November 29th Monthly Update

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LPS families,

We continue to share 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:

Students having fun riding bicycles down a gentle grass-covered hill between two pine trees
LPS | A new spin on transportation: Riley CLC helps parents launch bike bus

In This Message...

Information for All Families

Every Day Counts: Battling test anxiety

As we approach the end of the first semester, tests and final exams can create extra stress and/or anxiety for some students. This may cause them to avoid school. Families, you can help your student see that every test is a chance to succeed with some of these simple steps:

  • Ensure your child gets a good night’s sleep. Set regular bedtime routines and stick to them.
  • Breakfast fuels your child’s brain and jumpstarts their day of learning. Check out your school’s breakfast program as one option.
  • Assist your child in preparing their outfit and school items the night before so they can get to school on time and do not feel rushed or frustrated.
  • Check with your child or your child’s teacher about dates of upcoming tests or final exams so you can help your child review information before the test.
  • Talking openly and honestly about the upcoming exams and your child’s feelings to provide them ways to handle test anxiety in a healthy way.

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!

Winter 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.

Suicide prevention

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people age 10-24. Awareness is important so we can all work towards prevention. This can be a hard topic but these uncomfortable conversations are valuable. Talking about suicide does not increase the chances it will occur, in fact putting light on it helps a struggling individual feel supported.

It is important to know that there are steps you can take to help reduce the risk of suicide. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center provides the following recommendations for families.

Many suicide attempts take place during a short-term crisis, so it is important to consider a person’s access to lethal means during these periods of increased risk. Reducing access to lethal means – in particular, medications or weapons – saves lives.

Families can take many actions to reduce access to lethal means of self-harm. Some of these are general household health and safety precautions that should be used regardless of suicide risk. Examples include limiting access to medications (prescription and over the counter) and storing weapons safely when not in use (American Academy of Pediatrics – healthychildren.org).

Other actions may be more appropriate when a person is at risk for suicide. If someone in the home is feeling suicidal, has recently attempted suicide, or is experiencing a crisis, it is safest to remove lethal means from the household entirely until the situation improves. 

For example:

  • Ask a family member to store medications safely and dispense safe quantities as necessary. 
  • Lock up weapons and put the key in a safe deposit box or give the key to a friend until the crisis has passed, or store weapons in another secure location outside of the home. Always store ammunition locked in a different location than the weapon.

If you are concerned about yourself or a family member, these resources are available to help any time of the day or night, any day of the year. 

Information for Middle and High School Families

Choose your journey- explore LPS Focus Programs

One of the great things about LPS is that our high school students are able to customize their learning experience. Our LPS Focus Programs value exploration, education, engagement and empowerment. 

Check out these other upcoming events to learn more about our focus programs:

Nebraska Business at Standing Bear High School (11100 S. 70th St.)

  • Tuesday, Dec. 3, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (in-person)

The Career Academy (8800 O Street)

  • Tuesday, Dec. 10, 5:30 p.m. (Virtual – email Josh Jones at jjones7@lps.org for a Zoom link)
  • Thursday, Dec. 12, 5:30 p.m. (in-person)

Aviation and Technical Education at North Star High School (5801 N. 33rd Street)

  • Wednesday, Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m. (in-person)

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.

Seniors FAFSA Prep Tip: Review the FAFSA checklist

The 2025-26 Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is open! 

Save time and energy by gathering the information you need before you file.

Here is a checklist from EducationQuest of what items both LPS seniors and their caregivers will need to complete a FAFSA: 

  • 2023 Federal Income Tax Forms 
  • Federal Student Aid (FSA) IDs 
  • Email addresses 
  • Social Security Numbers 
  • Dates of Birth 
  • Financial information (e.g, savings and checking account balances, investments and other income sources)
  • Immigration documents (Student Alien Registration and USCIS Number)

High school seniors leave thousands of federal dollars for college behind each year by not filling out the FAFSA. Don’t miss this opportunity for free college cash! 

Remember, LPS seniors and their caregivers must complete their FAFSA by April 18, 2025, to meet graduation requirements per the new Nebraska law.

Fund Your Future – File Your FAFSA. 

Need help?

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