Lincoln Unified School District

The 2011-12 school year has started with promise. Exciting things are happening on every campus in our district! We invite you to visit your child's school, join the PTSA and booster clubs, and participate in school events. Lincoln USD is fortunate to have a a professional, caring staff and a strong tradition of parent involvement. These are the "magic" factors that make our schools great! We will use this home page to update our community on the most current events or pressing issues. If you have a question that is not addressed here, please contact us. We appreciate hearing from you. Sincerely, Tom Uslan, Superintendent

Important information for Lincoln USD families:

Measure A - Local School Improvement Measure on June 5, 2012, Ballot

Measure A is a $48.5 million local school improvement measure intended to address the needs of the student population through modernization and new construction projects at the District’s fourteen schools. Lincoln Unified schools have been well maintained, and some major renovations have been completed over the years. However, our work is not done.

Click on the links below to see videos of some of the problem areas cited in this measure:

Failing roofs at Lincoln High School	Dry rot & water damage at John R. Williams School	Distintegrating foundations at Colonial Heights School	Improvised walls and sound barriers, Mable Barron School	Rotting drains at Sierra Middle	Sinking classrooms at Mable Barron School

Superintendent Uslan will lead tours of our faciities for interested community members on the following dates:

All tours will meet at Mable Barron School, 6835 Cumberland Ave. We encourage all members of our community to attend  at least one of these tours.

Here are two additional documents explaining Measure A and general obligation bonds:

For additional information, please call (209) 953-8712.

Lincoln Unified is on Facebook!

Follow us on Facebook for updates on Board meetings and many District events. We'd love to hear from you regarding what kind of information you'd like to see posted. Email lwalker@lusd.net with your comments.

Click on this link to reach our Facebook page:

Caltrans Announces Information regarding I-5 Ramp and Lane Closures, Related Road Closures

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will close Brookside road at the Interstate 5 (I-5) undercrossing.  Crews are scheduled to close the road on Monday, September 12, 2011, and are scheduled to reopen it in April of 2012.  This closure is necessary to widen I-5 over the Calaveras River. Motorists should expect 10-minute delays on both the westbound and eastbound detours. Additional road closures are scheduled for River Drive and Swain Road as the project progresses.

Also, motorists should expect 20 minute delays on Swain Rd under I-5, beginning Monday, February 27, through Friday, March2, from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM daily.

Click below for additional information regarding Brookside Rd:	Click below for information regarding I-5 ramp and lane closures	55 mph speed limit on I-5 during construction

The Kindergarten Readiness Act

A historic reform to kindergarten education

California's youngest students have been given a better opportunity to be successful beginning on their first day of school. The Kindergarten Readiness Act (Assembly Bill 1381) establishes new age requirements for kindergarten students effective next school year. This law requires students to be older than in previous years to attend kindergarten and provides an additional year of kindergarten (called "transitional kindergarten") for some of our youngest students. Currently, kindergarten students must be five years old by December 2nd in order to enroll. The new law changes the kindergarten entry date to September 1, and will be phased in over a three-year period. Next school year, kindergarten students must be five years old by November 1st. During the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years respectively, these age cutoffs advance to October 1st and September 1st.

The Kindergarten Readiness Act also establishes a new class called "transitional kindergarten," the first year of a two-year kindergarten experience for those students who are born between September and December. In order to enroll in this program, students must meet the following age requirements:

	2012-13 school year		Students must turn 5 between November 2 and December 2
	2013-14 school year		Students must turn 5 between October 2 and December 2
	2014-15 school year		Students must turn 5 between September 2 and December 2

Students who successfully complete transitional kindergarten will attend kindergarten the following year.  Please note: Governor Brown's proposed budget puts transitional kindergarten in jeopardy for the 2012-13 school year. Unless the State Legislature votes to include this program in the budget, we will be unable to implement it. We will continue planning and be ready when/if funding does occur.

If you have questions regarding enrollment, please contact Bonnie King. bking@lusd.net  (209) 953-8711  If you have questions regarding transitional kindergarten, please contact Janet Petsche. jpetsche@lusd.net (209) 953-8714

Adequate Yearly Progress Report

All schools and districts receiving federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Schools Act are required to report their Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and their Program Improvement status. Below you will find links to information in English and Español.

If you would like additional information, please call Debbie de Ganna at 953-8735.

2012-13 Student Calendar

On March 21, 2012, the Board of Trustees adopted the 2012-13 Student Calendar. The first day of school will be Wednesday, August 22, 2012.

Lincoln Unified School District Adjusts School Attendance Boundaries

Attendance boundaries in five Lincoln Unified areas have been revised by the Governing Board, effective April 4, 2011. Board President Ted Bestolarides stated, "These boundary changes are needed to improve the balance of the number of K-6 students in our schools and to increase the safety of students who walk to school."

In making these revisions, the Board designated all children (including those unborn or not presently adopted) whose parents/guardians reside in the modified regions as of May 26, 2011, as eligible to attend the original neighborhood school, if space permits. Homeowners will not be considered residents unless the home was their primary residence on May 26, 2011.

