Lincoln Elementary School

Family Handbook

2015 – 2016

“Believe and Achieve”

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2015 – 2016

“Believe and Achieve”

Revised: June 2015

Table of Contents

Directory and Telephone Extensions p. 2

Welcome p. 3

Lincoln School Mission Statement p. 4

Elementary School Programs p. 4

Attendance Policy p. 5

Empowered Use Agreement p. 7

Lunch / Cafeteria p. 10

Assessment/Standardized Testing p.10

Starting the Day p.10

Playground Expectations p.11

Anti-Bullying p.13

Uniform Policy p.13

Dismissal Procedure p.16

Homework / Reading p.17

Birthday Parties p. 20

After-School Activities p.21

Bus Service p.21

Early Withdrawal p.21

Lost and Found p.22

Wellness Services p.22

Lincoln Health Clinic Policy p.23

PAL – Parents At Lincoln p.26

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIRECTORY

Superintendent Michael Martell

Middle/Elementary School Principal Jeff Voracek

Elementary School Assistant Principal Gary Mihelic

Elementary School Counselor Rhonda Chavis

Elementary School Secretary Yolanda Vitsentzos

Elementary School Receptionist Virginia Parodi

Elementary School Librarian Susan Voracek

School Nurse Josefina Orfila

TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS

Superintendent 101

Elementary School Secretary 200

Elementary School Receptionist 201

Elementary School Principal 200

Elementary School Counselor 201

Elementary School Fax 206

Argentine Program Curriculum Director 175

Elementary School Library 220

School Nurse 250

Business Manager 121

Cashier 120

Bus Office 121

Admissions Registrar / Address Changes 109

SCHOOL ADDRESS Andrés Ferreyra 4073 B1637AOS, La Lucila

Buenos Aires, Argentina Tel: (54-11) 4851-1700

www.lincoln.edu.ar

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WELCOME TO LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!

This handbook was created to help you acclimate to the practices, policies, and

procedures of Lincoln Elementary School. You may find that our school has many

similarities to other Elementary schools your child has attended, but you may find some

differences as well. If after reading this handbook you have questions, comments, or

concerns about your child’s school day or learning environment, please speak with the

counselor, the teacher, or the principal. We are all interested in your feedback and in

helping you make a smooth transition into the Lincoln community and to fully enjoy your

experience as long as you are here.

Lincoln School is fully accredited by NEASC (New England Association of Schools &

Colleges) as well as the Argentine Ministry of Education. Our curriculum is directly

linked to U.S. standards in order to ensure that our methodology and expectations are

of the highest quality. At our Open House, and at any other time throughout the school

year, we will be happy to provide curriculum guides to acquaint you with the academic

elements of Lincoln. This handbook focuses on the other, equally important, aspects of

school life.

WHO ARE WE?

The entire student body, from our Kinder 4 (4-year-olds) through High

School Grade 12, includes approximately 750 students with

approximately 315 of those students in the Elementary School. About

25% of our students are from North America. The remainder of the student body is

composed of Argentine citizens (20%) and students (55%) from more than 45 other

nations. Most Lincoln students are the sons and daughters of people engaged in the

international community.

The academic year of Lincoln School is divided into two semesters. The first semester

begins in early August and ends mid-December. The second semester starts in

February and ends mid-June. The academic calendar is updated and available on the

school’s website. When planning family vacations, we encourage you to make every

effort to have your child attend every scheduled school day. While we support the value

of family vacations and understand that occasional scheduling conflicts may arise, each

and every day is special and cannot be replaced.

Report Cards are sent home two times a semester at the end of each quarter. There is

a minimum requirement of 25 days of attendance in order to receive report card grades

in each quarter.

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At the end of the first quarter, Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled and midway

through the fourth quarter, Student-Led Conferences are scheduled. All Elementary

School parents are invited to participate in both conferences. Additional conferences are

easily arranged at any time throughout the school year at either a teacher’s or parent’s

request. Teachers can be contacted directly by email or note, or through the Elementary

School secretary.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of Asociación Escuelas Lincoln is to provide an education based on a

United States accredited curriculum in an environment of academic excellence that

develops ethical, responsible, and globally conscious world citizens.

FACULTY

As part of a continuing effort to provide students with an American education, Lincoln

brings teachers and teacher specialists from the United States and Canada on a

contractual basis each year. The school superintendent and the administrative heads of

the High School, Middle School, and Elementary School are North Americans. In

addition to teachers hired from abroad, the Elementary School is enriched with English-

speaking host country resident teachers who provide important perspectives while being

committed to the educational philosophy and practices found in the United States.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAM

Kinder 4

A rich bilingual curriculum is offered in Kinder 4 with a shortened day beginning at 8:00

and ending at 2:00. This program is open to children who turn 4 by September 30.

Kindergarten

Our Kindergarten 5 students attend Lincoln for the full school day from 8:00 to 3:30.

This Kindergarten program is open to children who turn 5 by September 30.

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Grades 1-5

Students who are in Grades 1-5 attend school from 8:00 to 3:30 every day.

Respecting School Board policy, the Elementary School Principal has the final decision

for the admission of all students in the Elementary School.

