Lincoln Bulletin

Random Acts Week--This week I would like our students to extend themselves and participate in random acts of kindness. Below is the highlights of each day-

Also, Above I’ve included a graphic below to help to remind us to keep with our growth mindset around some of the struggles we are facing together at this time. Remember to reach out if you need any support or if I can help in any way!

Monday-Chalk the Walk-write positive messages on your front walk.

Tuesday-Write a kind message in your front window.

Wednesday-Bake something or make something for a neighbor.

Thursday-Write a letter to someone who may be lonely- Here is the address of a local retirement community, they are feeling very isolated, brighten their day.

Covenant Living of Geneva

27 N Bennett

Geneva, IL 60134

Friday-Help around the house, make breakfast, lunch or dinner-say thank you to mom and dad or in honor of May Day--make flowers or pick flowers and leave on the front step for a neighbor.

Give a May Day flower basket.

Share the joy of springtime by making flower baskets and secretly delivering them to family, friends and neighbours. This old May Day tradition is a wonderful way to teach children about the importance of kindness and generosity.

• Place a small bouquet of flowers in a mason jar, recycled aluminum can or paper cones.
• Make a simple May Day flower basket.

Email: michelle.woodring@d303.org
Website: Lincoln.d303.org
Location: 211 South 6th Ave, St. Charles
Phone: 331-228-2501
Facebook: facebook.com/LincolnElementary
Twitter: @Lincolnd303

As we pass the middle of April and hopefully seeing the last of the snow we will celebrate Earth Day next Wednesday, April 22. In celebration of this next week we thought it would be a great idea to celebrate with another virtual spirit week. We would like to continue the tradition by encouraging your family to participate in some of the activities below.

Virtual Recess--In an effort to maintain connections and have kids informally socialize I am scheduling virtual recess. We did our first round this week, kids go to https://meet.google.com/ and then join the meeting inputting the code below. They cannot join ahead of time, I have to open the meeting.

We will share and play a game or do a read aloud during the 20-30 minutes.

Monday - 1H VR-9:30-9:50 (1st Grade Virtual recess)

ADK VR 10:15 code ADKVR

HDKVR- 11:00-Half-day kindergarten virtual recess

Tuesday - 2KVR - 9:40-10 is the code for second-grade virtual recess

Wednesday-3VR-11:30-Third Grade virtual recess

Friday- 4YVR -11:15 4th Grade virtual recess

5VR 12:00-5th-grade virtual recess

Next week I would like to call it Random Acts of Kindness week-throughout the week during my morning announcement I will encourage our students to do something kind for others. This may range from kindness wishes, chalk your walk, baking for others. Acts of kindness often boost your own mood and help you feel a sense of accomplishment and connection.

I wanted to share a few new resources that may be interesting for you during our Remote Learning time. Be sure to check out LoveIsLouder. Here you will find resources that promote staying calm, staying active, and staying connected.

Even during this time away, our PTO has been busy working to plan and support our students and staff.

Thank you to Mrs. Fick for all of her hard work, the PTO recognized her with a yard sign for administrative assistant day last Wed.

Executive function and self-regulation skills are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. (The President and Fellows of Harvard College, 2020). This week's SEL lesson includes strategies supportive of successfully completing assignments or tasks. One such strategy is Ready-Do-Done, a process children and adults can use to plan through the completion of tasks that may appear overwhelming. This weeks competency is:

• Responsible decision-making: The ability to make constructive and respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, social norms, the realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and the well-being of self and others.

We are asking students to identify and use strategies to manage emotions. Video clips and text is embedded to foster conversation. The challenges and uncertainty facing families and children are impactful on overall mental health and well being. We are hopeful the resources shared will be a support to parents/guardians and children. If you have any questions on the information provided or are seeking additional support for yourself or child, please contact Patti Palagi, Director Instructional Interventions (patti.palagi@d303.org or 331-228-6457).

Returning Student Registration for 2020-2021 has moved to an online format that will open on April 27. In years past, parents completed the necessary paperwork in paper format. This year, all acknowledgments and authorizations are contained in a single electronic, online registration form that will be easily accessible from most electronic devices (computer, Chromebook, and Smartphones).

