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News and events
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April 2023
Upcoming Events
April 11-20 -- 3rd - 5th Grade Math and Reading MCA Testing
April 13 -- PTO Meeting (6:00-7:30 pm)
April 19 -- Willy Wonka - All school field trip to AMSA (12:30-2:30 pm)
April 25-26 -- 5th Grade Science MCA Testing
May 18 -- Band, Orchestra, Choir Concert (5:30 - 7:00 pm)
Message from Principal Zimmerman
Hello Lincoln Families,
As we head into spring, we continue to learn about our character traits each month and practice them in our daily activities. In April, we are learning the value of courage, which is defined as “choosing what is helpful, right and kind- even when it’s scary”. Lincoln students continue to show up every day- working hard, being helpful and showing kindness to their classmates and friends! Our students are amazing!
Speaking of working hard, it’s that time of year again when our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. The MCA math and reading tests will be given between April 11-20 and the fifth grade MCA science test will be given between April 25-26. Families of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders received a letter with information about testing, but I wanted to review a few tips:
Please make sure your child is in school for these tests as good attendance is a key factor for overall student success.
Be sure your child gets plenty of rest (this is important all the time, but especially for test days).
Eat healthy, balanced meals, and have a good breakfast on test day.
Remind your children not to get discouraged if they don’t know an answer.
Students are reminded that a suggested strategy is to select the best choice at that time and go back to review questions at the end of the testing section.
Throughout the spring, the entire Lincoln community will continue to find ways to support your children academically, socially and emotionally. It is everyone’s goal that we finish the school year strong!
As always, thank you for your ongoing support of Lincoln!
Michelle Zimmerman, Principal
School Meals
Universal School Meals Program to Begin Fall '23
On March 17, the Minnesota Legislature approved and the Governor signed a bill providing “Universal School Meals,” which means every student may receive free breakfast and lunch beginning in the fall of 2023. The program will cover one breakfast and one lunch for every student, however ala carte and other meal choices will not be covered.
Families will need to continue purchasing meals for their students for the remainder of this school year, as the new bill will not forgive or pay for any meal debt accrued before Sept. 2023.
If your family needs immediate assistance with free or reduced-priced meals, or access to other educational benefits (such as high school athletics and activity fees; ACT, SAT and AP fees; Comcast internet and SNAP membership discounts; Xcel Energy account assistance and more), please visit ahschools.us/childnutrition to complete an application.
The district’s child nutrition program is working to provide details for all families in preparation for the 2023-24 school year. Stay tuned to your back to school communications for specific details about this benefit for your family in the summer of 2023.
Reporting Student Absences
Student absences can be reported via the Web (you will need to know your parent account information) or via the ParentVUE Mobile App. Instructions can be found here.
You will still be able to contact the attendance line at 763-506-3106 to report an absence 24/7.
Every day that your student will be late or absent, you must enter attendance online or call the attendance line in order to have your students' absence counted as excused. Please DO NOT email your child's teacher with attendance information.
Middle School Welcome Night for 5th Graders
On April 25th, Anoka Middle School for the Arts (AMSA) will be hosting a welcome night for all 5th grade students who will be attending AMSA in the fall. The flyer will all the information can be found here.
Kindergarten News
We hope you had a fabulous March and a wonderful Spring Break! Kindergarteners have made great strides in their reading and writing. We are working on writing complete sentences, starting with an uppercase letter, writing sight words correctly, sounding out words, and ending with punctuation.
We will begin Unit 8 in Wonders. Unit questions include: What can help you go from here to there? What do you know about our country? and What do you see in the sky?
In math, students are learning to show ways to make numbers (ex: Show 5 using number sentences, tally marks, finger patterns, 10 frame, etc). We will continue to learn about 3 dimensional shapes, explore teen numbers and make combinations to 10. In Number Corner this month, we will be learning about measurement.
We are looking forward to welcoming James Hersch back to our classrooms this month to record the songs we wrote with him earlier this year. We can’t wait to share our songs with you during our performance on May 11th! Look for more information on that concert soon!
Please make sure your kindergarteners come to school dressed appropriately for recess each day. We sure hope we get some spring weather soon!
Mrs. Hastad, Ms. Johnson, Mrs. Ovitt and Mrs. Peterson
First Grade News
Hello Grade 1 Families!
First graders continue with learning more vowel spelling patterns for reading words. We will read more informational texts about different animals around the world. We are also working to build our fluency, so our reading sounds like talking! Keep practicing some reading at home.
In math, we are solving equations with missing numbers and using a number rack and number line as tools to help us solve. We continue the practice of place value with hundreds, tens, and ones and counting coins (dimes, nickels, and pennies). We started practicing symmetry with shapes in our April calendar.
