REMINDER- TIME TO RETURN SUMMER READING BOOKS

Hope your child enjoyed reading the books from the Zip-Loc bag over the summer months. For your convenience, these books have been marked with a Lincoln Summer Reading label. We have been collecting these books in your child’s classroom and the media center. If you have additional gently used books you would like to donate to this program, there is a blue drop box located outside the office during the school year. Thanks for making reading a priority at home!

PPT Meeting -InSciEd Out Power Point

On September 17, Dr. Chris Pierret gave a presentation on the InSciEd Out program at the Lincoln PPT meeting. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE POWER POINT PRESENTATION

Parent Orientation Night - September 13

All parents/guardians are invited to attend Parent Orientation Night on Thursday, September 13 from 6:00 pm-8:00pm. The program will start in the gym, and then parents/guardians will go to their child(ren)'s classroom(s) for presentations by the teachers. We ask that you leave your Lincoln students and other children at home. This orientation is designed for parents/guardians only. This is a one of a kind opportunity to get information about what your child will be learning and experiencing at Lincoln this year. We look forward to seeing all of you there!

PPT Meeting and InSciEd Out Presentation - – September 17

Join us for our first PPT Meeting of the year on Monday, September 17 beginning at 7:00 in the Media Center.

We will begin with a half-hour of PPT business, and at 7:30 Dr. Chris Pierret will give a presentation about InSciEd Out, the innovative science curriculum program pioneered at Lincoln in partnership with the Mayo Clinic and Winona State University. Find out the opportunities that InSciEd Out brings to Lincoln students at every grade, the status of the program this year and future developments. This is an excellent opportunity to hear about this very important and unique program that has brought so many benefits to Lincoln students and staff.
Hope to see you there!

Lincoln Dress Code Policy

Please refer to the dress code poster regarding policies for appropriate dress at Lincoln. Students will be asked to call home for a change of clothes if their clothing does not meet dress code policy. CLICK HERE FOR THE DRESS CODE POSTER

Urgent Public Health Notice from Olmsted County Public Health Services About Pertussis

Olmsted County is currently experiencing an epidemic of Pertussis (Whooping Cough). More than 170 cases have been reported since April 2012, which is 8 times higher than all of 2011 cases.

Everyone needs to be aware of the following recommendations:

• Anyone experiencing a persistent cough lasting more than 7 days should contact their health care provider to be tested for pertussis. 
• All children need to be vaccinated for pertussis starting at 2 months of age with 4 to 5 doses by kindergarten age. 
• A pertussis booster (Tdap vaccine) can be given to those 10 years of age or older in epidemic areas. 
• All adults are recommended to have current pertussis booster (Tdap vaccine), especially those who interact with children, (parents, grandparents, day care providers, teachers, support staff, transportation providers, paraprofessionals, coaches, etc). 
• Women who are greater than 20 weeks pregnant or who are receiving postpartum care need to have a current pertussis booster (Tdap vaccine).

If you fit into any of these groups recommended for vaccine please check with your medical provider to see that you are fully immunized. Anyone who is uninsured or underinsured and needs a vaccination, call Olmsted County Immunization Desk at 507-328-7500 if you have questions.For more information go to the Minnesota Department of Health website at http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/pertussis/pfacts.pdf

Project Lead the Way - Parents Needed to Cut Shapes

Project Lead the Way is the new technology curriculum being use with the uppers this year. It is an introduction to engineering class. PLTW engages students in activities-, projects-, and problem-based learning, which provides hands-on classroom experiences. Students create, design, build, discover, collaborate and solve problems while applying what they learn in math and science.

Since this is a new program, I find that I am in need of some help with materials. One of the projects students do is to use one inch cubes and circles to create shapes and then draw them identifying hidden lines. We need a large number of one inch blocks, triangles and semi-circles for students to work with. We can supply the lumber but need any parents with table saw to cut them. We will bag and label them. Let me know if you are interested…need by the end of September.

Contact James Kulzer at jakulzer@rochester.k12.mn.us

Labels for Lincoln

We are gearing up for another great year of earning Free Money for Lincoln!

