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Celebration time for Lincoln Elementary

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School gets an ‘A’ grade, breaks ground on new CAMPUS

It was a momentous occasion for Lincoln Elementary as they celebrated two major milestones on Sept. 11.

Lincoln Elementary received an “A” grade for exceptional educational achievement in raising test scores in just under five years. Raising the grade from a “D,” current Lincoln Elementary Principal Mary Washburn said it took a lot of work from both staff and students. Elated beyond words, Washburn says her entire staff has been working diligently for the past four years to this point and this indeed is a celebratory occasion.

“I’m really proud of all of us, our staff they really worked hard for it, and we’ve been gradually increasing our grade for the past few years working towards this,” she said.

Washburn says the main reason for the outstanding grade was having a high expectation of the students, to support them as they are learning and a lot of collaboration with the teachers to make the kids more successful.

“It takes a lot of meeting time weekly to look at how students are achieving, discussing with the teachers where they may need some more support, and a lot of professional development in areas of math and particularly close reading which is a challenge,” she said.

Washburn intends on keeping that “A” grade by looking at areas on their report card. For instance, aid students who are the lowest achieving and help them grow more in a year’s time. That means having the teachers understand the standards and what it looks like for the kids to accomplish that standard, and how to get the teachers to respond to it.

“It’s a huge struggle, it’s a huge task to do this,” she said.

The other milestone for Lincoln was the long awaited construction of a new Lincoln Elementary school.

Once speeches were given, it was straight outside for the commencement of the groundbreaking of the new school. The current school has been in existence since 1955, and shows of its wear and tear and is past due for an upgrade. Having been here for 62 years, the current school will be replaced with a new campus by 2019.

Plans of the new school were on the wall for all to see, and excited about getting those plans into action is contractor Rick Murphy of Murphy Builders.

“We’re just real glad to get started on this project. It’s been in the making for several years; in the planning process,” he said. “We’re finally at the stage where it’s been handed off by the architects, the finance people who actually put it all together, but we anticipate the kids will be in here school year 2019 for sure.”

Staff members were sad when parts of the school outside were torn down. Some of them played here and grew up in the area.

Retired Special Ed/Pre-School teacher Debi Krause has been teaching at Lincoln for the past 36 years, and says the building of a new school is bittersweet.

“I never thought it would happen never thought in my entire life,” she said.

A former student who started kindergarten back in 1965, Alfred Olivar says it’s going to be sad but yet exciting to see the new school.

“It’s kind of sad that the old one is going but we need to move with the times so I think it’s for the better,” he said.

Current student, 8-year-old Tamia Washburn, who’s been attending since kindergarten shares her sediments on getting a new school.

“It’s cool, but I’m going to miss the design of the old school,” she said.

Once inside everyone was invited to refreshments of cake and punch, popcorn, and snowcones as they celebrated  Lincoln’s achievements.

Second grade teacher Jamey Lowrey, who recently transferred from Ramah Elementary, is excited about the grade and the new school.

“I think it’s amazing, the staff is amazing. They surely deserve a new school,” she said. “I love teaching here.”

One feeling for sure was the huge sense of sadness felt by those in attendance on the replacing of the old school. The hallways seemed to echo of the past – the old plumbing that hangs to the walls, the outdated colors, will be missed.

Story and photos by Dee Velasco
For the Sun