Ms. Schwartz, Ms. Skinner and Ms. Walz
Second Grade News
Hello 2nd Grade Families!
During the month of April we will be working through our fifth unit of Wonders called: Let’s Make a Difference. The big idea for the unit is: How can people make a difference? Please check the weekly Wonders information sheet for our current reading strategy and skill focus. This comes home on the first day of the new Wonders Week. This sheet also includes the spelling words, high frequency words, and vocabulary words for the week as well. In Number Corner, we will be planting and measuring our own seedlings. We will track their growth each week.
In math, we will be starting unit 7! In this unit, your child will:
❚ Estimate, measure, and compare the lengths of objects in centimeters and meters
❚ Split whole shapes into 2, 3, 4, or 8 equal parts called halves, thirds, fourths/quarters or eighths
❚ Solve, pose, and write addition, subtraction, and money story problems involving 2- and 3-digit numbers
We are excited for warmer weather, but please continue to dress for the weather we have each day - wonderful Minnesota ever-changing weather!
Mrs. Coubal, Mrs. Pitzl, and Mr. Robertson
Third Grade News
Hello 3rd Grade Families!
In the month of April we are still working in unit 4 in Wonders. We are continuing to focus on: What are different ways to meet challenges? This unit includes poetry and reading about how others can inspire us. We will learn about the theme in a poem which is the message an author wants to communicate to the reader. In spelling, we are studying homophones and soft c and g words. Please continue to study the spelling words each night.
We will be finishing unit 6 (Geometry) in our Bridges curriculum and beginning unit 7 this month. In unit 7 we will work on multiplication and fractions to extend skills and concepts into working with larger numbers. The April Number Corner focus is also on fractions which includes: a ruler, clock, egg carton, array and a pizza.
Think Spring!
Ms. Carlson & Mrs. Luongvan
Fourth Grade News
Greetings, Fourthling Families!
We are very busy in the Fourth grade. For reading, we are finishing Unit 4. We have been working hard looking for Narrator and Author points-of-view, as well as theme. In math, we are beginning Unit 7. Students will be revisiting fractions for this unit.
We have begun a collaboration with Anoka Middle School students for our narrative fiction writing unit. Our fourth grade students will be writing their own narrative fiction stories, based on the writing prompts we received from the middle school. When our stories are finished, the middle school students will choose a handful of stories to stage, with costumes and sets. This collaboration will culminate in our fourthlings walking to the middle school to see their stories adapted to the stage. We are very excited to see how this all plays out.
We have two different residencies this spring. We will be working with a teaching artist as a follow-up to the Vocalessence concert we went to earlier this year. Ms. Roxanne Wallace will be coming out to help us with movement and spoken word poetry. We also get to have Ms. Wallace return for a dance residency with Cowles Dance center. Our students are going to be busy, but will also have so much quality arts integrated learning to finish out the school year.
Mrs. Gaspar & Mrs. Nye
Fifth Grade News
Long Lake is also on the Horizon! Paperwork for Long Lake is due on April 24th. Payment is due on May 1st. If you have any questions about Long Lake, or you know your child will not be attending,please let your homeroom teacher know as soon as possible. If you turn in payment early please know that checks will not be deposited until after the May 1st deadline.
Physical Education
SAVE THE DATE...Field day is tentatively scheduled for Friday May 19th. We will be needing volunteers to help make this day a success. So if you are interested in some fun in the sun, please reach out to Mr. Pender (brian.pender@ahschools.us) or our VSC (Diana Orr) about volunteering for field day. Stay tuned for more details in the months to come!!
Mr. Pender
Physical Education
Lincoln Arts
Hello Lincoln Families!
I just want to take a moment to acknowledge our super staff at Lincoln! You are all heroes!
Integrating the Arts into math, language arts, science, and social studies is a rewarding experience for students and staff. A recent 4th grade project, led by Mrs. Gaspar, had students exploring elements of the galaxy alongside elements of visual art. Portraying the phases of the moon with oil pastels, shading and blending colors, offered students a creative way to "show what they know. "
Talent Show Auditions
Talent Show auditions were held in early April and we were so excited to witness the many talents of our Lincoln students. Ten acts were chosen to perform at our May 4th Character Strong assembly, which celebrates creativity. Families of students performing live will receive an invitation to the performance.
Here are some awesome artsy things coming up this month:
April 11: James Hersch rehearsal with kindergarten
April 17: VocalEssence follow-up residency with 4th grade
April 19: All-school field trip to see Willy Wonka Jr. at Anoka Middle School for the Arts
April 20: Cowles Center for Dance residency with Roxane Wallace begins for 4th grade
Music Notes
Band, Orchestra, and Choir students are starting their last month of rehearsals before their May 18th concerts. Please help your child remember to bring their instrument and music on rehearsal days. They should also be bringing materials back home in order to practice. Here is a reminder of our practice schedule.
