions.
Over the month of October we also discussed being responsible for ourselves and the choices we make. It was also Bully prevention month and Ms. D spent time is classes teaching students to be up-standers and not allow bullying to happen to others.
Students and their parents also had a chance to participate in our annual costume give away. Thank you to Disguise for their generous donation of hundreds of brand new costumes.
We had a great month of learning and having fun here at school. Students with perfect attendance for the month of September were able to throw a water balloon at one of the principals this month. Attendance MATTERS! We are so excited to share all our wonderful data with our parents at the upcoming parent teacher conferences.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15i9UOxWhHPp76KBaWCsVjH6QavF-UFNB/view
Johnson Elementary School
Johnson Elem.
Fall is alive and well at Johnson! Teachers and students are working diligently to improve their critical thinking every month and this still holds true in the month of October!
Our students are reading and writing about many topics including events happening in the month of October and in STEM are doing creative art pieces that reflect what they are learning in Science Lab. Students had the opportunity to read about the human body and what an X Ray does. They then did a learning activity that had them create and picture of their own hand that looks an awful lot like an X Ray!
Thank you to all of the dedicated teachers and staff members at Johnson who work hard every day to make learning a priority and fun for our students!