Principal’s Letter

Greetings Lincoln Families!

Here we go!  I couldn't be more excited to start another school year for a multitude of reasons.  I will share just a few of the reasons we should all be proud to be in the Lincoln Family.

Our MCAII results are in for last year and they look great! We are very excited about the continued growth and progress at Lincoln which is a tribute to our students, parents and staff!  These impressive results are thanks to the incredible efforts of everyone! Check out this amazing growth over the past three years with Lincoln MCAII proficiency scores:

Subject	06-07	07-08	08-09	09-10
Math	71%	80%	81%	88.65% !!!
Reading	79%	80%	85%	86.52% !!!
Science – Grade 5	----	----	68.3%	82.1% (+13.8%)
Science – Grade 8	----	----	51.7%	85.2% (+33.5%)

Our teachers have been writing exciting new science modules this summer which should be highly engaging for students this year.

We have our brand new SMART Table which was made possible by families purchasing SCRIP. We have only scratched the surface of what SCRIP can provide our students and we look forward to doing everything possible to make it easier for families to participate in this easy program to support Lincoln. We will be fully loaded with cards at Meet the Teacher to get things rolling this year!

We invite all families to attend two events on September 1st to reconnect with teachers, families and classmates. 

• Meet the Teacher (3:00-5:00) is a perfect time to visit classrooms and connect/reconnect with staff, families, and classmates. The Information Fair will be held in the gymnasium where you can get your folders, important information for the year, and sign up for opportunities at Lincoln.
• The Lincoln Back to School Picnic will take place from 5:00-6:30 and is sponsored by the Lincoln PPT (Program Planning Team). This is always a great event organized by the PPT Social Committee.

I look forward to seeing you all soon!  But in the meantime, keep reading with your kids so they are ready to roll this year!  I hope you are ready to make Lincoln the Greatest School in the Universe once again this year!

Jim Sonju

FROM THE PROGRAM PLANNING TEAM (PPT)

The Lincoln Program Planning Team (PPT) welcomes you to the Lincoln K-8 Choice School family if this is your first year at Lincoln, and welcomes you back if we've seen you before.

We're going to try some new things with our PPT meetings this year, so if you haven't been to one before, or have and didn't feel a connection, please come to our first PPT meeting on September 27th - - we want your feedback!! The PPT meets on a monthly basis during the school year, starting in September, usually on the last Monday of each month at 7:00 PM in the school's Media Center.

The PPT is made up of Lincoln parents and guardians, staff representatives, and the principal. All parents and guardians are members of the PPT simply because your child attends Lincoln, giving ALL parents and guardians, staff representatives, and the principal voting rights in the business of the PPT and the expenditures of money raised by the PPT.

The PPT organizes a variety of school activities and works to support academic and social enrichment opportunities for our students that are typically not available at other schools, helping to make Lincoln K-8 Choice School a very special place we like to call "The Greatest School in the Universe".

PPT meetings allow you to stay plugged in to what's going on at Lincoln, to learn about the many opportunities for you to help out with PPT activities and other educational efforts at Lincoln, and to positively influence the experience you and your student have at Lincoln. For the Lincoln PPT to succeed, we encourage all parents/guardians to become participating members of the Lincoln Community by volunteering and enjoying the social events offered by the PPT.

As many of you know, the Lincoln Auction is the PPT's primary fundraiser. Its success is essential to continuing the wide range of programs and activities that benefit Lincoln students and the entire Lincoln community. So, please take time to read more about the Auction and, if you are new to Lincoln this year, check out the many volunteer opportunities available.
Where to look for more information about upcoming PPT meetings and other activities?

• This and future editions of the LINCS
• The LincolnLincs blog at www.lincolnlincs.blogspot.com,
• The Lincoln Parent E-Files electronic newsletter,
• The Family Folder you will receive at the Meet the Teacher Information Fair
• The PPT website at http://www.rochester.k12.mn.us/school97/ppt.

We look forward to seeing you at the Back to School Picnic and Information Fair on September 1st.
Jodie Meurer and Chris Harmon, PPT Co-Presidents

ATTENTION KINDERGARTEN PARENTS! “PARENT OF K INFO DAY” SESSIONS SEPTEMBER 7 AND 8

This year, kindergarten parents will have the opportunity to attend a special Lincoln orientation session during your child's Kindergarten Mini Day session. Experienced Lincoln parents and Lincoln leaders will be present to pass on important information about how you and your family can make the most out of your Lincoln experience. Information will include how to make kindergarten a great year; tips for student success; orientation to Lincoln organizations, events, traditions and lingo; and a look ahead to what your child's future at Lincoln will look like.

Look for the Sign up for your "PARENT OF K INFO DAY" session in your child's kindergarten classroom during Meet the Teacher Day.

News from the Lunchroom and School Nurse

NEWS FROM THE LUNCHROOM:

• All meals must be prepaid. A payment into your student's lunch account is necessary prior to the first day of school.
  
• You will have an opportunity to put funds in your child's lunch account at Meet the Teacher Day.
  
• The balance from your child's lunch account last year will be carried over into this school year – whether it was a positive or negative balance.
  
• Incoming Kindergarten families – your student will have one opportunity this year to eat lunch at Lincoln. You may pay for that lunch during Meet the Teacher Day.
  
• You can sign up online any time (even before Meet the Teacher Day!) at www.paypams.com to electronically deposit money into your child's lunch account throughout the year. You will need your child's student I.D. number or lunch account number. Please contact Student Nutrition Services at 328-4218 if you don't know this information.
  
• If you feel you might be eligible for the free and reduced lunch program, please make sure you complete an application. Contact the Student Nutrition Services office at 328-4218 if you need an application.
  

