April 23, 2021 Weekly Update

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LPS Families,

It’s hard to believe we only have four weeks of school left. Please read this week’s update for important information and updates.

Here is an index to assist you:

  • Student calendar April 26 – May 7
  • Summer School
  • Deadline to switch between remote learning and in-person
  • 2021-22 Remote Learning Program Update
  • Spring Sports Protocols Update
  • Graduation Ceremony
  • Middle School Virtual Tours for 5th grade students
  • Annual perception survey
  • Project Extra Mile Walk – VIRTUAL
  • 2021-22 Kindergarten Registration now open
  • 2021-22 Preschool Application now open
  • City of Lincoln rent and utility assistance
  • Support for families
  • High school vaccine clinics for 16+ and their parents/guardians
  • Summer Camps and Learning Opportunities
  • LPS Board Update: Remote Learning Program Update
  • Board of Education meeting

Student calendar April 26 – May 7

In October, the Board of Education adopted changes to the school calendar. You can find the full revised student calendar here. Below is the student calendar for the next two weeks:

Monday, April 26

Tuesday, April 27

  • Classes in session for K-12 students
  • Preschool: no classes
  • K-8 (elementary and middle school): early dismissal

Wednesday, April 28 

  • Classes in session for all students
  • High school: Early dismissal

Thursday, April 29

  • Classes in session for all students

Friday, April 30

  • Classes in session for all students

Monday, May 3

Tuesday, May 4

  • Classes in session for all students

Wednesday, May 5 

  • Classes in session for all students
  • High school: Early dismissal

Thursday, May 6

  • Classes in session for all students

Friday, May 7

  • Classes in session for all students.

Summer School for High School Students

High school summer school classes in the Lincoln Public Schools have been planned to cover a wide range of course offerings for students grades 9-12. The summer school program provides an opportunity for all high school students to continue their learning during the summer and earn additional credit.

High school summer school is open to students who were in grades 9-12 during the 2020-2021 school year. Students who have received a high school diploma or General Equivalency Certificate are NOT eligible to participate in summer school. Students who are expelled from school are not eligible to register for summer school. All students are encouraged to talk with their school counselor regarding appropriate course selections.

For more information about summer school, go to: https://summerschool.lps.org/

Deadline to switch between remote learning and in-person for this school year

May 7 will be the last day families can request for students to switch between remote learning or in-person learning for this school year. The only exception will be for students who have been directed to self-quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19.

2021-22 Remote Learning Program Update

If you enrolled your child for the 2021-22 Remote Learning Program, please check your email for an opportunity to confirm your commitment. If you wish to return to in-person learning next fall, please contact your home school’s registrar by April 30.

On May 3, we will open enrollment again for the 2021-22 Remote Learning Program to allow families to select the remote learning option for the next fall. Please watch our weekly updates for more information.

Updates to LPS Spring Sports Spectator Protocols

With the update to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department’s Directed Health Measures, Lincoln Public Schools is making the following adjustments to the spring sports spectator protocols effective Friday, April 23.

  • All competition sites are open to 75 percent capacity for general admission.  The limit of a certain number of spectators per athlete has been removed.  As per the DHM, once 75 percent capacity of the venue is reached, no additional spectators will be allowed admission into the event. Admission will be open to anyone on a first come, first serve basis.
  • All spectators must self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms prior to attending any event. If you answer yes to any of the screening questions, please stay home.
  • All spectators must wear multi-layered face coverings over the mouth and nose the entire time they are at the event.
  • Limited concessions may be sold. Individuals may lower their mask to take a bite or drink, but must promptly return the face covering over the mouth and nose in between bites and drinks. No outside food or drink by spectators will be allowed.
  • Spectators are asked to maintain as much physical distance as possible between groups.

Graduation Ceremony

In light of the recent changes to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department’s Directed Health Measure, Lincoln Public Schools is coordinating with Pinnacle Bank Arena to submit an updated event plan for all six high school graduations. We will communicate any attendance changes once the event plans are approved.

Middle School Virtual Tours for 5th grade students

Each middle school has created transition information videos welcoming fifth grade students to their new building. This will give students the best introduction possible to their new surroundings for the next three years. You can access these videos by going to the website of your new school. We encourage you to sit down with your student to watch and review it together.

The first day of school for students next fall is Monday, August 16, 2021. This will be just for sixth grade students at the middle school so they can get acclimated to the new building without the 7th and 8th graders in attendance.

Annual perception survey

The LPS Perception Survey will be open for responses through April 30. Staff and families received a link on April 19, 2021 from lps-esu18@qualtrics-survey.com with a personal link. Students, grades 4-12, will have opportunities to respond to the survey during the school day. If you have not received the email, please contact Trista Kramer (tkramer2@lps.org) or Dawn Mazzie (dmazzie@lps.org).

