Lincoln at a Glance

• D64 Safety Week (see below)

• T 8/27: RO Parent Open House

• W 8/28: Early Dismissal 2:10; Lincoln Parent Open House

• M 9/2: Labor Day -No School

• T 9/3: Picture Day

• W 9/4: Early Dismissal 2:10

• H 9/5: GBB @ Chippewa 3:30 (away); X-Country Home Meet 3:45 (Centennial)

Lincoln's Parent Curriculum Night will be held next Wednesday, August 28th from 6:00-7:30. Parents will have the opportunity to meet with teachers and hear about the structures, curriculum, and technology used at Lincoln. The evening’s main program will be hosted by your child’s core team and emphasizes the core curriculum at each grade level. In addition, this event also allows parents the choice to attend optional presentations and introductions for elective and program-specific classes throughout the evening.

While there will be more specific info coming out next week, we want to make sure that you can attend. Look forward to seeing you soon.

NOTE: Doors will open at 5:40 to allow parents the opportunity to pick up their student's schedule from the homeroom classroom.

In follow up to the District’s communication regarding next week’s safety week, we wanted to provide you with some information that is specific to Lincoln Middle School. As was shared, starting Monday, August 26th, our school will participate in a different drill daily. A drill is used to create familiarity associated with a practiced action. We have worked with our local police and fire departments to ensure they are also part of the drills and get crucial practice of how they would respond.

Here is the schedule of drills for LIncoln:

• Monday, 8/26 - Hold

• Tuesday, 8/27 - Lockdown

• Wednesday, 8/28 - Secure

• Thursday, 8/29 - Evacuate

• Friday, 8/30 - Shelter

For more information about each of these drills and the associated response, please read below.

• If a school is placed in a Hold, students and staff will clear the hallways and hold in their classroom or area. Students outside for recess or PE will stay outside. Students and staff will continue their normal routine in their location. We will call a Hold in situations when we need to keep the hallways clear to attend to an individual, such as a medical emergency. Will we notify all families at a school when a hold is put into place?
  
  

• If a school is Secure, there is a situation in the community where the police or school officials believe it is safer to move all students inside the school. Students will continue learning during Secure, but visitors will not be admitted to the school. Students will not be dismissed at the end of the day until law enforcement has determined it is safe. All families will be notified when the building is in Secure and when the Secure has been lifted.
  
  

• A school is put into Lockdown if there is a threat or hazard inside the school building. District 64 would call, text, and email parents and guardians in the case of a Lockdown. We promise to communicate with you as soon as possible. Please be patient, as our priority will be the safety of students and staff. If you do not want your child participating in the lockdown drill, please see this document

The safety of your children is very important to all of us at D64. For more information, visit our website, d64.org/safe-schools, contact your school principal or email me at clilly@d64.org.

If you have questions or concerns regarding the specific drills at LIncoln Middle School, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Appreciate your understanding and support.

Cross Country

Sign-up for the 2024 Cross Country season is OPEN! Each year, a large part of our student body participates in our award-winning cross country program. It is a great way to make new friends, improve running skills, and most of all, HAVE FUN! Sign-up NOW as the season starts a week into this coming school year! Our first practice is Monday, August 28th. Deadline to sign up is Friday, September 1st.

Please follow the link below to fill out the Fall 2024 Cross Country Sign-up Form. Note that all students who participate in cross country must have an updated physical on file and a medical health form completed (found here). If you have any questions, please contact one of our coaches: Ms. Jill Gronwick (jgronwick@d64.org) or Ms. Kate May (kmay@d64.org)

Registration Link

Lincoln XC Website

NOTE: Middle school students who wish to participate in interscholastic basketball, volleyball, wrestling, or cross country must show proof of physical fitness as determined by a licensed physician, an advanced practice nurse or a physician assistant (see below). In addition, students and parents will receive information regarding the District's student athlete concussion guidelines. Before a student will be allowed to participate in tryouts, practices or games, these items must be uploaded: proof of a physical conducted within the past 12 months; a permission form indicating parent consent to participate and receipt of concussion information signed by both parent and student; and proof of accident insurance.

