The Lincoln Squirrel – News, features and photos from Lincoln, Mass.

schools

My Turn: Joseph Dwyer running for School Committee

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

Dear fellow citizens of Lincoln:

Today I write to announce my candidacy for the open seat on the Lincoln School Committee. In a time when our world is changing at an unprecedented rate, providing our children the skills to navigate their way through is more critical than ever. With technology continuing at its ever-increasing pace, the priority of teaching needs to shift from what our kids  learn to how to learn. I argue that focusing on the process of learning and education better equips our youth with the tools they need to succeed in the long term, far outlasting the temporary satisfaction of acing weekly tests.

I have had the good fortune to be a resident of Lincoln past 13 years. At this stage in my life, I have greater bandwidth and a genuine drive to work on behalf of our community. I respectfully ask for your support. I welcome the opportunity to speak further about my vision for Lincoln’s schools and can be contacted directly at jaysp51d@gmail.com or 603-560-1787. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

Special thanks to all the hardy Lincolnites who took the time to sign my nomination papers in this frigid weather. I got many more than needed!

Sincerely,

Joseph Dwyer
6 Emerson Rd
Lincoln, Ma 01773

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

My Turn: Rajdev declares candidacy for School Committee

Dear neighbors,

I am writing to announce my candidacy for the open position on the Lincoln School Committee, and ask for your support.

My family moved to Lincoln five years ago, and our two young girls (entering third grade and kindergarten) are blossoming in the Lincoln schools. I’ve taken an active role in supporting the schools from the onset, volunteering as a room parent and acting as legal advisor to Lincoln Nursery School as part of the parent co-operative. Through that role I gained experience working through many administrative policies of the school, including Covid-19 policies. The experience of working closely with parents, administrators, and specialists to find the best solutions to keep our children healthy, active, and engaged has been challenging, and I’m excited for the opportunity to serve the community and schools in a more robust way on the Lincoln School Committee.

In addition to school volunteering, I’ve enjoyed getting to know so many talented and committed Lincolnites through my involvement on the boards of Friends of Modern Architecture (FoMA) and Valley Pond. With my professional background as an engineer and attorney, I have had many opportunities to analyze challenging issues, reach consensus across a broad group of interests, and communicate the outcome.

If elected, I will use independent critical judgment to help carry forward the strategic priorities of the schools, and ensure that the policies, procedures, and budget support these objectives. I believe now more than ever, we need to work to overcome the deep divisions that are being exacerbated by social media and allow kindness and understanding help us reach decisions that will benefit all of the children our schools serve. These issues are top of mind for me as I watch my young girls grow up in the community, and I can think of no better use of my time to support our school system in any way I can.

Lastly, I would like to thank the current School Committee for all their efforts in making the Lincoln schools the wonderful places they are, and for the extraordinary efforts to steer us through the pandemic the past two years.

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself, and I hope that you will support me in the town election on March 28th.

Sincerely,

Kimberly Rajdev
18 Moccasin Hill Rd.

“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their letters to the editor or views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.

Covid surge leads to temporary closures in Lincoln

(Editor’s note: this article was updated on January 9 to include school data from January 6).

Covid-19 continues to surge everywhere, resulting in a two-week suspension of in-person nonessential Lincoln programs and services as of Monday, Jan. 10, though schools are still in person as of January 6.

There were 49 new cases of positive Covid-19 results for Lincoln residents for the week ending January 6, compared to 29 the previous week and 15 the week before that. Prior to this surge, the town never recorded more than nine cases a week except for two weeks last January and one week in August.

Bemis Hall, Town Hall, the Lincoln Public Library, and the Parks & Recreation Department will be closed to the public for the next two weeks. However, staff will remain available via e-mail and phone to respond to requests for services and support.

The library will be resuming its curbside pickup program for requested materials. Details regarding picking up library materials will be sent in a separate email. Reference staff will be on hand to answer any questions via email or by phone at 781-259-8465. All programs will be moved to Zoom.

