September 11, 2020 Weekly Family Update
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Lincoln Public Schools families,
Below is this week’s update. You can continue to check our special website for updates and information: lps.org/coronavirus.
Thank you for your continued support, patience and understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school or visit our website and click on the blue “Contact Us” button.
Seniors: September 22 ACT test day
There will be no in-person or remote classes for high school students on Tuesday, Sept. 22 as we will be administering the ACT test to high school seniors. Only seniors who are signed up to take the ACT will report to high schools on Sept. 22. TCA, Arts and Humanities, and Science focus program students will also not have classes on Sept. 22.
Last spring, the state-administered ACT was cancelled due to school closure. In an effort to give seniors an opportunity to receive scores for college admissions or scholarships, the Nebraska Department of Education is offering these students an opportunity to test on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at their home high schools. Only students who are enrolled in an LPS school and were 11th graders last year are eligible to test. We strongly encourage eligible students to take advantage of this free opportunity to complete the ACT. If students have already tested and are satisfied with their scores, there is no requirement to test again.
This test is administered during the school day at no cost to students or families. The results of the ACT can help determine academic readiness for college, provide career guidance, and can be used for admission to many colleges and universities and scholarship applications.
In order to participate, students will need to complete the non-test portion of the answer document before the test date. Please contact your school’s test coordinator for more information.
StudentVUE app changes on smartphone and tablet
In an effort to ensure equitable access for all students, LPS provides a Chromebook and a mobile access point, as needed. The LPS Chromebook should always be used when remotely connecting to an LPS classroom and to that end, the StudentVUE mobile app will no longer work to join a teacher’s meeting. In those instances where a phone or tablet is being used for special education services, please work with your child’s case manager for specific instructions.
Notification of positive COVID-19 cases
To make sure families are aware of positive cases of COVID-19 in their schools, LPS will email a school’s families when there is a confirmed positive case and there is a potential exposure. This includes any staff, students or visitors who have tested positive for COVID-19. The health department defines a potential exposure as any identified positive case that is in a school building at any time during the 48 hours prior to symptoms being exhibited or the positive test was taken. Anyone identified as a high-risk close contact with the positive case will be called directly and given instructions on next steps.
Every Thursday after 2 p.m., LPS will post on our website positive cases for staff and students that are reported each week at LPS, and the number of staff reporting to be self-isolating or quarantining.
Please note: the dashboard will not include the number of visitors who have tested positive and therefore may not match the number of messages sent to families during the week.
REMINDER: Self-screening magnets
Each LPS family should have received a self-screening magnet in the mail at the beginning of the school year. If you did not receive one and you would like one, please fill out this form.
Important Breakfast and Lunch Program Update
Due to the pandemic, the USDA is federally funding breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students while the federal funding lasts. All LPS students in preschool – 12 grade and Independence Academy students will be offered breakfast and lunch at no charge starting Monday, September 14, 2020. A la carte food items including milk and second entrees will still be available to purchase with money in the meal account or cash. LPS will communicate when the program is coming to an end for families to plan around breakfast and lunch purchases.
Just a reminder, families must continue to fill out applications for free or reduced priced meals for the 2020-2021 school year. You can access a meal application at https://home.lps.org/ns/free-reduced/
Breakfast and Lunch for remote learners will also be at no charge.
REMINDER: Meals Distribution for 100% Remote Learners
LPS is offering all PreK-12 grade 100% remote learners meals for the week to be picked up on Mondays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at three locations.
Next week’s meal distribution for 100% remote learners will be on Monday, September 14.
Go to our website for more information.
Updated October 8, 2020
