Bear Buzz September 2025

Mission Statement

Bryan High School, in partnership with students, families, and the community, provides a student-centered learning environment that cultivates character, fosters academic excellence, and embraces diversity to prepare students for post-secondary opportunity and career readiness.

A Message from Principal CK

Greetings, Bear families!

We have had an outstanding opening to the 2025–2026 school year. Our students have come back focused, kind, and ready to learn. Classrooms are buzzing, hallways are calm, and we are proud of the way our Bears have started the year. It has been a joy to witness their enthusiasm and pride in our school.

This year, we are embracing a renewed vision for Bryan High: Many Bears, One Bryan. Every student on track. Every student graduating.

To support this, we have four big goals from our School Improvement Plan:

· Freshman Success & On-Track for All

· Climate & Culture

· Instruction

· Attendance You will see this visual throughout the building as a reminder of where we are headed and how we will get there. If we improve attendance, we improve learning. That is our first and most urgent focus.

Much of this work started over the summer. Our SIP team came together to align goals, teachers spent time writing curriculum and refining instructional practices, and we updated our facilities to better serve student needs—including a fully updated weight room to reflect student voice and support physical wellness.

At the same time, some things have remained the same:

· The OPS Moonshot Goal is still in place: Every student reading on track by 2030.

· No phones or personal devices during instructional time (state law)

· Hall sweeps occur every passing period to get students to class on time

· Late arrivals must check in with security until 8:00 a.m.

Most importantly, your students are doing great! They are demonstrating kindness, pride, and resilience. Our year is off to a fantastic start, and we are only getting stronger from here.

Let’s keep it going. Together, we are Many Bears, One Bryan.

Principal CK

Important Calendar Dates

September 1: No School for all Students, Labor Day

September 3: CAFE Meeting, Library

September 4: Latino Parent Meeting, Library

September 12: First Football Game

September 23: Two Hour Late Start for Students

September 24: NACRAO College Fair

September 27: Bryan High Craft Show

October 11: Homecoming

October 16: Parent/Teacher Conferences, No School for All Students

October 17: No School for All Students

October 21: 9-10 Pre-ACT, No School for Grades 11-12

October 26: Two Hour Late start for students

October 30: Boo Bash, 5:30pm-7:30pm

Please see our BHS Website Calendar for other upcoming dates and events!

Academies in Action: Many Bears, One Bryan

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: The 2025-2026 Bryan High Staff Academies toured multiple sites to make deeper connections with our community partners who offer many opportunities to our students. We are continuing to align our vision of "Many Bears, One Bryan" this school year.

Academies in Action: Many Bears, One Bryan

Connection is Key: This year, we look forward to continuing the tradition of celebrating all of our Academies together. Students in each Academy are excited to take on another school year! Connect with our Bryan High Facebook or Bryan High Instagram to help us celebrate all their accomplishments.

Academies in Action: Many Bears, One Bryan

Community Matters: A special thank you to our community partners: Canopy South Omaha, Lozier, Lauritzen Gardens, and Omaha by Design, who provided our teachers facility tours, gear, and connections for students. Working together, we can make a difference!

JOIN THE CAFE TODAY!

The Cafe (Community and Family Engagement) brings together families, alumni, staff, and community partners to support Bryan High students.

· Quarterly Meetings: Sept 3, Nov 5, Feb 4, Apr 1 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bryan High Library

· Recent Projects: Alumni and Friends Reunion last April, Freshman Welcome Day on August 14

· Goal: Build connections that help every Bear thrive

All are welcome! We hope you get involved in Many Bears, One Bryan.

Apply for Educational Benefits Today

This summer, our district notified families that students at Bryan High will continue to receive lunch at no cost, regardless of income, through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

We encourage our families to complete an Educational Benefits Form by Sept. 24 to see if they qualify for additional benefits including:

Discounted home internet services
Discounted or waived fees for SAT, PSAT, ACT, AP and other academic tests
Waived or reduced college and post-secondary application and course fees
Scholarship options
Access to career, internship and other community programs

Log in to SchoolCafe and click “Apply for Benefits” to complete the form. It only takes a few minutes to complete if you have your household income details.

One form covers all students in your household. If you have already completed an Educational Benefits Form or Free and Reduced Meal Application through SchoolCafe, you can check your eligibility status on your account dashboard.

Please reach out to our office if you need help completing your application. 531-299-2540.

Craft show September 27th 9am-3pm

Homework Hotline

Advanced Academics and Dual Enrollment Supports

For the 2025-26 school year, the Omaha Public Schools will continue its commitment to early access to college and college credits.

