Welcome to the Lincoln School Staff Blog! This blog will be published weekly and is where you will go to read about all of the important updates that are happening at Lincoln School this year. I am beyond thrilled to begin writing this first blog.

This summer has been so rewarding for me. I have thoroughly enjoyed the time that so many of you gave to let me get to know you better this summer. I realize that summer is the time to relax, rejuvenate, and spend quality time with friends and loved ones. Please know that your time was appreciated.

Throughout the summer, most of you were still thinking about and preparing for the year ahead. We are always disappointed as summer comes to an end but we feel hope and optimism about what is yet to come. We are fortunate in our profession that each year we have a fresh start. The summer gives us time to reflect and make changes. (Very few jobs offer that opportunity.)

As we know, however, that feeling of hope and optimism can waiver as we go through the school year. My hope is that this year, as a team, we feel a little less of that. I hope that throughout the year, we build our collective efficacy as a new team. We have only one team in our building that still consists of the same team members. And, all of you have a new building leader! Those are BIG changes. That means this is a great year to build relationships with each other while we embrace our PLC process and depend on each other, as a team, to support every learner in our school.

This year we will roll up our sleeves and dive deep into our very intentional work as teams. While Lincoln School has always been known as the "Lincoln School Family", that family changes each year. This year, there are many new members that will bring their own expertise, insight, hope, and desires to create a new Lincoln School Family.

This year, as we work together to get to know each other and support each other, nothing can stop us! The 2022 - 2023 school year is going to be a fantastic year!

Every child, every day--together as a Lincoln team!

Our expectations for communication with our families are changing a bit this year. As you know, the connection and partnership between home and school is essential. This year, we want you to communicate in the way that is best for you and your families. You can use Blogspot, SeeSaw, a newsletter, a BCC email, or another method you feel is best. The guidelines for communication are as follows:

*weekly

*include current learning and events that have occurred or are coming up

*include things to ask their student about

Feel free to copy me if you would like so I can celebrate all you do with our Lincoln families!

After feedback from both teachers and families, the decision has been made to not send Chromebooks home daily with our students. Please read the following expected commitments. All devices will still be checked out to individual students so students are not sharing devices.

Y5 - 2nd grade:

• Devices will remain at school unless a special situation arises.
• 2 - 3 sleeves to be issued and kept with the teacher for these special situations.

3rd - 5th grade:

• Devices remain at school unless needed for special assignment/illness/trip (situation-based, not whole district rule to send home)
• No devices will go home in Sept. until "boot camp" and BTS night information to parents occurs.

8:10 Drop-Off Begins: Students can go to the playground or enter the building for breakfast

Supervision will be available on the playground.

8:23 Bell Rings for students to begin to enter the building.

8:25 Bell Rings: Teachers should be outside their

doors to monitor the hallway and greet students as they enter the room

8:30 Tardy Bell Rings

3:50 Dismissal

Late start days are just one hour later for all morning procedures.

Half-day dismissal is at 12:09 p.m.

Shuttle riders should head outside at 3:30 on full days and 11:55 on half days.

I have cleared out any unnecessary materials from the Google Classroom and will plan to house all of our important staff documents and current work there. Be patient with me as many documents are in development. Do plan to check the site often! If you are new to Lincoln, you may use class code 6e2i4ti to join.

Our Lincoln Building Schedule is housed on the Google Classroom page now and tabs will be added to the document as more schedules are built. The supervision schedule tab will be added on Tuesday, August 29th. Feel free to see me if there are concerns or problems with the supervision schedule.

It has already been a journey learning about the Lincoln Calendars! Let me share my new knowledge!

All staff members belong to our building calendar which is now titled "Lincoln Staff Calendar". This calendar is where we will put all of our meeting dates, personal days, testing windows, and anything that will affect our Lincoln staff. This calendar can only be viewed by our staff. If you are new to Lincoln this year, I have added you to that calendar.

The other calendar that all of you should add is titled SJPS Lincoln Elementary Calendar. This calendar is a public calendar and can be viewed through the website. You should NOT add dates to this calendar. If you would like something added to this calendar, please see the office to have it added. It will be important for you to see that calendar, however, so you are aware of what our families are seeing.

Please let me know if you have any questions at all!

This year we are excited to breathe new life into our collaborative teams across the district! WE ARE A PLC DISTRICT! With SO many new teammates over the past several years, we are ready and poised to reorient ourselves to our WHY and HOW--the work of our Professional Learning Community!

On Tuesday, please bring a picture of a special child in your life--your own, a niece or nephew, a grandchild. If you are able, upload your picture HERE.

Next Week

8/29 New Teacher Training--Day 1 at SJHS

8/30 District Welcome Back Breakfast & PD (see additional information below)

8/31 Building PD & Staff Meeting (see additional information below)

Ice Cream Social 6 - 7 pm, new families 5 - 6 pm

9/1 New Teacher Training--Day 2 at SJHS

9/2 Non-contract Day

The First Week of School

9/5 Labor Day--Non-contract Day

9/6 First Day of School!!! Bring the energy!!!

Y5/K Phase-In: Students A - K

9/7 Y5/K Phase-In: Students L - Z

9/8 Y5/K Phase-In: Students A - K

9/9 Y5/K Phase-In: Students L - Z

Coming Up...

9/14 Late Start

9/19 Back to School Night!

1st & 2nd grade: 5:45 pm - 6:30 pm

3rd, 4th, & 5th: 6:45 pm - 7:30 pm

*Sign your grade level up for a PTO Meeting

*Organize the cords in your computer cart

*Check out your supervision schedule

There is no need to copy and distribute the compact and/or the website use consent form at this time.

