As we move through the school year, I continue to be inspired by the kindness, curiosity, and perseverance of our students. Every day, I see our learners growing academically and socially, supported by dedicated staff and engaged families. Thank you for partnering with us to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where every child can thrive.

We can’t wait to see you next week at parent-teacher conferences! If you haven’t had a chance to sign up, please reach out to Ms. Evert in the front office, and she will be happy to help you find a time that works for your schedule. Parent-teacher conferences provide a meaningful opportunity to talk about each student’s strengths, areas for growth, and celebrations at this point in the school year.

Thank you for your continued support of our school community. It is truly a joy to serve our families and students.

~Megan Schumacher

Principal

Spring conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, February 3rd and Wednesday, February 4th from 3:30pm - 7:30pm. You can sign up for a time to meet with your child's teacher by clicking the link below or scanning the QR Code. We look forward to connecting with all of our families!

Click here to schedule your parent teacher conferences

The Portal PTO provides a meal for teachers each night of Parent-Teacher Conferences. We need volunteers to donate snacks and drinks to accompany the meals. Please review the available items in the link and click the button to sign up.

Please drop off non-perishable items (labeled PTO Conference Meals) to the front office by Friday, January 30th. Fruit and vegetable items should be dropped off on Tuesday, February 3rd, to ensure they remain fresh.

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Babcock at (402) 917-6235 or melbabcock23@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting your Portal community!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050A4FAFA72BA3F94-61766800-spring

Congratulations to these Portal Stars for being the Students of the Quarter from 5 Points Bank!

Logan Redland (3rd Grade), Aiden Witas (2nd Grade), Bailey Johnson (Kindergarten) and Charlie Harmsen (5th Grade) were awarded with a certificate and a $50 savings bond! Way to go, Portal Stars!

As part of our commitment to student success, all public schools in Nebraska conduct mandatory health screenings. These screenings are designed to support your child’s health and learning. Portal's health screening will be February 18th, 2026.

WHY do public schools in Nebraska conduct school health screenings?
Health screenings are required by Nebraska law and are provided free of charge. The purpose is to make sure students don’t have a condition that could impact their ability to learn.

WHO will receive school health screenings?
Screenings are provided for students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, and 10th grades. Outside of these grades, any new student that transferred from out of state.

WHAT health conditions will be screened?
Students will be screened for vision, hearing, and dental health. Height and weight measurements are also taken. These screenings are not meant to provide a diagnosis, but rather to identify students who may need further evaluation or support.

Questions?
If you have questions or would like more information about school health screenings, please contact our school health office. We appreciate your support in helping us ensure that all students are healthy and ready to learn.

Kaylan Severson, MSN, RN, NCSN

Portal Elementary School Nurse (402) 898-0425

Online enrollment for 2026-2027 school year is now open!

You can enroll at https://enrollment.esu3.org/Login.aspx?sdist=plv . Currently enrolled preschoolers who are planning to attend Kindergarten, MUST STILL SUBMIT an online enrollment application as it’s a starting point for gathering required immunizations and other Kindergarten specific documentation.

We certainly hope you’ll take advantage of online enrollment so you can start receiving information about upcoming Kindergarten preparation activities, most importantly, Kindergarten Round Up which is scheduled for Thursday, April 2nd. Tell your friends!

Please ensure your student is appropriately dressed for the weather. We will have outdoor recess as long as the actual or the "feels like" wind chill temperature is at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Please send students to school with labeled jackets, hats, gloves/mittens, etc. Students may bring snow pants/bibs and boots when there is snow to play in, but they must wear shoes while inside. Sending them in a labeled plastic bag can help keep their items together and provide easy storage should they get wet at recess.

You Belong Here: Be Here to Be Your Best!

We are so excited to begin the second semester with our students. We hope they are returning refreshed and ready to learn, while also recognizing that breaks often bring changes in routine, especially for our younger learners. Getting back into consistent routines and ensuring students are present at school each day helps support a smooth transition. Be Here to Be Your Best! Reengaging with peers and actively participating in learning activities are great ways to help students settle back into their school routines.

We know you’ve experienced a PLCS staff member going above and beyond for you, a student, a parent, a peer, or a community member! Please share your gratitude and help us recognize that employee by completing this short nomination form. Click the button below!

Moments that Matter

Jan. 30th - Skate Party at Skate City from 5-7pm

Feb. 3rd & 4th - Spring Parent Teacher Conferences

Feb. 6th - No School - Staff Development Day

Feb. 10th - PTO Meeting at 6:30pm

Feb. 13th - Class Valentines Parties @ 2pm

Feb. 16th - No School - Staff Development Day

Feb. 20th - Popcorn Friday

Feb. 20th - Portal PTO Bingo/Raffle Night at Papio South H.S. (Information below)

Feb. 24th - Graley's Family Night

- Looking Ahead -

April 2nd - Kindergarten Roundup (No School for current Kindergarten students)

Friday, February 20th

The Annual Portal Bingo and Raffle Night is family fun for all Portal students and

families. You can look forward to several games of BINGO, winning fun prizes, and the

big finale will be the MANY RAFFLE PRIZES!!! Raffle baskets will include Snack Attack,

Family Fun Night, Sports, Bath & Body, and Gift Cards galore, along with some bigger

grand prizes! Last year we had almost 50 winners! Treats and drinks will be available for sale at the event.

