Signs of Success - SOS - October
SOS - Board of Education and District Highlights
Crete Public Schools
CPS Awarded $461,000
On June 25, 2022, the President of the United States signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). Nebraska was awarded $4,833,025. The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) awarded these funds through a competitive grant program to high-need local educational agencies (LEA’s) that ensure transparency and successful implementation of activities allowable under section 4108 of the ESEA to support the ongoing needs of students, educators, families, and communities.
The Stronger Connections Grant aims to provide funding for Nebraska schools to develop, implement, and evaluate a comprehensive approach that prioritizes physical and emotional safety for their unique school community. (SEC 4108). Funded activities and practices prioritize safety, create a sense of belonging, implement trauma-responsive approaches and teach positive behaviors in order to provide safe and supportive learning environments that improve academic achievement and the well-being of students.
I am excited to announce that CPS submitted a competitive grant and was awarded $461,000. We will provide updates in the future as we learn all of the grant details. There is no doubt this substantial award will help us in meeting the needs of students, staff, and our families. Thanks to Dr. Hajek, Mrs. Kershner, and Mrs. Bevins for all of their work to write a winning proposal!
Crete Elementary School
Nursey Rhyme Olympics
Our kindergarten students learned about nursery rhymes in CKLA. To bring the nursery rhymes to life, the kindergarten teachers organized "Nursery Rhyme Olympics". During the Olympics, students rotated between 7 different nursery rhyme stations that they learned throughout their unit. The nursery rhymes were : Humpty Dumpty, Baa Baa Black Sheep, Hickory Dickory Dock, Jack Be Nimble, Jack and Jill Star Light, Star Bright and Little Bo Peep. Students recited the nursery rhyme and then participated in a dun activity to match it. They ended the Olympics with a reenactment of the Tortoise and the Hare from Mrs. Wendelin and Mrs. Mays!
Co-teaching success
This year, our EL teachers have been co-teaching with our Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers during CKLA Skills time. What do this look like in the classroom? Both and EL teacher and the regular classroom teacher, teach the lesson together! Effective co-teaching takes a lot of planning and preparation on part of the teachers for it to be successful. Teachers plan who will teach what part of each lesson and they also plan what the other teacher will be doing while the other teacher is teaching. Co-teaching can look different from one classroom to the next, but the main purpose of co-teaching is make sure that the needs of the students are met throughout the lesson. In the picture below from Mrs. Griess's 1st grade classroom, both Miss Griess and Mrs. List take turns teaching different parts of the lesson.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences were held on Monday, October 2nd and Thursday, October 5th. We had a 96% attendance rate from our families! Teachers will continue to reach out to families that were unable to attend to reschedule their conference.
Trading Cards
Senior athletes came in the elementary school in September to pass out trading cards! They also invite the students and their families to attend event during the Crete Cardinal Fall Youth Week!
More Nursery Rhyme Olympics!
Students "jumped over the candlestick" during Nursey Rhyme Olympics!
Future Cardinals
CES had a float in the Homecoming Parade that featured future cardinals! The parade was shown in classrooms on Striv during the parade.
Crete Intermediate School
Sensory Safari Field Trip
On Wednesday, October 4th, a small group of students participated in a Sensory Safari planned by the Lincoln Children’s Zoo. Visually and sensory impaired students had the opportunity to touch, feel, hear and smell at interpretative stations set up throughout the zoo. The intermediate students had a wonderful experience!
3rd Grade Field Trip
Last week, all of the 3rd graders visited the Maples. Students were able to see the Bickle House, Star School, and the Benne Museum. Students learned how the Bickles were the first settlers in Crete and helped establish the town. They were able to see what a pioneer school looked like and how it was different from schools today. At the Benne Museum, students were able to learn about important people to the City of Crete, like Thomas Doane (railroad engineer and founder of Doane College), Florence Miller(designer of the Nebraska state flag), and Elizabeth Rob Douglas (inventor of the collapsible voting booth and Douglas Manufacturing). The field trip was part of the Social Studies curriculum.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Over 90% of the families at Crete Intermediate connected with their child’s teachers during parent teacher conferences. The staff will continue to reschedule conferences and make at least one more attempt to connect with parents either in person or on the phone.
