This site provides the most current information of interest to parents: services, resources, data and news from around the School District.

For information specific to the school your children attend, please review the school's newsletter and Web site.   Links to all LPS schools can be accessed from www.lps.org.

If you have children in elementary and middle level schools, please watch for your monthly issue of "Community News" and "FreeTimes."  It includes information about Lincoln Public Schools and activities sponsored by Lincoln organizations.

If you have comments or questions about ParentNotes, please contact Mary Kay Roth, Communications Coordinator, at 436-1609 or mkroth@lps.org.

ExCITE fills early childhood years with appropriate learning opportunities

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Note: Starting about mid-July, the ExCITE Office will be located at 5905 O St.

Lincoln Public Schools believes the early childhood years are critical exciting times in children’s lives. During these formative years, families, educators, and communities join together as educational partners to provide safe, caring, stimulating learning environments, which actively engage developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive practices.

ExCITE (Early Childhood Infant Toddler Educare) Early childhood program services have multiple funding streams including Head Start, Title I Preschool, State-Funded preschool, State Aid-Funded preschool, HHS, and special needs funding. Along with preschool programs for children ages three and four, services include infant/toddler learning centers for teen parents and their children, and home visitation programs.

Comprehensive services in the areas of Parent Involvement, Nutrition, Health, Social Services, Education and Disabilities are provided in a developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive manner.

What does EXCITE offer?

• For pre-school children and their families EXCITE provides:
• Opportunities to socialize, solve problems, and experience success,
• People who care, accept, and encourage,
• Home visits which focus on the family,
• A variety of learning experiences in a safe, caring setting,
• Health screenings,
• Practice of good habits in eating, tooth brushing, cleanliness, and safety,
• Partnerships for parents in volunteering, leadership, and development,
• Help for special needs of children with disabilities, and
• Assistance in using community resources.

For more information, including forms, frequenty asked questions with answers, and locations, visit the ExCITE webpage.

Posted on June 13, 2013

This Weekend's Graduation Ceremonies

High school graduation ceremonies for the Lincoln Public Schools class of 2013 are set for Thursday, May 23rd and Saturday and Sunday, May 25–26.  All six high school graduations are planned at Pershing Center, 226 Centennial Mall South while Bryan's will be held at East High School, 1000 S 70th St.

Thursday, May 23
East High - 1000 S 70th St

• 7 p.m. Bryan Community

Saturday, May 25
Pershing Center

• 9 a.m. Lincoln Southwest
• Noon Lincoln East
• 3 p.m. Lincoln Southeast
• 6 p.m. Lincoln High

Sunday, May 26
Pershing Center

• 1 p.m. Lincoln North Star
• 4 p.m. Lincoln Northeast

Posted on May 25, 2013

Lincoln visitors organization has summer passport program option

The Lincoln Convention and Visitors Burear has a summer passport program for students to discover Lincoln.

For more information, visit www.lincoln.org or contact Tracie Simpson at 402-434-5339 or tsimpson@lincoln.org.

Posted on May 24, 2013

Tornado and Severe Weather Plans for Lincoln Public Schools

Lincoln Public Schools has building specific plans to keep students and staff safe during severe weather.

Tornado and severe weather plans are part of each school’s emergency plan. School staff review the emergency plans and practice severe weather drills are required to be held at each building during the school year.

During the month of April LPS participated in the mock tornado drill that was led by the Lancaster County Emergency Management System. Each school is also equipped with a weather radio as well as a hard wire radio that is linked to the Lancaster County Emergency Management System.

This means:

• In addition to the sirens throughout the city, Lancaster County Emergency Management communicates via radio with buildings in the event of severe weather and lets us know when students should be sent to designated safe areas.

• Students will be kept in safe areas until the tornado or severe weather warning expires even if it means after dismissal time.

• Parents should NOT attempt to come to school during a tornado warning. School officials are NOT permitted to release students from the school building or activity during a tornado warning.

Posted on May 22, 2013

New questions ready on ConnectLPS

New topics are now online at Connect.LPS.org.

The community and staff are invited to join the conversation, discuss a variety of hot topics, communicate and collaborate with other members of the community – as well as school district leaders – about the future of our growing school district. New topics will be updated and added weekly: open-ended questions, surveys, and poll questions.

This week’s topics include:

- What are the social media rules, concerns and habits in your family?

- Use of School Messenger

- Proposed LPS Career Center

- Top Priorities

- What's your big idea?

