Superintendent Briefing
August 2019 - Parent - Guardian Edition
WELCOME!
August 1, 2019
Dear Parents/Guardians,
It is with great anticipation and enthusiasm that I welcome you back for another great school year here within the North Platte Public Schools! The first day of school for students in grades K-8 and 9 will be Monday, August 19, 2019. The first day of school for all other students will be Tuesday, August 20, 2019.
Our schools are excited to welcome you and your children to another great year here in NPPS! There are lots of great things happening at our schools so be sure to check out the district and school websites http://www.nppsd.org/, keep an eye on your mail and email, check phone messages, and watch for flyers and other materials that will be sent home with your students the first few days of school to let you know about these exciting events! You can also check out my monthly briefings, or you can check us out on Facebook and Twitter – all of which are linked from our website.
I also want to remind all parents/guardians of our incredible volunteer program! The North Platte Public School District is well known for our strong volunteer program where parents and community members are encouraged to actively participate in the educational processes of our schools in various ways. Last year we many hours donated to our schools by our awesome volunteers. Thank you!
North Platte Public Schools is fortunate to have a large base of volunteers from different community agencies. Our students benefit from the volunteers that help our school system. While volunteers are not school employees, they are held to the same standards as school employees. All regular volunteers will be required to complete a Volunteer Agreement Form that will be kept at the school site where they volunteer. In addition to the signed agreement, regular volunteers are required to complete a Volunteer Background Check to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff. All of the forms can be found on the district website: click ‘District’ - ‘Human Resources' -- ‘Volunteer Information’ and you are there: https://tinyurl.com/y3esdbtn You may also inquire at your school’s Principal’s office for more information.
As we get ready for a new school year, I want to once again draw your attention to the importance of school attendance. Did you know that absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year? Did you know poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade? Did you know that by 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school? Finally, did you know that research shows missing 10% of the school year, which is equivalent to 18 days here at NPPS, negatively affects a student’s academic performance? That’s just two days per month!
Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success – both in school and in life. We need your support. When you help us make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better grades, develop healthy life habits, and have a better chance of graduating from high school ready to successfully meet all the challenges life may have in store for them! Please help us help your child to make daily school attendance a priority! Here is a great resource for families: https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/handouts-for-families/ Thank you!
In closing, the North Platte Public Schools’ staff continue to work tirelessly to make our schools a place where your child wants to come each and every day to challenge themselves, to socialize, and to achieve all that they can achieve as learners! We all care deeply about the success of our children! We are lucky to have such a dedicated and caring staff whose focus and priorities are all in the right places – building positive relationships with each and every student! Our students and staff honor our Code of Conduct by demonstrating respect, honesty, courage, compassion, and responsibility and our parents and the entire community model these same values for our students.
I am proud to be your Superintendent of Schools and will also work hard to make sure our pursuit for GREATNESS continues to thrive in NPPS! We are all very proud to be NPPS BULLDOGS! I look forward to another great year! Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with questions, comments, or concerns. Our contact information is on the District website http://www.nppsd.org/.
GO BULLDOGS!
Sincerely,
Ron Hanson,
NPPS Mobile App
We are happy to share with our North Platte Public Schools community the release of our updated mobile app. The app is designed to get quick access to district and school information, news and events. You can access the new mobile app in both the Apple App Store and Google Play store. Simply search for "NPPSD" in either store. -- Brian Tegtmeier, Director of Technology.
Congratulations!
Congratulations to the NPHS Boys Golf team! They are your 2019 Class B STATE CHAMPIONS! So proud of all the boys and coaches! #WTMB
What a great way to end the 2018-19 school year and to set our goals for a GREAT 2019-20 school year.
On behalf of North Platte Public School, we want to thank coaches Jim Orcutt and Matt Kaminski. For Coach Orcutt, it is ideal way to finish a great teaching and coaching career. Thank you to golfers Drew Phillips, Finn Lucas, Tanner Ruda, Jayden Jones, and Kasch Morrison for the performance at the state meet. Great kids...Great golfers...Great team!
Skill USA National Champions - Congratulations!
Skills USA earned another National Championship in Opening & Closing ceremonies!
Members are: Kainin Wilson, Mia Hilber-Hansmeier, Hannah Rosenof, Carli Fudge, Jes Crankshaw, Sarah Phares, Rebecca Ady.
Congratulations!
NPHS Pacers placed 1st in Home Routine and had 6 All Americans.
North Platte Public Schools Awards Staff Member of the Month for May 2019
The North Platte Public Schools Foundation in conjunction with North Platte Public Schools is excited to announce that Jami Allen was honored as the NPPS Bulldog Staff member of the month for May.
She teaches dual credit English and junior English at North Platte High School.
Jami is originally from Bartley, Nebraska, and graduated in 2000 from Twin Valley High School. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Language Arts Education 7-12 from the University of Nebraska at Kearney, followed by her Master of Arts in English from Fort Hays State University. She is currently pursuing her Educational Doctorate with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Jami says, “The mission of our school is to prepare students to be career and college-ready; since my courses focus on effective communication on multiple levels (writing, speaking, and listening), they benefit students at any level with whatever course their lives might take. I believe it is important students learn for understanding and to improve their quality of life as well as the lives of those around them”.
She was nominated by Scott Siegel, NPHS Principal who said that Jami is a school leader and goes the extra mile to help students learn.
Winners are rewarded with a gift basket, balloons and a gift card to the Bulldog store at NPHS provided by the Foundation as well as gifts from our monthly business sponsor and a flower bouquet from Prairie Friends and Flowers.
The North Platte Public Schools Foundation is facilitating the program and takes nominations from principals and administration. Staff members are awarded monthly throughout the school year and will be recognized at the end of the year Education After Hours. Business sponsors are being sought for the 2019-2020 school year. For more information, contact the North Platte Public Schools Foundation at 696-3325.
School Improvement Process
A school improvement process is a systematic on-going process involving planning, implementation, and evaluation and renewal of school improvement activities to meet local and statewide goals and priorities. All accredited schools in Nebraska must have a school improvement process in effect according to Rule 10-009.01. The process includes a periodic review by visiting educators who provide consultation to the local school/community for continued accomplishment of plans and a goals. In accordance with Rule 10-009.01B each school must have an external team visit at least once each five years.
The External Team’s Final Report for North Platte Public Schools NE Frameworks Continuous Improvement Visit
NPPS District’s Notable Achievements (Commendations)
Well-functioning continuous improvement processes:
1. Governance & Leadership support of the District’s purpose & direction and strategic resource management in an efficient and effective manner.
2. The District provides an effective communication process that supports the purpose & direction at all levels of the organization and the community.
3. Community and Business Partners value the District’s purpose & direction and actively engage in opportunities to participant, collaborate, and invest in student growth & development.
NPPS District’s Growth Opportunities (Recommendations)
Suggestions for leading and guiding high impact continuous improvement in the coming year(s):
1. Intentionally & purposefully build certified staff capacity in using the I.D.E.A.L. CIP process to measure staff instructional impact to engage and grow students academically; utilizing quality feedback.
2. Support all students’ social, emotional, physical, and behavioral needs using the MTSS Model, SEL curricular and system offerings.
3. Continue to grow the College, Career, and Civic Readiness initiatives and opportunities at all levels of the system, K-12, to sustain programming in support of your purpose that of preparing students to be productive, responsible citizens; And, your belief that ALL students can achieve.