Welcome Back from Spring Break!

Principal

4/1 BookFair and Autism Awareness Day

4/1 Paraprofessional Day and SEL Activity Day ”Sound and Bath”

4/2 Book Fair and World Autism Day

4/2 National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

4/2 Kindergarten Field Trip: Bellaboo

4/2 PBIS: Tiger Store

4/3 Good Friday: No School

4/4 School Librarian Day

4/5 Easter

4/6 - 4/9 Spring Break

4/13 School Resumes and Assembly: Part II. Think Before You Post”

4/13 Week of the Young Child: Move it Monday

4/14 Week of the Young Child: Turn it Tuesday and Let’s Get on Track Assembly

4/14 Kindergarten Round Up and National Gardening Day

4/14 Pan American Day

4/15 Week of the Young Child: Together Wednesday

4/15 Jackie Robinson Day and Taxes Due

4/16 Week of the Young Child: Tasty Thursday

4/16 ECE PAC and World Voice Day

4/16 Spring Pictures and 8th Grade Retakes

4/17 World Haemophilia Day

4/17 Week of the Young Child: Florist Friday

4/20 Board Meeting at Lincoln Elementary

4/21 Kindergarten Round Up

4/21 ISA Test for Grades 5 and 8 Part I

4/22 ISA Test for Grades 5 and 8 Part II and Early Dismissal 11:50 am

4/22 Kindergarten Parent Transition Meetings

4/22 Pre-K Transition Meeting and Girl Scout Leader’s Day

4/22 Earth Day

4/22 Administrative Professional Day

4/23 ISA Test for Grades 5 and 8 Part III

4/23 National Junior Honor Society Induction 6:00 - 7:30 pm

4/24 PBIS Incentive Day

4/24 TFN Grand Band Concert 1:00 pm - 7:00 pm

4/25 Speech and Debate District Championship in Peoria, IL 6:00am

4/28 Kindergarten Round Up and TFN Connection Day

4/29 Book Club- “The Anxious Generation”

4/29 Girl Empowerment Leadership Conference at TFN

4/30 Science Fair and TRS SSP Educational Sessions

4/30 Scholastic Bowl

4/30 Family Learning Fair 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

4/6-410 Assistant Principal Week

4/27 - 5/1 Last Week of Afterschool Programs

4/27 - 5/1 School-Wide Book Fair

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our student innovators at the 2025–2026 Illinois Invention Convention State Competition. This year, an impressive 6,689 students from across Illinois participated in the invention process, with only 178 projects selected to advance to the state competition held on March 14, 2026. We are thrilled to share that 8 of those projects were from Lincoln Elementary School, showcasing the creativity and dedication of our students.

Among these talented participants, two Lincoln Elementary projects were recognized as winners and will advance to the Illinois Student Invention Showcase and Awards on April 25, 2026. Congratulations to our 8th grade team, London Uysalbas and Leonardo Villalobos, for their innovative project, Hydro Pot, and to 5th grader Jazmine Franco for her project, Automatic Makeup Remover.

We are especially excited to share that Jazmine’s invention was one of the highest-scoring projects in the entire competition. Because of this outstanding achievement, she has earned the opportunity to represent our school at the U.S. National Student Invention Convention, which will take place at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan this June.

We are incredibly proud of all 8 projects of our student participants for their hard work, creativity, and commitment to innovation. Their success reflects the strength of our STEM program and the bright future ahead for our Lincoln students!

Our Multilingual (ML) Department continues to support teachers in ensuring that English Learners can fully access grade-level content while building strong academic language skills. Staff were provided with several resources designed to maintain high expectations for all students while thoughtfully reducing language barriers.

The ML Department shared scaffolding strategies and supports in the following key areas:

• Language & Comprehension

• Visual and Multimodal Supports

• Vocabulary Development

• Instructional Strategies

• Speaking & Listening

• Reading Support

• Writing Support

• Assessment and Classroom Environment

These resources help ensure that English Learners receive the tools and support they need to engage meaningfully in learning, develop language proficiency, and succeed academically. We appreciate the ML Department’s continued commitment to supporting both our students and staff.