Sports physicals are good for one calendar year from the date of the exam. If you have additional questions about medical records or physicals, please contact our school nurse by calling Lincoln’s office (847) 318-4215.

All District 64 schools and offices will be closed on Monday, September 2nd in observance of Labor Day. School will resume on Tuesday. Enjoy the long holiday weekend!

Student Picture Day is Tuesday, September 3rd. Representatives/photographers from Color Portraits will be at Lincoln and taking student portraits via your student’s regularly scheduled PE class. For ordering information, please click on the flyer below. This flyer will be sent home with students the week before.

Picture Ordering Info

All District 64 parents are invited to our inaugural D64 PTO Kick-Off! Hear our Superintendent. Dr. Ben Collins, present information on the upcoming Referendum and tour the aging Lincoln Middle School to see some of the proposed improvements with each school's Principal as your guide. PTO's will have their annual kick-off meeting to highlight their year and offer an opportunity to meet more D64 parents. Daycare will be provided and this is a great opportunity to support your child's education. We hope to see you on September 10th at 7:00pm at Lincoln Middle School!

As a reminder for those who have not yet submitted them, 6th grade health forms are due by October 15th. Students without these uploaded by October 15th will be excluded from school beginning Wednesday, October 16th. Forms Required are:

• Updated physical with all sections completed. Be sure that health history and parent signature is completed (the physical is considered incomplete if this is left blank)

• Complete and updated immunizations with one dose Tdap and one dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine on or after the 11th birthday.

Please reach out to our school nurse, Rachel Ossmo (rossmo@d64.org) with any questions.

It is our goal in District 64 to maintain school Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) that promote a love for reading and lifelong learning. Our middle school libraries are geared toward middle school readers who represent a range of reading interests and levels. The collections include a variety of middle grade and young adult novels, along with picture books, reference materials, sound recordings, magazines, and nonfiction resources.

Young adult (YA) titles include literature, poetry, and informational text that address experiences and issues that concern children as they transition through their teenage years. Common themes in young adult literature include: relationships, mental health, sexuality, substance/domestic abuse, violence, death, pop culture, and race/ethnicity. While these topics are often present in middle grade text, the degree to which they are addressed increases in young adult titles. Student readiness for exploration of these topics may vary based on maturity level and experience.

We do our best to match students with the right book for them. Some of our collection contains more sensitive subject matter and, in consultation with professional reviews, have been marked with Young Adult (YA) labels. We encourage families to discuss reading selections with their students on a regular basis.

If you feel your student might not be ready for these titles, please reach out to both the LRC Director and principal of the appropriate school.

Does your student love to sing and want to join a choir here at Lincoln? Lincoln has THREE choirs to get involved in.

• Show Choir is singing and dancing for ALL grade levels on Mondays from 3-4 in the Cafeteria
• 6th Grade Chorus is singing only for 6th graders from 3-4 on Fridays in room 319
• 7/8 Singers is singing only for 7th and 8th graders from 3-4 on Thursdays in room 319
  
  

We did a much better job with drop-off/pick-up procedures this week. Keep it up. Thank you.

As a reminder...

Student safety is our primary concern. In order for students to arrive safely in the morning, please review the linked document outlining our drop-off/pick-up procedures at Lincoln. Students are to cross only at designated crosswalks. Please drop your student off at an area that does not require them to cross the street. The streets around Lincoln are busy and are often congested before and after school. Again, your attention to the procedures outlined in the linked document is much appreciated and goes a long way to keep our students safe.

NOTE: Visitor parking is located on Crescent Avenue near the main entrance (Door #3).

If students forget something at home or are being delivered a lunch, items may be dropped off in the foyer of the Lincoln Office. We instruct students to check in with the office during passing periods to pick up these items. We will not interrupt class to notify students of items/lunches delivered to the office.

For the past 7 years, Lincoln has performed a musical annually. This year, we will be performing Matilda, Jr. March 14-16. If your student is interested, please read below about the information/workshop meetings coming up! Feel free to have your student email me (alatragna@d64.org) or come see me in 319 with any questions!

• Cast:

  • The cast consists of performers on stage

  • Audition workshop: Tuesday, November 12th & 19th from 3-4 in the Cafeteria (same workshop, just come to one!)

