Dec. 3rd - PTO Meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Dec. 4th - Family Dinner Night at Pickelman's

Dec. 6th - Teacher Swap: Teachers (K-5) will exchange rooms and read a book(s) to another classroom.

Dec. 12th - All School Pajama Day (See Additional Information Below)

Dec. 16th - Preschool Gingerbread House Day

Dec. 18th - Bingo with the Principals (K-5 Students)

Dec. 19th - 5th Grade Wax Museum

Dec. 20th - School Assembly--Sheltered Reality (PTO Sponsored)

Dec. 20th - End of 2nd Quarter

Dec. 23rd - Winter Break Begins

JANUARY

Jan. 3rd - No School - Teacher In-Service

Jan. 6th - School Resumes

Jan. 10th - Report Cards Sent Home (Friday Folders)

Jan. 10th - Lancer's Family Night

Jan. 20th - No School - Teacher In-Service

Jan. 20th-24th - Registration Week for Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 School Year

Blue Sage Year Long Calendar of Events (Subject to Change)

We are thrilled to share that Blue Sage Elementary has been recognized as the #1 Elementary School in Nebraska for 2025 by U.S. News & World Report! This marks the fourth year of the rankings, and Blue Sage has been honored as #1 three times and #2 once—a testament to the strength and spirit of our school community.

As the saying goes, "No one achieves success alone." This recognition is not just a reflection of the hard work of our students, teachers, and staff but also the unwavering support of our families. Together, we form a partnership that empowers our students to thrive.

In a state filled with incredible schools, it is humbling to receive this prestigious honor once again. While we already know Blue Sage is a special place, it’s heartening to see our collective efforts celebrated. Our success is built on a foundation of meaningful relationships, a culture of continuous growth, and a shared commitment to finding solutions that help every student succeed.

We are truly grateful to our parents and families for entrusting us with your children’s education and for your ongoing support of our teachers and staff. Thank you for partnering with us to make Blue Sage a place where each student's future story is nurtured.

Let’s celebrate this achievement together and continue striving for excellence as a school community!

Check it Out for Yourself: U.S. News & World Report Best Elementary Schools

Dear Blue Sage Families,

It's hard to believe that the first semester of the 2024-25 school year is coming to a close. December is a time filled with excitement and energy, along with many special events. Please know that our focus on teaching and learning remains strong, even during this busy month. Our staff is dedicated to providing each student with the support and encouragement they need to finish the semester on a positive note. We appreciate your partnership in making this a memorable and successful first half of the school year and look forward to the growth and achievements to come in the months ahead.

The winter testing season is here for FastBridge (grades K-2) and MAP (grades 3-5) assessments. Teachers will be sharing their classroom schedules for these assessments with you soon.

To provide a bit of background on MAP testing: MAP stands for Measures of Academic Progress, a computer-adaptive test administered three times a year (fall, winter, and spring) to Elkhorn students. This test adapts based on student responses, offering more challenging questions with each correct answer and adjusting to easier questions following incorrect responses. The goal is for students to answer approximately 50% of questions correctly at a level that reflects their current skills. The data from FastBridge & MAP testing offers valuable insights for teachers to tailor instruction, track individual student growth, and analyze trends over time.

On behalf of the Blue Sage staff, I would like to extend my best wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. Enjoy this special time of year with your family and friends. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me via email at achrist@epsne.org or by phone at 402-332-0125.

Mrs. Christ
Principal, Blue Sage Elementary

Wear your coziest jammies or your other favorite comfy gear and get ready to snuggle up with a good book! All school reading time by the "fireplace" with a snack provided by the PTO.

Blue Sage Student Council is selling cozy Blue Sage beanies—perfect for chilly weather and showing school spirit! All proceeds support student council initiatives.

Lots of styles to choose from: Beanie Order Link

Last day to order is December 20th! Don’t miss out!

Please reach out to Ms. Lunzmann (alunzmann@epsne.org) or Ms. Novak (knovak@epsne.org) if you have any questions.

We still have 39 mittens left! 🎁 The Elkhorn Schools Gift Drive is an opportunity to support families in our community who could use a little extra help this season.

Thank you for helping spread kindness and joy! Questions? Contact Sarah Kuecker at (402) 995-9803.

These students were caught doing something great at school! Students who follow the school rules 1. BE SAFE 2. BE RESPECTFUL & 3. BE RESPONSIBLE are rewarded and recognized with BEAR TICKETS. Once a month one ticket is drawn from each class. These students got to enjoy pizza and play Bingo with Mrs. Christ and Mrs. Bousema. Way to go Bears!

Front Row: Aarya, Avery, Vivi, Palmer, Leo & Adaline

Back Row: Harper, Sai, Ethan, Macy, Trevor, Cameron, Brock & Liam

Not Pictured: Lincoln & Bani

Front Row: Logan, Sloane, Willow & Eden

Back Row: Lucas, Hudson, Graham, Paige, Kennedy, Krishika & Jase

Not Pictured: Maggie, Sid & Bennett

November Guidance Topic

Our focus in Guidance this month was Honesty. One way to think about Honesty is “being truthful in what you say and do.” Practicing Honesty helps strengthen our relationships and even reduces stress. Honesty is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Well. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress-management.