Library staff will be working in the building and can be reached during the following hours:

  • Monday 1–7:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday 9 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Sunday 1–5 p.m.

Essential town departments and services will remain open to the public. If in-person support and transactions are required from closed areas, please contact the relevant office to schedule an appointment using the town directory, where you can find links to office web pages and phone numbers as well as contact information for individual employees.

Schools

The Lincoln Public Schools received reports of 43 cases on January 3, 4, and 5, with 52 positive cases (18 employees and 34 students) over the December recess, according to a January 5 letter to the community posted on LincolnTalk by Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall. Another 25 new positive cases (19 of them in Lincoln School K-8 students) were reported on January 6, she said in another letter posted that day. The school system dashboard (last updated on the evening of January 6) notes that there have been 82 cases in January alone.

Even before the December recess, after-school activities were canceled for this week, and teachers and all other employees were told to wear state-issued KN95 masks at all times indoors.

“The last couple of weeks have been a bit of a rollercoaster ride,” McFall said in her January 5 letter, noting that there has been “changing guidance” from the CDC as well as state school and health offices.

Some Massachusetts schools reopened a day or two late this week because of the Covid-19 surge. On December 31, the Massachusetts teachers’ union called on Gov. Baker to allow a return to remote learning. However, Baker reiterated on January 3 that remote learning was not an option and schools would have to deliver the usual 180 days of in-person instruction, though they were free to use snow days as they saw fit.

Like many school districts in eastern Massachusetts, Lincoln announced that there would be no school on January 7 due to the forecast of snow.

Here is a summary of school cases from December 24 – January 5 provided by McFall: 

StudentsStaff
Lincoln K-4246
Lincoln 5-8186
Lincoln PreK21
Hanscom PreK11
Hanscom Primary911
Hanscom Middle133
TOTALS6728

Lincoln mirrors national surge in Covid-19 cases

After months of single-digit weekly Covid-19 case numbers, Lincoln’s caseload shot up in the last two weeks of 2021, with 15 cases for the week ending December 23 and another 29 cases in the following week. This is the biggest two-week total since the beginning of the pandemic, surpassing the 27 cases seen in the last two weeks of 2020.

The spike mirrors that of neighboring towns as well as the rest of Massachusetts and the U.S. Over the same time period, Carlisle has recorded 73 positive cases, and there have been 190 in Concord, according to Public Health Nurse Tricia McGean. Local public health officials are responsible for tracking and contact tracing Covid-19 cases, but the state Department of Public Health recognizes that local boards of health don’t have the capacity to follow this surge “and suggests we try to focus on priority groups such as K-12, congregate living situations, daycares, and the like,” she said on December 31.

Massachusetts DPH figures show the distribution of Covid-19 cases in Massachusetts by age for the week ending on December 31.

“That being said, the ones that I do contact generally have mild to moderate symptoms,” McGean continued. “Transmission often happens when groups gather, so I expect more and more cases each day after this holiday week.”

The omicron variant spreads three times as fast as previous variants, so once one family member tests positive, the virus often jumps quickly from one person to another, and “this is where I’m seeing most of the transmission in the cases I interview. One household case turns to two turns to three all in a matter of days,” she said.

McGean could not immediately provide data on the ages of those who have tested positive in Lincoln, but statewide, 40% of cases in the last two weeks of the year were in adults age 20-39, according to DPH figures.

Lincoln schools are reopening on January 3 after the holiday break with “heightened attention to known, effective precautions,” Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall said in a letter posted to LincolnTalk on December 30 by School Committee member Susan Taylor.

All student after-school activities are cancelled for the week, and families are asked to reinforce symptom checking and mask wearing. Teachers and all school employees were instructed to self-test before arriving to work Monday and will wear state-issued KN95 masks at all times indoors. School and health officials will reassess following the results of weekly pool testing, McFall said.

“I recognize that it is concerning that we are returning to school under conditions of increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases. This is not surprising, and while the numbers are higher, we are following a trend similar to last year at this time with a spike in cases following the holidays. If the pattern holds, we can hope to see a large decrease in cases at the end of January,” McFall added.

