September 26th Monthly Update

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LPS families,

With students back in school, so are the germs. Here are some ways you can help keep your family safe and reduce the number of days they are home sick from school:

  • Make sure your child eats nutritious meals, stays hydrated with water, and gets plenty of physical activity and sleep.Teach students the importance of hand washing and practice how to do it correctly.
  • Remind students to cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow or into a tissue.
  • Stay up-to-date with routine well-child and dental visits.
  • Keep your child’s immunizations current, including flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
  • Work with your healthcare provider and the school health office to manage chronic health conditions and develop a school action plan.

You can help keep others healthy by keeping your child home if they have any of these symptoms:

  • A fever of 100 degrees or greater
  • Skin rash
  • Pink/red eyes with drainage
  • Vomiting or diarrhea
  • Earache or drainage from the ear
  • Persistent Cough

Your child can return to school if they are fever or symptom-free without medication for 24 hours.

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!

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.

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

In This Message...

Two young women law students from UNL stand in front of a class of middle school students
University of Nebraska College of Law students Anna Schroeder and Grace Schleining visit with Pound Middle School students in a social studies class. Schroeder and Schleining taught the Squires about the Constitution and how the document has shaped America. Students created and voted on their own amendments during the Constitution Week lesson.

Information for All Families

Interview Day - October 13

Join a team that makes all other professions happen! As a school employee, you have an impact on the future of our community.

LPS is hosting an Interview Day on October 13, from 12-4:30 p.m. at Mickle Middle School. 

Open positions include paraeducators, food service workers, food service manager trainees, head bakers, head cooks and custodians.

Part-time (at least 17.5 hours per week) and full-time employees qualify for competitive health insurance, pension, generous leave and other benefits. Learn more about our benefits.

Walk-ins are welcome, but interested applicants are strongly encouraged to complete the pre-event application on the LPS website to speed up the process. This event is intended for new applicants only. Anyone needing assistance with the application can contact hr@lps.org.

In order to expedite the interview process, interested candidates will need to bring the following to fill out the application:

  • Email address, social security number and driver’s license.
  • References (only one required for this event): Please include email addresses for your references so LPS can send them a survey to complete on your behalf. (Email sent upon submission of your application.)
  • Work history: Include dates of employment, company names, addresses, phone numbers and supervisor names and email addresses. (This will be used to verify employment history and employability.)

Join us Monday, October 13, at Mickle Middle School from noon-4:30 p.m.

Bullying Prevention Month

October is bullying prevention awareness month. To reinforce the importance of bullying prevention, the LPS Strategic Plan supports student and staff wellbeing and outcomes as priority areas. Our LPS Anti-Bullying Policy commits to providing physically safe and emotionally secure environments for all students and staff. To support this policy, bullying prevention is taught through classroom lessons in all grades. Our continued focus is to increase awareness of bullying prevention and provide opportunities for students to apply self awareness, social awareness and responsible decision making skills. We are committed to creating strong connections and a sense of belonging for all students as we stand up against bullying.

Community News - October 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 October 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 Elementary School Families

DEADLINE APPROACHING: Bubba’s Closet

Every year, Lincoln Public Schools Elementary Principals Network organizes and distributes winter clothing through the Bubba’s Closet event. 

Requesting a coat

Families who are in need of winter coats for their pre-school and elementary aged children are asked to fill out this form by Monday, Sept. 30. 

You will need to include your contact information, the child’s size, age and school. We cannot guarantee a new coat for every child, but we will do our best to fulfill as many requests as possible. Coats will be distributed to students through their school by mid-November.

Donate to help others

Those who are interested in donating to Bubba’s Closet this year are encouraged to give through the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools. Funds raised will be used to help fill the coat requests from families. 

Donations of new coats (tags must still be on the garment) will also be accepted at each elementary school. Please call the school office ahead of time to arrange dropping off the donation.

Information for Middle and High School Families

Learn more about LPS Focus Programs in October

Lincoln Public Schools Focus Programs will begin accepting applications for the 2026-27 school year starting Oct. 1!

Our nine focus programs offer a unique immersive learning experience for scholars in grades 9-12 with like-minded peers and staff. 

