Lincoln Log

Dear Abraham Lincoln Families,

As we settle into our school routines, I’d like to share a few friendly reminders to help keep our mornings running smoothly and safely:

• Drop-off runs from 8:40–8:50 AM.

• If you need to get out of your car during drop-off, please park on the opposite side of Forest Avenue. This helps keep traffic flowing and ensures a safe, efficient drop-off line for all families.

• Breakfast service ends at 9:00 AM. If your child needs breakfast, please make sure they arrive before 9:00 so they have time to eat before starting their day.

Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in making our mornings safe and successful!

~ 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.

Last Friday, we were thrilled to welcome Jessica Libby, joined by her husband Officer Libby and Jesi from the Bangor Police Department, to read her book K-9 Jesi: Jesi's First Day of School to our Pre-K and Kindergarten students. This is Jessica’s first published book, and the children loved meeting the author and learning about Jesi’s adventures.

We look forward to inviting Jessica and Jesi the dog back to our school in the spring when her next book is released!

*Dec. 19 - Whole School PBIS Reward

*Dec. 24-Jan. 2 - Winter Break

December is Universal Human Rights Month—a time to help children learn that every person deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. Young learners naturally understand concepts like kindness and inclusion, and families can support these ideas at home in simple, meaningful ways. Here are some updated activities to try this month:

• Create a “Kindness Countdown.” Choose a simple act of kindness to do each day—holding the door for someone, helping a sibling, or giving a compliment. Children love checking off each day!

• Explore how people communicate around the world. Teach your child how to say “hello” or “thank you” in a new language. Celebrate the beautiful ways people connect across cultures.

• Make a “Fairness Pledge.” As a family, come up with three ways everyone can practice fairness at home—sharing, taking turns, or being patient. Hang it on the fridge as a reminder.

• Highlight real-life helpers. Talk about community helpers who work to make life better for others—nurses, firefighters, teachers, or volunteers. Ask your child, “How can we be helpers, too?”

• Create an inclusion collage. Cut out pictures from magazines or draw images that show people of different backgrounds, abilities, and cultures. Celebrate how diversity makes our world stronger.

• Practice “peaceful problem-solving.” When small conflicts happen, guide children through taking a deep breath, naming the problem, and working together on a solution. This helps build empathy and respect.

• Listen to music from different cultures. Play songs from around the world during dinner or playtime. Talk about how music brings people together.

• Celebrate your family story. Share photos or memories from your family’s history. Talk about what makes your family unique and how everyone’s story deserves to be honored.

By exploring kindness, fairness, and respect in everyday ways, families help children build the foundation for understanding human rights and appreciating the value of every person.

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, our focus is on being caring community members. As we move through December, students are learning what it means to show kindness, take responsibility, and look out for one another—both inside and outside the classroom.

Across the school, you may see students:

• offering help to a classmate,

• showing perseverance during challenging tasks,

• practicing positive problem-solving, and

• celebrating each other’s successes.

These small but powerful actions show what it truly means to be part of our Abe community. Thank you for reinforcing these values at home and helping our students grow into thoughtful, empathetic learners. Together, we keep kindness at the heart of all we do.

Early Release dismissal is at 12:00 PM.