The RPS Weekly Message
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Dear RPS Parent/Guardian,
This week’s message includes information on the following topics listed below.
An Important Message from the Superintendent
Grading Survey - Your Input is Needed!
RHS High School Musical Starts Next Week!
Help Spread the Word - Rake Ralston Community Project
Join the Ram Family - Fantastic Job Opportunities
District Health Reminders
OneWorld COVID-19 Testing in Mobile Health Clinic
Vaccination Information
Ram Recognition
An Important Message from the Superintendent
RPS Parents and Guardians,
Thank you for the support and commitment needed to complete the first quarter of the 2021-2022 school year. As we move into the second quarter and look towards the rest of the school year, we have lots of challenges and work ahead of us. By continuing to have great teamwork, collaboration, commitment, and care we will keep on this positive path as we move forward.
Starting on Monday, November 1st, there will be a change in our secondary COVID-19 protocols. Ralston Middle School and Ralston High School will be transitioning to a mask-recommended status. Masks will be optional but still highly recommended for students and staff at these buildings. This change is in response to declining case counts both within Ralston Public Schools and Douglas County.
All RPS elementary schools will remain in a mask-required environment. Our elementary schools will continue in this environment until access to a COVID-19 vaccination is available, and our elementary-age students can be fully vaccinated. Once this happens, the District will review our protocols at the elementary level.
It is Important to Note: RPS can and will make adjustments as necessary at any time during the school year. The District will continue to communicate with the Douglas County Health Department and monitor positive cases in our District and community. If case counts increase to a level of concern, we will consider reinstituting a mask-required environment for our secondary schools at any time.
Our health and safety protocols and procedures will continue as they have all year at all campus locations. In the end, we want to create learning environments that are as normal as possible while focusing on the health and safety of students and staff.
The District will review the secondary schools COVID-19 protocols during the last week in November, and if any adjustments are needed, they will be done before the beginning of December.
Thank you for your continued cooperation and partnership in keeping our students in the most powerful place they can be for learning, the classroom!
Sincerely,
Dr. Mark Adler
Superintendent
Ralston Public Schools
Grading Survey - Your Input is Needed!
This fall, the RPS Grading Committee has started to review our District's practices and policies around grading and reporting. Our team's work will include looking at what is going well and how to improve our current grading practices, policies, and procedures.
An important part of this process includes gathering feedback from you, our parents and guardians, to help guide how grading looks in the future. Your feedback is important to us!
Please take a moment and complete the survey that corresponds to your student(s)’ current grade level by October 31, 2021. We appreciate your insight into this very important topic.
Grading K-4 Families - English
Grading K-4 Families - Spanish
RHS High School Musical Starts Next Week!
Mark your calendars! The performances of Ralston High School’s production of “Urinetown - The Musical” are scheduled to start next week. Performance dates are October 28-30 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 31st at 2:00 pm.
Tickets are all general admission. Guests will be able to purchase tickets at the door. Adults are $12 and students/seniors are $8. All performances will take place in the Ralston Performing Arts Center at Ralston High School.
For more information please call 402-898-3545.
Help Spread the Word - Rake Ralston Community Project
If you know a neighbor or Ralston resident who needs assistance with their yard cleanup, contact Ms. Hartman at andrea_hartman@ralstonschools.org. This year’s Rake Ralston Day will take place on Saturday, November 13, from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Rake Ralston is a yearly community service project organized by members of the Ralston High School National Honors Society. Members go out into the Ralston community and clean up yards of Ralston residents who are unable to do so on their own.
“Rake Ralston allows our students to get out in the community and help citizens that maybe need a little extra help raking their yards,” says Ms. Andrea Hartman, RHS teacher and NHS sponsor.
Join the Ram Family - Fantastic Job Opportunities
District Health Reminders
AWAITING RESULTS OF A TEST - STAY HOME:
If your student or someone in your immediate family is awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, please keep your students at home. We ask you to do this until you receive the results from the health care provider.
IF YOUR STUDENT IS SICK, HAVE THEM STAY HOME:
If your student is not feeling well or does not pass the daily screening questions, keep them home.
