Raymond Central Public Schools
September 2021
From the Desk of the Superintendent...
A huge thank you to all the staff, students, parents, and community for doing your part to help Mustang Nation get off to a great start to the 2021-22 school year. We have 2 ½ weeks under our belt at this time and we have our fall activities and seasons underway. It has been a pleasure to see the excitement and joy of the students as they return to school with enthusiasm and hopes for a more normal school year. Unfortunately, we have run into a couple of continued obstacles with COVID but I continue to be optimistic that this is a ‘small’ bump and we will find our way through this challenge. As you may be aware, the board of education has had two emergency meetings to discuss safety protocols and both have included a public forum. I have been so impressed with the professional and polite manner in which our patrons have handled themselves. We are the role model for our students at all times and it is refreshing to see adults acting in a manner that models civil discourse.
The District was able to continue working on the priorities identified on the five-year facility priority list this summer. The waterway just south of the Jr/Sr High School was completed, there were four large HVAC units on the roof of the Jr/Sr High replaced, sections of the Jr/Sr High School roof were replaced, the Jr/Sr main drive and bus pickup and dropoff area were resurfaced, and there was concrete work completed on the northeast side of the Jr/Sr High school. In addition to these projects the portable located just north of the preschool playground is completed and we welcomed 18 three year old preschoolers to the campus in August. It was a busy but fruitful summer.
In addition to the emergency meetings, the board of education has also been working on the 2021-22 budget. Boards of education have three main functions to include hiring and evaluating the superintendent, developing and approving the budget, and establishing and reviewing policies. The Board of Education will act on the budget in their regular September board meeting and they have participated in committee meetings and workshops in preparation for that task. The Board does have financial targets that assist them in defining budget needs. As we know, schools in Nebraska are heavily reliant on local property taxes. We continue to advocate for revised funding mechanisms that provide sustainable property tax relief. In the interim, we continue to do our best to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for our students. We were fortunate to see an increase in state aid this year due to an increase in base funding. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that this will be a sustained increase but it will help us to fund new instructional positions that are important to the continued growth of our school district.
As we continue to grow into the new school year let’s all make a concerted effort to stay positive. New York Times best-selling author, Shawn Achor shares that “Your brain at positive is 30% more productive than your brain at negative, neutral, or stressed state.” Our optimism levels do impact our productivity. Let’s do our best to not only raise our level of positiveness but help others to do the same. Have a great month and GO MUSTANGS!
Lynn Johnson
After School Program Goes to Branched Oak
After School Program Goes to Lake Wanahoo
After School Program Goes to the Children's Zoo
Raymond Central Before and After School Program
The Raymond Central Before and After Program is back in session!
Raymond Central Before and After School Program by Civic Nebraska is an expanded learning opportunity that delivers new experiences, academic support and civic leadership to students in a safe and fun environment. We collaborate with teachers, administrators and school staff to bridge the school day to the before and after school environment. Students receive academic support, engage in enrichment activities, and have opportunities to grow as civic leaders in their communities.
Raymond Central Before and After Program Video
Summer Program
The first Summer Program was a great success! Below are just a few highlights from field trips to Branched Oak Recreation Area where we learned about Nebraska’s wildlife, Lake Wanahoo working on teamwork as we pitched a tent in teams and to the Lincoln Children’s Zoo.
If you have any other questions contact Kara Nelson at kara.nelson@civicnebraska.org
Dance Team T-shirt Fundraiser!
Dance Team Shirt Sales - Proceeds go to competition costs
Running from August 20th to September 20th
Link to website - https://lizziemarieboutique.com/collections/raymond-central-mustangs
Arrival of product is estimated at 4 weeks from order date.
The team receives $5 for every shirt sold!
Items can ship to your home or be picked up in Yutan.
Youth sizes only available on the Round Design
TeamMates was founded in 1991 by Dr. Tom and Nancy Osborne. Since its inception, TeamMates has served more than 43,000 youth across 5 states. Through this program students in grades 3-12 are matched with an adult mentor who spends 30 minutes once a week playing games, creating or building projects, talking, playing catch, or just simply being there.
At the end of the 20-21 school year, Raymond Central had 24 active matches, with several students on a waiting list who would like a mentor. We need adults who would be willing to share 30 minutes once a week to be a mentor for a Raymond Central student. If you would be willing or know of someone (e.g. - grandparent, friend, neighbor, etc.) who would be a potential mentor, for either elementary school site or the high school, please contact Kristine White. Potential mentors can learn more about mentoring by going online to TeamMates.org or visiting with a current mentor. If you are ready to apply, you can also go to TeamMates.org.
The vision of the Raymond Central Program is to serve 30 youth by 2022 and create a culture of mentoring in the Raymond Central community.
SCIP Course Opportunity
"Resolving Ethical Dilemmas"
Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Instructor: Kate Speck, PhD, MAC, LADC
Host Site:
ZOOM
Due to the rising numbers for COVID it has been decided to offer this training through zoom instead of in person!
This course will discuss topics associated with personal and professional boundaries, values practices, and other ethical dilemmas or boundary issues in the world today.
Objectives:
This is a three hour workshop that is designed for behavioral health practitioners to enhance the application of ethical decision-making in practice. This will be an interactive discussion based on seminar settings, intended to appraise ethical knowledge and to critique personal and professional boundaries, values and practices. Upon completion of this training, the participant will be able: To determine personal values that are related to ethical boundaries; Be able to review two common myths that surround ethical practice; Define ethical behavior in light of technological advances; and be able to identify a model that is useful for problem solving ethical dilemmas.
Continuing Education Credit
This program may meet the criteria of an approved continuing education program for certified social workers, certified master social workers, or licensed mental health practitioners for 3 contact hours. Other healthcare professionals may use their certificate of attendance to claim continuing education hours through their certifying body.
SCIP Agencies Can Use Thank You Certificates!
How to register:
Complete the registration form and send it to the SCIP office using the information below.
Valerie Hotsenpillar
SCIP-LMEP
4600 Valley Road
Lincoln, NE 68510
Fax: 402-483-2882
Junior High Student Council Candidates Give Speeches/Officers Announced!
We are happy to announce our Student Council officers and representatives for 2021-22 school year. We want to thank the applicants for applying and delivering speeches!
Elected officers and representatives:
President: Emma Dukesherer
Vice President: Marissa Tvrdy
Secretary: Grace Ehlers
Treasurer: Julianne Tvrdy
8th Grade Representatives: Jordyn Harris, Izabella Thornburg, Khloe Cuttlers
7th Grade Representatives: Michael Basel, Josie Kohl
Sixth Graders Explore The Scientific Method
Students in Mrs. Jackson’s science classes spent the first week of school learning about the steps in the scientific method. Students were encouraged to explore the steps of the process while completing the phenomenon: Will more soapy or regular water drops stay on a penny? Students worked in small groups to complete the experiment multiple times for consistency. Sixth graders became aware of small differences that impacted the outcome of the experiment and were able to draw conclusions based on their experiences and observations. Overall, more regular water drops fit on the penny. Students concluded that the bubbles from the soapy water took up space on the penny, not allowing as much soapy water to fit.
High School Speech Team--Central Players
Order Your Yearbook!
Pricing is as follows: $50 per yearbook until December 31, 2021 $60 per yearbook from January 1, 2022 to May 20, 2022 If you have multiple children in grades 6-12 and would like more than one yearbook: $95 for two yearbooks until December 31, 2021--no discounts after January 1, 2022 $140 for three yearbooks until December 31, 2021--no discounts after January 1, 2022 Senior/Business Ad space is also available! Please email: rcentraljournalism@gmail.com for more information.