Lincoln Log

Dear Abraham Lincoln Families,

We had an amazing extra recess this week thanks to our students’ awesome behavior—remember the snowflakes and jar I told you about?

Students in all grades also enjoyed a special visit from Officer Mendoza and Sam the Ram! As a result of their positive choices, students earned three golden snowflakes, which led to some exciting rewards:

• A schoolwide pajama day

• Bubbles and music during extra recess

• Candy canes as a special treat

Our PBIS team is already hard at work planning the next special reward for positive behavior—stay tuned!

On Tuesday, December 23, we will be raffling off five Abraham Lincoln winter hats. Students must be present to win.

Finally, I want to wish you all a restful and joyful winter break. I hope everyone has time to play outside, read books, and enjoy family time. I look forward to seeing you all in the new year!

~ Mrs. Ireland

Cafeteria behavior that demonstrates our RAMS expectations:

Ready to Learn:
Use walking feet, eat your own food, and ask permission before leaving your group.

Ambitious:
Keep your food, body, and belongings in your own space; use kind manners; and maintain a voice level between 0–2.

Mindful & Safe:
Raise your hand if you need help and clean up after yourself.

Please take a moment to talk with your child about their understanding of our cafeteria expectations.

At Abraham Lincoln, we take attendance seriously because consistent school attendance is directly linked to student success. We track attendance weekly and will begin sharing our monthly progress with students and staff through a visual display in the school. I will also include these updates in each newsletter so families can stay informed.

Here is our Average Daily Attendance (ADA) so far this year:

• September: 95%

• October: 92%

• November: 95%

Our goal is to maintain 95% or higher each month, and we are excited to work together to reach it!

You can help support strong attendance by scheduling appointments outside the school day whenever possible and planning family vacations during scheduled school vacation weeks. Every day of learning matters, and we appreciate your partnership in helping our students be present, engaged, and ready to learn.

We are looking for a volunteer to come in once a week for about an hour to help shelve books in our Book Room. If you are interested, please contact Meghan Schall at mschall@bangorschools.net.

On Tuesday, December 23 the Bangor School Department community is encouraged to wear red and white to celebrate Bangor Day!

*Dec. 24-Jan. 2 - Winter Break

December is a wonderful time to help children reflect on how their actions impact others and how small choices can make a big difference. Families can reinforce these values at home through simple, engaging activities.

Try these updated activities:

• Kindness Bingo: Create a bingo board with kind actions such as inviting someone to play, cleaning up without being asked, or saying thank you. Celebrate when your child completes a row.

• Gratitude Notes: Encourage children to draw or write short notes thanking someone who helps them—bus drivers, cafeteria staff, teachers, or family members.

• Turn-Taking Games: Play board or card games that require patience and cooperation. Talk about how taking turns and following rules helps everyone enjoy the game.

• Community Kindness Walk: Take a walk and look for ways people help each other—holding doors, shoveling snow, or caring for pets. Talk about why these actions matter.

• Feelings Check-In: At dinner or bedtime, ask, “What made you feel happy today?” or “What was tricky today?” This helps children build empathy and emotional awareness.

• Helping at Home Chart: Let children choose one helpful job each day—setting the table, feeding a pet, or tidying toys—and celebrate their contributions.

The Bangor School Department is partnering with Smart Social, an excellent resource that helps families navigate the digital world safely and confidently. Smart Social offers free tools, videos, and tips to help parents guide children in making positive choices online and using social media responsibly.

We encourage all families to explore these resources and start conversations at home about digital safety and balance. Check it out here: Smart Social

We’re excited to share Beyond the Bell, a new podcast that takes listeners inside the heart of our schools! Each episode dives into the inspiring stories, innovative practices, and everyday moments that make our school community so special. You’ll hear from teachers, staff, community members, and experts who bring unique perspectives on education today — from school psychologists and coaches to educational leaders.

Tune in and explore what’s happening beyond the bell!
🎧 Listen here: Beyond the Bell Podcast

This month, we are focusing on being caring and respectful members of our school community. Throughout December, students are practicing kindness, responsibility, and looking out for one another—both in the classroom and beyond.

Across the school, students are:

• Helping classmates

• Sticking with challenging tasks

• Using positive problem-solving strategies

• Celebrating one another’s successes

These everyday actions reflect what it means to be part of the Abe community. Thank you for supporting these values at home and partnering with us to help students grow into caring, empathetic learners. Together, we keep kindness at the heart of Abe.

Early Release dismissal is at 12:00 PM.