PANTHER PROGRESS
March 2024 Issue 8
Message from our administrators
As we march into the exciting month of March, we look forward to daylight savings time on March 10th and the first day of spring on March 19th! We also look forward to seeing our students "blossom" in term 3 both socially and academically. With a little over three months remaining in this school year, we continue to stay the course and partner with home to maximize your child's learning as we move towards the end of the school year. We happen to notice that students traditionally make a lot of academic growth when the staff, students, and parents focus on teaching and learning.
Here's a quick inventory to help your child stay on track:
- How much sleep is your child getting? The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children aged 6-12 should get 9-12 hours of sleep REGULARLY.
- How often is your child reading a book for pleasure? (recommended 20-minutes daily)
- How well does your child know their numbers, letter sounds, and even math facts?
- How much time is your child on a device and/or gaming after school? Students 2-5 years old should not be CO-VIEWING with a parent or sibling for more than 1 hour per day. Students 5-11 years old, no more than 2 hours per day.
- What conversations do you have with your child about their school day?
As we continue to celebrate and honor our history, your efforts of honoring the recommendations above will help your child MAKE history with their achievement.
Together…Perseverance, Passion, and Partnership.
We adore our Lincoln CommUNITY and appreciate your collective energy!
Much Lincoln Love,
Eric Rhodes - Principal
Mary Beth Smith - Assistant Principal
Important March Dates
March 6: SHIP office hours 3 - 4pm
March 9: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Youth Symposium 10am - 1pm English flier; Spanish flier
March 19: Whole school assembly for a visit from author Barry Polisar
March 20: Multicultural and Encore Night 5 - 7pm
March 21: Challenge 24 tournament @ Butterfly Ridge Elementary 6 - 8pm
March 22: School closed (teacher work day)
March 26: Parental Advisory Council 5 - 6pm
March 29 - April 5: School closed (Spring Break)
March Learning
Select the link below to check out what your child/children will be learning this month! Grading polices for grades PK-1, grades 2-5, and Encore classes have also been added for your review. If you have any questions regarding your child/children’s learning and grading policy, please reach out to the classroom teacher: March Learning
Breakfast and Lunch menus
Our students are offered breakfast and lunch every day. Click the links below for this month's menu. For more information about FCPS food and nutrition, visit their website.
Events in the commUNITY
Family Partnership: March calendar
FCPS: "We are the world" summer camp
FCPS: "Spanish immersion" summer camp
FCPS: Academy for Fine Arts summer camp
Frederick City Parks and Recreation: Spring/Summer program @ Lincoln
Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS): summer program
Maryland Ensemble Theater (MET) scholarships available: Scholarship info; Class and camp info
South End Baptist: Easter Egg Hunt
United Way's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) appointments are available until April 15: https://www.unitedwayfrederick.org/taxprep
Pre-Kindergarten enrollment is open
Applications for all residents of Frederick County are now open for students who will be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2024. For information about income eligibility, criteria and programs, please visit the FCPS PreK website. Families may apply online via the enrollment portal: English; Spanish
Read Across America Spirit Week March 4 - March 8
March 2nd was National Read Across America Day. To celebrate, we have a week filled with fun ways to foster a love of reading in all children. Check out our spirit week link for more information about each day's theme. All students are invited to participate!
School Social Worker week
School Social Worker week is marked every first full week of March to celebrate school social workers across the nation and to show appreciation for their assistance in helping students achieve academic success. These professionals within the social work field assist teachers, parents and administrators. They help students deal with mental health and behavioral challenges and provide academic and classroom support.
BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER, MRS. NELSON!!
Yearbooks for sale
Yearbooks are now on sale. Yearbooks are a great keepsake for your student and will continue to be a wonderful reminder of all the great memories for years to come. Order forms were already sent home with students. To make an order online, visit Tradition School Photography website and enter code 84288Q. Yearbooks start around $20 for the basic package. The deadline to order is March 22nd.
Farm to School
"March is national nutrition month! During this month, we are encouraged to learn more about making healthy food choices. This year, the theme is, "Beyond the table." At Farm to School, we are excited the theme focuses on the farm to fork aspect of nutrition, especially the farm part! Since October, we have been buying produce from local farms to serve in the cafeteria at select FCPS schools... including Lincoln!" Check out their newsletter for more information.
Fun Academics in the Summer Time (FAST)
Lincoln is pleased to share that we will be hosting the FAST summer program from June 24 - July 25. This program is by invitation only and our staff is busy working to determine students that will fit the services provided. FAST addresses Language Arts, Math, Social Emotional Learning and enrichment activities. For more information about these programs, visit the link: English; Spanish
Asian American Center of Frederick
One of our partners, The Asian American Center of Frederick (AACF), hosts regular workshops for both students and parents. These services are open to all. Check the individual fliers for more details about each program.
Family Support Services (Workshop series)
Parental Advisory Council (PAC)
Calling all parents and guardians! Do you have one hour you can spare every month? Our PAC is a way that you can share feedback and suggestions into our decision making process. The meeting is an open environment where everyone's ideas are valued and appreciated. FCPS interpreters are available AND DINNER IS PROVIDED! We meet on the last Tuesday of every month from 5 - 6pm in the media center. Our next session is March 26th. Please email our CommUNITY School Coordinator, Crosby.Blair@fcps.org if you'd like to join.
