Panther Press

Dear Prairie Lane Families,

As we move into November, we are reminded of the importance of gratitude and taking time to appreciate the people who make a difference in our lives. At Prairie Lane, we have so much to be thankful for! We are grateful for our incredible students who bring joy, energy, and excitement to our school each day, our dedicated staff who go above and beyond to support every child, and our wonderful families who continue to support us to make Prairie Lane such a special place.

This month, we encourage our Panthers to practice gratitude through simple acts of kindness, showing appreciation for others, and recognizing the little things that make each day special. A simple "thank you," a helping hand, or a kind word can make a big difference!

Personally, I am especially thankful to be part of the Prairie Lane community. The kindness, support, and Panther pride I have experienced make me grateful to walk through our doors each day. Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being such an important part of our Prairie Lane family. We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for!

Janeen Mann

Prinicpal

You can link to the live calendar at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/r/month?tab=mc.

Prairie Lane Elementary - District 66 - https://www.facebook.com/prairielaneelementary

Prairie Lane Community Club - https://www.facebook.com/plcc.panthers

Cold Weather Gear

The cold weather has arrived! Please be sure your students are dressed properly for the changing temperatures. Send hats, gloves and coats as needed, and remember to label items with names. The recess policy states that we will play outside everyday, weather permitting, when temperatures are above 10 degrees.

1. When the feels like temperature is below 45 degrees fahrenheit students must have at least long sleeves

2. If a student forgets to bring out a coat/jacket when the temperature is below 45 degrees fahrenheit they will be required to borrow one from the tub by the cafeteria

3. Students will not be permitted to go back inside to get a coat/jacket if they forget to bring it outside

When snow is on the ground, boots and snow pants are required for field play, otherwise students will stay on the blacktop.

Doctor’s notes are required for students to stay inside due to illness.

Thank you for your help in keeping students comfortable while staying active!

Families, if your child's dismissal plans change and they will not be attending Club 66 as scheduled, please remember to notify both the Prairie Lane office and Stephanie Humphrey, our Club 66 Director. Communicating with both ensures everyone receives the updated information, your child is accounted for, and a safe dismissal plan is in place. This reminder also applies to any other changes to your child's regular dismissal plans. Please be sure to communicate these changes with the Prairie Lane office. Thank you for helping us keep our Panthers safe!

Please check your email and spam folders for lunch money notices. All accounts should be at or above $0.00 at all times. We thank you for your help in this matter.

Prairie Lane Community Club Welcomes You!

PLCC Meeting

We hope you join us for our next PLCC Meeting on November 17 at 6:30pm! Suggestions or comments can be directed to president.plcc@gmail.com

CLICK HERE for the October Meeting Minutes

Prairie Lane Items For Sale:

PL Yard Signs and Stickers are available in the office. See below for pricing:

• Yard Signs For Sale $30
• Stickers For Sale $3

What is BIST?

BIST is our school-wide approach designed to provide "grace and accountability" for all students. Its primary goal is to help students learn the emotional and social skills they need to be successful in the classroom and throughout their lives. Rather than focusing on punishment, BIST focuses on teaching. We believe that when a student struggles with a behavior, it is simply a skill they haven't mastered yet—much like a challenging math problem or a tricky reading word. Through supportive relationships, our staff guides students to recognize their feelings, take responsibility for their choices, and make a plan to do better next time.

BIST MODEL:

BIST is about providing what students need:

• Early Intervention (When)- Utilizing the expectations that it's never okay to be disruptive to learning (it’s always ok to be a good learner) or hurtful (it’s always ok to be kind) allows adults to intervene consistently with all students. A student will be asked one time per activity to stop a behavior that is disruptive or hurtful. Adults will intervene in a quick, kind, calm, firm and close manner if a student cannot meet this expectation.
• Caring Confrontation (How)- Caring Confrontation is a language of partnership when intervening with a student’s disruptive or hurtful behavior. With the intent of creating awareness of the situation and one's actions, Caring Confrontation provides the student with an opportunity to meet the set standard and partner with the adult.
  ∘ “I see …" (disruptive behavior)
  ∘ “Can you …" (desired behavior)
  ∘ “Even though …" (student’s feelings)
• Protective Plan (What)- Protective Plans provide an opportunity for the adult and student to identify a missing skill and partner together to develop the skill. Teaching replacement skills and practicing the Goals For Life helps students manage their behaviors and move toward making life changes. Protections to restrict the student from what they can’t manage is often significant to start the process of life change.
• Outlasting the Acting Out- Maintaining a relationship and restrictions while guiding the student to identify their level in the Continuum of Change (Noncompliance, Compliance, Partnership, Independence) until the student is able to partner with and be coached by adults.

Thank you for supporting and reminding students to follow our school-wide expectations daily!

Join us for Sensory Make and Take on November 14 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Oakdale Elementary School, 9801 West Center Road, Omaha, NE 68124. Families will create personalized sensory tools, explore interactive stations, and take home their creations. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXVX92IX3OSrfvZvYk0PZdRgg3Js25-duvUUx9qTX8l-lr2Q/viewform?pli=1

Westside High School Fall 2026 Craft Fair, November 14, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., at 8701 Pacific Street. Holiday shopping event benefiting the girls basketball program. Admission: $4; children ages 10 and under free.

Become a detective and rediscover your family history at “Rediscover Your Roots” at Omaha’s Central Library on Tuesday, December 8, at 5:00 p.m. Staff and their families are invited to a Westside Community Connections event for a free, behind-the-scenes library tour, an introduction to genealogy resources, and a fun, hands-on activity to get started exploring your family tree. No experience is needed, just curiosity! RSVP is required. Go to https://bit.ly/DecWCSCC to register.

Westside Community Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, age, marital/parental status, military/veteran status or any other category protected by law in its programs and activities or in admission or access to, or treatment in, hiring and employment, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

The following District personnel have been designated to coordinate compliance and can address inquiries about the District’s nondiscrimination policies and procedures:

For questions or concerns by students, parents or others:

• Coordinator of Student Services/Title IX Coordinator – ABC Bldg. 909 So. 76th St. Omaha (402) 390-2100 E-mail: titleixcoordinator@westside66.net

• Director of Special Services/ADA & 504 Coordinator (disability/accommodation) ABC Bldg. 909 So. 76th St. (402) 390-2100 E-mail: ADAcoordinator@westside66.net

For questions by District employees or applicants:

• Ass’t Supt. for Human Resources/Lead Title IX Coordinator - 909 So. 76th St. Omaha, NE (402) 390-2100