August 2026 Family Newsletter

Mission, Vision and Values

Our BPS Mission: "Empower every learner to thrive."

Our BPS Vision: "Together, our strong relationships build inclusive, collaborative, and innovative environments that create agency and inspire a passion for learning, excellence, and discovery."

The excitement at Lincoln is electric! We have officially completed our first eight days of the school year, and what an incredible start it has been.

Our first day was filled with special moments that set the tone for a fantastic year ahead. We were honored to have University of Mary football players welcoming students as they arrived, creating smiles and excitement right from the start. We also extend our sincere gratitude to the AMVETS Post 9 Honor Guard for their outstanding flag-raising ceremony, which provided a meaningful and patriotic beginning to our school year.

Our students have already impressed us with the positive choices they are making every day. They have jumped right into demonstrating our Lincoln expectations and are earning BOLTS at an amazing pace. It is wonderful to see our students showing kindness, responsibility, leadership, and a commitment to learning.

Another highlight of the school year kickoff was our PTO's incredible Back-to-School Bash. The event was a tremendous success and a wonderful opportunity for families to connect and celebrate the start of the year together. If you attended, you know just how special the evening was. If you were unable to make it this year, you'll definitely want to mark your calendar for next year!

As I reflect on these first few days, I cannot help but feel tremendous optimism about the year ahead. The energy, enthusiasm, and support from our students, staff, families, and community have been truly inspiring. Together, we are building something special, and I firmly believe this will be our BEST year yet serving the Lincoln community.

This year also marks the beginning of my fifth year as principal of Lincoln Elementary. It continues to be an honor and a privilege to work alongside such dedicated students, families, staff members, and community partners. Thank you for your trust, support, and partnership as we begin another exciting year together.

Here's to a fantastic September and an unforgettable school year!

With gratitude,

Missy Hurt

The first few weeks of school are always an exciting time, and I have thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the energy and enthusiasm that make Lincoln Elementary such a special place. As a new assistant principal, I am grateful for the warm welcome I've received from students, staff, and families. It has been wonderful to see our students working hard to learn routines, practice procedures, and settle into a successful school year. Thank you, families, for your support and partnership as your children adjust and get into the rhythm of their new school routines.

This month, our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) focus is all about responsibility. Students will be learning that responsibility means taking ownership of their choices, actions, and learning.

Throughout September, we will explore four important aspects of responsibility:

• Organization (Week 1): Being responsible means keeping track of materials, belongings, and time. At home, you can support this skill by helping your child establish routines for backpacks, shoes, or homework and by encouraging them to keep their personal spaces organized.

• Effort (Week 2): Responsibility means giving your best effort, even when tasks are challenging. Encourage your child to persevere when things don't come easily and celebrate growth and progress along the way.

• Initiative (Week 3): Taking initiative means being a self-starter and helping without being asked. At home, encourage your child to look for ways to contribute, such as helping with chores, caring for a pet, or assisting family members.

• Curiosity (Week 4): Responsible learners stay curious and engaged. Encourage your child to ask questions, explore new interests, and discover topics that spark their imagination. Curiosity helps students take ownership of their learning.

We're also excited to kick off our first all-school celebration assembly this month. Be sure to follow the Lincoln Facebook page to celebrate our first BOLT recipients and recognize our monthly classroom trophy winners:

• Hallway Heroes – Classrooms that consistently demonstrate outstanding hallway behavior and follow Lincoln expectations.
• Specials Superstars – Classrooms recognized by PE, Music, Library Media Services, Counseling, and Library staff for exceeding expectations during specials.
• Recess Rockstars – Classrooms that demonstrate safe, respectful, and responsible behavior at recess, especially during lineup time.

As we move through September, we encourage all students to practice responsibility each day at school, at home, and within our community. Working together, we can help our students develop habits that will support their success throughout the year and beyond.

I am excited for the opportunities ahead and look forward to getting to know our Lincoln families better throughout the year. Thank you for being such an important part of our Lincoln community!

At the beginning of the school year, we focus on helping students build strong classroom communities and embrace our Lincoln Beliefs: being Respectful, Responsible, Safe, and Kind. These core values guide our interactions and help create a positive, inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

Throughout the year, we use Second Step, our social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum, to support students in developing essential life skills. SEL is the process through which students acquire and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills needed to:

• Understand and manage emotions
• Set and achieve positive goals
• Feel and show empathy for others
• Establish and maintain positive relationships
• Make responsible decisions

These skills are foundational not only for academic success but also for lifelong well-being.

💙How Families Can Support SEL at Home

Your partnership is key in reinforcing these skills beyond the classroom. Here are a few simple ways you can support SEL at home:

• Model the Lincoln Beliefs: Use language like “That was really kind” or “You were very responsible today” to reinforce positive behavior.
• Talk about feelings: Encourage your child to name and express their emotions. Ask questions like, “How did that make you feel?” or “What could you do next time?”
• Practice problem-solving: When challenges arise, guide your child through thinking about solutions and consequences.
• Celebrate effort and growth: Acknowledge when your child shows empathy, makes a good decision, or handles a tough situation well.

