Attendance is the greatest indicator of your student's success in school. Missing a day or two here and there or coming in late may not seem like a big deal. But you'd be surprised the impact it has!

Indiana has also passed a new law to address the chronic absenteeism. This requires:

• Students with 5 unexcused absences must meet with the school to create an attendance plan.

• Students with 10 unexcused absences must be reported to a third party.

• Absences may be excused if they fall under the legal definition of excused absences outlined in the parent handbook and verified by a written note from the guardian.

• Students absent for more than three days in a row for illness must have a doctor’s note to be excused.

• Students with excessive absences may require a doctor’s note to excuse future absences.

• The office has the right to verify the accuracy of a provided doctor’s note for a student.

Why are a few days of absences a big deal?

• Missed Instruction: If your student is absent, they miss instruction from their teacher. They may get make-up work, but they will never be able to experience those missed lessons. Teachers present information, guide learning, and provide help for those that need it. If your student misses that, it can cause frustration not only with the make-up work, but also on future lessons. Even in the younger grades, attendance in critical. In kindergarten to 2nd grade, students are learning to read--which is the most important skill they will ever learn! Missing instruction means they fall further and further behind.
• Missed Help and Interventions: Does your student struggle? We have a team of amazing teachers dedicated to helping students who struggle. They target students who need extra help and provide them the support they need to succeed. If your student isn't here, they miss those opportunities which negatively impacts their progress.
• Classroom Community Building: Our teachers begin and end each day with classroom circles and community building. This is an important time to build connections with classmates. When students miss this, they don't feel as much a part of the classroom. To be successful, they need to feel a part of the classroom community. Missing those times prevents them from sharing and connecting.
• It adds up! Missing only 2 days a month causes your student to miss 10% of their school year. This will have a negative impact on their progress. Being late (tardy) consistently for only 30 minutes means they will miss 2 or more days a month. This means missed learning, missed connection time, and missed opportunities. We know that improving their attendance can improve their chances at graduating and provide more opportunities for them as they grow up.

Your student(s) matters. We want them here. We NEED them here. They NEED to be here. Let's work together to ensure Lincoln reaches our goal of over 90% attendance.

Every student matters. Every day counts.

If you are struggling with getting your student to school and need help, please let us know. We want to work together to ensure your student's future is bright!

Tracy Strieder, Principal

Lindsay Helman, Assistant Principal

Have you wondered how staying up a little too late may affect your student's day at school? Even 30 minutes can have a huge impact. Tired students struggle with emotional regulation and focusing. Watch this short video to learn more.

It is important that Lincoln has updated phone numbers and contacts in case of an emergency. We have a lot of numbers that do not work anymore. Ensuring safety means that we must be able to get in touch with a parent/guardian. PLEASE call the office if your phone numbers, address, or email has changed. You can also return the emergency card if you haven't done so. (If you need a new one, let the office know).

Lincoln Spirit Wear orders open on Sept. 6th and goes until Sept. 16th. Orders will be accepted online only this year. Once the sale begins, you will go to Graphie-Tees. Make sure you include ALL the important information like your STUDENT'S NAME (not your own!) and what teacher they have. It is important that we get accurate information so we know who to pass the items out to!

We can't wait to see all the school spirit soon with our new spirit wear! Plus, it's a GREAT way to get a sweatshirt WITHOUT a hood for students to wear at school. 😉

Friendly reminder of our warm weather dress code policy:

• Shorts must be longer than finger length when the student's arms are down at his/her sides
• No crocs, sandals, or flip flops
• No tank tops or spaghetti straps
• No midriff shirts. Shirts must cover stomach and belly button when arms are raised
• Any rips or openly distressed areas of pants/shorts must not expose thighs
• Non-hooded sweatshirts and sweaters may be worn inside the school. For security protocols, sweatshirts and sweaters with hoods are NOT allowed in the building/classrooms. They can be worn for arrival/dismissal and recess only.

Technology is great, but it can also have a negative impact on the classroom. Indiana passed a new law (Indiana Senate Act 185) that went into effect this past summer about cell phones and their presence in the classroom.

Please note the following guidelines for personal devices:

• All personal devices must either be kept in your student's locker or given to an adult when students arrive at school. This includes cell phones, smartwatches, and tablets.
• Students may not have their phones in their pockets during the school day.
• Students may not to use them once they arrive on school property or at dismissal until they leave school property.
• If a student has their device on them, it will be brought to the office so that a parent or guardian can pick it up.

We have an opportunity to have Dustin's Place come into our building and work with some of our students that have experienced grief in their lives. If your student has encountered this please message Mrs. Tidey (Lincoln's Social Worker) so she can provide you with further information. Groups will start up at the end of September.

Mrs. Elysia Tidey

Class Dojo: Mrs. Tidey

Email: etidey@sbcsc.k12.in.us

It's that time of year again when families need to fill out the Free and Reduced Lunch Survey.

General Information:

• These State and Federal forms must be completed yearly regardless of your income statusY
• One survey per family (no matter how many students)
• Use this link (also on our Lincoln Links page)

Why is it important?

• These forms are used to determine student services and funding
• They are used to determine free breakfast and lunch
• They are used to determine EBT/Sun card amounts and qualifications

• 9/2: Labor Day - No School
• 9/4: PreK begins
• 9/6-9/16: Spirit Wear Ordering
• 10/17: Teacher Record Day - No School
• 10/18-10/21: Fall Break - No School
• 10/24: Parent-Teacher Conferences - eLearning/asynchronous

Lincoln Elementary School

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Principal: Tracy Strieder M.Ed.

Grades: Kindergarten - 5, Preschool

Colors: Blue and White

Mascot: Lion

R.O.A.R.S.:

• Respect
• Ownership
• Attitude
• Responsibility
• Safety