The Lions' Pride

Dear Lincoln Families,

We are excited to welcome you next week for parent/teacher conferences! These meetings are a valuable time to strengthen our partnership and work together to support your child’s growth—academically, socially, and emotionally.

If you haven’t signed up yet, please be sure to do so. If you have any questions during conference nights, don’t hesitate to stop by the office—we are happy to help. We look forward to connecting with you!

Next week will be a short week for students. There is no school on Thursday, as teachers will be participating in professional development. On Friday, there is also no school for students or staff due to Conference Comp Day.

Thank you,

Claire Giardino

Parent/Teacher Conference sign-ups are now open! Please use the link provided to schedule a time that works best for your family. We ask that you double-check the available dates carefully, as a few conference dates are different from previous years.

Your partnership is essential to your child’s success, and conferences are a valuable opportunity to celebrate progress and discuss next steps together.

Thank you for your continued support—we look forward to seeing you! https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Lincoln_Elementary_14

Please read the cover letter for the MAP (NWEA) scores that you will receive at parent/teacher conferences.

Lost and Found

The lost and found will be available for families to look through Monday after school through Wednesday evening. It will be located on the first floor near second-grade. On Wednesday, after conferences, it will be packaged to send for donation. Each grade level has their own bin for lost and found. At the end of each month, we will put it on display before donating it.

Starting strong in September makes a big difference for the whole school year. Research shows that students who miss just 1–2 days in the first month are much more likely to become chronically absent later on. That’s why we’re working together to build positive attendance habits now!

When students come to school every day they:

• build routines that help them feel confident

• stay connected with friends and teachers

• have the best chance to succeed academically and socially
  
  

This year, as an All-Star District in the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network we are celebrating Attendance Awareness Month as a part of our campaign. Each week, we’ll celebrate attendance with fun activities, and students will have chances to:

• Win prizes sponsored by the Columbus Crew
• Be featured on Stay in the Game! social media
• Most importantly, we want you to know that we are here for you. If your child faces challenges getting to school, please reach out. Together, we can find solutions—because showing up today builds a stronger tomorrow. Inspiring Learners. Building Futures.

Thank you for being our partners in helping every student become an Attendance All-Star!

Do your part in ensuring you get to school on time and ready to learn! If you haven't done so already, take the pledge!

Pursuant to House Bill 410, student attendance is calculated in hours. This includes absences that have been identified as both excused and unexcused by the school, as well as planned absences. Being late or tardy to school does calculate into the total hours absent.

If your child is going to be absent for any portion of the school day, please notify the school. You may report an absence by using our Online Absence Reporting available in the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. To enter a request follow these simple steps:

1.Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.

2. Select your child’s profile.

3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.

4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.

5. Submit your request.

You will be able to view the status of your request using the View Requests button.

You may also call Lincoln 614-478-5555 or email our secretary at pedrottya@gjps.org

Welcome Back-to-School from Lincoln's counselors, Nick Rediger and Jenny Hayhurst. Mr. Rediger covers grades K, 2, and 4 and can be reached at redigern@gjps.org. Mrs. Hayhurst covers grades 1, 3, and 5 and can be reached at hayhurstj@gjps.org.

Our school coordinates with Gahanna Residents in Need (GRIN) to provide the weekend supplementary food program for students. The program provides for students who are in need of help with food at home. If you would like to participate in this program, your student will receive a bag of non-perishable food items every Friday to bring home. If your child received a weekly bag last year, you will need to sign them up again this year. Please sign up here:

Weekend Food Program Sign-Up.

Please email hayhurstj@gjps.org if you are interested in the new student group

We need your help with set-up on Tuesday and Wednesday! Please sign up HERE

Paws to Walk - Walk-a-thon - Friday, October 17th

You can find all Walk-a-thon info HERE

Our annual fundraiser is here! Paws to Walk brings together students, families, and staff to celebrate school spirit while raising funds for classroom materials, field trips, family events, and special programs. Since it’s our only fundraiser, every dollar makes a big difference!

We need auction items - if you have any items or services you’d like to donate, we would greatly appreciate your support. Please email us at lincolnPTOboard@gmail.com

Our raffle items are now live! You can start purchasing tickets HERE

Stay Connected

• Facebook: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Instagram: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Website: Gahanna Lincoln Elementary PTO

• Google Calendar: Subscribe Here

Upcoming PTO Dates

• September 30th and October 1st - Conference Meals

• Sign-up to donate items: HERE

• October 14th - PTO Meeting (6:00 PM - 7:00 PM)

• October 17th - Walk-a-thon

• Flyers being sent home this week! Make sure to check your child’s backpack!

• Raffle is now live - purchase tickets HERE

• October 24th - Trunk or Treat (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)

• Trunk sign-up coming soon!

November 11th - PTO Meeting (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)

For the safety of all students, please follow the provided drop-off and pick-up map for car riders. All vehicles must enter through the car loop, where we will be operating two lanes to help traffic flow efficiently.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping arrival and dismissal safe and orderly for everyone.

A plate lunch is $2.75.

Breakfast is $1.50.

*New this year - 2 hot lunch options will be available for students to choose from for lunch each day. Please see the lunch menu for details. Students not interested in the hot lunch options will be able to select Yogurt/roll, Wowbutter sandwich, Garden Salad, Cheese Sandwich, or a Turkey Sandwich.

Families are again asked to complete and submit a 2025-2026 Free/Reduced-Priced Meal Application if they believe they may qualify. Applications are available in the Lincoln school office or online at: GahannaSchools.org. If approved, the completed application will cover the student for the entire 2025-26 school year, and no other steps will be necessary unless there is an income change during the school year.

Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools Food Service Department is committed to assisting families and making this transition back to normal operations as easy as possible. Please feel free to contact Food Service Supervisor Stephen Ismael (Ismaels@gjps.org) if you have any questions.

Ohio State Testing Dates are ready for the 2025-2026 school year. Please avoid scheduling vacations or appointments over these dates.

September 30 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences

October 2 Professional Learning Day for Staff - No School for Students

October 3 Conference Comp Day - No School for Students and Staff

October 14 PTO Meeting (6:00 PM - 7:00 PM)

October 17 Walk-a-thon

October 17 End of Quarter 1

October 20 Staff Work Day - No School for Students

October 24 Picture Re-take's

October 24 Report Cards for Quarter 1 go home with students

October 24 Trunk or Treat (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM)

November 5 We are the World Night 5:30-7:00pm

Nov. 10 Professional Learning Day for Staff - No School for Students

Nov. 11 Veterans Day Assembly (Details coming soon)

November 11 PTO Meeting (3:00 PM - 4:00 PM)

November 14- November 20 PTO Book Fair

Nov. 26-28: Thanksgiving Break - No School

Dec. 19 End of Quarter 2
Dec. 20 - Jan. 4: Winter Break - No School
Jan. 5: Staff Work Day - No School

Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Day - No School

Feb. 13: Professional Learning Day for Staff - No School for Students
Feb. 16: Presidents Day - No School

March 6: End of Quarter 3
March 9: Staff Work Day - No School

March 20: Conference Comp Day - No School for Students or Staff
Mar. 30-April 3: Spring Break- No School
May 22: Last Day of School for Students

May 26: Teacher Work Day (Last day for staff)

May 28: Report Cards Released to Families