ATTENDANCE

Regular and consistent attendance is critical to student learning. Students who do not

participate fully in the curriculum and activities designed by the school do not gain the

intended educational benefits of the program. The curriculum has been established to

meet the needs of our local and international school population and emphasizes

interactive, collaborative experiences. Class activities and assignments are organized in

such a way that they cannot always be replicated at a later date. Regular daily

attendance, therefore, is necessary and expected of all students. We recognize and

praise students’ consistent, full-day attendance. Students are expected to attend 80% of

the school days to guarantee continuity of instruction, classroom participation and

learning experiences. Argentine regulations require that parents notify the school in

case of absences. If a student is absent for more than 48 hours, parents are required to

provide certification. Normally, justification is by medical certificate.

The School asks parents to ensure that their children begin classes from the first day of

school onward and attend regularly. We urge parents to exercise discretion and avoid

absences due to convenience, travel, and vacations during regularly scheduled school

days and/or on days adjacent to weekends and school holidays.

COUNSELING

Our School Counselor visits classrooms, conducts guidance sessions, and implements

a variety of programs that aim to enhance the social and emotional growth of our

students. Besides working closely with the Principal in creating the kind of environment

at Lincoln that ensures the success of each of our students, the counselor is available to

discuss any issues of concern brought in by students, teachers, and/or parents. The

counselor also provides individual and group counseling for students, upon referral from

teachers and parents. In addition, the counselor provides weekly and monthly

communications via the Friday Flash and “Parents Make the Difference!” newsletter,

and offers opportunities for formal parent education.

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LEARNING CENTER

The Learning Center provides instructional assistance to students in Kinder 4 through

Grade 5 who have displayed learning differences in the regular classroom.

Students are referred to the Learning Center by classroom teachers who also consult

with the child’s parents. Parents may voice any concerns they have about their child’s

learning patterns to their child’s teacher or to the school counselor who can then make

the appropriate referral to the Learning Center.

Once the referral is made, a Child Study Team composed of the Counselor, Learning

Center Teacher, Classroom and Specialist Teachers, Spanish teacher, and Principal

meet to discuss the needs of the student and to develop an action plan. After consulting

with the child’s parents, the Child Study Team may recommend diagnostic testing with

educational recommendations to meet the needs of the child. Depending on the

outcome of the testing, appropriate strategies are developed that can be implemented

by the parents by and all teachers who have contact with the child. A student needing

assistance may receive it in a pullout program or through in-class assistance.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS

English Language Learner (ELL) instruction provides intensive language instruction to

students from Grade 1 to Grade 5 who are not yet proficient in English as evidenced by

an entrance test and/or observation. These students might leave their regular

classrooms during the Language Arts block to receive individual and/or small-group

instruction or receive assistance from an ELL teacher within the regular classroom.

When students become proficient in English as evidenced by an exit test, they are

mainstreamed into the regular classroom.

SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM

In order to provide our students with excellent Spanish language skills as well as to

meet the requirements of the Argentine Ministry of Education, we provide 90 minutes of

Spanish language class every day to students in Kindergarten through Grade 5. Kinder

4 students receive 30 minutes of Spanish instruction daily. We offer instruction to our

non-Spanish speaking students via Spanish Language Learner (SLL) classes. When

these students acquire the desired level, they are mainstreamed into the Regular

Spanish Language class.

TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM

The Lincoln Elementary School technology program is designed to integrate curriculum

elements with technology. The technology teacher works closely with classroom

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teachers of English, Spanish and Special area departments. Together they develop

technology enhanced learning experiences to access the curriculum in innovative ways,

create original products, collaborate with peers, solve problems, and conduct research.

They also determine the frequency of visits to the Elementary School Computer Lab

depending directly on the needs of the projects or on the activities they plan.

A full-time technology teacher and lab assistant are available. The Elementary School

Computer Lab and Auxiliary Labs serve the Elementary School with up-to-date

hardware and software. The Elementary School Library has eleven computers and each

classroom has at least one. In addition, a netbook mobile lab is available to individual

classes on a check-out basis. Grade 3, 4 and 5 students have iPads available 1:1.

Every teacher has an iPad and each K4 –Gr2 classroom has several iPads for student

use. Technology is also actively integrated into all curriculum areas through the use of

interactive whiteboards, document cameras, and digital projectors, when appropriate.

WEB-PRESENCE and APPS/Facebook

There are incredible ways to use the internet to communicate, share, and enhance

learning. The Lincoln School website <http://www.lincoln.edu.ar> is a wonderful source

of information about all divisions of the school. Each Elementary School teacher has a

page on that website. Additionally, each teacher has an Edmodo <www.edmodo.com>

account which will be used to communicate with parents.

After receiving written parental permission, many teachers use classroom and individual

student photos to share class activities with you and your extended family. These are

updated regularly. We have found that most children feel a greater sense of belonging

when viewing pictures of activities on the class website or via e-publications such as

Animoto <www.animoto.com>. We will never identify your child by name. Our intent is to

create a rich environment for your child that reflects his or her learning and growth.

At times, some parents may also choose to post photos or videos on personal and

public websites. We recommend that if you do, please follow these same important

common-sense restrictions before posting photos of your children or their friends.

Empowered Use Policy

Equipment

1. All equipment, such as keyboards, mice, microphones, headphones, cameras, and

video equipment should be handled with care and respect.

2. Always get permission before plugging in or unplugging equipment, such as pen

drives and headsets.

3. Logout on computers and leave other equipment in good order for the next person.

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Internet

1. Use the Internet only when given permission by your teacher.

2. Use only those websites and servers that your teacher assigns as part of a learning

project.

3. Information found on the Internet, such as pictures, text, and documents, should be

saved only as assigned by your teacher.

4. Some Internet pages contain commercials or “ads” – do not click on commercial or

“ad” links.

