
Standing Bear Elementary
Monthly News
October 2024
Message from the Principal
No School on Friday, October 4th
Standing Bear Families,
OH MY GOSH! We had an AMAZING Fun Run!
We made $40, 590 to use toward field trips and playground enhancements. Since we reached our school goal, the students who had the most pledges will get to dump a food item over Mrs. O'Melia's head. That event will take place on October 10th at 2:30pm. See top pledges below! Thank you to everyone for your support!
Halloween Parade and Party will be held on October 31st.
- The parade will begin at 2:30pm and the classroom parties will follow. Parents are welcome to come see the parade along the main front drive. If we have inclement weather, students will parade around the gym.
- Snacks for students will be provided by the PTO, no outside food needs to be brought in.
- Costumes should not have any type of weapon (guns, axes, sword, etc.) Teachers will not be able to do makeup, etc. Plan to bring costumes in a bag and students will change at school prior to the parade.
- If you have a student(s) who will not participate in the Halloween festivities, please let the classroom teacher know by October 11th so we can plan other activities.
Upcoming Events- Please take a second to look at the link above and mark your calendars. This will be updated as events change.
Stay positive, patient and flexible!
Sincerely,
Bridget O'Melia
Fun Run Top Pledges
Awesome Job!
Fun Run Highlights
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Upcoming Events....
October:
4th- No school for students/district curriculum day for staff
8th- PTO Panera Night 4pm-8pm
Oct. 8th—PreK to Skinny Bones Pumpkin Patch
Oct. 9th—KDG to Nelson Produce Farm
Oct. 10th—1st to Nelson Produce Farm
11th- First Quarter Ends
15th- PTO Meeting at 6pm
Oct. 16th—3rd to Wildlife Safari Park
Oct. 23rd—Book Fair Time TBD
Oct. 24th—Book Fair Time TBD
24th- No school for students/ Parent Teacher Conferences
25th- No school for students
29th- 2 hour late start
31st- Halloween Parade and Party
November:
5th- No school for students/Teacher planning day
25th-29th- No school/Thanksgiving Break
December:
20th- No school for students/Teacher planning day
23rd-January 3rd- Winter Break
Specific details for events will come out closer to the event.
This list is complete as of today. Events will be added as necessary.
You can always check back for updates and check the PTO postings. Thank you!
MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Message from the School Nurse
Clothing At School
At all ages spills and accidents happen that require a change of clothing at school.
Please have an extra set of clothing in your child’s backpack/locker and include underwear, top and bottoms.
Health Screenings
Students enrolled in Omaha Public Schools are provided free health screening in accordance with Nebraska State Statute. Screenings are conducted throughout the school year and may begin as early as August.
Students in early childhood, kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, seventh, and tenth grades are screened for hearing, vision, dental, height, and weight per the rules and regulations set forth by the state of Nebraska. The screening is conducted to help identify health concerns in as early a stage as possible, in an effort to enhance learning. Screening is not intended to be diagnostic, but to identify students with potential problems. Findings that need further evaluation by a health care provider will be sent home.
Contact your school nurse for any questions regarding screening.
Julie Frazier, RN, BSN
Standing Bear Elementary (M, T, TH)
Head Start Nurse (W,F)
P: (531)299-2142
F: (531)299-2158
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Attendance
- Contact the main office if your child will not be in attendance or late
- If you will be picking your child up early for any reason, please call the office 5 minutes ahead of time
- If the dismissal procedure for your child has changed (another person picking up, no bus, etc.)
- Please provide a doctor note for any appointments so we can mark the absence as medical and excused
Phone: (531) 299-2140
Fax: (531) 299-2159
Nurse Fax: (531) 299-2158
Standing Bear PTO Information
Website and App
We have a website and app. We hope you like it! Make sure to check it out and get your student added to the directory! Directions on the image.
We would love for you to join the PTO too ($10), but that is not required to add your student. The directory is only available to those that are connected to the school and sign-up, it is not public.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Important Information from Standing Bear
Building Security
For the safety and security of our students and this building, anyone entering the building must stop in the office first.
Drop Off Zone
We ask that you please continue to pull all the way down to the second crosswalk if possible (by main front doors). We can then unload around 10 vehicles rather than 5.
We currently have a school staff member assisting your child to breakfast or the classroom at the main doorway for all student’s morning arrival. REMINDER: School doors don’t open until 8:35 AM for classroom entrance and breakfast opening hours.
We ask again for you not arrive for end of school day pick-up until 3:55pm to prevent traffic flow congestion issues .
