Lincoln Log - Welcome Back!

Dear Abraham Lincoln Families,

WELCOME to all our new and returning students and families! As I begin my first year as Principal of Abraham Lincoln School, I am so excited to join this wonderful community and start the year with you. Our staff has been busy preparing for a year filled with learning, growth, and joy, and I look forward to getting to know each of you as we kick off this new school year together. See you soon!

~ Mrs. Ireland 🙂

Abraham Lincoln School’s Open House is scheduled for Thursday, August 28 from 4:30–5:30 pm. Come meet your child(ren)’s teacher and see their classroom! Please be sure to let your child(ren)’s teacher know how they will be getting home from school that first day, during the first week, and what their regular schedule will be if it is different.

Don’t forget to stop by the cafeteria to complete some important paperwork, and—if your child will be riding the bus—check in with us in the office to confirm their bus route.

We can’t wait to see you all!

We are excited to share that the Bangor School Department has been awarded a grant to support Kindergarten students and their families. This year, Abraham Lincoln School will be hosting a Kindergarten Kickoff evening on Monday, August 25th from 4:00-5:00 pm!

Kindergarten families are invited to come meet the Kindergarten teachers, some of our staff, and the principal, while exploring the classrooms, playground, cafeteria, and gym. This special event is designed to give our youngest learners and their families a calmer, more relaxed opportunity to get to know the school.

We can’t wait to welcome our new Kindergarten families to Abraham Lincoln!

Our teachers and staff have been working hard to get ready for the 2025–2026 school year, and we hope your child is just as excited as we are! To help make the year (and your mornings!) start smoothly, here are a few helpful tips:

✨ Start the routine early. Begin easing back into an earlier bedtime and morning schedule the week before school starts—getting up early is tough for everyone! ⏰

✨ Arrival time. Students may arrive between 8:40–8:50 a.m. each morning. If you plan to park and walk your child to the gate, please park on the opposite side of Forest Avenue or Somerset Avenue. Traffic will be busy, so please drive slowly and bring patience along.

🚗 Families who drop off in front of the school should remain in the car-rider line. A staff member will help your child unload and walk into the gate independently while you stay in the driver’s seat. We unload two cars at a time to keep the line moving. Please don’t leave your car unattended in this line—your cooperation helps the process go smoothly for everyone!

✨ First week of drop-off. Parents may walk their child through the gates and help them find their teacher outside on the playground during the first couple of days. By the end of the first week, we ask parents to drop students at the gates so staff can better supervise children on the playground. All staff will be outside helping students find their teacher and classroom, and bus riders will also be guided safely to their teachers. If you need help, please don’t hesitate to ask any staff member.

✨ Rainy days. If weather prevents students from playing on the playground before school, all students will enter through the front doors into the lobby, and staff will accompany them to their classrooms.

✨ Backpack ready to go. Encourage your child to pack their backpack the night before. It’s a great way to build responsibility and helps mornings feel less rushed. 🎒

✨ Choose a full-size backpack. This gives your child plenty of room for their classroom folder (they’ll receive one on the first day), a snack, water bottle, and that coat or sweatshirt they wore in the chilly morning but don’t want to wear home once the sun is out. 😂🌞

✨ Snack & water daily. Please send your child with a healthy snack and a water bottle every day. Water only in bottles, please—other drinks aren’t allowed in the classroom. 🥤🍎

✨ Need supplies? If your child needs a backpack or water bottle, let us know—we have some available for students.

✨ Getting home safely. Make sure your child’s teacher knows how they are getting home each day. If there’s ever a change, please send a note in the morning or call the office before 2:00 pm. If we don’t hear from you, we’ll send your child home their usual way. 🚌🚗🚲

We can’t wait to see our Abraham Lincoln students and families soon—here’s to a wonderful school year together! 💙

🕘 School Start Time
The school day begins at 9:00 a.m. Students may arrive between 8:40–8:55 a.m. During this time, there will be a short morning recess and breakfast option.

🚪 Arrival & Drop-Off
For safety, parents should say goodbyes at the gate—we are not able to allow parents on the playground during arrival. Please do not arrive before 8:40 a.m., as there is no supervision prior to the bell.

🥞 Breakfast
Breakfast will once again be free for all students this year. It will be served in the cafeteria from 8:40–8:55 a.m. If your child arrives during this time and would like breakfast, they should eat first before heading to the playground. A bagged breakfast will be available for any late arrivals.

🔚 Dismissal

It is important that you have communicated with your child's teacher and/or the school office how your child will be going home after school prior to the first day of school. It is best to begin your child's regular dismissal routine on the first day rather than a special plan for that day. This will help ease anxiety for your child about the after school plan. If your child's plan will change at any point during the school year, please notify the school office by 2:00 p.m. that day to ensure we are able to communicate with your child's teacher. The best modes of communication are a note to your child's teacher sent in their school folder that morning, a call to the school office, or an email to the school office: abelincolnoffice@bangorschools.net.

⚽ Playground & Equipment
To keep everyone safe, items such as bats, skateboards, sleds, hockey sticks, and similar sporting equipment are not allowed at school unless they are part of a teacher’s lesson.

🚶 Entering the Building

Students are expected to enter the school building each morning in a quiet and orderly manner.

🎉 Birthday Invitations
Birthday invitations may only be distributed at school if all children in the classroom are invited. Please note that family privacy laws prevent us from sharing home addresses without parental permission.

📵 Electronics & Toys
Items such as iPods, smart watches, electronic devices, toys, radios, cell phones, or pagers may not be used at school unless specifically requested by a teacher for a project. For more details, see Bangor School Department Policy JICJ: Student Use of Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices.

• August 25 - Kindergarten Kickoff 4:00-5:00 (incoming Kindergarten students only)
• August 28 - Open House 4:30-5:30
• September 2 - First Day of School - All Students
• September 10 - PTO Meeting 5:15
• September 17 - Early Release
• September 19 - School Pictures

Showing up on time every day is important to your child's success and learning beginning in Pre K. Building the habit of good attendance will help your child succeed in school. Some back to school routines to get a start on now include:

• setting a regular bedtime, typically 7-8 p.m. at this age,
• establishing a morning routine,
• a healthy meal routine,
• making lunches and laying out clothing and packing backpacks the night before and
• finalizing transportation and back-up transportation plans to and from school.

In looking ahead, try to schedule non-urgent medical appointments and extended trips when school is not in session. Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school- and themselves. Start building this habit now so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Eventually good attendance will be a skill that will help them succeed in high school and beyond. If your child does need to miss school due to illness, please email or call the school office to notify us by 9:00 a.m. We must account for every student every day. If you're unsure whether to send your child to school due to symptoms, our school nurse can assist you.