May 2020
Managing Editor: Josh Sluiter
Omaha Public Schools 2020 Virtual Commencement Schedule
The Graduating Class of 2020 - Resilience in the Face of Adversity
For the class of 2020, their senior year has been anything but normal. On Friday, March 6, students left their schools ready for a week of relaxation and fun to prepare them for the final few weeks of their high school career.

“It’s a little ironic that when we left for spring break, we were so excited to have a week off, and to many of us a week didn’t seem long enough.” said Megan Keller, senior class president of Burke High School. “Senioritis had set in for many of us and we were ready for the year to end. But we never imagined it would end this way.”

During that spring break, school districts across the area announced extended and indefinite closures for the health and safety of the community. Students would finish the rest of the 2019-20 school year remotely.

“We never got to say goodbye to our teachers, classmates or Burke as a whole,” explained Keller. “We missed out on the excitement of counting down to our final day.”

Students traded classrooms and sports for online learning and social distancing. Yet through the turbulence of this unprecedented time, the class of 2020 used it as a lesson in flexibility and creativity.

“We are living through history and with that we must learn to adapt,” Keller said.

Students took to social media to show their appreciation for their teachers and classmates and the class of 2020 never lost sight of their bright future.

“We will not be known for what we missed; we will be known for our strong spirit of resilience.” said LaDaysia Smith, class president of Omaha North High School, “We hold our heads up high, and we still celebrate each other and our milestones through this new normal.”

Veronica Alonso, Bryan High’s senior class president and valedictorian, shared a similar sentiment. “Although this isn’t the way we imagined our introduction to the rest of our lives, this is still a moment to be very proud of.”

“We are strong, we are resilient and we can brave whatever comes our way.”
OPS Hosts the Nebraska Scholastic Art Awards Exhibit
*This interview took place prior to March 16, 2020, when the Omaha Public Schools shifted daily operations for the health and safety of our community.*

 
For several weeks this winter, the halls of the Omaha Public Schools Teacher and Administrative Center (TAC) showed off a colorful new look.
 
The 2020 Scholastic Art Awards of Nebraska exhibit, featuring artwork from K-12 students across the state, decked the halls of the TAC building, showcasing the hard work and creativity of young artists. A panel of jurors -- including artists, photographers, designers, educators and curators -- reviewed more than 300,000 submissions this year from Nebraska students. Jurors do not know any personal information (name, town or school) about the students. The artwork is reviewed with the criteria of originality, technical skill and emergence of personal vision.
 
"This is the largest student art show in the state with over 1,300 works on display," said Angie Fischer, the K-12 visual art supervisor for Omaha Public Schools. "From photography to sculptures to paintings to digital pieces, we have art from nearly every style imaginable."
 
Of the roughly 1,300 works showcased in the Scholastic exhibit, 324 were made by OPS students, but even this great showing doesn't paint the full picture of our students' hard work and success.
 
"Through the arts, students learn many skills," Fischer explained. "It's not just making a pretty picture or sculpture; they're learning problem solving, they're learning to fix mistakes, finding multiple solutions to problems, embracing other cultures and perspectives."
 
One project in particular that was featured in the Scholastic Art Awards is The Memory Project, an international campaign that connects students from across the globe to promote intercultural awareness, friendship and kindness between children around the world.
 
"Each year we partner with different charities around the world to create portraits for new children," said Ryan Egan, Program Coordinator for The Memory Project. "The charities send us photos of their children and we distribute those photos to our participating high school art teachers. The art teachers then work with their students to create one-of-a-kind portraits for every child. Finally, the art teachers send all of the finished portraits to us, and we deliver them to the children."
 
"I just want to thank the Board and our community for supporting the arts throughout our district," Fischer said. "None of these works would have been possible without the support of our staff, teachers, administrators, Board of Education and our Omaha community."
OPS Staff Spotlight: Becky Noble of South High
Pictured: Becky Noble (left) and a former student
*This interview took place prior to March 16, 2020, when the Omaha Public Schools shifted daily operations for the health and safety of our community.*


Students are the heart of our work at OPS, and our dedicated faculty and staff bring that education to life. That is why having exemplary instructors and support staff is vital in ensuring the future success of our students.

Becky Noble serves as the magnet facilitator and the visual and performing arts curriculum specialist for South High. In her current capacity, she coordinates the academic schedule for the art students attending South, schedules student performances and manages partnerships with arts organizations. She also schedules masters classes to bring professional artists to South High to work directly with students and share their knowledge of the field.

