Lincoln Lowdown- 11/11/24

Lincoln Families,

This week, as we approach Veterans Day, we take a moment to honor and show gratitude to all who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Their dedication, courage, and sacrifices have made an invaluable impact on our nation and our freedoms. At Lincoln Middle School, we are deeply grateful to the veterans within our own community—family members, friends, and neighbors—whose service has inspired us all.

Thank you for joining us in recognizing the vital role of veterans in our lives and in our history. We hope you find time this week to connect with and express gratitude to the veterans in your lives

and communities.

Reminder, school will be closed on Monday, November 11th in honor of Veterans Day.

Events this week:

11/11 - Veterans Day, NO SCHOOL

11/12 - SEL Homebase Assembly - Quartz Core, Auditorium

11/13 - Orchestra Rehearsals, 3-4:30, Room 401

11/13 - Band Rehearsals, 3-4:30, Room 400

11/13 - Drama Rehearsals, 3:30 - 5:30, Auditorium, Cafeteria, Room 153

11/13 - 7th Grade Common Writing Assessment Norming Day

11/13 - School Site Council Meeting 3:20PM, Library Classroom

11/13 - 11/14 - 8th Grade NAMI Healthy Relationships Presentations in History

11/14- 11/15 -8th Grade Common Writing Assessment Norming Day

11/14 - PTSA Meeting, Library Classroom, 9AM

11/15 - End of GP2

11/15 - Friday Late Start PD: Grade Level Meetings - 6th Grade Student-Led Conferences

11/15 - 6th Grade Student-Led Conferences

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Community Members,

The 2024 election is now behind us, and our community - like so many others across the country - has experienced a range of emotions. Whether you are pleased with the results or not, I want to acknowledge the intensity and divisiveness that has permeated this election cycle.

But now, as we look ahead, I want to reaffirm our District's commitment to being a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all students. We remain dedicated to our core values of respect, empathy, and civil discourse - no matter anyone's political affiliations or beliefs. We continue to foster a sense of belonging for all students and staff. We want to remind our families that all children, regardless of immigration status, are guaranteed the right to a free public education. SMMUSD will continue to be the welcoming school district to all students in the neighborhoods we serve.

Our educators are prepared to facilitate thoughtful discussions that allow students to process the election outcomes and their own feelings. They will model how to engage constructively with differing perspectives, emphasizing our shared hopes for the future.

I also want to remind everyone that our counseling teams are available to provide any social-emotional support our students may need. This has been a turbulent time, and we recognize the toll it can take. Please don't hesitate to reach out if your child is struggling.

Looking ahead, I encourage all members of our school community to come together in a spirit of unity. Let us move forward with kindness, compassion, and a shared determination to create the best possible learning environments for our young people. Their safety and wellbeing are - and will always be - our top priorities.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. I'm honored to serve alongside you as we navigate these challenges and build a brighter future for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District.

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Sincerely,

Dr. Antonio Shelton, Superintendent

The AMC8 exam to interested Lincoln Middle School students. The American Mathematics Competition is an exam designed to develop students' problem-solving skills and interest in mathematics. Students must join the AMC 8 Google classroom using code nscggmh and complete the mandatory questionnaire posted in the Classwork tab by Friday November 15th. The exam will take place on Friday January 24th, 2025 during 6th period in the library classroom. Students will be responsible for completing work missed in their 6th period class that day. Please see information and resources posted in the GCRm and/or email Ms. Diamond at rdiamond@smmusd.org with any questions.

We are thrilled to share that this week, our students have had the unique opportunity to engage with Bocafloja, a renowned poet and hip-hop artist . Bocafloja’s work emphasizes themes of cultural identity, social justice, and community empowerment, making him a powerful voice in today’s world.

Through interactive workshops and discussions, Bocafloja inspired our students to explore self-expression and cultural awareness. We are truly grateful for this experience and special thanks to Mr. Bandy for making this visit possible.

Thank you!

We’re thrilled to recognize Mr. O'Brien's thoughtful approach to culturally responsive teaching in his classroom! Recently, he guided his students in creating posters that reflect how they learn best, along with group commitments to support a collaborative and respectful learning environment.

This activity has helped students feel heard and empowered while fostering a strong sense of community and shared responsibility. Mr. O'Brien’s efforts exemplify our commitment to creating a learning environment where every student’s voice is valued.

Thank you, Mr. O’Brien, for your dedication to our students' growth and well-being!

