St. Pius X / St. Leo School Newsletter August 4, 2023
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OPEN HOUSE
This year's Open House is Tuesday, August 15 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm for students in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 from . At this event, families are encouraged to find their student's homeroom, meet their teacher, and drop off supplies. Please stop by the gym to learn about various activities such as Scouts, Fall Fundraiser, and more!
SPSL socks, water bottles, uniform sweatshirts, and used uniforms will also be sold in the gym.
Doors to the building will open at 5:30 PM. Homeroom class lists will be posted in the building near each grade area.
The eCreamery Ice Cream & Cookie Truck will be on campus during the Open House. Families may purchase a sweet treat and our school cafeteria will be open for seating and conversation.
We look forward to seeing our students and families!
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SCHOOL SUPPLIES
School supply lists for all grades can be found here. Supplies can be purchased anywhere, but if you are interested in ordering supplies, please view the School Tool Box information on our website. |
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OPENING WEEK SCHEDULE
Thursday, August 17 is the first day of school. Students in grades K-8 will attend school from 8:15 am until noon. This same schedule will be followed on Friday, August 18. Lunch will not be served on these days. Parents, please feel free to send a snack with your children on these two half days. Please ensure that the snack is nut-free. Beginning Monday, K-8 students will attend school for full days - 8:15 am until 3:25 pm (except for 8th graders who are dismissed at 3:30 pm).
Five-day and Three-day Pre-Kindergarten students will begin classes Monday, August 21. Two-day Pre-Kindergarten students will begin classes Tuesday, August 22.
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ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL TIME
Students may arrive starting at 8:00 AM. Only students enrolled in our Extended Care program or those attending a school-sponsored activity will be allowed in the building prior to 8:00 AM. Students may not be dropped off unsupervised in the SPSL parking lots. If you need to drop your child off before 8:00 AM, please contact cat.flores@spsl.net for information on our Extended Care program. Students must be sitting in their desks by 8:15 AM to avoid being marked tardy.
Students will dismiss at 3:20 for Pre-K, 3:25 for K-7, and 3:30 for 8th grade each day unless otherwise noted on the school calendar on the school website. Children need to be picked up on time each day. If your child can not be picked up at these times, you must enroll them in our Extended Care program.
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ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL PARKING PROCEDURES
Students in K-8 may be dropped off in the following parking lots:
Pre-K parents use the west lot to park and walk your child to the door.
Students are encouraged (but not required) to use the following doors to enter the building:
- Church lot (NE door) - Door 7: Grades 6 through 8
- Church lot (middle door) - Door 9: Grades K through 3
- South lot - Door 14: Grades 4 and 5
- Lower west lot - Door 2: Pre-K (Mrs. Flores and Mrs. Saucier students only)
- West lot - Door 21: Pre-K (Ms. Borne students only)
To expedite the car line drop off process and for the safety of all children, students grades K-8 must exit the vehicle on the passenger side of the car. Drivers/adults must stay in the vehicle. If your student needs help getting out of the vehicle, please park in the lot east of 69th Street and walk your child into the building. Now is a great time for younger children to start practicing unbuckling, gathering items, and opening doors if you would like to utilize the drop off car line. Pre-K parents can walk their child to the door.
When picking up your child after school you may park in any lot except the church north parking lot or the west parking lot. Only Pre-K parents may use the west lots to pick up their Pre-K students. Pre-K parents will have a parking pass to allow entrance into the west lot.
Students will be dismissed from the following doors:
- Church lot (NE door) - Door 7: Grades 6 through 8
- Church lot (middle door) - Door 9: Grades K through 3
- South lot - Door 14: Grades 4 and 5
- Lower west lot - Door 2: Pre-K (Mrs. Flores and Mrs. Saucier students only)
- West lot - Door 21: Pre-K (Ms. Borne students only)
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EXTENDED CARE
August 17 and 18 are noon dismissal days and Extended Care is available for children that are registered in the program. Lunch is NOT served at school on those days, so please make sure your child brings a lunch. Extended Care only serves a mid-afternoon snack on early dismissal days. August calendars were mailed in July. Please return your calendar and and payment by the due date. If you did not receive your calendar in the mail or are in need of one, please contact Cat Flores at cat.flores@spsl.net.
