Lincoln Log

Dear Abraham Lincoln Families,

March’s weather has certainly been all over the place this week! As temperatures and conditions change throughout the day, please be sure your child comes to school dressed for the weather. We do our best to get students outside as much as possible, so warm layers and boots are still needed—whether for snow or the inevitable mud of early spring.

Our PTO has many wonderful events and activities planned for students, families, and staff this spring. Please keep an eye on group emails and this newsletter for upcoming events and opportunities to get involved or lend a helping hand. Your support helps make these experiences possible for our school community!

~ Mrs. Ireland

We are happy to share that on Saturday, March 7, the Abraham Lincoln Chess Club earned second place at the Maine Scholastic Team Chess Championships held at the University of Maine. There were approximately 13 teams competing in the K–3 division.

All of our students played very well, had a lot of fun, and demonstrated excellent sportsmanship throughout the tournament. We couldn’t have asked for more—the smiles on their faces showed just how proud they were of their accomplishment!

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%

• December: 95%

• January: 94%

• February: 91%

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.

*March 25 - School Committee Meeting

Here are some activities you can do together as a family to celebrate National Nutrition Month and encourage healthy habits at home:

Rainbow Plate Challenge: Encourage families to build a “rainbow plate” at dinner by including fruits and vegetables of different colors. Children can count how many colors they eat during the week.

Healthy Snack Builder: Have children help make a healthy snack at home—such as apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with fruit, or veggie sticks with dip. Kids can share their favorite snack ideas with their class.

Grocery Store Helpers: When shopping, let your child help pick out one new fruit or vegetable to try that week. Talk about its color, where it grows, and how it tastes.

Family Water Challenge: See if your family can choose water instead of sugary drinks for a day (or a whole week!). Kids can decorate their own reusable water bottle to make it fun.

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

As we move through March, it is great to see students continuing to grow both academically and socially. Classrooms are busy with learning, collaboration, and many opportunities for students to practice kindness, responsibility, and perseverance each day.

Thank you for your continued support in helping make our school a positive place for all students to learn and thrive.

Early Release dismissal is at 12:00 PM.