Upcoming Key Dates:

 

Wednesday, Dec. 24- Sunday, January 4, 2026 Winter Recess

Thursday, Dec. 25 - Christmas

Friday, Dec. 26 - Thursday, Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa

Friday, Jan. 9 - PTO and MCC Monthly Meetings 

Wednesday, Jan. 14 - Info session for grade 8 families whose students have an IEP

Friday, Jan. 16 - Students No School; Staff Professional Development

Saturday, Jan. 17 - Deadline to Sign Up for Winter Session Afterschool Activities 

Monday, Jan. 19 - No School in Recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Thursday, Jan. 22 - Grade 5 Student Learning Spotlight at School Committee 

Friday, Jan. 23 - Q2 Specials End (gr. 6-8)

                         Grade 8 Fundraiser: Dance for Grades 6-8 (Reed Gym), 6:00-8:30pm and 

Parent Lounge Get Together

Monday, Jan. 26 - Q3 Specials Begin (gr. 6-8)

Friday, Jan. 30 - Annual PTO Bingo Night, 5:30-7:30 (Dining Commons)

 

---

Winter Basketball Underway

The boys and girls basketball tryouts wrapped up last Friday and teams have been set. The schedule is available on the school’s athletics web page and live updates are linked to it. Thank you to Coaches Jodie Conway and Jordan Day for heading up the two teams. 

---

Nurse Needed for Lincoln School D.C. Trip

 

 

We are in need of a nurse to attend our four-day, three-night overnight trip to D.C. with the 8th grade class. The trip will run Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, May 29. The cost to attend would be covered by the district. If you are a nurse or know of one that may be able to help us out, please let me know as soon as possible. Thank you in advance.

---

Grade 8 D.C. Trip Fundraising Updates

Thank you to all volunteers and “customers” who came out to the Tarbell Room at the library this past weekend to help support the grade 8 fundraising. The group raised $420. 

 

The next fundraiser is another dance for grades 6-8 on January 23, 2026. Parents – we are considering hosting a “Parent Lounge” for parents to get together and mingle while kids are at the dance. We hope this will prevent anyone from feeling like they need to sit in their cars in the parking lot during dances to kill time. Please complete this survey and let us know if  you are interested. 

 

Event: 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Dance

• Theme: Wear your brightest, boldest colors to light up the night!

• Date: Friday, January 23, 2026

• Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

• Location: Reed Gym

Activities & Amenities

• Entertainment: Live DJ

• Refreshments: Snacks and drinks available for sale

• Extras: Raffles

Ticket Information

• Price: $15

• Purchase Options: At the door or pay ahead using the provided QR code

• Value: Each ticket price includes two raffle tickets and a drink

 

---

New Music Opportunity: Silver Strings

Begins Jan. 14

 

SILVER STRINGS: Looking for beginners for our Orchestra!

Ms. Gottschalk is starting up our beginning string orchestra, Silver Strings January 14!, to augment the lessons your young musicians are taking during school.

We will start meeting January 14  and go to the end of the school year. 

We will be playing exciting orchestral music (for beginners!) in an orchestral setting. This is a wonderful way for the kids to again be part of a musical team working together and preparing for our school orchestra.

We will meet directly after school on Wednesdays for about 45 min. in the middle school music room until our June concert!

This is open to all 5th grade string players and anyone younger who has had private lessons for at least a year. (Sixth graders that might want to be role models for the younger players!)

It is free of charge!

I would encourage all musicians to check it out! If you have occasional conflicts, ie the musical rehearsals or doc appointments, you are welcome to come whenever possible.

I hope your musician will come try it out! We've had a great response in the past  and I hope we can use this time to make more music together!

Please let me know if you have any questions! sgottschalk@lincnet.org

Add it in your new 2026 calendars!

 

---

After School Activities - Winter Session

Sign Up by Saturday, January 17 

Please see this link to explore and sign up for our winter session after school offerings (for grades 5-8) including the continuation of National History Day and Young Historians as well as some new offerings such as Money 101, Animal Club, and Speech & Debate. 

 

Bentley programs open to grades 4&5 will continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are open to returners as well as any new students who’d like to give them a try. See the sign up form for relevant dates: After-school Activites. We are also looking to add a Monday Bentley session; details soon to follow. 

 

---

 

Grade 8 to 9 Transition — SAVE THE DATE!

 

Event Overview

The Student Services Departments of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, Lincoln Public Schools, and Sudbury Public Schools are hosting an information session for parents and guardians of students transitioning to L-S who receive special education services on an IEP.

Meeting Details

• Date: January 14, 2026

• Time: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

• Format: Remote event via Zoom

• Link: Zoom Meeting

Agenda

• Transition Planning: Information on expected timelines.

• Developmental Insights: What to expect as students age out of middle school into high school.

• Meet the Staff: Hear from each of the school's student services administration.

• Q&A: A Question & Answer session will be held at the end of the meeting.

Contact Information

If you have questions, you are encouraged to reach out to your school-based team chairs or the SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council).

