Abraham Lincoln Family Newsletter
November 2024
A message to you from Principal Sarah Judd
Dear Abe Families,
As we enter this season of gratitude, I am thrilled to share some exciting updates and celebrations with you. This November, Mrs. Butler and I will travel to Washington, D.C., to accept the prestigious 2024 National Blue Ribbon School Award on behalf of our incredible school community! This honor, scheduled for November 7th and 8th, is a reflection of the hard work, dedication, and shared vision of excellence we uphold together at Abraham Lincoln Elementary. We’re so proud of our students, staff, and families who have contributed to this remarkable achievement, and we’re excited to bring this honor home to our community.
This month, our students reached an important PBIS milestone, collecting 1,000 toolbox tickets! Students earn toolbox tickets when they are being respectful, responsible, and safe! To celebrate this accomplishment, students enjoyed a special "camping experience" day at school—complete with fun, camping-themed lunch and a special smores snack to recognize their hard work and positive choices. It’s wonderful to see our students embrace and embody these values daily, and we look forward to even more milestones to come!
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Together, we’re building a community where our students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We’re looking forward to a wonderful month ahead filled with learning, joy, and gratitude.
Warmly,
Mrs. Judd
Office Information
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 7:30 - 4:00
Secretaries:
Heidi Tuescher
608-328-7173
Summer Stietz
608-328-7157
Website: https://www.monroeschools.com/schools/abraham-lincoln/
Location: 2625 14th Avenue, Monroe, WI, USA
Phone: 608 - 328 - 7172
Every Day Counts
Why Every Day Counts: The Importance of Attendance and Planning Vacations Wisely
At our school, we believe in the message, “Attendance Matters: Every Day Counts!”. Aiming for no more than 5 absences or a 97% attendance rate, we’re working to create an environment where every child can thrive. Consistent attendance is crucial for your child’s academic growth, social development, and future success.
The Impact of Regular Attendance:
Regular attendance helps students build strong foundations in reading, math, and social skills. When a child is absent, they miss out on key lessons, class discussions, and collaborative projects, which can lead to gaps in learning that are difficult to fill later. Beyond academics, daily presence encourages routines, friendships, and a sense of responsibility.
Planning Vacations Thoughtfully:
We understand that vacations are a valuable time for family bonding and rest. However, it’s important to plan them around school breaks whenever possible. Extended or frequent absences can result in missed instructional time that’s hard to catch up on, potentially affecting grades and overall progress.
Making Attendance a Priority:
We encourage families to plan vacations during scheduled school breaks and to be mindful of any absences. If your child needs to miss school, let us know in advance, so we can help them stay on track with their learning.
A Shared Goal:
When families, teachers, and students work together, we can achieve our goal of 97% attendance and ensure that every child reaches their full potential. Your partnership is key to helping your child succeed in school and beyond.
Thank you for making every day count!
School District of Monroe Menus
Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Please visit the school lunch menu online or download the app for up-to-date menus.
PTO
November is one of Abe Lincoln PTO's favorite months! We have so many great things planned!
Calendar Challenge Fundraiser
The Calendar Challenge fundraiser is wrapping up. Please turn any last minute envelopes you may have into the office. The Calendar Challenge Prize Committee is working on plans to distribute prizes. We'll share more information about how much was raised over the next few weeks. Thank you to everyone that participated!
Fall Scholastic Book Fair
Great News! The Scholastic Book Fair will be back at Abe Lincoln from November 13th through November 20th, during Parent Teacher Conferences. We will be looking for volunteers to help. If you're interested, please sign up here: https://bit.ly/AbeVolunteers2425
Fall Family Festival
At our meeting earlier this week, we began planning the Fall Family Festival that will be held on Friday, November 22nd from 5:30 - 7:00 PM. There are a lot of activities planned and it is sure to be fun for the whole family! Stay tuned for more details later this week!
Important note: We will need volunteers to help monitor all of the great things we have planned. A sign up link will be sent early next week. Please consider volunteering for a 45 minute shift and helping make this another successful event!
