July 26th Monthly Update
Translations: Arabic | Karen | Russian | Spanish | Vietnamese
LPS families,
The beginning of the school year is almost here and we are excited to see all of our students and families again!
Just a reminder, the first day of school for students in grades kindergarten – 6th and 9th will be Monday, August 12. On Tuesday, August 13, students in grades 7-8 and 10-12 will begin. Prekindergarten students will start classes on Thursday, August 15. New this year, there are no more early release days at LPS. You can find the updated calendar on our website: lps.org/calendars.
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.
In This Message...
Information for All Families
2024-2025 Important Information Booklet
Each year Lincoln Public Schools provides all of our families the “Important Information Booklet”. This is a collection of essential and helpful guidelines, rules, procedures and tips for you and your students for the coming school year.
This booklet can be found on our website: http://lps.org/go/important. You can also access the page by using the search field at the top right of the LPS homepage (www.lps.org) and entering ‘Important’ as the search term.
Families will also find links to each school’s student handbooks as they are updated and common practices for elementary, middle and high schools.
Please contact your child’s school if you wish to obtain a printed copy of the Important Information Booklet.
REMINDER: Complete the online enrollment verification
If you haven’t already, please verify your child’s information online through the parent portal, ParentVUE. This includes updating contact and emergency information, signing consent release forms, etc. We would appreciate you completing/updating the information before the first day of school. Note: this process is to be completed each year.
Please visit https://synergyvue.lps.org/ to access and log in to your ParentVUE account. Once you have logged in, select the Online Registration button in the upper right corner, and follow the prompts to update and verify your information. It is important that you complete this task as soon as possible.
If you have previously used your ParentVUE account, but can’t remember your password, you can reset it online at https://synergyvue.lps.org/. If you have not yet activated your LPS ParentVUE account, please contact the main office of your child’s school for instructions and an activation key.
If you have questions or need help with completing these steps, please contact your child’s school.
Sign up to receive text messages from your child’s school
In addition to receiving phone and email messages, you can sign up to receive notifications from your child’s school via text messaging when available.
What you need to do:
While verifying your child’s information through Online Registration in ParentVue, make sure your cell phone number is correctly listed and the Text Communication option is marked YES.
REMINDER: Free and Reduced Lunch applications for 2024-2025 due
Did you know LPS families can potentially save money by filling out the Free and Reduced Meal Application. This application must be completed each year in order for families to qualify for free or reduced school meals. We are encouraging families* to fill out the Free and Reduced meal application online as soon as possible.
*Please note: If your family received notification in July that your student has been Directly Certified for the 2024-2025 school year or you attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school then an application is not needed. CEP schools are: Culler, Dawes, Goodrich, Park, Arnold, Belmont, Brownell, Campbell, Clinton, Elliott, Everett, Hartley, Huntington, Lakeview, McPhee, Norwood Park, Pershing, Prescott, Randolph, Riley, Saratoga, and West Lincoln.
This application must be completed each year in order for families to qualify for free or reduced school meals. Families who do not complete the application will be charged normal meal prices for any school meals their child eats.
You can go to our website to fill out this quick and easy online application. If you do not have access to the online application, you can go to your child’s school office and pick up a paper application.
Additional information about Free and Reduced meals is on our website: https://home.lps.org/ns/free-reduced. If you have any questions, please call (402)436-1747 or email us at freeandreduced@lps.org.
REMINDER: School physicals
Time is running out to schedule your students’ school physical! All students benefit from an annual wellness exam.
Families of kindergarten and seventh grade students for the 2024-2025 school year need to provide evidence of a physical examination completed by a physician, physician assistant, or an advance practice registered nurse to the school your child attends – or will attend. There are required immunizations needed for school that are given to kindergarteners and seventh grade students during their school physical.
All students must be current with all school required immunizations and provide proof to the school. There are many resources available and the school nurse can assist you if you have questions.
Help your child succeed - Every Day Counts!
Did you know… the first two weeks of school are an important time when students establish routines and learning habits?
If students miss at least two days of school per month or more, it impacts not only their ability to gain important reading, math and relational skills, but it can be an early indicator of not graduating on time. 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!
- Routines: Establishing a routine of on-time daily attendance helps reduce stress at home, and supports a habit of attendance that will help your child succeed.
- Engagement: Being in school helps students to get to know school staff and each other. Building relationships can motivate participation in learning.
- Access to resources: Schools provide access to valuable resources such as meals, health supports and fun enrichment activities such as sports, clubs, music, and other afterschool programs.