Project Extra Mile Walk – VIRTUAL

The Extra Mile Walk is a collaboration between LPS and the Food Bank of Lincoln to raise money for LPS’s BackPack program and Food Markets. This year, the walk will be completely virtual during April 26-30.

You can donate online and learn more about the virtual event on the Extra Mile Walk website.

2021-22 Kindergarten Registration now open

Parents of children turning five years of age before July 31, 2021 can go to lps.org and click on the red “Enroll Your Student” button. Here you will also find all the information necessary for registering, the required documents needed and answers to frequently asked questions.

Parents who do not have access to the online registration, or wish to register their child in person, should contact their attendance area elementary school as soon as possible. Questions about kindergarten registration should also be directed to the child’s attendance area school.

2021-22 Preschool Application now open

Our preschool program is located in many of the elementary schools across the district.  Children who are at least 3 years of age on or before July 31, 2021 and who have not yet turned five as of July 31, 2021, are eligible to apply.

At this time we are accepting 2021-2022 preschool applications and necessary documentation online, by email, fax or mail. You may also complete and submit an application and required documents by visiting our office, located at 300 S. 48th Street (enter door #2). Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information and to download the application, please visit our website: https://home.lps.org/earlychildhood/preschool-application/

City of Lincoln rent and utility assistance

If the pandemic has prevented you from paying for housing and utilities, financial assistance from the City of Lincoln may be available to you. Money to pay for gas, electricity and water bills, and rent payments is available now to those who qualify. These funds do not have to be repaid. To qualify, you must meet income guidelines, and need must be a result of COVID-19.

For more information, go to lincoln.ne.gov/rent.

Support for families

We know this year has been unlike any other. It is important to know that there are people who can help if you or a family member is struggling. Here are some resources you can contact any time of the day or night, any day of the year:

  • CenterPointe Helpline (Lincoln): 402-475-6695; Youth and Family Services 402-475-5161 ext. 547; email: youthandfamily@centerpointe.org; walk-in services at 1000 S. 13th Street.
  • Bryan Health: bryanhealth.com – search Counseling
  • Nebraska Family Helpline: 1-888-866-8660
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 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: Emergency: 911; Non-Emergency: 402-441-6000
  • MyLink is a website (https://mylnk.app) and a mobile app (for Apple and Android – search MyLink) that has information about community resources. 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.
  • Mental Health 101 recordings from Blue Valley Behavioral Health – accessible by clicking this link.

There is a great deal of information online. As you search for topics of interest, remember to consider the source and make sure you are getting information that is accurate and reliable.

High school vaccine clinics for 16+ and their parents/guardians

Just a reminder the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD) will host vaccination clinics at high schools to provide the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to students ages 16 through 18 and their families and guardians. The deadline to register was Friday, April 23. Please check your email for more information, or contact the health department at 402-441-4200 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or health@lincoln.ne.gov.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccine, visit  COVID19.lincoln.ne.gov, call the Health Department hotline at 402-441-8006 or visit CDC.gov/coronavirus.

Summer Camps and Learning Opportunities

Athletics
Summer Athletic Clinics are offered through all 6 LPS High Schools and are conducted by the individual sport coaches at their respective locations. Clinics are offered in various sports and are available for students entering grades 3-12 for the 2021-2022 school year. Click here for more information.

Summer Technology Program
The Lincoln Public Schools Summer Technology Program is provided for students entering grades 4 through 9 in the fall of 2021. The goal of the program is to provide upper elementary and middle level students a fun, exciting, and challenging opportunity to explore their interest in computers and technology. Click here for more information.

LPS Board Update: Remote Learning Program Update

Lincoln Board of Education member Don Mayhew sits down with guests to discuss hot topics in Lincoln Public Schools. This week, we get an update on the 2021-22 Remote Learning program from Associate Superintendent for Instruction Matt Larson and principal Casey Fries. Watch the episode here.

Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting – April 27, 2021

The Lincoln Board of Education will meet for its regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27, at Lincoln Public Schools District Office, 5905 O St. The meeting will take place in the boardroom. Members of the public and media may access the meetings via live video streaming or by physically attending the meetings, which are subject to all national, state and local limitations on public gatherings associated with COVID-19. The agenda can be found here: lps.org/board.

Overflow accommodations may need to be implemented to ensure the health and safety of all in attendance.

Multilayer face coverings that cover the mouth and nose are required for all staff, students and visitors to enter buildings at Lincoln Public Schools. If you would like to make a request to have an exemption to the face covering requirement to attend a Lincoln Board of Education meeting because of a medical or mental health condition, please contact the District 504 coordinator, Mr. Russ Uhing, Director of Student Services and 504 Coordinator, 5905 O Street, Lincoln, NE 68510, (402) 436-1650, or duhing@lps.org.

You will be required to share documentation of your medical or mental health condition that describes the conditions requiring the exemption at least two business days prior to the event, so we can engage in an interactive process to determine what if any accommodations may be provided.

You can watch the board meeting via livestream in several ways:

Updated May 4, 2021