Residents in these regions who wish to avail themselves of this option and whose children are not enrolled in Lincoln USD schools must have submitted an address verification form, along with a copy of their most recent PG&E bill. Forms were accepted until 4:00 PM on June 4, 2011.

Click here for the revised map.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2011, all students in fourth through twelfth grades attended an Anti-Bullying Program presented by their school's principal. They learned about the practical and legal definitions of bullying - and about the consequences that face students who engage in any level of bullying. Students returned to their classrooms for follow-up discussions. These presentations and discussions were tailored to the specific grade levels of the students.

A sample of the 4-5 presentation can be found here:

Please talk with your child about this presentation. Together, we can teach our children that respect and civility enrich a community, and ensure a safe, positive environment for learning. The District will continue its efforts in this regard, and thanks the Lincoln community for its continued support. For more information, please contact your child's principal or call 953-8712.

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Fundraising Drives

The District is fortunate to have caring parents and community members who work to ensure that quality programs continue to improve. In these challenging economic times, these efforts are more important than ever before. Look below for ways you can support our students!

	Save Science Camp     Saving a 50 year+ tradition!			Music Boosters Lincoln Unified's commitment to a fine music program is long-standing and core to our District's values. We have more students enrolled in band and orchestra classes this year than ever before!   Lincoln High School Band Review Saturday, November 19, 2011 Don't miss the morning parade on Benjamin Holt Dr. and stick around for great music throughout the entire day!
If Science Camp is to continue, ALL of us have to do our part. Thank you to The Bank of Stockton, Lambda Theta Phi, and Don Riggio PTSA for their generous donations! And a special thank you to the Lawrence Livermore National Lab for the Student Store Grant to benefit Science Camp!
Fundraising FUN for all of the family:    Buy a Science Camp T-shirt!  Click here for the flyer.  CoCoRo to Go, March 29, 2012. Click here for the reservation form.   Here is the Save Science Camp Fund update as of November 30, 2011.  Here is the financial report for the 2010-2011 Save Science Camp Drive.				PTSA Don't forget your school's PTA! Important work is done through each site's PTSA to provide programs, materials and field trips for our students. Lincoln Unified is a special place because of the parents, teachers and students who care!
Baseball Complex Drive A group of Lincoln parents has organized an ambitious fundraising drive to improve our baseball and softball complexes. These improvements will leave a lasting legacy for Lincoln students. There are a number of ways you can help!  Please contact lwalker@lusd.net if you would like more information.				Athletic Boosters Join the LHS Boosters and the California Cougars to help raise money for our athletes Click here for a flyer.
Baseball Complex Fundraising Opportunities Go Trojans!
Diamond and Ball Bricks - Imprint your name or the name of someone you'd like to honor. Bricks will be displayed at the completed complex. $100 each Click here for a donation form.   Baseball Cookbook - Not your ordinary cookbook!  This cookbook is full of great recipes, along with pictures and history of the Lincoln High School baseball program! Go to www.makeadiff13@aol.com if you would like to get more information. The cookbooks are available for purchase at the locations listed to the right.   LHS Baseball Website - Learn about LHS Trojan baseball!  www.lhstrojanbaseball.com				Cookbooks are available at the following locations: LHS Athletic Office LHS Admin Office Lincoln USD District Office and at these Lincoln Center stores: Best Wishes • Campbell's • Cavagnaro's C.R. Porter • Dennis Shea Shoes Draper's & Damon's • Fina • Flair Boutique Great Spectacles • Long's Jewelers Podesto's Market • Sylveria's Floral

Lincoln Unified Provides Transportation for Students in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade

In the last few years, the District's school buses have had a surge in ridership, causing the District to spend our limited funds on new buses and increased personnel to drive and maintain them. Even with the new buses, we find that some of our youngest students are often waiting at the end of the day for a second bus run. Additionally, the District cannot allocate any more funds that would otherwise be used for student programs.

Consequently as of October 1, 2011, the District began enforcing Board Policy 3540.2, Home to School Transportation. Busing will be limited to students in kindergarten through sixth grade, with a few stipulated exceptions.

Here is a link to Board Policy 3540.1, Home to School Transportation.

We are glad that we can continue to serve our K-6 student population. Many districts are discontinuing, severely limiting, or charging for transportation services. The District has never authorized transportation for grades 7-12, and the time has come to enforce that policy — for the safety of our youngest students, and to preserve as much of our budget as possible for student programs.

Parent Surveys
There are two parent survey linked to the icon on the right-hand side of this page. We would appreciate it if you would complete each of them.

Parent Survey 1 asks for your opinions on issues regarding school culture, safety and communications. It will be helpful as we develop our school plans and reassess our efforts to develop the best school climate possible for our children.

The Parent Involvement Survey asks for your experiences communicating with and/or volunteering at your child's school.

                                         We wish you and your family a wonderful, healthy and productive year!

Six Steps for Keeping Your Family Healthy