- Learning: Students who attend school regularly as early as elementary school do better academically and are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
How you can help:
- Start now setting a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and backpacks the night before.
- Take steps to keep your child healthy and make sure they have the required immunizations.
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Identify a family member, a neighbor, or another parent you can call for help in getting your child to school.
- Try to schedule non-urgent related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn’t in session. You can find the 2024-2025 LPS Student Calendar here.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Work with the school to find opportunities for your child to get involved in a school activity or club to help build excitement in attending school. Approximately 98% of LPS students who participated in athletics and activities graduated high school on time.
- Reach out to school staff if you need help eliminating barriers for your child to attend school regularly.
Together, we can help our students understand that Every Day Counts!
Athletic event attendance expectations for all students
We continue to encourage all students and families to support our high school student-participants during competitions. As we work to keep our student-participants, coaches and spectators safe at our contests, the following rules are in place for all students attending extra-curricular events at our high schools.
Elementary and middle school expectations
- LPS elementary and middle school students are required to attend LPS high school athletic/activity events with adult family members and/or a paying responsible adult and must remain under their supervision during the event.
- LPS elementary and middle school students are expected to follow the directions of event staff and the public address announcer. Any students unable to follow directions will be asked to leave.
- Students will not be allowed to re-enter the event without pay. Passes only allow one entry per event.
- School rules apply at all LPS athletic/activity events. Violations to the Rights and Responsibilities of Students may result in disciplinary action for students.
- LPS elementary and middle school students must remain seated in designated areas during events.
- LPS elementary and middle school students are not allowed to loiter or run around in concourses, concessions and/or restroom areas.
- No outside food is allowed to be brought into LPS high school athletic/activity venues; however, a wide range of delicious concessions are available at most events. Food and drink must be consumed in the seating area of the venues.
- LPS elementary and middle school students are expected to leave with family members and/or a paying responsible adult immediately following the conclusion of an event, or if students are asked to leave early.
High School Students
- Students are expected to identify themselves when asked to do so by any school official. At any time outside the school day, students shall be required to show Lincoln Public Schools student identification upon request of a staff member or as required by building rules while on school grounds or at school activities.
- Students may sit in their school’s assigned student section. If students are attending an event hosted at or by another school, students need to sit in general seating and will not be allowed to sit in the assigned student section.
- LPS high school students are expected to leave on their own or with family members and/or a paying responsible adult immediately following the conclusion of an event, or if students are asked to leave early. At the conclusion of the event, students may wait for their ride outside the contest venue.
- Students will not be allowed to re-enter the event without pay. Passes only allow one entry per event.
***NEW*** Introducing Digital Solutions for School photos
Lincoln Public Schools will now be using Digital Solutions to take and distribute the official school portrait of your student.
As part of the new and improved process, we are transitioning from pre-orders before photo day to emailing a proof of the portraits home after photo day. Families will order the portraits online. You will receive an email with an ordering link five business days after picture day. All packages will be delivered to your home via the United States Postal Service. This change aims to provide a more convenient and flexible experience for families, allowing you to review and select your favorite photos at your leisure.
Please note: This means LPS will no longer be using Lifetouch to provide these services.
Information for Pre-K and Elementary School Families
Time is running out: Kindergarten registration for 2024-25
Do you have a child – or do you know of a child – that will start kindergarten next year? To help us ensure we have enough staff in place, Lincoln Public Schools needs all kindergarten registrations completed immediately for the 2024-2025 school year.
For more information about kindergarten registration, please go to: https://home.lps.org/studentservices/kindergarten-registration-assessment/.
LPS preschool applications for 2024-25
We are now accepting applications for the 2024-25 LPS Preschool year. Application materials are available on our website at https://home.lps.org/earlychildhood/preschool-application/ and also available in our Early Childhood Department Office, located at 300 S. 48th Street (enter door #2) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Information for Middle and High School Families
Check out Bay High - a Lincoln Public Schools Focus Program
Bay High is a Lincoln Public Schools Focus Program for juniors and seniors that is rooted in hands-on, project-based initiatives that go beyond the classroom in collaboration with our partners at The Bay.
We’re looking for young creatives, storytellers and entrepreneurs. We want to develop their skills in photo/video, graphic design, coding/development, digital storytelling and journalism/English.
We want your student to have access to the tools, networks and project opportunities that put them on a path to what’s next.
We invite you to see Bay High for yourselves!
Join us at our open house Wednesday, August 7, 5 – 7 p.m. at The Bay. We’re located at 2005 Y St. Come learn more about the program, meet our team and explore our space!