Ready to explore how to customize your high school experience? 

Join us at the fall LPS Focus Program Informational Night on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 6 – 8 p.m. at Southwest High School. This event is a great one-stop shop where you can learn more about all the choices and make meaningful connections with our staff.  We welcome all students and families in grades 8 -11 to join us.

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

Bay High (nine opportunities) 

Thursday, Oct. 2 
Southeast High School Lunch Visit 
Open to Southeast students in grades 10-11

North Star High School Lunch Visit 
Open to North Star students in grades 10-11

Tuesday, Oct. 7
Northeast High School Lunch Visit 
Open to Northeast students in grades 10-11 

Thursday, Oct. 16
Lincoln High School Lunch Visit 
Open to Lincoln High students in grades 10-11 

Friday, Oct. 17, 5 – 7 p.m. (open house) – The Bay  (2005 Y St.)

Tuesday, Oct. 21
East High School Lunch Visit 
Open to East High students in grades 10-11 

Standing Bear High School Lunch Visit 
Open to Standing Bear students in grades 10-11 

Thursday, Oct. 23
Southwest High School Lunch Visit 
Open to Southwest students in grades 10-11 

Northwest High School Lunch Visit 
Open to Northwest students in grades 10-11 

Bryan College of Health Sciences 

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6 – 7 p.m.
(in-person info night)  –  Northwest High School 
Open to all LPS students and families in grades 8-11

Science Focus Program

Monday, Oct. 20, 6 – 8 p.m.
(in-person info night)  –  Science Focus Program Campus (Lincoln Children’s Zoo, 1222 S. 27th St.)
Open to all LPS students and families in grades 8-11

The Career Academy (three opportunities)

Sunday, Oct. 19, 1- 2:30 p.m.
(open house)  –  The Career Academy Campus (Southeast Community College, 8800 O St. )
Open to all LPS students and families in grades 8-11

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
(in-person info night) –  The Career Academy Campus     (Southeast Community College, 8800 O St.)
Open to all LPS students and families in grades 10-11

Thursday, Oct. 23, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
(virtual) – Contact TCA Director Joshua Jones at jjones7@lps.org for Zoom link
Open to all LPS students and families in grades 10-11 

Want to learn more?

High School Seniors: 2026-27 FAFSA opens Oct. 1 – prepare now

The 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens Wednesday, Oct. 1. 

In recent years, high school seniors have left thousands of federal dollars for college behind by not filling out the FAFSA. Don’t miss this opportunity for free college cash! 

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: 

  • 2024 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)

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 stop by their school’s counseling office or visit our website at for more resources.

High school graduation ceremonies for 2026 and 2027

High school graduation is a momentous occasion and time for great celebration with our staff, students and families. To help everyone plan ahead, we wanted to share updates to the 2026 and 2027 graduation dates and times.

All high school ceremonies will be held at Pinnacle Bank Arena, with livestreams available on the website LPS.org. Specialty program ceremonies will be held during the week prior.

Class of 2026

Tuesday, May 19

Yankee Hill Education Center
Time and location to be announced

Wednesday, May 20

Independence Academy
Time and location to be announced

Thursday, May 21

Bryan Community Focus Program
Time and location to be announced

Friday, May 22

Southeast High School
7:00 p.m. Pinnacle Bank Arena

Saturday, May 23

Northeast High School
9:00 a.m. Pinnacle Bank Arena

Southwest High School
12:00 p.m. Pinnacle Bank Arena

Northwest High School
3:00 p.m. Pinnacle Bank Arena

North Star High School
6:00 p.m. Pinnacle Bank Arena

Sunday, May 24

East High School
12:00 p.m. Pinnacle Bank Arena

Lincoln High School
3:00 p.m. Pinnacle Bank Arena

Standing Bear High School
6:00 p.m. Pinnacle Bank Arena

Class of 2026

With the way the school calendar falls during the 2026-2027 school year, there are five Mondays in May, meaning school will dismiss on May 20. Graduation weekend will be May 21-23. This is a week earlier than in years past. The school rotation and times are yet to be determined and will be posted on the LPS website on May 26, 2026.

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.