May 7, 2021 Weekly Update

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LPS Families,

Please read this week’s update for important information and updates.

Do we have your most updated contact information? Please make sure to contact your child’s school with any updates to email addresses and phone numbers to ensure you continue to receive important updates throughout the summer.

Here is an index to assist you:

  • Student calendar May 10 – 21
  • Summer School for high school students
  • Jobs and Extended Learning Opportunities (JELO)
  • Deadline TODAY – Enroll in the 2021-22 Remote Learning Program
  • Changes to match new Nebraska DHM on student self-quarantines
  • 2021-22 Kindergarten Registration now open
  • 2021-22 Preschool Application now open
  • City of Lincoln rent and utility assistance
  • Support for families
  • Summer camps and learning opportunities
  • Independence Academy
  • Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting – May 11, 2021
  • Ep. #10 LPS Board Update: “We Will Not Be Silent” – May 7, 2021

Student calendar May 10 -21

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, May 10

Tuesday, May 11

  • Classes in session for all students

Wednesday, May 12 

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

Thursday, May 13

  • Classes in session for all students

Friday, May 14

  • Classes in session for all students.

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL

Monday, May 17

  • Classes in session for all students.
  • Remote Learner Meal Distribution (Click here for more information)

Tuesday, May 18

  • Classes in session for all students

Wednesday, May 19 

  • Classes in session for all students

Thursday, May 20

  • Classes in session for all students – LAST DAY

Friday, May 21

  • NO SCHOOL

Change to face coverings requirement at recess

Starting Monday, May 10, students will no longer be required to wear face coverings during recess outside as long as physical distancing can be maintained. Students must continue to wear face coverings while inside the school building or during times when physical distancing cannot be maintained outside.

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/

 

Jobs and Extended Learning Opportunities (JELO)

Is your child looking for a job or other extended learning opportunity? Students can use their Chromebook 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 camps, jobs and internships.

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 JELO site. Once an opportunity is posted, students in all middle and high schools are easily able to access the information through their Chromebooks.

DEADLINE TODAY: Enrolling in the 2021-22 Remote Learning Program

May 7 is the last day families can enroll in the 2021-22 Remote Learning Program. Go to rlp.lps.org for more information.

Changes to match new Nebraska DHM on student self-quarantines

On May 5, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services announced changes to the Directed Health Measure on requirements for school students who are identified as close contacts to a positive case of COVID-19 in regards to self-quarantine.

Effective immediately, if a student is identified as a close contact with a positive case of COVID-19, they must do the following:

  • Appropriately wear face coverings in public for 14 days following exposure, and
  • Practice social distancing, and
  • Self-monitor twice daily for fever and other symptoms listed below for 14 days and have no symptom development.
  • Please note: if a student is unable to wear a face covering fully over their mouth and nose, they will be required to self-quarantine.

If the student develops the following symptoms within the 14 day period, then they will be required to move into self-isolation:

  • Fever of over 100.4
  • Onset of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • New onset of dry cough
  • New onset of loss of taste or smell
  • Chills longer than two hours
  • Congestion and/or runny nose
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Sore throat
  • Headache
  • Muscle Pain

If anyone who is self-monitoring develops or has any COVID-19 symptoms, or answers yes to any of the questions above, they will need to stay home and contact their healthcare provider letting them know about a possible exposure to COVID-19 at school.

Lincoln Public Schools will continue to contact families of students identified as close contacts and provide them with instructions on self-monitoring.

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.

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.

Independence Academy

Graduation for students who are graduating from Independence Academy will be held on Wednesday, May 19, at The Career Academy at 6:30 p.m. Each student will receive 2 tickets for guests. The program will also be live streamed on the LPS website (lps.org) and on YouTube at bit.ly/LPSLive.

For incoming Independence Academy students a family orientation night will be held on May 11, at 5 p.m. via zoom. RSVP to Caitlin Marrow at cmarrow@lps.org to receive the link.  All previous orientation dates have been changed to this one orientation night.  If you cannot attend, the meeting will be recorded and put in the parent weekly message on May 13.

Lincoln Board of Education Regular Meeting – May 11, 2021

The Lincoln Board of Education will meet for its regular board meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 11, 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.

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

Ep. #10 LPS Board Update: “We Will Not Be Silent” – May 7, 2021

Lincoln Board of Education member Don Mayhew sits down with guests to discuss hot topics in Lincoln Public Schools. Each episode can be found on the LPS website (lps.org), the LPS Facebook page, and the LPS YouTube Channel.

We had an opportunity to visit last week with Belmont principal Kim Rosenthal and national speaker and coach Keith Brown, both featured in the LPS documentary “We Will Not Be Silent” about the work they’ve done this school year.

You can watch the full episode here.

Updated May 10, 2021