Lincoln Family Newsletter

Our BPS Mission: "Empower every learner to thrive."

Our BPS Vision: "Together, our strong relationships build inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environments that create agency and inspire a passion for learning, excellence, and discovery."

As we step into the New Year, I am thrilled to share some fantastic news that truly embodies the spirit of our community. Our Weight of Giving coin drive was a tremendous success! Together, we raised an incredible $1,335.09! These funds will be donated to our Lincoln Community Cupboard, helping to restock the pantry after the holidays and ensuring that our community members have the support they need.

This achievement is a testament to the generosity and spirit of our Lincoln Lightning Family. Your willingness to come together and support our community in such a meaningful way is truly inspiring. Each coin contributed represents a collective effort to make a positive difference in the lives of those around us.

We are so proud of the compassion and dedication shown by everyone involved. Your contributions have not only provided essential resources but have also strengthened the bonds within our community. This drive has highlighted the incredible impact we can have when we unite for a common cause.

Thank you for your unwavering support and for being an essential part of our Lincoln Lightning Family. Let's carry this spirit of giving and community into the New Year, continuing to make a positive difference together.

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2025!

Welcome back to a brand-new year at Lincoln! We hope everyone enjoyed the winter break, making wonderful memories with family and friends. As we step into January, our focus as a school community is on safety. Safety is about much more than following rules—it’s about creating a secure environment where everyone can thrive. This month, we’ll explore safety through four key components:

1. Goals – Setting goals helps us focus on what’s important and stay on track. At school, students will work on identifying academic and personal goals. At home, consider encouraging your child to set simple goals, like keeping their room tidy or reading a favorite book each week.

2. Self-Control – Practicing self-control helps students manage their emotions and make responsible decisions. You can support this at home by modeling patience during challenging moments and encouraging your child to pause and think before reacting.

3. Rules/Expectations – Understanding and following rules ensures everyone’s safety. At school, we emphasize clear expectations for behavior in different settings. At home, creating routines and consistent guidelines can help reinforce the importance of rules in daily life.

4. Listening for Understanding – Good listening skills are essential for maintaining safety and fostering respectful relationships. Encourage your child to practice active listening by looking at the speaker, asking questions, and repeating back what they hear.

Let’s make January a fantastic month!

School attendance is a major factor when it comes to school success. The most crucial learning hours of a school day are the morning hours. This is the part of the day when students are most attentive. Students who are tardy, miss the beginning of their morning classes and miss the time when they can best learn. Parents should call the school prior to 8:30 am on the morning of an absence.

Students arriving late must check in at the school office. If a child is ill, he/she should not attend school and risk transmitting the disease to others. Upon returning from a doctor or dentist appointment, students should bring a note to school from his/her doctor informing the office of the absence.

Students are expected to be in class on time, which means to be in the classroom when the final bell rings.

• If a student arrives at school between 8:35 – 9:35 a.m., they will be considered tardy; if a student leaves school between 2:05 – 3:05 p.m., they will be considered tardy.

• If a student arrives at school after 9:35 a.m., the student will be considered absent for the morning. If the student leaves before 2:05 p.m., the student will be considered absent for the afternoon.

Whenever possible, please try to arrange appointments outside of school hours. Arrangements should be made with the classroom teacher regarding any missed school work.

Regular school attendance is a parent-child responsibility and the school is required by law to report educational neglect. Absences, even with the approval of the parent(s)/guardian(s), which are excessive and/or interfere with the student’s educational program, could be interpreted as educational neglect and Child Protection Services may be notified.

BPS is fortunate to have supportive and friendly parents and community members who help model appropriate behavior for all children. It is important for students to see adults work together so they too can learn to be productive, contributing community members. In addition, it is essential that BPS continues to be transparent and collaborative with all stakeholders. Creating a safe, caring, and respectful school environment is the work of all staff, students, parents, and our community. For your reference our Code of Conduct and Stakeholder Commitments can be found HERE.

If you plan to join your child for lunch, please notify the office by 9:00 a.m. and let us know if you'll be eating a school lunch. The office can also confirm your child’s lunch time. We know you may consider letting your child's teacher know about your intent to eat lunch, but please do contact the office as well. Please be advised that an adult lunch fee is $4.15 payable by cash or check.

When you arrive, please stop by the office to pick up a visitor badge. You may join your child in the cafeteria during their designated lunch period. However, parents and grandparents are not permitted to join students for recess.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

We are committed to continuous school improvement and value your feedback in this process. Each month, we will be asking for your input on the same key questions to help us track progress and address any concerns.

Over the next several months, we will be focusing on these two areas:

1. School Environment: We want to know how you feel about the implementation of our school rules, emergency management systems (such as severe weather and fire drills), and whether you believe Lincoln Elementary is a safe and orderly place.

2. School Success: We’d also like your thoughts on how effectively we are celebrating student success, including recognizing students with Sparks, Lightning Bucks, Bolts, and other achievements through positive phone calls home, celebration assemblies, and the BOLT wall in the foyer.

Your input is crucial as we work together to create the best possible environment for our students. Simply click the link below:

Family Insight Survey

Please attend this month's PTO meeting January 7th at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will last one hour (or less) and will take place in the Lincoln Elementary Collaboration Room. Come in door 1 and take a right. The door to the collaboration room is immediately around the corner! See you there!

January 7, 2024 Meeting Agenda

This month will be Fridays (January 10, 17, 24 and 31) from right after school until 5:00. $60 per artist for the month of January. Creativity is encouraged! If bringing an after school snack it needs to be a single serve prepackaged snack and nut free. Sanitizer will be available. If suffering any symptoms the artist should refrain from coming to class. Class size limited to 25 . Please pre register at January Art Club.

JANUARY

7 - PTO Meeting (6:30)

11 - PTO Sponsored Family Movie Night (Doors open 5:30. movie at 6:00)

13 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

20 - NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Day

21 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Day

27 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

FEBRUARY

4 - 2nd & 3rd Grade Music Program (Cosman, Eckert and Renz) 6:00

4 - PTO Meeting (6:30)

7 - PTO Sponsored Family Dance (6:30 - 8:00)

10 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

11 - Parent Teacher Conferences (3:30 - 7:30)

13 - Parent Teacher Conferences (3:30 - 7:30)

17 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents Day

24 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

Email: melissa_hurt@bismarckschools.org
Website: www.bismarckschools.org/lincoln
Location: 3320 McCurry Way, Lincoln, ND, USA
Phone: 701-323-4310
Facebook: facebook.com/LincolnElementaryBismarckPublicSchools

Any third party non-school district events in this newsletter

are not sponsored/endorsed by Bismarck Public Schools.