Professional Development
Math curriculum specialist, Danielle Rohrer, presented to the intermediate staff on how to analyze math MAP data to best plan interventions for students.
Crete Rotary Dictionary Donation
A special thanks to the Crete Rotary Club for donating student dictionaries for all third graders.
Cardinal Family Time
All intermediate students participated in Cardinal Family Time on September 27th. Students were in groups of ten and of mixed grade levels. In order to have small groups of students, district staff helped lead the groups. Mrs. McDowell, the school counselor, planned the activity. The students wrote Smile-A-Grams for elementary students with the goal to spread kindness.
Crete Middle School
Bullying Prevention Week
Students signed a banner in support of Bullying Prevention Week. Ms. Bird, our new counselor, provided wonderful lessons for our students on how to stand up to bullying. Students were assessed before and after the week and showed an increase in their overall understanding of why people bully, how to be an upstander, and how to communicate properly.
Congratulations to our 23-24 Student Council Representatives
Crete High School
CRETE BAND WINS AGAIN
1st or 2nd every year since 2012! For those of you looking closely, 2019 is still locked up in a display case and 2020 was COVID. Proud of these kids being able to continue the tradition. #cretebandrocks
FAFSA Presentations
FAFSA Presentation will be presented in English and Spanish to make sure all Seniors are ready for post secondary opportunities.
Earth Science Labs
Students in Ms. Dillon’s earth science class were using starbursts and candles to mimic the rock cycle and create igneous rocks!
Friday Night Lights
Parent Teacher Conferences
Over 250 families of Crete High School connected with their child’s teachers during parent teacher conferences. The staff will continue to reschedule conferences and make at least one more attempt to connect with parents either in person or on the phone.
Homecoming King and Queen
Dany Banos-Rivas & Emily Chavez
Homecoming Parade
Preschool Cardinals in their nests during Homecoming Parade!
HOCO Bonfire and Pep Rally
Adult Education/Federal Programs
Doane Freshmen Make Visit to Adult Ed classes
Crete Adult Education students practiced conversational English by spending time with small groups of Doane freshmen students. The conversations centered around places we have lived, past and present, and allowed approximately 35 adult learners and Doane students to learn more about each other. This collaboration will continue in October, when Doane students host the adult students on campus, sharing with them what it is like to live on a university campus.
Student Services
Students Attend Sensory Safari
Students from Crete Intermediate, Middle, and High Schools attended the Sensory Safari at the Lincoln Children's Zoo on Oct 4. The Sensory Safari provides guests with visual and sensory impairments the opportunity to touch, feel, hear, and smell at interpretive stations located throughout the Zoo. Nature experts from the organizations across Nebraska engage with visitors at each station. Sensory Safari is a partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Mary F. Tous Charitable Foundation, and Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are Blind or Visually Impaired.
Instructional Programs
District Safety
Our CPS Threat Assessment team attended a 2-day training with Dr. Mario Scalaro on September 26, and September 27. Dr. Frans, Officer Jonas, Ross Louch, Matt Martin, Nick Ginapp, Jeff Steele, and Lindsey Knutson attended the training.
CPS and the City of Crete are working together to improve the traffic around CMS during drop-off and pick-up times. The City of Crete will be installing stop signs on Iris Street around the crosswalks between CMS and CHS to provide a safer walking experience for our students. Perla Jaimes and Randy Newmyer are working with Officer Jonas and their CMS staff to improve traffic flow and supervision on North, South, and West sides of CMS.
English Learners (EL)
Amber Sterns, Ashley Quinn, Jessica Marsh, and Amy Braunberger attended a NDE-EL Collaboration in Fremont on September 27. The following topics were covered: Tier 1 Instruction & Differentiaion, NeMTSS Framework Connections, Best Practices for English Learners, and Collaboration. The team will present what they learned during the November Professional Development Day.