COMMUNICATION:
If you need to keep your student(s) home, please make sure to call your student’s school and let them know. A member of the District Health Team will follow up with each family to ask some additional questions and help provide additional information.
OneWorld COVID-19 Testing in Mobile Health Clinic
The OneWorld Medical Mobile Health Clinic can now provide COVID-19 tests to RPS staff, students, and families. Interested individuals must call 402-880-4770 to set up an appointment on Tuesdays (Ralston Middle School) or Fridays (Ralston High School).
A OneWorld Health professional will administer the tests, and each will be conducted in the patient's vehicle. Individuals will receive their results in 20 minutes. If Tuesdays and Fridays do not work for an individual, you can also schedule a COVID-19 test at any OneWorld metro clinic.
** Please Note: Due to maintenance issues, the OneWorld Mobile Health Clinic will be back on Ralston campuses starting the first week in November. **
COVID-19 Vaccination Information
The Douglas County Health Department and Children’s Hospital have provided us information about COVID-19 vaccinations and opportunities to receive a vaccination. RPS continues to work closely with our health care professionals, and we are passing along this information as a resource.
Children’s Hospital Vaccination Clinics and Family Resources
Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine? Click on the following link to view several family resources including: videos, frequently asked questions, and a list of vaccination clinics offered at Children’s Physicians Clinics throughout our community.
Douglas County Health Department Clinics
The Douglas County Health Department website is also a resource for finding a vaccination clinic. Click HERE to visit their website to find a clinic near you. If you have questions, please call the Douglas County Health Department COVID-19 Call Center at 402-444-3400.
If you have additional questions about vaccinations, please consult with your pediatrician or family doctor.
Ram Recognition
Each week in Ram Recognition, Ralston Public Schools will highlight some good news happening across the District.
RMS Students to Attend UNO Code Crush
Congratulations to Ralston Middle School students Lauren Walmrath and Grace Johnson on being selected to participate in the Fall Summit of CodeCrush! Only 32 students are selected to participate in the CodeCrush Summit! Way to go, Lauren and Grace!
Through the University of Nebraska at Omaha, CodeCrush was created to show eighth and ninth-grade students, and their mentoring teachers, the world of IT. For three days, the UNO College of Information Science and Technology inspires CodeCrushers to take a deeper look at IT through hands-on experiences with emerging fields such as bioinformatics, IT innovation, music technology, and cybersecurity.
Ralston Middle School JV Football Team Earns Undefeated Season
Congratulations to the Ralston Middle School JV football team for earning an undefeated football season this fall. It is the first year RMS was able to play in the new Trailblazer Conference. They made an impression by going 5-0 and beating every conference team!
A big shout out to all the players and coaches, Mr. Lemke and Mr. Lowry, on a job well done!
RMS JV Football Schedule
Beatrice: 28-0
Nebraska City: 30-0
Platteview: 32-0
Wahoo: 32-0
Plattsmouth: 20-18
RHS Yearbook Staff Earn Top Honor from State Association
Congratulations to the Ralston High School Yearbook staff on receiving the Nebraska High School Press Association Cornhusker Award for their 2021 Yearbook. They were awarded this honor at the organization's annual conference. It is the highest honor given by the NE High School Press Association to a state high school. A group of independent publication judges from across the nation reviewed each submitted publication within a specific classification system.
The RHS Yearbook Staff also brought home a Golden Kernel Award for Yearbook Design and Layout excellence. #RamProud
RHS Running back Breaks State Record
Last Thursday against Blair High School, Ralston High School senior running back Rashad Madden broke a pretty big record! He set a new Nebraska High School Class B single-game rushing record by compiling 416 total rushing yards against the Bears.
Fun Fact: The state record Rashad broke was held by RHS alumnus Isaac Wallace, who in 2013 ran for 406 yards versus Omaha Roncalli.
Congratulations to Rashad and the Ralston Rams football team! Photo courtesy of RHS Yearbook member Serenity Beisch.
Ralston Public Schools
Email: jim.frederick@ralstonschools.org
Website: ralstonschools.org
Location: 8545 Park Drive, Ralston, Nebraska, USA
Phone: 402-331-4700
Facebook: facebook.com/RalstonPublicSchools
Twitter: @ralstonschools