Upcoming Dates
Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
2024-2025 Meeting Dates: All meetings are held in the Abe Lincoln Library at 5:30PM
January 6*
February 3
March 10
April 7
May 5 *Is childcare holding you back from joining us at meetings? We'll have childcare available at our next meeting in January!
2024-2025 Upcoming PTO Events
Nov. 14 & 19: Fall Conferences & Book Fair
Nov. 22: Fall Family Festival
Apr. 23: Spring Open House & Book Fair
May 14: End of Year Carnival
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to email us at abelinclonpto@gmail.com.
Have a great October!
Cailey Pickett, PTO President
Desire Alt, Vice President
Sarah Johanson, Treasurer
Rebecca Williams, Secretary
LIBRARY
NEWS FROM THE ABE LIBRARY
Hello from the Abraham Lincoln Library! As we start the school year, we are working hard to choose books that best fit us as readers. What books will we have the most success with? What books are of interest ? Do we understand what we are reading? All of these questions are important as a reader! Hopefully, you are seeing books coming home that your child is enjoying. Guess what else? 2nd - 5th grade students are taking the responsibility of checking out their own books! They love, love, love that!
We also talked about book care. In groups, they came up with some very sensible ideas to protect their library books!
Keep up the great reading; I hope kids will enjoy the many new books in the library!
Ms. Newton
HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
Reminders
Just a reminder for the 2024-2025 school year there is no required testing for COVID. Per the most recent CDC guidelines, COVID is now treated as any other respiratory virus. Individuals may return to school when they are fever free for 24 hours without medication and there is an improvement of symptoms. This means an individual may return to school when they no longer feel ill, and they can perform their daily routines as they did prior to becoming ill. There will be no designated quarantine time as long as the individual has met the criteria outlined above. Just with any other illness if a student tests positive for COVID please make the appropriate school staff aware.
As a reminder, please follow our general illness guidelines as to when you should keep your child home from school when they are not feeling well. These were the guidelines the School District had prior to COVID-19 that we will continue to follow this school year. As much as we want your child to be in school every day possible, please keep your child at home if they have any of the symptoms listed below:
- Fever 100.0 degrees or higher
- Vomiting in past 24 hours
- Diarrhea - running, watery or bloody stools in the past 24 hours
- Sore throat with fever
- Rash with fever
- Pink eye or Eye discharge – “goopy” drainage, matted eyelids and/or pink eyes AND unable to not touch eyes
- Cold symptoms that cause sinus or chest pain
- Cough- Uncontrollable cough or coughing up mucus.
Weekly Wellness Wisdom
Sports Drinks
Did you know that sports drinks are generally not recommended for most kids?
Here's why-
1. High Sugar Content:
Sports drinks often contain a lot of added sugars, which can contribute to tooth decay, weight gain, and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends that children consume no more than 25 grams (about 6 teaspoons) of added sugar per day, but many sports drinks contain that much or more in a single serving.
2. Unnecessary Calories:
Most kids do not need the extra calories found in sports drinks, especially if they are not engaging in prolonged or intense physical activity. Regular consumption can contribute to childhood obesity if the calories are not burned off through exercise.
3. Electrolytes Are Not Needed:
Sports drinks are formulated to replace electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium) lost during intense physical activity, which is usually not necessary for most children. For typical playtime or moderate physical activity, water is sufficient to keep kids hydrated.
When Are Sports Drinks Appropriate for Kids?
Sports drinks may be appropriate for older children or teenagers engaging in prolonged, vigorous physical activities (such as running a marathon or playing sports for hours in hot weather), but even in those cases, water is usually the best option for hydration. When choosing a drink, it’s important to consider the child’s age, activity level, and any specific health needs they may have. For most everyday activities, water is usually the best choice.
So if not sports drinks, what should my kids drink?
Healthy Alternatives-
Water: The simplest & most effective way to stay hydrated. For most activities, especially moderate exercise, water is usually sufficient. It’s also free!
