Ahoy Ponca Family!

Wow. October has been the quickest month yet. I have a feeling that is a pattern that will continue throughout this year. Monday marked the 50th day of the 2021-2022 school year. This Publisher is PACKED with many important reminders and information. Please read it and reference it often to stay 'in the know!"

We had an exciting visitor at Ponca Elementary! Dr. Cheryl Logan, our superintendent, filmed her November podcast Sup for the Soul from Ms. Coughlin's first grade classroom. Be sure to check it out below.

The Omaha Public Schools has risen to the challenge during the global pandemic. We have worked very hard to be innovative and focused on health and safety. Now that the vaccine has been approved for children ages 5-11, we are once again partnering with Douglas County Health to continue to offer vaccination clinics at many of our schools throughout the district. Click here to view a list of where and when your child can receive their vaccination.

We need your help! We use our iPads daily during instruction. It is imperative that your child(ren) bring their iPads to and from school each day. Please, please help us make sure that their iPads come fully (85% or more) charged each day. Also, please make sure to send your child(ren)'s chargers to school each day. If you have lost your charger, please contact the front office. You may purchase another through the fees feature in Infinite Campus. We are happy to help you with this process as it is new for elementary this year. Note: the chargers are NOT covered under the insurance per the agreement that was sent home at the beginning of the year.

In this installment of the Ponca Publisher, you will find many important pieces of information including the following:

Upcoming Events

• School pictures
• Covid Vaccine Clinics
• Thanksgiving Break
• Winter Program
• Award Assemblies
• PTA Updates
• District News and more!

It is my hope that the Ponca Publisher will continue to be a resource for families throughout the month. Please continue to reference it is as needed.

If you should have any additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or myself if we can provide any further support or assistance.

With Ponca pride,

Mrs. Abbie Vlcek

Proud Ponca principal

abbie.vlcek@ops.org

It’s almost time for Fall photo day!

¡Es casi la hora del día de la fotografía de Otoño!

Place your order BEFORE PICTURE DAY on 11/12 for the best deals!

ORDER TODAY / ORDENAR HOY
Use passcode/Usar código de acceso: Raccoons

What to wear to photo day:

-Solid colors do photograph best.
-Choose an outfit that will compliment the background you have chosen. We have over 10 options online to choose from!
-We do our best to get out as much glass glare out as possible! If you have a pair of glasses without lenses, bring those for photos to get the best results!
-Avoid busy patterns and graphics on clothing.
-Fall photos are cropped to a Standard Head and Shoulders Headshot.

Each year the Sherwood foundation honors outstanding teachers in the Omaha Public School. This prestigious award was established to award teachers who make a difference in the lives of children.

Recognizing Those Who Make a Difference Everyday

The Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award recognizes the achievements of skilled and dedicated educators in the Omaha Public Schools (OPS). Given to 15 teachers annually, the Award has recognized and rewarded nearly 300 teachers over the past two decades. Any Omaha Public Schools teacher or counselor (Pre-K through 12), with a minimum of two years experience, is eligible for nomination.

Each year we receive nominations from students (current and former), parents, other teachers, administrators, and the general public. Our deserving winners are publicly recognized and awarded with the following:

• $10,000 gift
• Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Award Medallion
• $1,000 in McDonald's gift cards

Submit a nomination today! The online form is available here: Nomination Form

We never pass on an opportunity to honor our hard working students here at Ponca Elementary. In order to encourage students to get ALL of their digital resources completed each week, we have established a Scholar Award. Students who complete all of their digital resources expectations each week, are entered in a drawing. We will draw 5 student names each week and these students can take their pick of several 'coupons' to be redeemed at school. Some of our favorites include:

• A piano lesson with Mrs. Luedtke
• No shoes for 1/2 of the day
• Bring a furry friend (stuffed animal) to school each day
• Hoops with Mr. Bush

You can help your child be entered to choose their favorite incentive by helping them complete their digital resources each week.

