April 2008

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION & SCREENING - All children entering kindergarten in elementary District #1 next fall are asked to attend the screening on Thursday, April 24 at the Lincoln School gym. Children must turn five by September 10, 2008 to be eligible for kindergarten. Students whose last names begin with the letters M-Z should register between 8:30 - 10:45 a.m. and those with last names beginning with A-L should register between 1:00 - 3:15 p.m. No appointments are necessary. If you did NOT register your child in March, a birth certificate and immunization record MUST be presented at the screening. This will be the only day for screening. If you cannot make it to the screening, please call Lincoln School at 377-2308 and confirm that your child is registered. This screening is very important! Children will be assessed for their readiness for kindergarten, be screened for speech and have their vision checked.

BUG STUDENTS - BUG Awards (Bring Up Grades) will be presented to 4th grade students on Tuesday, April 1 at 8:30 in room 31. Five students will be receiving recognition for improving their 3rd quarter classroom grades. They are Sadie Carbajal, Jewel Gentry, Anthony Lopez, Luke Marquart & Lexi Pettersen. Congratulations students on your effort and achievement.

THANK YOU! We had a terrific response to our School Mall fund-raiser in January. Lincoln students raised $1,608.98 to bring Missoula Children's Theater (MCT) to Glendive. Next school year will bring the production of "Rumpelstiltskin", which will take place the week of December 1 - December 6. Thanks to all parents for helping the children fill out names and addresses on the cards for the fundraiser. Pass our thanks on to your friends and relatives who made purchases and helped us continue the tradition of MCT.

Counselor's Corner

 The right to breathe is a natural right and one that no one has the right to abridge.  I believe that children are entitled to some additional natural rights.  Children have the right to breathe, eat, sleep, to have some privacy, and to protect their own bodies.
Each year I visit classrooms and talk to students about protecting their own bodies from pedophiles.  I begin with kindergarten classes and my material changes with the ages of the students.  When I reach the second, third, and fourth grades I include material about how pedophiles use the inter-net to reach their victims. One part of my presentation revolves around privacy.  I tell the students that there are three times when even young children should be afforded some privacy.

  1. When they are getting dressed or undressed.
  2. When they are taking a bath or a shower.
  3. When they are going to the bathroom.

 Statistically children are safest with their natural parents.  Today, a fairly large percentage of our students do not live with their natural parents.  As in other parts of the country, every imaginable combination may comprise the "family unit".  My presentation, in order to help all students, must take that fact into consideration.  As with all my dealing with students I will treat the issue with sensitivity and respect.  Not far from my thoughts however, is the fact that every year young children in Montana are raped. During the month of April I will be visiting all the classes at Lincoln School and talking about the issue of good touch and bad touch.  If you have any questions feel free to call me at Lincoln School.

Lew Melby

CHARACTER COUNTS PILLAR FOR APRIL IS TRUSTWORTHINESS – Please talk with your children about the meaning of trustworthiness at home.  Trustworthiness includes four ethical principles:

Integrity:  People with integrity don't do anything they think is wrong, nor do they lose heart if they fail.
Honesty:  Honesty means telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth as well as being sincere and forthright.  A number of behaviors can damage relationships – exaggerations, promising what you cannot deliver, distorting the truth, withholding important facts, or making false statements.
Promise-keeping (reliability):  This means keeping your work and honoring your commitments.  It also includes being dependable, doing what you are supposed to do, returning what you borrow or paying your debts.  You are reliable if you show up when you are supposed to.  Be prepared.  Having homework done and supplies ready for school are examples, too.
Loyalty:  A loyal person stand up for his or her family, friends, school, and country.  Be a good friend to others and look out for those who care about you.  Keep private information confidential.  Stick up for your friends, but don't do anything that is wrong, even for a friend or just so others will like you.  Don't ask your friends to do anything wrong.  Keep from spreading hurtful rumors or gossip.

MOVING? - If your children will NOT be attending Lincoln School for the 2008-2009 school year, please notify the office at 377-2308. Accurate numbers help us to balance the classrooms for next fall.

DATES TO REMEMBER

April 1 – Grade BUG Awards at 8:30 a.m.
April 2 – Early Out 1:05 p.m.
April 3 – Classroom Group Pictures & Individual Pictures (Lifetouch)

April 18  -  NO SCHOOL (PIR for Teachers)
April 24 – Kindergarten Screening - Lincoln School Gym
April 29 – Childcheck Screening - DCHS



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