Lincoln Weekly News

Lincoln Early Learning Center houses the preschool programs for three school districts: Fremont District 79, Hawthorn District 73, and Mundelein District 75.

⬅️ Check out the Table of Contents on the left for the latest news from your district.

Please note that you will need to open the newsletter from your browser in order to see the table of contents.

Dear Lincoln Early Learning Center Families,

As we approach winter break, we want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support and partnership. We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the PTOs in each of our districts for the thoughtful treats provided to our staff this week. Your generosity and support are truly appreciated and helped make the season feel extra special.

It has been a wonderful few months of growth, learning, and connection, and we are proud of all that our preschoolers have accomplished so far this year. We wish you and your family a safe, restful, and joyful winter break filled with special moments together. We look forward to welcoming our students back refreshed and ready for a new year of learning and fun.

Warm regards,

Katie O’Brien
Principal, Lincoln Early Learning Center

kobrien@fsd79.org

Kim Stergios
Building Assistant Supervisor, Lincoln Early Learning Center

stergiosk@hawthorn73.org

Absences

If your child will be absent from school because of illness, doctors’ appointments or vacation, please contact us at Lincoln at 847-949-2720. Please notify the school office by 9:30 a.m. the day of the absence to leave a recorded message regarding your child's absence. Keeping track of all the students on a daily basis is a huge task and we greatly appreciate your prompt attention.

Medical Forms

Annual Physical Examinations are required within the first 30 days of entering preschool. All forms can be emailed, faxed, or brought in with your student. If we do not receive your child’s physical, your child will be excluded from school and cannot return to school until submitted. Per IL State Law we must have a child’s physical by October 15 or within 30 days of starting preschool.

Illness and Injuries

Please remember that any child with a fever should stay home until they have been fever free without the use of fever-reducing medication, for at least 24 hours.

Students should also remain home if they are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea. Students may NOT return to school for at least 24 hours after the last episode.

The health office must have current telephone numbers for parents and designated emergency contact persons. Please select your emergency contacts carefully. This person should be familiar with your child, your family routine, and be available to transport your child home if necessary.

Please pre-plan for a telephone call from the health office. If your child becomes ill at school, you are responsible for picking up your child within 30 minutes of the call.

Medications

All medications, feeding, and treatment supplies are to be supplied by the parent per school policy.

Doctor’s orders for medications, feedings, and treatments are required at the beginning of each school year. The school nurse will not accept or administer any medications (including over the counter medications) or perform nursing services or treatments without a doctor’s order.

Any questions related to the above health office guidelines should be directed to the health office staff.

Lincoln Health Office

Holly Palo

847.949.2720 ext.1503

Change in Dismissal

Please contact América Lanuza (lanuzaa@hawthorn73.org) or Danielle Garcia (dgarcia@d75.org) at the Lincoln Front Office(847-949-2720) if there are any end of day changes throughout the school year. Teachers may not always be able to pick up their phone or check email throughout the day, so it would be best to call the front office with any changes. América and Danielle will relay any changes to the classroom teacher after you contact them. Please contact the main office by 10:00 a.m for the morning session and 2:00 pm for the afternoon session for any changes in regards to a child's dismissal procedures.

As a reminder, if your student is in our Tri-District classroom, they will follow the arrival and dismissal times below:

• AM: 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• PM: 12:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m

Please review the Hawthorn School District 73 section for information about important dates. Please review your home district section for any other information.

As we head into the holidays, let’s keep social-emotional and mental health top of mind for our students and ourselves. Please review the Family Resources compiled by the Fremont Mental Health Team and the ReferralGPS program to ensure you have the tools you need for a healthy season.

Two-Hour Late Start Option Added

At the December 15 Board of Education meeting, a two-hour late start was reviewed as a new District option in the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen events. By implementing this two-hour delayed start, the District can maintain in-person learning while prioritizing the safety of students and staff. Under this plan:

• The school day will shift forward by two hours for our K-8 students, and dismissal times will remain unchanged.

• Elementary & Intermediate Schools

• Delayed start time: 10:50 a.m.

• Middle School

• Delayed start time: 9:55 a.m.

• Morning student bus times would be exactly two hours later than their regularly scheduled bus stop pick-up time.

• Lincoln Early Learning Center would see its AM session canceled entirely, while the PM session proceeds as scheduled.

As with any shift in the school day, administration will monitor conditions to determine if conditions are safe for after-school activities.

New Episode: “Fremont Leads” Podcast

Speaking of our Target shopping trip, it's the subject of our brand-new episode of the "Fremont Leads" podcast. Give it a listen to learn more about the history of the event, how it benefits our community, and how you can contribute to the Fremont Township Food Pantry as well if you'd like. Subscribe via any of the platforms below so you don't miss an episode!

Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | YouTube Music | iHeartRadio

Report an Absence

If your child will be absent from school because of illness, doctor's appointments, or for any other reason, please report it to the school office by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence by completing the form linked below. While the online form is preferred, you may also call in the absence to the front office at 847-949-2720.

January 6 - School Resumes

January 16 - No School - Tri-District Preschool Screening

January 19 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Give a Shoutout to Your Favorite Teacher! We’re launching a new Hawthorn Shoutouts campaign to celebrate our incredible educators — and we want your help! Families are invited to submit a short video of their child thanking their teacher or staff member and sharing something special about them.

Selected videos may be featured on our district social media channels and in future newsletters.

January 5 - School Resumes

January 16 - No School - Tri-District Preschool Screening

January 19 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 30 - No School - Institute Day

PTO Updates

Box Tops (flyers below)

Thank you to all of our families who have joined our Box Tops Team! If you haven't downloaded the Box Tops For Education App yet, you can still do it! Simply go to your app store and download the Box Tops for Education App and enter code PNKN0SEQ (District 75 PTO Mundelein), scan a receipt with a Box Top eligible item, and you'll start earning for our schools! There are monthly bonus opportunities too, so watch the Box Tops (and $$) add up for our schools! We are well on our way to hitting our goal of raising $1,000 this year!

January 6 - School Resumes

January 16 - No School - Tri-District Preschool Screening

January 19 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day

January 30 - No School - Institute Day