GATOR TALES
Grace Abbott Elementary
October 1, 2021
Principal: Dr. Erik Chaussee, epchaussee@mpsomaha.org
Secretary: Cindy Wrenn, clwrenn@mpsomaha.org
About Us
Email: clwrenn@mpsomaha.org
Website: abbott.mpsomaha.org
Location: 1313 N 156th St, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 402-715-2900
Facebook: facebook.com/GraceAbbottElementarySchool
Twitter: @MPS_Abbott
NEWS FROM DR. CHAUSSEE
Keeping Kids Safe…
I write this article only for one reason-saving lives and families. I drive home from work every day on 156th Street. I see people texting while driving (often with kids in the car) and drivers driving too fast. The horrific accident in Lincoln before the Cornhuskers football game took the life of two innocent people including a seven year old. When I see people close to Abbott driving dangerously, I’d like to remind them of the lives that could be shattered including their own. The accident victims are not the only ones whose lives will never be the same. Legal, financial, family, and emotional costs will linger for years to come to the guilty driver who causes a terrible accident.
The investigators identified speed and distraction as the primary causes of the accident which also injured five people. This could have been avoided.
Covid update 9/29
As of today, we have five covid cases including one staff member. Four of the five cases are in one class which resulted in the entire class learning at home. Another class is masking for two weeks due to one positive case.
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED!
Millard Public Schools is seeking local substitute teacher candidates who are able to fulfill the requirements for Nebraska Local Substitute permits. Experiences working with children required. College coursework in education or experience in education preferred.
Nebraska Dept. of Education Local Substitute Permit Requirements:
- Completion of 60 semester credit hours of college coursework
- Completion of a Professional Education Course
- Completion of the Human Relations Training Requirement
- *Written request from the Superintendent for issuance of the certificate for a specific School District.
**Please note that written requests from the Superintendent are only issued to NDE for those candidates who have been officially hired and complete the following:
-attend a pre-hire meeting at the district office
-complete the new hire paperwork
-complete the criminal background check
Candidates extended a job offer will be contacted by email.
For more information please visit:
https://dc2.education.ne.gov/tc_interactive_teaching2/welcome.aspx
If you are able to meet the above requirements please apply here.
Must work a minimum of five (5) days per school year.
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
October 7: 4:15 - 6:15 in person, 6:15 - 8:15 Zoom
October 12: 4:15 - 6:15 Zoom, 6:15 - 8:15 in person
October 13: 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. in person, 10:00 - 11:00 Zoom
We use Pickatime for our conference scheduling. Please click on the box directly under this article for parent instructions if you are new to Abbott. There is a link to sign up in person as well as Zoom:
https://pickatime.com/October/Conferences_IN_PERSON
https://pickatime.com/October/Conferences_ZOOM
The conference window will open at 2:00 p.m. today and close on October 6 at 5:00 p.m. You are only able to schedule one conference time per teacher. If you have twins in one classroom, please read the bottom of the parent instruction page!
ORCHESTRA CONFERENCES will all be done via Zoom on October 12 from 4:15 - 6:15 and October 13 from 2:00 - 3:00. Here is the Pickatime link:
https://pickatime.com/October/Conferences_ORCHESTRA
The orchestra link will open up today at 2:00 p.m. and close on October 11 at 5:00 p.m.
FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Parents and Guardians,
Hopefully this finds you doing well. With conferences coming up soon, I wanted to let you know that I am available to talk to you. I will be available to meet with families in person on October 7th from 4:00 - 6:15 and on October 12 from 6:15 - 8:15. I will also be available to meet with you via Zoom on October 7th and 12th from 4:00 - 8:00. If you would like to meet with me, please send me an email at bmstruck@mpsomaha.org or give me a call at Abbott, 402-715-2900, or Aldrich, 402-715-2020, and I’ll get you scheduled.
HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM
This month our classroom counseling lessons in grades K-5 will focus on skills of resiliency, coping skills and how to get help for oneself and/or a friend. These lessons are intended to educate students on feelings of stress, worry, sadness, how to cope with such feelings, and how to ask for help if needed. Please talk with your child about these feelings, and reinforce appropriate coping strategies such as talking with a trusted adult, exercising, or doing an activity they enjoy. Please contact Mr. Brett Struck at bmstruck@mpsomaha.org or 402-715-2916 with any questions!
Thanks
Brett Struck
School Counselor
Abbott and Aldrich Elementary Schools
WATER BOTTLES AT SCHOOL
YEARBOOK PICTURES WANTED
Please share photos from the walkathon for our Abbott Yearbook! Send your photos to: JLRyba@hotmail.com
MOVIE NIGHT
Due to the high number of covid cases at school we are canceling Movie Night! Sorry for the inconvenience!
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 1 - Walkathon
October 1 - Movie Night cancelled!!
October 4 - Runza Night, 5 - 7 p.m.
October 5 - PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
October 7, 12, 13 - Conferences (Sign up information to be coming out soon)
October 13 - 15 - NO SCHOOL
Parents,
Below is a zoom link invitation to our PTO meeting on Zoom on Tuesday, October 5, at 6:30. Parents do not need to accept an invitation due to the number nor be admitted if all works correctly as it is set up to not have to admit each person.
https://mpsomaha-org.zoom.us/j/95486421064?pwd=TlA1b0hVZGdWamxDamVSdlVsdHFjZz09
BUZZ BOOK INFO!
We have raffle winners for updating info for the Buzz Book!
$15 Amazon Giftcard--Jocelyn Nickerson
$10 Scooters Giftcard -- Chiharu Kunihiro
Popcorn or Popsicle party for Mrs. Nikki Frenche's class --Mandy Fry Meyers
We are now in process of verifying and formatting the buzz book for print. There's still a little bit of time to sneak in an order--remember we don't print a lot of extras. Thank you!
ROOM PARENTS NEEDED
MILLARD FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER - JINGLE 2021
Grace Abbott is looking for donations or volunteers that can help make this MPS Foundation fundraiser a success.
WATCH D.O.G.S. SIGN UP
We are excited to invite our Watch DOGS (Dad of Great Students) back into the building this year! If you would like to volunteer for either a full day, or over our lunch times, please complete the Watch DOG sign up. You can email Debby Powell (dlpowell@mpsomaha.org) or Charlene Hale (cghale@mpsomaha.org) with any questions.
MILLARD SCHOOL BOARD 2020
President - Linda Poole
Vice President - Dave Anderson
Secretary - Stacy Jolley
Treasurer - Amanda McGill Johnson
Board Member - Mike Kennedy
Board Member - Mike Pate