Lincoln Elementary Newsletter
January 2026
Dear Families,
April has arrived, and with it comes the true feeling of spring at Lincoln! This is a busy and important month for our school community as we begin state assessments, cheer on our student-athletes, and enjoy the weather. Thank you for your continued partnership as we navigate the "home stretch" of the school year.
đź“ť PSSA Testing: Helping Our Students Shine
Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students will begin the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) this month. These assessments are an opportunity for our students to show what they have learned throughout the year.
Important Testing Dates:
English Language Arts (ELA): April 20 – 22, 2026
Mathematics: April 27-28, 2026
Science (5th Grade Only): April 29-30, 2026
PSSA Testing Make-Up Sessions- May 4-8
How you can help at home: Please ensure your child gets a good night's sleep and a healthy breakfast. A simple word of encouragement goes a long way in reducing testing anxiety! Please make every attempt for your child to be at school on time to begin these tests that start at 8:45 AM. Students coming in after 8:45 AM will NOT be permitted to interrupt their class that has already started the test. They will need to sit in the office and complete their test during the make-up session.
🚌 Safety & The "Warrior Way" on the Bus
We have recently seen an uptick in inappropriate behaviors on our school buses. We want to remind all students that the bus is an extension of the classroom, and the Warrior Way applies the moment they step on board:
Be Involved: Follow the driver’s directions the first time they are given.
Be Committed: Stay in your seat, keep your hands to yourself, and keep the aisles clear.
Be Kind: Use respectful language with the driver and your peers.
Safety is our top priority. Please sit down with your child this week to review these expectations so that every student has a safe and positive ride to and from school.
đź‘— Spring Dress Code Reminders
As the weather warms up, please keep our student handbook guidelines in mind to ensure a safe and focused learning environment:
Footwear: For safety purposes, flip-flops are not permitted; shoes must have backs.
Tops: Shirts, blouses, and sweaters should extend to the waistline. No spaghetti straps, tube tops, muscle shirts.
Shorts: Shorts must be an appropriate length.
Hats & Hoods: These are prohibited inside the building.
Appropriate Messaging: Clothing may not display symbols or language related to weapons, tobacco, alcohol, or anything derogatory toward any person or group.
Students found in violation of the dress code will be counseled by staff to resolve the issue. We appreciate your help in ensuring your child is dressed for a productive day of school!
đź‘ź Girls on the Run
We are so proud of our 3rd-5th Grade Girls on the Run team! They have been working hard all spring, building their confidence and endurance. Please join us in cheering them on as they prepare for their big 5K event at York College on Sunday, April 26. Their dedication is an inspiration to us all. Go Lincoln!
A Note of Gratitude
The energy of spring is wonderful, but it requires us all to stay focused on our shared goals. Whether it is supporting your child through testing or reinforcing the Warrior Way at home, your involvement is what makes our school thrive. Thank you for being such an essential part of the Lincoln team.
Together in Learning,
Dr. Schiefer
#BeHere Excuse Notes - There are options...
- Send notes to lesattendance@gasd-pa.org
- Submit notes through Skyward - Click Here for Instructions
- Turn notes into your teacher first thing in the morning
#BeHere Try to schedule appointments on days off or early dismissals. Missed class = missed learning!
#BeHere Going on a trip? Turn in your Pre-Approval Form (found HERE) at least 7 days before the missed day.
Attendance Policy Reminders:
Late Arrivals: Students arriving within 90 minutes after the official start of school will be documented as tardy. Students arriving after 90 minutes will constitute a half-day absence.
Early Departures:
An early departure in excess of 90 minutes before the close of school will constitute a half-day absence.
A student’s late arrival or early departure due to an appointment with a health care provider must be verified in writing by the health care provider.
End of Day Procedures: If you need to make a change to your child’s dismissal arrangements, please be sure to notify the office no later than 2:30 PM. Please be sure to contact the office directly with the change and not message your child’s teacher through Seesaw. If your child is a regular car rider on specific days each week, please write one note or email the office stating which days this will occur and list who will be picking him/her up. Also, If you are picking up your child, please keep them close for safety, as traffic is busy at this time. We also ask that students stay off the trees and mulch so our grounds can stay looking beautiful—thank you!
Lost and Found Reminder:
Our Lost and Found is very full! As the is getting warmer, we are seeing more jackets, sweatshirts, and water bottles being left behind or on the playground. Please remind your child to take a quick peek in the Lost and Found area if they’re missing anything. Families are also welcome to stop by before or after school to look through the items. We hope to reunite students with their belongings soon!PLEASE LABEL YOUR CHILDRENS JACKETS AND SWEATSHIRTS WITH EITHER THEIR FIRST OR LAST NAME. (Water bottles & Lunch boxes should be labeled as well)
The Ruth’s Harvest program provides your child with a bag of nutritious food and snacks for the weekend. If you elect to participate in this program, your child will pick up a bag each week at the end of the day on Thursday or Friday in the main office during dismissal. Please know that both the school and the organizations involved with this program will take every precaution to ensure that the identity of the students participating in the program will remain confidential. If you would like to take part in the program, please complete and submit the form here: Ruth’s Harvest Program.
If you choose to cancel your participation at any point, please contact our office at 717-334-6254 Option 4.
As your GASD Family Navigators, we’d love to connect with you as the school year begins to wind down. With just a couple of months left before summer, we welcome the opportunity to meet with you while we’re still in session.
To keep things simple, you can find us at the same locations (and times!) on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, open-house format. If you have time, please stop by to say hello, share ideas, or just chat—we’d love to see you before the school year ends!
đź“… Wednesday, April 1
⏰ 9:30–11:30 AM
📍 Gettysburg Dunkin’
đź“… Wednesday, April 15
⏰ 9:30–11:30 AM
đź“Ť Adams County Library (basement)
Coffee & Conversations
Thank you to everyone who has joined us for our community outreach series throughout the year—we’ve truly enjoyed the opportunity to connect with all of you. We’re excited to invite you to our final Coffee & Conversations gathering of the school year on Friday, April 24th from 10am-12pm.
Again, this relaxed monthly meetup is open to our entire community and provides a chance to come together for meaningful conversation in a relaxed setting. For this final session, we’ll be joined by our high school counselors, who will share insights on three areas of their work: academic development, career development, and student wellness.
As always, we’ll meet at the Norris-Wachob Alumni House on the Gettysburg College campus. Free parking is available in the Constitution Lot.
Stay tuned for the event flyer with more details coming soon—we look forward to connecting with you there!
*If you or someone you know needs support with food, clothing, or any other resources, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here to help.
April’s upcoming PTO Events:
- PTO sponsored school assembly “America-dabra”; followed by change wars reward - April 1
- Chalk the Walk - April 16 5-7pm
- Teacher Appreciation will take place May 4 - May 8
- Next PTO meeting April 9 7:00pm
This months Health Room Updates include the following topics:
- IMPORTANT NOTICE - 6th Grade Physical Exam Requirements
IMPORTANT NOTICE - 3rd & 5th Grade Dental Examination/Screening Requirements
Happy Spring - Clothing and Water Bottle Considerations
First Grade Health Screening Dates