Please be attentive and cognizant of all school crossing guard officials and adhere to their requests during student morning drop-off and pick-up times. Our goal is to ensure your child’s overall safety.
School Blackboard Communication
We will be using Blackboard for mass communications to families. All newsletters, updates and reminders will be sent via email or text. Please make sure to contact the office if you need to update your contact information.
Birthday Celebrations
We ask that only non-food items be brought for birthday celebrations. Please check with your child's teacher to discuss day and time for non-edible goodies to be dropped off.
ARRIVAL REMINDERS
- Drop off is 8:35AM, that is when breakfast is open and staff are on duty
- Please have student(s) ready to get out when you pull up
- Pull all the way down if able
- If you need to get out to assist your child, go into the parking lot lane not the main drive
- If your student is NOT eating breakfast they need to enter through the main front doors rather than the cafeteria doors
- Grab and Go Breakfast- If your student is eating breakfast, they need to enter the building through the cafeteria doors. They may enter through the main front doors if they choose not to eat the district provided breakfast.
DISMISSAL AND PICKUP
Families will keep the SAME dismissal numbers. We are hoping new ones will be delivered before the first day. However, you can use last years to start. We will have some temporary ones available at the Meet Your Teacher Night.
When parents pull onto school grounds, outside staff will input your family number to indicate that you have arrived. Classroom teachers will get your student(s) ready to dismiss. How this works- We will enter your Family Number into a form, this will be visible to classroom teachers in the building and they will dismiss. Students will be dismissing out the main front doors staggered based on your arrival time. Students will NOT be dismissing out any other doors.
It will be extremely helpful if you let your student(s) know your preferred lane for pick-up. This will help them know to look for you in the main drive or the parking lot lane. Once your student(s) are loaded, you can pull out of the pick-up line to leave.
What you will need at dismissal:
- You will need to place your car hanger number on your rearview mirror so it is clearly visible to outside staff.
- You will need to pull all the way down to the front door (as cars move ahead, you move ahead) if you are picking up on the main drive, pull all the way down to the front main entrance or up to the vehicle in front of you. If you are picking up in the parking lot lane, you will still need to pull all the way forward. ALL students will exit out the main front doors.
- We will call your student(s) out as you arrive, continue to pull forward whenever possible until all your students are loaded.
** Kindergarten students- dismissal will remain the same for parents who walk up to get kindergarten students. If you are choosing to drive through for pick up, parents will still pull up like all other vehicles with their family number visible.
** Early Childhood will remain the same. Parents will need to park and come check out their child.
** Walk up parents- A staff member will be located out front, you can provide them with your family number so teachers are aware you are ready to pickup. Your student(s) will then be dismissed. Parents do not need to enter the building. If you need to go into the building to pick up your student, you MUST stop at the office for a visitor badge and to sign the check out sheet.
** Each family will receive 2 car hangers. If you would need additional ones, please contact the office. It is imperative not to lose your issued designated car hanger numbers. Please clearly display upon arrive so there is no confusion to expeditiously release your child for pick-up.
WE WILL BEGIN DISMISSAL (ENTERING NUMBERS) AT 4:00PM. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE AT SCHOOL BEFORE 3:55PM TO PREVENT AN INITIAL BACKUP. The line moves very fast once we begin the dismissal process.
Thank you for everything!
Early Pickup for Students
If you are picking up your students early for a doctor appointment, etc please call the office at least 5 minutes ahead of time and we will have you child ready to go at the designated time. Parents will need to come into the office to check out your student(s).
STUDENT SAFETY
Safety remains our top priority in the Omaha Public Schools. We now have a Visitor Management System to ensure we are provided the most secure environment. Visitors will need to ring the outside doorbell. Once the secretary answers, she will verify your student's name and visitor's name prior to opening the front door. If the visitor's name is not in our system, they will not be let into the building. We ask that you understand that it may take a few minutes to gain access into the building while the secretaries verify your information. Please make sure you have updated contact information and that your emergency contacts are current.
Visitors will need to use the kiosk to get a visitor badge. This will require you to get a photo taken and use the printed visitor badge with your photo.
Large events such as holiday celebrations, music programs and family nights will not require the same check in process. Entrance into these events will be monitored by staff.
Bridget O'Melia, Principal
Email: bridget.omelia@ops.org
Website: https://standingbear.ops.org/HOME/tabid/36/Default.aspx
Location: 15860 Taylor Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 531-299-2140
Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (402-557-2001).