Welcome Back Lincoln Loggers!

Can you believe it’s that time already? The summer break seemed to vanish in the blink of an eye, and now we’re back, ready to embark on another year of learning, laughter, and a bit of organized chaos. I hope your break was filled with just the right amount of relaxation, adventure, and maybe a few days where you didn’t even change out of pajamas (we all need those!).

As for my family, we squeezed every bit of fun out of the summer. We had some weekend getaways and day trips with the girls, making memories and maybe a few arguments over who got the front seat. Brooklyn, my oldest, is heading into 9th grade at Union Highschool. Meanwhile, Ashlyn, my youngest, is stepping into 7th Grade. She’s my little introvert who finds peace in creativity, whether it’s whipping up imaginary potions or conducting “experiments” that involve a lot of baking soda and vinegar. I’m convinced she’s on track to be either a doctor or a zoologist—she might just surprise us all and combine the two into something entirely new.

As we dive into the new school year, I want to share our game plan for ensuring that every student, family, and staff member has a successful start. Our top priority is to build a community where everyone feels like they belong, and we’re doubling down on Social-Emotional Well-Being. We know that when kids feel safe and supported, the learning follows naturally.

To kick things off right, we’re taking it slow and steady. The three to five weeks  of school will be all about building a strong classroom community. Your child will be involved in activities designed to help them get to know their classmates, understand themselves better, and work as a team—because we all know teamwork makes the dream work.

We’re also continuing our commitment to the CHAMPS/STOIC program. Now, I know it sounds a bit like the name of a fancy sports drink, but CHAMPS is all about creating a school environment where every student can thrive. This program is grounded in decades of research and provides a framework for teachers to make informed decisions that promote positive behavior and minimize disruptions. It’s like the playbook for making sure everyone gets the most out of their school day.

We’ll be rolling out the specifics of the CHAMPS program in the first month of school, so stay tuned. We want to make sure we’re all speaking the same language, both at home and at school, to provide a consistent, supportive environment for your child’s growth.

Now, let’s talk about our fabulous LPSG (Lincoln Parent-Staff Group). This group plays a huge role in enriching our students’ daily lives by funding programs, events, and classroom resources. 

We’re beyond excited to welcome our students back. Seeing them share their summer stories, marvel at how much they’ve grown, and, yes, help the younger ones wipe ketchup off their faces, are the little moments that make our days bright.

Our teachers have been hard at work preparing classrooms and gathering resources to make this year as smooth and successful as possible. We’re in for an incredible year filled with exploration, growth, and plenty of memorable experiences.

Before we go, let’s take a peek at some of our programs:

  • Family-Community Resource Center Family-Community Resource Center.  Often you will find parents, students and community members participating in our Lunch Buddy Program; making plans with our faith-based partners Trinity Lutheran and All Saints Episcopal and many other community partners; attending early childhood programs; having coffee with me; accessing community resources and other supports.
  • Parent leadership organization called Lincoln Parent-Staff Group (LPSG) Lincoln Parent Staff Group.   LPSG is a Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) and a 501c3 nonprofit. All parents/guardians of Lincoln students and Lincoln staff are automatically LPSG members and there are no financial dues/fees required to participate. They meet every other month to plan activities that benefit students and families in our school.
  • We are an MTSS school as well. MTSS stands for Multi Tiered Systems Support. In short, our staff is very diligent about providing academic and behavior interventions for students in an effort to meet specific needs. We monitor the success of our interventions and analyze data to determine what impact the interventions have on our students.

We look forward to a year filled with growth, achievement, and memorable experiences. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Jessica L Graham
Principal, Lincoln Elementary School