March 2021
Omaha Public Schools Community,

Plans for academic recovery are underway as we prepare for Next Level Learning this summer.
Schools are already gathering information from families in preparation for full-day, extended summer school teaching and learning. Families have the option to participate in two summer school sessions. Session one begins June 2 and ends June 30. Session two starts July 6 and ends July 23. Every student will receive 1:1 tutoring and teachers will create an individual academic recovery plan.

Throughout the pandemic, our Research and Student and Community Services departments worked diligently to create our new high school Student Assignment Plan. The plan is the culmination of in-depth study and analysis that began in 2019. It incorporates feedback gathered from our school leaders and families during engagement sessions. The result of these efforts is that no matter where a student lives, all families have choice and can apply to attend any district high school. To learn more about the plan, visit boundary.ops.org and sap.ops.org.

Speaking of our high schools, we recently announced that each of our seven high schools will host an outdoor prom later this spring. These events will be free for all eligible high school juniors and seniors thanks to a generous donation from a philanthropic donor. After end-of-year activities were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, we are heartened to extend this opportunity to bring our students some semblance of normalcy during a very abnormal time.

This year, we will host a Say Yes to the Prom Dress Donation Drive in partnership with Max I. Walker, Von Maur, Dillard’s and the Omaha Public Schools Foundation. Now through April 9, we are accepting new or gently-used prom dresses in a range of sizes. Donations will be accepted in the lobby of the Teacher Administration Center (3215 Cuming St.) between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. A donation receipt from OPSF will be provided. Members of our greater community are welcome to donate as well.

We care deeply about our students. Our district hopes to remove potential barriers that might prevent an eligible student from participating in prom. On Saturday, April 17, students can come to the TAC Boardroom to select a dress of their choice.
Pre-registration for the event will be required to ensure adherence to local health and safety guidelines. More details will be forthcoming.

As fourth quarter progresses and we look toward summer, health and safety remain a top priority. We encourage our students, staff and families to continue consistently wearing facial coverings and practicing social distancing when out in public. It is incumbent upon all of us to do our part, to prevent a resurgence in this pandemic even as vaccination numbers increase. We thank you for your vigilance, partnership and continued support of the Omaha Public Schools.

Cordially yours,

Cheryl Logan, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Fundraiser Shows Heart of Field Club Elementary Families
Students at Field Club Elementary have been jumping for joy – and heart health.

Shortly after Winter Break, Jessica Grego, the physical education teacher at Field Club, kicked off the school’s fourth annual Kid’s Heart Challenge, a fundraiser for the American Heart Association.

“We always have fun prizes for any student who donates like wristbands or shirts, but the children who raise the most money get some big prizes, like throwing a pie in the face of Principal Griger and myself,” explained Grego. “The kids obviously love the incentives, but we hear all the time how excited they are that they’re helping other kids while they do it.”

During gym class, students learned about nutrition, the heart and how important physical activity is for heart health. Outside of class, they were challenged to raise money to support heart research.

“My first year doing this drive we raised a few thousand, and it was pretty similar the past two years,” Grego said. “We set a goal for $2,000 this year, but I never expected the response we got.”

This year, 62 Field Club students came together to raise more than $5,000 for the American Heart Association, more than double their initial goal. A major part of the fundraiser’s success was kindergartener Luke Hauser.

“When Ms. Grego first announced the fundraiser, Luke was ecstatic to support it. He was born with a congenital heart defect, so it really hit close to home for him,” explained Leslie Hauser, Luke’s mother. “We donated some money ourselves, then we reached out to family and friends online and there was just an outpouring of support for Luke and this fundraiser.”

The Hauser family raised more than $1,600 in donations for the program, making Luke the top fundraiser for the campaign.

“We were just so blessed to have such amazing support from everyone during this program,” said Leslie Hauser. “I can’t thank the school enough for putting this fundraiser together for such a wonderful cause, and to our friends and family for helping support something that is near to our hearts. Luke was so excited every time someone would reach out with a donation or well wishes, it really was just an amazing opportunity.”
As the top fundraiser, Luke earned a certificate from the American Heart Association and threw a pie in the face of Field Club Principal, Ms. Mary Griger. Luke has attended through the Remote Learning Program throughout the 2020-21 school year, so the award ceremony was the first time he had physically been to Field Club Elementary since last March.

“I’ve seen Luke on screen all year and he hasn’t missed a day of class, so to be able to see him in person for the first time this year was such a special treat,” Grego said. “It was also pretty nice that he chose to throw the pie at Principal Griger, not me.”

But Grego wasn’t out of the woods just yet. Zoe Rumbaugh and Saan Lewis were the second and third highest fundraisers, and they got to share the fun with Grego and Assistant Principal Greg Verraneault.

“It has been a challenging year for everyone financially, mentally and emotionally,” Grego said. “It was amazing to see our community come together for such a wonderful cause.”
Resilient Achiever - Collaborator - Communicator - Critical Thinker - Innovator - Civic & Global Contributor

These are the transferable skills, outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate, we want all students to leave Omaha Public Schools with upon graduation. Mastery of these skills will be beneficial for any path a student may take after graduation.

