Standing Bear Elementary

Omaha Public Schools proudly celebrates our staff through the "Moments That Matter" employee recognition program. Students, staff and families are encouraged to nominate staff members to acknowledge their excellent work.

TAKE A MINUTE TO GIVE A STAFF MEMBER A SHOUT OUT!

Greetings Standing Bear Families,

Thank you so much for your incredible support during our Fun Run! Because of your generosity and enthusiasm, we have made $37,874! These funds will make a big impact on our students' experiences.

The money will go toward transportation for field trips and additional enhancements to our playgrounds. We're thrilled to share that new equipment on the playground has been a huge success! Students are LOVING the new play options. We are also in the early stages of planning additional play structures. This is a lengthy process, as playground equipment is extremely expensive, and we want to ensure we have enough saved to cover these exciting upgrades.

And yes… the CUBS did it! That means I’ll be SLIMED on October 27th at 3PM on the front lawn outside the school.

Once again, thank you for making our Fun Run such a huge success and being patient with all the rain. It looks like October 8th will be a sunny day!

Standing Bear truly has the BEST families. Go CUBS!

Stay positive, patient and flexible!

Sincerely,

Bridget O'Melia

Hello everyone,

If you are interested in hosting a TRUNK during our Literacy Night on October 16th, you can sign up here.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B44ABA92EA2FFC70-65915624-2026

Please consider donating a bag of candy to make this a big success! Thanks for your support!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am available during Parent-Teacher conferences. If you’d like, you can set up a meeting with me. Feel free to call, email, or stop by. Phone number: 531-299-2147 Email: traci.melanson@ops.org.

Counseling Lessons for October:

• We will continue to work on calming strategies, problem-solving skills, and mindfulness during each counseling lesson.
• Safe and Ethical Behavior: Students will learn the difference between a conflict and bullying. Bullying is one sided, happens more than once, and is mean and hurtful.
• Healthy Habits: How to keep our bodies healthy with foods we eat and activities we do.

Mon., Oct. 26: Wear Red. “Let’s celebrate Red Ribbon Week!”

Tues., Oct. 27: Hat day. “You are headed for Success!”

Wed., Oct. 28: Favorite Team or Standing Bear shirt “Team up for Healthy Choices!”

Thurs. Oct. 29: Pajama Day “Dreaming of my Future!”

Health Screenings

Students enrolled in Omaha Public Schools are provided free health screening in accordance

with Nebraska State Statute. Screenings are conducted throughout the school year and may begin

as early as August.

Students in early childhood, kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, seventh, and tenth grades

are screened for hearing, vision, dental, height, and weight per the rules and regulations set forth

by the state of Nebraska. The screening is conducted to help identify health concerns in as early a

stage as possible, in an effort to enhance learning. Screening is not intended to be diagnostic, but

to identify students with potential problems. Findings that need further evaluation by a health

care provider will be sent home.

Per Nebraska State Regulations, a parent/guardian may supersede the mandated school health

screening by submitting a statement signed by an authorized health care provider attesting that

the required screening has been completed in the previous six months. An updated healthcare

provider statement must be submitted each school year.

Contact your school nurse for any questions regarding screening.

The first days of school: Kindergarten students will begin on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, and students in 1st through 5th grade will begin on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

October:

16th- Trunk or Treat Literacy Night

22nd-23rd- No School for All Students

21st-22nd- Parent Teacher Conferences

26th-30th- Red Ribbon Week

27th- 2 hour late start for all students

30th- Halloween Parade/Party @ 2:30 (specific details will be coming)

November:

3rd- No school for students (teacher planning day)

23rd-27th- Thanksgiving Recess (No School)

December:

21st-31st- Winter Break (No School)

January:

1st & 4th- Winter Break (No School)

15th- District Kindergarten Registration day (No school for kindergarten students)

18th- No School (Martin Luther King Day)

26th- 2 hour late start for all students

February:

11th- Valentine Party (PM only)

12th- No School for All Students

15th- No School for All Students (Presidents' Day)

23rd- 2 hour late start for all students

March:

11th-12th- No School for All Students

10th-11th- Parent Teacher Conferences

15th-19th- Spring Break (No School)

April:

16th- No School for All Students

19th- No School for All Students

May:

26th- Last Student Day

Specific details for events will come out closer to the event.

This list is complete as of today. Events will be added as necessary.

You can always check back for updates and check the PTO postings. Thank you!

We have a website and app. We hope you like it! Make sure to check it out and get your student added to the directory! Directions on the image.

We would love for you to join the PTO too ($10), but that is not required to add your student. The directory is only available to those that are connected to the school and sign-up, it is not public.

