October 31st Monthly Update

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LPS families,

We will be sharing important district information and reminders via email with all of our families on the last Friday of each month throughout the school year.

Here is an index to help you navigate this month’s reminders:

In This Message...

An elementary aged girl in a pink shirt and bike helmet rides on a bike in a gymnasium
Maxey Elementary School students beam as they ride new Strider bicycles in the school gym this fall. Many young Mustangs are experiencing the thrill of gliding across the gym floor as part of a new balance-to-pedal bicycling program. They are learning how to ride the bikes in their physical education classes.

Information for All Families

Is your child missing school due to anxiety?

If your child is suffering from anxiety, you are not alone. The good news is that in most situations, anxiety is normal and temporary. Anxiety becomes a concern if it persists — it can affect relationships with family, peers and teachers, contribute to academic challenges, and lead to school avoidance/refusal. Addressing anxiety is important for a child’s overall well-being, not just attendance.

In addition, if your child starts to complain of symptoms like a headache or stomachache, it is important to quickly determine whether this is related to anxiety or a physical illness that might require missing school. If the challenge is anxiety, staying home may worsen the situation.

What can families do?

Here are some tips that you can use to help your child tackle potential challenges and return to school quickly:

  • Do not punish your child for refusing to go to school. This can make things worse.
  • If possible, avoid letting your child stay home. Staying home may provide short-term relief for your child, but can cause your child to feel disconnected from teachers and classmates and fall further behind, creating more stress and anxiety.
  • Speak with your child to learn what is bothering them and why they are avoiding school.
  • Make it clear you are there to support your child and that together you can tackle whatever issues are keeping them from school.
  • Take advantage of school resources. Talk with the school nurse, counselor, social worker, psychologist or teacher to discuss challenges and identify what will help your child return to school.

If symptoms persist or are very severe, your child’s anxiety may be due to an underlying behavioral health disorder (i.e., anxiety disorder, panic disorder), an undiagnosed learning disability or the result of a physical or chronic health condition and should be evaluated by your child’s medical provider.

Every Day Counts when it comes to your child being successful in school!

We value your partnership and know you also want your child to succeed. Let’s work together to ensure your student regularly attends school!

Check out this brochure for more information about how to address anxiety in children.

Food resources for families

Below are school and community resources available to provide food assistance for those who need it. 

Community Eligibility Provision Schools

There are 24 LPS schools who qualify to participate in the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision program. This program provides FREE meals during school breakfast and lunch to every student. Those schools include: Arnold, Belmont, Brownell, Campbell, Clinton, Culler, Dawes, Elliott, Everett, Goodrich, Hartley, Huntington, Lakeview, Lefler, McPhee, Meadow Lane, Norwood Park, Park, Pershing, Prescott, Randolph, Riley, Saratoga and West Lincoln. 

Free and Reduced School Meal Program

Families can apply for Free and Reduced school meals at any time, especially if there has been a recent life change or change in income. If approved, the student then qualifies for free and reduced meals through the school year. Families will need to complete a new application starting next school year. Once your student is approved for free and reduced meals, you can also qualify your family for scholarships and fee waivers for student activities at school.

You can pick up a paper application from your student’s school if unable to access the form online. Learn more about the Free and Reduced Meal program on our website.

*Please note: If your child attends a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school then an application is not needed. CEP schools are: Culler, Dawes, Goodrich, Park, Lefler, Arnold, Belmont, Brownell, Campbell, Clinton, Elliott, Everett, Hartley, Huntington, Lakeview, McPhee, Meadow Lane, Norwood Park, Pershing, Prescott, Randolph, Riley, Saratoga, and West Lincoln.

LPS Emergency Pantry*

In response to the high need of students and their families experiencing hunger, the Food Bank, in cooperation with Leadership Lincoln and Lincoln Public Schools, opened the LPS Emergency Pantry.

Any LPS, private or homeschool student and their family can come to the pantry to receive food assistance. The amount of food families can have is based on family size.

The pantry is located at Bryan Community (300 S. 48th St.) and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3-5:30 p.m. when school is in session.

*You must have a school-aged student to visit the Emergency Pantry.

Community Food Resources

Information from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services about SNAP

On October 29, Nebraska paused SNAP benefits due to the federal government shutdown. This means that SNAP benefits will not be issued during the month of November until the shutdown ends.

What do you need to do?

If you are currently on SNAP, you may continue to use any remaining benefits on your EBT card for nine months from the date of last use.

You must also continue to recertify your SNAP and report any changes to your personal information.

If you are not on SNAP, you can still sign up and your application will still be processed.

Interested in helping an LPS student and family in need?

