updated 8/26

Mission

The Westfield Public School District, in partnership with families and the community, educates all students to reach their highest potential as productive, well-rounded and engaged citizens who value individual differences and embrace diversity.

​

General Education Programs

​

Preschool Disabled Class (PSD) 

Preschool Disabled Class (PSD) with Principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis Kindergarten Learning Language Disabilities (LLD) Class

Kindergarten with Principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis

​

Special Education Programs

Enrollment is determined by the Special Services Department

Half-Day Integrated Pre-K

Half-Day Kindergarten

Kindergarten Wrap Enrichment

​

​

REGISTRATION

Pre-K Registration

Entrance into the Integrated Preschool Program is by lottery OR by the determination of the Department of Special Services. If the latter, please await confirmation from Special Services before attempting to enroll your child. If registering for one of the lottery positions that has been secured, please follow the linked application process. The lottery is anticipated to take place in April 2027; tuition is $400 per month.

​

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year is for all children who are residents of Westfield reaching the age of 5 on or before October 1, 2026. Detailed directions for completing the registration process, including steps for entering the Wrap lottery, are linked. The Wrap lottery will take place Friday, February 26, 2027.

​

June 2026 ~ session placement (AM or PM Kindergarten) is shared with families

August 2026 ~ teacher assignment is shared with families

GENESIS PARENT PORTAL

Opening day forms required by the New Jersey Department of Education and the District are posted on the Genesis Parent Portal. In late August you will be asked to log into the Genesis Parent Portal to update your contact information and to complete all necessary District forms for each of your children.

​

Attendance Reporting: Please be sure to follow instructions for recording your child’s absence in Genesis.

​

Kindergarten Families: Please use the Summary Page on the Genesis Parent Portal to access your child’s username and password for Google Classroom. If you are new to the Genesis Parent Portal, pages 4 and 5 of the Genesis Parent Access Manual provide directions.

​

Why Attendance Matters (NJDOE Guidance)

Regular attendance and on-time arrival are essential for student success. When students are present every day, they benefit from consistent instruction, classroom routines, and stronger academic and social-emotional learning. Arriving on time helps students avoid missing key learning activities that set the tone for the school day.

​

Chronic absenteeism is defined by the New Jersey Department of Education as missing 10% or more of the school year (about 18 days) for any reason, including excused and unexcused absences. Even occasional absences can add up and impact learning over time.

​

Strong attendance supports healthy habits such as responsibility, routine, and engagement in school. Families can help by maintaining consistent schedules, planning appointments outside of school hours when possible, and partnering with the school when challenges arise.

​

School Closings and Delays

Regular school days may be canceled or delayed due to snow or other unsafe conditions. The District's emergency messaging system will notify families in the event of an emergency closure.

​

ARRIVAL BEGINS AT 8:55 AM FOR AM KINDERGARTEN AND 12:40 PM FOR PM KINDERGARTEN

​

Busing: Students in half-day Kindergarten who live greater than 2.0 miles from Lincoln School are eligible for busing from Franklin, Wilson and Washington Schools. Subscription busing is available on a first come, first served basis through the Transportation Department. Students may also qualify for transportation as part of their Individualized Education Program (IEP). All buses drop off and pick up on the non-playground side of the building.

​

Morning Valet Line: beginning at 8:55 AM, half-day Kindergarten families may use the valet line. Enter the parking lot by the Lincoln Playground and drop off at the non playground door. A staff member will be present to greet students and supervise them as they enter the building.

​

Walking: Crossing guards are typically assigned to the corners of Westfield Avenue and Washington Street, Westfield Avenue and Everson Place, and Westfield Avenue and Grove Street.

​

IMPORTANT! Change of Transportation Plan: Please notify your child's Kindergarten teacher, Wrap teacher, Ms. Davey, and Ms. Linder via e-mail of any change to transportation on the morning of the change.