Attendance
Students that have missed 10% or more of the school year meet the criteria for being chronically absent. The FCPS goal for overall school attendance is 96%. Reach out to our CommUNITY School Coordinator at Crosby.Blair@fcps.org with any attendance questions or concerns. You can help us by:
- Making sure your child is coming to school regularly unless they have a fever of 100.4 or higher, are vomiting or have diarrhea.
- Providing written documentation from a guardian or medical provider anytime your child is absent
- Written documentation can be in the form of an email, Talking Points message or handwritten note
Check out these flyers from Attendance Works for more information English Spanish
Current attendance rates
Whole school: 93.3%
PreK: 91.6%
Kindergarten: 92.6%
1st: 93.6%
2nd: 93.9%
3rd: 94.3%
4th: 93.8%
5th: 93%
Lincoln Learner Report
Counseling Corner
March
During the month of March the counseling team will be leading students through a series of lessons to open up their ideas related to the world of work. Our career curriculum goals are:
- #1 Career Development - Students will demonstrate skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and make informed career decisions.
- #2 Career Development - Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.
- #3 Career Development - Students will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between career choices to enhance their knowledge of the world of work.
You can find our career video lesson library by clicking HERE.
We need your help! We will be encouraging all students to talk to their families about the types of skills and interests that led them to their current work. Please share your stories with your child. You are their greatest inspiration!
The school counseling team: The “Super Support Squad”
Ms. Ellis (grades 3-5) Madison.Ellis@fcps.org
Mrs. Quill (grades PreK-2) Heather.Quill@fcps.org
Ms. Dodson (Behavior Support Specialist) Heather.Dodson@fcps.org
Mrs. Nelson (Social Worker) Amy.Nelson@fcps.org
The team works closely with students, staff, and families, to grow a learning community where all members are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged to be their best self. The three major areas of focus at Lincoln are:
Teaching and practicing emotional awareness and emotional regulation
Developing and maintaining healthy relationships, which includes the use of restorative practices to help all members learn to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts in a positive and productive manner.
Instructing students, staff, and families about the role of the brain in learning in order to increase student independence and academic stamina
This website has multiple resources for students and families. It also has videotaped lessons we use with students and parent videos that explain our emotional regulation program.
Health Room Corner
Reminders from the Health Room
Student health cards need to be completed every year. If you have not completed your child’s health card this year please complete and return to the health room as soon as possible. Call the health room at 240-236-2749 if you have any questions.
When should I keep my child home?
Based on information obtained from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), your child should stay home from school if he/she has one or more of the following symptoms:
- Temperature greater than 100°
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Undiagnosed rash or skin infection
Please keep your child home from school for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting, diarrhea, and/or fever greater than 100° without medication. If these symptoms persist for more than 24 hours, you should contact your child’s health care provider.
Judy Center Corner
UPCOMING FUN PLAYGROUP PARTNER ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
- Tuesday, March 5 – Baby shower series #3 for registered families
- Friday, March 8 – SNAP-Ed
- Tuesday, March 12 – Baby shower series #4 for registered families
- Wednesday, March 13 – visit from the Frederick County Public Library Book Mobile
- Friday, March 15 – Circle time with Frederick County Public Library
- Tuesday, March 19 – Baby shower series #5 for registered families
- Wednesday, March 20 – stroller walk beginning @ C. Burr Artz Library, ending for playtime at Mullenix Park
- Thursday, March 21 – Melody Music will be here – let’s sing and groove
- Friday, March 22 – SCHOOLS CLOSED
- Wednesday, March 27 – visit from the Frederick County Public Library Book Mobile
- Thursday, March 28 – Pediatric Movement Center will be here – let’s read, move, dance, and play
- Friday, March 29 – SCHOOLS CLOSED
What does Judy Center do to support young children?
We serve pregnant families & families with children ages birth through 5 years by providing the following at no cost:
- Engaging learning activities, strategies, and tools that target social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development.
- Caregiver workshops and support, learning parties, and family events to create a collaborative and nurturing educational home environment.
- Local service provider referrals, including healthcare, childcare, career and adult education, housing, food, and other areas of need.
- Play and have fun with your children and other families!
Join our Judy Center Facebook page:
Please check out our Facebook page for more information and upcoming events:
Parent Interest Survey
Families, please open this link and complete this survey if you are interested in Judy Center. We are interested in learning if you have children in your family between the ages of birth to 4 and if you are pregnant. If you do have young children, we would enjoy having you join our Judy Center events. We can also support you in many ways!
Want to know about our upcoming events? Join Talking Points!
Please sign up for Talking Points to better communicate with Judy Center and receive notifications for upcoming events: Talking Points JC Class Code: SDY1ZH
Want to help teach your child at home? Sign up for ReadyRosie
Families, YOU play an essential role in the education and well-being of your child. ReadyRosie exists to support you in that role!
How to reach the Judy Center:
Program Administrator: Holly Sontz Holly.Sontz@fcps.org, 240.236.2744
Outreach coordinator: Erika Rape Erika.Rape@fcps.org, 240.236.2436
Judy Center winter schedule (English)
Judy Center winter schedule (Spanish)
Remaining Family engagement events for the 23-24 school year
March 20: Multicultural and Encore Night, 5 - 7pm
April 19: Lincoln Night @ Frederick High School 5:30 - 7:30pm
April 25: Lincoln Learner Series #4, 9 - 10am
May 30: Panther Party, 5 - 7pm
Honor history, Make history
Much Lincoln Love!
LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Email: Eric.Rhodes@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/lnes/home
Location: 200 Madison Street, Frederick, MD
Phone: 240-236-2650