General Meeting Minutes 1-8-26

General Meeting Minutes 1-8-26 5:30 pm

Board Members Present: Jennalee Garcia Montero, Skyla Boivin, Nicole Hryciw, Julie Bowman, Jenny Grimaldi

Logger report from Principal Graham (via Jennalee):

  • The longterm sub (Ms. B) in 4th grade is remaining until the end of the year.

  • We qualified and received a grant for social/emotional learning. Each of the lower classrooms will receive a slumberkins stuffie & book on an emotional subject. The little buddy-big buddy program can expand with this program. Jennalee shared how it went with the kinder & 3rd, 1st & 4th, and 2nd & 5th grades.The lower grades have access to a video that pairs with the slumberkins and can enhance the learning.

  • This week all of the students went through an Expectations Fair for the school and the staff received a spreadsheet of student behaviors that have been happening. The equity team and site based team looked over this to make new disciplinary flow charts to define problems specific to our school.

Families Helping Families:

  • In November we did a Facebook post when families were losing their food benefits. Our FCRC (run by Judit) was able to receive $245 and she allocated Winco gift cards to families who reached out for support. It was asked at our meeting if that can continue, and we said yes the link is still up and Judit can continue to facilitate. We shared that there are families in need of community support.

  • We did a hat, coat, and mitten drive as well the leftover fruit/veggie snacks are sent home. Jennalee shared that we go through a significant amount of hats & mittens. We have a really great partnership with All Saints and their diaper bank is growing and supporting 50-70 families a week.

Holiday Market:

  • The annual Holiday Market was a huge success. We had large donors which helped to raise the scholarship to $5 a kid. We profited $750.01. We only used $460 for scholarships so the rest can roll over to next year. A man approached Jennalee and Mona to ask what they were doing while shopping the sales for next year, and then gave a donation to support the scholarships.

Bike Bus follow up:

  • Jenny met with the bike bus organizers and transportation planner of the city. The team wants Lincoln to reach out to the families to get data of who is interested and what cross streets they live near. That will be sent out to families in February. They will take the data and work on making a route map for us.

  • The bike bus would need 4 adult leads; one to ride in front, one in back, and two on the sides.

  • They have 6 bicycles and 6 helmets available for students who need one. If interested, a student would need to do a safety training to receive the bike.

  • The city is working on getting signs for the neighborhood route for cars to be on the lookout.

  • They are rolling out the program at Hough, and we discussed how Lincoln’s boundaries are a little more complex.

Treasurer’s Report:

  • Bank Account: $ 15,709.02 Checking

    $ 10,045.49 Savings

  • November - 23 Transactions, $2,908.07 deposits, $1,168.56 expenses Reconciled

  • December - 25 Transactions, $5,775.50 deposits, $6,206.89 expenses Reconciled

  • Recent Expenses Since Last meeting; Pizza with the Principal, Fish Tank, Makers Space, Holiday Market 26/27, Volleyball Stipends

  • Recent Income since Last Meeting; Chuck E Cheese, Logger Laps, Holiday Market Scholarships, FCRC donations

  • Upcoming Expenses or Events; Pizza with the Principal, Fish tank, Basketball Stipends

Misc News:

  • Basketball is happening for 4th & 5th graders starting on Feb 3rd each Tues/Thurs morning from 7-7:50 am and will run through the end of March. Lpsg is funding the basketball.

  • Last meeting we had a request for a crochet/crafting club. The flyers are going out tomorrow in Friday folders. All grades are welcome, but we are limiting it to the first 20 kids who return their form. The first one is Jan 22, and will run to spring break. Alice Cummings initiated this and is the lead for the club.

  • We discussed restaurants to add to our fundraising night (along with Chuck E Cheese). We debated Red Robin, Panda Express, and Mod Pizza but did not land on a consensus. We were more in agreement of reaching out to a local business. The funds raised go directly to teacher reimbursement, then rolls over into holiday market scholarship fund, then after that it will roll into the outdoor improvement.

  • We are about to roll out the outdoor playground fun cart with lots of equipment and toys.

  • We asked for volunteers for Maker Space on Tues/Wed/Thurs, Read NW, and lunch buddies.

  • We asked if there is a student who might be interested in helping delivery Logger Mail.

  • A parent asked if there is a special meeting coming up for 5th grade graduates, Nicole said that it is coming.

Meeting adjourned at 7 pm.

General Meeting Minutes 11-13-25

General Meeting 11-13-25 5:30 pm

Lincoln Library

Executive board members introduction; Jennalee Garcia Montero, Skyla Boivin, Julie Taylor, Nicole Hryciw, Julie Bowman, Jenny Grimaldi

Julie Bowman explained our access to Blazers Tickets and offered parents attending the meeting an opportunity to sign up for tickets to attend a game.

