Lincoln Staff Blog

This Week

P2: Prudence

SEL: Tier 1

12/19 St. Joe King & Queen Court reading to classes beginning at 9 am

12/19 5th grade release day - Katherine Davis (Kern) & Amber Clements (Griffith) will cover

12/19 Lockdown Drill #1 at 2 pm (External Threat)

12/20 IEP at 1:45-2:45 - Charlene Jones-Clark will cover for Laukus

12/21 Staff Holiday Breakfast 7:30 - 8:15

12/21Kindergarten Holiday parties

12/22 Holiday Concert & Winter Parties

12/22 Ugly Sweater Dress-Up Day!

12/23 No School - Winter Break Begins!

Coming Up...

P2: Love of Learning

SEL: Tier 2

01/09 School Resumes

1/10 Student Voice Virtual PD through KRESA 3:45 - 5:15 (For those signed up)

1/11 Kindness Club (12:00 pm)

1/12 IEP (Peek) 8:15 - 9:15 in Art Room, will be covered by Ann MacDonald

Future dates to know...

1/16 No School MLK Day

1/25 School Spelling Bee

2/23 Half Day of School

2/24 Half Day of School

💛 In case you haven't heard...there is big news in the Lincoln Office! Mallory will become a new mommy around the beginning of May! CONGRATULATIONS to the Kauffmans!

💙 Melaina will be creating groups for TRAILS soon. If you have a student that you think would be perfect for the group, please get in touch with the family and ask them to complete the form in the family blog.

💛 If you have any questions at all surrounding the lockdown drill, please stop in and see me!

💙 Thank you to all of our itinerant teachers and 3rd-grade teachers for their hard work on the Nutcracker. Our students love this tradition, and it didn't disappoint!

💛In advance of this week, I want to thank all of you for the patience and guidance you will show students this week. We know this will be an exciting week and there will be changes in routines. Consider how you will increase engagement, take moments to listen, and stay in the moment (be where your feet are). But mostly, believe in yourself--you've got this, and you are making a difference. I am so thankful for all of you! This week we will watch collective efficacy at work!

💙Thank goodness for fire drills! The alarms have been fixed but will be tested again at a time when we don't have students in the building. We will make an announcement before we test.

💛Come ready to relax and have fun on Wednesday morning. Lisa will provide the bulk of the food as a thank-you for everything that all of you do each day.

These special cookbooks will make great gifts! The money raised will benefit our staff and students! Many recipes were submitted by teachers and parents.

- SJPS Foundation

Ask Mallory if you'd like a book!

If you have a volunteer secured or know someone who would be great at it, please have them fill out the form on the family blog. Our JA coordinator is trying to finalize all of the volunteers for over 30 classes. Please let her know ASAP if you have someone. Feel free to email Nina Lilley at nina.lilley@ja.org

The climate and culture committee has finalized this student voice survey to be given to all 2nd - 5th graders. Once completed, results will be shared with all staff. We look forward to learning with our students. The committee is working to finalize our version for our K-1 students. Please take a moment as a grade-level team to discuss the best way to introduce and complete the survey so that our results are as accurate as possible.

This week will be our first lockdown drill. Please read the following information and prepare your students for the 2:00 drill. This first drill will be as if there was an EXTERNAL threat.

• Seat students where an external threat could not see them (typically by windows)
• Lock the door and put in the Nite-Lock.
• Red cards would only be used if a student was injured.
• Ensure students are silent during the drill.
• Never open the door. Another staff member or I will identify ourselves by name, unlock the door, and remove the Nite-Lock with our tool. You will be released to resume learning in your room at that time.
• You can wear jeans every day this week as a holiday gift ;0)
• Keep students in the room until an all-clear announcement has been made.
• The entire building will be locked down, and families will not enter at that time. We will have a sign outside that lets families know that we are practicing a safety drill and will be with them in a moment. If you have someone that is being picked up at 2:00, please let us know in advance.
• If you have student questions, please keep answers short and framed positively.
• I am printing a resource for all Y5 - 3 teachers to use in your classroom to help with why we have lockdown drills. You do not have to use it. I will have a copy in the office (see Mallory) if any 4th or 5th-grade teachers want to see it.
• We have a total of 3 lockdown drills during the year. At least one external threat, one internal threat, and one during a transition period.
• We do not communicate these drills with families ahead of time.

On Thursday morning, we will begin boarding buses at 8:40. Our goal is to head to the high school by 8:50. Second grade will be on the first bus, third grade on the next bus, and so on. We will enter the doors by the fieldhouse. Please allow second grade to get off the bus first so they can enter and head to the front of the auditorium. Third grade can get off the bus and follow second grade, etc. Lincoln sits in the section that is on the right side of the auditorium if you were facing the stage. I have provided a map of the auditorium seating to help you visualize and will put a color coded map in your mailboxes to help guide the seating. When we return to school, your grade level can decide if you want to take students outside for a brief recess. Please ensure that at least two teachers per grade level are outside if there are multiple grades outside. We want to support and watch carefully to avoid problems on the last day before break.

Movie Choices:

(Let me know if you have other good choices!)

The Dog Who Saved Christmas (1 hr. 28 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-nwHSugFHU

Wild Krafts: creature winter wonderland (34 min)

https://youtu.be/XZLp2FFDguo

Peter Rabbit: Winter Tales (30 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLlgqfshv9E

Curious George: Christmas special George versus winter (24 min)

https://youtu.be/LJKcsy7LNvc

Pete the Cat Saves Christmas (18 min)

https://youtu.be/da7e0WR_3Fg

Smurfs: Magic of Christmas (60 min)

https://youtu.be/ISeibT6aljQ

Frosty the Snowman (25 min)

https://youtu.be/N6p6LRtQ2WY

Our Planet (48 min)

https://youtu.be/R2DU85qLfJQ

A free professional development opportunity is being offered through KRESA. The goal is to help teachers build community and develop a sense of belonging. The training begins at 3:45 on Jan. 10th and 24th, but perhaps one colleague in your grade level could get started while the other teachers on your team get students out the door. If we think creatively, people who would like to attend will be able to. Let me know your thoughts if several of your grade-level colleagues would like to attend.

https://madmimi.com/p/d55b251?pact=2505758-170745677-286519862-7338ea510e22ae7b33aa9b9a038306d3b6bcc13f

✔️Find time for students to complete the culture and climate committee survey if you have not (grades 2 - 5)

✔️Prepare for our lockdown drill occurring on Monday at 2:00

✔️Let the office know what time your holiday party will be.

✔️Find time on Friday to have students help you do a thorough cleaning of your room. Let's come back organized and ready for new learning. Not to mention that we want all food out so that we don't have critter friends joining us over the break!

✔️Complete Stop the Bleed Training by Jan. 9th. (counts as 30 min discretionary time)

✔️Read our Lincoln Family Blog to stay current on what families see from our school

✔️Hang in there! 4 days until winter break!

Email: lknuth@sjschools.org
Website: www.sjschools.org
Location: 1102 Orchard Avenue, St. Joseph, MI, USA
Phone: 269.926.3700