Since the start of the school year, the Lincoln Public Schools have recorded 82 cases of Covid-19 (68 students and 14 staff), according to the LPS Covid-19 dashboard. That includes nine cases each in September and October, 29 cases in November, and 35 in December. Sixty-one cases were on the Hanscom campus and 21 on the Lincoln School campus.

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School’s Covid-19 dashboard says there have been almost 60 cases of Covid-19 among faculty and staff as of January 3, up sharply from 17 during the week ending December 29. 

Federal and state health officials have issued new isolation and quarantine guidelines for those who test positive or are exposed to someone with Covid-19. Regardless of vaccination status, anyone who tests positive is required to stay home for five days. If they have no symptoms or the symptoms are resolving after that time, they can leave the house but must wear a mask when around other people for another five days.

McGean said there is no concrete threshold for closing the schools and moving to remote learning in the event that cases in town continue to rise sharply in coming weeks. Any such decision will be made after discussion among McGean, Superintendent of Schools Becky McFall, the Lincoln Board of Health, the state epidemiologist, and the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

News acorns

Barn Buddies on Wednesday for kids age 5-7

There are still a few spots available for Codman Community Farms’ Barn Buddies Holiday Special on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 2:30–4 p.m. in the farm greenhouse. Kids age 5–7 can meet some familiar farm friends, make some festive decorations, and enjoy a seasonal farm snack as they spend an afternoon with our experienced older farm buddies. Participants should wear warm clothes and closed-toe shoes. Click here to sign up.

More Boy Scout Christmas trees available

The Lincoln Boy Scouts Troop 127 were able to obtain an additional shipment of fresh-cut trees. The tree lot at the corner of Lincoln and Codman Roads will be open on Wednesday, Dec. 15 from 6:30–8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18-19 from 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m., or until sold out.

Watch talk by National Book Award winner

The Lincoln Public Library will host a Zoom screening of the talk given at the Concord Museum in June by Harvard Professor Tiya Miles on her book, All She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake, on Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. Lincoln author Ray Shepard will introduce the talk. All That She Carried is a National Book Award winner for 2021 and has been selected as one of the best books of 2021 by Time, Washington Post and New York Times. The sack — created by an enslaved woman named Rose for her daughter, who at age nine was sold by their owner — was inherited by her great-granddaughter Ruth, who embroidered the story into the sack. Click here to join the Zoom meeting (passcode: 125443).

Holiday drive for SVdP food pantry

The Lincoln Family Association and a Lincoln high school student are collecting donations for the Lincoln food pantry run by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lincoln and Weston. Residents can drop off nonperishable food items from this wish list at the following times and locations:

Friday, Dec. 17

    • 9:30–1 a.m. at the Lincoln School blue playground
    • 3–4:30 p.m. behind St. Joseph’s Church (142 Lincoln Rd.)

Saturday, Dec. 18

    • 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Lincoln School blue playground

Through Sunday, Dec. 19

    • The bin at Lincoln Middle School (items are being collected at this location for the second year in a row by tenth-grader Devon Das).

The SVdP food pantry has been dealing with sharp increases in need for assistance in recent years, as seen in their 2019-20 fiscal year summary. Total expenses and the amount of emergency assistance funds disbursed all went up by at least 30% over the preceding year, while the number of clients served has more than quadrupled since 2016. Click here if you or someone you know needs food or emergency financial assistance.

L-S teachers, School Committee agree on three-year deal

The Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School Committee announced that it has reached an agreement in principle on a new three-year contract with the Lincoln-Sudbury Teachers’ Association. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) provides for annual sequential cost-of-living (COLA) increases of 3%, 2%, and 2%, representing an aggregate COLA increase over three years totaling 7%. This agreement follows a 0% COLA for 2021-22 and agreement to transition to a single healthcare provider, which resulted in significant savings for the school district. There was an aggregate increase of 6.5% over the 2018-2021 period. The MOU will be incorporated into a collective bargaining agreement for the 2022-2025 academic years that is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

The terms reflect the aligned objectives of the School Committee and the Teachers’ Association to strengthen the educational and extracurricular program for students, provide opportunities for innovation in teaching, and manage compensation growth in a responsible manner, according to the committee’s statement.

