LINCOLN SCHOOL NEWS  

DECEMBER 2011

Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to Learn

 

CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS The Lincoln School Christmas Program will be held on Thursday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the DCHS auditorium.  Students should be in the band and choir hallway no later than 6:45 p.m. and are reminded not to dress too warmly for the stage.  More specific information will be forthcoming.

 

BRRR – WINTER IS HERE! – Please make sure that your children are dressed appropriately for the cold weather when they leave home in the morning.  If your child is in need of winter clothing, please contact Mrs. Myran, our school counselor, by calling the school at 377-2308.

 

STUDENTS ENTERING THE BUILDINGRemember that students are to enter the building only from the playground unless they are late for school in the mornings (after 8:10 a.m.).  This procedure also applies on Polar Bear Days.  Once again this is a safety issue since there is NO supervision on the front side of the building. Parents’ stopping in the middle of the street on Nowlan Avenue to let children out of vehicles creates a variety of problems.

 

READING – Most students are continuing to do well in working towards their reading goals for the quarter. As parents you can help by being aware of what your child’s goal is and how they are progressing. Individual goals have been determined and TOPS reports are made available to your child on a regular basis. Your child’s teacher should be able to help if you have further questions or if you are not seeing these reports regularly.

                                                                                                                                         

CHARACTER COUNTS PILLAR OF THE MONTH - CARING

To demonstrate caring, one would show love, regard, and/or concern for the well being of others.  The elements of caring includes the following:

·         Concern for others – to engage or involve yourself in the well-being of others as if your happiness were dependent on theirs.

·         Compassion – sorrow or concern for the suffering of others accompanied by the urge to help.

·         Empathy – the ability to share in another person’s emotions, thoughts, and feelings.

·         Kindness – the possession of sympathetic or generous qualities implying an inclination to be charitable and to do well.

·         Charity – the voluntary giving of money or other help to people in need.

·         Love – deep and tender feeling of attachment or affection for a person or persons.

 

MANNERS OF THE WEEK FOR DECEMBER:

            11/28 – 12/2:  Don’t laugh at other people’s mistakes. 

           12/5 – 12/09:  Greet people with a smile.  Make eye contact.                      

            12/12 – 12/22:  Apologize sincerely and accept apologies from others. 

                                                         

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHY BEE – 4th and 5th grade students will have the opportunity to participate in the National Geography Bee.  Preliminary rounds will be completed at each grade level prior to the holiday break.  Eight to ten finalists from each grade level will compete in the school final to be held during the second week of January. We will have additional information for you in our January newsletter regarding a date and time. 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.

 

 THE GLITTER CARDMommy, mommy looks at the beautiful glitter card," the little girl said.
"Yes Amanda, it is a beautiful card.
Would you like me to buy it for you?" asked her mother.

Amanda nodded her head yes.
Amanda didn't know to whom to send the glitter card. The stars were shining so bright on the card; it was as if the card was trying to tell her something. Amanda wondered what this special card was trying to say.

It was two days before Christmas when her Uncle Gerard came and visited her. Amanda showed him her special glitter card and asked him if he knew what the card was trying to tell her.

"Well Amanda, I think this card is very, very special and you must decide what to do with it. You can send it to your parents, friends, aunts, uncles or give it away to someone special," said Uncle Gerard.
Amanda didn't want to mail it to anyone or give it away. She wanted to keep it forever. Amanda told her Uncle that she would keep the card until it told her what to do. Her Uncle laughed, patted her head and gave her $5.00.
On Christmas Eve, Amanda went downtown to the toy store. She loved looking in the windows, and she knew that Santa Claus would be giving her everything she had on her Christmas list. Standing next to Amanda was a mother and child. They were dressed in torn clothes that didn't look very warm. The little girl asked her mommy if Santa Claus would know they were living in their car and would he bring her a gift this year? The little girl's mommy had the saddest eyes Amanda ever saw. With a small tear falling down her face, the mother told her little girl, she hoped Santa Claus wouldn't forget them. Amanda pulled the glitter card out of her pocket, looked at it, and then realized what the special glitter card was telling her. Amanda reached into her other pocket, took out the $5.00 Uncle Gerard had given her and handed the card and the money to the mother. Amanda ran all the way home. She was happy she was able to help someone, but she missed her special glitter card. Throughout Amanda's life, at Christmas time she always remembered the "special glittered card" she once had. She had told her children and grandchildren the story of her special card and how one card and $5.00 helped make a Merry Christmas for one family.
One cold Christmas Eve, Amanda was sitting alone on a park bench. A girl came over to Amanda and asked her why she was crying. Amanda told the little girl that her husband died two years ago, her children had all moved away and she was all alone. The girl reached into her pocket and pulled out an old tattered card and handed it to Amanda saying: "Please take this card. Many years ago someone gave this card and $5.00 to my great-grandmother on Christmas Eve. Great Granny told me it was the best Christmas they ever had."
Amanda was shocked to see it was the card she gave away so many years ago. She was just about to tell the girl that she was the one who gave the card to her great-grandmother, when the girl reached into her other pocket and pulled out $5.00. She handed Amanda the money and said: "Please hold on to this card until you find someone 'special' to pass it to." With that, the girl ran away.
As Amanda was looking at the glittered card, she was shocked to see all the stars start to move. Instead of a group of shining stars, they now were grouped together to form one bright shining star. Amanda now realized what this card was telling her so many years ago. Christmas isn't about gifts, toys, parties or pretty clothes. Christmas is about love and sharing!
And remember to share that Star that shines in your heart.......

 

DATES TO REMEMBER

                     December 7Early Out – 1:00 p.m. – Staff Development                        

                                December 8 – 7:00 p.m. – Christmas Program - DCHS Auditorium  

                     December 22Early Out – 1:00 p.m. for Christmas Holiday

                     December 23 – January 2 – Christmas & New Year Break – NO SCHOOL

                     January 3 – Classes resume                                                             

                     January 13 – End of the 2nd Quarter of School