PANTHER PROGRESS

As we head into Spring Break, we pause to celebrate the growth that has been made to date. Here are just a few of our “small wins”...

• Natalie Sawma, 4th Grade Student, represented Lincoln at the Spelling Bee last weekend. She made it to the 5th round, which is the furthest any Lincoln student has progressed in the process.

• We hosted over 150 Spring Conferences for families who requested a meeting.

• We are showcasing our student clubs at Lincoln Night, Thursday, April 2nd at Frederick High.

While we may look forward to a break, we also know that returning from so many days out of the school routine can be challenging for students. We have many positive behavior supports in place to motivate & encourage students to meet expectations each day. The LNES Student Expectations outline how our Habits of Learning (Self-Advocacy, Perseverance, Social Responsibility, Learning Mindset) should be displayed in each area of our building.

Students can receive individual and/or class recognition for demonstrating the Habits of Learning in multiple ways including…

• Classroom praise and positive reinforcement from the teacher - tickets, tokens, points, punches, etc. that can be traded in for special privileges or prizes.

• Panther Pride Card (see pictures below)

• 4 are given in each class each week (1 per each Habit of Learning).

• All students earning a card for the week are entered onto a prize wheel.

• 8 students weekly are chosen at random from the prize wheel. They receive a printed certificate, Lincoln Leader pencil and their picture/certificate on the school TVs for the following week.

• Positive Referral Recess - students are nominated by staff for consistently displaying the Habits of Learning over the course of the month. Students enjoy an additional 20 minute recess block with members of the administrative team.

With Lots of Lincoln Love,

The Admin Team

• April 2: Lincoln Night at Frederick High School (flier below, doors open at 5pm)
• April 3 - 10: Spring Break
• April 13: School resumes
• April 16: MCAP testing begins (see below for details)
• April 16: Panther Advisory Council (PAC) at Carver Community Center 5 - 6:30pm
• April 23: Spring Chorus Concert (doors open at 6pm)
• May 1: Two hour early dismissal (students dismiss at 1:30pm)

After spring break, students in grades 3 - 5 will begin Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) testing. To make sure your student is set up for success, please:

• Ensure your child is getting enough sleep every night
• Ensure your child arrives to school on time (no later than 9am)
• Encourage your child to do their best
• Consider taking some practice tests

If you have specific concerns regarding MCAP, please contact your child's teacher or our Assistant Principal at Kimberly.Brandenburg@fcps.org

Each grade level has created their own newsletters! Instead of linking the monthly standards, we will now include a link to each newsletter. These newsletters are also sent every two weeks directly from teachers via Talking Points. If you need a paper copy of the newsletter, please contact your child's teacher.

Use the link below to see each grade level's academic standards and assessments schedule:

Academic Standards and Assessments

Our students are offered breakfast and lunch every day. Click the links below for this month's menu. For more information about FCPS food and nutrition, visit the FCPS nutrition website.

• Breakfast (English)
• Breakfast (Spanish)
• Lunch (English)
• Lunch (Spanish)

On March 25, all Title I schools in FCPS held a focus group to gather feedback from families in regards to school improvement, family engagement events and academic standards. If you missed the meeting but would like to provide feedback, please use this survey.

PreK programs are designed to serve students who meet income eligibility requirements and/or qualify for classroom-based special education services as outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). All applications will be processed centrally via the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Office. For families meeting eligibility criteria, notification of PreK acceptance will begin in May. Please visit the websites for more information:

PreK: https://www.fcps.org/academics/early_childhood_education/pre-_k_application_process

Kindergarten: https://www.fcps.org/academics/early_childhood_education/kindergarten_enrollment

• C. Burr Artz Library monthly program: April
• April 11 & 25: Collaborative Food Pantry at Asbury Church, 10am - 1pm
• April 14 & 16: PJs & Teddy Bears Under the Stars at the ESSL, shows at 6pm & 7pm

Seed to Supper is a free, six-week beginning gardening course. It's designed to give family gardeners the tools they need to grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget. This program is open to one adult and up to two children in a household. Spots are limited so sign up now! First-come-first served. This program is hosted at Lincoln after school on Fridays, starting April 17.

Contact Amy Rembold with the University of MD at ARembold@umd.edu

Did you know that our students can be nominated for a positive referral each month? Students that demonstrate consistent good behavior and exhibit any of our habits of learning celebrate with an extra recess at the end of each month.

Lincoln's Habits of Learning

• self-advocating
• practicing social responsibility
• demonstrating perseverance
• having a learning mindset

We had 147 students nominated in March. Each student that is nominated also receives a certificate to take home. Great job!

*All events are from 5 - 7pm unless otherwise noted*

• April 2: Lincoln Night (at Frederick High School, 5:30 - 7:30pm)
• May 29: Panther Party

Be a part of our PAC to help us improve our school environment and our learning community! Our next meeting is Thursday, April 16th from 5-6:30pm. Please email Crosby.Blair@fcps.org to RSVP.