“We are pleased to have achieved the key goals established by the School Committee at the outset of negotiations, and that we reached resolution on terms quickly and collaboratively,” said Cara Endyke-Doran, chair of the Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee. “The shared priorities of the School Committee and Teachers’ Association – providing a rigorous and purposeful education to all students – were evident throughout our negotiations.” The School Committee further appreciates and extends its sincerest gratitude for the dedication of the faculty to the best interest of the students of the district, especially during these challenging times caused by the ongoing pandemic’s impact on our community’s collective social and financial well-being.

Once the definitive agreement is finalized, a copy of it may be found on this L-S School Committee web page. For more information, contact committee chair Cara Endyke-Doran at Cara_endykedoran@lsrhs.net.

Thank teachers through HATS program

The Lincoln School Foundation’s Honor A Teacher & Staff (HATS) program gives you an opportunity to recognize specific Lincoln Public Schools teachers and other staff members while supporting the LSF. For a small donation, the LSF will prepare a certificate of appreciation with your personalized message to be delivered to the recipient. In addition to your child’s learning coach/teacher, consider celebrating the hard work of teaching assistants, specialists (art, music, drama, science, wellness), support specialists, office staff, nurses, custodians, METCO staff — anyone who works in Lincoln schools. Visit the HATS web page to participate, and click here to see grants that the LSF has made to teachers using donations.

News acorns

Talk on Lincoln’s Black residents in the 1700s

Last spring, the Lincoln Historical Society began to explore Lincoln’s past as a town that included enslaved people with a talk by Elise Lemire (co-sponsored by the Bemis Free Lecture Series) on “Slavery in Lincoln, Massachusetts: Reckoning with Our Past, Planning for a More Honest and Inclusive Future” (click here to watch video). The LHS will dig deeper on Thursday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. with a talk on “Entangled Lives, Black and White: Lincoln and Its African American Residents in the 18th Century” by LHS board member Donald Hafner, a retired vice provost and professor of political science at Boston College. Click here for the Zoom link (meeting ID: 936 3276 0035, passcode: 177417).

The event is co-sponsored by the First Parish in Lincoln’s Racial Justice Journey, which began this fall with a focus on national, local, and church history and the ways in which that history has involved us in questions of race. The aim is to offer access to a variety of sources of information and perspectives that will let participants reconsider these questions together, in preparation for the next stages of the journey, focused on issues (winter) and action (spring). Every Thursday evening at 7 p.m. this fall, there will be Zoom meetings with talks, documentaries, book discussions, or movies. Field trips are also offered as part of the program. Everyone is invited. To learn more, contact Mary Helen Lorenz at mhelen808385@gmail.com.

Fall Fest this Saturday

The Parks and Recreation Department will host the first-ever Fall Fest at Pierce Park on Saturday, Oct. 30 from noon–3 p.m. The event will feature the popular Trunk-or-Treat along with activities such as caramel apple decorating, bounce house, hayrides, an apple pie contest, pony rides, a petting zoo, and more. This event requires online registration and a $5 per person entry fee ($20 maximum per family).

Learn how to restore apple trees

Want to learn how to restore an apple tree? Or a whole orchard? Join the Lincoln Garden Club on Wednesday, Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. for a presentation by Matt Kaminsky, aka “Gnarly Pippins.” Matt is an arborist, author, and expert in the production of cider. Click here to register in advance for this meeting; you will then receive a confirmation email with your Zoom link.