We are excited to inform you that SMMUSD is partnering with the University of North Carolina on a study that will explore the effects of smartphones and social media on children. As part of this study, your student will be asked to complete three surveys: a pre-survey, a mid-year survey, and a post-survey.

Mrs. Gutierrez, our Bilingual Community Liaison, will engage parents and collect parental consent for student participation in the surveys. Our goal is to achieve a response rate of 75-80%.

We hope to gather all parent consent forms within the next two weeks, with the first surveys starting in early November.

Attached, you’ll find the flyer with a QR code linking to the digital parent consent form. We’ve also included the digital consent form in both English and Spanish below.

Thank you for your support and participation!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for last Saturday’s Campus Beautification Day! We are incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and care you brought to making our school grounds more welcoming and beautiful. From planting flowers to painting and tidying up, each task completed added to the warmth and pride we feel in our school environment.

Your dedication and community spirit made a wonderful impact, and it’s inspiring to see our students, families, and staff coming together to support our campus. Thanks to your hard work, Lincoln Middle School is an even brighter and more inviting place for everyone!

As our fall sports season wraps up, we want to take a moment to recognize the dedication, hard work, and achievements of our student-athletes across all teams. We’re so proud of each of them for representing Lincoln Middle School with pride and sportsmanship.

Congratulations to our cross country team, 6th grade girls’ volleyball team, and 6th grade boys’ flag football team for their successful seasons! Your commitment and teamwork have been inspiring, and you’ve made us all so proud.

We’re also excited to announce that our 7th/8th grade boys’ flag football team and 7th/8th grade girls’ volleyball team have qualified for the playoffs! Our girls flag football team has one game remaining that will determine their playoff chances. Please join us in cheering them on as they compete, and let’s show them our full Lincoln support as they aim for even greater achievements!

Thank you to all the families, coaches, and supporters who have encouraged our student-athletes throughout the season. Go, Lincoln!

Dear 6th Grade Families,

Our 6th grade student-led conferences will be on Friday, November 15.

Your child is in the process of thoughtfully crafting a special presentation for you! Arrange a conference time with your child's homebase teacher for this wonderful opportunity to learn more about your child's effort and dedication to this task.

Celebrate this joyful event by joining us for a light breakfast in the cafeteria the morning of the conferences. Please consider donating a food item, making a monetary contribution, or volunteering your time, so we can create a successful celebration as a 6th grade community. Check out our Sign Up Genius:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EA9A728A1FFC52-52874334-6thgrade#/

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's homebase teacher.

Thank you,

The 6th Grade Team of teachers and parents

CALIFORNIA HEALTHY KIDS SURVEY (GRADE 7): All students in grade 7 will complete the survey the week of November 12, 2024 in their Homebase class. The purpose of this survey is to obtain information from the students about their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior about things that affect learning. It deals with such issues as truancy, safety, harassment, substance use, school connectedness, and learning supports. For more information or to opt out of this survey, click here.

SMMUSD PARENT SURVEY: Parents, SMMUSD would like you to share your thoughts on our school which will help guide district and school efforts to promote safety, enhance learning supports, and improve student achievement. This survey should take about 10-15 minutes to complete. The survey window is from November 1 - November 26. For more info, and to take the survey click, Parent Memo and Survey.

We need your help to help others in our Santa Monica community! We are looking to collect non-perishable items in time for Thanksgiving. A collection basket is set up next to security at our California St. entrance starting now till November 25, 2024.

Acceptable Items:

• Canned Foods - fruits, vegetables, soups, and sauce
• Dried Goods - grains, rice, pasta, granola, cereal, and oats
• Nuts and Seeds
• Crackers
• Nut Butters
• Shelf Stable Milk and Non Dairy Milk
• Canned Beans
• Canned Fish and Meats

Our amazing parent and 2nd VP will arrange delivery for all of us. Thank you Dinora Duarte!

We warmly invite you to our upcoming PTSA meeting! This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow families, stay informed about upcoming events, and contribute ideas to support our school community.

Whether you’re a returning member or new to PTSA, we would love to see you there! Your involvement helps make a positive impact on our students' experiences here at Lincoln.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and we hope you’ll join us!

We invite you to attend our upcoming School Site Council (SSC) meeting! This is an excellent opportunity to engage in important discussions about our school’s programs, budget, and ongoing efforts to support student success.

We hope to see you there and look forward to your contributions!

Attention 8th Grade Families,

Our Breakfast Club is up and running! Click link here to DONate time or donuts. Kids earn Community Service hours as well for helping! Each Friday earns around $100 so your support is appreciated to help give our 8th graders a great year and promotion at Lincoln.