Kindergarten-Second Grade:

• 10-15 minutes of iRead daily
• 6 passages read to Amira each week
• 3 digital ZEARN lessons

Third Grade:

10-15 minutes of Lexia or iRead (select students) daily

6 passages read to Amira each week

3 digital ZEARN lessons

Fourth-Fifth Grade:

10-15 minutes of Lexia or iRead (select students) daily

3 digital ZEARN lessons

Xtra Math (see teachers for more specifics)

Geography (5th grade only)

Please contact your child's teacher for additional specifics on what needs to be completed each week.

When milk spill to mud puddles strike, we like to be able to offer your children and clean and dry change of clothing so they can continue to be comfortable while they learn AND save you a trip, but...WE NEED YOUR HELP!!! Our clothing supply in the health office is running low.

Have your children outgrown their clothes? Send your too short pants and too tight clothing to a new home in the Ponca Health Office. If you have items that you can donate, we will gladly put them to good use.

We are in need of the following sizes:

Child Small to Adult Medium for boys and girls.

We need shirts, pants, shorts, shoes, coats, hats, and gloves. We appreciate whatever you can give and thank you for your donation!

We are looking for volunteers to help support throughout the day with various tasks including: listening to students read, trading out books for our take home book program, testing students on sight words, math fact support, helping with bulletin boards and other tasks etc. If you are interested in helping at Ponca Elementary, please complete the volunteer application and contact Mrs. Vlcek.

https://omaha.tedk12.com/hire/Index.aspx

You may list your child’s teacher and myself as the school contact person. Thank you!

We are looking for volunteers to plan and lead a couple of games for the Valentine's Day parties. Please help us by signing up to plan 2-3 games for your child's classroom! More details to come. If you are able, please consider signing up below to help make this a memorable event for your child and their peers!

Valentine's Day parties are scheduled for Monday, February 14, 2022.

Do you know someone interested in a flexible way to support students? Check out Omaha Public Schools’ new concierge team! With just a few hours a week, you could work with one school in your neighborhood, or several throughout our district. The role could include any of the following:

• Lunch Time Partner: Overseeing and providing support to students during the lunch time hour.
• Classroom Partner: Assisting the teacher with necessary tasks in the classroom.
• Bus Aide Partner: Assisting our transportation staff by supporting our students.
• School Pride Partner: Assisting the school leadership team with special projects that foster pride and student success.

If you or someone you know are interested in the opportunity to be part of this team, please click here to learn more and apply.

Do you know someone who is looking for a new opportunity who is interested in working and supporting children in a warm and caring environment? Are they looking for a way to make a difference in the lives of fabulous children? Well then, please share that Ponca Elementary is looking for qualified individuals to fill the following positions:

• PAC Facilitator 3.0 hrs./day
• Instructional Paraprofessional 5.5 hrs./day
• Health Aide Full Time
• Security Full time
• Concierge Team intermittent schedule
• Cafeteria Aide 4.0 hrs./day

Attendance is a vital component to the success of Ponca Elementary students. Attendance will be taken daily If your child is unable to be in attendance, we ask that you please contact the office. (531) 299-1960. If a child is unable to be in attendance due to technology issues, please let us know as well.

Beginning in November, families with children not marked present before 9:45, will receive an automated phone call alerting the parent that their child is not present and requesting that the parent contact the school to follow up on your child's absence.

Reporting Absences:

Please contact Ponca Elementary to report all absences prior to 9:30 a.m. If a child has a doctor’s appointment and it is possible for them to begin or return to school, please do so. Doctor’s notes can be provided to the front office upon return from the school to excuse your child(ren)’s absence(s). Although absences marked ‘excused’ when a doctor’s note is receive, these absences still count toward a student’s overall attendance. Missed instruction can never truly be replicated. Whenever possible, we ask that appointments be made on non-instructional days, especially as we work to accelerate students whose learning has been significantly disrupted over the last year and a half. Please communicate any considerations that have arisen from an illness, such as medication or limited physical activity.

Each month, we will be recognizing super Swashbucklers at Ponca and promoting these students to "First Mates' of their S.S. Classrooms. This award is presented to students who have consistently gone above & beyond the call of duty and truly embody what a Ponca kid is!