Enter work for the Lincoln Arts Show

Lincoln-affiliated artists and artisans of all ages are invited to submit their work for the Lincoln Arts Show from Friday to Sunday, Nov. 5–7 from noon–5 p.m. at the Pierce House. Show the town your two- and three-dimensional creations for display or sale. Click here to register (entry fees start at $10, though the fee is waived for students). Once you’ve registered, a form for the artist statement and labels will be sent to you. Entry forms, artist statements, and art labels must be received by Monday, Nov. 1 at 5 p.m. Any late entries will be accepted on a space-available basis.

There is no commission; artists are responsible for collecting sales tax. All work must be ready to hang or present. Hanging/displaying times are Thursday, Nov. 4 from 4–6 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 5 from 9 a.m.–noon. Take-down time is Sunday, Nov. 7 from 5–6 p.m. Artists or their designees will be responsible for hanging/displaying and removing their own works. Hanging materials and tools are provided. The opening reception is Friday, Nov. 5 from 5–7 p.m. Questions? Contact Sarah Chester at schester636@gmail.com.

Lincoln residents in area performances

John Lynch

Lincoln resident Sammy Andonian will be the featured artist in Massachusetts Peace Action’s Music for Peace series opening concert on Saturday, Oct. 30 at the Harvard-Epworth Methodist Church (1555 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) from 7:30–9 p.m. Limited tickets are available for in-person seating; the event will also be live streamed. Support a worthy cause while enjoying beautiful classical music for solo and accompanied violin.

Lincoln’s John Lynch will be on stage of Lovers and Other Strangers, a comedy of 1970s love lives in five one-act vignettes, on November 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 8 p.m. and November 7 at 2 pm. at Theater III (250 Central St., West Acton). Vaccination and masks are required. For details, see theatre3.org or email lsminkoff@theatre3.org.

Public form on use of Lincoln ‘s conservation trails

The Lincoln Land Conservation Trust (LLCT) and the Lincoln Conservation Commission (LCC) are hosting a virtual Trail Use Public Forum on Wednesday, Nov. 17 from 7–8:30 p.m. LLCT and LCC have begun a comprehensive review of the multiple uses of Lincoln trails and how best to manage them for the protection of open space and overall public benefit. Trail uses have changed over time, and we are seeking a current community understanding of the appropriate way to use and enjoy our open spaces and trails.

The forum will start with a brief slide show reviewing the goals of Lincoln’s 2017 Open Space and Recreation Plan and a summary of previous and current trail uses, with the goal of developing a trail use vision that is appropriate for Lincoln today. After the presentation, attendees are encouraged to provide feedback and comments. Click here for the Zoom link (meeting ID 927 0523 1109, passcode: 971375). If you’re unable to attend the public forum, please submit any comments you’d like to share regarding the use of Lincoln’s trails to the Conservation Department (conservation@lincolntown.org or 781-259-2612) by November 30. 

State to conduct triennial special ed/civil rights review of schools

During the week of November 15, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of the Lincoln Public Schools. The PSM visits each district and charter school every three years to monitor compliance with federal and state special education and civil rights regulations. Areas of review related to special education include student assessments, determination of eligibility, the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team process, and IEP development and implementation. Areas of review related to civil rights will include bullying, student discipline, physical restraint, and equal access to school programs for all students. 

In addition to the onsite visit, parent/guardian outreach is an important part of the review process. The review chairperson from PSM will send all parents of students with disabilities an online survey that focuses on key areas of their child’s special education program. Survey results will contribute to the development of a report. During the onsite review, PSM will interview the chair(s) of the district’s Interim Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC). Other onsite activities may include interviews of district staff and administrators, reviews of student records, and onsite observations.

Parents/guardians and others may email PSM chair Erin VandeVeer at erin.vandeveer@mass.gov or call 781-338-3735 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chair will provide the district with a report with information about areas in which it meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which it requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The public will be able to access the report here.

Register for State of the Town online meetings

Lincolnites can now register to attend the Zoom-based Sate of the Town meeting on November 1-2 from 7–9 p.m. on both nights.

SOTT #1 (Monday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.)

