GATOR TALES
Grace Abbott Elementary
October 22, 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
This is a reminder that Halloween will look different from last year and a little more normal for the kids, but not for the parents. We will still celebrate at school with the students but without parent volunteers (room parents). Our party will be managed by the teachers and the PTO will provide snacks of Rice Krispie treats and Honest Kids juice boxes.
The Halloween party will be on Friday, October 29. The parties will not all be at the same time so classes can have their specials such as music, art, and PE following a slightly adjusted schedule. If the weather is good, we will parade outside starting about 2:25 and need to be back to the school at 2:55.
Kids can wear costumes but will emphasize "low maintenance". Ideally they will change into them during the day, but for some, that's not easily done. I don’t want costumes that are distracting, bloody, and scary. For some kids, a costume all day is way too distracting to themselves and others. I don’t want this day to be a lost learning day.
The route of the parade will allow parents to view the students. We will start with kindergarten exiting door #9 on the southeast side of the building. We will walk counterclockwise around the school picking up the grade levels as they exit various doors. We will end the pick up at door #2 (west side) and proceed north on the east side of the sidewalk along 155th St. We will then turn right (east) and walk on the north side of the field and then walk south on the east side of the soccer field. This is the opposite direction of the walk-a-thon route.
Parents can view from the field.
PARADE ROUTE:
COVID 19 VACCINATION
Throughout the pandemic we have shared information from our medical community. In partnership with Children’s Hospital, we are passing along information from their physicians regarding the COVID-19 vaccination.
As pediatricians, we have been treating children in our community for over 10 years. We both chose this path because we love children and look forward to when they can truly be children again.
The COVID-19 pandemic turned life upside down for everyone, including our kids. Overnight, their routines – something kids crave – were dramatically altered without much warning. All of us are ready to get our lives back. We are ready to ditch the masks and the quarantines and get back to something closer to normal.
As doctors, we can tell you there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that light is the COVID-19 vaccine. Having gone through numerous clinical trials for each age group studied and through countless hours of scrutiny by the FDA, CDC and our state and federal governments, the COVID-19 vaccine is proven to be safe and effective and is our best chance at ending this pandemic.
As we have discussed in previous letters, it is so important to get the facts and dispel any misinformation your kids may be hearing. While the vaccine will not prevent 100% of COVID-19 infections, it does prevent more than 90% of COVID-19 infections and most COVID-19 hospitalizations. In fact, teens who are unvaccinated are 10 times as likely to end up in the hospital with COVID compared to peers who are vaccinated.
We must work together to end this pandemic. Getting vaccinated will allow children to stay in school, participate in sports, forge close friendships and truly thrive, which is all we want for our children.
If you have questions about the vaccine or need additional information, we strongly encourage you to talk to your pediatrician.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kari Simonsen & Dr. Melissa St. Germain
Children’s Hospital & Medical Center
MILLARD NORTH BAND
SWEATSHIRTS NEEDED
YEARBOOK NEWS
Yearbook Reminders:
Yearbook price increases to $15 on November 1st. Order here: http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09851076
Attached is a list of everyone who has ordered a yearbook.
5th Grade Parents: please remember to submit your 5th Grade Dedication for the yearbook by November 5th! Contact Jackie Ryba with any questions JLRyba@hotmail.com
WATER BOTTLES AT SCHOOL
Also, if your child is wearing a cloth mask, please wash frequently.
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 29 - Halloween Party
November 2 - PTO Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
November 11 - Amigos Night
November 11 - 3rd grade program
November 24 - 26 NO SCHOOL - THANKSGIVING BREAK
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