Week of 3/20-3/24/2023

• Monday – Day 2
• Tuesday – Day 3

• Wednesday – Day 4

• Thursday – Day 5

• Friday – Day 1

Week of 3/27-3/31/2023

• Monday – Day 2
• Tuesday – Day 3

• Wednesday – Day 4

• Thursday – Day 5

• Friday – Day 1

In case you did not know, our school secretary, Mrs. Loree Sharp, has decided to step away from her role at Lincoln. Her last day with us at Lincoln is Friday, March 24, 2023. I want to take this opportunity to personally thank her for her 4 years of service to the Lincoln students, staff and school community. We will miss her here! And as she would always say in her emails, "MANY THANKS" to you Mrs. Sharp!

It’s time to order your 2022 – 2023 Lincoln Elementary School yearbook. Because of the amazing amount of money that Lincoln students raised from the Read-A-Thon, the PTA is able to cover some of the cost of each book this year! Cost is $10 per book (payment is due with order). Deadline to order is March 24, 2023. Order forms will be going home with students the week of February 27th. There are two ways to order - Use the paper order form or order online.

Paper Form Ordering

• Return your student's paper order form with cash, a check made out to “Lincoln Elementary PTA” or a note that you sent your payment via Venmo.
• Venmo payments can be sent to @lebolincolnpta-2022 (Write "yearbook" under "what's this for?")

Online Ordering

• Go to https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/

• Enter the Lincoln Elementary School number – 13585

• Follow the on-screen directions

If you have questions or need financial aid, contact Maggie Shiels or Erin Davies at lebolincolnyearbook@gmail.com. If you would like to donate a book to a student in need, please write “donation” under Student Name on the paper form, or choose the “Donate a Yearbook” option when ordering online.

Kindergarten registration packets for the 2023 – 2024 school year are available at all elementary school offices. Students MUST be 5 years of age BEFORE September 8th to be eligible for enrollment in kindergarten this fall. To register a child for kindergarten, please complete the 2023-2024 Kindergarten Registration Sign-Up form (It will open for submission on 2.1.23). Upon completion, kindergarten parents will be directed to the online enrollment center where kindergarten parents can download and complete all necessary registration documents; if preferred, kindergarten parents may also request a registration packet to be mailed home. Kindergarten parents may submit completed packets digitally to Lincoln Secretary, Mrs. Loree Sharp (lsharp@mtlsd.net), or call the Lincoln Office, at 412-344-2147 to make an appointment to drop off registration materials.

Click on the Links below for helpful information to begin this process:

• 2023 Kindergarten Registration Flyer

• MTLSD Kindergarten Website

• Kindergarten Readiness Brochure

Lincoln School Office will be in communication with kindergarten parents regarding kindergarten orientation and screening dates & times as spring approaches.

We look forward to your child joining us!

The Lincoln Mural Committee, along with the support of our Lincoln PTA, has commissioned an artist to paint a mural in the school to honor Mrs. Mellett who retired last year after 29 years as a teacher in our District, the last 8 as Lincoln’s Math Support teacher. The mural will be located in the first floor hallway, and will feature one of Mrs. Mellett’s favorite children’s books, Kakalambalala by Jan Mogensen.

If you would like to contribute, you may give cash or write a check payable to Lincoln Mural Fund and write “Mrs. Mellett’s MURAL” on the envelope, which your child can give to their teacher, or drop off in the office. You may also donate via PayPal to bethannrivera120@gmail.com. Thank you for your contributions. This will be a lasting tribute for all to enjoy for many years to come. Feel free to share this information with anyone who you believe would want to contribute. Please email Bethann Rivera with any questions at brivera@mtlsd.net.

*Contributions in excess of what is needed for Mrs. Mellett’s mural will be used for future murals honoring Lincoln’s retirees.*

The Lincoln Elementary Kids of STEEL program is back again this year! Coach Mary is dusting off the bullhorn, making signs, and planning all kinds of fun. Kids of STEEL is a free after school running program that motivates kids and their families to get moving. Lincoln students have 3 opportunities a week to run after school. Participants in Kids of STEEL are not obligated to run the marathon, however, those that do will have the pleasure of seeing Coach Mary run the race in her Abe Lincoln gear!