"My work has always been to make the performing arts accessible to all people from all backgrounds," Noble said. "Music, art in general, is uniform no matter your background or history. You put a band or choir together and they sound like one cohesive unit. Music is more than just pretty sounds, it brings people together and makes them more able to understand one another."

Noble's mother was a career musician and instilled a love of the arts in her daughter. Through this personal connection, Noble shared why she is so passionate about connecting students with the arts.

"The arts can have an amazing, positive contribution to our young people. It builds teamwork, it builds responsibility, all the things that are needed in a job are the very basics of the arts. Students who are involved in the arts are building a foundation for their future success," Noble explained. "Kids in the arts program [at South High] can major in visual or performing arts, which means that they must take 10 to 12 credits that are upper level, AP or honors level courses. Of those kids, 88% were on the honor roll in Fall 2019 and are still on that track this semester."

Noble was recently recognized for her outstanding years of service in arts education, as she was selected for the Nebraska Governor's Art Award Excellence in Arts Education as "An [individual] that has made a long-term, outstanding contribution to arts education in Nebraska."

"One of the things our teachers do so well is to connect all the dots for our students," said Noble. "Our teachers aren't just saying 'Here, go paint this' or 'Go sing this,' they're asking our students how their decisions in the classroom affect their lives, and how do their experiences in life affect their work in the classroom. Then, they're asking how they can build on these things to better themselves."

"We aren't just teaching subjects, we're teaching people."
CHI Health and Omaha Public Schools Partner to Honor Teachers Across the District

CHI Health wants nominations of Omaha Public Schools' teachers changing the lives of students. Each month, they'll surprise a Top Teacher nominee with a treat basket for the teacher's lounge and a personal gift card. CHI will draw winners on the last Friday of the month. CHI Health will select one winner at the elementary, middle and high school level.

Anyone can nominate a Top Teacher at CHIhealth.com/TopTeachers .

If you would like to view the latest CHI newsletter devoted to youth issues, please Click Here .

Thank you for your support of our teachers and for your support of the Omaha Public Schools.
...to all OPS students who participated in the 2020 Congressional Art Competition. Omaha Northwest High students took first, second and third place:




1st place: "Cascading Conscious"
by Kaylee Galloway




(Tie) 2nd place: "L. Armstrong"
by Dah Shee




(Tie) 2nd place: "Back to School"
by Aniya Foster




3rd place: "Dreamer"
by Ne Kmwee
…to the following OPS Visual and Performing Arts Students for receiving 2020 Nebraska Young Artist Awards:
  • Sophie Manzitto of Omaha South for her work in visual art
  • Claire Bouma of Omaha Central for her work in music
  • Mila Herszbaum-Harding of Omaha Central for her work in music
  • Leora McNamara of Omaha Central for her work in dance
  • Hannah Callaghan of Omaha Central for her work in dance

…to teachers Rachael Arens and Rachel Benzoni of Omaha Northwest High for being selected as 2020-21 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellows. Only 15 STEM educators across the country are selected each year for this honor. Ms. Arens and Ms. Benzoni will spend 11 months serving federal agencies or U.S. Congressional offices in Washington, D.C., informing federal STEM education efforts.

…to teacher Rachael Arens of Omaha Northwest High for being selected as one of seven Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators in 2020 for her work with students to write and present an environmental bill to the Nebraska state legislature.
Summer School Opportunities
For the health and safety of our students, staff and families, summer school opportunities must look different this year. All summer school instruction will be virtual, with technology and connectivity provided to eligible students. Summer school will begin on June 15 and last until July 14, with no sessions on either July 3 or 6. During this unprecedented time, eligibility for summer school may also be different than in previous years.

  • At the elementary and middle level, the focus will be reading, math and English/language arts.

  • At the high school level, the focus will be credit recovery primarily for current 12th-grade students. Based on availability, it is possible that some current 11th-grade students may be eligible. 

Schools will connect by email and phone with families of eligible students on or before Friday, May 15.
The following links will provide you with quick access to district sponsored events, procedures and resources. Please click on the categories under each title below, and you will be taken to the correct web page.
We love feedback on how well this newsletter is meeting the needs of all those who receive it. Please take a few moments to complete this brief survey . It is our goal that the newsletter presents information that is important to you.

Thank you!
Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to accept allegations regarding non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531) 299-9822. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director for the Office of Equity and Diversity, 3215 Cuming St, Omaha, NE 68131 (531) 299-0307.