Standing Bear News
National Blue Ribbon School, 2020
October 2, 2020
Message from the Principal
Greetings Standing Bear,
We are excited to welcome students back in person next week! See the school start dates below:
- ALL students will login each day at 8:50am for attendance and classroom information (Remote and 3/2 at-home students) and follow the school schedule.
- Family 3/2 students will be at school next week following the below schedule (if you are not at school, you still login each morning and complete the On-Demand lessons)
Monday, October 5, 2020, Students with Last Names beginning with A-K
Tuesday October 6, 2020, Students with Last Names beginning with A-K
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Students with last names beginning with A-K
Thursday, October 8, 2020, Students with last names students L-Z
Friday, October 9, 2020, Students with last names beginning with L-Z
All students, remote and 3/2 model will be attending classes every day either in-person or virtually. ALL students will attend the morning meeting at 8:50am.
Kindergarten: I apologize that we will not be allowing parents to walk kindergarten students to their classrooms this year. However, the teachers will be sending out videos and pictures for you to see the classroom.
- Please send your child to school with the attached name tag below or make a similar name tag on paper (Child's Name and Teacher's Name) This is for Kindergarten students or any younger students parents feel might need one. See example below and a printable version.
If you have any questions or need information not found in this newsletter, I encourage you to call the school at 531-299-2140.
Stay positive, patient and flexible!
Sincerely,
Bridget O'Melia
Before School Each Day!
Remote Learning
- 8:50am- Every Morning remote students will log into the Morning Meeting using the TEAMS app and link. Attendance will be taken at this time and the classroom teacher will provide students with the Task Card for remote learning (including the links for On-Demand videos)
- During the day students will access the videos and complete the assigned tasks. These can be completed on your own time during the day.
- Students will be scheduled for some small group or one-on-one time with the classroom teacher at least once per week.
Remote learning will remain an option for families who feel it is best for their student during this time. There will be differences in the full-time Remote Learning Program when compared to our current instructional model. See the FAQ for details regarding day-to-day instruction for the Remote Learning Program.
3/2 In School Learning Days
- 8:50am- Every Morning students will participate in the Morning Meeting in their classroom in their Standing Bear classroom.
- Students will follow the schedule base on their cohort group (Last name A-K, Last name L-Z)
Our Family 3/2 Instructional Model allows for enhanced social distancing in addition to our layers of precautions which include district-provided facial coverings, hand sanitizer throughout our schools, frequent hand-washing and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting procedures. We take these measures most seriously.
If for any reason parents decide that the remote option is not best for their child, they may contact the school to switch to the Family 3/2 Model.
3/2 At Home Learning Days
- 8:50am- Every Morning students who are on their At-Home learning days will log into the Morning Meeting using the TEAMS app and link. Attendance will be taken at this time and the classroom teacher will provide students with the Task Card for remote learning (including the links for On-Demand videos)
- During the day students will access the videos and complete the assigned tasks.
Arrival
The building is open for students at 8:35am. Please do not drop students off prior to that time, as there is no staff on duty for supervision. Students are welcome to enter through the cafeteria doors for the breakfast program. If they do not want to eat the OPS offered breakfast, they can enter through the main front door.
Students will need to use the painted paws on the sidewalk as an indicator to maintain social distance while waiting to enter the building
We can NOT allow parents to enter the building to walk students to classrooms. Staff members are located in the halls and will be able to direct students to their classrooms.
Dismissal
Dismissal will be staggered slightly. Your child's classroom teacher will be providing detailed information for you regarding classroom specific dismissal procedures.
The scheduled times for dismissal are below:
- Walkers/Bus students- dismiss at 3:50pm
- Kdg-1st students- dismiss at 3:55pm
- 2nd-4th students- dismiss at 4:00pm
Please consider the drive up pick up option instead of getting out of your vehicle and waiting. We ask that you do not congregate by the front entrance. In order for our classes to distance from each other, we will need to utilize all that space.
Attendance: Early Out & Late Students
While we want students present each school day, we understand that things come up. If your child is late to school, we will check them in at the office and send them to class (parents do NOT need to come in with them). Of course, if you need assistance for the office staff you can enter the main office.
If you need to check your child out early for any reason, please call the front office ahead of time at 531-299-2140. Let us know the time you will be picking your child up and we will have them waiting in the office for you. You will be asked to sign them out in the main office. If your child returns from an appointment, parents do not have to sign the child back in. Direct the child to come to the office and we will take care of signing them back into school.
