Panther Press

Principal - Belinda Westfall

Secretary - Janis Thompson

Health Assistant - Carole Anderson

Certified Staff

KDG - Sarah Schuppan, Molly Seals

Gr 1 - Sandy Fey, Karen Neuman

Gr 2 - Taylor Wilken, Alexa Thielen

Gr 3 - DeAnne Stroud, Sarah Volk

Gr 4 - Jill Langhorst, Leon Micek

Gr 5 - Claire Hofmann, Stephanie Sinnott

Gr 6 - April Bridwell, Richard Christie

TLC - Jordan Carmichael, Michele Marino

Library/Media - Molly Matheson

PE - Barry Glanzer

Art - Melisa Brezina

Music - Madeline Henecke

Band - Mike Freeman

Strings - Viktoria Matheson

EY - Megan Thompson

ELL - Hillary Haddix

Reading - Janelle Strecker

Speech - Claudia Kinnaman

Psychologist - Meghan Morrissey

Behavioral Interventionist - Jennifer Borges

Classified Staff

Educational Assistants - Danica Burton, Nancy Epstein, Betty Johnson, Trudy Foster, Sam Novak, Mariela Tribulato, Stephanie Poisel

Day Custodian - Andrew Larson

Evening Custodian - Jasmine Butler

Evening Custodian - DaVeontae Stark

Fifth Grade

Dear Prairie Lane Families,

I am thrilled to be joining the Prairie Lane team as a 5th grade teacher this year! In the spring semester, I was able to substitute in various roles throughout the building and felt so welcomed by every student and staff member. I was even able to substitute in 5th grade for Ms. Krysl several times, so I understand what big shoes I have to fill. Thankfully, I will have Ms. Sinnott and my other teammates to guide me along the way.

Growing up, I attended Westside schools and went away to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for college. When it came time for student teaching, I knew I wanted to come back to the wonderful Westside district, this time as an educator. My student teaching experience was in 1st grade at Rockbrook Elementary and I learned so much within the craziness that was the 2020-2021 school year. As mentioned, I spent Spring 2021 substituting in Westside and experienced many different buildings and grade levels, with Prairie Lane always being one of my favorite places to be. I am so grateful to be at Prairie Lane, with the amazing staff, students, and new building. I cannot wait to have my first official classroom and look forward to the new school year. Go Panthers!

Sincerely,

Claire Hofmann

Music

Hello Prairie Lane families! My name is Mrs. Madeline Henecke and I am so excited to join the Westside community this fall! For the past 2 years I have been living in Enid, Oklahoma with my husband Andrew (and our dog Bailey), where I have been teaching and he has been finishing his active duty service in the Air Force. We are thrilled to be moving back to Omaha this summer! I grew up in the Omaha area, and while Andrew was stationed at Offutt, he found a home in this amazing city. I look forward to meeting all of you and making music with all the students at Rockbrook and Prairie Lane.

August

12 Sneak-a-Peek 5:30-6:30pm

17 First Day of School

31 Curriculum Night 5:30 - 6:30 pm

31 PLCC Meeting 6:30 - 7:30 pm

31 District Wide Elementary Instrumental Curriculum Night, WMS 6:30 - 7:30pm

September

3 Professional Learning - No School

6 Labor Day - No school

22 School Picture Day

You can link to the calendar at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/r/month?tab=mc.

8:00-8:20 am Staff Planning

8:20 am First Bell

8:30 am Classes Begin

3:30 pm M, T, Th, F Dismissal

3:00 pm W Dismissal

We will have supervision outside the building starting at 8:10 am. We ask that students not arrive before 8:10 am unless:

• Participating in a school activity
• Serving on Safety Patrol
• Working with a teacher
• Attending Club 66 Before Care program

WHY CAN’T I ARRIVE EARLY?
Teachers are involved in team meetings, staff meetings and individual planning from 8:00-8:20 am. Students may enter the building when first bell rings at 8:20 am. Our school day begins promptly at 8:30 am. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

We want to know that all our students are safe. Please notify the office at 402-390-6470, or thompson.janis@westside66.net, when your student is not coming to school or will be late for school. If we have not heard from you, it is our policy to call.

Students arriving after 8:30 am must come to the office and check in. Parents picking up or dropping off their students during the day for appointments, illness, etc., must sign them in and out through the office.

All Prairie Lane families are invited to come to Sneak-A-Peek open house from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 12th. This fun night provides students and parents with the opportunity to meet their teachers and see where classrooms are located before the first day of school. Come join us!