Beginning April 27, parents can sign into the Returning Student Online Registration form using their Home Access Center (HAC) credentials, select individual students, and complete their registration. The form will be located in the Parents/Community menu of the District website.

Registration fees for elementary and middle school will be available in Pushcoin beginning April 27, and billed to reflect the early bird discount of $10.00 if paid by May 22. High School fees will be available in June. For families who may qualify for a fee waiver, and are not directly certified by the state, a 2020-2021 district fee waiver application will be available on the District 303 website in July, accessible from the Parent/Community menu.

Wanted: Incoming Kindergarten Students for 2020-2021!

Do you have a child or know someone in your neighborhood with a child who will be 5 years of age ON or BEFORE September 1, 2020? We are already planning for next year's kindergarten.

Kindergarten registration has begun! Listed below is a link to D303’s registration page which includes all of the paperwork needed for registration. Feel free to print these forms off ahead of time and bring them in with you when you register your student as it will help your registration process go more smoothly.

https://district.d303.org/registration

PLEASE NOTE: The District has updated many of its forms including a requirement for additional paperwork to document proof of residency. This is noted on the Verification of Residency and Enrollment form which explains what kind of documentation is needed to be brought in for registration. Also be sure to bring an original birth certificate during this process.

Please spread the word to your neighbors and friends!

As we approach spring, the Lincoln staff has already begun planning for your child’s transition to the next grade level. I am attaching a letter to you below.

We want students to learn every day! Monday through Thursday our teachers will be providing lessons. Friday is a day to continue learning by completing lessons, catching-up on past or missing work, or doing enrichment lessons.

Please visit the website D303 Optional Remote Learning For Students to access enrichment lessons. In addition to the weekly SEL activity, the website houses a variety of optional learning experiences in the areas of math, digital citizenship, English Language Arts, college and career, and STEM. We encourage you to ask your child to engage in the SEL lessons before exploring the other choice options. Although these optional learning experiences were designed for use on Fridays, students are welcome to engage in the learning experiences on the website anytime.

Right now, the deadline is set to 4/30. Parents can still create custom pages anytime before then--please see attached pdf for ordering and customized pages. If you have questions please email monica pallares at

mludeks@yahoo.com

Checking in with Students and Parents

Student Survey on Remote Learning and SEL:

D303 would like each 4th and 5th-grade student to participate in a student survey on the topics of remote learning and social-emotional learning (SEL). Students in 6th to 12th grade are taking a similar, but a different survey.

D303 is partnering with Northern Illinois University to gain insights from students (grade 4 and up) related to remote learning. The first part is a jointly created survey on how remote learning is going in general. The second part contains established questions designed to help the District understand the overall social-emotional well-being of students during remote learning.

The survey will close at the end of the day on May 2, 2020.

Please have your child click the link below to fill out the survey. Use the language toggle on the upper right side of the screen to switch between English and Spanish.

Students in 4th and 5th grade click here to fill out a Student Survey on Remote Learning and SEL

All aspects of student information will remain confidential. If you would like additional information on the survey, please contact David Chiszar, Executive Director Assessment & Accountability (david.chiszar@d303.org), or Patti Palagi, Director of Instructional Interventions (patti.palagi@d303.org). The survey will capture student insights connected to remote learning, social-emotional well being, and coping strategies/supports accessed during this unique time. NIU has established a partnership with D303 through their federal Project Prevent and Address Bullying grant. We are excited to gain additional insights into students' perceptions of remote learning in order to assist us in directing our academic and social-emotional programming.

Parent Feedback on Remote Learning

Along with the student survey we are asking parents a similar set of companion questions on the topic of remote learning. This information, along with student and staff feedback, will be used to help D303 understand, plan, and adjust.

Parents please click here to fill out a Survey for Parents on Remote Learning

District 303 is providing meals for any student who needs it. The district is expanding the distribution, please see the attached information for the various locations and times for food distribution.

We have also heard from the USDA that there are SNAP scams happening. We are attaching a press release from them with a warning.