Lincoln Elementary School

Happy November, Lincoln Elementary Families!

As we enter this beautiful month, let’s take time to be thankful for all the small and large blessings in our lives. November is a short month for instruction, so we must continue to encourage our students to attend school daily and stay engaged in learning.

We’ve had an exciting fall season so far! Our students and staff participated in Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations, featuring meaningful activities that honored culture and community. In October, we also recognized Breast Cancer Awareness Month — our students wore ribbons, and staff joined in support of those who are battling, striving, and thriving.

We recently held a Quarter 1 Awards Assembly to honor students who achieved perfect attendance, earned a place on the First Quarter Honor Roll, and those who surpassed their IAR scores. We are so proud of their hard work, dedication, and accomplishments!

Lastly, on Boss’s Day (October 22nd), our excellent Lincoln staff and Social Committee surprised me with flowers, cards, special treats, and beautiful pictures. Their kindness deeply touched me. To make the day even more special, Dr. Rice, our Superintendent, presented me with a beautiful certificate from the State Board of Education — a moment I will truly cherish.

As we move through November, I’m also proud to share that on October 10, ISC4 hosted a district-wide professional development day, bringing educators together to collaborate, learn, and strengthen instructional practices. On that same day, District 156 was recognized as one of the few districts acknowledged for beginning the development of a comprehensive Literacy Plan.

A dedicated team has been established to lead this vital work, including LBS1 teachers, EL teachers, teachers from various grade levels, our Reading Coach, building principals, Assistant Superintendents, the Director of Multilingual and Early Childhood, and the Director of Student Services. This diverse and collaborative team reflects our district’s strong commitment to enhancing literacy instruction and ensuring that every student becomes a confident and capable reader and writer.

As we move through November, let’s continue to give more of ourselves and share gratitude. Together, we are stronger — and together, we make Lincoln Elementary a place where every student can shine.

With gratitude,

LaTanya Donald, Principal, Lincoln Elementary

Dear Lincoln Elementary Family,

As we celebrate the release of our 2025 Illinois Report Card, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for every one of you. Your hard work, dedication, and love for our students and families continue to make Lincoln Elementary a place where excellence and compassion thrive side by side.

Our “Commendable” designation is more than a label—it is a reflection of your daily commitment to our shared mission. Due to your efforts, English Language Arts proficiency increased from 25% to 48%, Math proficiency rose from 9% to 20%, and chronic absenteeism decreased from 37% to 28%. These outstanding results speak volumes about the power of unity, perseverance, and belief in what’s possible for every child we serve.

I am so deeply proud of how you continue to show up—with grace, creativity, and a steadfast belief in our students. Whether you are guiding instruction, supporting a struggling learner, building relationships with families, or simply offering a kind word to a child who needs it most, you are making a difference every single day.

While we take time to celebrate these achievements, let’s remember that our work continues. Together, we will continue to strengthen literacy and math outcomes, encourage consistent attendance, and nurture the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally.

Thank you for being the heart of Lincoln Elementary. Your dedication, compassion, and teamwork are what make our school so special. I am truly honored to serve alongside such a remarkable and inspiring team.

As we celebrate the release of our 2025 Illinois Report Card, my heart is overflowing with gratitude for every one of you. Your hard work, dedication, and love for our students and families continue to make Lincoln Elementary a place where excellence and compassion thrive side by side.

Our “Commendable” designation is more than a label—it is a reflection of your daily commitment to our shared mission. Due to your efforts, English Language Arts proficiency increased from 25% to 48%, Math proficiency rose from 9% to 20%, and chronic absenteeism decreased from 37% to 28%. These outstanding results speak volumes about the power of unity, perseverance, and belief in what’s possible for every child we serve.

I am so deeply proud of how you continue to show up—with grace, creativity, and a steadfast belief in our students. Whether you are guiding instruction, supporting a struggling learner, building relationships with families, or simply offering a kind word to a child who needs it most, you are making a difference every single day.