Families who are interested in Extended Care program or who are not currently registered will be placed on a waitlist pending open spots in our program. We do accept Title 20 if you qualify.
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SCHOOL UNIFORMS
School uniforms can be purchased locally at Dennis Uniform and DiGiorgio's Sportswear. Uniform skorts, jumpers, or skirts can also be purchased online from French Toast.
The used uniform sale will take place tomorrow, Saturday, August 5 from 8:00 - 9:00 AM at St. Leo the Great Church (102nd and Blondo). Items available are jumpers, skirts, skorts, sweaters, blouses, shirts, uniform sweatshirts, shorts, pants, and soccer shirts.
Uniform sweatshirts and used uniforms will also be for sale in the school gym during the Open House on August 15.
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NOTES FROM THE NURSE
All immunization records and physical forms (physical exams are required for students entering Kindergarten, 7th grade, or students transferring from an out-of-state school) must be uploaded to the Blackbaud Student Management System, turned into the school office, or emailed to school.assistant@spsl.net by August 15. Do NOT wait and send them with your child on the first day of school. Your child will not be able to attend classes until the records are in the school's office.
Students entering 7th grade are required to provide proof of a booster immunization of diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), given on or after your child's 7th birthday. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping your children up-to-date with this immunization requirement.
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PARENT MEETING DATES
Each school year, SPSL School schedules an evening for parents to meet with teachers to learn more about your child's teacher, classroom, and expectations. The meetings are also a great opportunity for parents to have their own questions answered. Please save the following dates and try your best to attend:
- 7th/8th Grade - Tuesday, August 22nd (7:00 - 8:30)
- 5th/6th Grade - Thursday, August 24th (7:00 - 8:30)
- KG/1st Grade - Tuesday, August 29th (7:00 - 8:30)
- 3rd/4th Grade - Thursday, August 31st (7:00 - 8:30)
- 2nd Grade - Sacramental Meetings TBD
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SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
SPSL School is contracted with Westside Nutrition Services to provide our students lunch. The price for a student school lunch, which includes a milk, will be $3.80. If a student only needs a milk, there will be a milk charge of $0.65. Students in 7th and 8th grade can purchase a second entree for an additional $1.90. The daily lunch menu and information about pre-ordering meals and adding money to a lunch account can be found on the SPSL website using the tab "What's For Lunch". If sending lunch money to school with your child, please include your child's full name and homeroom.
Free/Reduced Lunch Applications will be provided to families at Open House. Eligible families are encouraged to complete the application as soon as possible.
The cafeteria staff is in need of volunteers to help serve the lunch. This is a great way to get involved and meet new people! It is also a fun volunteer opportunity for grandparents. To sign up to volunteer in the cafeteria, click here.
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7TH AND 8TH GRADE ELECTIVES
Students in 7th and 8th grade will find out their electives when they receive their daily schedule on the first day of school. Please wait to purchase school supplies for these elective classes until you learn which class your student will attend. Elective teachers will send home a list of additional school supplies needed for their class.
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ASSIGNMENT NOTEBOOKS
Assignment notebooks for grades 4-8 are available for purchase in the school office. The price for each notebook is $5.00. The books will be available at Open House outside the main office. Students purchasing assignment notebooks on the first day of school should give their money to their homeroom teacher.
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SPIRIT WEAR
The St. Pius X / St. Leo School Spirit Wear Store will open just in time for back to school! Visit the Spirit Wear page on the school website here for more information. The first online Spirit Wear store will be open between August 14 through August 27. Orders will be delivered to SPSL by September 18. There will be a total of four sales throughout the year. Email questions to Kim Kenney at kim.kenney@spsl.net or 402-551-6667.
As a reminder, school spirit wear is not part of the regular school uniform.
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The SPSL Annual Fall Fundraiser, Individually Unique, Together Complete, will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Creighton Prep. The SPSL Fall Fundraiser is a parent sponsored event and the biggest fundraiser of the year for our school. Funds raised support our school operating budget, teacher education, technology, capital improvements, and the SPSL endowment trust fund. The goal is to raise critical funds needed by SPSL in the amount of at least $190,000. We hope that all who are able will join together to support our amazing faculty, staff, and school. You may purchase event tickets here.