Coconut Water: It’s a natural source of electrolytes like potassium & sodium, & contains less sugar than many commercial sports drinks.
Diluted Fruit Juice: Mix a small amount of 100% fruit juice with water (about 1 part juice to 3 parts water) to provide some natural sugars & vitamins without excessive calories.
Infused Water: Add slices of fruit (like lemon, lime, berries) or vegetables (like cucumber) to water for a hint of flavor without added sugars or calories.
Milk: After intense exercise, milk can be a good option as it provides protein, calcium, & electrolytes.
~MSD Wellness
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day is celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada as a day of giving thanks for the harvest and blessings of the past year. In the U.S., it’s observed on the fourth Thursday in November, while in Canada, it falls on the second Monday in October.
Traditionally, people gather with family and friends to share a meal that often includes turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Many also take time to reflect on what they’re grateful for, and some participate in community events or volunteer to help those in need. It’s a time for connection, gratitude, and celebration! Happy Thanksgiving!
Math Intervention
The new Bridges Math program for 4K-3rd grade is off to a fantastic start! This engaging and hands-on approach to learning math is helping students build a strong foundation in problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking. A key feature of the program is the "Workplaces," where students participate in math games and activities that reinforce skills in a fun, collaborative environment. Kids and teachers are loving this time to explore math in a new way. Ask your student about their favorite Workplaces to gain more insight! Another important component of this program is "Number Corner," which builds on key skills with engaging activities related to the calendar throughout each month. Students are making lots of predictions during this time and talking with peers about their math thinking.
We’re thrilled to see students thriving with this program and looking forward to adding 4th and 5th grade next year! If you have any questions about the program, please reach out to myself or your child's classroom teacher.
Mrs. McGee
Math Interventionist
Student of the Month!
Colin is the kind of kid every classroom teacher dreams about. He shows up everyday with a great attitude. I don’t have to worry if he’s not working hard in class, he always tries his absolute best at everything he does. He’s always there to help out a buddy. He is a great leader. The only bad thing about Colin is that he’s in 5th grade and will have to go to middle school next year.
WORKERS OF THE WEEK
October 7th-11th
October 21st-25th
October 28th- November 1st
PBIS Camping Day
PBIS stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. It is a framework or approach used in schools and other organizations to promote positive behavior and create a supportive environment. PBIS focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors rather than merely punishing negative ones. The goal is to improve social, emotional, and academic outcomes by creating a positive and predictable environment where everyone is encouraged to succeed.
PBIS involves:
- Defining and teaching expectations for behavior.
- Recognizing and rewarding positive behavior.
- Providing consistent support and interventions for students who need additional help.
- Collecting data to monitor progress and adjust practices as needed.
It's a proactive approach that emphasizes prevention and early intervention, aiming to create a more positive school culture. We celebrated our successes and rewarded positive behavior with our PBIS Camping Day Experience, which was a fantastic and memorable celebration! The students were engaged with the camping theme and had a fun day full of rewards for their positive behavior. The camping experience, with the lanterns, tents, and outdoor-themed treats like roasted hot dogs, Chex mix, and walking s’mores, was a special adventure for the students.
It’s also a great example of how PBIS can be used creatively to reinforce positive behaviors celebrating their efforts but also motivating them to continue working toward another PBIS celebration. The day promoted teamwork and a positive atmosphere. Just look at the fun we had!!
Important Days in November
November 1st- First Day of American Indian Heritage Month
November 4th- PTO Meeting@5:30 @Abe Lincoln
November 5th- Election Day
November 7th- K-5 Vision Screening (8:30-10:15)
November 11th- Veteran's Day
November 13th- Picture Retakes
November 14 & 19- Fall PT Conferences & Book Fair
November 22nd- Fall Family Festival
November 27th- Thanksgiving Break- No School
November 28th- Thanksgiving Day- No School
November 29th- Native American Heritage Day- No School