Superintendent Briefing
February 2019
North Platte Public School District Strives toward GREATNESS
Behind every great team is a strong culture; great leadership; and passionate, committed people.
Team culture is the written and unwritten rules that say how a team communicates, connects, thinks, works, and acts.
To create our culture, we must identify what we stand for and what we want to be known for.
Identify what you stand for: Greatness
What do you want to be known for? Greatness
When you know what you want to be, you can create your culture to become it.
NPPSD is working on a re-branding process. Principals and staff will be providing input on what we stand for and what do we want to be known for in the upcoming months.
NPPS District 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.
Staff Member of the Month
Award Presentation
Bonnie Feeney
Award Presentation
Bonnie Feeney January Staff Member of the Month
Bonnie is a science teacher at Madison Middle School. "Bonnie exemplifies greatness. She is an extremely talented professional and we are lucky to have her here in North Platte. Bonnie has gained tremendous respect from her peers. First and foremost, she has done this because she respects everyone first. She is willing to go to bat for anyone who needs her. She accepts all challenges and is the first one to take charge when something needs to get done. Bonnie is the most organized person I have ever met in my entire life. This helps not only her, but her teaching partners. Bonnie has done a fantastic job of establishing relationships with our students. We preach respect to our students. While we are preaching it, she is displaying it. This is the foundation of all of her actions. Students are respected by her and in turn they show her a tremendous amount of respect to her.-- Danny McMurtry, Principal.
School Business Partner:
The January award was sponsored by Whitetail Screen Print. Staff members are awarded a gift basket full of items donated by the sponsor and a gift card, candy and balloons from the North Platte Public Schools Foundation as well as a bouquet donated by Prairie Friends and Flowers. Staff members are awarded monthly throughout the school year and are recognized at the annual Education After Hours each spring.
Eagle Radio/North Platte Post Teacher of the Month
Amy Sabatka, NPHS, is teacher of the month with Lewys Carlini of Eagle Communication
NPPSD Safety Committee
If you have a building safety/security request that should be considered, please send it to Stuart Simpson the safety committee chair and the committee will discuss it at their next monthly meeting.
The safety committee meets monthly to discuss safety and security around the district.
Staff members that serve on the committee:
Stuart Simpson, Chair
Tami Eshleman, Education Representative
Brian Tegtmeier, Technology Representative
Jeremiah Johnson, SRO, Law Enforcement
Brandy Buscher, Student Services
Lori Coburn, Custodial Director, Building surveillance
Eugene Parsley, Maintenance, Buildings
Safety Update
North Platte Public Schools continually enhances the safety and security in our schools. We have added Raptor at all buildings for the start of the second semester. We have experienced a very good test from an outside entity and we held tight preventing the person from entering the school building without proper I.D. ‘Thank You’ to all staff for staying loyal with our security measures.--Stuart Simpson, Executive Director of Finance, Facilities and Operations
Elleigh Fisher - Chairperson
Elleigh Fisher
Jada Wheeler
Katrina Webster
Drew Ogden
Haley Smith
Hannah Matuszcak
Emily Ady
Jadelyn Beyer
FFA Officers
Grant Wilke - President
Katrina Webster - Vice President
Emily Ady - Secretary
Jadely Beyer - Treasurer
Maceyn Howard - Reporter
Tom Moss - Sentinel
Corey Parsons - Parliamentarian
Katie Wagner - Historian
Call NPHS FFA Meeting to Order
NPHS FFA Fundraising Banquet
The first Annual NPHS FFA Fundraising Banquet -- ‘Feed the Farmers’ -- was held on January 15, 2019. This was a very organized and well attended event. The event was organized by Elleigh Fisher, Chairperson of the Banquet team. Keep up the great work!!
Thank You to the 2019 FFA Banquet Sponsors
Gold: ProSeed of Ogalalla, Farm Credit Services, H&B Insurance Agency of Elsie
Silver: Shelter Insurance, Plains Equipment
Bronze: Walmart Distribution, Jim Baldridge Secret Seasoning, John and Misty Robertson, Wells Fargo Bank
NPPSD English Learner Celebration
The NPPSD English Learner Celebration took place at Jefferson Elementary on January 18th, 2019. EL teacher Kelli Spurling and para professional Mariela Marroquin, organized this annual event to celebrate our EL program's "Love For Learning." Each middle school and high school student presented a research project to those in attendance. Families then enjoyed a meal together! Following dinner, Kelli and Mariela led our K-12 EL students and families through a guided literacy project called "Celebrating Our Love for Learning."