Online enrollment for the upcoming school year is now available! This process replaces the paper forms sent home at the beginning of each school year. You will use the PowerSchool Parent Portal to access the Registration.

How do I get started?
Login into your PowerSchool Parent Portal. From the Parent Portal:

1. Select the student you wish to register along the top
2. Select the Student Registration Icon on the left side for 2021-2022.
   
3. Agree to the terms and conditions
4. Click Begin Forms

I can’t remember my login for the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
If you aren’t able to retrieve your login credentials using the “Having trouble signing in?” link on the Sign In page, please contact powerschool.support@westside66.net for assistance logging in to the Parent Portal. Please supply the name(s) of child(ren).

Do I have to answer all the questions?
Required questions are marked as "Required".

What if I make a mistake?
If you would like to make a change, click on the underlined field or click “Prev” to return to a previous page.

I’ve completed the form, now what?
When you have finished entering your information, click “Submit.” This will send all of the information you’ve entered to the school. If you cannot click on this button, you will need to make sure that you have answered all required questions.

What if I have more than one student at *is*Customer:Name*is*?
Do I need to do this for each child? Yes, because you’ll need to provide information that is specific for each child. We recommend that you submit one *is*Action:Title*is* and then start another – this will allow you to “snap over” shared family information, which will save you time. Go back to your PowerSchool Parent Portal, click on next child's name, then click on the icon again.

All Westside Community Schools will communicate news and information via our school and district websites as well as email. Please update your Returning Student Registration to make sure we have your most current email address.

• Monthly Panther Press Newsletter and Panther Weekly News - These will be sent to you via email and are filled with important information for you about current events.

• Parent-Student Handbook and other important district information can be found at westside66.org.

If you know that your child will not be attending Prairie Lane in the Fall, please call the ABC Welcome Center at 402-390-2603 as soon as possible.

Additionally, the Prairie Lane office must be updated on any legal documentation concerning your child, including restraining orders, custody changes or address changes.

ALL Westside Community Schools students, regardless of need, will receive FREE meals through the 2021/22 school year and at no additional cost to the district. Meals are funded by the US Department of Agriculture, as an extension of waivers issued to provide safe, healthy food for children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please note there is an additional charge for any extra items not included in a full meal scanned for your student:

Student Prices:

Extra Main: $1.20

Water or Extra Milk* $0.50

*Meals includes one milk. Water is always extra.

BREAKFAST PROGRAM - Breakfast is served from 8:10 - 8:30 daily. Our breakfast program will be available beginning August 17, the first day of school.

LUNCH MONEY

• CASH OR CHECK - Breakfast and lunch charges come out of the same account. Each student in your family has a separate account, but you may send one check to be divided. Please make checks out to “Prairie Lane.” You may also drop lunch money in the “lunchbox” at the office during our Sneak-A-Peek night or anytime. Be sure to include your child's NAME.

• PAY ON-LINE - Our on-line payment website is www.myschoolbucks.com. If you are setting up a new myschoolbucks account, you will need your student's ID numbers available from Mrs. Thompson at the office. For additional support or questions, please contact Michele Divoky at divoky.michele@westside66.net or 402-390-3382, or you can go to support@myschoolbucks.com.

Free/Reduced Applications - For families in need, applications for free/reduced meals should still be completed every year regardless of the current free meals program or whether you qualified in the past. Forms are available on-line now and anytime at wcsapplyforfreelunch.heartlandapps.com .

School Nurse

Lynette Mullins will be the district nurse assigned to our school. She visits us regularly, once a week but is available to us at anytime if needed.

Carole Anderson, our Health Assistant, will be in the office everyday for daily health matters.

Medication Administration Policy

Medication should be brought to school only when it is not possible to arrange administration outside of school hours. All prescription and over-the-counter medications, including medicated creams, eye drops, ear-drops, herbal products, and cough drops, must be provided to the school by the parent/guardian in the pharmacy- or manufacturer- labeled container. Repackaged and expired medications will not be accepted.

• A Medication Authorization form must be completed for any medication taken at school. These forms may be obtained from the Health Office or on the school website. The physician portion of the medication form must be signed by your doctor for any prescription medication. Non-prescription medicines can only be kept at school for two weeks at a time. If more time is needed, the form must be updated by a parent.

• Students are not permitted to keep any type of medication with them; all medication must be kept in the health office. The only exception is for students who must carry an inhaler for asthma, in which case a parent/guardian must submit written verification from a physician that the student is able to self-carry and self-manage.