Get started by letting us know your kids’ interest- use the link below! Official practice and race registration links will be sent out accordingly.

KIDS OF STEEL and/or PITTSBURGH KIDS MARATHON INITIAL SIGN UP

WHAT:

• Kids of STEEL Training & Pittsburgh Kids Marathon!

WHEN:

• Training starts the week of April 3rd
• M, W, F from 3:30-4:30. Come for one, two, or all three practices, your choice! (weather & field conditions permitting)
• Pittsburgh Kids Marathon (one mile) May 6th

WHO:

• Open to ALL Lincoln Elementary students

WHY:

• Because it is awesome!

Consider registering soon! Kids of STEEL training has a maximum number of 80 students. The Pittsburgh Kids Marathon has no limit on numbers! If you have any questions please contact:

Anna Rutledge - a.hartenstein@gmail.com

Lorraine May - lorrainerosemay@gmail.com

Mary Ullman - mary.ullman@yahoo.com

Every year on March 21, people all around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. Socks were chosen because the karyotype of Ds chromosomes actually looks like mismatched socks!

We can't wait to see how our students and staff Rock Your Socks on March 21st!

As part of Rock Your Socks Day this Tuesday, our teachers will spend time with the students talking about Down syndrome. Our hope is to raise the students' awareness about this condition and help them to be even more supportive and inclusive of those that have to navigate life as an individual with Down syndrome. Below, you will find some resources that could be used to help families talk about Down syndrome.

Videos

• Everyone Counts: My Friend Isabelle

• Just Like You

• Just Like You (full version)

• Down syndrome 101

• What is Down Syndrome?

Print Resources

• NDSS-Fact-Sheet-Language-Guide-2021

• Down Syndrome (for Kids) — Print Version - Nemours KidsHealth

• NDSS-Myths-and-Truths-2015

• VO-Down-Syndrome-Facts-and-Language-Guidelines

The 3rd Nine Weeks ends on Friday, March 24, 2023. Grades and report cards for Quarter 3 will go live in Dashboard and be emailed to families on Monday, April 3, 2023. Questions about the grades and comments posted for individual students should be directed to the appropriate classroom teacher.

Under the direction of Mrs. Harris and Mr. DeLaurentis, our Lincoln Orchestra students have been diligently preparing for their upcoming spring concert. Their district-wide orchestra shows are set for Monday, March 27th or Tuesday, March 28th following the schedule below.

Monday, March 27 at 7:00 pm

• 3rd Grade students from Howe, Jefferson and Markham
• 4th Grade students from all 7 schools

Tuesday, March 28 at 7:00 pm

• 3rd Grade students from Foster, Hoover, Lincoln and Washington
• 5th Grade students from all 7 schools

Both concerts will be held in the Mt. Lebanon High School auditorium. We can't wait to see our students on stage next week!

On Friday, March 31st, we will host the Science Moves! program from Attack Theatre.

“Simple machines come to life in this interactive dance performance by Attack Theatre. This engaging assembly program combines artistic, athletic, and expressive movement to embody STEAM concepts through the power of creative play. With bold physicality and cheerful camaraderie the dancers embark on a “live action book report,” bringing the fun-filled world of dance into a science classroom. Science Moves blends story-telling with the principles of science to enhance classroom learning through the spirit of invention. This program includes a robust curriculum guide that teachers can use in the classroom before and after the performance.”

More information about Attack Theatre can be found at their website linked here - https://www.attacktheatre.com/. We want to thank the Lincoln PTA for sponsoring this worthwhile program for our students!

Congratulations to the following 5th Grade students for being accepted to participate in the 2023 PMEA District 1 Elementary Band Fest West to be held on March 31-April 1, 2023 at Shaler Area Elementary School.

• Frankie Carney, Clarinet
• Oliver Davies, Trumpet
• Elisa Patrick, Alto Saxophone

5th and 6th grade students from throughout Western Pennsylvania were selected to participate in a two-day musical experience which will culminate in a performance on Saturday afternoon. We are very proud of these students' accomplishments and know that they will be wonderful representatives from Lincoln Elementary!