Green Team report:

  • Parent and green team member Dan Thompson introduced us to Jane Tesner Kleiner from Nature Play designs, and how they met. Jane is a Landscape Architect and has helped many schools in the district develop, design, and facilitate district approval for outdoor learning and play spaces. Dan gave us background on the projects they worked on at his school where he is a teacher. He shared with everyone what the green team has accomplished so far, including a pollinator garden and a plan to plant trees in April. Jane spoke about her history working with many schools, the importance of campus improvements being safe and that they should directly add to curriculum as well as many benefits socially and emotionally. She went over the map of our outdoor areas at Lincoln and the ideas we have for this year. The city is interested in adding trees, and we are wanting to decrease heat on our playground. By adding a shade/canopy area, our playground becomes safer and there are many learning opportunities with different tree species. April is the time for tree planting around Arbor Day, and we are including the 5th grade ecosystems unit. Jane shared that when kids are involved, vandalism goes down and pride in ownership goes up. Other ideas are a walking loop path, which is great for the surrounding neighbors, accessibility for the school, and can be utilized by PE teachers for measured distance walks/runs. We discussed future plans for an outdoor learning area under the oak trees and a futsal court. Principal Graham added that there is a grant to help match and double what money we fundraise for that.

  • We discussed student involvement and ideas and to continue to get input from them. Our Paras are interested in how this will improve recess. A parent shared her kiddo interested in a mud kitchen. Jennalee explained how her kinder are interested in a fairy garden, and how that can be accomplished much sooner. A parent asked about how it gets going, and how long the process is. We explained it is a slow process getting district approval, but that we have great momentum going. Jennalee shared that she has a grant writer if we find the right grant.

Treasurer’s Report

  • Checking account balance is $16,395.20

  • Savings balance is $10,043.81

  • Recent expenses Since last meeting; Logger laps Prizes, office supplies, pizza with the principal, money minder, and fish tank maintenance.

  • Recent Income since last meeting; $1407 (Logger Laps cash/check), $2,783 (Logger laps zeffy), $1,055.07 (Chuck E Cheese), $73.80 & $62.15 from Kroger for this fiscal year.

We have been sponsoring pizza with the principal for students who have received character trait of the month award. We need to vote to continue funding it. There can be up to 16 kids a month depending on the schedule. It is $76 a month to continue, unless it’s a shorter month. Vote approved unanimously.

Logger Laps Update

  • Logger laps was the most successful year ever. We appreciate all the help and volunteers. It was switched to the fall and it went very well. We were able to double the amount of prizes allocated. Of the funds raised, $600 goes to holiday market scholarships and the remaining goes to the teacher reimbursement fund.

  • We are currently working on a dinner night fundraiser. Chuck E Cheese was successful as always, and another is planned for the spring.

Bike Bus

  • Kaylee Moreno (locallinkspnw@gmail.com is a social worker who started Local Links in Vancouver. She explained her role in facilitating a bike bus program in our community, which is starting at Hough elementary. A bike bus is a group of trained adults and parents who ride along a set route on specific mornings and “pick up” youth to ride, walk, or scoot to school - much like a school bus. There are many fun health and social benefits for youth.

  • Several adults lead the front and back of the bike bus down a predetermined safe route. Helmets are required and rules of the road followed. Communication comes through the school and neighborhood sign ups. They take up the whole road and try to avoid two lane roads. Some join by driving to the route. It has to be implemented by the PTO.

  • Waste connections are helping with donations.

  • Jason Cromer founded Cycle Vancouver and spoke about how great it is for kids and the community. (jasoncromer@gmail.com)

  • Maggie Derk is the Senior Transportation planner with the city and spoke about how the city is on board. The city safe routes to school program is new. They can help the school to educate, support, get access to helmets, and reflective vests.

  • Parent Dave Cummings teaches at Columbia river and they started this. He had the idea to cycle down equipment for kids who are graduating.

  • Our Principal asked about cost for bike racks and the city said that would need to be determined.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP)

  • Judit spoke about the opportunity for cooking classes for students and their parents at Lincoln through Washington State University. For each segment, there will be 9 classes and our space can hold as many as 16 participants. Each class is 90 minutes long and will teach nutrition, safety, planning meals, grocery shopping, and recipes.

  • Principal graham shared that a lot of kids are making their own food at night. She would like to see more parents involved. Judit explained that it will be a parent and child cooking class. It is planned to start in January and have two separate groups. We discussed an idea to have one group right after school and the next segment later in the evening.

Art club proposal

  • Lincoln student Alice Cummings proposed starting a crochet club after school. She and her friends began crocheting on the playground and asked to have time indoors once a week on Thursdays. Jennalee can facilitate since it is still in her contracted hours from 2:30-3:00. It will be held in maker space, but parents need to know Jennalee would be in the pod.