Box Tops 4 Education
Our school goal for Box Tops this year is $1850.00. In order to achieve this, each family will need to send in 75 box tops. Wow you say that is a lot. It is, but with the bonus Box Tops, Double Box Tops on select items this time of year and the Bonus Tops from Cub Foods that go on periodically through out the school year ( usually 25 Bonus Box Tops) when you buy 10 or more Box Top items they add up quickly. In one shopping trip you have earned at least 35 Box Tops!! Check the Box Tops local offers at http://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/bonus/LocalOffers.aspx

KEMPS NICKELS for SCHOOLS IS ENDING!
Please send in all of your Kemps milk caps and Proof of Purchase by October 20, 2012. All Kemps items will be sent in at this time. I will be removing the bin for Kemps at this time. Thanks for your help.

Milk Moola and Dough for Donuts
Our school goal this year is $500.00. Caps should be rinsed clean and dry before sending them to school. Please do the same with the Milk Moola bag tops.

LABELS FOR EDUCATION
For those of you that did not vote int he gymnasium at the back to school Meet the Teacher day, please send me an email voting for your teacher of choice to have the chance of using 15,000 labels for education points to help out their classroom. What a great way to get extra supplies needed to make for a Champion year!
Send votes to Kate Thompson-Jewell at katiedid159@gmail.com.

Lastly, if you have a few extra hours and want to help out with sorting and counting box tops, labels for education, and Milk Moola, register with ViE and send me a note, every bit helps. 

Parent/Family of K Info Day Presentation

Parents/family members of Lincoln kindergarteners had the opportunity to attend a presentation during their Kindergarten Mini Days on September 4 or 5.
CLICK HERE FOR THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION FROM PARENT/FAMILY OF K INFO DAY

First Day of School Reminder

School starts on Tuesday, September 4 for grades 1-8. 
Kindergarten starts on Thursday, September 6.
School starts at 9:10 am.
Students may be dropped off or arrive at school no earlier than 8:50 am (unless they are enrolled in morning School Aged Child Care/SACC).
School ends at 3:35pm - all students need to be picked up by 3:45 if they are not riding the bus or are enrolled in SACC.

Lincoln Back to School News

It's Back to School Time at Lincoln!
Reminder - Meet the Teacher Day/Information Fair
Thursday, August 30, 2012 –2:00 pm-4:00pm
Back to School Picnic 4:00-6:00pm

Every family should have received a copy of the August LincolnLincs in the mail.  The LincolnLincs has detailed information about Meet the Teacher/Information Fair, Back to School Picnic and other important information for the school year.

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF VERSION OF THE AUGUST LINCOLN LINCS

CLICK HERE FOR THE SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS

The LincolnLincs is the newsletter for Lincoln K-8 Choice School. For the rest of the year the LincolnLincs is an online-only newsletter. Watch this space for all the Lincoln news, all in one place.

One way to start the year right is to get involved with one of Lincoln's active parent/family organizations, like the Lincoln Program Planning Team (PPT), Volunteers in Education (ViE) and the Lincoln Auction. Watch this online newsletter for information on leadership and volunteer opportunities, and upcoming meetings and events, and visit the organizational booths at the Information Fair for more information.

We'll see you soon!

ViE Volunteers in Education Interest Inventory Form

The ViE form must be filled out each year prior to volunteering in the school. One form should be completed for each volunteer. Please turn the form in to lincolnk8vie@gmail.com, the VIE table at the Meet the Teacher Information fair or to the school office.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ViE Form

Whether you can help once a week or once a year, we welcome you! Lincoln’s success comes from parent (&grandparent) involvement and support! The ViE coordinators will be at Meet the Teacher Day Information Fair tomorrow in the gym to talk further with you about the opportunities available for volunteering at Lincoln.

SACC is Back at Lincoln!

SACC will be available before and after school at Lincoln for the 2012-2013 school year.
If you are interested in signing your student(s) up for SACC, contact the SACC office at Northrop. The main SACC Office is located at Northrop Education Center and is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 201 8th Street NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Phone: (507) 328-4040
More information on SACC can be found on the SACC website - CLICK HERE

Annual Notification of Pesticide and Herbicide Application Schedule and Asbestos Notification

The 2012-13 Pesticide and Herbicide Application Schedule and Asbestos Notification documents can be found on the LincolnLincs in the Links to Documents Section. 

Looking Ahead to the Fall...

Now that we have sent our 8th graders off to their high school adventures, it's time to look ahead to the 2012-2013 school year. We would like to welcome all kindergarteners and new students and their families to Lincoln K-8 Choice School, and look forward to seeing our returning students and their families as well.

