We’re excited for the new school year.
Saturday, we celebrated with thousands of Omaha Public Schools families at the Back to School Bash. The event connects families with schools and community partners before classes begin. It shows the strength of our community as Nebraska’s largest school district. Those bonds, the opportunities we offer students – it all makes me thankful and proud to begin my 27th year with Omaha Public Schools.
It's never too soon, or too late in a school year to build school, family and community connections. Delivering on the Portrait of a Graduate for every student we serve requires community-wide support.
There are many ways to connect. Families, be sure your school has current contact information. Everyone can follow our school and district social media accounts. Visit ops.org to see our calendar, announcements and stories from our classrooms.
We face challenges in the year ahead. Staffing limitations require us to change how we deliver services like transportation and special instruction. We are recruiting qualified staff all year long, across the country. We are relentless in delivering the best for children.
I am grateful for the commitment of each person who shows up for our students. There’s no more important work and together, we’re ready.
Matthew Ray
Interim Superintendent
Omaha Public Schools
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New Year Brings Excitement and Joy as Omaha Public Schools Helps Staff and Families Prepare |
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Laughter and music filled the air as families poured into the Baxter Arena parking lot on Aug. 12 for Omaha Public Schools Back to School Bash.
“I’m having fun,” said Penny Frederick, Adams Elementary fifth grader, as she pulled her mom from one booth to the next. “I want to get my face painted.”
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Our annual Back to School Bash brings thousands of families together from across our district. The event takes place the weekend before school starts, allowing families to meet the staff and learn more about programs and activities. Families also received free books and supplies.
“My hope is that all of our students returning this year and all of our new students coming to us feel that same joy that we, as our faculty and staff of our great district, have,” said Glenn Mitchell, Harrison Elementary principal. “That comes by building intentional relationships and a welcoming presence through everything that we do.”
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Many community partners joined Omaha Public Schools for the event. Kids enjoyed face painting, carnival games and appearances by school mascots.
“This event is incredibly important,” said Sarah Fredrick, Penny’s mom. “I like seeing the community come together and provide support for all the families getting ready for back to school.”
Omaha Public Schools also hosts an enrollment fair to help families get set before school starts. The event provides a one-stop shop for families who are new to our community or who moved this summer. Our in-person enrollment fair served more than 730 families during the first week.
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“It’s for anyone who has changes, questions, or just to confirm their child is enrolled,” said Sara Peters, Omaha Public Schools student placement administrator. “We want to make sure that we’re ready and the schools are ready to roll the first day.”
The enrollment fair runs through Aug. 18 at our Teacher Administrative Center. Families can also visit our Student Placement page for more information.
As our district helps families prepare for the start of school, thousands of teachers and staff are collaborating to ensure a strong start to teaching and learning. Our district offered Curriculum Days this month. The two-day event gives staff time to strategize for the upcoming year.
“We get to be together in the same spot and talk about things that impact the work that we do, whether that’s the work with the teachers or the students,” said Jenny Pudenz, an Omaha Public Schools early childhood literacy lead. “It starts us off on a positive note and gives us some focus and direction very specific for our team.”
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Curriculum Days is about investing in our teachers to give them the tools they need related to curriculum and instruction. Each day is an opportunity for staff to lean into the expertise of others.
“This kicks off their school year in terms of how they're thinking,” said Jaimie Cogua, English Learner, Dual Language, Refugee, and Migrant Education coordinator. “If they're starting off in a positive way and feeling really solid about curriculum, then that transfers over to students.”
As Nebraska's largest school district, Omaha Public Schools will welcome nearly 52,000 students and approximately 9,000 full and part-time staff for the start of the 2023-24 school year.
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Stay Connected With Us on Social Media! |
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Students Make the Most of Teaching and Learning Opportunities During Summer Program |
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When Stanley Klein heard about a summer internship program through his school counselor, he knew he had to apply.
“I wanted to get an early start on teaching and see if it’s really what I want to do,” said Klein, a student intern. “I plan on becoming a math teacher, preferably in high school.”
Klein sharpened his math skills by supporting students as a paid intern during Omaha Public Schools Next Level Learning. He helped incoming fourth graders at Masters Elementary with multiplication, addition and subtraction.
Our district hired approximately 280 student interns this year, which more than doubled last year's total.