  • Learn the audition process, audition materials, and commitment to be in the cast!

  Crew:

  • The crew consists of students performing tasks behind the scenes.

  • Information meeting: Tuesday, December 3rd from 3-4 in room 319

  • Information meeting on what each crew does and the commitment to be in that crew!

All health forms should now be uploaded directly into Powerschool. This includes school physicals, dental and vision forms as well as athletic forms. When you log into PowerSchool, click on your child’s name at the top of the page, then on the left side click on forms. After that, you can click on “Health Office Document Submission of Athletic Department Document submission” then click add document and submit. Incoming 6th grader health forms are due by October 15th and Athletic forms are due the day before tryouts or first practice for no cut sports.

Please make sure that you have filled out and signed the health history parent portion at the top of the back page of your child's physical. If your child requires a medical action plan or medications while in school, those required forms can be found on the D64 Health Services page under the header "Other Health Forms" If you have any other questions or more immediate needs, please contact the front office at 847-318-4215.

We are very fortunate to have a supportive and collaborative partnership with our Lincoln PTO. Throughout the year, we will be working together to provide opportunities for our families and students. If you are not a member already, please consider joining this awesome organization. You can find information on starting or renewing your membership by visiting the Lincoln PTO website.

Additionally, the PTO is looking for sixth grade parents to help coordinate the 6th grade fall fest. If you are interested in volunteering, please email the PTO at lmspto.parkridge@gmail.com.

All Lincoln students and parents are provided access to schedules via the PowerSchool parent and student portals. The PowerSchool Parent Portal allows you access to your student’s academic information, including student schedules and grades. To gain access to the Parent Portal, please go to ps.d64.org. If you have any questions on how to login, please contact the Lincoln Main Office for assistance (847) 318-4215.

Schoology will be utilized by students to help navigate their remote learning day and will include links to students’ virtual class meetings. Parents can also access students’ classes and monitor student assignments. To assist, we have created THIS VIDEO to assist in navigating this new learning platform.

Not connected to Schoology yet? Follow the directions here!

The Lincoln website and Lincoln school calendar are valuable resources to keep informed of important updates and events throughout the year. The calendar is kept up to date throughout the school year, and new information is posted regularly. We hope that these tools are helpful resources for keeping you and your student organized and informed as we progress through the year.

Lincoln Website
D64 Website

Calendars for 2024-2025 can be viewed HERE.

District 64 continues to utilize many different platforms to ensure you have important information delivered to you in the most convenient way. One of those ways is through our SMS Text Messaging Service.

Getting messages delivered to your mobile device is a helpful tool, and District 64 is reenergizing our efforts to bring this to you. Starting on Monday, October 31st, you might periodically receive text messages from either the District or your child’s school.

These alerts will be info about events, school closings, safety, and more. That said, our SMS Text Messaging Service will be used supplementally in our communication efforts and does not replace any school emails or calls you are receiving.

How to receive text messages:

• You must opt-in to receive text messages. To do so, you will need to text “Y” or “Yes” to 67587.

• If you’d like to no longer receive District 64 text messages, you have to send “Stop” to 67587.
  
  

If you have any questions regarding the use of text messages to communicate District/School messages, please email me at clilly@d64.org.

School hours for student classes are from 8:05 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Please note that each Wednesday, students are dismissed at 2:10 p.m. for staff professional development activities.

Doors to the school open for students each morning at 7:58 a.m. Homeroom begins at 8:05 a.m.

School office hours are from 7:20 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Remember that our student absence line (847) 318-4215 is available 24 hours a day. Please let the Lincoln Office know as soon as possible if your child will not be in attendance. Please do not rely on e-mail notification for reporting absences as it may not be seen until later in the day.

Lincoln Middle School, along with all District 64 schools, operates in accordance to policies and practices that have been reviewed and implemented by the District 64 Board of Education. Please review the D64 Student-Parent Handbook prior to the start of the school year to familiarize yourself with the information contained in it. We want to work in partnership with you to ensure a positive school year, and having an understanding of this information will help to promote a successful school year. This handbook is intended as a convenience for District 64 families and staff by summarizing selected information about procedures, services and programs. It also provides a quick reference for contact information and District timelines.