The LincolnLincs is the newsletter for Lincoln K-8 Choice School. In August, you will be receiving a special edition of the LincolnLincs in the mail.

For the rest of the year the LincolnLincs is an online newsletter. Beginning in August, watch this space (www.lincolnlincs.blogspot.com) for back to school information on Meet the Teacher Day, Information Fair, Back to School Picnic, documents and forms, and important beginning of the year dates and information.

One way to start the year right is to get involved with one of Lincoln's active parent/family organizations, like the Lincoln Program Planning Team (PPT), Volunteers in Education (ViE) and the Lincoln Auction. Watch this online newsletter for information on leadership and volunteer opportunities, and upcoming meetings and events, and visit the organizational booths at the Information Fair for more information.

Have a wonderful summer and see you in August!

Reminder - Meet the Teacher/Information Fair 

Thursday, August 30, 2012 –2:00 pm-4:00pm 

Back to School Picnic to Follow

PPT Minutes - March, April and May, 2012

PPT Minutes from March, April and May, 2012, are now available.

March, 2012 PPT Minutes
April, 2012 PPT Minutes
May, 2012 PPT Minutes

PPT elects officers for 2012-13 school year

The Lincoln PPT held officer nominations/elections at the May meeting.  The officers are:

Co-presidents:  Joscelyn Martin and Donna Layton
President-elect:  Jodi Kruse
Treasurer:  Kevin Morrissey
Secretary:  Karen MacLaughlin

GARAGE SALE - June 2

We need your gently used clothing, books, toys, electronics, household goods, sporting goods, craft supplies, furniture and outdoor gear for the Lincoln Garage Sale. Today - Friday, June 1 - we will have Uppers Students available to help you unload your car, starting at 3:30.

We also need your help. We will be setting up for the rummage sale on Friday afternoon, starting at 3:30. We need help sorting, organizing and displaying the donations. We also need help pricing the items, starting at about 7:00 pm.

On Saturday, we need people to run the checkout and help bag purchases.

If you can help, please sign up at the Volunteer Desk in the Lincoln Office, or contact Ginger Kerr by email at gikerr@rochester.k12.mn.us with the time(s) that you can help. Even 1 hour of your time would be a great help.

We will also have plants for sale from the Lincoln Little Sprouts (Andi & Ginelle's 2nd & 3rd Grade Gardeners), so if you missed them at the Farmer's Market, now is your chance to get plants raised by our own students! There are flowers, herbs, tomatoes and peppers. Great plants at great prices!

The sale runs from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 2. We will have a $2.00 "Bag Sale" at 1:00.

Lincoln - an exemplary school of the state!

Lincoln is rated 18th in FR (Focus Rating) and 28TH in MMR (Multiple Measure Rating) out of 800+ schools in the state! This achievement doesn’t happen by accident and is a direct result of the outstanding efforts of our students, staff, parents and volunteers! We are all very proud of the recent article in Post Bulletin but what does it mean? Basically, it means we are making learning happen for all students through all of our efforts and closing those learning gaps for students.

The state has a new accountability system and rating system of schools. What is the new accountability system?
MMR = Multiple Measurement Rating

• Focused on closing the achievement gap and promoting high growth for all students 
• Built around multiple measurements 
• Directly addresses the achievement gap 
•  Provides support for locally-developed school improvement plans 
• MMR is a simple average of state percentiles in available domains 
• Percentiles done within school classification (i.e. elementary, middle, high school, other school
• For example, some schools (elementary) don’t have graduation data 
• MDE does an additional calculation which is essentially unnecessary (multiply by 25) 

 FR = Focus Rating

• A secondary rating, highlighting the achievement gap 
• Combines AGR and AYP 
• Proficiency for “gap groups” only 
• Average of these state percentiles, just like MMR 

Thank you for making it happen!!! We are all so proud of our amazing school and always trying to make it even better!
Jim Sonju

Uppers' Parents - Check Skyward for Missing Work

Camping trips and end of the year activities make it difficult to get “Missing” or “Not Handed In” work turned in before the end of the year. PLEASE check Skyward WITH your son or daughter THIS WEEK and look at their current grades and missing work. Students need a plan to get their missing work in before the school year ends. Teachers are available to help, but responsibility is still with the student.