Fees for Advanced Academic college credit exams and dual enrollment with partnering institutions will be covered at no cost to families. Qualifying students may be asked to complete applications as needed.

Dual enrollment is the opportunity for high school students to take approved college courses taught in our high schools to earn high school and college credit concurrently. We partner with the University of Nebraska Omaha, Midland University, and Metropolitan Community College.

Counseling Corner: Scholarships and Graduation Information

EducationQuest

https://educationquest.org/events/

The Youth Leadership Omaha (YLO) application is NOW OPEN for high school sophomores (application is open from Monday, August 18 - Friday, September 5, 2025).

What we ask of you: (flier with QR code linked here).
As a reminder, YLO is a community leadership development program that brings together 32 high school sophomores from schools all over the Omaha/Metro area to realize their potential to be shapers of their communities. Participants will engage with local business and community leaders to gain a deeper understanding of our city’s assets and challenges. Since its inception in 1992, the annual program has helped students build their network, gain new insights on civic themes, and grow their impact. There is no cost for the student. We aim to recruit a diverse class of students with leadership potential regardless of economic capacity.

Below is a general timeline for YLO:

August 18 – September 5, 2025: YLO application is open
October 1 - 4, 2025: Interviews will be conducted and a class of 32 selected
November 2025 – April 2026: Six monthly day-long seminars
April 2026: YLO Graduation

GPACAC Omaha Signature College Fair

GPACAC Omaha Signature College Fair

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

6:30-8:30 p.m.

@ Creighton Prep Heider Center

Pre-fair panels and presentations: 5:45-6:15 p.m.

Omaha metro area high school students and families are invited to this evening college fair. Currently, over 40 colleges have registered for the event (see the college list and panel topics here), and we are still accepting registrations. Counselors, you are welcome to attend the fair as well

Congressman Don Bacon’s Youth Advisory Academy

To be eligible, you must be a high school student in Nebraska’s District. The Congressman’s Youth Advisory Academy will span the 2025-2026 school year and meet once a quarter, in August, October, January, and early spring. If you wish to join the academy, you MUST be able to attend all excursions. If you have any questions regarding the application or general inquiries about the Youth Advisory Academy.

Please contact Christopher Garabrandt at 402-938-0300 or by email at christopher.garabrandt@mail.house.gov Please include in Subject Line: CYAA 2025

Graduation Product Ordering

Graduation is an exciting milestone for students and a once-in-a-lifetime moment to be celebrated. Jostens makes it easy for schools, parents and seniors, with one-stop shopping for apparel, announcements, keepsakes and class jewelry. So, seniors can celebrate with pride and commemorate their big moment for years to come.

Online ordering at JOSTENS.com to order graduation products, caps & gowns, class rings and school letter jackets will go live on September 2nd.

Omaha Bryan High School OMAHA, NE | Jostens

All students who participate in the graduation ceremony are required to wear these items specifically selected for your school: a cap and gown unit with stole (includes free tassel). Your graduation apparel must be ordered from OPS’ selected vendor, School Traditions (Jostens).

The cost of the required items is $49.95 + tax for a total of $53.45. After October 21, the price will increase by about $20 so be sure to order early.

If you are not able to order online, you can pay with debit/credit card, cash, or check at the School Traditions storefront on Tuesdays or Thursdays 10AM-5:30PM. They are located at 12100 W. Center Rd. Suite 202.

Cap and Gown Online Ordering Instructions

1) To go to your school ordering site, go to www.jostens.com and click on Find My School/Group Store. Type your school name and select Nebraska. Or, click on a direct link for each OPS school: Bryan

2) Click SHOP under Graduation

3) Scroll down and click SHOP ALL GRADUATION PRODUCTS

4) Scroll down below all of the packages, below Announcements & Cards, below Accessories, below Apparel, and click Cap and Gown Unit w/Stole

5) Enter in sizing information and click NEXT: ADD KEEPSAKE TASSEL

6) Adding a Keepsake Tassel is optional. If you would like to purchase for an additional fee, click on the one you want to purchase. Otherwise, click NO THANKS. Click NEXT: ADD APPAREL.

7) Adding Apparel is optional. If you would like to purchase apparel for an additional fee, click on the item you want to purchase. Otherwise, click NO THANKS. Click NEXT: ADD ANNOUNCEMENTS.

8) Adding Announcements is optional. If you would like to purchase announcements for an additional fee, click on the item you want to purchase. Otherwise, click NO THANKS. Click NEXT: REVIEW.

9) Click ADD TO CART

10) Enter first and last name, Click CHECKOUT

11) Click CONTINUE AS A GUEST

12) Enter BILLING INFORMATION, click CONTINUE

13) Enter information to FINALIZE YOUR ORDER