The RPS Weekly Message

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Dear RPS Parent/Guardian,

This week’s message includes information on the following topics listed below:


Tomorrow, March 10th is the Deadline for Heart of Learning Nominations

Drone Footage of New Mockingbird Elementary & RHS Multi-Sport Complex

Monday, March 13th, Marks the End of the Third Quarter
Wednesday, March 15th is the Deadline for Option Enrollment for 23-24 School Year

RHS Theater Presents “Middletown” in April

Save the Date: RHS Class of 2023 Spring Activities and Celebrations

Kindergarten Orientation Dates and Times

Ram Recognition

Tomorrow, March 10th is the Deadline for Heart of Learning Nominations

Tomorrow, March 10th is the Deadline for Heart of Learning Nominations

Tomorrow, March 10th, is the final day to nominate an RPS educator or staff member for the 2023 Ralston Schools Foundation Heart of Learning Awards.


An award recipient will be selected from each of the following areas:
• Secondary Teacher or Administrator (Grades 7-12)
• Elementary Teacher or Administrator (Grades PreK-6)
• Classified & Certified Support Staff (All levels)
• Ralston Schools Foundation Employee

The criteria for nominating an RPS educator or staff member includes:
• A current staff member of the Ralston Public Schools
• Exemplary excellence in education
• Outstanding leadership skills
• Exemplary contributions to the needs of students
• Notably high standards of performance
• Commitment to the students of the Ralston Public Schools


Please send a nomination letter (paper or email) stating the contributions this person has made to Ralston Public Schools and why you believe they should receive this recognition. Nomination letters will be accepted for individuals, not groups, and must also include the nominee’s name, building, and position.


Please send your nominations by mail to Katy Core, Ralston Schools Foundation, 8545 Park Drive, Ralston, NE 68127, or by email at kcore@ralstonschools.org.

Tomorrow, March 10th is the Deadline for Heart of Learning Nominations

Drone Footage of New Mockingbird Elementary & RHS Multi-Sport Complex

Thank you to our friends at The Weitz Company for providing us with drone footage of the construction area of the new Mockingbird Elementary School. It is exciting to see the progress being made on the school. Click on the video link below to view the footage.



New Mockingbird Elementary - Construction Drone Footage
Ralston High School Multi-Sport Complex

Ralston High School Multi-Sport Complex

We have more construction updates to share. The concession stand, restrooms, and press box building at the new Ralston High School Multi-Sport complex is coming along quite nicely. In addition to this building, all of the light poles for the complex have been installed. We are looking forward to this addition being completed by the fall.
Ralston High School Multi-Sport Complex
Monday, March 13th, Marks the End of the Third Quarter

Monday, March 13th, Marks the End of the Third Quarter

A reminder to all RPS parents/guardians: The end of the third term is Monday, March 13th. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your student’s teacher. We encourage you to frequently monitor your student(s) grades on the R-Kids website: https://ralfamily.nebsis.org/.

Monday, March 13th, Marks the End of the Third Quarter
Wednesday, March 15th is the Deadline for Option Enrollment for 23-24 School Year

Wednesday, March 15th is the Deadline for Option Enrollment for 23-24 School Year

The final day to submit option enrollment paperwork for students entering kindergarten through the twelfth grade in Ralston Public Schools for the 2023-2024 school year is Wednesday, March 15th. The Administration Office is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours to serve those turning in their paperwork.


For more information on the enrollment process, families can visit the District website and click on Enrollment under the For Families section.
Wednesday, March 15th is the Deadline for Option Enrollment for 23-24 School Year
RHS Theater Presents “Middletown” in April

RHS Theater Presents “Middletown” in April

The Ralston High School Theater Department presents their final show of the year, “Middletown,” April 27-30. The show will take place in the RHS Performing Arts Center.


The show will start at 7:30 pm on April 27-29 and at 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 30th. “Middletown” is a play written by Will Eno that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and celebrates the big and little moments in everyday life.

Tickets are all general admission and will be $10 for adults and $8 for students/seniors.

RHS Theater Presents “Middletown” in April
Save the Date: RHS Class of 2023 Spring Activities and Celebrations

Save the Date: RHS Class of 2023 Spring Activities and Celebrations

RPS is excited to honor and celebrate the RHS Class of 2023. Listed below are some dates and activities of events happening this spring for students and their families. RPS and RHS are actively finishing plans on each of the events listed below.

** RHS Seniors and Family Members - Ralston High School will communicate more specific information on each of these activities in the near future. Please check your email for updates. **

• Junior/Senior Prom: Saturday, April 15th, 8:00 - 11:00 pm, The Granary; Ralston
• Senior Honors Night: Wednesday, May 10th, 6:30 pm, Ralston High School
• Graduation Rehearsal: Friday, May 12th, 9:00 to 11:00 am, Ralston High School
• Graduation Ceremony: Sunday, May 21st, 2:00 pm, Liberty First Credit Union Arena
Save the Date: RHS Class of 2023 Spring Activities and Celebrations

Kindergarten Orientation Dates and Times

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Ram Recognition

Ram Recognition

Each week in Ram Recognition, Ralston Public Schools will highlight some good news happening across the District.