5. Never sign-up for special offers or send electronic greetings.

Responsibilities and Ethical Use

1. No student, under any circumstances, may log into somebody else’s account.

2. Turn away your eyes when someone is typing their password.

3. Be polite and use appropriate language in all electronic communications.

4. Use electronic communication tools only for educational purposes.

5. Tell your teacher if someone is not following these technology rules.

6. All work completed using technology resources must be your own.

7. Information found on TV, video, and computers may be the property of someone

else. Make sure you have permission to copy information and cite it properly.

8. Use the school’s computers only as they have been configured. Do not alter any

computer’s desktop, operating system, or software.

9. Store only school-related data on the network. Student directories may not contain

programs, music files, videos, ZIP files, games, etc. unless they have been specifically

approved by a teacher or the system administrator.

Consequences

The use of the Lincoln Network and Internet is a privilege, not a right. The School

administration may deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts. Inappropriate use

may result in a cancellation of internet use privileges.

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LIBRARY MEDIA SERVICES

There are two libraries, one in the Elementary School and one in the High School, to

serve the school and the community. Between the two libraries the print collection has

an inventory of approximately 40,000 volumes.

The Elementary School Library houses the Kinder 4 to 8th Grade English and Spanish

books and an audiovisual collection. A selection of pleasure reading and reference

materials is also available at each library as well as educational professional journals

and magazines. The collections are expanded and updated yearly to meet student and

curriculum needs. Current student and adult periodicals cover all areas of interest.

Elementary School classes visit the library regularly for library instruction and book

selection.

The library hours are from 7:30 AM to 4:15 PM Monday through Friday. Students are

welcome to come during the day to browse or study. A librarian and assistant are

available to assist all visitors. Parents are also encouraged to make use of our library

resources. We have limited Library hours over each of our six-week breaks. Those

hours will be posted on the Lincoln School website and at the door of the library.

MUSIC AND ART PROGRAMS

Lincoln Elementary School offers exciting opportunities for students to explore music

and art as part of their weekly learning experiences. Not only do our students learn

musical literacy and develop singing skills, they become proficient at playing our Orff

instruments, recorders, and rhythm instruments. In art class they paint, draw, sculpt,

and create collages, etc., as they expand their understanding of the aesthetic world.

Musical concerts, art exhibitions, and after-school opportunities are also part of the

Lincoln fine arts experience.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Physical Education is an important part of our curriculum. Our students engage in

swimming, track and field, tumbling, sports games, balance activities, dance, and

juggling to develop their coordination, sense of self, control, and sportsmanship.

Children should wear blue shorts or sweat pants, sneakers or tennis shoes (no CrocsTM)

in order to participate safely in our class activities.

PE activities are always displayed on our website: <www.lincoln.edu.ar>. A note from a

parent (for 1 day out) or a doctor (for more than 1 day out) excusing a child from

swimming or regular PE class is required.

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LUNCH/CAFETERIA

A mid-day meal is served in the cafeteria every day. Families may elect to buy school

lunch or bring lunch from home. Students not on the school lunch program and who

wish to purchase the school lunch on a particular day may buy a lunch ticket from the

Elementary School secretary. A continuing effort is made to provide a well-balanced

menu that is substantial in quality, quantity, and variety. Because we are committed to

eliminating the consumption of soda and serious sugar-laden sweets, the Middle and

High School kiosks are off-limits to Elementary School students at all times during the

school day.

ASSESSMENTS

Both internal and external assessments are used at Lincoln School in order to inform

and refine instruction so that we may better meet the learning needs of each student as

well as to communicate progress. Internal ongoing, formative, and summative

assessment takes place in each classroom throughout the school year. As a form of

external assessment, the school uses the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) as its

standardized testing measurement. This testing is administered to grades 3, 4, and 5.

The MAP is an adaptive test which measures each student’s instructional level and

growth over time. It is developed using United States national standards measuring

Mathematics, Reading and Language Usage. It is given more than once a year and is

used to monitor academic growth through the school year.

STARTING THE DAY

Bus Riders

Children riding the bus need to be available for pickup on time and are dropped off

inside the campus where they walk up the stairs to enter the building. They then

proceed through the school to the outside playground.

Children Driven to School

Children who are brought to school by parents or remise drivers enter the main campus

gate on Av. Andres Ferreyra. Please refrain from using the Av. Parana entrance as it is

designated for Middle School students. It is very important that children arrive no earlier

than 7:45 but no later than 8:00. After they enter the gate, they walk down the covered

walkway to the left and enter the playground where they can play until just before 8:00.

At that time, one of the teachers will blow a whistle and all the students will proceed to

their classrooms to begin the school day.

Parents of students in Kindergarten 5 through Grade 5 who accompany their children to

school are asked to say their goodbyes at the gate or at the end of the covered walkway

before the children go on the playground. Students in Kinder 4 may be accompanied to

their classroom by a parent or guardian as necessary.

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Based on current research (and common sense!), we know that children who arrive to

school on time feel a greater sense of belonging and focus than children who arrive late

to class. The first few minutes of the day are so important for students to get organized

for the day, turn in notes from home, greet their friends, and participate in the first

learning experience of the day. For your child’s sake, we ask that you ensure that your

child arrives to school on time.

In order to maximize the richness of your child’s learning environment, we ask that

parents enter a classroom only when an appointment has been previously made by the

parent or an invitation has been extended by the teacher. Respecting this policy at

every grade level and throughout the entire school year will ensure that we can

minimize interruptions to your child’s learning.