While we take time to celebrate these achievements, let’s remember that our work continues. Together, we will continue to strengthen literacy and math outcomes, encourage consistent attendance, and nurture the whole child—academically, socially, and emotionally.

Thank you for being the heart of Lincoln Elementary. Your dedication, compassion, and teamwork are what make our school so special. I am truly honored to serve alongside such a remarkable and inspiring them.

Parents, please refrain from entering the staff parking lot or dropping students off there. This is a safety concern for our students.

The school building opens at 8:00 a.m., and students are allowed to enter early only when the temperature is below 40°F.

We need your cooperation to help keep all students safe!

Our Lincoln community came together for an unforgettable Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly filled with pride, energy, and unity! The celebration honored Hispanic culture through song, dance, fashion, and art — showcasing the incredible talent and teamwork of our students and staff.

A huge gracias to our Fine Arts and Music Departments, Dance Team, Fashion Show, and Art Exhibit for bringing creativity and cultural pride to life. Special thanks to our Multilingual Department, Preschool Team, Maintenance Crew, and Technology Team for ensuring every detail ran smoothly and every student felt included.

We also celebrate the fantastic work of our School Events Committee for organizing such a vibrant and memorable event. Your dedication and collaboration truly made the day shine!

1st National Authors’ Day

2nd Daylight Saving Time

3rd National Sandwich Day

4th Lincoln @ Schrum GBB and National Candy Day

4th BPAC Parent Meeting at Lincoln, 8:30 AM, Lincoln, Room 105

6th Title I Parent Meeting at District Office, 9:30 AM (Hybrid)

6th Wentworth @ Lincoln GBB

8th National STEM/STEAM Day

10th World Science Day

11th Veterans Day- No School

12th Wolcott @ Lincoln BBB and Elementary School Library Day

13th Lincoln @ Burnham & World Kindness Day

14th Tiger Paw Store Day & World Diabetes Day

15th America Recycle Day

16th - 22nd American Education Week

18th Mad Science Presentation Pre-K & Heritage @ Lincoln BBB

18th National Princess Day

19th McKinley @ Lincoln BBB & Educational Support Day

20th Pre-K Screening

20th Lincoln @ Patton & Diwali

21st Substitute Educators Day & World Television Day

22nd Go for a Ride Day

23rd Fibonacci Day

26th Cake Day

24th - 28th Thanksgiving Week Break No School for Students

28th Black Friday

30th National Personal Space Day

We are so pleased to announce that we have a new staff member joining the Lincoln family! Ms. Sharon George will serve as our LBS1 teacher, supporting students in Pre-K through 1st grade.

We are thrilled to have them on board and look forward to the wonderful ways they will support our students and contribute to our school community. Please take a moment to give them a warm Lincoln welcome!

The energy was electric as we celebrated our outstanding students at the 1st Quarter Awards Assembly! From Perfect Attendance and Citizenship to Reading and Math IAR Top Performers, Honor Roll, and Principal’s Scholars, our Tigers truly showed what excellence looks like!

We couldn’t be prouder of our students for setting high standards and shining in every way. Keep reaching for the stars, TIGERS — the best is yet to come!

Our Lincoln students, teachers, staff, and administration all joined in the fun for Book Character Day, and it was a tremendous success! The building was alive with excitement as everyone dressed up as their favorite storybook characters.

The day was filled with laughter, creativity, and celebration — a joyful way to end the week. It was truly inspiring to see our entire Lincoln community come together to celebrate the love of reading and imagination. From fairy tales to superheroes, the creativity was absolutely off the charts!

🎥 Check out our favorite costumes and highlights in the video below!

Lincoln ESD 156 currently has available spots for 4-year-old students in our preschool program.

Please note that all prospective preschool students are required to complete a screening process.
Screening does not guarantee enrollment.

Children will be screened in several areas to assess their overall development and readiness for preschool.

