December 2024

This time of year can feel like a blur.


Between the end of a semester at school, finishing work projects before a holiday, running errands and gathering with family and friends, there are not enough hours in a day to tackle the to-do list.


It is a time of year that shows we often take on too much.


We talked about the same thing at our staff kickoff in August.


As schools keep working to improve, we layer on more. New initiatives. Additional steps.


We must also look at how we clear space – for an intense focus and the deep work to really do better.


It is a big picture “we.” We need and value your input.


What are procedures, projects, initiatives or more than no longer produce the outcomes we need? Please share your thoughts.


Even as we unite around a shared focus on improvement, our mission, vision and values are constant.


We are relentlessly committed to delivering our best for every student.


We are proud to be Nebraska’s largest and most diverse school district. Whether we meet a student learning English or taking Advanced Placement English Literature, we are invested in their success.


Your feedback helps us focus our resources – time, energy and budget – on making the biggest impact. It is a community-wide effort.


Reflecting on the year, I am very thankful to be serving our students, staff, families and community.


Thank you for being part of the work.



Matthew Ray

Superintendent

Omaha Public Schools

2024 Year in Review: Celebrating Omaha Public Schools Students

Omaha Public Schools is home to extraordinary and hardworking students. This year, our students earned national awards, placed in state music competitions and even set a Guinness World Record for the Largest Water Balloon Toss.


As 2024 ends, we are showcasing the many ways students excelled in academics and through various extracurricular activities.

High School Seniors Named National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists

Five Omaha Public Schools seniors are among 16,000 nationwide named as semi-finalists for the National Merit Scholarship Program. This academically talented group represents less than one percent of the nation’s graduating seniors.


Two students from Central High, two from North High and one from South High earned this distinction by taking the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) during their junior year.


“It means I’m among the top scorers on the PSAT,” said South High senior Jay Peters. “It’s really cool knowing that there are only five of us in Omaha Public Schools, and I’m one of them.”


The five students, Hugh-Lowe Weyand, Mary McGill, Audra Morrison, Ellis Yamamoto and Peters, can now continue in the competition to earn a spot as a finalist. Finalists will be announced in February 2025.


The National Merit Scholarship Program honors students who “show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.”


Omaha Public Schools Board of Education recognized the semi-finalists at an October Board of Education meeting.

Middle School Robotics Team Shines at World Championships

Each year, schools worldwide compete at the VEX Robotics World Championships. In April, the Bluestem Middle robotics team traveled to Dallas to represent Omaha Public Schools at the 2024 competition.


“It was amazing,” said Jonathan Worms, an eighth grader on the Bluestem Middle robotics team. “We placed 40th out of more than 80 other teams, which I think is really good.”


The students participated in three days of competition, playing games with various elements and requirements using a robot they spent months building and refining. Bluestem robotics coach Sherri Volmer says the program teaches students valuable skills like creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.


“The fact that we had support from both our school and our district was awesome,” Volmer said. “To watch not just what they did in the ring, but how they held themselves outside the ring, was just as impressive.”


Volmer proudly noted that the Bluestem robotics team is the first to bring home a trophy to Bluestem Middle since it opened in 2023. The team has since doubled in size.

Central High Leveling Up in Esports

An Omaha Public Schools esports team is getting attention on the national level.


Esports, a competitive video gaming field, has grown rapidly throughout schools nationwide. It helps students develop teamwork, strategy and communication skills.


Central High introduced esports two years ago when teacher Jonathan Franta started a club. Now, he has 77 students on the roster. Franta recognized that esports provided a way to engage students who were not participating in traditional extracurricular activities.


“My goal was to create an environment where students could come let their true selves shine through and be who they are,” said Franta. “It’s a great community.”


Central High’s team participated in every event at the state esports championship in November. They finished second, third and fourth in several categories.


Ramon Wilson Jr., a Central High senior, joined the club his sophomore year because he liked playing video games at home. He placed second in the Super Smash Brothers competition at state.

“I feel great and like I’ve accomplished something big,” said Wilson. “Everyone in esports is a good person, and it’s a really good environment.”


Central High’s team made it into USA Today’s Week 3 Top 25 rankings at one point during the year.


To read more about student awards and accomplishments, visit our website.

Staff Spotlight: 2024 Achievements

As one of the area’s largest employers, Omaha Public Schools proudly celebrates every role that makes our system go.


Every year, we spotlight classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, custodians, transportation and many others.


Here’s a look back at some of this year’s staff recognition posts:


Follow Omaha Public Schools on social media or visit ops.org/districtnews for more staff achievements.

Omaha Public Schools Students Design Apps to Solve Real-World Issues

Empress Kent and her classmates started their sixth grade year at Gifford Park Elementary by creating apps designed to solve real-world problems. They developed teamwork, creativity, critical thinking and innovation through the project. 


"We started by writing down problems in the world," said Kent. "My app, 'Mind Time,' is a motivational app with a journal, questions, games and AI (artificial intelligence) to help work out your feelings."