ALL PARENTS AND GUARDIANS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND!

Current Attendance Rates

• Whole School: 94% (The FCPS goal is 96%)
• PreK: 92.6%
• Kindergarten: 92.5%
• First: 93.9%
• Second: 95.3%
• Third: 94.5%
• Fourth: 94.6%
• Fifth: 94.4%

Current Chronic Absence Rate: 16.8% (Our school goal is to be lower than 15%)

Regular school attendance is important for a student's academic and behavioral success. We need your help! Please make sure your child is coming to school regularly unless they are sick. Per FCPS policy, anytime a student is absent, the school must receive written documentation from the guardian and/or medical provider. Written communication can be in the form of an email, a Talking Points message, or a hand written note. Our ratings on the Maryland School Report Card are heavily impacted by our attendance rates. Reach out to our Community School Coordinator at Crosby.Blair@fcps.org with any attendance questions or needs.

We're excited to announce that we've partnered with an organization called "All For Lunch" to help keep our school lunch debt free. 100% of tax-deductible donations will go directly towards eliminating debt and donors receive an automated receipt through email. Please help us spread the word!

https://allforlunch.org/LincolnESmd/

Family and community members interested in volunteering should begin the volunteer process by visiting the FCPS Volunteer Webpage linked below. Applicants will be directed to:

1. Complete a registration form.
2. Complete a training module on Unified Talent.
3. Await school approval on application.
4. Sign-up for volunteer opportunities facilitated by individual schools.

*Complete ONE registration form only per person. Additional school selections may be added after original approval. Please note: To avoid delays, you must complete the registration form and training using the exact same full name and email address each time. Do not use nicknames, abbreviations, hyphen variations, or alternate spellings or email addresses.

The volunteer registration and training process is completed annually for each school year. Volunteers must complete the process before being signed up for volunteer opportunities, including chaperoning a field trip. FCPS encourages family and community members interested in volunteering to complete the process early as processing times can vary.

Meet the school counseling team: The “Super Support Squad”

• Mrs. Groveman (Counselor) grades 3-5 Tiffany.Groveman@fcps.org

• Mrs. Quill (Counselor) grades PreK-2 Heather.Quill@fcps.org

• Ms. Dodson (Behavior Support Specialist) Heather.Dodson@fcps.org

• Ms. Cody (Behavior Support Specialist) Amanda.Cody@fcps.org

During the month of April the counseling team will be leading students through a series of lessons to open up their ideas related to the world of work. Our career curriculum goals are:

• #1 Career Development - Students will demonstrate skills to investigate the world of work in relation to knowledge of self and make informed career decisions.
• #2 Career Development - Students will employ strategies to achieve future career goals with success and satisfaction.
• #3 Career Development - Students will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between career choices to enhance their knowledge of the world of work.

We need your help! We will be encouraging all students to talk to their families about the types of skills and interests that led them to their current work. Please share your stories with your child. You are their greatest inspiration!

If your child experiences any of the following symptoms listed below please keep them home from school:

• Fever over 100 within the last 24 hours (must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school)
• Vomiting/diarrhea within the last 24 hours
• Rash
• Red, itchy, crusty eyes or any drainage from eyes

As the weather changes some students may begin experiencing seasonal allergies. Some symptoms of seasonal allergies may include

• Sneezing
• Itchy nose/throat
• Nasal congestion
• Clear, runny nose
• Postnasal drip

There are many treatments for seasonal allergies. Your pediatrician can suggest medications if needed.

Contact Lincoln's health room with any questions 227-203-1580; Katherine.Crawford@fcps.org

As spring testing approaches, it’s common for children to feel increased pressure or worry. While some level of nervousness is typical, too much stress can make it harder for students to focus, think clearly, and show what they know. Simple routines and reassurance at home can help children feel more confident, prepared, and supported during testing periods.

Tip of the Month: Supporting Kids During Tests

• Healthy Sleep – Keep a consistent bedtime and limit screens before bed. A well-rested brain supports attention, memory, and problem solving.
• Balanced Breakfast – Offer protein and whole grains (like eggs, yogurt, or toast) to help maintain steady energy and avoid mid-morning fatigue.
• Quick Calm Downs – Practice simple strategies like deep breathing, stretching, or repeating “I can do this” so your child can use them independently during testing.
• Keep Perspective – Remind your child that tests are just one way to show learning. Focus on effort, not outcomes, and celebrate trying their best.

Contact Info: Jamie Udaka, PhD; School Psychologist (Itsuko.udaka@fcps.org)

Click the button below for this month's Judy Center newsletter!

Information about bus status and delays can be found using the button below. The page refreshes every 60 seconds.

Also, please be reminded of the Maryland laws surrounding school bus safety: English; Spanish

Please reach out if you have any questions/concerns/needs... whatever it takes - we're here to help!

Lots of Lincoln Love!

Email: Crosby.Blair@fcps.org
Website: https://education.fcps.org/lnes/home
Location: 200 Madison Street, Frederick, MD
Phone: 227.203.1580