The following response rate information for Lincoln Elem School-Calumet City is current as of March 13, 2026.

• The student response rate is 100% for the 2026 Illinois 5Essentials Student Survey.

• The teacher response rate is 71% for the 2026 Illinois 5Essentials Teacher Survey.

• The parent response rate is 29% for the 2026 Illinois Supplemental Parent Survey.

Thank you, Mr. Schouten and Mrs. Evans, for the taking charge of this important initiative.

This month, we will recognize students who have demonstrated kindness in our school community. Kindness can be shown in many ways—helping classmates, including others, using respectful words, showing patience, and making positive choices that support those around them. We want to celebrate students who go out of their way to make others feel welcome, valued, and supported.

Teachers and staff are encouraged to nominate students who consistently show caring behavior, lend a helping hand, and contribute to a positive and inclusive environment in the classroom and throughout the school. These students model what it means to treat others with compassion and respect, helping to make our school a better place for everyone.

Week of the Child is a special celebration dedicated to recognizing the importance of children, their rights, and their well-being. Throughout the week, activities focus on creativity, learning, and community, encouraging children to express themselves and feel valued. It highlights the role of families, schools, and society in supporting every child’s growth and happiness.

The last week of the afterschool program will take place from April 27 to May 1. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who helped make the program a success.

A special thank you goes to our dedicated staff, our outside providers who brought valuable experiences and learning opportunities to our students, and, of course, our amazing students who participated, learned, and brought energy to the program each day.

Your commitment, support, and enthusiasm helped create a positive and engaging environment for everyone involved. We truly appreciate all the time and effort that went into making this program meaningful and successful.

Challenge for students in grades 3–8 during February and March!

This friendly competition encouraged students to come to school every day, stay engaged in learning, and support one another in building strong attendance habits.

We are proud to announce the winner: Ms. Ally’s class! With the highest attendance rate across both months, they have earned a well-deserved pizza party!

Every day at school truly matters. Consistent attendance helps students stay on track academically and socially, and we are so proud of all our students and families for their efforts.

Thank you for helping make attendance a priority—and congratulations again to Ms. Ally’s class!

We proudly recognize the dedication and commitment of our teachers who maintained perfect attendance throughout the month of March. Your reliability and consistency play a vital role in creating a stable and supportive learning environment for our students. Thank you for your professionalism and for showing up each day ready to make a difference!

A Reminder to Parents: Both excused and unexcused absences impact the growth and success of our students. Consistent attendance is crucial for their academic development and helps us maintain our school’s budget. Let’s make it a priority together!

Important: Tardy Procedures

To help ensure a smooth start to each school day, please remember the following procedures for dealing with tardiness:

• Arrival Time: Students must be in their homeroom by 8:15 a.m. to avoid being marked tardy.

• 8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.: Tardy students will receive a BLUE pass, and teachers should record the tardiness in PowerSchool-Attendance.

• After 8:30 a.m.: Tardy students must enter through the main office, where they will receive a YELLOW tardy pass. The attendance clerk will log these tardies in PowerSchool-Attendance.

Attendance Consequences: For Kindergarten through 8th-grade students, five tardies will result in After-School Detention. After the 5th tardy:

• The teacher should complete a Discipline Referral form through SWIS and call the parent to notify them.

• Submit the referral form to the Assistant Principal for follow-up.

The overall attendance rate for March is 92.09%. We are pleased to announce 229 students had perfect attendance!!!

We are excited to welcome our future kindergarten students! Children who will be 5 years old on or before September 1, 2026, and who reside within Lincoln Elementary School District 156, are eligible to register for the 2026–2027 school year.

Registration Dates & Times:

• Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Tuesday, April 21, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Tuesday, April 28, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Families registering an incoming kindergartener may also register siblings who will be attending during the 2026–2027 school year.

Important Reminder:
All students must provide the required registration documentation at the time of registration.

To schedule your appointment, please click the link below:

Kindergarten Registration Appt.

We look forward to meeting you and your child!

On March 18, our preschool students had a wonderful time participating in a fun and exciting Fashion Show! The students proudly walked the runway, showing off their creative outfits and big smiles. Families and staff enjoyed watching the children model their looks with confidence and enthusiasm.

