Lincoln Public Schools

December 3 Weekly Update

Translations: Arabic | Karen | Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese

LPS Families,

Here is your weekly update with reminders and important information.

INDEX:

Student Calendar: Dec. 6 – 22

Monday, Dec. 6

Tuesday, Dec. 7

Wednesday, Dec. 8 – Thursday, Dec. 9

Friday, Dec. 10

Monday, Dec. 13

Tuesday, Dec. 14

Wednesday, Dec. 15 – Friday, Dec. 17

Monday, Dec. 20

Tuesday, Dec. 21

Wednesday, Dec. 22

Thursday, Dec. 23 – Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022

We want to hear from you – Superintendent Search

The Lincoln Board of Education would like to hear from you to help the search firm Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA) build a successful superintendent profile.

You are invited to fill out this survey and share your thoughts on what characteristics our next superintendent should have. The survey will close on December 21.

You can also attend one of several town halls in December to provide your input:

More information about the superintendent search process can be found on the LPS website here.

Suicide Prevention – Limiting Access

As we approach the winter holiday season and the end of the semester, concerns about stress and suicide may increase. It is important to know that there are steps you can take to help reduce the risk of suicide. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides the following recommendations for families.

Many suicide attempts take place during a short-term crisis, so it is important to consider a person’s access to lethal means during these periods of increased risk. Reducing access to lethal means – in particular, medications or weapons – saves lives.

Families can take many actions to reduce access to lethal means of self-harm. Some of these are general household health and safety precautions that should be used regardless of suicide risk. Examples include limiting access to medications (prescription and over the counter) and storing weapons safely when not in use (American Academy of Pediatrics – healthychildren.org).

Other actions may be more appropriate when a person is at risk for suicide. If someone in the home is feeling suicidal, has recently attempted suicide, or is experiencing a crisis, it is safest to remove lethal means from the household entirely until the situation improves. 

For example:

If you are concerned about yourself or a family member, these resources are available to help anytime of the day or night, any day of the year. 

Health Department Information on COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 

A safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine plays a critical role in providing protection against the virus, preventing illness and saving lives. The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) is following CDC and State of Nebraska guidelines to distribute the vaccine. They are committed to ensuring that everyone who lives, works or learns in Lincoln and Lancaster County can receive a vaccine. Sign up now to schedule an appointment to receive the vaccine. 

The health department is hosting several COVID-19 vaccine clinics, including by appointment only for children ages 5-11 at local high schools and other locations in the city and county. All residents age 5 and older are currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Local pediatric practices are also offering the COVID-19 vaccine as well as some local pharmacies. To find a pharmacy near you, go to vaccines.gov.

Upcoming Vaccine Clinics:

Resources

Learn more on the LLCHD website.

Please provide a copy to your child’s school

Under Title 173 of the Nebraska Administrative Code, each school or school district in Nebraska is required to keep the immunization history of the students enrolled on file. If your child has received the COVID-19 vaccine, we ask that you please provide us a copy of the information by emailing a copy of the vaccination card to your school nurse. If your child has not received the COVID-19 vaccine, there is nothing you need to do.

International Travel

Based on the recommendation from the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, LPS will require all students who are not fully vaccinated that travel internationally to quarantine for 10 days upon return, or 7 days if testing negative on the fifth day.

District-wide Picture Retake Day

LPS and Lifetouch have teamed up to offer a district-wide Picture Retake Day on Saturday, Dec. 4, from 8 – 11:00 a.m. and 12 – 3 p.m. in the gym at Riley Elementary School. This event will ONLY be for the students who missed their school picture opportunities. 

To reduce overcrowding, students with last names starting with A-L are scheduled from 8 – 11 a.m., while students with last names M-Z are scheduled from 12 – 3 p.m.

In order to sign your student up for this event, please fill out this registration form. If you aren’t able to access the form or are having any troubles, please contact Tanisha Gray at 402-436-1668 or by emailing tgray2@lps.org.

Here are the directions for online ordering from Lifetouch. If you need a physical picture packet, they will be available at Riley, on Dec. 4. Picture packet orders should arrive no later than the beginning of the year in January. 

We are grateful to hold this opportunity, as we know the pandemic has caused many changes and inconveniences. Those who register will receive a reminder email from Tanisha Gray as we get closer to the event.

Jobs and Extended Learning Opportunities (JELO)

Is your child looking for a job or other extended learning opportunity? Students can use their Chromebook or LPS Student Portal account to check out our electronic bulletin board by going to lps.org and typing in the keyword “JELO”. (Students must be logged in to their LPS Student Portal to view the board.) 

Students in grades 6-12 will find information about a wide variety of opportunities available. This includes activities, camps, jobs and internships. We update the board every Wednesday afternoon.

Are you a business or organization wanting to share your opportunities with LPS students?
If so, please enter the information about your program/opportunity here: www.bit.ly/stujobslps.

Once you submit the information on the form, we will review it to ensure that it fits with our Board policies and regulations before we post it to the electronic bulletin board. Once an opportunity is posted, students in all middle and high schools are easily able to access the information. Please note: anyone outside of the LPS network or without LPS Portal access will not be able to access the eBulletin board.

Resources for families

If you are in crisis and need immediate assistance, these services are available any time of the day or night, any day of the week:

Additional community resources can be found at MyLink – a website (https://mylnk.app) and a mobile app (for Apple and Android – search MyLink). It can be downloaded in a wi-fi environment and then used when wi-fi is not available. Translations are provided in Arabic, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Additional parents needed for the Multicultural Parent Advisory Committee

If you are interested in joining this committee, please contact Walter Powell, School, and Community Multicultural Administrator (wpowell2@lps.org).

Brief Overview of Multicultural Parent Advisory Committee
The committee shall consist of a minimum of two parents from each school. The committee membership shall represent, to the extent possible, the diversity of the Lincoln Public Schools students. The committee members will focus their attention on any current issue regarding socio-economic status, race, national origin, ethnic background, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender, transgender, age, disability, mental, physical, or linguistic ability, or other protected status.
 
Purpose
To engage LPS parents in rich and productive dialogue related to equity, diversity, inclusion, and multicultural education within Lincoln Public Schools, resulting in enhanced educational experiences for all students
 
Meeting Schedule
These meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month from 4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Don Clifton Professional Learning Center (710 Hill Street) during the academic year. Please note the upcoming meeting dates below:

Lincoln Public Schools

Lincoln Public Schools is the second largest public school district in Nebraska, located in the heart of the plains, renowned for its long-standing legacy of educational excellence and tradition of rigorous academic achievement. The school district is growing and thriving, serving over 42,000 students in more than 60 schools and programs.

Education Equity

The Lincoln Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status or economic status in its programs, activities and employment.

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