Social Distancing
We will promote social distancing among students in both the classroom and common areas. On the sidewalks outside you will notice paw prints. These are 6 feet apart and will be used as markers for student to stand on while waiting to enter the school in the morning.
Wearing Masks
Masks must be worn at all times during the school day. Please send your student with a mask and place an extra one in their backpack. Remember to wash them on a regular basis!
Make sure that the masks are school appropriate and not a distraction to others.
Sanitization of the Building
Grab & Go Breakfast
Lunch
Lunch will look a little different from in the past. A few days a week, students will eat in the cafeteria. The rest of the time, they will eat in their classrooms.
The USDA and NDE Nutrition Services have provided additional funding as an extension of the CARES act due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Waiver #56 allows School Food Authorities (SFA’s) to provide free meals to all students effective immediately and ending December 31, 2020. All Standing Bear students qualify. After that date, all students will go back to their previous lunch status. To update your student’s lunch status for second semester please go to Lunch Application to complete the form.
Water Bottles
Drinking fountains are equipped with a bottle fill station. Students will NOT be able to utilize the drinking fountain option. Please plan to have your student bring a water bottle each day or leave one at school. Put your students name on the bottle. Students will be able to fill those as needed.
School Supplies
iPads
Family 3/2 students will need to bring their district assigned iPad to school during their at- school learning days. Please remember to charge them in the evening, so they are at 100% when they get to school. Plan to bring headphones as well!
You may want to place all necessary items in a large ziploc bag: iPad, headphones and charger. This will help students stay organized.
Lessons/Task Sheets
For Remote students and Family 3/2 At-Home students- teachers will provide you with access to the district task sheets and links to the On-Demand Lessons.
Students who are at home/remote are still required to complete the assigned work.
Kid's Club
We are limited on the amount of children that can attend Kids Club; most sites will be capped to 30 children on the A-K rotation and 30 children on the L-Z rotation. Acceptance is on first come first served basis. If you’re not immediately accepted due to the site being at capacity, you will be automatically be placed on a waiting list.
The program operates at each designated site on days when school is in session for classroom learning. Kids Club will operate in tandem with OPS by following the 3:2 plan. Please make sure your child has a reservation for each day you need the program. Kids Club will not be providing consolidated days until further notice.
Kids Club is open at 6:30 am at all designated sites until school begins (approximately 8:50 am) and from dismissal of school (approximately 4:05 pm) until 5:30 pm. Please note the new pick-up time is now 5:30 pm.
We will be sending more details to registered families via email very soon. Thank you all for your patience.
Kid's Club Contact Information
Kids Club Office
Omaha Public Schools Foundation
3861 Farnam St.
Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: 402.502.3032
Fax: 402.502.3063
Other Classes: Specials, EL, GATE, & Strings
Standing Bear will still have required specials classes (art, music, PE, etc) for ALL students.
The Family 3/2 model students will only have specials when they are in-person, but the fully-remote students will have a lesson to complete for each special once a week per your task cards.
Select classes (GATE, Strings, EL) will be held for those students who participate.
Calendar of Events
Mark Your Calendars!
1st-2nd: No school for Elementary Students
5th- First day of in person for Students with Last Names beginning with A-K
8th- First day of in person for students with last names students L-Z
9th: National Dessert Day! Enjoy something sweet!
19th: Second Quarter Begins
21st-22nd: P/T Conference (more information to come)
22nd & 23rd: No school for students
Notes from the Nurse
Daily Health Assessment
Every day before they leave home, families must complete a self-health assessment, asking themselves three vital questions:
- Have you or anyone in your household had a fever (100.4 or greater), cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, muscle pain, sore throat, head aches, chills, nausea vomiting, diarrhea or new loss of smell/taste in the last three days?
- Is anyone in your household waiting for a COVID-19 test result due to symptoms?
- Have you or anyone in your household been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you will be expected to stay home.
Important Information from Standing Bear
Building Security
For the safety and security of our students and this building, we will not be allowing visitors into the building at this time.
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. Also, we typically have student "Ambassadors" to assist with opening your car doors for easy drop off. This is currently on hold until further notice.
School Messenger
We will be using the School Messenger (Robo call or email) to communicate this year. Please make sure to contact the office if you need to update your contact information.
Birthday Celebrations
Due to COVID-19, we will not allow any outside items brought nto the building. We will continue to highlight students and have them feel special on this day!
Bridget O'Melia, Principal
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).