September 25, 2020 Weekly Family Update
Lincoln Public Schools families,
Below is this week’s update with important information for families. 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.
REMINDER: No school for students Nov. 2 & 3
Nov. 2 will be a teacher and staff plan day and there will NOT be school for all pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students and Independence Academy students. There is also no school on Nov. 3 due to election day, creating a four-day weekend for all students.
Ending 3/2 schedule in high schools starting second quarter
Starting second quarter on Oct. 19, high school students will have the option of attending school in-person every day or 100% remote every day. There will no longer be an A/B schedule after Oct. 19. This decision was made after discussions with the health department, and will be subject to current community conditions. We will continue to work in collaboration with the health department on the transition. Given the number of remote learners at the high school level, our high schools will still only be at 70-80% capacity.
If you wish to move your high school student into full-time remote learning starting second quarter, please contact your school office.
Please note: high school PLC early release days will move back to Tuesdays starting second quarter.
Information for Remote Learner families about second quarter
All students who selected remote learning at the beginning of the school year will continue in remote learning second quarter. On the remote learning request form, if you selected for your child to be in remote learning for just the first quarter, there is nothing you need to do to continue remote learning in second quarter. We will continue your child in remote learning. If you wish for your child to return to school second quarter for in-person learning, please contact your child’s school office.
Please note: Any switch between in-person and remote learning generally takes two school days for processing the request. This allows time for staff to prepare for your student.
Free breakfast and lunch for all LPS students
Due to the pandemic, the USDA is federally funding breakfast and lunch for 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.
To receive the school meal at no charge:
- The student must select a serving of fruit or vegetable plus at least two other components of the meal (meat, grain, milk, fruit, vegetable).
- Failing to take a fruit or vegetable plus two other food components will lead to the student being charged a la carte pricing.
- A student selecting pizza and milk would need to pay for these food items since there is no fruit or vegetable.
- A student may select all five components of the meal.
- 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 28.
Go to our website for more information.
Special Education
We hope you are planning to attend the first of the 2020-2021 Special Education: Parents Information Network Meetings. All parents of students who receive special education services are invited to quarterly district meetings. The purpose of these meetings is to network and learn about special education programs to support your children and you.
The first meeting will be held via zoom:
October 1, 2020
6:15-6:45 Social Networking
6:45-7:45 Meeting
Meeting Agenda: Introduction to Special Education, Return to School Processes During COVID, Other
Please call Payton Eickhoff at 402-436-1905 or email peickhof@lps.org to register.
Invitation to a Journey of Belonging: Creating Cultures of Equity and Inclusion
All Lincoln residents are invited to a city-wide address featuring john a. powell on Sept. 28 or Sept. 29, starting at 11:30 a.m.
john is one of the nation’s foremost public intellectuals and an internationally recognized expert in the areas of civil rights, civil liberties, housing, poverty, and democracy. john’s work emphasizes a recognition of our shared humanity, bridging across differences, and co-creating systems and structures that are anchored in belonging rather than othering. He has introduced into the public lexicon the concepts of “othering and belonging”.
The program will also feature video participation by University of Nebraska-Lincoln men’s basketball head coach Fred Hoiberg and some of his players, as well as by residents who are working toward building a community of inclusion and belonging. Immediately following john’s remarks, Prof. Anna Shavers (Cline Williams Professor of Citizenship Law and former Dean at the University of Nebraska College of Law) and Dr. Jeannette Eileen Jones (Associate Professor of History & Ethnic Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln) will offer reflections on the challenges and opportunities for creating cultures of bridging and belonging here in Lincoln.
#SaveTheKids community event
Bryan Health will host a virtual event Oct. 5, 6:30-8 p.m., featuring youth advocate Collin Kartchner, whose mission is to #SaveTheKids from social media’s negative effect on their mental and emotional health. Kartchner promotes the importance of living life offline and encourages all of us to rise above social media comparison, negativity, and the stress of being perfect.
This is a free virtual event from 6:30-8:00. Registration is required – https://bryanhealth.org/savethekids
National Suicide Prevention Month
September is Suicide Prevention Month. We are taking this opportunity to remind everyone to #BeThe1To keep each other safe.
Our Signs of Suicide curriculum teaches students to use the ACT process when they or someone they know is struggling. ACT stands for Acknowledge (listen to your friend, don’t ignore threats), Care (let your friend know your care), and Tell (tell a trusted adult that you are worried about your friend). School counselors, social workers, and psychologists are available at school and there are resources that can be accessed anytime of the day or night. We never want anyone to believe that suicide is the only option.
Here is a link with more information regarding suicide warning signs and resources: http://bit.ly/LPSAware
Please also review the resources below with your child so they are knowledgeable about these services:
- CenterPointe Crisis Line (Lincoln): 402-475-6695
- Nebraska Family Helpline: 1-888-866-8660
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- National Crisis Text Line: text START to 741741 (text charges from your phone carrier may apply)
If someone you know is struggling, we encourage you to reach out. If you are wondering how to start a conversation about mental health or suicide, HopeLNK (https://www.hopelnk.org/) provides resources to guide you. There is help, there is hope.
Updated October 8, 2020