Whenever you are within the Elementary School campus, it is required that any visitor

sign in and out at the reception area. For this reason, parents are especially requested

to NOT enter the Elementary School building from the Parana entrance.

WHILE STUDENTS ARE IN SCHOOL

We use consistent, positive reinforcement of our school expectations. Each classroom

develops community guidelines that promote respectful behavior and optimize the

learning environment.

In addition, we have school-wide expectations:

Follow instructions and class expectations.

Show respectful behavior on the buses and in the halls, bathrooms, playground,

and cafeteria.

Use inside voices and walking feet while inside the school building.

Behave in a way that strengthens the Lincoln community.

PLAYGROUND EXPECTATIONS

The Playground is a part of the educational facilities and is used by Elementary School

students every school day from 7:45AM-3:30PM. Supervision from school personnel is

provided during that time. Before 7:45, after 3:30, and on weekends, children must be

supervised by a parent or other adult. When you are supervising your child, it is

imperative that you continue to follow the school’s playground rules. We ask that

students not arrive before 7:45 on school days.

On the playground, students are expected to:

Respect the activities of others.

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Keep their shoes on at all times.

Keep sand inside the sand play areas.

Eat their snacks while sitting on benches or in the gazebo.

Dispose of wrappers and other garbage in the trash bins.

Stay off the handicap ramp.

Always ask for permission before leaving the playground.

Freeze at the first whistle to end recess.

At the second whistle gather personal items & walk to line-up.

Equipment rules

Zip-lines and swings are to be used one person at a time.

Slides are one direction only—down (and on your bottom, feet first). Please

continue moving until you finish your turn.

Take turns on all equipment.

Jumping off and climbing on top of the equipment is not allowed.

Nothing may be attached to the equipment.

Swing forwards and backwards, not side-to-side.

The area between the bushes and the playground fence is off limits.

CONSEQUENCES FOR IGNORING SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS

Depending on the behavior in question as well as the age of the student, a number of

consequences are available:

Warnings: A student engaging in inappropriate or disturbing behavior at school or on the bus will first be reminded that the behavior is unacceptable.

If a second reminder is required, a call to the child’s parents will be made in an

effort to encourage conversation regarding appropriate behavior.

If a third reminder is required, the parents will be asked to join a conference with

the student, the counselor, and the principal. If the problematic behavior involves

the bus, the student could be removed from the bus.

“Time out”: A student may sometimes need private time to think about his or her

choices regarding behavior.

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Major infraction: If a student intentionally hurts another child or engages in

destructive or deceitful behavior, the student’s parent is called in for a

conference. The student might be sent home.

ANTI-BULLYING

At Lincoln School, we strive to construct a school climate in which all children believe in

their individual worth, membership in the group, and take personal responsibility in

promoting the positive school climate. While bullying at Lincoln School is not a common

problem, we feel that any act of bullying is too much and is unacceptable. We go

beyond having a “zero-tolerance” for bullying by proactively addressing the issues that

cause bullying.

Since the concept of bullying is such an important topic, it often needs clear definition.

Bullying is defined as unwanted, hurtful behavior that involves a real or perceived power

imbalance. The behavior is repeated (or has the potential to be repeated) over time.

The deliberate intent of the bully is to harm. http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-is-

bullying/index.html Types of bullying may include: physical, emotional, cyber, and

relational. A conflict is not bullying when students are mutually at-odds; where there is

no power differential; where the conflict is equal (not one-sided); where there is not

“one-target” being harmed; where the conflict is not typically repeated; where both

students are angry, frustrated, and/or uncomfortable.

Dealing with incidents of bullying involves working with the victim, as well as the bully

and the bystander. Each receives counseling and support. There are several possible

responses to the person who has been identified as having bullied others. Please refer

to the rubric on the following page:

UNIFORM POLICY

Lincoln Elementary School students are required to dress in uniform. Students need to

come to school in uniform every day except for designated days (Birthdays, Spirit Days,

Fabulous Friday Presenters, Math Morning, etc.) when they can wear appropriate non-

uniform clothes. We ask that parents help us to enforce proper uniform attire by making

sure children have ready access to clean uniform clothing every day.

It is our belief that a uniform allows children to attend to their tasks here at school: to

think, to create, to question, to learn, and to develop social relationships based on

mutual trust. We wish to build community values while reducing the competitiveness

that is often a part of fashion and advertising.

Please label your children’s clothing. This is very important.

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Shirts:

All Elementary School students need to wear white, long- or short-sleeved shirts that

have a collar. They can be polo-type, button-down, or turtleneck as long as they have a

collar. All shirts must have the Lincoln School emblem on them. At the parents’

discretion, white, crew-collared PE/Fitness shirts with the Lincoln School logo may be

worn for PE classes. PE/Fitness shirts are not required.

Pants, Shorts, Skirts, Jumpers, and Overalls:

Students need to wear navy blue pants, skirts, skorts, or shorts in good condition (NO

holes, tears, fraying seams, etc.).

Pants may not have embroidery, patches, decorations or patterns.

Sweatpants/Sweatshirts/Hoodies:

Plain navy blue fleece or any type of blue material (no embroidery, patches, decorations

or patterns).

Blue sweatshirts can be worn over the uniform white shirt instead of a sweater.

Sweater:

All sweaters need to be plain navy blue with the Lincoln School emblem. They can be

pullovers, V-necks, or cardigans.