The goal for ConnectLPS is collaboration – involvement - engagement.  Along the way, ConnectLPS will be used as an online tool to generate ideas and feedback on the challenges and opportunities in our school district. Staff, parents and the great community are encouraged to participate.

Posted on May 06, 2013

Meal Time Challenge brings families around the table

Lincoln Public Schools’ students focused on the benefits of family meal time during third quarter. 2,965 Students from 27 schools completed and returned the week long challenge, learning more about their family eating habits.

• The Challenge helped me think more about how often I eat with my family. 84%
• The challenge helped me to make an effort to sit down and eat with others in my family. 79%
• Other members of my family made efforts to eat with me during this challenge. 76%
• Meals/snacks eaten with adult family member(s) in their household: 53,600+

Comments from students and families

• I enjoy eating with my family and I love them very much. It was a good idea to do this because it brings families closer together.
• It made me realize that we don't sit down together as often as I had thought. Since the kids eat so early many times I just feed them quick. It was a great reminder of making it a priority.
• I realized just how often our family eats together. Eating meals together has always been an important part of our bonding time. We learn so much about each other at meal time.
• My dad works sometimes and he worked 3 day, but he always made sure the was home to eat dinner with me. He says it’s important to eat as a family.
• We don’t always eat breakfast so this helped. Also, we had snacks together instead in front of the tv = more conversation.
• I took an interest in this because I never really knew how important eating with your family really is.
• It was fun eating with my family and I’m going to do this again when we don’t’ have the challenge.
• I tried to eat with my family more. It was good to eat and talk with my family during dinner.
• I like eating with my family so we can talk about how our day was and be with your family.
• We eat together all the time, but this challenge helped us to realize how lucky we are.
• It helped me realize that eating with your family it makes you happy and learn more.
• It is the one time in our crazy schedules that we can share our day and communicate.
• My mom made an effort to sit down and have breakfast with my brother and me.
• I like eating with my family. We enjoyed spending more time together.
• I’m proud that my family sat down to eat with me, I like this challenge.
• This was a nice challenge to just bond with my family. I really liked it.
• This challenge really encouraged me to eat more with my family.
• My family is trying to eat together more and eat healthier meals.
• My family never ate together. Not we eat together every night.
• I figured out how hard my brother has to work in middle school.
• It made me learn my manners and help me with math a lot.
• We have a fun time when we eat together at the table.
• At our house sitting down for meals together is a must.
• I learned a lot about my family that I didn't know.
• I can talk to my mom and dad and other relatives.
• My family had more meal times with each other.
• My favorite part was everyone sitting together.
• I have learned to not fight and have good talks.
• Loved it because we ate together more often.
• It was easier to communicate with my family.
• I feel good because I got to talk to my family.
• I ate more with my parents and it helped us.
• We had fun and had random conversations.
• When I eat with my family I eat healthier.
• I think it helped my brother and me bond.
• We eat as a family every chance we get.
• I ate with my family a lot which was fun!
• We tried to not eat our dinner in the car.
• I was so happy we ate together.
• My family loved the challenge.
• I love eating with my family.

Lincoln Public Schools’ students focused on the benefits of family meal time during third quarter. 2,965 Students from 27 schools completed and returned the week long challenge, learning more about their family eating habits.