Ram Recognition

RHS Student Pamela Castaneda Martinez Recognized at State Basketball Tournament

RPS would once again like to congratulate RHS student Pamela Castaneda Martinez for being selected as a State recipient of the Currency Believers and Achievers Award. This is a state-wide program designed to give recognition to Nebraska’s future leaders. Pamela was recently recognized at the Girls State Basketball Championships.

Forty-eight Nebraska high school seniors were honored as Believers & Achievers. From those 48 finalists, eight received $500 scholarships from Currency to use for the college or university of their choice.

All of the students nominated for the Believers & Achievers awards program represents the very best of Nebraska’s high schools. We are so proud of you Pamela!
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RHS and RMS National History Day Projects

RHS and RMS National History Day Projects

RPS students represented Ram Nation very well at the Omaha National History Day District competition. We are so proud of the students and all the hard work they have put in this year.


Students who placed first, second, or third in their category will present their work at the state competition at Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday, April 1st. We wish you all good luck! #RamProud

Junior Division (RMS results)
• 1st place Documentary - Garrett Main
"Federal Highway Act of 1956: Changing the Face of America"

• 1st place Website - Cillian Kerrigan
"Pikachu Virus: Friends to Your End"

• 2nd place Individual Exhibit - Max Whitaker
"USS Nautilus: Underway on Nuclear Power"

Senior Division (RHS results)
• 1st Place Individual Website
Ella Johnson
"Stalin's Legacy: Forging a New Truth"

RHS and RMS National History Day Projects
Ralston Middle School Wrestlers Excel at Conference Tournament

Ralston Middle School Wrestlers Excel at Conference Tournament

Congratulations to the Ralston Middle School Wrestling Team for representing Ram Nation well at their conference tournament.


The Boy’s wrestling team finished in second place and the Girl’s Wrestling Team finished in fourth place. The combined team finished in third place overall at the tournament. The Trailblazer Conference Tournament was recently held at Springfield Platteview.

The following are individual results of wrestlers who each placed in their respective weight brackets:

1st - Brody Schmitt, Cade Stix, Brice McDaniel, Karlie Stutzka, Owen Reich, Morgan Vacanti, Owen Monroe, Eli Zubia, and Kevin Hutton

2nd - Boone Blecha, Kasen Fuccio, Baer Blecha, Malaki Souvannakhot, Mick Vavra, Westen Durant, Alex McCarty, Jason Moran, Makayla Dixon, Mia Dixon, and Jasmine Smith

3rd - Billy Wilken, Brody Jenkins, Andres Castro, Ulysses Pena, Peyton Mayer, and Yulissa Figueroa

4th - Colton Hanna, Landon Puglisi, Carl Fleming, Henry Fries, Atem Manyok, and Benny Valdivia

Ralston Middle School Wrestlers Excel at Conference Tournament
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RHS Educators Rising Students Qualify for National Competition

RHS Educators Rising Students Qualify for National Competition

It is very exciting to recognize students involved in the Ralston High School Educators Rising group who recently qualified to compete at the National competition this summer in Orlando, Florida! Congrats Rams!

The RHS students who qualified for the Educators Rising National Competition include:

Educators Rising Moment
Kylie Davis - 3rd Place
Emily Tindall - 9th Place

Children’s Literature - Spanish
Jeiry Sosa-Franco & Danna Bustos-Sanabria - 4th Place
Ashley Acevedo - 5th Place


Children’s Literature - K3
Levis Mutunga & Sasha Navarro-Franco - 8th Place
Eva Philippi - 10th Place


Creative Lecture - TED Talk
Thom Rost - 4th Place


Ethical Dilemma
Ashley Acevedo & Kylie Davis - 6th Place


Job Interview
Iman Pearson - 3rd Place


Lesson Planning & Delivery - Humanities
Ethan Becker - 7th Place


Lesson Planning & Delivery - STEM
Tatiana Tonsil - 2nd Place
Eva Houston - 5th Place


Lesson Planning & Delivery - Art
KayLynn Saltzman - 3rd Place


Teacher Created Materials
Tony Heig & Owen Elsasser - 3rd Place

RHS Educators Rising Students Qualify for National Competition

Big Crowds Attend District Music Festivals

The Ralston High School gymnasium was packed for both the District Vocal Music and Band Festivals. These events bring together vocal music and band students from across the District to perform for their friends and family.


The groups that performed at the District’s Vocal Music Festival included a Sixth-Grade Choir and Sixth Dimension Show Choir, and Concert Choirs and Show Choirs from Ralston Middle School and Ralston High School.


At the District Band Festival, the sixth-grade, middle school, and high school concert bands performed as well as jazz bands from both Ralston Middle School and Ralston High School. Three scholarships were also awarded at the District's Band Festival. Help us congratulate Ralston High School seniors Evangeline Houston, Elaina Swendroski-Hiatt, and Chloe Main.


Evangeline received the Ralston Band Parent Association Band Member Scholarship, Elaina received the Ralston Band Parent Association Color Guard Scholarship, and Chloe received the Martin K. Frye Scholarship.

Ralston Public Schools

Ralston Public Schools

Ralston Public Schools

8545 Park Drive, Omaha, NE, USA jim.frederick@ralstonschools.org 402-331-4700 ralstonschools.org