Together, we can help our students grow into confident, compassionate individuals. Thank you for your continued support in making Lincoln a place where every child feels seen, valued, and empowered.

At Lincoln Elementary, we are committed to creating a safe, positive, and supportive learning environment where every student can succeed. To help families better understand our behavior expectations, behavior system, and the ways we recognize positive choices, we are sharing a short video that explains our behavior framework.

This video provides an overview of the expectations students learn and practice each day, how students earn SPARKS, BOLTS and LIGHTNING BUCKS for demonstrating our school values, and the systems we use to encourage positive behavior throughout the building.

Families play an important role in reinforcing these expectations. By discussing the video with your child and encouraging behaviors such as responsibility, respect, kindness, and safety at home, you help strengthen the connection between school and family expectations.

We invite you to take a few moments to watch the video together and use it as a conversation starter about what it means to be a positive member of the Lincoln community. Thank you for partnering with us to support our students' success!

Watch the video here: Lincoln Elementary Behavior Expectations Family Video

Keeping Our Lincoln Lightning SAFE at Dismissal

In an effort to keep all of our students safe and ensure a smooth end to each school day, we want to remind families of our dismissal procedures. Please take note of the following:

🚪 Dismissal Details

• Dismissal time is 2:30 PM.
• Kindergarten students will exit through Door 3.
• 1st Grade students will exit through their classroom exterior doors and Door 21.
• 2nd–5th Grade students who are picked up, walking, or biking will exit through Door 1. If meeting at a designated spot, students will use sidewalks to reach you safely.
• Bus riders will be escorted to the gym, where they’ll be marshalled and guided to their buses. Supervisors will check them off as they board.
• CREA students will be escorted to the cafeteria and greeted by CREA staff.

📞 Communication Is Key

Please make sure your child’s teacher knows their regular end-of-day plan. If there’s a change in how your child is getting home, contact both the office and they will send the message to the teacher.

To help us manage these changes efficiently, we kindly ask that you make these calls before 1:30 PM. The end of the day gets very busy, and we want to ensure every message is delivered accurately.

🚫 Important Reminders

• Do NOT park in the bus loading zone on the east side of the building.
• Students are NOT allowed to play on the playground after school without adult supervision. Please remind them to head directly to their destination.
• Bike riders are asked to walk their bikes from the bike racks (while they are on the sidewalks adjacent to the drop off/pickup loop) until they reach the sidewalks adjacent to the streets.

🏡 How Families Can Support Dismissal Routines at Home

Your support helps reinforce safe and smooth transitions. Here are a few ways you can help:

• Review the plan together: Talk with your child each morning about how they’ll be getting home that day.
• Practice routines: If your child walks or bikes, practice the route together and discuss safe behaviors.
• Be on time: Arriving promptly for pickup helps reduce confusion and keeps dismissal running smoothly.
• Encourage responsibility: Remind your child to listen carefully to their teacher and follow directions during dismissal.

Thank you for helping us keep our Lincoln Lightning safe and supported. We appreciate your partnership in making each day end as smoothly as it begins!

Please attend this month's PTO meeting on TONIGHT...Tuesday, September 1st at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will last one hour (or less) and will take place in the Lincoln Elementary Collaboration Room. Come in door 1 and take a right. The door to the collaboration room is immediately around the corner! See you there!

September 1, 2026 Meeting Agenda

SEPTEMBER

1 - PTO Meeting (6:30 - 7:30)

7 - NO SCHOOL - Labor Day

9 - School Picture Day

14 - BHS Homecoming Denim vs. Plaid Day (Denim or plaid? You choose!)

14 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

15 - BHS Homecoming Twin Day (Find a friend and match!)

16 - BHS Homecoming Adam Sandler Day (Baggy clothes, comfy vibes. Sandler style.)

17 - BHS Homecoming Throwback Thursday (Dress like it's your favorite decade!)

18 - BHS Homecoming Demon Gear Day (Rep your maroon & white and show your Demon pride!)

18 - BHS Tailgating starts at 4:00 and game kicks off at 7:00

21 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Development Day

28 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

OCTOBER

6 - PTO Meeting (6:30 - 7:30)

10 - PTO Trunk or Treat (4:00 - 6:00)

12 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

19 - Parent Teacher Conferences (2:45 - 6:45)

20 - Parent Teacher Conferences (2:45 - 6:45)

20 - School Picture Retake Day

22 - NO SCHOOL - Administrators Convention Day

23 - NO SCHOOL - Administrators Convention Day

26 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

NOVEMBER

3 - PTO Meeting (6:30 - 7:30)

9 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

11 - NO SCHOOL - Veterans Day

13 - End of Trimester 1

23 - BPS School Board Meeting (5:15)

26 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Day

27 - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break

Email: melissa_hurt@bismarckschools.org
Website: www.bismarckschools.org/lincoln
Location: 3320 McCurry Way, Lincoln, ND, USA
Phone: 701-323-4310
Facebook: facebook.com/LincolnElementaryBismarckPublicSchools