Each student was announced during a virtual live event in which Captain Vlcek read aloud all of the reasons that Swashbuckler was crowned. In recognition, these students each receive a certificate, crown, a car magnet that pronounces a member of the Raccoon Royal Court rides in this car as well as Bragging Rights; however these RaCcOoN RiG First Mates would NEVER brag, but...their parents might! ;) We do ask that the magnets be returned at the end of each month so we can pass along this award to the next court.

Join us in a saluting our Raccoon Rig First Mates of the month!

Did you know that children who attend school 95% of the time are significantly more likely to graduate from high school and achieve on or above grade level? In addition, attendance habits developed in school impact attendance once students enter the work force? It may seem to be in the distant future, but ensuring your child is at school every day they are well enough, and on time, is just one way you can help your child set SAIL to success! At Ponca, our swashbucklers SAIL to success with great attendance!

S-tudents

A-lways

I-n School

L-Learning

We will be continuing our effort to 'Strive for 95' during the 2021-2022 school year. At Ponca, remain dedicated to celebrating student achievement, which includes attendance. Each month we will be acknowledging amazing attendance! The class with the highest percentile of students 'SAIL'ing to Success will receive a special Dine & Doodle luncheon, as well as 15 minutes of extra movement and a theme day in their room! The September winners are:

October CHAMPIONS:

Fifth Grade

We are also celebrating individuals with perfect attendance for the month of Octobder .These children will have the opportunity to play a basketball arcade game and earn attendance prizes. What fun experience to honor these student's dedication to their education!

November:

Karli Bittner-11/1

Boston Shattuck-11/1

Landen Tiller-11/12

Keelin Smith-11/14

Oliver Jafari-11/15

Elaina Cordoba-11/18

Khloe Fosberg-11/21

Carter Daude-11/29

• Thank you to all of our parents volunteers who hosted our Halloween parties!
• PTA for donating a delicious snack for Halloween.
• PTA for co-sponsoring the amazing field trip to Nelson's Produce Farm.
• Generous parents for their donations for admission to Nelson's Produce Farm.
• Leita Barnes for volunteering to support at Ponca during lunch.
• Lea Schuster for her work with Spirit Wear!

The Ponca PTA is looking for volunteers in a couple of different areas:

1. PTA Co-President: This person will learn the ropes to be the PTA President next year. Please let us know if you are interested or have questions!

Please email poncaelementarypta@gmail.com.

2. Teacher Dinner for Conferences: Please let us know if you have interest in planning/providing/delivering a meal to our amazing teachers on a couple of long days!

Please email poncaelementarypta@gmail.com.

3. Classroom Parties: Each classroom needs a leader and 2 volunteers for Halloween and for Valentine's Day to help make a fun experience for the kids! You need to complete an OPS volunteer form in order to volunteer in the classroom. Please let us know if you can help!

See sign up below.

Ponca Elementary PTA is now digital! You can become a member AND pay your dues online.

https://poncapta.memberhub.store

Did you know that Ponca Elementary has a marquee? For $10.00 you can rent the north side of the marquee for a special message to your Ponca student. You can wish them good luck in middle school, happy birthday, or any message you want to share with the world!

Did you know that Ponca Elementary has a marquee? For $10.00 you can rent the north side of the marquee for a special message to your Ponca student. You can wish them good luck in middle school, happy birthday, or any message you want to share with the world!

Rent the Marquee

Our school is proud to announce that we are participating in a program called TAGG (Together A Greater Good). TAGG is a free mobile app that allows you to support our school year-round without spending an extra dime. There is a growing list of local businesses who partner with TAGG to donate a percentage of your purchase to our school every day! Some of the businesses include Hy-Vee, Runza, Pump it Up and Jimmy Johns.

All you have to do is download the app (Android or iPhone), and any time you are at a participating business, simply choose our school and take a picture of your receipt.

Click here for a List of Participating Businesses

Want to share how your child's teacher is making a difference? Nominate them for the CHI Top Teacher award.

https://www.chihealth.com/TopTeachers

Email: abbie.vlcek@ops.org
Website: ponca.ops.org
Location: 11300 North Post Road, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 531-299-1960
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoncaElementary
Twitter: @OPS_Ponca