The RPS Weekly Message
August 15th, 2024
RPS Families,
Let me officially welcome you to the start of the 2024-2025 school year! We are excited to start the new year in several newly renovated buildings. Work is complete or almost finished at Meadows, Wildewood, Blumfield, Mockingbird, Karen Western, and Ralston Middle School. Construction is ongoing at Seymour Elementary, which had the school start the year at the Westside Community Center. We plan on construction being completed at Seymour by mid to late September. The renovation process will begin sometime this winter at Ralston High School.
Thank you for attending our Open Houses last week! As a school community, we are very proud of our newly renovated buildings, and we were so excited for you to see all the new additions and improvements.
Last year, one of our primary focus areas was student attendance. This area is critical to student growth and success. I am proud to report nearly all our schools showed gains in our average daily attendance, with significant gains at the elementary and middle school levels. We are hoping to continue to show growth for another year. Our goal as a District is to get to the state average in attendance by the 2026-2027 school year.
To accomplish this goal, we need your help as parents/guardians in improving attendance. If there are issues preventing your child(ren) from attending school regularly, please contact your child’s teacher, school counselor, principal, or other trusted adult for help or assistance. In future editions of the RPS Weekly Message, I’ll provide some research on the impacts of attendance on learning and growth.
Lastly, we are excited about our theme for the year: "Together As One." This theme celebrates the incredible strength and unity of our school community working in harmony.
The positive power of the parent-school relationship is vital, and we encourage you to be actively involved in your child(ren)'s education. Your engagement enriches their learning experience and fosters a supportive and collaborative environment. Together, we can make this year a great one!
Mr. Jason Buckingham
Superintendent
Ralston Public Schools
Parents/Guardians - If you have not already, you need to complete the Student Verification Process! Student Verification allows us to update important information regarding your child, such as emergency contact, medical information, acknowledgment of access to certain District documents, and permissions for specific items such as NSAA consent or media release information. This process is IMPORTANT for students at EVERY grade level!
Student Verification is Completed Through R-Kids: Click HERE
If you are having trouble accessing your student’s R-Kids account, contact your student’s school directly and they can provide you with the assistance you need.
Children need healthy meals to learn and Ralston Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Your students may qualify for Free or Reduced Price Meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch.
If your student(s) qualified for free or reduced price meals at the end of last school year, you must submit a new application by Wednesday, September 25, 2024 in order to avoid an interruption in meal benefits.
Below is a link to the Free & Reduced online form. PLEASE NOTE: There is a language button at the top of the page to translate the form into several different languages.
Link: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
If you have questions, please contact the RPS Food Service Department at 402-898-3430 or nicole.riccobon@ralstonschools.org.
Now that we are a couple days into the 2024-2025 school year, how are your children doing with the summer-to-school transition? It’s not too late to have those conversations about getting back into the school year routine.
Prioritize Sleep
Research consistently shows that adequate sleep is crucial for children's academic performance. School-aged children need between 10 to 11 hours of sleep each night to function optimally.
Address Your Child’s Anxiety
Returning to school can be stressful for kids of all ages. Whether it's your kindergartener's first day or your 9th grader's anxiety about navigating a new high school, it's important to talk openly about their fears. Remind them of their capabilities and give specific examples of their skills and strengths that will help them overcome their anxieties.
Simplify Morning Routines
Mornings can be chaotic and stressful, leading to conflicts and meltdowns. Visual aids like checklists can be effective, especially for younger children. Praise their independence and hard work when they complete tasks. Additionally, prepare lunches and select clothes the night before to save time.
Encourage Independence
School can present both academic and social challenges. To help your child develop resilience and self-esteem, allow them to handle their own struggles when appropriate. It's tempting to step in and solve their problems, especially when they're exhausted after school, but doing so can undermine their confidence. Encourage them to tackle tasks independently, reinforcing their capability and strength. While it may be uncomfortable to watch them struggle, it ultimately benefits them in the long run.
Other helpful resources:
Kid's Back-to-School Health Advice
Effective Strategies for Overcoming Back-to-School Anxiety
Helping Your Child Transition from Summer Vacation to Back-to-school
Dr. Anne Harley, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning
Dr. Sara Zabrowski-Gates, Director for Teaching & Learning
The Ralston Schools Foundation invites you to an evening of celebration and recognition as we honor the achievements of two exceptional Ralston High School alumni at the Ralston Schools Foundation Distinguished Alumni Award Celebration!
On September 26th at the Post Event Center (7400 Q St.), RHS alumni and the community will gather to pay tribute to the outstanding accomplishments of our distinguished alumni, who have made a lasting impact in their careers and communities. This prestigious award recognizes the hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence that define the Ralston Public Schools' tradition of excellence.
Don't miss this special event! Purchase your tickets online today through the Foundation’s website by clicking this LINK.
The OneWorld Medical Mobile Health Center provides medical and behavioral services at the most convenient place for youth and their parents; near their school. They are always taking appointments; if your child is not feeling well, sports physicals, vaccinations, and well-checks.
Parents can schedule appointments by calling OneWorld at 402-880-4870.
New this Year - Medical Mobile at Karen Western
The OneWorld Medical Mobile Health Center will start to come to Karen Western Elementary on the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month and will be at Ralston Middle School on the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month through December. The mobile unit will be at Ralston High School every Tuesday. The hours of the Medical Mobile Unit are from 8:00 am - 3:30 pm.
RPS Students Help Welcome Back Staff at the 2024 - 2025 Kickoff Celebration
What a fantastic start to the new school year! Our All Staff Kick-Off event held on Friday, August 9th, brought the entire RPS team together in a way that's sure to fuel a year of collaboration and growth.
We were thrilled to have our entire staff together again, ready to tackle new challenges and make this year unforgettable.
Special thanks to the following students for sharing their talent and excitement for the new year!
• Ralston High School Senior Aurora Quartoroli for singing the National Anthem.
• Members of the RHS Ram Pride Band and Ralston Spirit Squads Cheer and Dance teams for starting the celebration off with a cheer and performance of the school fight song. They had everyone up on their feet!
• Seymour Elementary second grade student Joelynn Navarrete for introducing our Superintendent and Wildewood Elementary third grade student Karter Austin for introducing our Board of Education speaker. Everyone enjoyed seeing you both and you did a great job!
• Ralston High School senior Andi Radji and freshman Ava Dannehl for your amazing speeches on your experiences in the District and your message to staff for the year. Great job Rams!