As part of the Strategic Plan of Action, powered by foresight, that the Board of Education approved in February 2020, we took the opportunity to review all current programming to determine what was working, opportunities we had to grow for our students and where we could expand opportunities. We know a lot has changed since the Strategic Plan of Action was adopted, but in order to ensure that we are doing what is best for all students, the time to act is now.

Introduction of Omaha Public Schools College & Career Academies and Pathways

After the evaluation and input from our community, our district developed the Omaha Public Schools College & Career Academies and Pathways. Students in both academies and pathways take their core classes (English, math, social studies and science) along with career-focused classes, advanced placement classes and electives. Student choices are what determine the differences in high school experience. To understand the options, we have provided definitions below:

  • Academies are smaller learning communities with a career focus. Groups of students with a similar career interest take classes together. Career-focused classes proceed from one to the next in a series.

  • Pathways are a series of four or more classes focused on a group of related careers, or cluster. Students in a pathway take classes with a wide range of other students across career interests.

To see a list of the Omaha Public Schools College & Career Academies and Pathways, click here. The academy and pathway names are meant to group together similar career fields. For example: Leadership Academy at Burke High will include courses in management, financial planning and insurance, data analytics, teaching and marketing.

Sample Student Plan

Below is a sample student plan for a student who wants to focus on Business and Entrepreneurship. The student takes all their required courses as well as academy courses, four years of Spanish, participates in band/choir and takes many honors and advanced placement classes. Additionally, the student has six more elective spots they would be able to fill with other courses of interest.

Freshman Academy

Our District recognizes the important transition from middle school to high school. Beginning in the Fall of 2021, all 9th grade students will enter their high school journey by participating in Freshman Academy. They will explore careers and focus on skills for success in high school and beyond. Toward the end of their freshman year, students will select an academy or a pathway at their school.

We understand that not all students know what they want to do in the future, and that is ok. This evolution of programming gives students the opportunity to explore potential career fields while gaining skills that will be beneficial in their future and lead to high skill, high wage and in-demand jobs. In the Academies and Pathways, some students will find their passion, while others may find something they thought they liked is really not for them. Either way, students will learn transferable skills that will help them succeed, no matter their future path. An advantage of being able to explore these opportunities in high school is there isn’t the financial impact to a family there is with college.

Student Outcomes

Everything we do in Omaha Public Schools is for the benefit of our students. Research shows that students in Nebraska who complete three or more courses in a career and technical education path graduate at an average rate of 10% higher than those who do not participate. For Omaha Public Schools, the average rate is 11% higher. This is true regardless of a student’s race, ethnicity or gender. Staff will continue to monitor student data to ensure student success.

Timeline

The plan will rollout over the next four years. Freshman Academy will begin in fall 2021. Each year will build upon the previous until the program is completely rolled out in the 2024-25 school year. To learn more about the Omaha Public Schools College and Career Academies and Pathways, click here.
District Programs Support Homegrown Leadership
All photos were taken prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each person who crosses a student’s path at school can make a difference.

“No matter what role they serve, our staff members make an impact on our students, and we want them to be fully equipped for that responsibility,” shared Carri Collins, principal supervisor for Omaha Public Schools.

Collins manages the Omaha Public Schools’ LAUNCH program, which provides professional development opportunities for staff members who are interested in leadership roles across our district. LAUNCH candidates work through a year-long program, learning alongside fellow educators to strengthen skills that are necessary in leadership.

“Our goal is for our teachers and staff members to have all the tools and training they need to succeed themselves, and to help our students succeed,” Collins added.

“There’s not a cookie cutter form of leadership. There’s no official ‘right way,’ so we should always be working to develop more as leaders,” said Skyler Johnson, the entrepreneurship teacher at Lewis and Clark Middle School and a candidate in the LAUNCH program. “A big part of the program is to understand that, no matter your job, you’re in a position where doing your best will help students.”
“We learn different perspectives and tools from current leaders in the district, and we talk with other candidates to see how they’ve handled issues or work together to solve ones we may be facing or could face in the future,” said Kari Hubbard, dean of culture at Minne Lusa Elementary and a candidate in the LAUNCH program. “If someone might be interested in LAUNCH, I couldn’t recommend it to them enough.”

In addition to LAUNCH, other district programs provide more specific areas of study. The iLead program, headed by Principal Supervisor Dr. Fateama Fulmore, guides prospective school principals. Additionally, the New Principals Institute works with first-time principals to ensure they have the tools and support they need.

“The iLead program is a dynamic experience for staff to learn not only from other leaders, but to learn from each other about having a proper leadership mindset,” explained Fulmore. “They work with current principals through real situations that challenge their leadership skills and prepare them to lead their own school.”

Fulmore continued, “When someone is hired on as a first-time principal, then they go through the New Principals Institute led by Dr. Jeaneen Talbott. This program gives new principals someone to reach out to for support and prepares them for their new position. They have a community supporting them within our district.”

Investing in staff elevates the education we provide, preparing all students for success in college, career and life.