• Students in Grades 1 – 5 will have an early dismissal at Noon on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Students will not eat lunch in the school this date.
• Both Morning and Afternoon kindergarten sessions are canceled this date.

Students will be on spring break from Thursday, April 6 – Monday, April 10. School resumes for students and staff on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. We hope that everyone has a restful and safe spring break!

The 2023 PSSA testing window is scheduled for April-May 2023. Our students we will take these assessments as follows:

• April 24- April 26: Grades 3 - 5 (PSSA ELA Test)
• May 1 and May 2: Grades 3 - 5 (PSSA Math Test)
• May 4 and May 5: Grade 4 only (PSSA Science Test)

Please note that NO pre-approved absences will be approved (for the aforementioned grades) during the dates listed above.

The District will be administering the PSSAs this year in compliance with the PA Department of Education's direction. The results we achieve on these exams provide us with valuable information that can be used to assess our students' knowledge of grade level standards, our teaching, and our educational programming. Our students have been working hard throughout the year and are prepared for these exams. The testing schedule is as follows:

• Students in Grades 3-5 will take the PSSA ELA tests on April 24–26, 2023
• Students in Grades 3-5 will take the PSSA MATH tests on May 1–2, 2023
• Students in Grade 4 will take the PSSA SCIENCE tests on May 4–5, 2023.

Please read the information below regarding the District's administration of the assessments:

Information for ALL Students

• ALL students in Grades 3-5 will take the ONLINE VERSION of the PSSAs this year.

• Students have begun practicing using the online testing program so they are familiar and comfortable taking the PSSAs online.

• Students in Grades 3-5 will be asked and expected to leave their Chromebooks and chargers at school starting on Monday, April 17th - this will allow us to make sure all devices are ready to go for testing the following weeks

• Pre-approved absences are not able to be approved for any PSSA testing dates.

Additional Information for Students and Families

• Electronic Devices During PSSA Testing
• PSSA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Code of Conduct for Test Takers

More information about the upcoming PSSA testing schedule at Lincoln and other related resource documents, please check out my Google site at Lincoln Elementary School Assessment Information. If you have any questions or are in need of more information, please contact at the school office

Respectfully,

Dr. Ron Kitsko

Principal

rkitsko@mtlsd.net

Congratulations to the following 5th Grade students for being accepted to participate in the 2023 PMEA District 1 Elementary Sing Fest to be held on Friday, May 12, 2023 at West Allegheny High School.

• Esme Fracul-Conti
• Izabella Strother
• Thomas Wagner

150 fifth and sixth grade students from throughout Western Pennsylvania were selected to participate in this special musical event, which will serve to enrich their vocal abilities and overall musicianship. Students will work to prepare a number of challenging musical selections in the months leading up to the festival. On the day of this special event, they will rehearse with students from across the region, learn from a guest conductor, and present a concert for families. We are so proud of these students and know that they will represent Lincoln well!

How many times have you said, "I don't understand this new math?" We have a solution! Investigations has a resource you can access online to help. Click on the button below, choose your child's grade level, and then the concept. Videos will be provided for every math concept that is taught.

Schoology, the Mt. Lebanon School District's official Learning Management System (LMS) provides families with a deeper look into their student's classwork and learning progress. As of the Fall of 2022, all online assignments will be collected through Schoology.

Calendars in Schoology will have school events listed as well as course events and assignments. Beginning in 2022-2023, the Schoology calendar will replace Dashboard/PowerSchool as the primary calendar for classroom activity. Classroom assignments, due dates, reminders and other events will be posted by teachers in the Schoology calendar.

If you have questions or need support with Schoology, please email us at SchoologySupport@mtlsd.net

For Families

• Families can sign into Schoology by going to app.schoology.com and signing in using the email address registered through PowerSchool.
• Once signed in, parents can follow these directions to join a course.
• The access code for Lincoln families to join MTLSD's Family Guide to Schoology is NTSQ-D33Z-MCD3R.Families with more than one student only need to join one course, though it is suggested to join a secondary course if the oldest student in that family is enrolled in one of our secondary schools.
• If you have not received initial communication from Schoology about your account, email us at schoologysupport@mtlsd.net.

