Pinto Press
Friday, February 19, 2021
A Message from Your Principal
Good afternoon, Pintos.
Parent-teacher conferences are right around the corner. You recently received a link from your child's teacher to sign up for a conference time. When you click on that link, be sure to choose your child's teacher. If you have any questions, please call the office.
Our next PTA fundraiser is Wednesday, Feb. 24th at Raising Cane's and 129th and Maple from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Just mention that you're there for Picotte, and they will donate 15% back to our PTA.
We will be hosting a virtual book fair from March 1st-March 14th. Check out the flyer below.
In addition to the Omaha Public Schools Foundation (OPSF) parent-pay program, we will also have an OPS Early Childhood classroom again next year. The application for this program is now open. Students/families must qualify for this program, so be sure to check it out if you have a student ready for Early Childhood. (ages 3 or 4) The application process is open, but acceptance into the program is not guaranteed. See the link below to apply.
I have an update on summer school. All students are eligible to attend in-person, as we will be focusing on Next Level Learning for all our students. The dates are June 2 - June 30 and July 6 - July 23. You can choose to have your child attend a full day (9:00-4:00), or just the morning or afternoon. Applications should be available around parent-teacher conference time. Once applications are complete, the district will be available to finalize additional details. As I learn more, I'll be sure to share it.
We are starting to hear of summer opportunities. Those are shared below. I know many of you may be wondering about summer school. At this time, I know OPS will be holding summer school. As I learn more, I will be sure to include it in the Pinto Press.
Please reach out if you have any questions or if we can help in any way. Stay safe and warm this weekend!
With Pinto Pride,
Mrs. Schovanec
K-4 Arrival Drop Off Time Is 8:35
As a reminder, morning arrival drop off time is 8:35. If you bring your child to school, please keep them safely in your car until 8:35 or until staff signals them to exit. Staff is not on duty so therefore I do not have enough supervision for all students before that time.
I have a few extraordinary volunteers who are assisting me with getting our bus students into the building before then. I have to get buses unloaded and on their way and will not keep students out in the cold. However, regular drop off begins no sooner than 8:35, as that is when I have a full staff for supervision.
Thank you for helping me keep all students safe.
Early Childhood Drop-off
If you are the parent of an Early Childhood student and drop your child off in the morning, you must exit your child on the sidewalk (passenger) side. When students get out on the driver's side, it is not safe for them, you, or the drivers who are coming around you for the K-4 dismissal zones.
Thank you for helping keep everyone safe!
Attendance
Unless enrolled in the All-Remote Learning model, your child is marked absent if they are not physically here at school, even when they join on-line. We do not have a hybrid model where you can transition your child back and forth between In-Person and Remote Learning on a day-to-day basis.
If your child is arrives late (after 8:50) or leaves school early their absence is recorded as well.
Attending school on time every day matters. We know students are more engaged and achieve best when they are here. Plus, we miss our students when they are gone!
Please call the office if you have any questions. Thank you.
Counselor's Corner
Hello Pinto families. This month not only do we celebrate the return of our students to 100% in building learning we also celebrate Black History Month. While all classes our spending time on our planned curriculum, also built into studies is historical information on Black persons in history who have been impactful in our world: Mae Jemison, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, Muhammad Ali and Shirley Chisholm. We are learning about what it takes to have courage, listen to perspectives and persevere.
Looking forward!
Mrs. Ferree
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=tm3mWBshN0q36A72lnQgwdfKyQI2d5hInvWH1P2GG29UM0YwTTAwUzZZM1hQRFNKOVQ1R0hRNlNaMC4uImportant Upcoming Dates
Feb. 22
- PTA meeting, 7:00 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77532770476?pwd=aHlPOEh5aTlkZUhjQXJJWWtUc2JMdz09
Meeting ID: 775 3277 0476
Passcode: HMq6vz
Feb. 24
- Raising Cane's night on 129th and Maple, PTA fundraiser, 5:00-9:00 p.m.
March 1
- Virtual Book Fairs opens!
March 3
- No school for EC (Early Childhood) students only
- Parent Teacher Conferences (contact your child's teacher for sign up assistance)
March 4
- No school for all students
- Parent Teacher Conferences (contact your child's teacher for sign up assistance)
- No School for students or staff
- Spring Break! No school for staff or students
March 14
- Last day to order from our virtual book fair
March 30
- Spring pictures (and fall retakes). More information coming soon.
April 2
- No school for all students
OPSF Early Childhood Parent-Pay RegistrationTo attend this program, your child must be age 4 before the first student day of the OPS 2021-2022 school year. They must also be fully potty trained and participate in rest/nap time. Please see this link to register. https://omahapublicschoolsfoundation.org/21-22-ece-reg-form/ | OPS Early Childhood ApplicationThis is an application-based program. Your child must reside in the OPS district and be ages 3 or 4 before July 31, 2021. Application are being accepted from now until March 19. (Acceptance into the program is not guaranteed.) Please see this link to apply. | Kindergarten Registration |
OPSF Early Childhood Parent-Pay Registration
To attend this program, your child must be age 4 before the first student day of the OPS 2021-2022 school year. They must also be fully potty trained and participate in rest/nap time.
Please see this link to register.
https://omahapublicschoolsfoundation.org/21-22-ece-reg-form/
OPS Early Childhood Application
This is an application-based program. Your child must reside in the OPS district and be ages 3 or 4 before July 31, 2021.
