December 26th Monthly Update

Translations: Arabic | Karen | Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese

LPS families,

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

Robinson Elementary School students smile as they take part in dancing lessons during their Backstage at the Ballet experience. It was the first time Backstage at the Ballet visited the school. Students took part in many activities during the week and watched a performance from the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company.
Robinson Elementary School students smile as they take part in dancing lessons during their Backstage at the Ballet experience. It was the first time Backstage at the Ballet visited the school. Students took part in many activities during the week and watched a performance from the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company.

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

In This Message...

Information for All Families

Community News - December 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 January 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/.

Annual LPS teacher recognition award nomination opens January 1

Is there an outstanding Lincoln educator who has made a difference in your life or the life of your child? We want to hear all about it!

Lincoln Public Schools, KFOR/KFRX Radio Stations, Lincoln Education Association and the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools are teaming up to honor five outstanding educators in celebration of Nebraska Teacher Recognition Day on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

Anyone who lives in Lincoln/Lancaster County can write an essay nominating a Lincoln teacher or certificated educator in any of five categories: preschool–grade 2, grades 3–5, middle school, high school and retired. In addition to a written description explaining why the teacher made a difference in your life, entries should include the teacher’s name, grade level and school (or contact information), as well as the nominator’s name, school and grade level (if applicable), email and phone number.

The nomination period is open Jan. 1-31, 2026, and the form can be found on the LPS website, or by submitting a letter to:

Thank You Teacher
Lincoln Public Schools Communications
5905 O Street
Lincoln, NE 68510

Winners will be announced in March, and will receive a prize package that includes a special invite-only ceremony at the Nebraska Governor’s Mansion on Tuesday, March 3.

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

Food Resources Map

The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department has released a Food Resources Map to help the community locate distribution sites and pantries. Go to lincoln.ne.gov/health and click on View The Map link.

Need transportation? Free bus vouchers may be available at Grace Chapel at 1345 S 16th Street, Ste 2 or by calling (402) 484-8555. You can also find reduced-priced bus passes and the best route to food resource locations at lincoln.ne.gov/startran or by using the RideLNK app.

Preschool Applications for 2026-27

We will begin taking preschool applications for 2026-27 on January 2, 2026. Children who will be three as of July 31, 2026 and not yet five, and reside within the Lincoln Public Schools boundaries are eligible to be considered for preschool.  Information about the preschool application process is available on our website at https://home.lps.org/earlychildhood/preschool-application/

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. 

Apply now for LPS Focus Programs!

There is still time for students in grades 8-11 to apply for an LPS Focus Program for the 2026-2027 school year, but the priority application deadline is fast approaching. Submit your application by Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.

Apply now for the 2026-27 school year.

Want to learn how you can 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.

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

Bay High (eight opportunities)

Monday, Jan. 5 
  • Virtual Info Night 
    • Open to all LPS students and families in grades 10-11
    • 4 – 5 p.m. 
    • Contact Bay High Focus Program Administrator Brenna Alonso at balonso@lps.org for the Zoom link.
Tuesday, Jan. 13
  • Standing Bear High School Lunch Visit 
    • Open to Standing Bear students in grades 10-11
Tuesday, Jan. 15
  • Northwest High School Lunch Visit
    • Open to Northwest students in grades 10-11
Tuesday, Jan. 20
  • East High School Lunch Visit
    • Open to East students in grades 10-11
Thursday, Jan. 22
  • North Star High School Lunch Visit
    • Open to North Star students in grades 10-11
Thursday, Jan. 22
  • North Star High School Lunch Visit
    • Open to North Star students in grades 10-11
  • Southwest High School Lunch Visit
    • Open to Southwest students in grades 10-11
Tuesday, Jan. 27
  • Northeast High School Lunch Visit
    • Open to Northeast students in grades 10-11
Thursday, Jan. 29
  • Lincoln High School Lunch Visit
    • Open to Lincoln High students in grades 10-11

Want to learn more?

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.