The event was filled with laughter, applause, and lots of great fashion. It was a special opportunity for our preschoolers to express themselves and celebrate their creativity.

Thank you to all the families who joined us and helped make the day so memorable for our young learners!

Lincoln Elementary School Pre K Fashion Show .mp4

We are beyond proud of our students who have earned Lincoln Tiger Paws! 🐾🎉

What a joyous moment seeing their hard work turn into something so rewarding — just look at what they were able to purchase! Keep shining, Lincoln scholars!

This spring, our school is thrilled to see our brightest young minds shine on the big stage! Brought to you by Advantage Communication in partnership with Peoria Public Schools District 150, the Speech & Debate District Championship will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Manual High School in Peoria, Illinois.

The event promises a day of inspiring speeches and unforgettable stories as talented student speakers from across the region showcase their skills, confidence, and creativity. From the semifinals in the morning to the awards ceremony in the afternoon, it’s a celebration of ideas and young voices making an impact.

Meet Our Team of Young Speakers:

• Abideen Olanfewagu (5th Grade)

• Penelope Rivera (5th Grade)

• Shaniyah Dortch (5th Grade)

• Charlie Smith (5th Grade)

• Jace Dowd (5th Grade)

• Elias Kazlauskas (5th Grade)

• Jakhai Sullivan (5th Grade)

• Cxiang Mathis (5th Grade)

• James Smith (4th Grade)

• Kingston Moore (4th Grade)

These remarkable students have been preparing with dedication, courage, and perseverance. Every speech written and every moment spent refining their presentations reflects their commitment to excellence.

As they step onto the stage, they carry not only their own voices but the pride of our entire school. No matter the outcome, the growth, confidence, and passion they’ve demonstrated are already a victory.

We invite our community to cheer them on, celebrate their achievements, and witness the power of young voices in action. This is more than a competition—it’s a showcase of ideas, inspiration, and the next generation of leaders.

We are proud to announce that several of our Lincoln students have been recognized as winners in Black History Month. This is a wonderful achievement, and we congratulate each of these students for their outstanding work and creativity.

Students and their families were invited to attend the awards ceremony at the next Calumet City Council meeting on March 12th at 6:00 PM.

Our Lincoln Winners

Category 1: Ages 7–9
• 1st Place: Abraham Flores (3rd Grade)
• 2nd Place: Julian Gutierrez (2nd Grade)
• 3rd Place: Mateo Aceves (3rd Grade)
• 3rd Place Runner-Up: Brayden Johnson (2nd Grade)

Category 2: Ages 10–12
• 3rd Place: Delilah Ruffino (5th Grade)

Essay Category: Ages 13–16
• 1st Place: Kevin Brown (8th Grade – entered through Calumet City Library)
• 2nd Place: Isaac Gentles (8th Grade – entered through Calumet City Library)

We are incredibly proud of our students for representing Lincoln with excellence!

Our IAR Prep Rally was both motivational and educational, helping students feel confident, encouraged, and ready to show what they know as they prepare for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR).

I would like to recognize our incredible Instructional Coaches—Mrs. DuLaney-Morrison, Ms. Simpson, and Mrs. Griffin—for their leadership and dedication in supporting this important work. Their efforts continue to ensure that our students are prepared both academically and emotionally.

A special thank you goes to the Art Club for creating the amazing posters that added energy and excitement to the event. We also appreciate Mrs. Myers, our phenomenal art teacher, whose support and creativity helped make this possible.

We would also like to recognize Ms. Spencer, Mrs. Brown-Stewart, Mrs. Smith-Ross, and Mrs. DeLaRiva for the encouragement and support they provide to our students, helping them feel confident and cared for during this important time.

And of course, no assembly or rally would feel complete without Mrs. Parish’s finishing touch with her creative balloon displays. Her attention to detail always helps bring everything together beautifully.

Lastly, our very own Mr. Korey Kysers did an awesome job serving as the host of Lincoln Family Feud, bringing fun and excitement to the rally.