Name	Title	Email
Stephanie M. Juriansz	Director of Student Services, Sudbury Public Schools	stephanie_juriansz@sudbury.k12.ma.us
Richard Whitehead	Director of Student Services, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School	richard_whitehead@lsrhs.net
Lisa Berard	Director of Student Services, Lincoln Public Schools	lberard@lincnet.org

 

 

---

Massachusetts Partnership for Youth Poster Contest

MPY’S 2025 POSTER & PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA) PROJECT— Deadline is Jan. 30, 2026

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) proudly presents our annual Poster and PSA Project, Kind People are the Best Kind of People, a creative initiative that encourages students to express the power of kindness through art.

---

Project Theme

"KIND PEOPLE ARE THE BEST KIND OF PEOPLE"

Ways to Show Kindness

• Volunteer in your community

• Make a donation to support a cause

• Treat yourself with kindness and positive self-care

• Leave a note of encouragement to someone in need

• Do something nice for a neighbor or stranger

• Email a teacher or mentor to thank them for their impact

• Smile often - it’s contagious

• Compliment yourself and others

• Stay connected with family and friends

• Send a small gift to show someone appreciation

Submission Deadlines

• POSTER Submissions: Friday, January 30, 2026

• PSA Submissions: Friday, April 10, 2026

Contact & Information

• Contact: Wendy Leone at wendy@mpyinc.org

• Details: Students are invited to express the power of kindness through art by submitting creative poster and PSA projects that showcase compassion, care, and understanding.

 

---

Lincoln Library Programs

 

Pop-Up Art School: Felted Rainbow Patches
Friday, Dec 19 from 3:30 - 5:00
Make a fuzzy felted patch with wool. Pick from four rainbow designs. Use the finished piece as a patch on a jacket, or frame it for a unique piece of art. Pop up Art School will show you how to use a barbed needle and wool roving to make this cool accessory. Needle felting is fun and easier than it looks! For ages 11+. Register here:  Pop-up-art-school Registration

 

COMING IN JANUARY:

 

Read to a Retriever!
Thurs, January 8 at 4pm
Practice reading in a supportive environment with a certified therapy dog! Join Abigail, a six-year-old “Pets and People” certified therapy dog for a one-on-one 15 minute reading session. Abigail is friendly, calm, and non-judgmental, helping young readers build confidence and strengthen literacy skills. This program is intended for emerging or independent readers, ages 5 and up. Please register for only one 15-minute session. Any questions, email dleopold@minlib.net Register here: Read-to-a-retriever Registration

 

Young Writers Workshop
Saturday, Jan 24 and Jan 31 from 1-3pm
This two-session workshop (Saturdays 1/24 and 1/31) for young authors will dive into the creative process and help your child find their own unique voice. Through journaling, writing prompts, mindfulness, movement, and visual art - children will explore their own natural creativity and use it to write an original story. Intended for children in grades 4-6. Participants are highly encouraged to attend both sessions. Workshops are taught by published author Erin Petti. Register here: Young-writers-workshop

 

---

National History Day Competition Updates

 

Youth Advisory Board:Next meeting will be held on January 14, 2026. Details and Zoom invite to follow– please share with your students. This group is amazing– talented, creative, and full of good ideas! It’s not too late for your students to join. 

 

Judge Registration is Open for all Regional Contests and Showcases:  Judges are the backbone of the History Day program. No prior experience is required– just an interest in history and a willingness to learn from some incredible young people. Please hit up your networks, friends, and families and encourage them to register for one (or more!) of our 5 contest sites. It’s a great day, you’re fed well, and teachers can earn 10 PDPs. Register here: Mass History Day

 

Lincoln students (Lincoln and Hanscom) will be competing in the Northeast regional competition slated for Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Stoneham High School in Stoneham. 

---

Lincoln School Foundation’s Lincoln Lounge, March 7 

 

On Saturday, March 7, the Lincoln School Foundation will host a special adults-only event, Lincoln Lounge. It is a speak-easy themed event with live music, games, and silent auction fundraiser. 

Lincoln Lounge

Presented by Lincoln School Foundation

---

Event Overview

•  

• Date: 03/07/2026

• Location: Pierce House

• Activities: A night of live music, games, and drinks to celebrate Lincoln Public Schools and uplift teacher-led innovation.

 

• Sponsorship Levels

  Donations from businesses support innovative teaching and authentic learning experiences for students.

  Level	Price	Key Benefits
  Platinum	$1,000	Signature drink naming rights, logo on photo backdrop, and food table advertising.
  Gold	$500	Featured in interactive game at event and logo on entrance photo backdrop.
  Silver	$250	Sponsor table space for brochures/cards and featured on LSF website/social media.
  Bronze	$100	Featured on LSF website/social media and acknowledgment in post-event email.

 

 

---

Association for Middle Level Education

Parent Resource

 

The Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE)  has created a new website specifically for families to help understand and embrace the nuanced middle years. So whether your middle schooler is the first you’ve had or the 2nd, or 3rd, etc, this site has great resources to help you and your middle level child navigate these years productively.