Staff comments

• It really helped me analyze the importance of communication with my children and with my spouse as well. So much of what we do is independent from each other, that it is nice to sit down and listen to what everyone has to say. I found that my relationship with my kids has changed. They are more eager to discuss accolades that have happened at school because I am taking the time to listen. It has been a rewarding challenge, and one that I will continue to do. Thanks!
• My husband and I have an 8 month old and often times end up eating on the couch or quickly when we can...but we have been making an effort to sit down and put him in his high chair with us.
• I set up several dinners in the evenings during the week to have dinner with a friend since I live alone. Over the weekend we met up for breakfast. It is now set up with my friend that every Tuesday evening we will go to a new place to eat and try a new kind of food and get out of our homes since both of us live alone.
• Sitting down and intentionally eating with my coworkers and friends created an amazing opportunity to engage in conversation that we wouldn't typically have time to engage in.
• We made more of an effort to ask open ended questions not just yes/no questions like "Did you have a good day?" but more like "What was the best part of your day today?" We ended up talking more, laughing more and being able to input sugges-tions to problem solve as a whole family.
• This challenge definitely helped encourage me to eat with my team during the week and has turned into a habit. Living alone, I usually eat meals by myself during the week so making it a point to seek out others to have meals with increases my socialization throughout the week!
• I always, always eat with other staff members! It's our time to take a step away from work and take a "breather". Our lunches are always filled with laughter and it is an enjoyable break. I'm still like my some of my students, my favorite "thing" at school is sometimes LUNCH! :) Not only have I met more of the staff but I have made great friendships too.
• During this challenge I encouraged my family to engage more in conversation, than watching TV, while we ate. I also noticed how everyone helped with some part of the meal, if the TV was off while preparing that meal. This challenge has made my family realize how it is nice to enjoy our meals with each other. And how we used to be in the habit of doing this all the time, but as time went on, we just fell back into our old habit. I am glad I participated in this challenge!
• In the past, there would be days that I didn't plan ahead or feel like making dinner, so I just wouldn't do it. We would each just eat something on our own- and it definitely wasn't as healthy. I made sure to plan meals ahead so that I would be ready to make a family dinner. It has also helped get the kids talking about their school days and interests more often.
• Our family also gave up going through drive thrus and eating out for Lent, so this challenge was perfect for us to sit down and eat together as a family rather than in the car and on the run all the time.
• This Challenge has helped me to sit down at the table more with my boys and enjoy the meal and company of my kids. I also can see what I am eating and how much. This has been a great experience for me.
• This was a fun challenge because I already like to eat with coworkers but tried to sit with different coworkers than I usually do.
• I really enjoy eating with my coworkers, and I noticed more staff eating together during the challenge.
• This challenge did make me think more about the importance of sharing a meal with a family member or friend!
• It was fun to have conversations while sitting and eating together! It was more enjoyable!
• I didn't realize how much I ate alone at school. This has encouraged me to strike a healthy balance.
• This is something we do as often as we can! I love it and now dislike eating by myself.
• It was nice to slow down and enjoy conversations with others.
• It feels good to have a break with a co-worker and share ideas.
• It was very nice to have the majority of the staff eat together.

 

 

Posted on April 26, 2013

Community can help break Lincoln Logs record

On April 13, the Lincoln community, led by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, will attempt to break two records at the Lincoln Children’s Museum.

The event will run from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission into the Museum will be free, thanks to our generous sponsors. The structure will amount to 12 feet in height, using over 10,000 Lincoln Logs in total and will be built by DLR Group, a local architecture firm. We've received permission from Guinness to attempt to break both records.

For more information, visit the Lincoln Logs Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/lincolnlogsevent.

Posted on March 27, 2013

Summer Technology Program sets course offerings

Lincoln Public Schools will be offering a Summer Technology Program to provide upper elementary and middle level students an opportunity to explore their interest in computers and technology.

One week courses will be offered for students entering 5th through 9th grade in the fall of 2013.  All classes will be held at the Information Technology Focus Program, 285 S. 68th Street Place, fourth floor. (Please note: high school graduation credit will not be granted for any of these courses open to 9^th grade students).

Sessions are filled with fun, hands-on, age-appropriate computer activities using state of the art hardware and software.

Registration begins on Tuesday, April 2, 2013.

Registration forms will be available in elementary school computer labs, and on the web at http://wp.lps.org/stp.  Registrations will be accepted beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2^nd. The mailing address is: Information Technology Focus Program, 285 S. 68th Street Place, fourth floor. Registration forms may also be dropped off at the same address. Office hours are 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

For additional information, please visit the STP web page at “http://wp.lps.org/stp” or contact: Steve Carr, Program Coordinator at scarr@lps.org or 402-436-1776.

Posted on March 20, 2013

New education program developed for Native American students

When a person has completed all four units of the HOPE program, the program's administrators will submit to Doane College a certificate of successful completion. The person may then complete an application for admission to the Doane College-Lincoln  campus and enroll for the Doane College course, CED 200 Career and Life Planning, which has a course value of one semester credit.

Posted on March 08, 2013

Finalists for Merit Program include LPS students

More students in Lincoln Public Schools have been named National Merit Scholar Finalists. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $32 million that will be offered next spring.

Finalists

Lincoln East: Benjamin C. Bradley, Nolan M. Cooney, Manizha Kholmatov, Nikolas E. Leger, Jennifer Estelle Matthes, Kailee M. Pedersen, Thomas S. Rasmussen, Nathaniel J. Wei.

Lincoln High: Itahi Sanchez, Shawn W. Wimer, Astrid Ramsay*.

Lincoln North Star: Marissa J. Schild.

Lincoln Northeast: Tanner P. Pfeiffer.

Lincoln Southeast: Anna Lauren Higgins, Avi C. Knecht, Eileen M. McLean, Andrew W. Peterson.