“This mission is embedded in the Strategic Plan of Action through our strategic priorities,” shared Collins. “We want our staff to see that there are opportunities for them to continue in their education, continue in their learning and to grow their roles in the district.”

Collins explained that the goal is for students to become lifelong learners.

“The success of these programs show that our staff are not just saying that further education is important, they are living examples of it,” she said.
School Social Worker Week Highlights Important Role
School social workers serve as a vital connection between our schools, homes and communities. Their work provides students with the physical, mental and emotional support they need to excel in the classroom.

“If students have a mental health need or are going through a difficult private situation, or their physical needs aren’t being met, our job is to work with them and their families and connect them with people or organizations that can help,” said Lily DeFrank.

DeFrank serves as the school social worker for the Native Indigenous Centered Education (NICE) Program, which works alongside many Native American students and families in our district.

“The most important part of our job is building trust and relationships with students and their families,” DeFrank said. “The most rewarding thing to me is when a family trusts me enough to come to me when I can help. That’s my job, I’m here to help, and it is so wonderful when they reach out and share what I can do.”

Another important part of a social worker’s job is to support students’ mental well-being. That has been especially critical during the pandemic.

“It has been such a difficult year for so many families, so I’ve been working with kids on understanding that they aren’t alone and there are people here to help them, no matter what challenges they’re facing,” said Leanna Johnson, a school social worker for Conestoga Elementary.

This year, an increased reliance on technology brought opportunities for school social workers to provide even more support.

“Every week I have phone calls, Teams meetings and emails with parents, often times just to check in and see how everyone is doing,” Johnson explained. “Some students I haven’t met face-to-face, but I know them as if they lived next door.”

That special bond has been invaluable for Johnson and for the families we serve.

“Since I’ve been able to build these relationships, even remotely, I’ll have families call or email me throughout the week and tell me how they’re doing or ask if I can help them with this or that, and that means the world to me,” she said.

In honor of National School Social Worker Week, we thank all Omaha Public Schools social workers for their work in supporting our students’ success.

The STEM Community Platform


Julie Sigmon, Omaha STEM Ecosystem Director
The Omaha STEM Ecosystem is excited for the launch of the online STEM Community Platform, presented by Cox and in partnership with AIM Institute, which is fueling the technology behind the new website.

The mission of the STEM Community Platform, stemplatform.org, connects youth, parents, educators and professionals to an online hub of high-quality STEM programs, resources and events in the Greater Omaha area. The website is the first of its kind in Omaha, featuring a comprehensive list of Omaha-based STEM programs all in one place.

Click the graphic below to learn more about the Omaha STEM Community Platform.
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 teachers' 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 Omaha Public Schools.
... to North High sophomore, Tyler Stewart, Nebraska Class A 220 lb wrestling champion.

... to Caiden Williams of North High and Terin Frodyma of South High for being selected to the Metro Conference Swim and Dive Academic Team for excellence in the pool and the classroom.

... to swim coach Sean Froemming of North High for being named Metro High School Activities Association Swim Coach of the Year for 2020-21.

... to all Omaha Public Schools students who qualified for swim and diving finals at the Nebraska State Swimming and Diving Tournament.
  • Boys Swim and Diving Finalists:
  • Burke High - Charlie Wachholtz, John Gundersen, Drake Nielsen, Jaden Pospishil, and Jackson Walenz for swimming
  • Central High - Caleb St. Cyr, Zort Brown, Malcolm Tonje, Gabe Spiess, Nolan Grey and Luke Nieland for swimming, and Alex Castillo for diving
  • North High - Nathaniel Schlader, Davion Scott-Bell, Caiden Williams and Ben Mills for swimming
  • South High - Terin Frodyma
  • Girls Swim and Diving Finalists:
  • Burke High - Maris Grabill, Wesley Hill, Ella Frisbie and Carly Kendeigh for swimming, and Anna Caniglia and Macy Santoni for diving
  • Central High - Daniella Hernandez, Sarah Spomer, Valeria Welk, Christina Spomer and Bea Jackson for swimming

... to Inia Jones of Central High for being named to the 2021 Girls State Basketball Tournament Class A Team.
 
... to all Omaha Public Schools students whose artworks are featured on billboards across Omaha in honor of Youth Art Month.
  • Daniel Ner, Marcian Paw, Cai'Lyn Washington, Darlin Molina-Carmona, Carlos Martinez, Daisy Avalos-Hernandez, Peter Jhetyx, Jonathan Kelly, Lilyana Peralta, Jayden Corona, Jaqueline Lopez-Rogel, Sofia Di Lorenzo, Bway Moo, Colton Palmer and Khadro Abdi.

... to Mike Hogan, KIOS afternoon host, for his recognition as Media Partner of the Year by the Public Relations Society of America Nebraska Chapter.

... to Josh Pace of Northwest High School for receiving the Nebraska State Bandmaster’s Association (NSBA) Outstanding Young Band Director Award.

... to Blackburn High School for being recognized by the Nebraskans for the Arts organization as a NebraskaARTS Awards school. This is for Blackburn’s support and achievement in media arts, visual arts, dance, music and theater.
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.
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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.