We are continuing to focus on our attendance this week (and next) so we can celebrate our successes together as a community. You'll see more in this Buffett Bulletin regarding our Spirit Week coming up next week. Did you know the following facts about how attendance impacts your child's academic and social-emotional well-being:

• Missing 10% of school days (1-2 days every few weeks) can make it harder to gain early reading and math skills, learn to read, and achieve academic success.
• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs a student may drop out of school.
• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
• Absences, late arrivals, and early pick ups can affect the whole classroom as teachers have to stop, pause, or slow down instruction to help students catch up.
• Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school and themselves.
• Students who attend school regularly stay engaged, successful, and on track to graduate.

Did you know there is a Buffett Attendance Team that meets every Friday with Dorothy Walker-Dombeck, our Attendance/School Support Liaison? We work together as a team to discuss which students are having attendance challenges and brainstorm how we can provide support/interventions to help them. This team also works closely with our school social worker and guidance counselors in an effort to provide support from community resources as well. We want all of our students in school each day so they can Go. Grow. Know. Show.

Julia Pick, Principal

Students will be taking part in Fall MAP testing the week of Sept. 11-14. Testing will take place in homeroom classes on and adjusted schedule.

Please try to avoid checking students out from 8:55-10:15 on testing dates.

Homeroom students set goals for how they hope to do their best on MAP tests. Enjoy these photos.

On Friday last week, NJHS held their first meeting. Students interested in being leaders ran for officer roles. Members voted the officers in after hearing campaign speeches. Congratulations to the following officers: Liam T. is President, Alexis K. & Bella B. are Vice Presidents, Luciana P. is Secretary, and Jessica B. is Treasurer. We are looking forward to their leadership and positive impact this year!

#OPSProud Week will take place Sept. 11 - 15. District Communications has fun and engaging ways that staff, students and families can share what makes them proud to be a part of Omaha Public Schools.

Here's how you can celebrate OPS Proud week with Buffett:

• We are creating a video montage telling why we are #OPSProud. Students, staff and families can submit their own video here that could be featured. Here is a sample.
• OPS Proud Spirit Week at Buffett for Attendance Matters!
  
• We will have special visitors from our high schools welcoming students in the mornings during this week.
• We will also be raffling off some fun prizes for our students who participate in the spirit week dress up days. This is a week of school you won't want to miss!

Did you know that Omaha Public Schools created their MTSS-B program based on the nationwide PBIS management systems? This year Buffett joined other schools around the metro by joining PBIS Rewards. Students and teachers now use the PBIS Rewards app to give and receive digital Bobcat Bucks. These bucks are later spent at our school store.

• Reminder that all immunization and physicals need to be turned in as soon as possible.
• For those participating in sports, those students MUST have a sports physical (for 8th graders, done after May 1, 2023 and for 7th graders, done after March 1, 2023), an OPS Student & Parent Concussion Information Sheet and Acknowledgement Form signed and turned in, a Nebraska School Athletic Association Consent Form returned, and an OPS Medical Health Insurance Information Form turned in.

For 7th Grade Students:

This is a reminder to all 7th grade families that students need a physical exam and be up to date on all immunizations before September 11th. This is a requirement based on Nebraska state law. We recommend contacting your child's primary healthcare provider to schedule a physical and update immunizations. Please contact the school or school nurse should you have any questions.

Hey history buffs! We are looking at you! Did you know that a Buffett team went to the NATIONAL competition last summer in Washington D.C.? Yep, that's right! It was our first time making it this far in the competition and we plan to do it again! Buffett's National History Day competition team is getting started next Wednesday, September 13, in C204 (the Broadcasting classroom). We will meet until 4:30. Ms. Howe, Ms. Moyer, and Ms. Chyka are excited to get your history day projects started! New members are welcome.

Here at Buffett we have high performing teachers and students in every classroom. Do your best to live out our Buffett High 5 expectations so you can thrive and be your best. One item to work on is taking ownership and pride of the space we call home during the day, our school. Throw your trash away instead of on the floor. Pick up the space around you at lunch. Or help your teacher at the end of class tidy up and prepare for the next class.

The store will be closed next week due to testing.

Attention all students who are staying after school for athletics practices and tryouts. You need to make sure to sign up for the late bus if you qualify to ride one after school. Please sign up no later than 10am.