Getting To and From School

Valet Line 🚗

​

North Side Buses 🚌

​

Arrival Line Up 👇

​

Dismissal Doors

A Front Entrance

​

B Playground Door

​

C Non Playground Door

​

​

​

👇

🚗

🚗

🚗

🚗

👇

🚌

B

C

No drop off in bus lanes

A

​

​

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES: Pre-K

​

​

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES: Kindergarten

​

​

Kindergarten Busing Schedule - Franklin School

times are approximate; service provided by Durham School Services, route FR-10

Pick Up Location: Prospect Street adjacent to the front door

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Kindergarten Busing Schedule - Washington School

times are approximate; service provided by Durham School Services, route WA - 11

Pick Up Location: Bus zone on Sherman Street in front of the school

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Kindergarten Busing Schedule - Wilson School

times are approximate; service provided by Durham School Services, route WA - 11

Pick Up Location: Corner of Winyah Avenue and Linden Avenue

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

The Lincoln Early Childhood Center maintains the belief that preschool is a time for discovery. Preschool at Lincoln is centered on building students' sense of self, independence, confidence, and self-directedness as students explore their world through play. Teachers act as guides and facilitators as students learn alongside their peers, and create a safe, developmentally appropriate, and nurturing environment for students to grow.

​

Westfield offers a full range of special education programs available to students ages three to five who have been evaluated by a child study team and found to be eligible for special education and/or related services. These students, who have been found eligible are classified as "a preschool child with a disability". An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed for these students and they may take part in a special education preschool program at Lincoln School.

​

The integrated Pre-K classes, for three-year-olds and four-year-olds, also provide a limited number of general education openings. Children will gain admittance to the general education openings by completing the Lincoln School Integrated Preschool Application process. If more students apply for the integrated classes than openings allow, a lottery will be held in the spring.

• AM Session: 8:45 AM - 11:15 AM
• PM Session 12:30 PM - 3:00 PM
• For: Students between the ages of 3 and 5 years old on or before October 1st, found eligible by the Lincoln School Child Study Team, or gain entry through the lottery
• Tuition: $4000 per year or $400 per month payable to the Westfield Board of Education Business Office

​

Pre-K Training Days: One day per month the integrated and full-day preschool programs are closed for students. Staff members use this day to plan and review student data. Pre-K Training Days - Sep 25, Oct 30, Dec 4, Jan 8, Feb 5, Mar 5, Apr 9, May 7, Jun 4

Parent Observation Days may be arranged through the case manager.

​

Supply lists will be posted to Pre-K teachers’ websites by Tuesday, September 2. For the first day of school, please send your child with:

(1) box of tissues and (1) package of baby wipes.

KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM

LANGUAGE ARTS

MATHEMATICS

SOCIAL STUDIES

SCIENCE

ART

MUSIC

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

MATHEMATICS

A balanced literacy approach aims to develop decoding, fluency, comprehension, listening, speaking, and writing skills through interactive read alouds, and shared, guided, and independent reading/writing experiences. A wide range of texts is used to deliver instruction through genre-focused units of study. Instruction is supplemented with a weekly Library lesson.

Programs: FUNdations, Heggerty, Readers and Writers Workshops

The Kindergarten math units build on students' natural curiosity about numbers and the world around them. The primary learning approach is through the use of manipulatives which serve to encourage the development of mathematics concepts, scientific inquiry, and problem-solving.

Program: Everyday Mathematics

The goal of the Social Studies curriculum is to explore how individuals recognize, develop, and maintain their personal identity in society. In Kindergarten, the overarching question for the year is: Who am I? As part of this inquiry students study family, community, and different ways of life throughout the world.

Program: TCI Social Studies Alive!

Science concepts are integrated with the study of mathematics. Students learn to observe, differentiate among, and describe objects and organisms in the classroom and outdoors. Students learn concepts while participating in hands-on activities and at the same time begin to develop important scientific thinking and processing skills.