Shoes:

Students need to wear comfortable shoes with heels no higher than 1 inch. We feel that

any basic shoe appropriate for children’s play is best suited for Elementary School

students. Students should wear athletic shoes on their PE days. 16

Clothing for Swimming:

All items must be labeled with the child’s name.

Swim materials include a swimsuit, a swim cap, goggles, rubber shower shoes, and a

towel.

Certain clothing items are not allowed at Lincoln School:

Clothing with advertising is considered inappropriate. No advertising should appear on

any of the children’s clothing: shirts, shorts, pants, etc.

Platform shoes and any shoe with heels higher than 1 inch.

Hats are not allowed in the classroom. Students are encouraged to wear protective

head coverings outdoors as the need arises.

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Clean, extra uniform items are kept in the Nurse’s office should children come to school

out of uniform. In the event of a persistent problem with appropriate dress, a student’s

parents will be called to collaborate on a solution. Uniforms are easily purchased once

you arrive in Buenos Aires.

In Buenos Aires, school uniforms may be purchased at:

ALVEAR DRIVE SCHOOL UNIFORMS

Alvear 410 in Martinez

Tel: 4798-7648

Email: school_gang@hotmail.com

Open: Mon-Fri 9:30AM to 1:30PM / 3:00 to 8:00PM; Sat 10:00AM to 2:00PM

LINCOLN UNIFORMS

EMail: uniformesshop@gmail.com

Mara Tomasso

154 099-2505

DELIVERY

DELIVERY

SCHOOL UNIFORMS

Av. Libertador 14665 in Acassuso, Local 7 (between Guemes y Urquiza)

Phone is 4798-3239

Email: info@schooluniforms.com.ar

Web site: www.schooluniforms.com.ar

Open: Mon-Fri 10:00AM – 7:00PM; Sat 10:00AM – 12:30PM

Note: Prices and selection options may vary between these vendors. 17

ENDING THE DAY

Our dismissal procedure is very strict but for a very good reason: your child’s safety. We

realize that sometimes it may prove inconvenient for you. Please know that we need to

keep track of nearly 400 children. In order to do this effectively, we cannot make

exceptions to our policy except in cases of medical emergency.

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DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

Any change in a child’s routine dismissal needs to be in writing, via communication from

the child’s own parent. We prefer that this communication be done by an email sent to

the receptionist (Ms. Melina Rattner) with a “cc” to the classroom teacher. In order to

acknowledge receipt, you will always receive a reply within approximately one hour. If

you do not receive a reply, please call the school to confirm (ext. 201). To avoid

misunderstandings, we prefer to receive notes regarding dismissal changes on the

same day of the change.

Please remember that all messages need to be sent before 1 PM. All dismissal changes

are sent to teachers and bus chaperones at 2:00 PM. In order to support an organized

and safe dismissal, changes for all Elementary School children need to be processed

well before that time.

Bus Riders:

Bus riders leave the classroom at 3:25 PM with a chaperone. The bus leaves at 3:40

PM.

Students riding the bus are expected to behave appropriately.

Students are required to:

-Be respectful to the bus chaperone and other riders.

-Follow directions of the bus driver and bus monitor.

-Remain seated, facing forward, seatbelt fastened.

-Behave in a way that supports the safe operation of the bus.

After the 3rd occurrence of poor bus behavior, the student could lose bus privileges.

If a bus student needs to leave at the end of the day by some means other than the bus,

the receptionist must be notified in writing before 1:00 PM by the child’s own parent.

Parent/Guardian Pickups

Kinder 4

Children who are picked up by parents or a designated guardian will be dismissed from

the area near the front (Andrés Ferreyra) gate at 3:20PM.

Kindergarten 5

Kindergarten students will be dismissed directly from their classrooms via the doors to

the outside playground area at 3:25PM.

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Grades 1-5

Children who are picked up by parents or a designated guardian will line up inside the

Auditorium. The outside doors are opened at 3:30 (or as soon as all classes have

arrived) inviting parents to come inside to pick up their children.

All Students

Dismissal is not an appropriate time to have an extended meeting with your child’s

teacher. At this time, the teacher’s responsibility is to carefully oversee the transfer of

each child to the care of a designated adult. PLEASE, if you need to speak with the

teacher, wait until he or she has accomplished the dismissal of all students.

Only the child’s own parent or someone authorized by the parent in writing (notes,

email, or FAX) may pick up the child from school.

All persons entering the school grounds must have either a Lincoln ID badge (obtained

through the Elementary School receptionist) or be properly signed in by the guards who

will provide a temporary Lincoln ID pass. A personal photo ID is necessary to obtain a

temporary Lincoln ID pass.

A change in a student’s usual dismissal procedure must be in writing (note given to the

teacher, email to teacher and receptionist, or FAX), by 1:00 PM on the same day as the

change.

If this notification is not received, the child will be sent home as usual. Please

understand that even if you are at school and decide to change your child’s departure,

you must provide us with a note. A verbal “I’m going to take my child home” is not

enough to satisfy our legal requirement. In order to support an organized and safe

dismissal, we need a signed note from you.

SORRY, NO EXCEPTIONS MADE

If your child leaves during the school day, the authorized person receiving the child

must alert the classroom teacher and the Elementary School receptionist, and must sign

him/her out in the sign-out book with the guards at the school entrance.

HOMEWORK and READING

Our goal in assigning homework is to provide an opportunity to practice and reinforce

what was taught in class. The rates at which different students work will vary, therefore,

so will the time it takes to complete assignments. Teachers may modify and adapt

homework for individual students.