Lincoln Southwest: Maranda K. Frey, Ashlyn N. Lee, Hunter A. Miller

*Finalist in the National Achievement Scholarship Program; received a Certificate of Achievement.

Semifinalists (announced in September 2012)

East: Benjamin C. Bradley, Nolan M. Cooney, Manizha Kholmatov, Nik E.Leger, Jennifer E. Matthes, Kailee M. Pedersen, Thomas S. Rasmussen, Nathaniel J. Wei

Lincoln High: Itahi Sanchez, Shawn W. Wimer

North Star: Marissa J. Schild

Northeast: Tanner P. Pfeiffer

Southeast: Anna L. Higgins, Andrew W. Peterson, Eileen M. McLean, Avi C.R. Knecht, Daniel T. Borstelmann

Southwest: Maranda K. Frey, Ashlyn N. Lee, Hunter A. Miller

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award. Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar® title.

 

 

Posted on March 08, 2013

Nominations for volunteer awards now open

National Volunteer Week is a time to celebrate people doing extraordinary things through service. This week focuses local attention on the impact and power of volunteerism and service as an integral aspect of our civic leadership. The week draws the support and endorsement of the Mayor, Governor and municipal leaders, as well as corporate and community groups across the state.

Volunteer Partners will recognize individuals, groups and companies who have been nominated and awarded for their exceptional service in Lincoln and Lancaster County in 2012 and will celebrate the tremendous impact they are making on our communities most critical challenges at our annual event, Thursday, April 25, 3:00pm-5:00pm at Bryan Medical Center East, Plaza Conference Center.

Nominations for these awards are open to the public and available at www.volunteerpartners.org. 

The following volunteer awards will be recognized:

Community Volunteerism Advocate of the Year Award

This award recognizes an individual or group who has advanced volunteerism in our community as a whole by promoting, encouraging and supporting volunteerism throughout the community. In addition, this individual or group may also provide resources enabling others to do the work. One award will be presented in this category.

Volunteer(s) in Action Awards

Help us honor an outstanding individual and company or group of volunteers who has contributed to the Lincoln/Lancaster County community through volunteer service at a non-profit agency.  One individual and one company or group will be presented in this category.

Recognition of Corporate Community Service Awards

This self-nominated award recognizes a company’s promotion of their workplace employee volunteer programs and support of employee volunteerism in Lincoln and Lancaster County, Nebraska. Any businesses or local office or division of a regional/national company may apply. Based on company size, 4 awards will be presented in this category.

Youth Volunteer in Action Award

Help us honor an outstanding individual or group, in high school or younger, who contributed to the Lincoln/Lancaster County community through volunteer service at a non-profit agency. One award will be presented in this category.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMISSION:

All forms available at www.volunteerpartners.org or by calling 402/435-2100

Email nominations to:             julie@volunteerpartners.org or

Mail to:             Volunteer Partners, 215 Centennial Mall South, Ste. 340, Lincoln, NE 68508

All nominations are due Monday, April 1, 2013

NOTE: A $25.00 Nomination fee per submission for the self-nominated RECOGNITION OF CORPORATE COMMUNITY SERVICE Award is requested and must be submitted via check or via PayPal at www.volunteerpartners.org ‘Donate Here!’

Posted on March 07, 2013

Student writing workshops available

The We Love To Write and I Love To Write workshops are open to students this summer.

The I Love to Write summer writing workshops provide a place for youth to write in a supportive environment amongst their peers.  The workshops are facilitated by Deb Coyle and Connie Healey, who have presented these workshops for over a decade.  I Love to Write is for second through fifth grade students and I Love to Write2 is for sixth through eighth grade students.  The workshop content is designed to focus on different genres of writing and helps students build on their writing strengths, offering additional ways to expand their growth as a writer. 

The We Love to Write summer writing workshop provides a place for families to come together to write.  This workshop is also facilitated by Deb Coyle and Connie Healey. Families can choose to write individual stories, a collective story, poems, family histories, plays with parts for family members, poetry, fictional stories, the possibilities are endless.  This workshop is intended for at least one adult member (parent/grandparent/aunt/uncle, etc.) and accompanying youth writers that have at least one member who has completed 2nd through 8th grade.  All combinations are welcomed.  The workshop content is also designed to focus on different genres of writing and to encourage writers to experiment with new types of writing and to experience growth as a writer in a supportive environment. 

For more information, visit http://www.unl.edu/newp/i-love-writewe-love-write-0.

