September 30th Monthly Update

Translations: Arabic | Karen | Spanish | Russian | Vietnamese

Lincoln Public Schools Families,

We will continue sending you a monthly update with important information and reminders.

Just a reminder that there will be no school for all elementary students on Friday, October 14. Fall Break is October 17-18 for all students and there will not be any classes those two days.

In This Message...

ParentVUE

All LPS households should have a login to ParentVUE in order to access important school information about their child. This includes current attendance, grading and reports cards each quarter. Please contact your student’s school office for information on setting up your account or for questions on how to use this important portal. Check out our website for more information.

Community News — October edition

Each month LPS publishes Community News in an effort to help share family-friendly community events and activities from non-profit organizations. Check out the October edition preview of Community News online.

Are you part of a community non-profit organization that wants to share your information with LPS families? Reserve your ad space in our Community News! Learn more on our webpage: lps.org/communitynews.

StarTran requiring bus passes starting October 17

Starting October 17, StarTran will once again be charging fees to students who ride StarTran buses. After October 3, StarTran Bus passes can be purchased one of two ways:

Using the StarTran phone app

Through your child’s school office

  • Low Income 31 Consecutive Day Pass (those who qualify for Free and Reduced Meals only): $8
  • 31 Consecutive Day Pass: $17
  • 20 Ride Pass: $33

EVERYONE who rides a StarTran bus after October 17, will be required to have a pass or pay the fare. For more information, visit the StarTran website at: https://www.lincoln.ne.gov/City/Departments/LTU/StarTran.

LPS is hiring! Come to our Interview Fair on October 18

We are hosting another interview fair to fill over 150 unfilled positions that support teaching and learning. Open positions include paraeducators, bus drivers, transportation paras, food service workers, food service manager trainees, head bakers, head cooks, custodians, health technicians and treatment nurses.  Learn more and fill out an application ahead of time on our website: https://home.lps.org/hr/fair/.

Interview Fair

Culler Middle School (5201 Vine Street)
Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. 

Anyone interested can fill out an application at the event and be interviewed on the spot.

Part-time (those who work at least 17.5 hours per week) and full-time employees qualify for competitive health insurance, pension, generous leave and other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our webpage

The current salary ranges for the employee groups are as follows:

  • Paraeducators: $14.17 – $17.90 per hour plus hourly service year stipends after the first year
  • Food Service: $15.00 – $22.57 per hour
  • Custodial: $17.09 – $25.36 per hour
  • Bus Drivers: $23.20 per hour with paid training to obtain a CDL and up to $1,500 hiring bonus
  • Transportation Paras: $14.83 per hour with up to a $1,000 hiring bonus
  • Health Technicians: $17.05 per hour
  • Treatment Nurses: $28.30 – $29.30 per hour with up to $2,000 hiring bonus

ELEMENTARY: Bubba’s Closet provides warm coats for students

Every year, Lincoln Public Schools Elementary Principals Network organizes and distributes winter clothing through the Bubba’s Closet event. 

Families who are in need of winter coats for their pre-school and elementary aged children are asked to fill out a form (bit.ly/Bubbas22) by Friday, Oct. 7 indicating the child’s size, age and school. Elementary principals cannot guarantee a new coat for every child, but they will do their best to fulfill as many requests as possible. Coats will be distributed to students through their school by late November.

Those who are interested in donating to Bubba’s Closet this year are encouraged to give through the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools Fund a Need campaign bit.ly/donatecoats22. Funds raised will be used to help fill the coat requests from families. Donations of new coats (tags still on the garment) will also be accepted at each elementary school. Please call the school office ahead of time to arrange dropping off the donation.

Community Awareness Event: Protecting our children on social media

Our children are at risk from people who want to do harm and one of the easiest ways they find our youth is through social media and gaming platforms.

Join Stephanie Olson with the Set Me Free Project for a special presentation as she discusses how we can work together to keep our children safe on social media. 

October 27, 2022
Scott Middle School (Multipurpose Room)
2200 Pine Lake Rd., Lincoln
6:30-8:00 p.m.

The session will cover:

  • How to help your child safely navigate social media and gaming platforms
  • Current apps – the good, the bad, and the ugly
  • What the grooming process is and how people who want to do harm use social media to groom our kids
  • Our kids’ brains on social media: The science of social media, and how does social media affect kids
  • Sexual images and social media
  • How youth are at risk and by whom

This event is sponsored by Lincoln Public Schools in partnership with School Community Interventions & Prevention (SCIP) and Region V Systems.

Guidelines for elementary and middle school students attending high school sporting events

Safety in school is one of our top priorities, and that includes after school at LPS athletic events. Safety takes a community. 

We are reminding families of the following safety guidelines for elementary and middle school students who attend high school athletic events: 

  • Students are encouraged to attend LPS high school athletic and activity events with family members and/or a responsible adult.
  • Students are expected to follow the directions of event staff and the public address announcer. If students are unable to follow directions, they may be asked to leave. Any student who is required to leave an event who did not come with a family member or responsible adult will need to have a way to contact someone to pick them up. 
  • School rules apply at all LPS athletic/activity events. Violations to the Rights and Responsibilities of Students may result in disciplinary action for students who are unable to follow directions.
  • Students are expected to be seated in designated areas during the event. Students shall not loiter in concourse, concession and/or restroom areas.
  • No outside food is allowed to be brought into LPS high school athletic/activity venues; however, a wide range of delicious concessions is available at most events.  Food and drink must be consumed in the seating area of the venues.
  • Students are expected to be picked up by family members and/or a responsible adult immediately following the conclusion of an LPS high school athletic/activity event, or if students are asked to leave early.

We encourage LPS elementary and middle school students and families to attend LPS high school events. LPS elementary and middle school students often want to express their loyalty to their future high schools.  Make sure to contact your future high schools if you would like to purchase team gear. 

Thank you for partnering with us to keep everyone safe and secure at all of LPS athletic/activity venues.

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:

  • CDCs How Right Now: website with resources and tips
  • CenterPointe Helpline (Lincoln): 402-475-6695
  • Nebraska Family Helpline: 1-888-866-8660
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 9-8-8 or 1-800-273-8255
  • Your Life Your Voice (Boys Town)  1-800-448-3000 or text VOICE to 20121 (text charges from your phone carrier may apply)
  • Lincoln Police Department (non-emergency) 402-441-6000 or 911 (emergency)

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.