NPHS Journalism Wins Top Awards
Three North Platte High School students earned superior awards in the 2018 Journalism Educators’ Association winter contest announced this week. Senior Ainsley Nichols’ won the highest award for her sports feature writing piece Swinging Sophomore Starter. Senior Avery Munson received the highest recognition for his sports action photos taken on Oct. 12 at the North Platte vs Benson game. Junior Anam Vaziri scored the top honor for her work on the original Brown’s Shoe Fit advertisement.
Other NPHS winners include: Excellent-- Jakob Fisher, Entertainment Review Writing Avery Munson, Headline Writing & Design Clay Stone, Headline Writing & Design Ainsley Nichols, In Depth Coverage Gracia Lantis, In Depth Coverage and Sports/Action Photography Quincey Epley, Infographic Design Anam Vaziri, Newspaper Feature Writing Sophia Walsh, Newspaper Layout Honorable Mention-- Emma Downey, Advertising, News/Feature Photography & Editorial Cartooning Maria Garcia, Broadcast Feature Jake Reed, Broadcast Feature & Entertainment Review Writing Quincey Epley, In Depth Coverage Shelby Berglund, News/Feature Photography Sophia Chingren, Newspaper Layout Ainsley Nichols, Newswriting Clay Stone, Sports News Writing Dylan Nesslein, Yearbook Layout Josephine Preece, Yearbook Layout
Bulldog Droids
Adams MS Robotics Teams
Bulldog Tech Bots
Adams Middle School Robotics Teams
Adams Middle School Robotics teams, the Bulldog Droids and the Bulldog Tech Bots, recently competed in the Regional Robotics Competition. The Bulldog Droids qualified for the State Robotics Competition to be held in Ashland, NE on February 16th. Both teams are coached and led by 7th grade science teacher, Mrs. Angela Soelberg! Congratulations to Mrs. Soelberg and her teams!
Star Lab Experience
NPPS 3rd Graders are learning this month about the solar system, moon phases, and constellations in the planetarium at McKinley Education Center. The kids watched the movie "Cosmic Journey: A Solar System Adventure" and had a fun time exploring the Star Lab. Thank you Treva Uppal for sharing your expertise with our kids.
NPPSD Technology Department
Over the holiday break our Technology Department worked with RTI (Riverside Technology Incorporated) to install a much needed upgrade to the wireless network at North Platte High School, Adams Middle School, Madison Middle School, and Jefferson Elementary School. The feedback has been positive from students and staff that are now able to access online resources with improved speed and reliability.--Brian Tegtmeier, Director of Technology
Mark Nicholson
Eisenhower Elementary
Lyndsey Douglas
Marline Smith – 5 Years – Adams Middle School
Mark Reed – 15 Years – North Platte High School
25th Anniversary of the Partnership
This year will mark the 25th Anniversary of the Partnership between North Platte Public Schools and Sodexo School Services. Please Join us in congratulating two of our dedicated Team Members with their own personal Anniversary Celebrations. Marline Smith is celebrating her 5th year of service at Adams Middle School and Mark Reed has been a team member for 15 years at North Platte High School. Great Job Marline and Mark! --Larry Young, Director of Nutrition Services.
North Platte Public Schools College and Career Initiative
North Platte Public Schools is working on developing a NPPSD Career & College Initiative. Each year, components of the initiative will be implemented in order to accomplish the district’s purpose of preparing students to be productive, responsible citizens.
North Platte Public Schools College and Career Initiative is a concept that focuses on preparing our students to become productive responsible citizens. We have a short period of time, thirteen years, to accomplish this purpose. Elementary schools are focusing on career awareness, middle schools are focusing on career exploration, and the high school is focusing on academies and internships to prepare student to be career and college ready.
NPPSD Kid Klub
Last fall North Platte Public Schools Kids Klub received from the Union Pacific Foundation, a $15,000 “Community Ties” grant. This grant was meant to specifically impact workforce development by increasing awareness of technical trades.
This was the perfect opportunity for us to purchase a welding simulator, drones, electrical circuit boards, and lathes, for the Skills USA/industrial tech department. These tools will go a long way towards impacting the students of NPPS and we are extremely grateful for the UP Foundation’s support.
On Jan. 21st over 100 students from the elementary schools were introduced to industrial tech skills with hands on activities such as welding, drones, and woodworking.
From this Mega Day came the idea to begin an entrepreneur club with elementary students using the equipment from NPHS to produce our products and the venue of the NPHS school store to sell them.
We have recruited EL teacher, Kelli Spurling to lead this project and Beyond School Bells (Nebraska Children and Families Foundation) has given us $10,000 to bring this E-Afterschool Entrepreneur Club to life.
What a great time to be a NPPS Kids Klub student!! --Carrie Lienemann, Director of Kids Klub.
NPHS Career Internship Program
Amy Sabatka, NPHS Careers Instructor/Internship Facilitator, is creating some great internship opportunities for NPHS students. The purpose of the career internship program is designed to provide students with on-the-job training that will empower students as they pursue their career goals.
