Standing Bear Elementary

Standing Bear Families,

I hope this message finds you well. Our Boosterthon Fun Run is just around the corner, but wanted to first send out a big "THANKS" and share some updates.

I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your generous contribution to our past school fundraisers. Your support has made a significant impact, and we are thrilled to share some wonderful updates with you.

Thanks to the collective efforts of our school community, we have successfully upgraded our school library. The new resources and improved environment will undoubtedly enhance the learning experience for all our students, providing them with a richer and more engaging space to explore and grow.

Additionally, we are excited to announce that funds will also support upcoming enhancements to our playground. We are working on creating a more dynamic and inclusive play area that will offer more opportunities for fun and physical activity for our children. We used some of the available funds at the end of last school year to add an additional Gaga Pit at the end of last year. Kids LOVE Gaga Ball!

Your support also plays a crucial role in making memorable and educational field trips possible for our students. Thanks to your kindness, we can offer these enriching experiences that enhance learning and create lasting memories. Your generosity not only helps cover the costs but also shows our students that their community values their education and growth.

Your contribution has been instrumental in making these improvements possible, and we are deeply grateful for your continued support. It is through the generosity of parents like you that we are able to create such positive changes in our school community.

Thank you once again for your commitment and generosity. We look forward to sharing more updates with you as these projects progress!

Information will be coming home with your student regarding our upcoming event. I have provided some playground updates below.

Warm regards,

Stay positive, patient and flexible!

Sincerely,

Bridget O'Melia

These are the proposed stand alone play equipment structures we are considering. We are in the approval process now. I will keep families posted on updates for the playground.

The Standing Bear Fun Run | Save the Dates!

We're excited to introduce this year's main fundraiser, the Standing Bear Fun Run. Our goal this year is to raise $30,000 for field trip transportation and updated playground equipment to benefit ALL students at Standing Bear Elementary.

We’re excited for this fundraising experience because it offers 3 important things to our school community:

1️⃣ User-friendly fundraising platform

2️⃣ Character enrichment program

3️⃣ Fitness-focused event that includes ALL of our students

As a family, you will work together asking friends and family to donate on your student’s Donation Page at MyBooster.com. The best part is, you can still support our school just by SHARING about the fundraiser!

Students will also experience an amazing character enrichment program called “Castle Quest”, teaching students about how to be brave and live with character.

Additional information will be coming home with your student closer to the event. The run will take place on September 20th. I will post a schedule out to families from the classroom teachers.

September:

20th- Boosterthon Fun Run! (schedule will be shared by classroom teachers)

24th- 2 hour late start (more information to follow)

27th- Scholastic school pictures (order forms will be sent home)

October:

4th- No school for students/district curriculum day for staff

11th- First Quarter Ends

24th- No school for students/ Parent Teacher Conferences

25th- No school for students

29th- 2 hour late start

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!

To anyone who is interested, this will be held at Standing Bear in the school gym. Space is limited for this event. You can register using the QR code on the flyer.

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​

• 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

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.

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.

• 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.

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).

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.

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).