Prairie Wind Newsletter

Prairie Wind Vision: Every student on grade level & growing each year | Mission: 100% student proficiency in reading & math | Core Values: Accountability • Teamwork • Integrity

Dear Prairie Wind Families,

I am excited to share some encouraging news about the learning and growth happening across Prairie Wind Elementary. Over the past few weeks, our students completed the Winter MAP assessments in reading and math. These assessments give us a midyear snapshot of student progress and help our teachers refine instruction to best support continued growth.

Here’s what we’re seeing: Prairie Wind students are growing.

At this midpoint in the year, our students are showing schoolwide growth at or above the national average in both reading and math. In reading, Prairie Wind students are growing above the national norm, and in math, our growth is right in line with expected progress for this point in the year. This tells us that students are learning, improving, and moving forward — exactly what we want to see.

This progress is a direct reflection of the hard work happening in classrooms every day. Our teachers have been working collaboratively, making thoughtful, system-wide instructional shifts, and staying focused on strong core instruction for all students. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to continuous improvement are making a real difference for kids.

Our students also deserve a great deal of credit. Prairie Wind students are showing up every day on time, on task, and on a mission. They are engaged, focused, and willing to work through challenges — and that consistency matters. Growth doesn’t happen by accident; it happens when students are present, invested, and supported.

We are deeply grateful for our families and the partnership you provide. Thank you for ensuring students attend school regularly, for supporting learning routines at home, and for encouraging your children to give their best effort each day. Your role in this work is essential, and we truly value the trust you place in us.

As we move into the second half of the school year, we will continue to use assessment data thoughtfully — celebrating progress while also identifying areas where we can further support students. Prairie Wind remains focused on growth, teamwork, and doing what’s best for children, and we are proud of the momentum we are building together.

Thank you for being such an important part of the Prairie Wind community. We are excited about the continued learning ahead and honored to partner with you in your child’s education.

Warmly,
Tamika Walker
Principal, Prairie Wind Elementary

Regular attendance plays a critical role in student learning. Being at school every day helps students build strong routines, stay connected to classmates, and make steady academic progress.

Our schoolwide goal is 95% daily attendance, and we want to thank our families for their partnership — this past fall, 80% of our students met or nearly met that goal. Your support truly makes a difference.

If your child will be absent, please notify the school as soon as possible so we can support your family and keep our records accurate. You may receive a text message or robocall regarding your child’s absence; we ask that you respond promptly to confirm the reason. This helps us ensure student safety, reduce unnecessary follow-up calls, and keep students on track for success.

Need to report an absence or have questions?
📞 Call us at (531) 299-1980
Please ask for Ms. Vecchio (Veh-key-O) or Mr. Richardson.

Thank you for partnering with us to support consistent attendance and student success. Every day counts, and together we can help every Prairie Wind student stay on time, on task, and on a mission.

Christopher J. Richardson

Assistant Principal

Prairie Wind Elementary School ​

"You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." -- James Clear

Do you have a child who will turn five years old by July 31, 2026? We would love to welcome your family to Kindergarten Registration on Friday, January 16!

This exciting event is a wonderful opportunity for families to get connected before school begins next August. While parents learn more about Prairie Wind Elementary and complete registration, children will meet teachers and spend time in their future classrooms.

Families may choose the session that works best for them:

• Session 1: 2:00–3:00 p.m.

• Session 2: 4:30–5:30 p.m.

Both sessions offer the same great experience.

Know a family with a future kindergartener? Please help us spread the word by sharing this information with friends, family, and neighbors. We can’t wait to meet our newest Stallions and start this exciting journey together!

We’re excited to invite families of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students to Family Math Day on Thursday, February 12, from 9:00–10:00 AM!

During this time, parents and guardians will be invited to visit their child’s (or children’s) classroom(s) to observe a portion of math instruction. This is a great opportunity to see what math learning looks like today—how students think, problem-solve, and engage with math during a typical school day.