If you would like to have your child screened, please call the main office at (708) 862-6620 to schedule an appointment.

We look forward to welcoming our newest Lincoln learners.

That’s amazing — we are so proud of our students and families for showing up every day and making attendance a priority!

But we’re not stopping there… our next goal is 300 students with perfect attendance for Quarter 2!

Parents, we need your help to make it happen! Let’s work together to break the record — every day counts!

#AttendanceMatters #StriveFor300 #EveryDayCounts

Our Lincoln Staff are leading the way with outstanding attendance — and they’re setting the perfect example for our students!

When our staff arrives, our students develop into strong, innovative, and successful individuals.

Congratulations to all our staff members who achieved perfect attendance in September! We appreciate your dedication, energy, and commitment to our school community!

The attendance policy for Lincoln Elementary School is outlined in the school’s official handbooks and recent communications, and it is fully aligned with the requirements of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

According to the FY 2025 and FY 2026 Student Handbooks, Lincoln Elementary enforces the Illinois Compulsory Attendance Law, which mandates that all children aged five or older (by September 1) must attend school. Valid causes for absence—such as illness or family emergencies—are governed by Illinois law (105 ILCS 5/26-1 and 105 ILCS 5/26-2a), ensuring that absences are documented and excused appropriately. The policy emphasizes:

• Daily attendance is a critical factor in academic success.
  
  

• Parents' responsibility is to contact the school if a child is absent.
  
  

• Doctor’s notes for absences exceeding three consecutive days.
  
  

• Alignment with ISBE and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) health and exclusion regulations
  FY 25 Student Handbook 7-20-202…
  
  

As we conclude the first quarter, we would like to share insights into what teaching and learning look like at this stage of the school year.

During the first quarter, teachers and students spent time reviewing important skills from the previous grade level, becoming familiar with classroom routines, and practicing expectations for learning and behavior. This foundational work helps ensure that students are well-prepared and confident as they embark on new learning. Teachers also collected beginning-of-the-year assessment data, which provides a detailed picture of what each student already knows and where they may need additional support or enrichment. This information enables teachers to design instruction that meets students at their appropriate level of understanding. With intense routines in place and data to guide instruction, our classrooms are ready to move forward with the core curriculum.

As we transition into the second quarter, families may notice lessons becoming more rigorous and focused on new skills and content. This is a time in the school year when we often see significant growth, as students engage deeply with grade-level material. Teachers will continue to monitor progress and adjust instruction to meet students’ needs. Students will be reassessed in January to measure how much progress they have made since the beginning of the year.

Families can support their children's growth at home by encouraging them to complete homework independently and offering support when needed. Additionally, daily reading is one of the most powerful ways to build vocabulary, comprehension, and reading stamina. Students can read independently, read aloud to an adult, or be read to by a family member. We encourage parents to follow each reading session with a brief conversation about the book, helping students reflect, make connections, and strengthen their understanding.

Thank you for your partnership.

Mrs. M. Reynolds

We applaud our students who can transfer safety skills into their homes, at school, online, and in their communities. Hats off to our November Students of the Month for showing what it truly means to be safe wherever they go.

We’re excited to welcome Mx. Pulido, our new band director!
This is their first year at Lincoln, and the energy in the music room is electric. We can’t wait to see how the band program continues to grow under their direction.
🎵 Take a peek at our after-school band in action below!

Thank you to everyone who supported our Scholastic Book Fair from October 20th to 24th! With the help of our exceptional students, families, and staff from Pre-K through 8th grade, we raised $2,409. The money will be used to purchase new books for our library and prizes for the Accelerated Reader Challenges. One of the most popular items was the brand-new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, which arrived on its release day and sold out quickly.

At Lincoln, we utilize PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) to encourage students to exhibit positive behavior through meaningful incentives—both inside and outside the classroom.

This quarter, all three grade levels celebrated with a movie incentive! Students earned this event by consistently meeting behavioral expectations and showing school pride.
🎬 Check out photo from our movie day below!

