Ponca Publisher

Welcome Back Ponca Raccoons for another school year at Ponca Elementary. My name is Mr. Carl Bilotta and it is an honor to serve as your child's principal this year. I look forward to meeting all of the students this week as they start back. I will continue to send out the monthly newsletters at the beginning of each month. Thank you for taking the time to read the information that is contained in the newsletter. If you ever have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me via email - carl.bilotta@ops.org or on class dojo.

This year our school theme is Game On! I look forward to partnering with you to help your child Level Up their Learning!

• School Day is from 8:50-4:05
• Doors open for Breakfast and Arrival at 8:35
• Free Breakfast and Lunch Available to All Students

• Families can utilize the front circle drive. Please pull all the way forward and drivers should stay inside their vehicles. If your child is struggling to get out, please park and staff will be available to assist.
• Families can drive up Kristy Street and park in the North lot or by the school portables.
• Please do not block in other vehicles or block the traffic flow on all roads.
• Please see the map below for more details.

• If you have not already done so, please complete and submit the iPad agreement form located in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

• Please mark each box, sign, and mark yes or no if you are purchasing insurance. You can visit the school office to pay cash or you can pay through the campus parent portal under the school store.

• Optional Insurance coverage for $20 is available for the CURRENT school year (DUE at the end of September). Insurance purchased during the 2023-2024 school year will not be applied to the current school year.

Starting on Monday, August 19 we ask that all parents/guardians drop students off at the front doors to school rather than walking to the classrooms. We're working on building independence with the students; each day they get better and better and learn the school routine. If students need extra support we'll have Ponca staff ready and available to assist.

In August we send home lots of papers with families. Please look over the papers carefully and complete the ones as needed. The Student and Family Information (SAFI) papers which need to be completed and updated each year are now only available on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Please take time to review these digitally and update as needed.

The fastest way to keep your student's information current and to check on current grades (for 3rd - 5th grade) is to have a Campus Parent Portal account. Call the school office to get your code and set it up today!

Mrs. Natalie Push, School Secretary

531.299.1960

Thank you to our AMAZING PTO for providing breakfast for the teachers on the first day of school. PTO informaiton will be coming home in Thursday folders this week. Our PTO Spiritwear store is open. You can click the link below to access the online store. The store will be open through Tuesday, September 3.

http://tinyurl.com/PoncaPTOStore

Did you know it takes an average of three days for students to catch up for every one day they’re absent? Omaha Public Schools is committed to working with our families to support student attendance every day because we know every minute counts.

Our district has updated our action plan to follow state guidelines on assisting students who miss a significant amount of class time. Our student attendance team will meet with families of students who have 20 total absences, whether or not those absences are excused. The team will work with the family to create a collaborative plan to improve attendance.

You can make an impact on your student’s attendance now, and we’re here to help. If anything is getting in the way of getting your student to school, please contact Mr. Bilotta - carl.bilotta@ops.org or the school counselor - Mrs. Jaeke - debora.jaeke@ops.org

August 23 - Ponca Spiritwear Day

August 30 - Ponca Spiritwear Day

September 2 - NO SCHOOL LABOR DAY

September 3 - PTO Meeting 6:30 in the Library