To sign up please see the Signup Genius link below and join us for this fun filled night.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050B4CAEA929A7FD0-61968479-2026

We are only able to put together this event with help from all of you. Thank you for your support!

Please save the date!

Friday, February 20th , 2026

Papillion-LaVista South (Titans) High School

Doors will open at 6:00 (raffle tickets will be available for sale).

Bingo will start promptly at 6:30pm.

If you have any questions at all about this please e-mail Jessica

(jessicaskradski@creighton.edu) or call/text her at 402-326-1945.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this fundraiser! We were able to sell 130 cards and raise $1,300 towards teacher and classroom resources. Fundraisers like this allow the PTO to continue providing funding for field trips and speakers, classroom parties and classroom resources. For any student who sold 10+ cards, please expect their $10 gift card of choice to be sent to the email address used for registration next week. All in-person cards will be received and distributed to students for delivery next week. Thank you all for your support and participation.

Prices for 25-26

Elementary Lunch $2.50

Cold Lunch students can purchase milk a la carte for $0.75

Lunch Visitors

We are utilizing a Sign-Up Genius for lunch visitors. If there is more than one visitor in your group, each visitor must be signed up for a slot. Slots are listed as 11:45am - 12:55pm, but please come during your children's lunch time. Lunch times are listed on the Sign Up Genius. Visitors may bring lunch or purchase lunch at school (if you want to purchase lunch at school, it must be called in to the front office no later than 8:45am). If you are purchasing school lunch, please bring exact change, $5.00. If you have any questions, please call Carrie Evert at 402-898-0425.

The Sign Up link is below.

Sign Up for Lunch Here!

Stock up on Portal Elementary School spirit wear! The more you buy, the bigger your savings-up to 25% off! Save 15% when you buy 2 items. Save 20% when you buy 3 items. SAVE 25% OFF when you buy 4 items! Use code SPIRIT766 at checkout to apply your discount. Plus, receive FREE shipping on orders of $75 or more. Shop now during the perfect opportunity to stock up on Portal Elementary School tees, hoodies, hats, accessories and more for the entire family. https://1stplace.sale/59693

Real-Time Bus Tracking with FirstView

With the weather changing, we want to remind families of the free GPS tracking app to monitor your child's bus in real-time and receive delay notifications.

Set up the FirstView app with district code N6P3O visit: https://www.plcschools.org/families/transportation

(look for "FirstView Transportation Tracking & Notification System").

For more information, please take a look at this handout.

Birthdays are a special occasion, and we enjoy celebrating them at school. Each student is recognized on their special day or 1/2 birthday with a birthday book from the office! If you would like to provide something for your child’s class, we ask that you bring non-food items such as pencils, stickers, or other small trinkets. To ensure the safety of all students, outside food is not permitted due to the variety of food allergies within our school community. Thank you for your continued support!

Principal: Megan Schumacher

Administrative Assistant: Carrie Evert

Location: 9920 Brentwood Dr, La Vista, NE, 68128

Phone: 402-898-0425

Website

Facebook

The Papillion La Vista Community School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age or other protected status in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Students: Director of Student Services, 420 South Washington Street, Papillion, NE 68046 (402) 537-6200 (studentservices@plcschools.org). Employees and Others: Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, 420 South Washington Street, Papillion, NE 68046 (402) 537-6200 (AskHR@plcschools.org). Complaints or concerns involving discrimination or needs for accommodation or access should be addressed to the appropriate Coordinator. For further information about anti-discrimination laws and regulations, or to file a complaint of discrimination with the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education (OCR), please contact OCR at One Petticoat Lane, 1010 Walnut Street #320, Kansas City, Missouri 64106, (816) 268-0550 (voice), or (877) 521-2172 (telecommunications device for the deaf), or ocr.kansascity@ed.gov.

Portal Elementary Newsletter

January 29th, 2026

You Belong Here: Be Here to Be Your Best!

Friday, February 20th

From the Principal From the Principal

Spring Parent Teacher Conferences Spring Parent Teacher Conferences

Food Donations Requested for Parent Teacher Conferences Food Donations Requested for Parent Teacher Conferences

5 Points Bank 5 Points Bank

Annual Health Screenings Annual Health Screenings

Kindergarten Roundup - April 2nd Enrollment is NOW OPEN Kindergarten Roundup - April 2nd Enrollment is NOW OPEN

Dress Warm for the Weather Dress Warm for the Weather

You Belong Here You Belong Here

You Belong Here: Be Here to Be Your Best!

Share the Greatness! Share the Greatness!

Calendar of Upcoming Events Calendar of Upcoming Events

Save the Date! Portal PTO Bingo/Raffle Night Save the Date! Portal PTO Bingo/Raffle Night

Friday, February 20th

Domino’s Donate for Dough Results Domino’s Donate for Dough Results

Lunch Signup Lunch Signup

Portal Spirit Wear Portal Spirit Wear

First View App for Bus Riders First View App for Bus Riders

Portal Giving Tree Portal Giving Tree

Birthdays & Celebrations Birthdays & Celebrations

Contact Portal Elementary Contact Portal Elementary