• Students sign into Schoology using Clever, or at mtlsd.schoology.com with their Google account.

If you are interested in getting to know the family experience in Schoology, please consider checking out the following resources. The webinar series covered four major topics:

• Using the Calendar
• Viewing Courses
• Communication and Notifications
• The Schoology Mobile App

Each video is organized into "chapters," which you can use to find specific content within each video. You can do so either by scrolling across the video timeline, by clicking a chapter title, or by clicking a timestamp in the video description.

PBIS or Positive Behavioral Interventions or Supports is a school-wide positive behavior support system or set of strategies and systems to increase the capacity of schools to (a) reduce school disruption, and (b) educate all students including those with problem behaviors

• Clearly defined outcomes
• Research-validated practices
• Supportive administrative systems
• Use of information for problem-solving

WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF PBIS?

• Establish regular, predictable, positive learning & teaching environments.
• Train adults & students to serve as positive models.
• Teach and model behavioral expectations
• Create systems for providing regular positive feedback.
• Acknowledge students when they are “doing the right thing”.
• Improve social competence.
• Develop environments that support academic success.

Month Long Recognitions

• Irish American Heritage Month - This celebrates the heritage and culture, as well as honors contributions, of Irish Americans.

• National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month - It was established to raise public awareness of the autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and assist those with multiple sclerosis in making informed decisions about their health care.

• National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - This was established to increase awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• Women’s History Month - Started in 1987, Women’s History Month recognizes all women for their valuable contributions to history and society.

Specific Dates

• March 8: International Women’s Day, first observed in 1911 in Germany, it has become a major global celebration honoring women’s economic, political and social achievements.

• March 21: World Down’s Syndrome Day is a global awareness day which has been officially observed by the United Nations since 2012. The date was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.

• March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually in the wake of the 1960 killing of 69 people at a demonstration against apartheid pass laws in Sloth Africa. The United Nations proclaimed the day in 1966 and called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

• March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is a United Nations international observation that offers the opportunity to honor and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. First observed in 2008, the international day also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.

• March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility, celebrated to bring awareness to transgender people and their identities and recognize those who helped fight for rights for transgender people.

https://www.mtlsd.org/district/diversity-equity-inclusion

• March 1: Ayyám-i-Há (Bahá'í)

• March 1-20: Nineteen Day Fast (Bahá'í)

• March 6: Magha Puja (Buddhist)

• March 6 - 7: Purim (Jewish)

• March 8: Holi (Hindu)

• March 8-10: Hola Mohalla (Sikh)

• March 22 - April 21: Ramadan (Islamic)

• March 25: Feast of Annunciation (Orthodox Christian)

• March 30: Rama Navami (Hindu)

https://www.mtlsd.org/district/diversity-equity-inclusion

As we are still in the season of unpredictable weather, I want to remind our students about what they should to wear during outdoor recess.

• Anytime the temperature dips below 50ºF, students should wear a jacket (of some type) outside.
• While it is a family decision as to what each student wears to school each day, I would suggest that students not wear shorts on days when temperatures are forecasted to be below 50ºF.
• Having an extra pair of pants available (left in a student’s locker) is a great way to avoid emotional situations if students wear shorts to school on cold weather days.
• When the thermometer dips even lower, students must be prepared to wear jackets, hats and gloves during outside recess.
• We will go outside if the “feels like” temperature is at or above 15 ºF.
• Students may be permitted on the field even if snow is present. However, snow-style boots are a must for this.
• We check AccuWeather and The Weather Channel apps for the current local temperature and “feels like” temperature at several times each day.

If your child is experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19, please contact your child's school nurse immediately. The direct contact for any illness/COVID-19 or injury related questions or reporting of symptoms should be your child's school nurse.

If your student is COVID positive, please complete the COVID Student Notification Form in addition to notifying the school nurse.

Please be aware that we are coming up on the 5-year mark from when many past volunteers have submitted their clearances. Clearances for volunteering within the district will expire after 5 years and will need to be renewed. If you have any questions or need to know the date(s) your clearance(s) expires please email Mrs. Sharp at lsharp@mtlsd.net.