Principal Updates
Lincoln Principal Updates
September 13
Good afternoon, Lincoln families,
I would like to begin with a message of gratitude for the responsiveness of our community and all the kind words of support as we navigated a potential safety issue at school this week. Maintaining a safe, secure, and welcoming campus for all students is of the utmost importance. I am grateful for the partnership and trust we have with our students and families who were quick to report a potential safety concern, so that we could be responsive to the needs of our community. Now is a good time to talk with your students about the importance of reporting any safety concerns they hear or see. Reports of safety concerns can go to any trusted adult or brought to the counseling or main office.
As a part of our safety efforts, Lincoln is a secure campus where students and guests can only enter through the main entrance once the school day begins. Students do have the ability to leave campus at lunch, but only with parent/guardian permission. Students leaving campus must return back to school on time and promote positive citizenship in our community. We will begin our first tardy intervention next week – contacting families through email to create a plan with their student if they have not been arriving back to class on time.
September 15th marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage month, which continues through October 15th each year. We celebrate the many contributions and accomplishments of our Latinx community and their important role in our community. For more information please visit the SPS Latinx Heritage Month Page.
As we close out the first week of school it is great watching the academic engagement and community grow in our classrooms. Now is a great time to check-in with your student. I would encourage finding some private time for your student to share about each of their classes: What are they excited about? What goals do they have for the course? What concerns might they have and are there ways to create support and structures to address those concerns? Creating intentional space for this conversation and writing down what you hear creates the foundation to check back with them on the key points they have shared. As the school year begins, it is important to schedule consistent time every evening for students to have space for study and/or independent reading. This is also good space to plan how you want to check in with your student on a regular basis.
Please join us for our Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 24th from 6PM-8PM. Doors will open at 5:45, where we welcome you to visit informational tables from our PTSA, athletics, activities, counselors, and other additional supports and services available to our students. Be watching for more information on our website.
Help us hit our goals! It is time to purchase your ASB card and support our classrooms with the optional supply fee. Currently we have 49% who have purchased ASB and 30% who have supported our optional supply fee. Our goal is 75% participation in both. ASB and our optional supply fee are a key funding source to support our students in and out of the classroom. Please see below in the newsletter for additional information. If you haven’t participated, I am asking you to participate today.
I hope you all have a restful weekend ahead.
Best,
Corey
Principal
Keep Informed
Want to know what is happening? Visit us at our website under our calendar and daily bulletin:
You can also follow us on social media:
Facebook: @LincolnSeattle
X (formerly Twitter): @lincoln_seattle
Instagram: @lincolnseattle
YouTube: @LincolnHighSchoolASB
Want to access our past newsletters? Please visit our archives on the LHS website
Mark Your Calendar
*Below is a list of some upcoming dates. Please check back on our online calendar for a full list as events our built out for the year.
September 18 and 19: 9th Grade Cheer Tryouts
September 19 and 20: Photo Days with retakes Oct. 30
September 24: Curriculum Night, doors open at 5:45PM
September 26: Orchestra Concert
September 28: First Saturday School
October 4: Student sponsored blood drive
October 7 – 11: Discover U Week – be watching for more information soon
October 8: FAFSA/WASFA Night
October 9: SAT (Seniors)
October 11: Staff Professional Development (No School)
October 14 – 18 Homecoming Week
October 23: PSAT (Juniors)
Oct 29: Band concert
Oct 30: Picture Retake Day
Oct 31: Orchestra concert
Laptops
SPS laptops were distributed this week. If your student did not receive an SPS laptop, please have them visit the Lincoln Library. As a reminder, all students will use SPS laptops for classroom instruction. Personal devices will no longer be allowed in class (Superintendent Procedure 2022SP).
BASH & Saturday School
Looking for support with your academics? Before & After School help (BASH) and Saturday School will be beginning soon! Students are invited to join us at BASH and Saturday School to get help from tutors and staff, work on group projects, and get caught up on coursework. Support will be available for all core, grade-level courses and also for many electives and advanced courses. There is no advance sign-up required. If you have questions, please contact Michelle Pentecost at mlpentecost@seattleschools.org.
BASH will begin the week of September 23!
When?
Mondays from 7:45-8:45am
Thursdays from 3:45-4:45pm
Where?
The Lincoln Library!
Saturday School dates for this school year:
- September 28
- November 2
- December 7
- January 18
- March 1
- March 29
- April 26
- June 7
Saturday Schools are all from 9:00am-12:00pm in the Lincoln Library. A grab and go pizza lunch is provided!
SAT and PSAT Volunteers needed:
We need volunteers to help proctor and monitor SAT and PSAT testing, Oct 9 (SAT) and Oct 23 (PSAT). We are looking for 15 volunteers each day to monitor this year’s digital exam. Volunteers will be assigned to a classroom of students to monitor test takers and distribute/collect testing materials. Everything for you is scripted and training prior to test day will be provided. No experience necessary. Please note, College Board does not allow you to volunteer for the same test your student is taking.
Please email apexamslincoln@seattleschools.org if you can help.
SAT/PSAT Schedule
7:45-8:00 am volunteers arrive
8:30 am students check in
9:00 am students report to testing rooms and sign in.
9:30 am test begins
1:30-3:00 pm test ends (depends on testing location—some students with accommodations may have additional time)
Breaks will be provided at various times during the day.
Fall Sports Picture Day:
Athletic picture day is Wednesday, September 18th after school in the lower commons. Coaches will communicate specific time and attire to their players.