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“They’re learning about lesson planning, literacy and building student relationships,” said Susanne Cramer, chief officer of accountability and school improvement. “It’s such a great opportunity for us to build our own pipeline, and hopefully, our interns will come back to us as educators in the future.”
Northwest High junior Zoe Abner also interned at Masters Elementary this summer. She offered individual support to fifth graders learning typing skills.
“It’s fun when I get to help them with that because they’re always so ecstatic,” said Abner. “It’s a great opportunity to work with multiple kids and to see what it’s really like.”
More than 15,000 students participated in our summer programming at 47 sites. Student lessons focused on STEM through nature, arts and sports. Next Level Learning provides a fun and creative way for students to engage in learning during the summer months.
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“We work to ensure that the students and families that would benefit most from the learning are recruited and get access,” said Cramer. “And to ensure that we are having these incredible opportunities for our students and that we are bringing alive the vision of our Portrait of a Graduate.”
More than 1,200 teachers and support staff served students during Next Level Learning. Anne Chambers, a retired teacher who works as a paraprofessional during the regular school year, was excited to lend her expertise in the classroom.
“It’s been really nice,” said Chambers. “I get to see some of the same students I work with during the school year.”
Next Level Learning benefitted students at all grade levels. Classes took place in June and July.
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Superintendent Search Moves Forward This Fall |
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There are plenty of opportunities to make your voice part of our school district’s superintendent search.
In late September, the second of two survey windows opens for our community. Questions will ask about our school district’s strengths, opportunities and the key qualifications of an ideal future superintendent.
At the same time, our Board of Education and its superintendent search firm will host community meetings to gather input in person or virtually.
In September, staff, families and high school students will receive the survey link and a schedule of Board-organized meetings hosted with our search firm by email. Information will also be posted on:
- Omaha Public Schools social media accounts
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Our website at ops.org/superintendentsearch
- All school website homepages under “District Announcements”
“We need our community to participate,” said Board of Education Vice President and Accountability Committee Chair Ricky Smith. “We value the feedback and appreciate the time it takes to be part of this process.”
“Community members can always contact us,” said Board of Education President Spencer Head. “Send us an email at any time with ideas, feedback, questions or concerns. That communication is important to us.”
Board of Education contact information is available at ops.org/board.
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Student Transportation Offers Increased Support for Families Amid Updates |
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Omaha Public Schools bus drivers returned this week, ready to start the new year.
Omaha Public Schools and our contracted partners continue to recruit and hire qualified drivers.
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Omaha Public Schools Student Enrollment Fair Continues through Aug. 18 |
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Our district’s annual enrollment fair continues through the end of this week. The event is designed for families new to our district and current families attending a new school due to an address change.
The enrollment fair began Aug. 7 and runs through Aug. 18. Staff are available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Teacher Administrative Center (TAC) board room at 3215 Cuming St. Our district supported more than 730 families in-person during the first week.
Families must bring the required documents for registration, including:
- Birth certificate or I-94
- Immunizations
- Address verification
Staff from Student Placement, Student and Community Services, Student Information Services and English as a Second Language (ESL) will assist with enrollment.
If you have questions, please call the Student Placement Office at (531) 299-0302 or visit our Student Placement page for more information.
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Holiday Reminder for Omaha Public Schools Students and Families |
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Schools and district offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4, in observance of Labor Day.
Schools will re-open for all students and staff on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
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Safe2Help Nebraska Hotline |
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Safety is our top priority at Omaha Public Schools. There are resources in our district and community to support students and staff, including the Safe2Help Nebraska Hotline.
Safe2Help Nebraska is a confidential and anonymous hotline for students, families, staff or community members to report concerns.
If you or someone you know needs support or would like to report a safety concern, Safe2Help Nebraska Hotline is available 24/7 at (531) 299-SAFE. The app is installed on every Omaha Public Schools iPad, providing easy and immediate access.
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Check out this month's Community Opportunities. Our Community Opportunities section provides a destination for youth and family events.
Omaha Public Schools does not endorse any business, product or service.
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… all Omaha Public Schools class of 2023 summer graduates.
... Liberty Elementary and Jackson Elementary for their admittance into the International Spanish Academy, which recognizes schools with high-quality Spanish instruction.
… Abdi Unle of Bryan High for finishing fourth place in the Freestyle All-American 2023 US Marine Corps USAW Junior National Wrestling Championships.
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Thank you!
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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. |
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