For Information about the NPHS Internship Program . . .
Amy Sabatka
308.535.7105 (school)
308.530.9609 (cell)
Intern Sites per Quarter
Placement by Career Field
Number of Participating Students
North Platte School District School Improvement – The Nebraska Framework
A school improvement process is a systematic on-going process involving planning, implementation, 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 in continued accomplishment of plans and goals. In accordance with Rule 10-009.01B each school must have an external team visit at least once every five years.
The North Platte School District will be hosting the External Team on April 29, 30, 31, 2019. All North Platte Schools will be visited on Monday, April 30, 2019. Principals and school CIP team members will be preparing for the visits.
NPPSD Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support
North Platte School District is working with Nebraska Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support (PBiS) by planning and training for an implementation target of 2020-21. All schools are developing school-wide behavior plans via school based PBiS teams during the 2017-18 and 2019-20 school years.
Character Counts at Jefferson Elementary
Jefferson Elementary is focused on character education! This year we began recognizing students who demonstrate the six pillars of character: to be trustworthy, show respect, be responsible, be fair, be caring, be a good citizen and to always have the courage to do the right thing. Each nine weeks every classroom teacher selects two outstanding students to be celebrated and recognized at our Character Kid assembly. Parents and families are invited and students enjoy a treat of popcorn and a drink. We read a poem that is created by their teacher and then display these in the hallways to encourage all our students to model and represent the six pillars of character. We have a Character Counts pledge that each student recites every day during announcements. Teachers are always on the lookout for exceptional character and give students character cards which are read on the daily announcements. Character Counts at Jefferson Elementary!
Lincoln Elementary PBiS
At the Lincoln Elementary Continuous Improvement team meeting, we identified what is working to help us meet our Tier 1 goal of student engagement. We identified the PBIS building expectations as helping us meet our goal. We have building-wide expectations and school-wide classroom rules which give staff common language when reinforcing those expectations. Our secretary created posters for those expectations. --Matt Irish, Principal.
North Platte Public Schools is focusing on improving attendance by implementing interventions -- “Dare to go Five Below”. A NPPSD Attendance Task Force has been assembled that includes key leaders within the community. Mayor Livingston wrote and signed NP Community Proclamation challenging the NP Community to collectively support this initiative. The police chief, the sheriff, the county attorney, and other city and county officials are participating on the task force team.
Buffalo & Lincoln Elementary Schools Improve Attendance
Congratulations to Buffalo and Lincoln Elementary Schools. Each school was recognized on the recent AQuESTT report for improving student attendance. Each school status moved from good to GREAT. Keep up the great work!!
"Dare to Go 5 Below"
Madison Middle School Celebrated their "Dare to Go 5 Below" students on Friday, January 18th during their team awards assemblies! Way to go Madison Middle School Students!
Maintenance Department
Our maintenance team does an excellent job keeping up with the district work orders. Within the past 5 months they have completed 2,876 work orders. This includes plumbing, electrical, preventive maintenance, fabrication, grounds, snow removal, and delivering or repairing custodial equipment.
We are proud of all the hard work they do. --Lori Coburn, Custodial Services
NPPSD Bus Drivers
NPPSD bus drivers are a special team as their top priority is making sure students get to their sport events, Kids Klub Mega days and field trips, elementary field trips and transporting student between Adams and Madison MS schools everyday in a safe, supporting and caring manner.
For January . . .
Middle School route = 20 (1120 miles)
Middle School Sports = 22 (1240 miles)
Elementary Field trips =27 (340 miles)
High School Athletics = 30 (7454 miles)
Kids Klub = 26 (240 miles)
Thank you for everything you do for the STUDENTS and the District. Lori Coburn, Director of Custodial and Maintenance Services.
NPPS - MTSS
NPPSD is currently in the process of developing a more effective and efficient Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) process that is systemic using our current problem solving process at all levels – district-school-PLT-teacher-student. The first challenge is ensuring everyone in the district understands the district’s purpose and having structures and processes in place to implement the MTSS process effectively and efficiently. The district is currently going away from the traditional SAT model to IDEAL Student Plan (ISP) using the District’s current continuous improvement process at the student level. We are integrating this process into our Professional Learning Team meetings.
North Platte Schools Partnership by Bonnie Bauer, Brandy Buscher
In October 2017, North Platte Public School District asked for and was presented with NeSOC dollars to develop mental health services in their schools. Local families are frustrated with lack of access to mental health services. Quite often seeking services for their child involves taking time off work, removing their child from school, and driving 30 minutes to 4 hours for appropriate care. North Platte has taken a unique approach to utilize the Systems of Care Grant.