LINCOLN SCHOOL NEWS JANUARY 2012

Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn

 

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY BEE –Fourth and fifth grade classes have completed the preliminary round of the National Geography Bee. Finalists will compete in the school’s final on Wednesday, January 11 at 2:00 P.M. We would encourage you to attend and support these young students in their endeavor.  The overall school winner will receive a special medal and will complete a written test to qualify for the state competition.  The bee is intended to create an awareness of geography and current events among students.

 

SCHOOL MALL FUNDRAISER – Lincoln students will again be participating in the “School Mall” fundraiser. The program will be launched during the week of January 9.  Students will take home a booklet with postcards attached.  Students should, with parents’ guidance, write the address of a friend or relative on each card in the booklet and return the booklet intact.  School Mall will do the follow-up and see that individuals printed on the cards receive their ordering information and materials. The proceeds from this fundraiser will continue to help in bringing back the Missoula Children’s Theatre.

 

READING - Our reading assembly is tentatively set for Thursday, January 19 at 2:00 P.M. to recognize students’ reading achievement. Stockmen’s Bank will be providing a new presidential dollar to each student who reaches his quarterly goal. In addition, each student who reaches his goal will have his name placed in a drawing for one of several presidential coin collector kits. Ten of these kits will be given during this time as well.

Your child’s reading summary can be provided at your request by your child’s teacher. This report will give you information concerning your child’s progress in reaching his goals. January 13 will be the last day for students to reach their second quarter goals. Thank you for your help in promoting reading at home. Your enthusiasm and encouragement are vital to your child’s attitudes and success.

 

STUDENT ATTENDANCE – Regular school attendance is a vital part of a successful school experience. In order to maximize the educational benefits for each child, students need continuity of instruction, classroom participation, and sequential learning experiences. These can only occur when your child is in school. When an unplanned absence is necessary, please phone the school office before 8:30 A.M. at 377-2308.

 

WINTER CLOTHING –Since children will be expected to go outside for recess except during sub-zero weather, they need to be dressed to fit weather conditions. It is a good idea to label your children’s winter clothing and to have them check the lost and found boxes if they do lose anything.  Please check the weather forecast and make sure that your children are dressed appropriately before leaving home in the mornings.

 

MENTAL MATH – Every day in the grown-up world, we face situations that call for adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing. We figure tips in restaurants, decide when to leave home to get to the movies on time, estimate the price of a sale item, keep track of what we’re spending while shopping in the supermarket, double and halve recipes, and on and on. At least half of the time, we do these calculations mentally. Because “figuring in our heads” is such an important life skill, it should be a regular part of math practice. To support your child in developing these skills, make real life problems a part of math practice at home.

Here is an example of a mental math problem that is appropriate for 3-5 grade students: If March 1 falls on a Monday, on what day of the week does April 1 fall?

Try it together!

 

 

SAFE WINTER DRIVING

With winter in full swing, it is a good time to consider safe winter driving.  Please check out the Winter Survival Kit section of our webpage for excellent information and links for safe winter driving.

The Three P's of Safe Winter Driving:

PREPARE

• Maintain Your Car: Check battery and tire tread, keep your windows clear, put no-freeze fluid in the washer reservoir, check your antifreeze.
• Have On Hand: flashlight, jumper cables, abrasive material (sand, kitty litter, even floor mats), shovel, snow brush and ice scraper, warning devices (like flares) and blankets.
• For long trips, add food and water, medication and cell phone.
• Stopped or Stalled? Stay with your car, don't over exert yourself, put bright markers on antenna or windows and shine dome light, and, if you run your car, clear the exhaust pipe and run it just enough to stay warm.
• Plan Your Route: Allow plenty of time (check the weather and leave early if necessary), be familiar with the maps/directions, and let others know your route and arrival time.
• Practice Cold Weather Driving! During daylight, rehearse maneuvers slowly on the ice or snow in an empty lot. Steer into a skid. Know what your brakes will do: stomp on antilock brakes, pump non-antilock brakes.
• Stopping distances are longer on water-covered snow and ice.
• Don't idle for a long time with the windows up or in an enclosed space.

PROTECT YOURSELF

• Drugs and alcohol never mix with driving
• Slow down and increase distances between cars
• Keep your eyes open for pedestrians walking in the road
• Avoid fatigue – Get plenty of rest before the trip, stop at least every three hours, and rotate drivers if possible

PREVENT CRASHES

• Buckle up and use child safety seats properly
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag
• Children 12 and under are much safer in the back seat
• Sit back 10 inches from an air bag

 

CHARACTER COUNTS PILLAR OF THE MONTH IS FAIRNESS - Here are some important guidelines to discuss with children when we consider fairness:

Play by the rules, take turns and share, be open-minded and listen to others, don’t take advantage of others, don’t blame others carelessly.

 

MANNERS OF THE WEEK FOR JANUARY – These are manners that go hand in hand with the pillar of the month:                

                       Jan. 4 – 8           Refrain from gossip and whispers.

            Jan. 11– 15       Practice good sportsmanship.

            Jan. 18 – 22    Always treat others the way you would like to be treated.

            Jan. 25 – 29    Be responsible for your own actions – don’t blame others carelessly.

 

IMPORTANT DATES

                                            January 11 – Geography Bee (4^th & 5^th Grades)

                                           January 13 – End of the 2^nd Quarter of School

                                                      January 18 – Report cards go home with students

                                     January 19 – Reading Recognition Assembly

                                          January 25 – Early Out (Professional Development)

                                          January 30 – Community Concert Outreach program