9th Grade Cheer Tryouts:
Hello Lynx! Did you miss the Spring LHS Cheer Team’s Tryouts? No worries because the Lincoln Cheerleading Program is hosting Fall Cheer Tryouts just for Freshmen on September 18th (3:30-6:30pm) & 19th (4:30-5:30pm) in the Multipurpose Room.
This is a great opportunity to meet new friends, become involved in your school & community, and learn more about cheerleading!
Joining at this time will be less time commitment than those on our team that joined in Spring, as you are cheering for basketball season and maybe the end of football season. You’ll only be practicing 1-2 times a week on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Our other members from earlier in the Spring are busier with learning and performing their competition routines, so they’ll practice a little more.
Please don’t hesitate to send us a DM on Instagram @lincolnseattlecheerleading, or an email at LHSCheerSeattle@gmail.com. Pick up a tryout packet in the LHS Main Office for additional information!
School ID Pictures
Yuen Lui Studio will photograph individual portraits at Lincoln High School on Thursday, September 19 and Friday, September 20. Families can preorder portraits at the following link: 2024-25 Lincoln High School Picture Days 9/19, 9/20
All students will have their picture taken, even if they are not purchasing a picture package. These photos are what we use for student ID cards and are part of how we manage safety at school. School pictures are scheduled for September 19th and 20th and will happen though Science classes. Students not enrolled in a science class will take pictures during Mentorship and other assigned times. Any student who is absent during picture days will make it up on October 30th. School ID cards are accepted as a legal form of identification for minor students, and as such, students will not be permitted to wear non-religious head coverings for their school photos. Information will be sent out on how to purchase picture packages and how seniors can submit specific senior portraits (Seniors still get their photo taken on picture days).
Universal Supply Fee and ASB Cards
It is time to purchase your ASB card, which is required for all athletes and club participants, and pay the optional Universal Supply fee. Families pay all associated school and activity fees and other items using Schoolpay.com. All fee items associated with your student are displayed when logged into your SchoolPay account.
Please consider helping support other families in our community by adding on an additional amount as a donation when purchasing an ASB card and/or paying the Universal Supply Fee.
Universal Supply Fee ($85): Our optional Universal Supply Fee helps to support all the learning activities that happen in our classroom that extend beyond base curriculum. As a project-based school, the universal supply fee provides the resources for the deeper learning that happens throughout the year and helps ensure students have access to the tools they need. Some AP classes still have additional fees for items such as workbooks which the students keep. The universal supply fee is optional but encouraged as part of our partnerships with our families and community. Last year we had 60% of our families participate in our optional fee and our goal this year is to get to 75%. Families in need of financial support can opt to pay an amount that supports their individual budgets. We also welcome additional donations from families to help support those who are unable to contribute to the $85 universal fee. Thank you our families contributing to the fees and to the many families that contribute additional amounts to support those unable!
ASB Cards ($50): We encourage all students to purchase an Associated Student Body (ASB) card. ASB card sales are our primary source of funding for all our extracurricular activities: clubs, athletics, after-school activities, etc. Students who purchase an ASB card will be eligible for various discounts throughout the year. Students who participate in any WIAA athletics or are active members in any clubs are required to purchase an ASB card. Scholarships are available to students to cover a partial or full cost of the ASB card and students can see Mr. Lee in the Commons for assistance.
The district is no longer waiving fees for debit/credit card payments. SchoolPay is now showing a processing fee. To purchase items or make a payment without the fee, you can bring a check or exact cash payment into Lincoln’s main office between 9:15 and 3:00.
Orchestra t shirt orders:
Welcome back, LHS orchestra students and families! Please order your orchestra t shirt IF you haven’t already by contacting vigreenbaum@seattleschools.org. Scholarship funds available–please mention if needed! Our first concert is on Sept 26, 7 pm! The orchestras are starting to sound amazing!!!
A message from SPS: Well-Resourced Schools: Building our Future Together:
Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is committed to ensuring all our schools have the resources needed to meet the diverse needs of students.
SPS has seen a steady drop in enrollment over the years, leaving many of our elementary schools with fewer than 300 students. These smaller schools often lack vital resources, such as assistant principals and art, music, and physical education teachers.
The enrollment drop has left our district with significant budget challenges. For the upcoming year, we are looking at a deficit of approximately $100 million.
We have made tough decisions to close budget gaps in recent years. We have reached a point that to balance our budget, we will be faced with making cuts to schools and classrooms. Consolidating schools will not solve all our financial challenges, but it will help secure the long-term financial health of our schools.
During the week of September 9, we will send our families, staff, and community an update on the Well-Resourced Schools planning process. This will include details about upcoming community meetings, an analysis of our current elementary and K-8 schools, and the detailed proposals we are considering as we plan to make a recommendation to the Seattle School Board for our future.
SPS will present a Well-Resourced Schools update to the School Board on September 18. We expect to make a preliminary recommendation in October. Site-based hearings for the affected school buildings will follow this preliminary recommendation. The School Board will then introduce and take formal action after those hearings.
Maintaining the status quo is simply not an option. Without changes, we will need to make significant cuts to essential services in our schools. That could negatively affect students through larger class sizes, limited preschool options, and reductions in programs like athletics and music.
Our goal isn’t to target schools for closure but to create a sustainable system that better serves our students. SPS is fortunate to have amazing educators, and we want our schools to be the right size with the right resources so they can best support our students.
This is a critical – and indeed challenging – conversation. We are grateful for the support and engagement from our families and communities. During this process, we will be there alongside you every step of the way, helping you understand and navigate these changes.
Thank you for your ongoing support. We are looking forward to a great year ahead. Together, we are working towards a brighter future for all Seattle Public Schools students in this year and for generations to come.
Sincerely,
Bev Redmond
Chief of Staff
Seattle Public Schools