• FOR SAFETY, PLEASE USE THE SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS. DO NOT WALK OVER THE GRASS AND INTO THE PARKING LOT
• Drop off is 8:35AM, that is when breakfast is open and staff are on duty
• Please have student(s) ready to get out when you pull up
• Pull all the way down if able
• If you need to get out to assist your child, go into the parking lot lane not the main drive
• If your student is NOT eating breakfast they need to enter through the main front doors rather than the cafeteria doors
• Grab and Go Breakfast- If your student is eating breakfast, they need to enter the building through the cafeteria doors. They should have their BREAKFAST SCAN CODE on their backpack and visible. They may enter through the main front doors if they choose not to eat the district provided breakfast.

When parents pull onto school grounds, outside staff will input your family number to indicate that you have arrived. Classroom teachers will get your student(s) ready to dismiss.

How this works- We will enter your Family Number into a form, this will be visible to classroom teachers in the building and they will dismiss. Students will be dismissing out the main front doors staggered based on your arrival time. Students will NOT be dismissing out any other doors.

It will be extremely helpful if you let your student(s) know your preferred lane for pick-up. This will help them know to look for you in the main drive or the parking lot lane. Once your student(s) are loaded, you can pull out of the pick-up line to leave. DO NOT EXIT YOUR VEHICLE

What you will need at dismissal:

• You will need to place your car hanger number on your rearview mirror so it is clearly visible to outside staff.

• You will need to pull all the way down to the front door (as cars move ahead, you move ahead) if you are picking up on the main drive, pull all the way down to the front main entrance or up to the vehicle in front of you. If you are picking up in the parking lot lane, you will still need to pull all the way forward. ALL students will exit out the main front doors.

• We will call your student(s) out as you arrive, continue to pull forward whenever possible until all your students are loaded.

• Kindergarten students- dismissal will remain the same for parents who walk up to get kindergarten students. If you are choosing to drive through for pick up, parents will still pull up like all other vehicles with their family number visible.

• Early Childhood will remain the same. Parents will need to park and come check out their child.

• Walk up parents- A staff member will be located out front, you can provide them with your family number so teachers are aware you are ready to pickup. Your student(s) will then be dismissed. Parents do not need to enter the building. If you need to go into the building to pick up your student, you MUST stop at the office for a visitor badge and to sign the check out sheet.

Each family will receive 2 car hangers. If you would need additional ones, please contact the office. It is imperative not to lose your issued designated car hanger numbers. Please clearly display upon arrive so there is no confusion to expeditiously release your child for pick-up.

WE WILL BEGIN DISMISSAL (ENTERING NUMBERS) AT 4:00PM. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE AT SCHOOL BEFORE 3:55PM TO PREVENT AN INITIAL BACKUP. The line moves very fast once we begin the dismissal process.

Thank you for everything!

Early Pickup for Students

If you are picking up your students early for a doctor appointment, etc please call the office at least 5 minutes ahead of time and we will have you child ready to go at the designated time. Parents will need to come into the office to check out your student(s).

Building Security

For the safety and security of our students and this building, anyone entering the building must stop in the office first.

Drop Off Zone

We ask that you please continue to pull all the way down to the second crosswalk if possible (by main front doors). We can then unload around 10 vehicles rather than 5.

We currently have a school staff member assisting your child to breakfast or the classroom at the main doorway for all student’s morning arrival. REMINDER: School doors don’t open until 8:35 AM for classroom entrance and breakfast opening hours.

We ask again for you not arrive for end of school day pick-up until 3:55pm to prevent traffic flow congestion issues .

Please be attentive and cognizant of all school crossing guard officials and adhere to their requests during student morning drop-off and pick-up times. Our goal is to ensure your child’s overall safety.

Birthday Celebrations

We ask that only non-food items be brought for birthday celebrations. Please check with your child's teacher to discuss day and time for treats to be dropped off.

Safety remains our top priority in the Omaha Public Schools. We now have a Visitor Management System to ensure we are provided the most secure environment. Visitors will need to ring the outside doorbell. Once the secretary answers, she will verify your student's name and visitor's name prior to opening the front door. If the visitor's name is not in our system, they will not be let into the building. We ask that you understand that it may take a few minutes to gain access into the building while the secretaries verify your information. Please make sure you have updated contact information and that your emergency contacts are current.

Visitors will need to use the kiosk to get a visitor badge. This will require you to get a photo taken and use the printed visitor badge with your photo.

Large events such as holiday celebrations, music programs and family nights will not require the same check in process. Entrance into these events will be monitored by staff.

Email: bridget.omelia@ops.org
Website: https://standingbear.ops.org/HOME/tabid/36/Default.aspx
Location: 15860 Taylor Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 531-299-2140

Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, 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 address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (402-557-2001).