The plan is to take field trips this year. We are working on using RevTrack to collect field trip money this year. More information to come soon.

We will plan on three parties this year--

Fall Party--October 31

Winter Party--December 22

Kindness Party--February 14

For all certified staff from 7:30 am - 3:15 pm

Paraprofessional Support Team -- 7:30 am - 11:30 am

(Your picture is needed Wed!)

7:30 - 9:30 Breakfast & Welcome Back Programming at the HS

9:30 - 11:30 School Safety Presentation in the Auditorium

11:30 - 12:15 Lunch (provided)

Please bring your school-issued device and/or cell phone & a special picture of a child you love

12:15 - 12:30 Student Center

12:30 - 1:45 Elementary Team -- The continued Journey of our St. Joe PLCs -- Meet in the

Band/Orchestra Room

1:45 - 3:15 Grade Level Team Time (Room in HS TBD)

8:45 (Optional)

Reconnecting & Celebrating -- Leave your computer and personal things in the media center, meet outside in the courtyard for a donut.

9:00

Staff Photo

9:10 - 11:30

Work/Learning in Media Center

11:30 - 12:00

Working Lunch

12:00 - 1:30

Work/Learning in Media Center

1:30 - 3:00

Imagine Learning Training

3:00 - 3:30

Team Time

I am pleased to announce that the entire district has a common name for our targeted intervention time--BEAR Time! (Building Education and Relationship Time) This acronym is at the heart of what we stand for and is now common language for everyone in the district. This is an exciting and unifying next step!

Many of you are excited to view your schedule. I am working to build a document that has all the scheduling information that you will need for the year. This scheduling document will be housed on the Google Classroom page shortly.

As you view the schedule, please note that the schedule includes your daily specials, lunch, and Bear Time for reading and math. Those times will remain.

Our district guidelines will require the following minutes in subject areas:

ELA--90 minutes

Math--60 min.

Content Area Literacy--45 min.

I have filled in those times for all greades as I previewed the schedule through the lens of a classroom teacher. If your grade level would like to adjust the content area portion of the schedule, please schedule a time to talk with me.

Duty assignments will be assigned at a later date.

As you set and become familiar with your schedule as a grade level, begin to identify your tier 1 instructional time in each area. These will be your protected times in which we ensure all students receive grade-level instruction in those areas. No students should leave the classroom during those times for special education, SSW, etc. Protected Tier 1 times should be the amount of time it requires you to teach the tier 1 material in each subject area.

Please use this link to locate your schedule as a grade-level team.

Our S.O.S team (Systems of Support) worked hard last year learning about class meetings and building community. On the 31st, we will discuss this process in more depth. To support this process, please note that there are several things to include in your schedule for the day.

The expectation this year is to begin each day with a class meeting. You can integrate your P2 work into the class meeting, but your meeting should include a greeting, sharing, activity, and message. A class meeting is done as an individual class and is best done in a circle.

Additionally, please plan to have a community check-in after lunch. This is a time to circle up and regroup after 50 minutes of unstructured time. Your students may need a chance to share something that came up during lunch or lunch recess, or they may just need a mindful moment and a few deep breaths. Encourage a quick discussion to resolve any concerns. If it appears to require more time, acknowledge the problem and ask to talk further with the students involved during the last recess. Remember, if you are on duty, students can walk and talk with you.

Lastly, your end-of-the-day meeting should be a reflection on the day. Students can share an aha about their learning, an apology for the day, or an appreciation for someone or something. A great way to end the day on a positive note!

We are so fortunate to have such an organized, forward-thinking PTO. They have raised an incredible amount of money that will have a direct impact on our students. This year we will be getting quotes for a pavilion to be built outside in the courtyard. This pavilion will create space to extend our learning environment outdoors when we need it. It is also just a great social space for those after-school activities!

Our PTO classroom funds of $200 will continue. Forms for reimbursement can be obtained in the office. Remember that the PTO cannot refund taxes as we are a tax-exempt organization. Contact Mallory if you need the tax-exempt number or if you want the office to order your item(s) tax-free.

In addition to our classroom funds, the PTO has generously offered an additional $500 per grade level grant! Please be sure to let them know how much these extra funds are appreciated during these times of rising prices!

We are excited that all elementary schools will be tailgating at our first ST JOE FOOTBALL home game. The Football Boosters will be offering a half-price hot dog meal. They will have grilled hot dogs, and provide a bag of chips and a bottle of water for $3/person from 4:30 - 6:15 pm. Families are welcome to bring a picnic dinner as well. This is a great opportunity to meet new families while cheering on our SJHS Regional Champs!! The Boosters also have many other items at the concession stand, including many new candy items, for families to purchase during our game. Let us know if you can come by completing this FORM.

There are many things to consider when setting up your classroom environment as it can have a dramatic impact on student behavior and student learning. Things to consider are lighting, room to move around easily, and workspaces that provide the ability to collaborate and use Kagan engagement techniques. Additionally, plan for a space for your class meetings (remember circling up is important!). Consider keeping the clutter away, keeping materials organized, and providing a space for students to regulate when needed. When our students feel calm and have opportunities for choice and voice, they are more motivated. Motivated students will put more effort into learning activities.

Here are some quick-read articles that you may enjoy:

Email: lknuth@sjschools.org
Website: www.sjschools.org
Location: 1102 Orchard Avenue, St. Joseph, MI, USA
Phone: 269.926.3700