Posted on March 07, 2013

Student art show now accepting entries

Entries are now being accepted for the 2013 Second Annual WOW Art Gallery, City-Wide High School Art Show. The exhibit will be located at White Or Wheat Sandwich Shoppe, 2840 S. 70th St., Lincoln, Neb.

The Student Exhibition will be April 1–30th, with specific reception date and times to be announced, and all artists, their families and the general public are welcome.

All student artists of high school age may participate (public high school students, home-schooled students, students attending private schools). Student needs not be enrolled in an art class to participate. Awards include ribbons/medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, WOW Best of Show, and People’s Choice Award. White or Wheat’s WOW Best of Show art award. Top awards include student’s choice of a WOW Student Sandwich Special.

To apply, fill out and submit application for entry. Deadline for entry is Monday, March 25 for emailed, hand delivered and mailed entries. Two- and three-dimensional are accepted. There is a $3 entry fee per piece, with a limit of three pieces per student. Mail fee with entry form or pay at time artwork is delivered at show site. Please contact coordinator Julie Lemons for list of entry rules and more information by mail at 20 Tall Grass Circle, Bennett, Neb 68317, or call 402-570-9476 or email jewelslemons@yahoo.com.

Posted on February 28, 2013

Foundation for LPS accepting scholarship applications

LPS high school students are now able to apply online for over 150 scholarships available through the Foundation for LPS at www.foundationforlps.org/ScholarshipApplication. 

Students create an application profile and the software will direct them to specific scholarships they may be eligible for. 

Applications are due by Friday, March 8. 

For questions regarding specific scholarship information contact Linda Soto at lsoto@lps.org.

Posted on February 25, 2013

No school on Friday, Feb. 22

Lincoln Public Schools is closing school on Friday, Feb. 22, due to snowy, cold weather, and snow-packed sidewalks and streets.

LPS will share any announcements below. For any questions, please contact the school directly involved in the event.

School

In the event weather necessitates closing school, the announcement will be made via the school district's messenger system (automated phone calls and emails), the school district's Facebook and Twitter accounts, and local media outlets.

District-wide sports and activities

The Saturday Science event  for fifth graders at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Jorgenson Hall - will go on as planned.

All LPS intramural activities will go on - as scheduled - on Saturday, Feb. 23, including: basketball at middle and high schools, and intramural speech/debate/drama at Lincoln Southeast High School.

As scheduled: Norris and Beatrice will compete in the B1 District final game at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Lincoln East High School.

School Events

** Writers Write at the Bennett Martin Library - Postponed

** Parent Teacher Conferences scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21, have been rescheduled.  Check with your school for details.

Adams Elementary School: The Adams PTO Red Tail Event planned for 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Wilderness Ridge - will be held as planned.

Arnold Elementary School: Arnold Elementary's Movie Night has been rescheduled for Friday evening, March 1, at 7 p.m.

Brownell Elementary School - Parent Teacher Conferences are rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Calvert Elementary School: Calvert's Literacy Night that was scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21, is rescheduled for Tuesday, March 26 beginning at 5:30 pm.

Campbell Elementary School: Skate Zone Family event planned Friday, Feb. 22, is cancelled.

Dawes Middle School: Dawes is moving parent teacher conferences to Thursday, Feb. 28 from 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Holmes Elementary School: The Chamberlain Challenge Race for Change scheduled Friday, Feb. 22, has been cancelled.

Lincoln High School: The musical at Lincoln High School, Suessical the Musical, will not have a performance Thursday, Feb. 21 – the schedule will be: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23. Parents and students can also find information about LHS Theatre at theatrelinks.org (the booster website).

Mickle Middle School: Eighth grade registration for Northeast High School has been moved to Wednesday, Feb 27.  All other high school registration has been moved to Friday, March 1.

Norwood Park Elementary School is rescheduling conferences to Thursday, Feb. 28 - 4 to 7 p.m.

Pershing Elementary School: The Pershing parent/teacher conferences have been rescheduled from Thursday, Feb. 21, to Thursday, Feb. 28 at the same time.

Pound Middle School will hold Parent Teacher conferences at 3:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25 – rescheduled from Thursday, Feb. 21.

Prescott Elementary School - Waffleman event scheduled for Friday has been cancelled.

Randolph Elementary School - Parent Teacher Conferences will be held NEXT THURSDAY, Feb. 28 on the same schedules.

Riley Elementary School - rescheduled Thursday evening's Parent Teacher Conferences to Thursday, Feb. 28.

Rousseau Elementary School: Rousseau will reschedule their Book Fair to Monday, Feb. 25 and 26 from 3:45-7:00 p.m.

Posted on February 22, 2013