PANTHER PROGRESS

August 2024 Issue 1

Message From Our Administrators

Hello Lincoln Family!

We hope that your summer was amazing as our Lincoln staff have been working hard to prepare for this upcoming school year! This will be Mrs. Smith and my 6th year together and each summer, we get more and more excited to bring our 600+ Lil’ Panthers back to our incredible school! This will also be the 6th year where our families will not need to purchase any school supplies in preparation for your return to school. Based on previous survey results and feedback from our students, staff, and families, we strive to continuously enhance and enrich our learning environment to bring out the best in your child. Fortunately, we'll also be able to bring back our STEM program!

Our commitment to honoring our history here at Lincoln, while also making history for each student is a Panther Priority for us. As we go into the 2024-2025 school year, we will be focusing on two D-words, “DIGNITY” and “DETERMINATION.” As our staff is “determined” to bring out the best in your child academically, we also rely on our families for that same commitment and determination over the next 180 school days. While we work on serving our students and crushing any achievement gaps that may exist, we will also focus on instilling confidence and “dignity,” because it will be self-respect that strengthens this determination towards success.

Let’s have a great 2024-2025 school year and we’ll see you on August 19th from 4:00-6:00pm at our “Meet and Greet with Eats and Beats” where your child will get to briefly meet their teacher and see the location of their classroom!

Together, we are better.

Much Lincoln Love,

Eric Rhodes - Principal

Mary Beth Smith - Assistant Principal

Crosby Blair - Community School Coordinator

Important August Dates

August 19: Meet and Greet with Eats and Beats (open house) 4 - 6pm

August 21: First day of school!

First Day of School

The first day of school for students in grades 1 through 5 is Wednesday, August 21
Pre-Kindergarten students have staggered starts on August 23, 26 and 27
The first day for all PreK students is Wednesday, August 28
Kindergarten students have staggered starts on August 21, 22 and 23
The first day for all Kindergarten students is Monday, August 26

*Families with students in PreK and/or Kindergarten will receive communication informing them of their teacher assignment, meeting date and staggered start date.*

Schedules and Teacher Assignments

Starting at 4pm on August 7, Schoology courses will be visible to students and parents. Systemic emails from FCPS will be sent to guardians, with information including schedules and teacher assignments.

Meet and Greet with Eats and Beats

We hope everyone can join us for our first family engagement event of the school year, our "Meet and Greet with Eats and Beats" scheduled for Monday, August 19 from 4 - 6 pm. This event is an opportunity for students and families to meet teachers, to see classrooms and to celebrate the beginning of the school year! This is also a great time to discuss dismissal procedures with your child's teacher. Please let them know if your child(ren) will be a walker, bus rider or car rider so that we can plan accordingly. We will have many vendors on site, representing some of Frederick's finest non-profit organizations, and a DJ. There will be a food distribution from MD Food Bank and pizza will be provided. Bus transportation will be provided for families in Windsor Gardens and Fieldpointe Apartments. We hope to see you there!

*Note - families will be able to fill out their student's Confidential Health Information Card (CHIC) and the Free and Reduced Meal (FARM) forms during this event.

Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Our students are offered breakfast and lunch every day. Click the links below for this month's menu. For more information about FCPS food and nutrition, visit the FCPS nutrition website.

School Supplies

For the 6th year in a row, we will be able to provide ALL necessary school supplies for every student. That's right! Families do not have to worry about purchasing materials - we've got you covered! Our designation as a "Community School" provides extra state funds to use toward this purchase.

National Night Out

Lincoln staff will be in attendance at Carrollton Park for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6th from 5 - 7:30pm. Come join us for food, music, activities and fun!

Free and Reduced Meals

Please make sure you are filling out the Free and Reduced Meal (FARM) benefit application to determine if your student qualifies for free or reduced lunch. As a Title I school, we rely on these applications for funding from the federal government. The online application is the preferred method of submission and applications are available in both English and Spanish. The online application is currently open and can be found at this website: LINQConnect.com. For those that do not qualify, the cost of lunch is $2.65 everyday. If you have questions, or need assistance filling out the application, contact Diana Galaviz at Diana.Galaviz@fcps.org or Crosby Blair at Crosby.Blair@fcps.org.

