EAGLE NEWS

• October 21, 2024 Seniors Cap and Gown order due date
• October 22, 2024 PreACT for 9th & 10th graders at school dismiss at 1:00pm
• October, 22, 2024 No School 11th/12th grade only
• October 29, 2024 Two Hour Late Start; Teacher School Improvement
• October 30, 2024 Freshman Pathway Showcase 5:30-7:00pm
• November 5, 2024 No School
• November 25-29, 2024 No School; Thanksgiving Break
• December 18-19, 2024 Semester Final Exams
• December 20, 2024-January 3, 2025 No School; Winter Break
• January 6, 2025 Second Semester Begins; School Resumes

Activities. Performing Arts and Athletic Schedules

24-25 OPS Calendar

Thank you to our AWESOME students and staff this new procedure is off to a great start. Students are getting into class sooner and the halls clear at the start of the day.

A BIG shout out to our Central families for getting your students to school. We have seen an increase in attendance which directly effects students being on track for graduation! Attendance matters from the first day of freshman year all the way through senior graduation.

Thank you for doing your best to make appointments on our non-student days and after school hours. Thank you for making sure your student is up and ready to go to school each day. It takes all of us to support our Central Eagles!

Well done Eagles! Keep it up! Every minute counts!

PreACT Test Day is Oct. 22 for 9th and 10th grade Students On Oct. 22, our 9th and 10th grade students will take the PreACT during the school day. Taking the PreACT allows students to become familiar with the test environment, plan for future high school courses and begin discussions about college and career. We expanded this opportunity to include 9th grade students this year to allow more students to benefit from the experience.

Here are important things to remember for the PreACT:

· Tuesday, Oct. 22

· 9th and 10th grade students come to school as normal

· Breakfast and lunch will be served.

· Students will be dismissed at 1 p.m., and buses will depart at approximately 1:10 p.m.

· No school for 11th and 12th grade students

· There is no charge to take the exam.

El día del examen PreACT es el 22 de octubre para estudiantes de 9.º y 10.º grado.

El 22 de octubre, nuestros estudiantes de noveno y décimo grado tomarán el examen PreACT durante el día escolar. Tomar el PreACT permite a los estudiantes a familiarizarse en el entorno del examen, planificar cursos futuros de la escuela preparatoria y comenzar conversaciones sobre la universidad y la carrera. Este año tenemos la oportunidad de incluir a estudiantes de noveno grado para que más estudiantes se beneficien de esta experiencia.

Cosas importantes para recordar el día del examen PreACT:

• El martes 22 de octubre

• Los estudiantes de noveno y décimo grado vienen a la escuela con normalidad.

• Se servirá desayuno y almuerzo.

• Los estudiantes saldrán a la 1 p. m. y los autobuses saldrán aproximadamente a la 1:10 p. m.

• No hay clases para estudiantes de 11º y 12º grado

• No hay ningún cargo por realizar el examen.

Student in-progress grades are available for parent and student viewing by logging into the Infinite Campus Portal. Each grading period grades are posted as a way to measure student progress. Mid-quarter progress reports are posted in the Infinite Campus Portal on 9/16/24, 11/11/24, 2/3/25, 4/22/25.

Report cards will be available online as well as printed for parent teacher conferences; first quarter 10/10/24 and third quarter 3/6/25.

Final semester report cards will be available online and will be mailed to families via US postal service 1/3/25 and 6/1/25.

If you need help with your Infinite Campus Portal account, please contact Tish Finley for assistance at latesh.finley@ops.org

The NEST

The NEST is an onsite toiletry, clothing, school supply, and basic needs closet that Central offers students. Students can access the NEST through their assigned Counselor or the School Social Worker by submitting a request to visit during a noninstructional time. This can be done in person by a blue sheet request in the Counseling Center or by email address. Counseling / Counseling (ops.org)

The NEST is solely funded and supported by the generous communities of Central High School, sponsored by Ms. Hill, School Social Worker. Local community businesses, families, Central alumni and current parents, and churches bless the NEST yearly with thoughtful donations. THANK YOU!

Currently seeking donations:

Sweatpants/leggings/joggers (all sizes, genders), socks/ underwear

Cash is also a tax-deductible donation, kindly accepted for meeting student needs. Thank you for considering. Questions, contact Ms. Hill at dawnna.hill@ops.org.

Managing Mental Health

Ms. Hill is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, which is a certification of holding licenses for being a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner and a Certified Master Social Worker in the State of Nebraska. This certification allows her to serve in the supportive role for students and families in improving quality of life (and education) as it relates to mental health needs and supports.

Did you know that she can try to help with the following types of things?