From the preparation of materials to the creation of over 400 student bags, this event was truly a phenomenal team effort. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, energy, and creativity to uplift and prepare our students for success. We are proud of the strong community that continues to support our students every step of the way.

Lincoln Elementary IAR Prep Assembly.mp4

Our students participated in a dynamic SCOOT activity to practice distinguishing fact from opinion statements. Each student used a clipboard and answer grid to rotate through 32 cards displayed along the hallway lockers, identifying each statement independently or with a partner when needed. This hands-on, kinesthetic approach allowed students to move, collaborate, and actively engage with the content, strengthening critical reading and reasoning skills in a fun, scaffolded way.

What Students Learned:
Students practiced identifying facts versus opinions, built confidence in independent decision-making, and strengthened their critical thinking skills through movement and collaboration.

Our students participated in a dynamic SCOOT activity to practice distinguishing fact from opinion statements. Each student used a clipboard and answer grid to rotate through 32 cards displayed along the hallway lockers, identifying each statement independently or with a partner when needed. This hands-on, kinesthetic approach allowed students to move, collaborate, and actively engage with the content, strengthening critical reading and reasoning skills in a fun, scaffolded way.

What Students Learned:
Students practiced identifying facts versus opinions, built confidence in independent decision-making, and strengthened their critical thinking skills through movement and collaboration.

On Friday, March 27th, our junior high students were delighted by a special performance from the TF North Advanced Choir. The group filled the room with beautiful music, including stunning selections and impressive small-group a cappella pieces.

A special highlight was Lincoln alum Kiera Gardner, who truly shone with a breathtaking solo—what a proud moment for our school community!

Thank you to Mr. Spakowski and the talented TF North choir for sharing your incredible gifts with us. It was an uplifting experience our students won’t forget!

Lincoln Elementary TF NORTH CHOIR PERFORMANCE.mp4

Dear Families,

As we move through this exciting time of the school year, I’m delighted to share the wonderful learning, growth, and joy happening in our preschool through second-grade classrooms. Our students continue to make meaningful progress each day, and your support at home truly makes a difference—we are so grateful for our partnership with you!

Preschool

This time of year is filled with incredible growth for our youngest learners. Our preschool teachers are focusing on key developmental skills that build a strong foundation for future success, including:

• Social-emotional development

• Independence and self-help skills

• Language development

• Early literacy and math skills

• Fine motor development

You can support your child at home by creating small opportunities for independence—such as cleaning up toys, completing simple activities, or following daily routines with minimal assistance for short periods of time (10–15 minutes).

We also encourage families to continue nurturing social-emotional growth by helping children practice:

• Managing emotions

• Taking turns and sharing

• Using clear words to express their needs, ideas, and feelings

Simple ways to support learning at home:

• Encourage your child to speak in complete sentences

• Help them recognize and identify their name in print

• Ask them to retell a favorite story or part of a book

• Practice following one- to two-step directions

• Count everyday objects (1–10 and beyond!)

• Use scissors safely, trace lines, or copy simple shapes

First and Second Grade Highlights

Our first- and second-grade students recently spread kindness and school spirit by creating encouraging signs for students in grades 3–8 during the IAR assessment. It was a beautiful example of our community supporting one another!

At this point in the year, students are continuing to grow as readers and mathematicians, building confidence and independence in their skills.

First Grade Goals:

• Reading sight words and decoding simple sentences

• Adding and subtracting within 20

• Skip counting by 1s, 5s, and 10s

By the end of first grade, students are working toward reading approximately 60 words per minute with accuracy and fluency.

Second Grade Goals:

• Strengthening reading fluency and comprehension

• Adding and subtracting 2- and 3-digit numbers with regrouping

• Beginning to understand multiplication concepts

By the end of second grade, students are working toward reading 90–100 words per minute with confidence.

How Families Can Help at Home

Learning happens everywhere! You can support your child through everyday activities like:

• Reading signs, labels, or short books aloud

• Practicing sight words for a few minutes each day

• Counting objects while cooking, shopping, or cleaning

• Solving simple addition and subtraction problems using household items

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement, and partnership. Together, we are nurturing confident readers, joyful learners, and strong leaders!