If your child is ill for more than one day, you may want to pick up homework or have it

sent home with another student. Please make the request before 12:00 noon. This will

allow the teacher time to prepare and collect the necessary materials. If you are

planning extensive travel which means your child will miss several school days, please

reconsider in order to schedule the trip for a time more beneficial to your child. While

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school-work can be made up, it is impossible to recreate the learning that takes place

via direct classroom instruction and classmate/peer interaction. If such travel is

unavoidable, please notify all of your child’s teachers (Spanish, Homeroom, and

Specialists) at least two weeks in advance in order for them to prepare the work that

your child will miss.

Because reading promotes language development, writing ability, and higher-level

thinking skills, each student at Lincoln School is expected to read every night. Even if no

homework is assigned, students are expected to spend at least 15 to 30 minutes of their

out-of-school time reading.

As teachers, we strongly believe that reading is a cornerstone of student language

development. Students who consistently read, or are read to, will generally progress

more rapidly in many of the fundamental areas of our curriculum.

Reading out loud and silent reading are critical components of our reading program.

Parents and children should read out loud together whenever possible.

What Does Family Literacy Look Like?

What can you do at home? This list of suggested activities is short, and is designed only

as a springboard for your own ideas. Begin with an activity you can do easily and

comfortably with your child. Then add those activities that work especially well for you

and your children.

Let your children see you reading for pleasure. Share some vocabulary or great

phrases, a character, or even part of the story line with them. See if there are any

similarities with books that your children are reading.

Talk to your children about how your parents read to you or told you stories.

Let your children see you write for pleasure. Send family letters to relatives or friends.

Let everyone in the family contribute a part or an illustration.

When you’re riding in the car, tell your children a story about when you were little, or

tell them a story about something that happened at work that day. Leave off the

ending and let them provide an ending.

Have your children select three things they want included in the story. Make up a story

that includes those three things. For example, the selections might be a princess, a

race car, and an ice cream cone. The children will love helping you find clever ways to

include three things in the story.

When you pass a rock formation, landmark, building, or street sign, take turns with the

children thinking up a legend behind the name or creation of the item. Even though

you might all be familiar with the actual background story, making one up is lots of fun.

At night, you might think up legends for the face in the moon. Follow up these

storytelling events with a trip to the library to find out legends from other countries or

groups.

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Try different ambiances for your read-alouds or storytelling. If it’s a scary story, for

example, tell it in the dark or read it with flashlights. If it’s a story about when one of

your children was an infant, bring out an old toy and hold it as you tell the story.

Try themes in your family literacy events. This works naturally with holidays, but lots of

different themes can be used any time. If your family has chosen popcorn as a theme,

look through magazines for pictures of popcorn; make a collage of places where you

might eat popcorn; find packaged foods in the grocery store that contain popcorn; list

all the different kinds of popcorn available; pop come popcorn, with everyone helping

to read the recipe; trade popcorn stories (when did you first string popcorn, or first eat

it in the movie theater) and make a little book of those stories; select books (fiction and

nonfiction) that have to do with popcorn and read them aloud.

Make a family book that is a collection of stories: favorites retold generation after

generation or stories of family events (first visit by the tooth fairy). Any time that stories

are recorded, younger children can dictate to an older family member.

When you go on a trip, keep a family journal, writing down impressions and events,

keeping postcards or illustrations, noting unusual names for places, or recording

strange stories from different places.

Keep a list on the refrigerator of foods that need to be bought at the grocery store.

Have children help add to the list and, when you go shopping, have the children read

the list, find the items, read packages for information, and check items off the list.

Keep a little note pad or recycled pieces of paper next to the telephone. Use that area

as a message center where family members can leave telephone messages or other

notes to each other. You can even turn the message center into a little post office with

little boxes or pockets for each family member.

Keep a family calendar in a central place, such as the family message center. The

best calendars for this are the ones with large boxes for each day so that your children

can enter their own special dates or draw pictures as reminders.

If you watch the news on television, discuss the news with your children; compare the

television or radio news to an article in the newspaper.

When you watch a movie, talk about the characters, about how important the setting

(time and place) were in the movie, about the sequence of events. Ask how the movie

compares with a book and discuss an alternative you or the children might have

written for the movie.

Discuss television viewing with your children and then have your children use the

television guide to make a daily chart of programs they will watch. Read the short

summaries of plots and descriptions of programs.

Use whatever the children have watched on television to connect to books. Help the

children find books that give more information about something that has interested

them on television.

Members of older generations make wonderful readers for young children, and

children also make wonderful readers for older listeners. Children can read their own

writing, a favorite story, or magazines and newspapers. Two or more generations can

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collaborate on a story or book. Using special paper to write on or binding it makes the

book even more special.

Have a bookmark-making party. Have each family member write his or her name on a

piece of paper and list favorite topics of books. Place all the papers in a box and have

each member drawn a name and design a bookmark especially for that other family

member.

But most of all—have fun while you read!

Reprinted from NCTE’s Parent’s Guide to Literacy for the 21st Century

TEXTBOOKS

We frequently review our instructional materials and compare them to newly published

materials to ensure that we are using current, relevant, educationally sound resources.

Textbooks are furnished to students by the school on a loan basis; students are

expected to exercise care in their use. Lost or damaged books must be paid for before

report cards are issued.

MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS

Birthday Parties

The school cannot take an active role in organizing or implementing children’s birthday

parties. We include the following procedures regarding birthday parties only because

they are a source of potential misunderstanding.

We ask that if invitations to your child’s party are distributed at school, that you

include ALL the children in your child’s class. If you prefer to have selected children

attend the party, please arrange delivery of invitations to the parents of those children

at a time outside of school.

If you are having a party that involves children leaving for your house directly from

school, inform the teacher and receptionist by writing/fax/email.

If your child is attending a party that requires a change in their usual means of

transportation, you must inform the school in writing even if the parent having the

party has informed the school. We must receive written notice from you giving

permission for your child to alter dismissal procedures and attend the party.

Any child leaving school to attend a party by any means other than usual must be

authorized to do so in writing by the child’s own parent stating what form of transport

will be used and where the child is going.

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AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

We have an After-School Activities Program for students in Kinder 4 through Grade 5

that runs on a fee basis. Activities ranging from art to chess to sports are offered and

vary from semester to semester. These activities are recreational in nature and are not

meant to replace more serious skill-based instruction or training. They last for

approximately one hour (K4 from 2:00 to 2:50; K5 to Gr5 from 3:45 to 4:45) and,

depending on the activity, may occur one or two days a week.

Because there is no bus service for these activities, you need to ensure that your child

is picked up by 2:50 or 4:45 respectively, in order to continue in an activity. For the

safety of your child and to comply with the requirement that all children be supervised

when they are on campus, we need you to pick your child up at that time. If you are

unable to consistently collect your child in a timely manner and we cannot resolve the

issue, the school reserves the right remove your child from the activity.

In the event that you sign your child up for an activity and for one reason or another, the

child is not participating or does not want to participate, or behaves in a way that

prevents other children from participating, your child will be asked to withdraw from the

activity and your money will be refunded.

If your child must miss his or her after-school activity, the receptionist must be informed

by the parent in writing to avoid upsetting situations during dismissal. Emails, notes, or

faxes are acceptable.

BUS SERVICE

Bus service covering the general residential areas of Buenos Aires is available to

students, but it is not included in the cost of the tuition. Parents may arrange for their

children to use bus service by signing up in the Business Office. The secretary in the

business office will advise you regarding bus routes, stops, and times. A student using

the bus service may ride only the bus that is assigned to him or her. Due to safety and

security reasons, changes in bus assignments are not possible. Parents who plan to

pick up or have others pick up their children must notify the school in writing (notes,

email, or FAX).

EARLY WITHDRAWAL

It is school policy that students be in attendance at school at least 25 school days in any

given quarter to receive grades for that quarter. If you are planning an early withdrawal

from school, please advise the Elementary School Office and the Admissions Office as

soon as you know so we can prepare all the necessary reports and transcripts. In order

for us to give you those documents, we need to be sure all library books have been

returned and outstanding library fines are paid. For those families departing early for

vacation, report cards will be made available as per the regular distribution schedule.

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LOST AND FOUND

There is a Lost and Found cabinet in the entrance of the Elementary School building.

The school does not assume responsibility for any loss of personal property. The loss of

personal items at school is an ongoing issue that can be minimized. There are several

steps that parents and students should take to prevent loss of items at school:

Mark all clothing and other items clearly with your child’s name. This cannot be

stressed enough.

Do not allow your child to bring items of value to school (i.e. money, cell phones,

electronic games, iPods, toys, jewelry, Pokemon cards, etc.).

Be sure to take personal sports equipment home regularly.

While we lock all classrooms and offices every night, we need your help in minimizing

lost items.

WELLNESS SERVICES

Lincoln School has a fulltime nurse on duty during school hours. The Nurse treats minor

accidents and emergency illnesses that occur at school and assists in the prevention of

communicable diseases. The Nurse also has the following responsibilities:

Keeping immunization records up to date

Overseeing environmental factors affecting health and security (i.e., accident

prevention)

Managing students’ excuses for non-participation in Physical Education

Checking for head lice

Dispensing any medication a student must take during the day. Medications require a

written note from both the parent and the doctor with full instructions on how the

medication is to be administered. Without the notes, the nurse will not be able to

administer any medication.

The nurse keeps a cumulative health file for each student. Each family is required to

complete an emergency notification form upon entering the school. This form lists

emergency contacts and special medical considerations.

Most health issues can be handled here in school. In the event that your child

becomes seriously ill or injured during the school day and the nurse deems it

necessary to seek additional treatment, we take the following steps:

We call home to speak with a parent.

If the parent cannot be found at home, we call the work number listed on the

emergency notification form to speak with the parent listed there.

If we cannot contact the parent listed at the work number, we will call the emergency

contact number to try to locate a parent.

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If all this fails, after deciding that a hospital visit is necessary, we will proceed to the

hospital, the one you indicated on your health form, to ensure the safe and prudent

treatment of your child. We will continue to try to reach a parent or emergency

contact number from there.

Lincoln Health Clinic Policy [Schoolwide]

Student Health Information

Upon a student’s admissions to Lincoln School, parents must

1. Complete and sign the Admissions packet C form (Health form)

2. Complete and sign the Emergency student form

3. Attach a LEGIBLE copy of vaccine records in English or Spanish

4. Attach a physical exam certificate (apto fisico) signed by a doctor.

If there are any physical limitations or restrictions the physician should include this on

the certificate.