Families will also leave with hands-on materials and resources to use at home, along with ideas for how to support math learning and build numeracy skills outside of school. These resources will also be shared digitally for families who are unable to attend in person.

We intentionally scheduled Family Math Day right after morning drop-off to make it easier for families to stop in before heading to work. We look forward to welcoming you into our classrooms and partnering together to support student learning!

Dear Families,

As we wrap up the first half of the school year, our counseling lessons have focused on helping students better understand themselves and others through meaningful conversations, creativity, and connection.

What Students Are Learning

• Grades 1, 3, & 5: Students are practicing perspective-taking, respectful disagreement, and positive self-esteem. Through discussions and role-playing, students learned how to listen to others, express their own ideas respectfully, and recognize their unique strengths.

• Grades K, 2, & 4: Students are learning how individual differences make our school community stronger. Lessons emphasized inclusion, teamwork, and celebrating what makes each person unique.

Looking Ahead

• January lessons will focus on healthy friendships and relationships. Students will also participate in district-required lessons on Healthy Boundaries, Human Trafficking Awareness, and Mandatory Reporting.

• 5th grade families: Please watch for emails in January about middle school registration, open houses, and school selection. Online selections will be due January 30th. If you have questions, please contact Danielle Schneider, 5th-grade counselor.

Counselor Tips for Families
You can support these skills at home by:

• Asking your child how others might feel or think in different situations

• Modeling calm, respectful disagreement

• Encouraging your child’s strengths and efforts

• Talking about how differences help families and communities grow

We look forward to continuing this important work in the second half of the school year.

Warmly,
The School Counseling Team

A new year means new opportunities for growth, reflection, and support. I’m looking forward to continuing to help our students build confidence, resilience, and healthy coping skills.

Families can help students start the year strong by encouraging consistent routines, setting realistic goals, and prioritizing both physical and mental health through sleep, nutrition, movement, and open conversations. In addition, it is important to remind students to speak up when they need support and know that help is always available.

If you notice your child experiencing one or more of the following symptoms, consider connecting them with a therapist.

5 Signs Your Child Might Need Therapy:

1. Extreme Mood Swings

2. Persistent Anxiety

3. Withdrawal from Friends

4. Academic Struggles

5. Sleep and Appetite Changes

   
   

For more information about therapy and other community resources visit the following link : PW Current Community Resource Information

Or

Reach out to me directly: brooke.ziebell@ops.org or 531-299-1988

Physical and Vision Exam requirements:

If a student is new to Nebraska, the law requires they should have documentation of a physical and vision exam on record. The health office has several new students (including current Kindergartners) without proper documentation. Please call Mrs. Hansen at 531-299-1982 to check if you have turned in your student's physical/vision exam.

Kindergarten Roundup:

We are looking forward to meeting our upcoming Kindergartners at round-up on January 16th. Please be sure to bring in your immunization records and make those Kindergarten physical appointments early. We accept physical exams from 3/1/2025 forward as meeting the requirements in the above law.

Illness Guidelines:

Parents, please be vigilant with keeping kids home if their fever has been 100.4 or higher or have experienced vomiting in the last 24 hours. You should be fever free or vomiting free for 24 hours (without medication) before returning to school. Respiratory illness is significant in our community right now. To fight infection in the home, make sure to wash your hands frequently and be sure to get regular sleep. Children especially need a nighttime schedule and good nutrition to boost their immune system. Regular exercise also increases your ability to fight infection.

Medical referrals:

If your child had a vision, hearing, or dental exam recently, please turn in results to school, especially if a referral came home from our recent health screenings. For a student to be successful at school, we need to be sure their body is taken care of. Let us know if you need help finding providers for these exams.

Marilyn Hansen MSML, BSN, RN

School Nurse

Prairie Wind Elementary

Phone (531) 299-1982

Fax (531) 299-1998

marilyn.hansen@ops.org

Email: tamika.walker@ops.org
Website:www.ops.org/prairiewind
Location:10908 Ellison Ave. Omaha, NE 68164
Phone: (531) 299-1980
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Prairie Wind