December Guidance Topic

Our focus in Guidance will be Empathy. One way to think about Empathy is “understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings.” Empathy is a practice that can help us grow strong relationships. Empathy is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Kind. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like perspective-taking, conflict resolution, and leadership.

Contact the Counselor

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me.

Lisa Poe

Blue Sage School Counselor

Lpoe@epsne.org

402-332-0125

Our Lost and Found is overflowing! The tables are filled with everything from jackets to water bottles. Please remind your student to check for any missing items. Unclaimed belongings will be donated over winter break.

During the week of January 20th, we ask parents to register their children online for kindergarten for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. This registration helps us connect with families and extend invitations to our Kindergarten Parent Round-Up Meetings.

Parent Meeting Details

• Blue Sage Families: Monday, March 31st, at 6 PM at Blue Sage Elementary
• Elementary School #13 Families: Tuesday, April 1st, at 6 PM at Blue Sage Elementary

Kindergarten Round-Up Event

Friday, April 4th, at Blue Sage Elementary

• Blue Sage Students: 9–11 AM
• Elementary School #13 Students: 12–2 PM

Important Note: Current kindergarten students will not have school on Friday, April 4th, to accommodate this event.

We look forward to welcoming our new kindergarten families!

As we are now in cold/flu/covid season, please continue to make sure that you and your children are practicing healthy habits like getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of water, hand washing/sanitizing and staying up-to-date with your immunizations.

-Health Screens-

Health screens in the areas of height/weight, dental, hearing, and vision have been completed on all K-4th, 7th, and 10th grade students, as well as students new to the district. Parents will be notified of abnormal results by a referral letter.

If you receive a referral letter, please visit the applicable health care provider and return the bottom part of the form to the office.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Thank you!

Heather Parks MSN, RN

hparks@epsne.org

As temperatures drop, please remember to follow the designated drop-off times to ensure student safety. Breakfast begins at 7:35 AM, and Walking Club starts at 7:55 AM. For proper supervision, students should not arrive before these times.

Be sure your child is dressed warmly with a coat, hat, and gloves for Walking Club, recess, and dismissal. Outdoor activities will be held as long as the temperature is 10 degrees or higher. Labeling your child’s coat with their name helps us return lost items. Any unclaimed items will be donated over winter break.

In some cases, school closures may be necessary due to inclement weather or emergencies like water line breaks or power outages. Official notifications will be sent to all district households via our phone messaging system and typically broadcast through local media outlets. If you don’t receive these messages, please contact our school office 402-332-0125 to update your contact information. If no closure is announced, school will remain in session.

If severe weather arises during the day, parents/guardians may pick up their children from school, but will still need to come into the main office to sign your children out. Parents/guardians always have the option of not sending children to school on a day when inclement weather is developing or has been forecasted.

Elkhorn Public School Families - if you have any concerns regarding your young child’s development, don’t hesitate to reach out to the EPS Early Intervention team. Our dedicated professionals are here to support you and your child’s needs. Visit Elkhorn Public Schools Early Intervention for more information.

Every Friday is a school spirit day at Blue Sage. Wear your Blue Sage gear or our school colors (blue and green) to show your BEAR pride.

To ensure the safety and efficiency of our drop-off and pick-up process, please follow these guidelines:

1. Arrival and Departure:

   • Students should begin exiting vehicles once the vehicle has pulled as far forward as possible.
   • Staff will be outside to assist with drop-off and pick-up. Please pay attention to their signals for where to pull up and when to move forward. Staff members are there to direct traffic to help ensure safety for all and to keep things moving in an orderly fashion.
   • Drivers are to stay inside the vehicle at all times in the drop-off/pick-up lane.

2. Student Safety:

   • Students should enter and exit the vehicle curbside.
   • Students should use the crosswalk to cross to the parking lot and should never cross in front of traffic in the drop-off lane.
   • Always use the crosswalk at the main entrance to cross traffic in the drop-off/pick-up lane.

3. Traffic Flow:

   • Left Lane: Traffic should always be moving other than when stopped at the crosswalk by staff or safety patrol and should never stop to let a child out of the car.
   • Right Lane: Pull forward if there is space available. Children can be dropped off anywhere along the sidewalk as long as they get out on the curbside.
   • Graphic: The graphic below will help explain the traffic flow and expectations.

4. Line Etiquette:

   • Please wait your turn in line and do not cut the line to make a drop-off or pick-up. Everyone is here for the same goal and reason; please be mindful and respectful of that.
   • If your child is unable to unbuckle/buckle themselves, please practice this at home. It is important that they can do this independently.

5. General Guidelines:

   • Be patient and a positive role model for our children. These procedures are in place to help maintain a safe and respectful environment.
   • It is unlawful to park in a handicap stall without proper licensing.
   • Drive Slowly
   • Drive distraction free, including staying off your cellphones.

6. Communication:

   • Please make sure to share these procedures with anyone who may be dropping off and/or picking up your children.