The parents of continuing Lincoln School students must

1. Provide copies of any updated immunizations records

2. Fill out a new Clinic Health Form every 2 years

3. Update the physician’s physical exam certificate (apto fisico) annually

Vaccination Guidelines

The Lincoln Health Clinic follows the immunization guideline of the Public Health

Department of Argentina and recommendations of the CDC (Center for Disease

Control).

Students will be expected to have the following vaccines:

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTAP): 4 doses by age 6

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTAP): booster at age 12

Measles Mumps and Rubella (MMR): 2 doses by age 6

Polio: 4 doses by age 6

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The following vaccines are recommended

Hepatitis B: 3 doses

Yearly Influenza

Varicella (Chicken Pox): 2 doses preferred

Hepatitis A: 2 doses preferred

Meningococcal (MCV): 2 doses

Human Papillomarvirus (HPV): 3 doses between ages 12 – 18 years

An email reminder will be sent to 1st grade parents to receive the 4 – 6 year old

boosters of MMR and DTaP and to 6th grade parents for the 10 - 12 year old DTaP

booster. Parents must provide updates of any additional vaccines the child receives

during their school years at Lincoln School.

Health Clinic Policies

Health Clinic Assistance

The Lincoln Health Clinic is open during school hours Monday – Friday. Parents will be

contacted by phone or email when appropriate. If a student needs to leave campus for

health reasons during the school day, the nurse will contact the parent and confirm the

student has parental permission and transportation to leave campus.

Student Health Clinic Passes

Students must be issued a clinic pass by a teacher or secretary when going to the

health clinic for mild injuries or illness. Students will only be allowed to turn up at the

Health Clinic without a clinic pass only in the case of a medical emergency or sever

accident. Students leaving Lincoln campus during the school day for health reasons

need to be examined in the health clinic before being dismissed.

Emergencies

If a student suffers of a severe injury or an acute illness while on Lincoln campus that

requires emergency care, an ambulance will be called. Upon admissions, parents must

sign the C form which gives the school permission to call an ambulance in the event of

a student health emergency. In all emergency situations, the parents will be notified. If

the parents are unavailable the student’s emergency contact will be notified.

Fever

If a student has a fever of 37.5 degrees Celsius or 99.7 degrees Fahrenheit (axillary) or

above, parents will be contacted and arrangements will be made for the child to return

home. The child must have a normal temperature for 24hours before returning to

school.

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Lice Policy for Elementary

Every 2 months during the school year, the nurse will perform head lice exams. If active

lice and/or eggs are found, the parent will be contacted. The parent will have the option

to either pick their child up from school or have the child return to class to complete the

school day. If the child returns to class, the child will be discouraged from having head

with head contact with other students. On returning home, the health clinic recommends

a head lice treatment to kill the lice and the use of a lice comb to remove the dead lice

as well as the nits (eggs). All evidence of lice (including nits) must be removed.

On returning to school the student will first come to the clinic for a lice check. The

student may not return to class if any evidence of lice or nits is present.

Medication

The school nurse cannot administer medication to students unless a written prescription

from an Argentine doctor is given. This should contain the following information:

Name of the student

Diagnosis

Medication

Date

Dosage

Signature and official stamp with the doctor’s license number (matrícula).

If a student needs to take medicine during school hours, parents must leave the

medication and written prescription with the school nurse in the Health Clinic.

Students, who require occasional medicines for headaches, asthma, allergies should

leave a supply in the clinic together with the written prescription. The nurse will

administer the medication according to the prescription and the medication will be kept

safe in a locked cabinet.

Students should not have any medicine with them during school hours. All student

medications should be kept at the health clinic. 28

Records

Libro de actas: The school nurse will keep a handwritten register and/or printed

electronic register of all children seen in the clinic, including: time, date, complaints,

treatment, follow up.

The Health Clinic will keep a file for each Lincoln student that will include: C form,

annual health form, emergency contact card, vaccination record copies, and physical

exam certificates and other health related documents. These records will be kept for

10 years after the student withdrawals from Lincoln School.

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Absences

If a child is absent for more than 2 consecutive school days a doctor’s note will be

required upon return to school stating the child is healthy and cleared. If a child has an

infectious disease that might put other students at risk, parents are asked to inform the

Health Clinic.

PE excuses

If a student cannot participate in sports for 1-2 days due to illness or injury, parents will

send a note to the PE department. If a student cannot participate in sports for more than

2 days the parent will send a signed physician’s note to the secretary of the school or

PE Department. For more details regarding PE, please refer to PE´s handbook.

Education

Lincoln school nurses will encourage students to pursue healthy living activities and

positive choices regarding health. The nurses will encourage and promote nutrition,

adequate rest, physical activity, time management, and avoidance of risky behaviors.

The Health Clinic staff is available to assist staff, administration, and teachers for in

services, campaigns, and presentations on health related subjects. Health information

pertinent to the Lincoln School community will be communicated via email, Friday Flash

and other ways of communication used by our community.

Wellness Clinic Staff, Contact:

4851.1700 ext. 250

Cellphone: 154.437.5206

Email:

Josefina.Orfila@lincoln.edu.ar

PAL – Parents At Lincoln

Asociación Escuelas Lincoln is truly fortunate to have a strong, committed Parent

Teacher Organization to support our students during the year. Since you have a child at

Lincoln, you are already a member! The PTO hosts several school-wide events that are

of enormous benefit to our school.

In addition, parents assist classroom teachers by donating their time and effort

throughout the year to help organize field trips, class parties, class phone lists,

community service projects, and class activities. 30

Welcome to Lincoln!