A new PBIS initiative this year is 'Tea with Me,' an opportunity for students who their homeroom teachers have nominated for consistently showing the 4 B’s—Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe.

Selected students joined the administrative team for tea, conversation, and celebration of their leadership and positive example.

We’re already looking forward to more High Tea moments next quarter!

The TF North Connections Program visited our 8th graders last month!
We saw many familiar faces among the mentors—former Lincoln students now thriving at TF North. Their goal is to help make the transition from middle school to high school as smooth and successful as possible.

It’s almost that time — 8th-grade activities are right around the corner!

Please remember that the activities fee of $200 is due by February 13, 2026. Payments may be made in the main office.

Stay tuned for upcoming announcements with details about graduation and other end-of-year celebrations. We’re looking forward to making this a memorable and exciting time for our 8th graders!

As our girls' basketball season comes to a close, I would like to take a moment to congratulate both our 7th- and 8th-grade teams. Both teams put forth tremendous effort to make great strides as both players and teammates. Although improvement may not always be reflected in wins and losses, each member of both teams should be extremely proud of their accomplishments throughout the season. They will look to apply the lessons learned this year on the court to next season, as well as to high school and beyond. Great job, ladies!

I love snapping pictures for our classroom photo albums — they’re full of smiles, curiosity, and hands-on learning! The photo of the boy looking up shows him proudly spelling baby with our magnetic tiles. Another student used magnetic building pieces to make the letter H, which just happened to be our focus that week!

The pumpkin picture was a crowd favorite! When we carved it open, we brainstormed words to describe the feeling inside. The kids’ reactions were priceless — especially those who were feeling the pumpkin pulp for the very first time!

We also experimented with color mixing by having participants paint leaves using three colors of their choice. Each child placed their leaf inside a Ziploc bag, squished the paint around, and watched the colors blend into something totally new and exciting.

It’s such a joy to see their creativity shine and their confidence grow with every messy, marvelous project we do!

At Lincoln Elementary, innovation and creativity thrive across every grade level as students engage in hands-on STEM challenges that spark curiosity, teamwork, and problem-solving. From designing structures to coding robots, our young engineers are bringing ideas to life!

3rd Grade Design Engineers put their problem-solving and collaboration skills to work using Keva Planks to create impressive structures complete with walls, stairs, and bridges. This engaging activity challenged them to think critically about balance, symmetry, and spatial design while fostering teamwork and imagination.

In the 4th Grade STEM Challenge, students combined engineering and coding by building mazes out of Keva Planks and programming Bee-Bots to navigate through them. Using rulers to measure distances and fine-tuning their code to guide the robots precisely, our 4th graders seamlessly integrated math, logic, and creativity in one exciting challenge!

Meanwhile, 7th Grade Coders brought technology to life by programming Dash robots to move, turn, and respond to block-based commands. This interactive experience deepened their computational thinking and problem-solving skills as they discovered how coding can control and animate real-world technology.

The creativity didn’t stop there — 7th Grade Innovators also explored the fascinating world of circuits using Makey Makey kits. By connecting fruits like bananas and apples to a computer interface, they transformed everyday items into musical instruments, learning how circuits, coding, and conductivity work together to make music!

Finally, our 8th Grade Circuit Builders took their STEM journey to the next level with Snap Circuits, experimenting with how electricity flows to power lights, sounds, and motors. As they followed schematics and designed their own circuits, students developed a strong foundation in electrical engineering and gained hands-on problem-solving skills.

And across 3rd–5th grades, collaboration and curiosity came alive as students designed and constructed ball runs using Keva Planks, applying real-world physics concepts such as gravity, force, and motion. Through testing, refining, and celebrating their designs, students demonstrated the power of perseverance and teamwork.

From our youngest engineers to our emerging innovators, Lincoln students are exploring, creating, and discovering the endless possibilities of STEM — one project at a time!