Program: Mystery Science

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

*embedded daily; Responsive Classroom; Character Strong; PBIS

Lincoln School Positive Behavior Handbook

The music curriculum strives to provide students the opportunity to create, perform, and respond to music while developing their knowledge of musical concepts and nomenclature. It provides students the opportunity to develop self-discipline, an awareness of group dynamics, and the necessity for individual dedication to group goals.

*once per week

Kindergarten Physical Education encourages physical fitness, promotes the development of motor skills, increases knowledge and skills in sports related activities, encourages social interaction and sportsmanship, and boosts self-esteem. It provides an opportunity for movement exploration experiences, helping students develop an understanding of how they move and an appreciation for the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

*once per week

Kindergarten Visual Art seeks to develop students’ fine-motor skills, encourages students to observe the world around them, and allows students to try out new materials. Studying an array of artists and artistic periods fosters opportunities to help students explore, plan and create individual works of art. A focus on the elements of art and principles of design are integral in providing a solid foundation from which an appreciation of visual art can grow.

*once per week

ART

WPS Website → Menu → Departments → Curriculum → Curriculum Blueprint

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR HANDBOOK

Lincoln School

PBIS Handbook

​

“Consistency and predictability are foundational. When children experience the same expectations...they feel more secure.”

KINDERGARTEN WRAP PROGRAM

The Lincoln Early Childhood Center is fortunate to supplement the Kindergarten half-day program with the Wrap Program. Wrap Coordinators work in partnership with the Kindergarten team of teachers to reinforce important concepts and skills addressed within the Kindergarten curriculum. Students are assigned to a specific Wrap class with the same Wrap Coordinator in one of Lincoln's designated Wrap classrooms for the duration of the school year; class sizes typically range from 28-30 students and classes are co-taught by two Wrap Coordinators. Students enrolled in the Wrap Program experience the benefits of structured enrichment activities including science experiments, math games, reading and writing centers, outdoor play, socialization, as well as free-choice time. Students are also frequently brought outdoors for play and exploration, so it is important they are appropriately dressed for the weather. Wrap students remain at Lincoln School for lunch, which is provided from home. Lincoln School’s Wrap Coordinators send home monthly newsletters recapping fun learning activities as well as providing notice of upcoming events.

​

Enrollment in the Lincoln School Wrap Program is determined by lottery. Typically, the Wrap Program is able to accommodate approximately 70 - 80 percent of half-day Kindergarten students. Upon successful completion of the registration process, including the submission of all required medical forms, families will have the opportunity to request a spot in the tuition-based Lincoln School Wrap Program.

​

Hours

• 9:05 AM - 11:40 AM ~ AM Wrap which supplements PM Kindergarten
• 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM ~ Lunch and Recess for all Wrap Students
• 12:45 PM - 3:20 PM ~ PM Wrap which supplements AM Kindergarten

​

Tuition

• $4,000 per year or $400 per month payable to the Westfield Board of Education Business Office
• a non-refundable deposit in the amount of $400.00 is required by March 5, 2027; this deposit is used as payment for June 2027

​

​

​

​

​

​

IMPORTANT WRAP PROGRAM DATES

Thursday, February 18, 2027

Kindergarten registration process must be completed by 12:00 pm on Thursday, February 18, 2027 in order to receive a Wrap Lottery Application. �

Monday, February 22, 2027

Applications for the Wrap Program will be directly sent to families who have successfully completed the Kindergarten registration process. A lottery system will be held if more families are interested than the number of spots available. The Wrap Program application must be completed prior to 8:00 am on Friday, February 26, 2027, in order to enter the lottery.

​

Friday, February 26, 2027

A random lottery for enrollment in the Wrap Program for the 2027-28 school year will be held.

​

Families who have secured a spot in the Wrap Program will be notified. A $400 non-refundable deposit is due to the Business Office at the Westfield Board of Education prior to 4:00pm on Friday, March 5, 2027. Payment may be made by personal check payable to the Westfield Board of Education (write your child’s name and “Wrap Deposit 27-28” in the memo) or through the MySchoolBucks payment portal.

*Note for MySchoolBucks users: Please do not click “add a student”; add your child’s name next to “student name”.

