Principal-Lincoln Archives - Lincoln School

Staff Recognition Week

Jeanna Velechko — Thu, 01 May 2025 17:35:02 +0000

We celebrate National PTA Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week beginning May 5th. I would like to publicly thank our teachers and staff members for all they do! Our Lincoln staff has been exceptional in providing an educational program for children. I am honored to call them colleagues. Todd Whitacker believes it is never about the program; it’s the staff. From the custodial and maintenance team, assistants, clericals, secretaries, lunch aides, nurse, specialists, teachers, etc., everyone plays a role in educating our children. Let’s not forget that parents are the first teachers! Thank you to all!

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Character Trait of the Month

Jeanna Velechko — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:28:52 +0000

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait- Zest. Zest is not just a brand of soap! It is an enthusiasm and excitement for all that you do; a desire to be active and feel alive! Children learn to be passionate about things by watching their parents get excited and from receiving encouragement for things at which they are good. We want the children to approach life as an adventure; so that one has motivation in challenging situations or tasks. Zest is essentially a concept of courage, and involves acquiring the motivation to complete challenging situations and tasks. Children don’t get excited about everything, but when they do, we ask parents and adults in the child’s life to encourage them and look for opportunities to help them stay excited. Encourage children to participate fully in whatever they are excited about!

True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, author of The Little Prince

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February Trait of the Month

Jeanna Velechko — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:46:20 +0000

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait- Forgiveness. The act of forgiveness requires forgiveness for others, and sometimes you must forgive yourself. When you choose to forgive, the barriers are torn down, and the record is wiped clean. We teach our children to say, “I am sorry,” “I was wrong,” “Will you please forgive me?” The important phrase here being Will you please forgive me? When we just say sorry, we are carrying the conversation, we are dealing with our guilt and our need to say sorry. But we are not inviting the other person to deal with their feelings, their hurt and their offering forgiveness. Admitting that you were wrong is a very exposing thing to do – not easy – but once again if we are sincere in healing relationships we have to bear all and be open towards others.

Acceptance and tolerance and forgiveness, those are life-altering lessons. —Jessica Lange

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Focus on Kindness

Jeanna Velechko — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 20:38:43 +0000

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character traits- Kindness. Kindness is a behavior marked by ethical characteristics, a pleasant disposition, and concern for others. It is known as a virtue, and recognized as a value in many cultures. We will be teaching students to do something/say something kind for no reason. Teachers will identify acts of kindness in books and in situations. Parents can help us by modeling kindness: by holding a door for someone, greeting someone with a smile or writing a note in your child’s lunchbox. We will be emphasizing kindness by participating in The Great Kindness Challenge.

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Trait of the Month

Jeanna Velechko — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 18:00:13 +0000

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait-Creativity. Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality. Creativity is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, to find hidden patterns, to make connections between seemingly unrelated phenomena, and to generate solutions. Creativity involves two processes: thinking–then producing. If you have ideas, but don’t act on them, you are imaginative; but not creative. Parents can help develop creativity by having children use everyday objects in a new way. Empty boxes, paint, crayons, glitter, construction paper, Play-Doh, and glue can offer unlimited possibilities. Parents can encourage children to make cards for the holidays, design their own wrapping paper or develop a new board game. Parents may want to limit passive activities like TV watching and video game play as these activities are received, rather than being generated by our imagination. Creativity can also be expressed by self-selecting clothing, accessories, and room décor (as much as you may not agree with their choices)! Just be creative and have fun.

“Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.” Mary Lou Cook, author

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Trait of the Month- Bravery

Jeanna Velechko — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:07:10 +0000

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait- Bravery. Bravery means facing your fears. We are discussing bravery in school through our books and actions. We are encouraging students to try something new and to think about a skill they want to learn. We also want to teach students to be brave and stand up when something is wrong. Parents can share how they may have overcome a fear or stood up to help another person.

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” – Brené Brown

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Character Trait of the Month

Jeanna Velechko — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:30:40 +0000

This month Lincoln School is focusing on the hard character trait- fairness. Fairness is demonstrating impartial, unbiased, and equitable treatment of others. You give up personal interests, prejudice and favoritism. Fairness is defined by some as little more than “playing by the rules” and not taking advantage of others. It is challenging to learn how to handle it when life isn’t always fair!!

“Being good is easy, what is difficult is being fair.” – Victor Hugo

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Monthly Newsletters

Jeanna Velechko — Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:57:14 +0000

Welcome back to Lincoln School! Hope students enjoyed the first day meeting new friends and teachers, and learning about their school. Please consult the welcome letter you received via email last month for important information and school procedures, as well as the Rutherford Public Schools Pre-K through Grade 3 Student & Parent/Guardian Handbook located under “Lincoln Quick Links” at https://www.rutherfordschools.org/lincoln/#. You will receive a monthly newsletter informing you of school events for the month. We do not send separate flyers home. The current newsletter is always available on-line also under “Lincoln Quick Links.”

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First Days of School

Jeanna Velechko — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:19:44 +0000

The day before the first day of school is always filled with excitement, jitters and anticipation! Your teachers and I feel the same way! Your desk is ready and your name is in the classroom. All we need is for you to come to Lincoln with a smile on your face ready to meet your teachers and new friends. It is also always fun to see friends who were in your class last year when you haven’t seen them all summer. Get your backpack ready, make your lunch, and get a good night’s rest so you are ready to have the BEST FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL EVER!!!!

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Summer Learning

Jeanna Velechko — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 18:50:42 +0000

It is vital students spend time reinforcing skills. The grade-level teachers have developed a “summer calendar” to review some topics. RAZ-Kids accounts will be active all summer. Please remember to review math facts and concepts presented from the year. Erase the math workbook and start over. Check your teacher’s website for additional ideas There are also workbooks that you can purchase which review skills. A Summer Calendar for incoming 2nd and 3rd graders is posted on the website. There are daily activities for the grade entering https://www.rutherfordschools.org/summer-assignments/

Note the Just READ program! No essays, no projects, no required texts. Just READ! https://www.rutherfordschools.org/summer-assignments/english-language-arts/ Sometimes when you read something you really love, you want to tell someone about it. If you’d like to, you may complete an optional extra credit assignment. If you turn it in to your new teacher in September, you’ll get extra credit!! Extra Credit Option Grades 1-5 Questions or Comments? Please email Mr. Brian Ersalesi, Supervisor of English and Arts – bersalesi@rutherfordschools.org.

As a parent, my son kept a journal over the summer highlighting our trips and special day trips. You can do this on-line or in a journal and it is a keepsake! My son then worked 45 minutes a day on math and another 20 minutes on word work/spelling. Finally, we read, read and read. Whatever you do, you must make learning part of everyday experiences.

Looking forward to seeing everyone September 5th!

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