Lincoln Weekly News

Lincoln Early Learning Center houses the preschool programs for three school districts: Fremont District 79, Hawthorn District 73, and Mundelein District 75.

⬅️ Check out the Table of Contents on the left for the latest news from your district.

Please note that you will need to open the newsletter from your browser in order to see the table of contents.

Dear Lincoln Early Learning Center Families,

It has been another wonderful week of learning in our preschool classrooms! Our students continue to grow through play, exploration, and time spent together with their classmates. We were also glad to enjoy some warmer weather and get outside earlier this week. Outdoor play gives our students a chance to move, explore, and connect with friends, and it’s always a highlight of their day.

Thank You, Fremont Families
Thank you to our Fremont families who attended conferences yesterday. We appreciate the opportunity to connect with you and talk about your child’s growth and progress. We look forward to seeing more families at our additional night next Thursday.

Attendance Reminder
Regular attendance is important, even in preschool. Each day includes meaningful, hands-on learning experiences that build academic and social-emotional skills. Thank you for helping your child attend school consistently when they are healthy and able.

5Essentials Survey Reminder
If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete the 5Essentials Survey. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and helps guide decisions that support our students, staff, and school community. We truly appreciate your input.

No School – Friday, March 13th
Please remember that there will be no school next Friday, March 13th.

School Social Worker Appreciation Week
This week we recognize and celebrate our amazing school social workers. They play an important role in supporting our students, families, and staff each day. We are so grateful for the care, guidance, and support they provide to our school community.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to another great week of learning together!

Warm regards,

Katie O’Brien
Principal, Lincoln Early Learning Center

kobrien@fsd79.org

Kim Stergios
Building Assistant Supervisor, Lincoln Early Learning Center

stergiosk@hawthorn73.org

Absences

If your child will be absent from school because of illness, doctors’ appointments or vacation, please contact us at Lincoln at 847-949-2720. Please notify the school office by 9:30 a.m. the day of the absence to leave a recorded message regarding your child's absence. Keeping track of all the students on a daily basis is a huge task and we greatly appreciate your prompt attention.

Medical Forms

Annual Physical Examinations are required within the first 30 days of entering preschool. All forms can be emailed, faxed, or brought in with your student. If we do not receive your child’s physical, your child will be excluded from school and cannot return to school until submitted. Per IL State Law we must have a child’s physical by October 15 or within 30 days of starting preschool.

Illness and Injuries

Please remember that any child with a fever should stay home until they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication, for at least 24 hours.

Students should also remain home if they are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea. Students may NOT return to school for at least 24 hours after the last episode.

The health office must have current telephone numbers for parents and designated emergency contact persons. Please select your emergency contacts carefully. This person should be familiar with your child, your family routine, and be available to transport your child home if necessary.

Please pre-plan for a telephone call from the health office. If your child becomes ill at school, you are responsible for picking up your child within 30 minutes of the call.

Medications

All medications, feeding, and treatment supplies are to be supplied by the parent per school policy.

Doctor’s orders for medications, feedings, and treatments are required at the beginning of each school year. The school nurse will not accept or administer any medications (including over the counter medications) or perform nursing services or treatments without a doctor’s order.

Any questions related to the above health office guidelines should be directed to the health office staff.

Lincoln Health Office

Holly Palo

847.949.2720 ext.1503

Change in Dismissal

Please contact América Lanuza (lanuzaa@hawthorn73.org) or Danielle Garcia (dgarcia@d75.org) at the Lincoln Front Office(847-949-2720) if there are any end of day changes throughout the school year. Teachers may not always be able to pick up their phone or check email throughout the day, so it would be best to call the front office with any changes. América and Danielle will relay any changes to the classroom teacher after you contact them. Please contact the main office by 10:00 a.m for the morning session and 2:00 pm for the afternoon session for any changes in regards to a child's dismissal procedures.