The project began with a creative problem-solving unit in which students brainstormed problems they wanted to address from around the world, in school or at home. Students interviewed friends and teachers to learn about their target audience and get feedback on what would be helpful to them. Then, using Keynote, a presentation software, students designed and built prototype apps to bring their ideas to life.


"The process for creative problem solving is coming up with solutions, finding the best solution and evaluating which ones would be best for the app," said Jennifer Yannone, Omaha Public Schools Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) facilitator. "It's teaching them how to work through a problem, how they might solve it and how to help others through the process."

Omaha Public Schools sixth graders in the GATE program participated. Each group of students brainstormed solutions to different issues, including mental health and financial literacy.


Sam Tourek, a sixth grader at Gifford Park Elementary, and his partner created Bright Kids, an app that teaches children and teens the value of money, budgeting and saving. Users can earn money, in the form of points, by completing tasks or chores at home.


"Tasks could be cleaning their room, doing the laundry or taking out the trash," said Tourek. "Money equals points. For example, "100 points equals one dollar, 200 points equals two dollars and so on."


For the final piece of the project, students will present their apps to a panel of judges during The App Showcase on Dec. 18 at the Milo Bail Student Center. More than 70 teams will demonstrate their critical thinking, teamwork and innovation skills at the event. Yannone says a big step in the project is for students to learn public speaking skills.

"They have to develop a pitch on what they will say to a group of judges to get them to understand the product and get feedback on how to improve it," said Yannone. "They have to be able to address people and talk in a manner so they can be heard."


Kent is excited to work with her team to present 'Mind Time' to the public and show the judges her favorite features.


"This will help me, especially with my confidence, when it comes to talking in front of many people," said Kent. "My favorite thing about my project is that no matter how many times we get it wrong, there's an undo button, so we can always fix it."

District News

Omaha Public Schools Prepares Families for School Selection

Omaha Public Schools welcomed hundreds of families to the High School Showcase this month. This allowed families to explore College & Career Academies and Pathways and other unique programs at each of our high schools.


Next, families are invited to attend middle and high school open houses in January. Students and families can explore course offerings, meet staff and learn about each school's extracurricular activities.


Our district encourages students and families to attend the open house for their neighborhood school and any other schools they are interested in attending before making 2024-25 school selection preferences. Visit our School Selection Guide for the open house schedule.

Kindergarten Roundup Begins in January

Kindergarten Roundup for all elementary schools begins in January. This is a time for incoming families to visit their future and meet the staff. Omaha Public Schools wants to ensure students have a smooth transition into kindergarten.


Kindergarten Roundup dates and times are posted on our website, ops.org.

Class of 2025: Free Application for Federal Student Aid Available Now


Starting with the class of 2025, Nebraska law requires that all high school seniors complete and submit, or actively opt out, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The new law makes it a graduation requirement.


The FAFSA helps you explore, plan and pay for education after high school. The 2025-26 FAFSA opened on Dec. 1.


Visit our website for all FASFA details. School counselors can help if you have additional questions.

Winter Recess Calendar Reminder


There is no school for students from Dec. 20 through Jan. 3 for Winter Recess. District offices will be closed on Dec. 24-25, 31 and Jan. 1.


You can view or download a copy of our district calendar by visiting our website.

Our Community Opportunities section is our digital bulletin board where families can find information about upcoming events and activities available in our area. New flyers are posted at the beginning of each month. This month's flyers include:

  • Ralston Girls Softball Registration
  • AEF Academy Winter Basketball Camps
  • What's Up at the Kroc
  • Hillside Little League
  • UNO's Aim for the Stars Summer Camp 2025 Registration
  • The Hispanic Community Health Initiative Annual Fair


Omaha Public Schools provides this opportunity for outside organizations for the benefit of our families. It does not endorse any business, product or service.

Superintendent Matthew Ray extends

congratulations to...

… to Shaneice Udofia, Belvedere Elementary principal, and Valerie Varas, Crestridge Elementary principal, for being named the 2024 Lozier Foundation MOEC LIGHTS Outstanding Elementary Principals.


…to Lorne McFadden of Northwest High for winning the Gildersleeve, Stoddard, Stone Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography from the Geographic Educators of Nebraska.


… to Katie Palmquist of Westview High for being named the 2024 Metro Conference Coach of the Year.


… to Rachael Arens, Ed.D., Westview High curriculum specialist, for being selected as one of the Midlands Business Journal 2024 40 Under 40 Honorees.


… to District Communications, which received an Award of Excellence and Best of Category in Community Relations from the Public Relations Society of America - Nebraska Chapter. The award recognized District Communications work to support the Board of Education Superintendent Search.


… to Central High’s eChess team for taking first at the first-ever state eSports Championship tournament.


… to Omaha Public Schools students inducted into Quill and Scroll, an international honor society for high school journalists.


… to Nathan Warren, Northwest High junior, for becoming a finalist for the Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year Award.

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Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to accept allegations regarding non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (531) 299-9822. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director for the Office of Equity and Diversity, 3215 Cuming St, Omaha, NE 68131 (531) 299-0307.