LHS Newsletter October 27th, 2024

Dear LHS Families:

It's really hard to believe that we've already been in school for two months now! Everyone is now settled into their routines and feeling more comfortable with the day-to-day procedures and policies of our shared spaces.

It's been previously shared with you that we utilize the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) model within the building to help our students become the best versions of themselves. HERE is the PBIS matrix that we use to drive community behavior expectations and conversations. In looking at the matrix you will see that our PBIS model focuses on four pillars that, if followed with fidelity, will ensure a positive, safe community for both our students and staff alike. The four pillars are: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be Kind. Learning why these pillars are important and how they contribute to a sense of community overall, will set our students up for success while at LHS and into their adult lives.

As students have become more comfortable this school year, we're noticing that some students are forgetting that the school is a public space. As adults, they will be expected to behave in ways that are appropriate for the environment for which they are in and we, along with you, want to help prepare them for that. With that being said, we are noticing an uptick in some poor behavior and choices among some of our students - which is entirely normal for their age/stage of development as they are still learning how to conduct themselves in a community setting. However, we ask that you remind your student that while in the building they need to not yell expletives/curse words aloud or refer to one another using derogatory terms. We, just like you, want to ensure that your student understands there is a time and place for everything, it's just not all the time and everywhere. Please take the time to have a conversation with your student about the importance of being self-aware and behaving in a civil manner while in public/shared spaces. The PBIS matrix can be a helpful reference tool when having these highly important conversations with your student.

We, just like you, want all of our Splitters to consistently be good citizens and be positive role models for one another. We really appreciate your support with this!

Should you need to reach out to us, please contact the administrator that has your child/children's last name. We're here to help!

Co-Principal Ms. Melcher (A-L)

Co-Principal Ms. Winborn (M-Z)

This year breakfast and lunch for all Lincoln students is free of charge. It is important that every household in the Lincoln Consolidated Schools Community read this letter and then complete this form. If you have not completed this yet, please do so by October 31st.

Please read this notice that we received from the Washtenaw County Health Department:

There has been an increase of pertussis cases across the county and in particular in our schools over the last few months. In view of this, the Washtenaw County Health Department would like to share information on reporting and managing pertussis cases in the school setting.

• Given the increased volume of cases, we are requesting that all cases of pertussis be reported using the electronic reporting link on the WCHD website: Disease Reporting | Washtenaw County, MI

• Upon receiving the report, a WCHD nurse will reach out to discuss the case and determine what control measures are required; these are determined on a case-by-case basis.
• Children diagnosed with pertussis should remain out of school for the duration of antibiotic treatment.
• Masking may be encouraged to mitigate spread, but there are no specific guidelines from the CDC that differ in management of contacts when the sick child was masked vs. not masked.
• Attached is a letter to be sent out to all school families and affiliates to inform them of the increase of pertussis and general guidance.

• Please reach out with any questions or concerns by calling our main line 734-544-6700 and asking to speak to a CD nurse.

Thank you for your continued efforts and collaboration.

Are you looking to free up some time this year at Thanksgiving time? Let the RCTC Culinary Arts program help. Check out their catering menu HERE.

*These fundraising events help to support and fund the competitions that our culinary students participate in throughout the course of the school year.

The State of Michigan celebrates College Month in October. Every year, the counselors plan events for the student body and work with seniors to help them plan for their "Life after LHS", whether that be going to a 4-year college or university, 2-year community college, trade school, apprenticeship program, military program or workforce. Many colleges across the state also waive their application fees this month in support of this initiative.

October is Life After LHS Month

Michigan College Fee Waiver Codes

Student Clubs are a great way for students to enhance their high school experience and to become more engaged in the school community overall. Please check out our club offerings for students HERE. Additionally, if your student has an idea for a club that we don't already have, please have them see Ms. Melcher on how to get one up and running.

Is your student interested in possibly joining the military after high school? Or would they just like to assess their interests and aptitudes and see how that applies to different careers? If so, have them sign-up for the ASVAB! HERE is a permission slip (they are available for student pick-up in the Counseling Office too). Completed permission slips must be submitted to the Counseling Office or emailed to Mrs. Baker (baker@lincolnk12.org) by the end of the school day on November 15th.

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program Exam is being offered to juniors (11th) and seniors (12th) at Lincoln High School on Monday, November 25, 2024 starting at 8:00 am. The ASVAB is a paper and pencil test provided at no cost by the Armed Services. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program includes a validated aptitude test and interest assessment. Please note that taking the ASVAB does not commit students to the armed forces in any way.

Is your student interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics? If so, check out the amazing opportunities that Washtenaw Community College is offering. Click HERE.

Please see THIS FLYER on how to join in and learn. This is for both parents/guardians and students over the age of 12.