• Helping to coordinate screening requests for teacher inventories for your student, to rule in or out any mental health concerns.

• Connecting your family to our professionals in the building to request more accommodation or support for your student.

• Being a link to your external behavioral health providers (with a current, signed release of information) to help school personnel understand your student's condition and needs.

• Helping to problem solve when nonattendance surfaces as a symptom of mental health needs. 2024 2025 Community Resources to Support Collaborative Attendance Improvement Planning.pdf

• Linking families to internal and external resources that fit well, to address mental health needs.

• Helping to transition students back from hospitalizations, treatment centers, juvenile placement centers.

• Having a SAFE office space available for practicing coping skills and working through reregulation and calming strategies.

If you are looking to add in additional supports for your student, feel free to reach out to Ms. Hill at 531-299-5637 or dawnna.hill@ops.org.

External Community Resources

Looking for extra support for your family? Wish you knew about community resources in our greater Omaha area? Ms. Hill looks to compile known community resources in her Padlet, that is available for your access. Check it out and see if there is a community resource that looks to serve you and your family! Know about resources that aren't listed? Send them in, please! 2024-2025 Community Resources (padlet.org)

Yoga can help improve flexibility, strength, balance, and posture. It can also help with back pain, arthritis, and joint function. It also helps with weight loss, cardio, and circulatory health. Come get your mind and body right with YOGA ON THE C every Saturday from 9-10am @ Seeman stadium or in the gymnasium. Only $5 per session. Please come out and support the girls track team.

Eagles Take Flight: Freshman Academy: Literacy Access Event – A Success!

On October 2nd, Central High School’s Freshman Academy participated in the second annual Eagles Take Flight Literacy Access Event. This unique opportunity allowed every freshman to visit an Omaha Public Library branch, using our city's public transportation system. The day was filled with learning, exploration, and a growing sense of independence as students discovered how to utilize both the library’s resources and our public transit.

In total, 16 field trips were organized throughout the day, with students visiting the Willa Cather, Omaha South, Charles B. Washington, A.V. Sorensen, Downtown, Benson, W. Clarke Swanson, and Florence Library branches. The visits included guided tours led by the branch managers, who shared insights into the services available at each library. One student reflected on the experience by saying, “I never actually went to a public library like that, and my first experience was actually very peaceful. I felt free.”

The event was preceded by preparatory visits from library branch managers on September 25th and 26th, where students were given an orientation on library etiquette and ensured that every freshman could receive a public library card.

The goal of the event was to empower our students to become Public Transportation and Library Ambassadors. As part of this community service initiative, students are working on presentations that highlight their experiences, from navigating the public transportation system to the books they discovered and checked out from the library. Their enthusiasm and responsible behavior throughout the day impressed their teachers and reinforced the value of this partnership between Central High, the Omaha Public Library, and our local public transportation system.

We were so proud of our freshmen for their maturity and are excited to see the presentations they create, sharing their newfound Public Library and Public Transit knowledge and experiences.

Sept. 19th - PEP sponsored an all-staff luncheon to say thank you to the great staff for all they do! Thank you also to the parents that donated funds and helped organized and serve lunch!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS…

Wed. Oct. 9th-Chipolte Night

25% proceeds donated back to PEP!

Order in person or online at Chipotle

333 N Saddlecreek Rd., 4-8pm

Use code: D3JMYH7

Future PEP Meetings in person in the school library or by Zoom!

Monday, November 11th 7-8pmMonday, March 10th 7-8pmMonday, May 12th 7-8pm

Ways to support PEP activities:

We invite all parents and teachers to become a member of PEP membership for only $15! Or make a donation of any amount, purchase merchandise, or volunteer!

https://omaha-central-hs-pep.square.site/s/shop

You can assign your Kroger/Baker’s rewards, Caseys rewards, & TAGG to benefit PEP!

Follow us on social media

Instagram: @OmahaCentralHighPEP

Facebook: @OmahaCentralPEP

X (Twitter): @OmahaCentralPEP

Thank you!
Nicole Morrison and Katy Dickerson

2024-25 PEP Co-Presidents

The Performing Arts department is off to an amazing start to the year! CHS Singers kicked off the year with a retreat on August 7 and a performance on August 8 for all OPS staff at the Baxter Arena! Jazz Band has also been busy, with a performance at the Lovam Jazz Festival at Turner Park in September. Congratulations to our Marching Band, who have competed in two marching festivals so far, earning fifth place in their division in the Star City Festival and third place in their division in the Bellevue Band Festival, in addition to supporting our football team during home games! We enjoyed fantastic from the choirs at their concert on October 1 and the Orchestra and Jazz Band during their concert on October 8! You can hear these ensembles again at their winter concerts: December 10 (vocal) and December 12 (instrumental) at 7:00 pm in the CHS auditorium.