*FCPS no longer uses MySchoolBucks. After registering for a LINQConnect account, you can add money to your child's account and check your account balance.

Lincoln's New Phone Number

All schools within FCPS received a new phone number as part of a modernizing upgrade. The number for our main office is now: 227-203-1580.

School Messenger Replaces Find Out First

FCPS is launching SchoolMessenger for the 2024-2025 school year. This platform replaces FindOutFirst as the primary email platform. We will still use Talking Points as our primary texting service.

Bus Transportation

Starting August 10th, bus routes will be available online. This information can be found at the bus information site.

Spirit Wear Sale!

Did you know that we have our own spirit wear page?! You can find all sorts of merchandise and designs. Plus, 10% of all proceeds are donated back to our school! We use these funds for field trips, school supplies and student incentives. There's a sale running from August 20 - September 24th in which you can get 30% off! Visit our Spirit Wear page to get started. Happy shopping :)

Pre-Kindergarten Applications are Open

Applications for all residents of Frederick County are now open for students who will be 3 or 4 years old by September 1, 2024. For information about income eligibility, criteria and programs, please visit the FCPS PreK website.

Amy Nelson Moving to a New Position within FCPS

As some of you may have heard, our social worker, Amy Nelson, has taken a new position within FCPS. While we are sad to lose her, we wish her the best with her new endeavor. She has made a tremendous impact within our commUNITY in her four years with us. As we like to say, "Once a Panther, always a Panther!" Much Lincoln Love, Mrs. Nelson!!

Box Tops

Did you know you can help our school raise money by simply scanning your grocery receipt? Many of us remember cutting out box tops from various food items during elementary school, but they've made it even easier! Our school receives donations twice a year. Simply download the free app to get started!

Judy Center Corner

Upcoming Judy Center events:

August 29 from 9-12: We welcome you back to our classroom for our open house! Reconnect with our classroom and your friends

September 3 from 9 - 10:30: Our first playgroup of the school year for babies (birth to walkers)

September 3 from 2 - 3:15: Our first playgroup of the school year for preschool aged children (3 to 4 years old)

September 6 from 9 - 10:30: Judy Center picnic and connection time

September 10 from 9 - 10:30: It's PJ day! Playgroup for babies (birth to walkers)

September 10 from 2 - 3:15: It's PJ day! Playgroup for preschool aged children (3 to 4 years old)

September 11 from 9 - 10:30: It's PJ day! Playgroup for toddlers (walkers to age 3)

September 13 from 9 - 10:30: Be Healthy Fair (children between ages birth to 4)

September 30 from 9 - 10:30: Potty training session for any Judy Center aged child and their grown up

What does Judy Center do to support young children?

We serve pregnant families & families with children ages birth through 5 years by providing the following at no cost:

Engaging learning activities, strategies, and tools that target social-emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development.
Caregiver workshops and support, learning parties, and family events to create a collaborative and nurturing educational home environment.
Local service provider referrals, including healthcare, childcare, career and adult education, housing, food, and other areas of need.
Play and have fun with your children and other families!

Join our Judy Center Facebook page:

Please check out our Facebook page for more information and upcoming events:

Judy Center-LNES Facebook

Parent Interest Survey

Families, please open this link and complete this survey if you are interested in Judy Center. We are interested in learning if you have children in your family between the ages of birth to 4 and if you are pregnant. If you do have young children, we would enjoy having you join our Judy Center events. We can also support you in many ways!

Want to know about our upcoming events? Join Talking Points!

Please sign up for Talking Points to better communicate with Judy Center and receive notifications for upcoming events: Talking Points JC Class Code: SDY1ZH

Instructions to sign up

Want to help teach your child at home? Sign up for ReadyRosie

Families, YOU play an essential role in the education and well-being of your child. ReadyRosie exists to support you in that role!

How to reach the Judy Center:

Program Administrator: Holly Sontz Holly.Sontz@fcps.org, 227.203.4062

Family Services Coordinator: Erika Rape Erika.Rape@fcps.org, 227.203.4054