As a reminder, if your student is in our Tri-District classroom, they will follow the arrival and dismissal times below:

• AM: 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• PM: 12:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m

Please review the Hawthorn School District 73 section for information about important dates. Please review your home district section for any other information.

Join Us! Parent Book Club & Soup with the Supt. - March 11

We’re less than a week away from our Parent Book Club event coming up next Wednesday, March 11. This year's book is Permission to Feel by Mark Brackett. Join your fellow parents as we highlight the RULER framework that we’re establishing in our schools.

Please note: It is not required for attendees to read the book to attend on March 11.

Also, join us beforehand starting at 5:45 as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Trisha Kocanda hosts a Soup with the Supt. session. Enjoy some complimentary soup while learning about what’s going on in and around the District.

Last Week to Participate in the 5Essentials Survey!

Fremont School District 79 greatly values your feedback as it relates to your student’s educational experience. Once again, the State of Illinois has partnered with 5Essentials to create a forum by which you can provide your input.

If you have not already done so, we would greatly appreciate it if you would take the brief survey by visiting:

http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

Your responses are vital for continuous improvement and long-range planning for your child's school. Parents are welcome to answer the survey for each of their children’s schools.

The deadline to complete the survey is next Friday, March 13.

Report an Absence

If your child will be absent from school because of illness, doctor's appointments, or for any other reason, please report it to the school office by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence by completing the form linked below. While the online form is preferred, you may also call in the absence to the front office at 847-949-2720.

March 12 - Additional Parent/Teacher Night 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

March 13 - No School - Preschool Screening

March 23-27 - No School Spring Break

Don't let your voice go unheard! Take the 5Essentials Parent Survey today! Currently, 0% of our parents have completed the 5Essentials survey. We are in the final push and need every parent's input. The survey closes March 13, 2026. Please take just a few minutes TODAY to complete the parent survey at: https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/

Need more information?

Learn more about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey and past results: https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois

Your prompt participation is essential. We are counting on you to help us create a better learning environment for all our students.

Give a Shoutout to Your Favorite Teacher! We’re launching a new Hawthorn Shoutouts campaign to celebrate our incredible educators — and we want your help! Families are invited to submit a short video of their child thanking their teacher or staff member and sharing something special about them.

Selected videos may be featured on our district social media channels and in future newsletters.

March 13 - No School - Preschool Screening

March 23 - 27 - No School - Spring Break

PTO Updates

BOX TOPS:

We're getting closer to reaching our Box Tops goal of $1,000.00!

If you haven't yet, you can still download the Box Tops for Education App and start earning for our schools today!

How to Start Earning:

1. Go to your app store and download the Box Tops for Education App
2. Look for District 75 PTO Mundelein (enter code PNKN0SEQ) for bonus earnings
3. Scan a receipt that includes any Box Top eligible item.
4. Have family and friends near and far join.

Don't forget to opt-in for our monthly bonus opportunities! Watch the Box Tops (and $$) quickly add up for our schools as you scan.

March Madness

Is your March basketball bracket already falling apart?

Perfect. You’ll have better odds here.

This isn’t the basketball tournament — it’s our month-long PTO raffle fundraiser supporting Mundelein District 75 students!

Throughout the month of March, we raffle off AMAZING prizes — including electronics, gift cards, family fun adventures, party packages, themed baskets, and more — all while raising funds to support our D75 schools!

Purchase tickets here, now through the end of March:
1 for $10
3 for $25
10 for $100

We go LIVE on Facebook multiple times a week to draw winners, so be sure to follow the PTO page and tune in!

Tickets purchased by 10PM the night before a drawing are entered into the upcoming drawing.

The best part?
Your ticket stays in all month unless it wins — so even if your team gets knocked out… you’re STILL in the game here.

More tickets = more chances to win.
No sports knowledge required.

For information about our sponsors or sponsorship opportunities, visit: Mundelein 75 PTO – March Madness

March 13 - No School - Preschool Screening

March 23 - 27 - No School - Spring Break