Warmly,

Mrs. Monica Reynolds

This March, we proudly celebrated our third Tea With Me gathering, honoring students nominated for consistently demonstrating the 4 B’s. Over tea and light snacks, students enjoyed time together while learning the meaningful reasons their teachers selected them. These students exemplify kindness, respect, safety, and responsibility in our school community each day. We are so proud of their positive impact—be sure to check out the video montage below to see these amazing students in action!

Tea With Me

We ask that you please have conversations with your students about appropriate use of technology at school. Our technology department works hard to provide safe and equitable access for all students. Students mustn't use outside websites or tools to bypass district firewalls or safety measures. Doing so is considered a violation of our technology policies and may result in the loss of technology privileges. Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Greetings, 8th-grade families! Please note that 8th-grade picture retakes will take place on April 16th. If your student was unable to take their original picture or would like a retake, they should come dressed for photos on this day, as it coincides with the school’s spring pictures.

As graduation and end-of-year activities quickly approach, we ask for your support in reminding students about the behavior expectations outlined in the 8th-grade parent meeting contract. Encouraging students to make positive choices will help ensure a strong and successful finish to the school year. Thank you for your partnership!

Our students have been hitting the books hard this term, and the results are officially in. The growth we are seeing in the AR Point Club is nothing short of impressive!

We’ve seen a strong surge in reading activity across the school since the beginning of the year.

• Quarter 2: 21 Students made the Point Club

• Quarter 3: 38 Students made the Point Club

• Total Growth: An incredible 81% increase in club members!

A huge shout-out goes to our 4th graders, who have shown the most explosive growth this quarter. They started the term with 4 students in the club and finished with 15 members—that is a staggering 275% increase!

Congratulations to all our readers for their dedication and hard work. Let’s keep that momentum going into Quarter 4!

All the sweet treats are lined up and ready to go. Each bag contained Smores Snack Mix with the message “Smart Smore - You toasted your 3rd Q AR goal!

Nelson Braham is the first third grader to make the Point Club this year.

Our larger bunch of 4th Grade Point Club Members (Top to bottom, left to right: Issac Gladney, Amiyah Blumenberg, Zuleyk Acosta, Ruben Ruiz, Liam Shields, Evelyn Hidalgo Buenrostro, Javier Alonzo Angel, Brianna Melgoza, Royce Gibson, Cristal Martinez, Layla Moore, and Alexander Robles Velazquez.

5th Grader Jonathan Cruz Alvarez shows off his Platinum-level prizes. He got a sweet treat, a 3d bookmark, a book of his choice, and he will have a special dress-down day after Spring Break.

6th Grade Point Club Member showing off their prizes (Top to Bottom, left to right) Deandre Thomas, Evelyn Ramirez Avila, Axel Diaz, Anthony Herrera, and Anilyah Williams.

7th Grade Point Club Members (Top to Bottom, left to right) Angela Andrez Martinez, Deborah Odunayo, Adam Johnson, and Javier Vargas.

8th Grade Point Club Members (Top to Bottom, left to right) Aqeel Williams, Isabella Rivera, Jacqueline Guerrero, Farihat Raheemson, Annalise Quiroga-Zambrano, Edward Graham, and Kamari Oharrow.

Objective: To ensure the timely return of all library materials and the reconciliation of lost book fees before graduation and the close of the school year. This timeline aligns with the process in previous years.

8th Grade Graduation Timeline

• Graduation Date: May 26

• Last Day for Library Use: May 5

• Final Return Deadline: May 5 (End of Day)

• Invoicing: Missing book bills will be issued on May 8.

• Fine Deadline: May 25. Note: All outstanding balances must be cleared to ensure participation in the graduation ceremony.

Grades 1–7 Year-End Timeline

• Last Day for Library Use: May 22

• Final Return Deadline: May 22 (End of Day)

• Invoicing: Missing book bills will be issued on May 26.

• Fine Deadline: June 2.

• Final Reporting: A master list of unpaid fines will be submitted to the Front Office on June 2. Per library policy, any fines remaining unpaid after June 2 will be attached to the student’s registration profile for the upcoming school year.