CHS Singers and Bel Canto are preparing to perform holiday music throughout the community in December. We will perform at senior centers, neighborhood and community events, church groups, and more! This year, freshmen in Junior Chorus will also get the opportunity to sing at a retirement center.

Our Drama department will present a performance of their winter One Act Play on Monday, December 16 at 6:00 pm in the Black Box Theater, and our advanced Guitar class will give a recital in the Black Box on November 14 at 7:00 pm. We encourage you to join us for these free events! Drama will also host an Improv Night fundraiser on Thursday, December 5.

Another can’t-miss event is our all-school production of Beauty and the Beast! We have over 90 students in the cast, crew, and orchestra, and the production is sure to be fantastic. “Be Our Guest” at this fabulous family-friendly show on November 1 (7:00 pm) and Nov 2 (2:00 pm and 7:00 pm). To reserve tickets, call 531-299-4738 or find the QR code online.

The A Cappella Choir is rehearsing for a performance of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Omaha Symphony on November 10 at the Holland Center. Tickets are available through Ticket Omaha. Maestro Ernest Richardson visited class this week to rehearse the choir in preparation for this masterwork performance, and in a few weeks we will invite professional soloists to class to sing with us.

The CHS Mariachi ensemble is preparing for a featured performance at the Nebraska Music Education Association conference in Lincoln on November 21. This concert is free and open to the public! Come join us at any of these events, and help us recognize and celebrate our outstanding Eagle musicians, actors, crew members, and more!

Students in the Tri-M Honor Society will have the opportunity to attend Opera Omaha’s student matinee performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni next week, complete with a backstage tour. Also this month, Advanced Drama students will have the opportunity to see Coraline at the Rose Theater. We are grateful for community partnerships that allow our students to access professional performances at no expense!

Congratulations to the many vocal and instrumental students who auditioned for the Nebraska All-State ensembles. We had over 45 students audition! Results will come out at the end of the month.

Our Music Technology classes are working on new laptops to create, balance, and mix new music using advanced software.

On Eagles Take Flight day, our sophomore instrumental music, vocal music, theatrical arts, and music tech pathway students ventured to the Rose Theater, where we got a tour of the facilities and enjoyed a panel discussion with professionals in various fields of the performing arts, including performing, arts management, technical support, and community engagement.

Save your date for the 111th annual Central High Road Show! This year’s show will be February 21 & 22. Auditions will be right after winter break for any student who wants to showcase their talent!

Omaha Public Schools has been partnering with the Methodist Community Counseling Program for over 25 years. Their behavioral health therapy services are provided by Licensed Mental Health Practitioners located at Central High School. We have one full time and one part time practitioner at Central High School. This service is another layer of support for students. The Methodist Community Counseling Program accepts most major private insurance, Medicaid and/or self-pay. Financial assistance is available to those who qualify to ensure no one is turned away due to the inability to pay. If you have any further questions or need further assistance, please call 402-354-6891.

Packets will be delivered in sophomore English class. The ring packets include a flyer of all class ring designs and an instruction sheet on designing and ordering online at Jostens.com. Rings may be ordered at Jostens.com at any time. The packet is optional to order the ring. Any grade can purchase a ring, but nobody is required to buy one.

Floral arrangements in vases will be displayed at the Central High School Hall of Fame Ceremony on Thursday, October 17, 2024. You have the opportunity to bid on an arrangement to gift to a current Central High School staff member of your choice!

Flowers will be delivered to the designated recipient by Foundation Staff on Friday, October 18th. The winner MUST EMAIL the Foundation at foundation@chsfomaha.org to let us know the name of the staff member. In that email, you may also include a message from you and/or your student that we will attach to the flowers. Proceeds will be given to the Central High PEP (Parent-Educator-Pupil Organization). Happy bidding! https://bit.ly/CHSHOFFlowerArrangements

Completing this form online can give you access to many student and family opportunities.

Educational Benefits Form

Thank you for your help with morning drop off on 22nd and James Fous St in the morning. We appreciate your cooperation so our students can be dropped off safely.

• Slow down and remember to stop at the security guard and wait for direction. Students are crossing and safety is our first concern.
• When dropping off on James Fous there are two lanes. To keep traffic flowing please have your student be ready to get out of your vehicle quickly. You will then turn north onto 22nd Street. You do not need to be in the front of the line for your student to exit the vehicle. Anything you can do to speed up the process is good for all Central families.
• Parent vehicles are not permitted in the faculty/staff lot at drop off and pick up.