Welcome back from winter break! It has been such a joy to welcome both staff and students back into the building—we truly missed our students, and seeing their smiling faces again has been wonderful. We returned from break with an exciting addition: our brand-new kitchen! While it has added a bit of complexity to our daily routines, it has been a fantastic enhancement to our school. We’ve enjoyed the new cafeteria layout and the variety of options it offers. Overall, it has been a busy but wonderful start to the new semester, and we are looking forward to all that’s ahead.

~Megan Schumacher

Principal

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.

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 in the Spring, date to be determined. Tell your friends!

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. 8th - 22nd - Domino's Fundraiser

Jan. 9th - Popcorn Friday/Spirit Wear

Jan. 19th - No School - Staff Development Day

Jan. 21st - Culver's Family Food Night

Jan. 24th - Community Closet Event 10am - 2pm La Vista Middle School

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

Feb. 3rd & 4th - Spring Parent Teacher Conferences (more information to come next week)

Feb. 6th - No School - Staff Development Day

Parents and Guardians:

You should have previously received an overview of the YA process from the PLCS

Curriculum Department. However, at the building level we want to share an additional layer of

communication about the Young Adult (YA) section of our school library. When students enter

5th grade, the Young Adult (YA) section becomes available for student checkout. The books

housed in the Young Adult section are intended for a young audience that might have

characters or situations that typically involve subject matter or situations relatable for students

from 11-13 years of age. These titles have literary merit while not being as intense or graphic as

what would be written in a similar version of the book intended for adults. As an example, the

book Prisoner B 3087 describes the experiences of a teen boy in concentration camps during

World War II. This type of literary content may be more complex than what your student has

read in the past so we want to be proactive in providing you an understanding of this section.

As you and your student make this transition, we want to provide you with a better

understanding of this selection of books so you can make the best decision for your student and

situation. As a partner in your student’s reading life, we encourage you to begin by having a

discussion with your student about your expectations related to YA checkout. Further, you can

always monitor the books your student is checking out through the Papillion-La Vista Public

Schools app. Finally, if you choose to opt your student out of the YA section, please contact

your school librarian so your request can be documented in our online system. Thank you for

your commitment to providing the best possible path forward for your student.

Sincerely,

PLCS Librarians

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YA Building Communication .pdf

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The Portal PTO is kicking off the Domino’s Donate for Dough Fundraiser today Thursday, January 8th, that will run through Thursday January 22nd. Who doesn’t like Buy One Get One FREE Pizza! We will be selling $20 cards for unlimited use BOGO Large Pizzas through December 31st 2026 at participating stores. (Please be aware this a new program that includes our local Domino’s Stores but the list of participating stores may be different nationally.) For example, you can buy 10 large pizzas and get 10 large pizzas for free! The School will receive $10 back form each Card sold and students will receive a $10 gift card of their choice (Nintendo, PlayStation, Aerie, Nike, Amazon and many more to choose from) for every 10 cards sold.

Please visit the Registration page to get your student started. Sales can be done online or in person with the order forms provided but all money will need to be turned into the office with the forms on January 22nd.

If you have questions please reach out to Jessica Palimenio at jpalimenio@hotmail.com.

Parents, our big Portal Elementary School Year-End Spirit Wear Clearance Sale closes this weekend! Save $5 on all tees, $10 on all hoodies, and $15 on all jackets through January 11th. Prices start at just $18.49, with FREE shipping on orders $85+. Don’t miss out—and don’t forget—part of every purchase supports our school! https://1stplace.sale/59693

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. Please note; if you are wanting to have lunch with your student, you will notice the sign up doesn't begin until January 20th. This is to help us set lunch room expectations during these first weeks back and transition to a new cafeteria layout.

Thank you for understanding!

Sign Up for Lunch Here!

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Elem FK Lunch - January 2026.pdf

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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 8th, 2026

You Belong Here: Be Here to Be Your Best!

From the Principal From the Principal

Check out our new Kitchen at Portal! Check out our new Kitchen at Portal!

You Belong Here You Belong Here

You Belong Here: Be Here to Be Your Best!

Kindergarten Enrollment is NOW OPEN for the 2026-2027 School Year Kindergarten Enrollment is NOW OPEN for the 2026-2027 School Year

Share the Greatness! Share the Greatness!

Calendar of Upcoming Events Calendar of Upcoming Events

Community Closet Event for All PLCS Families Community Closet Event for All PLCS Families

Library Checkout for 5th & 6th Grade (YA) Library Checkout for 5th & 6th Grade (YA)

Domino's Donate for Dough Fundraiser Kickoff Domino's Donate for Dough Fundraiser Kickoff

Portal Gear for Sale! Portal Gear for Sale!

Lunch Signup Lunch Signup

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