Lincoln Elementary Newsletter
January 2026
Dear Families,
Welcome to May! We have officially entered one of the most exciting, fast-paced, and rewarding months of the school year. Our hallways are buzzing with energy as we celebrate our progress and look toward the summer months ahead.
🌟 PSSA Proud & End-of-Year Focus
I want to take a moment to express how incredibly proud I am of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students. They showed amazing stamina and focus during the PSSA tests. Their hard work is a reflection of their dedication and the support you provide at home. Well done, students!
While the end of the year is in sight, we aren't at the finish line just yet. May is a critical time for us to collect "growth data" to see exactly how much progress your child has made this year. We are still diving deep into new lessons and preparing students for the jump to their next grade level.
To help your child succeed during these final weeks, please:
Maintain the Routine: Keep consistent bedtimes and morning schedules.
#BeHere: Ensure your child is at school on time every day. Every morning meeting and lesson counts!
Stay Focused: Help them stay committed to their schoolwork even as the weather gets nicer.
🏅 Field Day Fun & Important Visitor Information
This month is packed with community-building events, including our annual Field Day! Field day will be held Wednesday, May 6 (rain date is May 7). These activities are a reward for a year of hard work and a great chance for our students to practice teamwork and sportsmanship.
New this year: To ensure student safety while maintaining a fun environment, we are requiring all parents who plan to attend Field Day to complete a pre-registration Google Form.
Important: If you plan to attend, you must complete this form prior to the event. This allows our office and safety teams to know exactly who is on campus and helps us keep our students secure. Thank you for your cooperation in making this a safe and memorable day!
🍎 Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8)
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week! We are so lucky to have a staff at Lincoln that goes above and beyond every single day. If a particular teacher or staff member has made a difference in your child's life this year, a simple note or email of thanks means the world to them. We love to get our students involved! Check out your child’s folder for some extra fun ways we can say thank you to our amazing teachers and staff at Lincoln!
🎒 Looking Ahead: Class Placements for 2026-2027
As we begin to look toward the next school year, our staff will soon begin the thoughtful process of creating class lists. This is a task we take very seriously, as our goal is to create learning environments where every student can thrive.
When forming classes, our team of teachers, counselors, and administrators spends significant time looking at:
Academic strengths and areas for growth.
Social-emotional needs and peer dynamics.
A balance of learning styles and personalities within each room.
Because our staff knows our students so well in the school environment, we trust their professional judgment to group students to the best of our abilities. Please trust that we are committed to finding the best fit for your child to ensure they have a successful and happy year ahead. Therefore, special teacher requests are not necessary. We appreciate your partnership and your trust in our professional team!
A Note of Gratitude
As we navigate this busy month, thank you for your continued partnership. From field trips to end-of-year assessments, we couldn't do this without you. Let’s work together to make these final weeks of the 2025-2026 school year the best ones yet! Go Warriors!
Together in learning,
Kathy Schiefer, Ed. D.
Principal
#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 before the end of the school year!
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 we approach the end of the school year, we want to express our gratitude for the time you’ve shared with us. It’s been a privilege to serve as your GASD Family Navigators, and we truly appreciate the connections we’ve made this school year.
Before summer begins, we hope you’ll join us one (or more) last time—whether to share feedback, ask a question, or simply say hello. We’d love to see you to tie up any loose ends and, of course, celebrate a great year together! Meet us here →
đź“…Wednesday, May 6
⏰9:30–11:30 AM
📍Gettysburg Dunkin’
đź“…Wednesday, May 20
⏰9:30–11:30 AM
đź“ŤAdams County Library (basement)
🎉Fun Family Event Opportunity!
Join us for a fun, free, family-friendly "Salamander" hike, hosted at the beautiful Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve (info below). This slow-paced, short walk is led by an expert education director and naturalist. This event is a perfect way for families to get outdoors, enjoy nature, and spot some local wildlife together! We hope to see you there! Space is limited, so please be sure to register using this sign-up link : https://square.link/u/AZTyqWAX
đź“…Saturday, May 2
⏰10:00 AM–12:00 PM
đź“ŤStrawberry Hill Nature Preserve
1537 Mt. Hope Rd. Fairfield, PA 17320
*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.
May notes from the PTO:
- The PTO wants to extend a huge thank you to all teachers and staff who participated in the pie in the face event. The students loved your participation! Also, a big thank you to all the families who so generously donated to change wars! As a school we raised $508.37! $260 of the funds raised will be donated to the SPCA, as nominated by the students!
- The new playground sports equipment and deck box have been delivered, set up, and are now ready for student use at recess. We hope these are engaging and fun tools for students when playing outside!
- May 4-8 is Teacher Appreciation week! We plan to honor all our amazing teachers throughout the week! Help Lincoln's PTO treat the staff of Lincoln Elementary to a "Wicked" Good Teacher Appreciation Week! By signing up to donate an item, you will be helping the PTO treat them all week long. Please drop off all donations no later than Monday May 4th by 9am to the main office. Please click the link below to sign up! Please remember to thank your teacher for all that they do! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844AFA72EA6F9C25-63614654-lincoln#/
- The fifth grade farewell breakfast is scheduled for 5/28/26. We are excited to celebrate our fifth graders who have worked so hard here at Lincoln and will be embarking on their next chapter in August!
- Nominations are open for 2026-2027 PTO board positions. Please email nominations to lincoln.pto@outlook.com. Voting will take place at the next scheduled PTO meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7pm in the Lincoln Library Classroom.
We hope all our Lincoln families have a safe and fun summer!
This months Health Room Updates include the following topics:
End of the School Year Medication Pick-up
Student Health Requirements for the 2026-27 School Year
Sending Your Child to School With a Water Bottle to Stay Hydrated
School Attire - Handbook Guidance