Check out what the Ypsilanti District Library is offering for teens this year. Click HERE.

Tuesday, October 29th - Band Fall Concert at 7 p.m. in the PAC

There is a Parent LINC meeting scheduled for October 28th. Please see THIS FLYER for more details. We hope that you can join us!

Student Picture Retake Day is on Monday, November 4th. A picture order form can be found HERE. Please note: Student IDs will be provided to anyone that missed our original picture day too.

PLEASE READ THIS for information on how to order a 24/25 yearbook and for important Senior Headshots.

The 23/24 yearbooks will be available for student pick-up in their assigned cafeteria during their assigned lunch period on the following days this week:

• October 31st during both A and B lunches in the West Cafeteria
• November 1st during both A and B lunches in the East Cafeteria

To find out about other game schedules and sporting events, please visit our Athletic Page. See details below for attending Lincoln Athletic Events.

Winter sports get rolling in November...

Lincoln High School

• Boys Basketball - November 11th
• Competitive Cheerleading - November 11th
• Wrestling - November 11th
• Competitive Dance - November 12th
• Bowling - November 14th
• Boys Swim & Dive - November 25th

Get your athletic registration complete NOW! Students may not participate in practice or games beginning without full registration compliance in Student Central – No Exceptions!

Athletic registration hasn't changed...just the name! Planet HS is now called Student Central, but it's still our one stop shop to register for all athletics at LCS. Upload your physical, sign off on consent forms, and add emergency contact information - without having to come in to the office.

Full registration information can be found HERE, or at the HS/MS Registration section of www.SplitterNation.com.

Most Important!!

Our Lincoln teams use Stack Team App for all program, player, and parent communication. Download Stack Team App on your Apple or Android device to access our team calendars. Search terms to find our teams in Team App are found in the graphic above! Connect directly with coaches, parents, schedules, and team communication!

The Lincoln Athletic Department is proud to continue to add sport offerings for our students - and we wanted to send one more reminder for any high school aged kids looking to play Ice Hockey this winter! We've recently entered two cooperative agreements with local schools to play Hockey - the Girls through Washtenaw United & the Boys in conjunction with Milan HS and Ann Arbor Huron HS.

Take a look at the flyers below - tryout season is here!

Take advantage of our fantastic indoor facility by becoming a member in 2023-24 - stop in at the LAB front desk to register! The LAB offers 80 yards of artificial turf, a 300 meter track, batting cages, and a weight room/workout facility. Our fee structure makes it easy for our Lincoln community to take part:

• Lincoln Students - $10/YEAR!
• Lincoln Staff - $25/YEAR!
• Lincoln Community Members - $20/Month

LAB TC is a Youth and High School Track & Field club that will be housed in the Lincoln Athletic Building!

The club is open to boys and girls grades 6-12 and will be led by professionally trained coaches that are passionate about the sport and youth development.

Our technical and fundamentals based curriculum will be utilized to ensure that each athlete is receiving the highest level of technical instruction with an emphasis on positivity and encouragement. In addition, the program offers our participants access to some of the most up-to-date, top-notch training facilities in the state of Michigan.

Program Information
- Lincoln Consolidated Schools Student Season Fee: $275
- Non-Lincoln Student Season Fee: $500
*Season fee payment includes all practice sessions and athlete entry for all home indoor meets.

Online Apparel Store
https://www.labtrackclub.com/lab-tc-apparel-shop

Why is Track Club so expensive?

Actually, the LAB Track Club isn't expensive compared to other track clubs! The LAB TC is really like many other club sports - travel softball or baseball, club volleyball, or AAU basketball. Our track club costs are similar to other track clubs, even those who don't have their own indoor facility!

We realize that the LAB TC looks expensive when compared to school sports, but it isn't a school sport. The club takes no funding from Lincoln Consolidated Schools, including funding for coaches salaries, uniforms and equipment, or meet fees. Our athletes also pay no additional entry fees for running in LAB meets, significantly cutting the cost versus athletes from other clubs.

We're doing our best to be cost effective, but the LAB Track Club must cover its own costs, and provide a small profit to support some of the overhead of managing the Community Education program.

We offer a payment plan at check-out for those who may benefit from using this feature - initial payment of $95 is due at sign-up, payment #2 ($90) will be completed using the card provided at registration on 1/3/25 and the final payment ($90) will be completed on 1/24/25!

Training Information:

• All practices will take place on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Participants will practice from 3:30-5:45pm
• The indoor season will run from December 2, 2024 - February 23, 2025
• For the winter season, all practices will take place in the Lincoln Athletic Building (LAB)

Questions? Contact Rolando Eccleston at lincolnsplittertf@gmail.com

We want students to be a part of our fan experience! All Lincoln students attend athletic contests for FREE...show your student ID at the door or gate and cheer your tail off for our Railsplitters! Tickets for all athletic events are found online through Go Fan by searching "Lincoln" at www.gofan.co. Family passes available too, and seniors 62 and over get in for free with a valid ID!