Student Illness Guidelines

• Office personnel will notify parents/guardian when a student needs to be sent home from school due to illness. Conditions requiring a student be sent home include: temperature greater than 100.0°F, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained rashes, or on determination by the school nurse that the child’s condition prevents meaningful participation in the educational program, presents a health risk to the child or others, or that medical consultation is warranted unless the condition resolves. Before allowing a child exhibiting any of these symptoms to return to school, parents should be sure that the child has been symptom- and fever-free for 24 hours without the assistance of medication.

• Parents should complete the online Returning Student Registration each year to verify that all emergency daytime phone numbers are current, so that parents can be reached if their child becomes ill or is injured while at school. Parents should also inform the School Nurse or Health Assistant of health-related information they feel is important for each child’s safety and success at school.

We are a parent teacher association involved in the betterment of the school for its students, teachers and support staff. Throughout the school year, Community Club provides fun activities and fundraising events for the betterment of our school. As a self-sustaining organization, the Prairie Lane Community Club relies on parent and teacher volunteers to coordinate and run all the activities and fundraising events.

The 2021-22 PLCC Board :

President -Tara Dennis

Vice President - Kara Covrig

Treasurer - Ellen Sonnleitner

Secretary - Angela Shaw

Suggestions or comments can be directed to president.plcc@gmail.com

Students in the Westside Community Schools are expected to dress in a way that is appropriate for the school setting. Students should not dress in a manner that is dangerous to the health and safety of anyone or interferes with the learning environment or teaching process in our school. Following is a list of examples of attire that will not be considered appropriate; this list is not exclusive, and other forms of attire may be deemed by the Principal to be inappropriate for the school setting:

1. Clothing that shows an inappropriate amount of bare skin or underwear (midriffs, spaghetti straps, sagging pants) or clothing that is too tight, revealing or baggy, or tops and bottoms that do not overlap or any material that is sheer or lightweight enough to be seen through, or otherwise of an appropriate size and fit so as to be revealing or drag on the ground.
2. Shorts, skirts, etc. that do not extend downward at least as far as the student’s fingertips when the student is standing fully upright with arms relaxed at his or her side.
3. Sleepwear and slippers, including pajama bottoms, blankets and costumes, unless part of a school-sponsored activity.
4. Clothing or jewelry that advertises or promotes beer, alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs.
5. Clothing or jewelry that could be used as a weapon (chains, spiked apparel) or that would encourage “horseplay” or that would damage property (e.g. cleats).
6. Head wear including hats, caps, bandannas, scarves and hoods worn over the head.
7. Clothing or jewelry which exhibits nudity, profanity, sexual references or lewd, indecent, or vulgar double meaning.
8. Clothing or jewelry that is gang related.
9. Heavy coats and jackets.

Violations of dress code will expose the student to disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct.

Students are reminded that all personal items, such as skateboards, ipods, toys, footballs, basketballs, etc., are not to be brought to school unless specifically requested by the classroom teacher. These items could be damaged or lost.

Please take a moment to view and familiarize yourself with the District Approved Snack List below. All birthday treats and snacks provided for class must be on the District Approved List. Students may bring individual snacks for themselves that aren't on this list, but we still encourage foods from this list when possible to help keep all of our learners safe. Teachers will provide more guidelines for individual classrooms.

• Please send a water bottle to school with your child.

• You may send a bottle of hand-sanitizer to keep at their desk; this is optional.
• Please place names on all items and containers.
  
• We understand this list is long. Thank you for purchasing what you can during this time.
• We know it's a lot to carry, so please feel free to bring your student's school supplies with you at Sneak-A-Peek or to send with students over the first few days of school.
  

Attention Fifth Grade Students and Parents - You are invited to BE A PART OF THE MUSIC! This fall, you will have the opportunity to do what so many successful students have done before you by being a part of Band and Strings! In the first three weeks of school we will be visiting all the buildings, demonstrating the instruments, and giving students the opportunity to select an instrument of their choice. We will have a parent meeting about our program on Tuesday, August 31 at 6:30 pm at Westside Middle School. All are welcome to attend to learn about elementary instrumental music and meet the teachers. We are excited to introduce your child to the world of instrumental music!

The Elementary Instrumental Music Staff

Gail Carpenter-Johnson, Michael Freeman, Viktoria Matheson and Ken Meints

Have a Safe, Respectful, Responsible Summer!

# BE KIND

SEE YOU SOON!