NEWS from the School Nurse:

• Emergency Health Plan: If you received an Emergency Care Plan (ECP) in the mail; you are asked to see the nurse during the orientation/meet the teacher event. The ECP needs to be turned in, updated if needed and signed for the coming school year.  Please allow time to accomplish this important task before the start of school so we can meet your child's needs during the school day.
  
• Medication: Should your child need any scheduled or as needed medication(s) during the school day, orientation/meet the teacher is an excellent time to bring them into the health office. Prescription medications need to have a medication authorization form signed by a medical care provider. These can be found in the health office, on the Rochester public schools web site or provided by your medical care provider.
  
• Immunizations - Important Notice: No one will be allowed to start school until all immunizations are current.  Registration materials for students who need shots will be taken to the Edison Building in August, and parents will need to go there with proof of immunizations before your child can be admitted to school.

ViE – Volunteers in Education News

Dear Fellow Lincoln Families-

Welcome back to another great year at Lincoln from the ViE Coordinators! If you are new to Lincoln, we welcome you as one of the many members of our great Lincoln community. Just one of many things that make Lincoln stand out are the amazing family volunteers we have. Volunteers in Education, or ViE, links parents to the volunteer opportunities we have available at Lincoln, and within the district, to support our children's learning. A small sample of the volunteer opportunities at Lincoln include helping a teacher in the classroom, leading after school activities, media helper, reading with a student at the end of the day or before school and lunchtime math help. These are just a few of the many ways we make Lincoln the greatest school in the universe!
The VIE Coordinators will be at Meet the Teacher day in the gym to talk further with you about the opportunities available for volunteering at Lincoln. We have an interest inventory that will be coming to your inbox via email to print and bring with you to meet the teacher day. If you did not get this copy one will be available for you to complete that day. We ask that every parent fill this out if you think at any time during the year you will be volunteering at the school in any way.

We look forward to seeing each of you at Meet the Teacher day!
ViE Coordinators,
April Ekblad
Kara Short
Melissa Engelken 

Special Projects – Application Deadline Extended!

Do you have a great idea for something that would benefit the Lincoln students, but just need some money to make it happen? If so, Special Projects could be the way to make it happen.

What are Special Projects?

• Special Projects can be any project or item that will benefit the school
  
• Special Projects can be submitted by parents, teachers or students of Lincoln. 
  
• Special Projects are paid for by money that is raised from the annual Lincoln Auction after the PPT budget has been funded. 
  
• Special projects funded in the past include: the Smart Boards in the classrooms, the "big toy" playground equipment, the Lincoln information sign, the popcorn popper, baseball bats and gloves – and many more.
  

Applications are available: 

• Through the Lincoln PPT web site (http://www.rochester.k12.mn.us/school97ppt then click on the Special Projects section)  
• Attached to the Lincoln Parent E-Files emails  
• At the Lincoln Lincs blog www.lincolnlincs.blogspot.com 
• Or directly from Mary Hansen at rmhansen2002@yahoo.com or Julie Wingert at djwingert@aol.com 

Stop by the Special Projects table during the Meet the Teacher Information Fair to find out more about Special Projects.
 

The Special Projects timeline:

September 24^th, 2010:    Final day for application submissions for funds from the 2010 auction (*Note extended date*)

October 30^th, 2010: Attend the auction and bid – Special Projects are funded from auction proceeds!

November 2010:    A consensus meeting will be held to determine how to spend the Special Project funds

 

Please contact Mary Hansen at 285-9047 or rmhansen2002@yahoo.com, or Julie Wingert at 288-6293 or djnwingert@aol.com, if you have any questions.

Announcing! Lincoln FIRST LEGO League (FLL)

FIRST LEGO League Informational Meetings at Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC):
Monday, August 23rd 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. RCTC Room EA121. The meeting is in East Hall on the main RCTC campus.
Wednesday, September 15th 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. RCTC Room EA121. The meeting is in East Hall on the main RCTC campus.

FIRST LEGO League is an exciting robotics competition that ignites an enthusiasm for discovery, science, and technology in Lincoln 4th -8th graders. Through their involvement in FIRST programs, children learn important life skills such as planning, research, collaboration, and mentorship. Teams meet September through the regional tournament on December 18th at RCTC.

The 2010 Challenge: Body Forward - Can FIRST LEGO League Teams improve our quality of life? Through the 2010 Body Forward Challenge, 9 to 14 year olds will explore the cutting-edge world of Biomedical Engineering to discover innovative ways to repair injuries, overcome genetic predispositions, and maximize the body's potential, with the intended purpose of leading happier and healthier lives.

To learn more about FIRST Lego Leagues visit the following website: www.hightechkids.org

Video about FIRST Lego League: FIRST: Where Gracious Professionals Get In The Game!
http://www.youtube.com/user/FIRSTWorldTube#p/c/8261FACBEDF7362F/0/oHIsL4A4LRw

Coaches Needed! - We need FIRST LEGO League (FLL) coaches! No experience needed.

The skills we need in our coaching teams are:

· the desire to explore side-by-side with children
· good communication skills
· prioritizing skills
· multi-tasking skills
· it helps for one coach to have engineering and/or programming skills

The coaches facilitate instruction and optimize the learning experience of the team members. They teach robotic skills then allow independent thought. Direct adult involvement or intervention during the problem solving process is strongly discouraged.

If you are interested please attend one of the two following informational sessions and look for more information at Meet the Teacher Day. Call or e-mail Cheryl Kliewer about coaching or for more details. cheryl@wiseraccoon.net 261-3699.