​

Families who have not secured a spot in the Wrap Program via the lottery system will be notified. A waitlist will be created for those families who do not initially secure enrollment via the lottery system. Families will be contacted if their child’s name is selected off the waitlist and will be enrolled in the Wrap Program as spots become available throughout the spring and summer.

​

Friday, March 5, 2027

A non-refundable deposit of $400 is due to the Business Office. Families who do not pay the deposit by this date will forfeit their spot in the Wrap Program. Forfeited spots will be randomly offered to families on the waitlist.

​

​

KINDERGARTEN SUPPLY LIST

We have partnered with School Tool Box. This company will compile the supply list and ship it directly to your home, saving our busy families precious time. For families who would like to take advantage of this option, please visit the School Tool Box website.

​

For those of you who enjoy Back-to-School shopping, please feel free to substitute these items with like-items.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

THE WESTFIELD APPLE

Kindergarten students will receive their personalized "Westfield Apple" welcoming them to their learning journey with the Westfield Public Schools. Keep it in a safe place as we will expect to see your child wearing it during graduation from Westfield High School!

​

Read more: "Apple Tradition Continues at Graduation"

TECHNOLOGY

Technology is meaningfully integrated into instruction and used primarily to support language development and healthy social interactions.

​

Each classroom has assigned iPads which are used to support curricular and social learning goals.

​

The staff regularly engages in professional development aimed at leveraging instructional technology to improve learning outcomes, including artificial intelligence.

​

​

​

​

​

REPORT CARDS AND CONFERENCES

Kindergarten Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences are held in the late Fall. Conferences are typically ten minutes long and provide families an opportunity to learn more about their child's progress.

​

Kindergarten Report Cards

Kindergarten Report Cards are available twice a year in February and June. The District uses a standards-based approach to measure students' progress. Standards-based instruction and grading is a process of identifying the most important skills in each grade level and subject area and collecting evidence to determine where a student is in his or her development of mastery in that skill. It focuses on the continuum toward mastery.

​

​

HEALTH INFORMATION

• Lincoln School provides an on-site registered nurse educator certified in School Nursing
• Periodic health screenings are conducted including height, weight, blood pressure, vision, color vision, and hearing checks
• Please inform the school nurse and your child's teacher of any physical, emotional, or behavioral concerns prior to the start of school or as they develop; this includes allergies
• If your child becomes ill at school, the nurse will make every effort to contact you; in the event you cannot be located, the person indicated as the emergency contact will be called; it is essential emergency contact information is kept current and that your emergency contact is within close proximity of Lincoln School; please notify the main office as soon as changes are made to your emergency contact information
• Should your child become ill and remain at home it is imperative you notify the school 789-4455 to report the absence, including the reason for the absence, as certain conditions are tracked each week during the flu season; please consult the administrative regulations for more detailed information on communicable diseases and exclusion periods from school
• Children must be fever-free for a full 24 hour period, without the aid of fever-reducing medications, in order to return to school
• Children with a contagious illness and/or are being treated with antibiotics require a physician's note to return to school
• The administration of medication in school is permitted if a physician determines that failure to take medication would jeopardize the health or school attendance of a child; medication will be administered by the school nurse or parent/guardian ONLY; the following procedures must be followed if any medication is to be administered during school hours: a prescription form, available by request from the nurse, must be completed and signed by the child's physician and parent/legal guardian; this form, along with the medication in its original container bearing the pharmacist's label, must be brought to the nurse by the parent/legal guardian; children are NOT permitted to carry medication to and/or from school
• A physician's note is needed if your child requires a physical education and/or recess exception

​

SCHOOL SECURITY

VISITORS

For visits that require entry

• An appointment with at least 24 hours advance notice is needed
• Ring the intercom bell at the main entrance -

728 Westfield Avenue

• Check-in using the Visitor Aware kiosk which will prompt you to present government-issued photo identification

​

For visits that don’t require entry

• Utilize the drop-box located at the front entrance for water bottles, school supplies, sneakers, snacks, lunch, etc.
• Label all items with student’s name and teacher’s name

