Standing Bear Elementary

Welcome Back to a Fantastic New School Year!

Greetings Standing Bear Families,

Welcome to the first Standing Bear Newsletter of the 2026-2027 school year. As we embark on a new school year, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the wonderful opportunities that lie ahead. Our school community is gearing up for a year of growth and achievement, and I am thrilled to welcome each of you back!

PARENTS CAN WALK STUDENTS INTO SCHOOL THIS WEEK ONLY. Students will be able to enter the building independently starting August 24th. We have staff throughout the building to support students getting to their classrooms. This is for SAFETY. Thank you for understanding.

To our CUBS: I hope you have enjoyed your summer break and are ready to dive into a year full of new learning adventures. This year, we will continue to nurture your curiosity, celebrate your successes, and support you in reaching your full potential. Remember, every day is a chance to learn something new and make a positive impact.

To our Standing Bear parents and guardians: Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Your involvement is crucial in creating a successful and enriching experience for our students. We value your collaboration and look forward to working together to make this year memorable and rewarding for everyone.

As we start this new year, let’s embrace the opportunities and challenges ahead with enthusiasm and a shared commitment to excellence. I look forward to seeing all the amazing things we will accomplish together.

Here’s to a fantastic school year!

Take Care

Stay positive, patient and flexible!

Sincerely,

Bridget O'Melia

• 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).

Medication:

If your child requires the administration of medication at school please bring a copy of orders from a Health Care Provider, sign a parent permission and speak to the school nurse.

New Students to Standing Bear:

Out of State Requirements include a copy of immunizations and a recent physical by a Health Care Provider. These can be turned into the Health Office or faxed to 531-299-2158.

Health Information for Kindergarten Families:

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! An email was sent this summer about Nebraska state law, which requires all kindergarten students have a physical exam, vision evaluation, and be up to date on all immunizations before school starts.

If your child hasn’t had their exams or the required vaccines, please schedule an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider or School-Based Health Center as soon as possible.

Be sure all health records are sent to the school nurse. If you have already submitted the physical and vision exams and vaccine record, no additional paperwork is needed at this time.

Health Requirements:

□ Copy of the physical exam and vision evaluation (required by state law)

□ Copy of current immunization record (required by state law)

• 3 doses of DTaP, DTP, DT, or TD vaccine, one given on or after the 4th birthday
• 3 doses of Polio vaccine
• 3 doses of pediatric Hepatitis B vaccine
• 2 doses of MMR or MMRV vaccine, given on or after 12 months of age, separated by at least one month
• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) or MMRV given on or after 12 months of age. If your child has had varicella (chickenpox), they do not need any varicella vaccines. Written documentation must be provided (including month and year) of varicella disease from the parent/guardian or health care provider

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.

September:

7th- No School for All Students (Labor Day)

18th- Scholastic Photo Day

29th- 2 hour late start for all students

October:

2nd- No School for All Students

22nd-23rd- No School for All Students

21st-22nd- Parent Teacher Conferences

27th- 2 hour late start for all students

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:

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.

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).