You are also invited to a Fundraiser Kickoff Party on Saturday, September 16 at 7:00 pm at the App home (1124 Happy Hollow Blvd). You will have the opportunity to reconnect with SPSL friends and learn more about the Individually Unique, Together Complete fundraiser. This event is hosted by SPSL parents and 2022 Fundraiser Chairs, Mike and Becky App, Kevin and Heidi Berthelsen, and Andrew and Colette Martin. To attend, register here.
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CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS
It has been very busy around our school campus this summer! In addition to the regular cleaning and maintenance to prepare for the school year, we were able to complete the following projects:
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The HVAC has been completely updated in the school cafeteria and kitchen. In addition, significant HVAC work started in the north building. The HVAC update in the north building will be completed in the summer of 2024. Then the HVAC work will move to the south building.
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We added a new gym roof.
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Artificial turf was added to the Pre-Kindergarten play area.
Importantly, SPSL implemented a variety of new safety enhancements throughout our school campus including:
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The addition of SEI key fobs on a number of exterior doors.
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Shatter resistant film was added on certain doors and windows
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Exterior door numbering.
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Campus-wide rekeying of exterior doors.
We are confident that these enhancements will make our school an even safer place to learn and work.
We are excited for our new school light pole banners that will be hung in the west lot, east church lot, and near soccer fields. These banners will be installed on August 8th.
SPSL is deeply grateful for the generosity of the benefactors in our school community who made it possible for us to complete these projects and implement the safety enhancements on our campus. Thank you to our current and former maintenance staff members, Brian Schiefen, Marty Thornton, Bob Kottas, and Matt Haynes for leading these efforts. If you have questions, please contact michaela.smith@spsl.net.
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SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING
Thinking about volunteering at SPSL? All school volunteers ages 19+ must be Safe Environment certified before volunteering in any capacity including classrooms, cafeteria, chaperoning field trips, etc.
Training is free of charge, but registration is required. SPSL will host a training on Thursday, September 14 at 6:30 PM in the St. Pius X Parish Center, but interested volunteers can complete the certification anywhere in Omaha. View other upcoming training dates/locations and register here.
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TAGG APP
TAGG (Together A Greater Good) is a free mobile app that when used at over 80 local businesses, the business will donate back to SPSL. All you need to do is download the free app (Together A Greater Good), choose St. Pius X / St. Leo School as the organization you want to support, visit participating businesses, and TAGG your purchase. The business will donate a percentage of your purchase to SPSL! To learn more, click here.
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IMPORTANT MEDICAL BULLETIN
SPSL School is in compliance with the state mandated “Emergency Response to Life-Threatening Asthma or Systemic Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis) Protocol.” The protocol involves the use of an IM EpiPen and nebulized albuterol and calling 911.
The protocol is to be administered by trained responders to ANY student showing life-threatening asthma attacks or other allergic reactions. Responders will be available during the course of regular school hours.
This protocol and its emergency medication is not meant to replace the health care provider's plan for students with a diagnosis of asthma and/or anaphylaxis. The emergency medication (such as inhalers, epinephrine) prescribed for students with known asthma and/or anaphylaxis is provided by the student's parents to the school according to the school's Medication policy.
IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILD TO BE TREATED FOR THESE LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES YOU NEED TO SEND CORY SEPICH, PRINCIPAL, WRITTEN NOTIFICATION PRIOR TO THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
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IMPORTANT DATES
August 15: Open House (5:30 - 7:30 PM)
August 17: FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL K-8! (Noon dismissal)
August 17: Parent Welcome Back event
August 18: Noon Dismissal
August 19: Dundee Days Parade
August 21: First Day of 4 Year Old Pre-K
August 22: First Day of 3 Year Old Pre-K
August 22: 7th and 8th Grade Parent Meeting (7:00-8:30 PM)
August 24: 5th and 6th Grade Parent Meeting (7:00-8:30 PM)
August 29: Kindergarten and 1st Grade Parent Meeting (7:00-8:30 PM)
August 31: 3rd and 4th Grade Parent Meeting (7:00-8:30 PM)
September 4: NO SCHOOL
September 5: NO SCHOOL - CSO Faculty Development
September 11: Picture Day
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