PTO News
Upcoming Lincoln PTO Meetings:
We will meet in the conference room
- Thursday April 13th, 6pm (Childcare available in the gym)
- Thursday May 11th, 6pm (Childcare available in the gym
Lincoln's Volunteer Program
Volunteer Opportunities (complete Lincoln Volunteer Forms and contact the VSC)
- Clerical Crew/Art Rm Support
- Reading or Math Club
- PTO Fundraising/Events/Staff Appreciation
- MCA Hallway Monitoring
- Field Trips
- Field Day
- Concert
- Arts Jam
- Showcase
MN/National Volunteer Recognition Week, April 16-22
TAKE NOTE….volunteers are invited to pick up a special “Thank You” during
- Recognition week from Room 115 (under the sign-in/out clipboard)
- Or Volunteer Appreciation/Recognition Event at Showcase, June 1st (drop-in style)
Volunteers make events happen, support & recognize the staff, show an interest in our students & school, and boost our student achievement! Stop by and thank you for being a Lincoln Volunteer!
Volunteering
- We want you to enjoy the volunteer opportunities you select! Please let the VSC (or supervising staff) know if the assignment is not what you expected and if you’d like other opportunities!
- Wondering how your volunteering can make an even bigger difference? Check with your employer. Some offer donations for your volunteer hours, which can be directed to our school!
We’re coming to the end of our school year and we have more planned! If you’d like to volunteer, submit a Volunteer app and Criminal Record form online by Thursday, May 4th!
Thank you to all our Lincoln Volunteers! You make a difference!
Diana Orr - Volunteer Services Coordinator (VSC)
Diana.Orr@ahschools.us / 763-506-3130
Tuesday 8a.m. - 3p.m./Wednesday and Thursday 8a.m. - 2:45p.m. (schedule may vary)
Volunteer handbook - Manual para voluntarios / Safeguard Privacy / Field Trip Chaperone Guidelines
PARENT/FAMILY RESOURCES
Parent Engage 360 podcast- aims to provide parents/guardians with knowledge from experts and tools needed to support their children.
Anoka-Hennepin Schools realize the importance of parent engagement in maximizing student success. We hope that providing timely and helpful information through this series will strengthen that bond between school and home with resources parents/guardians can use and share with others.
Tune in to via Podbean, Apple Podcasts or district website.
Free training workshops- gives parent/teacher organizations, booster clubs or nonprofit a boost as they help support the efforts of Anoka-Hennepin students, schools and community. Classes offered by Parent Involvement.
Volunteer Recruitment/Board Transition & Retention/Closing Out The Year, Wondering how to keep track & transfer important information? What needs to be shared w/future board? Learn suggestions for bank & email transition, reconciling bank accounts, recruiting volunteers, transitioning your board, etc. Wed, April 12, 6:30-8p.m., ESC (2727 Ferry St, Anoka, Door 7), Register here.
PI Facebook- has info on what's happening in the district and in Parent Involvement (fundraisers, events, volunteering, PI team activities, etc.)
Parent Resource Center (PRC)- is located at the AHSD Educational Service Center (ESC) and lends library materials to parents, families, and staff. Families are welcome to browse our library-
Online: PRC library/Use Library Name: AHPRC (no password required)/ Visit us on the Web / Follow on Facebook and Instagram
Stop-in: Use the self-service check-out and return. Enter Door 1 on the west side of the ESC (2727 N. Ferry St, Anoka, MN 55303)
Phone: 763-506-1587 or 763-506-1278 to discuss your resource requests. Selections can be delivered to your school and sent home with your child.
Parental Advisory Committee for Racial and Ethnic Equity (PACREE) - purpose is to create racial and ethnic equity, create successful students with a sense of belonging, and empower parents for racially and ethnically underserved communities to advocate for their students in the AHSD.
Meetings held via google hangouts, 5:30 - 7 p.m., 3rd Tuesday of the month, September-May (except 2nd Tues in Dec & Feb). For more info, contact Darron Sherrill, 763-506-1151, Darron.Sherrill@ahschools.us or Rahmo Ali, Rahmo.Ali@ahschools.us
Community Education
Upcoming Community Education Classes
Spring is another exciting time for Community Education. We have two extra special classes for kids that want to have some fun!
Does Robotics interest you? Do you want to learn, program and building robots! Well, Community Education has the perfect class for you. Junior Robotics 2.3 is for all skill levels. This class starts on May 3.
https://ahschools.ce.eleyo.com/course/8089/youth-spring-2023/elem-junior-robotics-2-3#linel-3m2-s
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