100th Year Celebration Information

Check out the events that are planned for our centennial celebration this year. Click HERE.

For a century, Lincoln Consolidated Schools has been the educational center of our community, expanding from a single school building to a campus with multiple school buildings and athletic facilities. The average age of our school buildings is over 50 years, with our newest school building opening nearly 20 years ago. Across the district, our infrastructure is aging with needed repairs and replacement becoming critical. Currently, the costs will be funded from the general budget, which impacts the amount of available funds for classrooms.

At the June 24th meeting, the Lincoln Board of Education approved placing a 2-mill, 10-year sinking fund proposal on the ballot for the upcoming November 5 election. A sinking fund is levied on all property located in a school district and would generate $2,616,487 per year for 10 years for district improvements. This proposal represents an opportunity for our district to enhance our educational facilities and help ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for all our students.

A sinking fund is a dedicated fund used exclusively for the repairs, and improvements to school buildings and grounds, instructional technology and transportation purchase and maintenance. Unlike general operating funds, which cover day-to-day expenses such as salaries and supplies, a sinking fund is specifically earmarked for capital improvements. Here are some of the key benefits that adding a sinking fund will bring to our district:

1. Facility Improvements: The sinking fund would allow us to address critical infrastructure needs, including roof repairs, HVAC system upgrades, and necessary renovations to ensure our buildings are safe and efficient.

2. Safety Enhancements: Ensuring the safety of our students and staff is paramount. The sinking fund would provide the resources needed to enhance safety and security measures across our campus.

3. Modern Learning Environments: To prepare our students for the future, it is essential that we provide modern and technologically advanced learning environments. The sinking fund would support the purchase of instructional technology. It would also support the upgrade of classrooms, labs, and other learning spaces to meet the demands of a 21st-century education.

4. Long-Term Financial Stability: By dedicating funds specifically for capital improvements, we could avoid the need to divert resources from our general operating budget. This would ensure that our funds for instructional programs and student services remain intact.

We understand that any request for additional funding must be carefully considered. The Board of Education and district administration are committed to transparency and accountability in the use of these funds. If the sinking fund is approved, detailed plans and regular updates would be provided to ensure that the community is well-informed about the progress and impact of the sinking fund.

To keep our community well-informed, upcoming messages and meetings will be scheduled closer to the election. Please watch for more details and opportunities to engage and learn about the proposal. We encourage all community members to stay informed and participate in the upcoming election.

One Tuesday, November 5, voters in the Washtenaw ISD service area will be asked to vote on whether to renew a 12-year, 2.3826 mill tax to help fund the costs of special education in our local schools.

What is on the ballot?

A 2.3826 mil renewal to cover unreimbursed costs to provide special education services in Washtenaw County. The millage would expire after 12 years. If approved, the special education millage would be used by Washtenaw ISD to reimburse all local public school districts and local public school academies for their mandated special education costs.

What would the millage renewal cost?

• The Special Education Operating Millage renewal would maintain an existing 2.3826 mil tax.
• If approved by voters, there would be no tax rate increase.

Lincoln Consolidated School District is partnering with Varsity Tutors for Schools to provide your student with access to additional learning tools through the Varsity Tutors for Schools platform.

Varsity Tutors for Schools is the most comprehensive suite of live, online tutoring resources. Your student will have the opportunity to engage with resources to help support them through their learning journey.

The following resources are available through access to the Varsity Tutors for Schools platform:

• 24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring

• On-Demand Essay Review

• Live Academic and Enrichment Classes

• SAT and ACT Test Prep Classes

• Celebrity-Led StarCourse Classes

• Self-Study Resources

• College & Career Readiness Resources

• Adaptive Assessments & Personalized Learning Plans

• Prerecorded Enrichment Classes/Videos
  
  

We are excited to offer these services for NO COST to your student until June, 2030! You can learn more about everything available by having YOUR STUDENT USING THEIR SCHOOL GOOGLE ACCOUNT log into the platform using Lincoln Consolidated Login Link.

Though our new partnership with Care Solace, getting help can be a daunting process. Let our Care Companions™ find the help you need for depression, anxiety, stress, and more.

Care Solace Portal

• Care Solace finds available providers matched to specific needs – because every person deserves access to care.
• Completely confidential and free to use, provided to you by your school district.
• Provides easy access to providers that accept public or private insurance or offer sliding scale options.
• Offers 24/7/365 support, including holidays and weekends, in over 200+ languages so you can reach out at your convenience.
• Saves you valuable time and effort to find providers matched to your needs.
• Connects you to community-based providers, none of which pay to be in our verified database.