If you are interested in helping LPS students and families in need, you can give to The Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools student emergency fund, or contact them at 402-436-1612.

Community News - November 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 November edition of Community News online.

Are you a non-profit organization that wants to share your upcoming opportunities with LPS families? 

Check out these advertising opportunities in our Community News! Your organization can reach 15,000 elementary-aged households in print through take home folders, and 25,000 Prek-12 households digitally district wide. Learn more on our website: https://home.lps.org/communications/community-news/.

Information for Middle and High School Families

Sign up for FREE internet access through student Chromebooks

LPS is partnering with ALLO to provide LPS middle and high school students FREE internet access through their student Chromebooks. To participate in the Smart Town program, students will need to sign up through the student portal. 

Learn more about LPS Focus Programs in November

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs are still seeking applicants in grades 8-11 for the 2026-27 school year. 

Here are some next steps you can take to customize your high school experience:

  • Attend an upcoming information session hosted by a specific focus program (see below).
  • Complete our interest form to connect with the program’s administrator to get more details.
  • Apply now for the next school year.

Below are additional opportunities to get more information from individual programs in November.  

Want to learn more?

Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC)

Wednesday, Nov. 12

  • In-Person Info Night at parent-teacher conferences
  • Open to Northeast students and families in grades 9-10
  • 3:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Northeast High School, 2635 N. 63rd St.

Arts and Humanities (two opportunities)

Tuesday, Nov. 11

  • In-Person Info Night
  • Open to all LPS students and families in eighth grade
  • 6-7 p.m.
  • Arts and Humanities Campus, 643 S. 25th St., #15

Tuesday, Nov. 18

  • Virtual Info Night 
  • Open to all LPS students and families in eighth grade
  • 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Contact Arts and Humanities Focus Program Administrator Darla Berks at dberks@lps.org for the Zoom link.

Aviation and Technical Education

Wednesday, Nov. 12

  • In-person Info Night 
  • Open to all LPS students and families in grades 8-11
    6-7 p.m.
  • North Star High School, 5801 N. 33rd St. (Aviation Wing, enter through door 3)

Bay High

Thursday, Nov. 20

  • Virtual Info Night 
  • Open to all LPS students and families in grades 10-11
    5 – 6 p.m.
  • Contact Bay High Focus Program Administrator Brenna Alonso at balonso@lps.org for the Zoom link.

Bryan College of Health Sciences 

Monday, Nov. 10

  • In-Person Info Night at parent-teacher conferences 
  • Open to current Northwest students and families in grades 9-11
  • 4:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Northwest High School, 4901 W. Holdrege St.

International Baccalaureate (IB) 

Saturday, Nov. 8 

  • IB Academy Day (registration required)
  • Open to all LPS students and families in grades 7-8.
  • 8 a.m.-noon
  • Lincoln High School, 2229 J St.
  • Registration deadline is Nov. 1.
    For more information, contact J.P. Caruso at jpcaruso@lps.org

Nebraska Business

Tuesday, Nov. 11

  • In-person Info Night 
  • Open to Standing Bear students and families in grades 9-11
  • 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Standing Bear High School, 11100 S. 70th St. (Learning Stairs)

Science Focus 

Thursday, Nov. 13

  • Virtual Info Night 
  • Open to all LPS students and families in grades 8-11
  • 5-6 p.m.
  • Contact Science Focus Program Administrator Lindsey Roy at lroy@lps.org for the Zoom link.

2026-27 FAFSA is now open – Apply Now

Seniors, you can now submit your 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

Don’t miss this opportunity to fund your college education! 

Avoid these common FAFSA mistakes while applying: 

  • Starting your FAFSA form before creating your studentaid.gov account 
  • Not completing the FAFSA by your state or your future college’s deadline (whichever is earlier)
  • Missing the consent and approval to have federal tax information transferred to the FAFSA form
  • Not inviting a required contributor and double-checking that they fill out their sections of the FAFSA form
  • Forgetting to sign your FAFSA 

Remember, state law now asks graduating seniors to complete a FAFSA or opt out of filing one each school year.  

Fund Your Future – File Your FAFSA. 

Need help?

Encourage your student to visit their school’s counseling office or visit our website at bit.ly/LPSFAFSA for more resources.

Jobs and Extended Learning Opportunities (JELO)

Is your child looking for a job or other extended learning opportunity? Students can use their Chromebook or LPS Student Portal account 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 activities, camps, jobs and internships. We update the board every Wednesday afternoon.

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 electronic bulletin board. Once an opportunity is posted, students in all middle and high schools are easily able to access the information. Please note: anyone outside of the LPS network or without LPS Portal access will not be able to access the eBulletin board.