The Rikli Recap - November 15, 2024

As we move deeper into November, our district continues to demonstrate excellence in countless ways - from our classrooms to our athletic courts, from our advisory meetings to our community partnerships.

This past weekend, I had the joy of watching our Papillion La Vista South volleyball team capture their fourth state title in six years alongside my son. The Titans put on an incredible performance in Lincoln, dominating their way through the tournament without dropping a single set in their three matches. Their achievement exemplifies the excellence we strive for across our district.

Speaking of excellence, I'm pleased to congratulate Marcus Madler and Skip Bailey on their re-election to our Board of Education, and welcome our newly elected board member, Elizabeth Butler. Our district continues to benefit from dedicated leadership at all levels.

Our Veterans Day celebrations powerfully demonstrated what makes our PLCS community unique. Across the district, our buildings honored veterans in meaningful ways - from Prairie Queen second graders welcoming Major Michael Cummings and Captain Jay Hamman, to Hickory Hill's third grade musical performance with Staff Sergeants Brad Randall (USAF), Troy Bendickson (National Guard), and Allen Bentley (Army), to Board member Skip Bailey sharing his Air Force experiences at Patriot Elementary. With STRATCOM and the 55th Wing in our backyard, approximately 9% of our students are military dependents, though when asked, 50-60% of our students stood to recognize a family member who has served.

The spirit of giving that defines our district was on full display this month. Portal Elementary students collected over 900 pairs of socks during their "Socktober" fundraiser for the PLCS Community Closet (pictured). This effort comes at a perfect time, as our recent Community Closet event at La Vista Middle School served many families with over 700 coats and 1,000 winter items like mittens, hats, and scarves. The Community Closet is one of our district's most impactful programs, helping families when they need it most, and we couldn't be more proud of how our community steps up to support one another.

Our Noteworthy section continues to showcase the exceptional achievements within our district. This month, I'm thrilled to highlight two remarkable examples of talent and leadership in our PLCS family.

Nineteen Papillion La Vista Senior High students represented our district at the Nebraska Latino Youth Summit at the La Vista Conference Center. We're especially proud of Daniella Mancia and Nataly Barragan Chavez, who distinguished themselves by winning two of only five available Jesuita & Santos scholarships.

Our student organizations continue to demonstrate leadership through service. PLHS National Honor Society and Student Council members spent their weekend volunteering for yard work at Tara Heights Elementary, exemplifying our students' commitment to giving back to their school community.

As we look ahead to developing our next strategic plan, a key source of insight will come from our January 2025 Continuous Improvement Process (CIP) visit. During this comprehensive evaluation, an external review team will examine our educational programs and provide valuable feedback about our district's strengths and opportunities for growth. Their observations and recommendations will help inform our strategic planning process, ensuring our future initiatives align with both state frameworks and our commitment to quality learning for all students. We anticipate this external perspective will add valuable depth to our strategic planning conversations.

We're pleased to report that our 2023 bond projects continue to progress. At Papillion Middle School, upcoming projects include classroom refreshes, gym and track improvements, and ADA-compliant restroom renovations for both general and special education areas. Our team and construction partners continue to work efficiently to ensure these improvements stay on schedule.

At the end of October I was able to surprise Greg Bendon, Assistant Supervisor at the PLCS Warehouse, with the October Superintendent Spotlight on a classified staff member.

Watch my visit to the Warehouse to surprise Greg and hear his reflection about the moments that matter to him:

It was fun to pop into Jessica Waggoner's class to surprise her with the October Superintendent Spotlight on a certified staff member.

See inside Ms. Waggoner's classroom and hear what moments in education matter to her:

Twice a month I'll recognize a PCLS staff member for my Superintendent Spotlight! These individuals are selected from our Moments that Matter peer-to-peer appreciation program. Staff members, parents, and students can all fill out this form to express appreciation for a staff member and encourage them in their work!

If you have a lesson, program or activity you would like to share with me, please email my assistant Kathy Baranko at Kathy.Baranko@plcschools.org. I will do my best to stop by. Keep doing what you do best and please help us tell the PLCS story of greatness!