Application are being accepted from now until March 19. (Acceptance into the program is not guaranteed.)
Please see this link to apply.
Kindergarten Registration
iPad Battery Trouble? Check out these tips!
Battery Life of the iPad: A few things that could be draining your iPad battery:
- Tabs open in Safari- To close them, hold X on an open tab and hit "Close other tabs"
- Multiple Apps opened: Double click on the home button, a small version of all open apps will appear. You will need to swipe them off with your finger to close them out.
- Bluetooth is on: Go under settings and turn bluetooth off.
- Background Apps Refresh: In Settings, go to General, select Background Apps Refresh. Turn off apps that students do not use like maps, books, music, etc. This will prevent these apps from running in the background which will drain your battery and use data.
- Reduce Screen Brightness: In Settings, select Display and Brightness. You can lower the brightness of the screen. This is also better for the eyes!
- Cellular Data/Wi-Fi: If you are on a home Wi-Fi, you need to turn off the cellular data. If you are using the cellular data, you will need to turn off the Wi-Fi (under settings).
- Personal Hotspot: Under settings, turn off the personal hotspot.
Remember to charge all night for updates and battery charge!
Always use the charger that came with the iPad. Other chargers may not work.
Updated Breakfast ProceduresInstruction begins here promptly at 8:50. At that time, students begin actively participating in their morning meeting. We serve regular Grab and Go Breakfast until 8:45. To limit the amount of time students are unmasked, students will finish eating breakfast no later than 8:50. At that time, students will put their masks back on. If you plan to have your child eat breakfast here at school, please be sure they arrive as close to 8:35 as possible. That will allow us to balance the safety and nutrition needs of all our students. | Kindergarten Registration Information Kindergarten registration for the 2021-2022 school year is now open! If you have a child who will be starting Kindergarten next fall or know someone who does, please register using the link below. The link is on our website as well. At this time, our regular Kindergarten Round-Up process is currently on hold. We can't wait to meet our "Soon-to-be" Pintos! | Live Instruction for Foundational SkillsIf your child is attending school at home, they must log on for morning meeting and for Foundational Skills. Your child's teacher will keep you informed of the times for the LIVE instruction for Foundational Skills. The content taught during our Foundational Skills time is absolutely vital for building strong readers, and attendance is required. |
Updated Breakfast Procedures
Instruction begins here promptly at 8:50. At that time, students begin actively participating in their morning meeting. We serve regular Grab and Go Breakfast until 8:45.
To limit the amount of time students are unmasked, students will finish eating breakfast no later than 8:50. At that time, students will put their masks back on.
If you plan to have your child eat breakfast here at school, please be sure they arrive as close to 8:35 as possible. That will allow us to balance the safety and nutrition needs of all our students.
Kindergarten Registration Information
Live Instruction for Foundational Skills
If your child is attending school at home, they must log on for morning meeting and for Foundational Skills. Your child's teacher will keep you informed of the times for the LIVE instruction for Foundational Skills. The content taught during our Foundational Skills time is absolutely vital for building strong readers, and attendance is required.
Daily Health Assessment (Updated 1-22-20)Every day before they leave home, families must complete a self-health assessment, asking themselves three vital questions:
1. Have you or anyone in your household tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 14 days? 2. Are you awaiting a Covid-19 test result, following symptoms or a direct exposure to someone who tested positive? 3. Have you had one or more of the following: a new cough, new onset of shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell OR two or more of the following symptoms: fever 100.4 or above, chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue in the last 24 hours?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you will be expected to stay home. | Dressing for Winter!We go outside for recess unless the temperature/wind chill is well below freezing. Please remember those coats and gloves! | Meals to GoOmaha Public Schools is offering Meals2Go at no cost to any child ages 1 - 18 including remote learners. |
Daily Health Assessment (Updated 1-22-20)
Every day before they leave home, families must complete a self-health assessment, asking themselves three vital questions:
1. Have you or anyone in your household tested positive for Covid-19 in the last 14 days?
2. Are you awaiting a Covid-19 test result, following symptoms or a direct exposure to
someone who tested positive?
3. Have you had one or more of the following: a new cough, new onset of shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell OR two or more of the following symptoms: fever 100.4 or above, chills, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue in the last 24 hours?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you will be expected to stay home.
Dressing for Winter!
We go outside for recess unless the temperature/wind chill is well below freezing. Please remember those coats and gloves!
Meals to Go
Omaha Public Schools is offering Meals2Go at no cost to any child ages 1 - 18 including remote learners.
Summer Opportunities!
Keystone Little League Summer fun AND support Picotte!
Looking to get your child outdoors this spring and earn a little extra money for the Picotte PTA! Keystone Little League registration currently is open for T-Ball, Coach Pitch, Softball and Baseball for the 2021 season. Keystone Little League will write a check to Picotte PTA for $5 per new player registered (does exclude returning players). Registration is open through February 28. Additional information can be found on the Keystone Little League's website at https://www.keystonelittleleague.com.
Hummel Day Camp
Hummel Day Camp will be returning in 2021! The nine weeks of Camp will run June 7th-August 13th, with no Camp the week of July 5th-9th.
Camp registration will begin at 8am on Monday, April 5th for Weeks 1-3, Tuesday, April 6th for Weeks 4-6, and Wednesday, April 7th for Weeks 7-9. Cost is $105/camper. Spots fill up fast!
Camp is available to children who have completed 1st-7th grade by summer 2021. No age exceptions.