Voted and approved.

Ways to give

  • Lincoln and the district has started “student’s care”

  • Lpsg has a giving opportunity - we are making sure that we gather funds for families who need it. Any funds raised for the holiday season or other needs. Judit will connect funds to families who need it. Last year we had the biggest need ever for Holiday Market scholarships.  This is where kids can shop (everyone can shop) for their families. More than 60% needed the scholarships. When envelops come home, there is a place to add in a scholarship for another student. All Saints collects plate donations in November and December and it comes back toward our scholarship fund. We are looking to aim for around $800 to support the holiday market scholarships.

Volunteer opportunities

  • Maker space is now run by LPSG and needs volunteers. It is open for students Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and is staffed by Skyla and Jenny of the board.

  • Spiritwear orders closes next wed 11/19

  • Reviewed Read NW and the Lunch buddy program. Both programs need volunteers.

Meeting adjourned 7:00 pm.

General Meeting Minutes 9-11-25

9-11-25 General Meeting in the Lincoln Library 5:30 pm

Principal Jessica Graham introduced herself and shared some background information about herself and her family.

Principal’s report:

  • We are at capacity with 287 students.

  • She is working on behaviors, and the pbis fair went over expectations. Everyone is adjusting

    to the morning drop off change and the lunchtime being longer.

  • Star students will be announced every week, then at the end of month there will be pizza with

    principal.

  • Parent teacher conferences are no longer, but the early release time is there for parent

    contact.

  • Working on building mtss and collaboration meetings with specialists. Everyone will have a

    education plan.

  • She shared that she requested to be at Lincoln, not that she was placed here. We all agreed

    that we are very happy to have her on board.

    Introductions were made:

    Present board members; Jennalee Garcia Montero, Skyla Boivin, Julie Taylor, Nicole Hryciw, Julie Bowman, Jenny Grimaldi

    2 parent guests present; Becca, Tristan, and Dan Guest speaker from Read NW; Arwen Flynn

    Treasurers Report:

    LPSG first meeting of 2025/2026 school year Checking account balance: $13,728.61 Savings account balance: $10.042.13 Upcoming income:

    Logger Laps 9/16 - 9/18
    Chuck E Cheese 10/17
    Makers Bazar 11/17
    Recent expenses:
    Teacher Breakfast $395 (Budget $500)
    Final total for end of year BBQ was $779 (Budget $800) Red Go Home Folders and stickers $264

    13 Outdoor balls $155
    48 Noise Canceling Heatingphone $344 1st Makers Space Order $195

Gym Fan $399

Upcoming expenses:
Fish Tank Maintenance $175

Vote to approve $100 from enrichment line item to fund the Vancouver pops orchestra assembly - approved

Photo Booth

Nicole announced we were chosen to win a photo booth from PTO today

• Vote to approve the purchase for iPads, props, printer paper to supply the use of photo booth at approximately $350

Vote- approved
• Principal Graham shared that she would like to have a monthly birthday table at lunchtime.

Perhaps the photo booth could be used for this.

• Individual committee budgets would cover restock of paper (for events it would come out of each line item)

Other announcements:

  • Pickleball club donated $1,000 to our FCRC and welcome back breakfast for teachers, then got it matched for another $1,100. Discussed ways to extend our thanks and share what the money is going towards.

  • Discussed options to use QR codes for families that prefer that type of donation engagement, principal suggested adding a QR code to her newsletter

  • Julie Bowman shared that we received $ from the Jersey Mike’s contest and that our video was in the top 10 in the nation.

    ReadNW Presentation

    ReadNW is a program starting this fall, helping get kids to reading level by 4th grade. It pairs up community members and volunteers to meet with a child to read for 30 minutes each week. They are looking for volunteers to mentor and match up with students. It will be geared for 1st grade at Lincoln.

    Green Team Announcements

The green team updated the board of the meeting they had last June with Jane Tesner Kleiner of Nature Play Designs and the projects they are pursuing. There are a few areas of the grounds that they have decided to work on for this year, and have support of the principal. Working toward district approval, funding, and volunteers, the goals are to create a garden, outdoor learning space, have trees planted around the perimeter of the playground, and continue work on the pollinator garden. They are connecting with the Lincoln Neighborhood Association, Urban Forestry, and Jane to get the next steps in motion. Jennalee suggested her brother as a contact for grant writing.

Another idea from the Lincoln Neighborhood association meeting was to pursue a bike bus at Lincoln. Similar to the one in Portland, kids can bike together as a group safely to school with parent chaperones.

LNA will be having a community event/party at Hidden park on Sept 20 at 2:00. No other questions were brought up. Meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.