  • Public Health Update
  • School Building Project Update
  • Finance Committee Update
  • Community Center Discussion
  • Open Forum

Zoom advance registration link (night 1)

SOTT #2 (Tuesday, Nov. 2 at 7 p.m.)

  • Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism (IDEA) Initiative Update
  • South Lincoln Planning Update
  • Climate Action Planning Committee
  • Open Forum

Zoom advance registration link (night 2)

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. For more information on the issues, see the Selectmen’s Fall 2021 Newsletter.

Smithsonian is streaming Hanscom student film on Ida B. Wells

“Ida B. Wells: The Princess of the Press” (click image to play video).

A short film made by two Hanscom Middle School students Sophie Hrad and Morgan Gibson will premiere nationally as part of a National History Day (NHD) online showcase.

“Ida B. Wells: The Princess of the Press” is one of 33 films produced by middle school and high school students that was competing in the 2021 NHD National Contest and selected by National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) staff. The films will be available to stream online via the Smithsonian Learning Lab through Wednesday, June 23.

NHD students whose films were selected for the showcase grappled with topics consistent with the mission of the museum. Their documentaries address topics of African American history, civil and human rights, and the experiences of historically underrepresented, marginalized, or subjugated peoples. These 10-minute films also reflect the 2021 NHD theme, “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding.”

The Hanscom students will have a similar honor next week as the Massachusetts Historical Society will include their project as part of its Juneteenth recognition, according to their teacher, Jason Peledge.

Sophie and Morgan’s documentary highlights Ida B. Wells, her dual fight against racism and sexism, and how she never stopped fighting for what she believed in and giving a voice to the voiceless. Through the power of the press, she shed light on the inhumane treatment of Black Americans during the late 19th century and early 20th century. Knowing the power of her communication, Wells advocated for women’s suffrage, racial justice, and much more, which has paved the way for people of color in the field of investigative journalism. Click here to watch their video.

The films would normally be shown in person in the NMAAHC’s Oprah Winfrey Theater but are being screened online due to the pandemic. “Despite the ongoing public health emergency, the virtual nature of this showcase allows us to leverage modern technology to share student work that addresses important movements and advancements in communications history,” said NHD Executive Director Cathy Gorn. “These students have recognized, researched, and refined powerful stories of communication breakthroughs and pioneers of the past. We are so grateful to our partners at the Smithsonian’s NMAAHC and the Smithsonian Learning Lab for making this showcase accessible to millions of people around the world.”

Civic Action Project

Peledge also teaches the seven-week Civic Action Project at Hanscom Middle School, part of the curriculum for all Massachusetts public school eight-graders. Students begin by identifying an issue of importance to them, and in groups based on shared interests, they research the history of the issue and how people have tried to solve it before, as well as identifying the community influencers and decision-makers. They conduct interviews with community experts and create a step-by-step action plans involving the community or legislators to try to resolve their issue.

Peledge’s students chose public awareness campaigns as their action plan. One group created a reusable bag infographic (see below), while another worked on this article about opposition to products are tested on animals.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”149″ gal_title=”Animal testing infographic”]

My Turn: Work continues on creating a more just and equitable society

By Tara Mitchell
Lincoln School Committee chair

As we mark the anniversary of moving to remote learning one year ago this month, it is difficult to process all that we have been through as a school district, as a community, and as a country. We can all be grateful and proud of the ingenuity, perseverance, and dedication that the Lincoln School District administration, faculty, staff, and students have shown this past year.

While there certainly are bright spots on the horizon with more vaccines coming, violent events continue to shed light on the hate and injustice that exists in our country, the most recent of which was the killings in Atlanta and the mass shooting in Boulder. We stand in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Island communities and acknowledge the fear, anger, and anxiety that these crimes of hate produce.

The Lincoln School Committee has made a commitment to honor and respect human differences and to work toward being an anti-racist district. Hate has no place in school, in our community, or in our country and we will continue to support the work being done in the school district that we hope will lead to a more just and equitable society.

”My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.