Please be patient and be a positive role model for our students. These procedures are in place to help maintain a safe and respectful environment. Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring a safe and efficient process for all.

• Blue Sage PTO Website
  
• Blue Sage Facebook Page
• PTO email address: bluesagepto@gmail.com
• Our PTO website offers an online directory that families can choose to have their information published in at no cost. This can be a great resource if families are wanting to connect with other families in their class or grade-level.
• Click on the following link to sign up for the PTO online Directory: https://www.runpto.com/pto/login?schoolid=bluesage&app=Student&hash=f899139df5e1059396431415e770c6dd
• Next PTO Meeting Dec. 3rd at 6:30 pm in the Blue Sage Media Center.
• We would love to see you in attendance!

Parents are welcome to come to have lunch with their children during their lunchtime.

Parent/Visitor Table Guidelines:

• Friends/classmates will remain at the student tables. This rule helps us maintain order and allows you to have quality time with your child during lunch.
• Siblings from other grade levels may also not join the visitor table during your child's lunch period. Parents/Visitors will need to return for the sibling's lunch time if they wish to have lunch with them as well.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Thank you for your continued support!

To ensure the safety and security of our students and staff, all school doors will remain locked during the school day. Visitors can gain access through the main entrance using the security camera/access panel. Please follow these steps:

1. Request Access:

• Push the button on the security panel.
• Wait for the office staff to request your identification

2. Provide Identification:

• State your name and purpose for entering the school.
  

3. Enter the School:

• Once you hear the door unlatch, enter the school.
• Proceed directly to the office.

4. Enchanced Security with Sallyport System (NEW THIS YEAR): To further enhance our security measures, Blue Sage has installed a sallyport system in the main office. This controlled entry system ensures that visitors must pass through an additional layer of security before gaining access to the school. Please do not allow other individuals to follow you into the building. Piggybacking is a security breach that occurs when an unauthorized person gains access to a restricted area by following an authorized person.

5. Sign In:

• Sign in on the visitor sheet.
• Then you will be provided with a visitor badge.

6. Sign Out:

• When leaving the building, return to the office.
• Sign out and return your visitor badge.

Dropping Off Items:

If you need to drop off something that your child has forgotten, please bring it to the office, we will be happy to take it to your child. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us to minimize classroom interruptions.

Thank you for your cooperation in maintaining a secure and efficient environment at Blue Sage.

Invitations to birthday parties and other events must be distributed away from the school grounds to students for out of school parties according to District policy.

Birthdays are important milestones in each child’s life. At Blue Sage Elementary, we look forward to sharing in the student’s excitement over his/her own special day. Each morning birthdays will be read over the announcements and students will be invited to come to select a book from the office to keep. Summer birthdays will be announced on the student’s ½ birthday to ensure each student enjoys this special recognition during the school year.

If you would like to send a special treat or token for your child to pass out to classmates, please send only NON-EDIBLE tokens or treats to school. For example, your child could provide each student with a pencil. Classroom teachers may also offer other suggestions. This decision has been made with considerable thought given to healthy eating habits, food allergies, and convenience for parents. I appreciate your support as we create a healthy and welcoming environment for every student at Blue Sage.

If you walk to drop off or pick up your child please do not bring along your dog. We appreciate you being cognizant of those with allergies or fears. District Policy States: For safety purposes, pets are not allowed to be brought at the beginning or ending of the school day. Even the most well-mannered dogs, when surrounded by little hands and loud voices of children, may react in a way that we would not expect. Pets, even when on a leash, can become excited and frighten students.

Thanks for helping to keep our students safe.

Please have an understanding with your child before he/she leaves home in the morning about what he/she is to do after school. It can be disruptive when classes are interrupted with the delivery of telephone messages or the need for them to call home to find out what is going on after school. We realize that there are times when the unexpected happens, and in those times, we will be happy to let your child know if your plans changed.

Parents wishing to confer with teachers are asked to call the school or email the teacher. If the teacher is unable to take your call, we are able to forward your call to his/her voicemail, so you can leave the teacher a message to return your call at his/her earliest convenience.

If wishing to meet in person with a teacher, please schedule an appointment in advance. Often, teachers feel bad when a parent arrives at school to confer with them and they cannot meet with that parent due to other demands and responsibilities. By scheduling an appointment, they will be prepared to meet with you to address your questions and/or concerns.

• If you are taking photos or video during school hours (including class trips and events), please note these are allowed for personal use only. Videos and images should not be shared in any form without appropriate consent from the student's parent/guardian. Obtaining consent is the sole responsibility of the person taking the photos and video.
• Elkhorn Public School is not responsible for obtaining consent for controlling how such images are shared.
• Please be respectful of all students and families in our school community by not taking or sharing photos or videos of students other than your own.

Email: achrist@epsne.org (Amy Christ, Principal)
Website: https://www.elkhornweb.org/bluesage/
Location: 3600 South 215th Street, Elkhorn, NE, USA
Phone: 402-332-0125
Facebook: facebook.com/ElkhornPSBS/