Lincoln Lions Family Newsletter

Dear Lincoln Families,

Thank you for a wonderful start to the 2026-27 school year. Our students have come focused and ready to learn. Last week the students and teachers spent time establishing classroom social contracts, learning the expectations of lunch/recess, specials classes, and many of their core content class procedures.

For our kindergarten students, they are busy learning how to use school tools, listen to and follow directions, and how to share a positive learning space with their teacher and classmates.

All of our students in grades K-5 will begin district Fall Assessments this week. The FastBridge Assessment is given in both reading and math three times per year to measure student understanding and growth. Please be sure that students are getting adequate rest at night while we are in assessment season.

I am proud to share that 30 of our students received POSITIVE referrals from their teachers during our first week. All referrals are send via email, so please make sure we have an updated email address on file.

Upcoming Events

🚌Field Trips

• First graders are visiting the Kalamazoo Public Library this week. First graders will board the bus to the library promptly at 9:20 Friday, September 11th and will return before lunch

📸Picture Day

Picture Day is coming up on October 8th. We will send home order forms and share the online link as soon as we receive that information,

👟First Day Shoe Fund Shoe Fitting & Distribution: September 24th

📅Count Day : October 7th--We need 100% of our students present for a full day of learning!

Lincoln Lions ROAR!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Roberts

🤎Lincoln Principal

My name is David Cicha and I teach 4th and 5th Grade Orchestra at Kalamazoo Public Schools. It is my 6th year in the district and I am thrilled to be at my four buildings this year! I love playing all kinds of instruments; outside of strings I also play percussion, piano, clarinet, and many more! Outside of school, I enjoy cycling and running, playing video games, photography, yoyoing, and spending time with family and friends. I live in Kalamazoo with my wife and cat (you'll have to come to orchestra to see pictures of him).

Attendance Matters

Research shows that attendance and punctuality are important for student success. Tardies and early dismissals add up and can lead to chronic absenteeism, as well as absences early in the year. We understand emergencies and illnesses happen, but we encourage students to attend school whenever possible.

If you need help creating an attendance plan or resources, please contact:

Ms. Tina, Home Support Specialist: mckinneylm@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Mr. Joseph Burrel, CIS Coordinator: burrelj@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Ms. Dunning, Unhoused Student Support Point of Contact: dunningtl@kalamazoopublicschools.net

To report an excused absence quickly, email: Ms. Lauren, Child Accounting Secretary at kannegieterlk@kalamazoopublicschools.net or call the main office at (269) 337-0640.

Every morning for arrival, students gather behind the school nearest the Parsons St. side. Students are lined up by class homeroom teacher across from the playground equipment. They stand in line and wait for the bell and signal to enter the building at 8:04.

IMPORTANT: There is NO PARKING in the bus lane on Parsons Street. You can park in the Mt. Zion parking lot, walk your student down to the crosswalk to cross over to the playground area. Please refrain from crossing your students in the middle of the street and walking in between busses. We want to ensure everyone's safety at all times.

If your child is being picked up at the end of the day for dismissal, they will be dismissed from the front doors closest to Parsons St. There will be a sign out front. All dismissal changes should be called in to the main office by 2:30 pm.

• Mailing and Email Address Updates:
  At the end of spring, we mailed out report cards, and several were returned due to families moving. If you have recently moved, please ensure your address is updated in our system. You can reach out to our child accounting secretary, Ms. Lauren, for assistance at kannegieterlk@kalamazoopublicschools.net

During the first week of school, please check your child's backpack and folder for an important back-to school packet. Within this packet is important information including the education benefits form. This form needs to be filled out and returned to school as soon as possible. This helps ensure that we can continue to provide universal breakfast and lunch FREE of charge for ALL STUDENTS. Please help our school reach a 100% form return rate!

Another way to fill it out is by clicking here or below to get to the form. Select "Apply for Benefits." After accepting the terms and conditions, select the "Education Benefit Form."

Click the Apply for Benefits form and complete the form as soon as possible. This form filled out by all Lincoln families greatly impacts the funding we received to support our students!

2026-27 Meeting Dates

*All meetings are held in our school library 5:30-6:30 pm

September 22, 2026

October 27, 2026

January 26, 2027

March 23, 2027

May 25, 2027

Hello Lincoln Families,

First Day Shoe fund provides new athletic shoes for students in elementary school at no cost. If your Lincoln student could benefit, you can order online at www.firstdayshoefund.org/order (deadline is 9/16/26).

This is a great opportunity to build your child’s home library with new books that will get them excited about reading, while also earning funds for our school. The easiest way to let your child shop the Fair independently is by creating a Book Fair eWallet through our school homepage. It’s easy to set up and easy for family and friends to add funds. With eWallet, you’ll also have the chance to contribute to Share the Fair™—the giving program that supports students at our school who need help buying books. Consider participating so that no child leaves the Fair empty-handed! Preview the books coming to the Fair by taking a 360° virtual tour via our school’s Book Fair homepage and explore the titles, watch video book trailers, and more. We can’t wait to see you at the Fair and help every student discover a book they’ll love!

Join us on September 17th here at 912 N. Burdick St., 5:00-6:30 pm to meet your child's teachers, see their classrooms, and learn more about programs and opportunities at Lincoln. We will also be kicking off our Fall One School One Book Program. When a whole school reads a book together, we’ll have a lot to talk about. We are reading The World According to Humphrey and Memoirs of A Hamster!

Sept. 7th- Labor Day No School

Sept. 14th- First Day for PEEP students

September 14-18 Scholastic Book Fair

Sept. 17th- Open House 5:00-6:30

Sept 24th-First Day Shoe Fund Distribution

Oct. 8th--School Picture Day

Oct. 20 PreK-12; no students

Oct. 30 PreK-12 half day; records day 11:20 Dismissal

Nov. 5. K-8 half day 11:20 Dismissal

Nov. 6 K-5 half day 11:20 Dismissal

Nov 10--Picture Retake Day

Nov. 13 PreK-5; no students

Nov. 25-Nov 27 Thanksgiving Break; all buildings closed

Dec. 9 PreK-12; no students

Dec. 21 - Jan. 1 Winter Break

Email: robertsdn@kalamazoopublicschools.net
Website: http://lincoln.kalamazoopublicschools.com/
Location: 912 North Burdick Street, Kalamazoo, MI, USA
Phone: 269-337-0640