​

​

​

SECURITY DRILLS

Families are notified of each drill via email

All drills are practiced monthly during both the AM and PM sessions

​

Fire Drills

• All students and staff evacuate the school and are accounted for before returning to the building

​

Security Drills

• One drill per month practiced
• Non-fire evacuation
• Evacuation to relocation site
• Shelter in place
• Lockdown
• Active shooter
• Bomb threat

​

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT

Foster a love for learning by:

• reading together then discussing the story and illustrations or photos
• practicing norms for group discussions
• making up stories, talking about thoughts, needs or questions
• playing games and singing songs together
• providing a balance of structured and unstructured playtime
• exposing your child to new places, things, and learning opportunities
• helping your child express his/her/their needs and ask for help when needed

​

Build practical skills that support success at school by:

• practicing with zippers, snaps, buttons, and shoelaces
• using a tissue and covering coughs and sneezes
• saying first and last name, address, and phone number
• understanding the role of the crossing guard and the meaning of traffic signals
• helping to put things away after using them
• encouraging expected, pro-social behaviors (Lincoln School Positive Behavior Handbook)

​

Encourage healthy separation by:

• giving a quick goodbye "I love you - have a good day!"
• avoid drawing out goodbyes e.g. "one last goodbye"
• leave the premises after your child lines up
• avoid over-reaction at the end of the day
• click HERE for additional strategies

​

Some children will cry - that's OKAY - with consistency and warmth, the majority of children quickly acclimate to their new classroom environment!

​

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION - PTO

Tools / Communication

Lincoln Ledger - email newsletter every other Tuesday

​

Membership Toolkit app/site - will be available in early September. This is where you volunteer, make purchases, access the family directory, and more

​

Parent interest finder - a class parent/committee sign-up will be circulated

​

Yearbook to commemorate the year

​

Community- Building Events

Pumpkin Patch (fall)

​

Flower Patch (spring)

​

Class Parties - Halloween and Valentine's Day

​

Scholastic Book Fair

​

Family Social Events

​

Field Days for Pre-K and Kindergarten

​

Kindergarten Celebration

​

End of Year Carnival

...And more!

Volunteer Roles

Beginning in the Fall 2025 and

continuing throughout the school year

​

Executive Board Positions

​

Class Parents

​

Committees

​

Done in a Day Opportunities

​

Fundraisers & Donations

​

​

WE SUPPORT LINCOLN SCHOOL BY BUILDING COMMUNITY, CONTRIBUTING FINANCIALLY

AND DEDICATING PARENT TIME AND ENERGY - JOIN US!

​

Rachel Painter and Eugene Zaydfudim, LINCOLN SCHOOL PTO CO-PRESIDENTS

​

EMAIL WESTFIELDLINCOLNSCHOOLPTO@GMAIL.COM IF INTERESTED

​

​

ONGOING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

LIVE FEED

Visit the LECC Live Feed to see photos and highlights that showcase our students actively learning, creating, collaborating, and growing each day in engaging classroom experiences.

PRINCIPAL’S

NEWSLETTER

The Principal’s Weekly Newsletter keeps families informed with highlights and recaps of student learning, important school updates, and reminders about upcoming events and activities at Lincoln Early Childhood Center.

TEACHER’S

NEWSLETTER

Look for the teacher’s weekly newsletter in your inbox every Friday for important learning recaps, classroom updates, reminders about upcoming events, and opportunities to share special family traditions with the class.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT US

Ms. Annie Corley-Hand

Interim Principal

(908) 789-4455

acorleyhand@westfieldnjk12.org

​

Ms. Janet Davey

Secretary to the Principal

jdavey@westfieldnjk12.org

​

Ms. Kerri Linder

Secretary

klinder@westfieldnjk12.org

​

Ms. Jescenia Oviedo, BSN, BA, RN, CSN

School Nurse

joviedo@westfieldnjk12.org

​

​

​