McMillan Monthly, May 2026

We are looking for as many families as possible to complete this survey for McMillan this month. Please click on the link here or scan the QR code. www.TinyURL.com/OPSParentVoice

Final grade-check reminders were sent to families and students on April 29th -- thank you for working to finish strong these last days. There are many events upcoming within this newsletter, and for a full list of all activities and announcements, please be sure to check the McMillan website found here for upcoming events, the staff directory, and other important information. Home - McMillan Middle

Important Reminders and Upcoming Events:

• McMillan Attendance Weekly Challenges are happening now! 6th grade won the last week of March, and 7th grade has won weeks 2, 3, and 4 of April!
• Alice in Wonderland Tickets are on sale.
• Friday, May 1st, Show starts at 7:00 PM
• Saturday, May 2nd, Show starts at 5:00 PM
• Tickets are $2 for students, and $5 for adults and can be purchased at the door. McMillan students can buy tickets from Mr. Trask in his classroom. Questions? Call 531-299-2440.
• If you are interested in your student attending homework help or high dosage tutoring at McMillan, reach out to Stacie Stevens at stacie.stevens@ops.org or call at 531-299-2440 for more information regarding Tutoring at McMillan.
• It is Nebraska State Law that cell phones are not to be out during educational hours, 7:40 AM to 3:05 PM. Our phrase that is said each day to students is, "not seen, not heard, not taken." Student phones that are removed may be subject to a family member coming to get the phone. This is administrator discretion by grade level. Contact McMillan with questions.

• Lunch block and Pride blocks have altered routines for restrooms and drinks. During 4th block (lunch) students are expected to use the restroom and get a drink during their lunch, as admin and security are required to serve students rather than supervise hallways. We appreciate your understanding of this. This has been procedure since the start of school.
• Other important end of the year dates and reminders:​

• • March/April Behavior Celebrations – Pride during Week 1 May​

  • May 1 (7 PM) & 2 (5 PM) – Drama Production - Alice in Wonderland

  • May 4 to 8: Staff Appreciation Week for all staff - activities in planning

  • May 5 – Spring Music Concert 6 PM - Lion's Pride ends at 5 PM.

  • May 7 - NJHS annual park clean up at Levi Carter Park with OPS middle schools, 9am-2pm​

  • May 11 – All City Track at Bryan​

  • May 12 - 6:00 PM – McMillan Honors Night, Lion's Pride ends at 5 PM.

  • May Behavior Celebrations: Week of May​ 11 to 15.

  • May 15 - Last Day for Lion's Pride and after school offerings.​

  • May 18 (B) and 19 (A) – Finals - No Backpacks at McMillan, iPads only.​

  • May 20, Last Day: 8th Grade Bowling Party – coming from Kolega and Conley, 6th and 7th Grade planning fun/carnival activities, Teacher collaboration and ideas, etc.)

#MONARCHPROUD,

Dr. Andrew R. Walters

Principal

McMillan Middle School is excited to celebrate Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week (May 4–8) and recognize the incredible work our staff does each day to support students and families.

Throughout the week, we have several activities planned to show our gratitude:

💙 All Week Long

• Students will be writing appreciation cards to staff (organized through Pride time)
• Staff will receive ½-off drink cards for Scooter's Coffee
• Staff raffles and prize drawings (including local experiences and gift cards)
• Staff Spirit Week hosted by the Courtesy Committee

🍽️ Daily Highlights

• Monday, May 4: Bagel & bacon breakfast provided by 4 Square Church
• Tuesday, May 5: Opportunities for family donations and support for Ice Cream Floats
• Wednesday, May 6: Coffee from Betsey the Bus during Block 1
• Thursday, May 7: Appreciation goodie bags delivered to staff mailboxes/classrooms
• Friday, May 8:
  • One free coffee/squad item for staff (pending confirmation)
  • Texas Roadhouse Loaded Baked Potato Bar during lunch

🎉 Additional Activities

• Staff drawings for prizes and special perks (e.g., extended lunch or early leave coverage)
• “Sticker Stampede” (Monday) and Student Surprise Day (Thursday), organized by Mrs. DeWitt’s Service Learning classes and NJHS
• Mystery Gift Box sign-up in the staff lounge (April 29–May 6)

🤝 How Families Can Help

If you would like to thank a staff member, share a message of appreciation, or donate ice cream float items for Tuesday, May 5, please reach out to: 📧 andrew.walters@ops.org

Thank you for partnering with us to celebrate the educators and staff who make McMillan such a special place for our students!

We want to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who helps ensure our students arrive at school each day, on time, and ready to learn.

Thank you to our students and families for making daily attendance a priority. Your commitment matters and makes a real difference. Thank you to our outstanding teachers who bring energy, creativity, and purpose to their classrooms—making McMillan a place where students are excited to be each day. And thank you to our support staff and community volunteers who provide the care, encouragement, and extra support our students need to be successful.

Research shows that it takes an average of three days for a student to catch up for every one day missed. Students who miss fewer than nine days during the school year meet the goal of missing less than 5% of the school year, helping them stay connected, confident, and on track for learning.

Together, our collective effort ensures that every day counts at McMillan.

There are 415 minutes in the school day, and every minute counts! Tardies to class disrupt the classroom, interrupt the lesson, and put students at risk of falling behind. These reminders started at the start of the school year and will go out daily. The school will send daily emails to parents and guardians of students who were tardy to one or more classes. BE RESPONSIBLE MONARCHS! Get to class on time.

TeamMates is a mentoring program which pairs students with caring adults who are screened through the mentor application process. Many employers will provide adults time off to be a mentor to a child in any school system, and at McMillan - we want to expand our program! The mission of TeamMates is to positively impact the world by inspiring students to reach their full potential through mentoring. Students interested in having mentor for a weekly or bi-weekly mentor/mentee match should contact the McMillan Social Worker, Ms. Peterson, at maggie.peterson1@ops.org or call 531-299-9678. Ms. Peterson will walk you through the process to join TeamMates this month.

Attention Families: There are 415 minutes in the school day, and every minute counts! Tardies to class disrupt the classroom, interrupt the lesson, and put students at risk of falling behind. Get to class on time.

• Cell Phones and Personal Devices must be off and out of sight during the school day from 7:40-3:05
• Student failure to comply may result in their personal device being confiscated by administration.
• Parent Communication and Code of Conduct consequences may be applied for repeated violations of the No Cell Phone/No personal device policy.
• If you have any questions regarding this, please call the grade level administrator.

Personal devices (headphones, earbuds, cell phones) and big backpacks are to be put away during the school day. Repeat offenders may require a cell phone safety plan or the phones to be picked up by a family member.

Summer EBT information is beginning to roll out; we have linked the website here: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Summer-EBT.aspx

Additionally, we have linked the link for Outreach materials here https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Summer-EBT-Outreach-Materials.aspx to assist in endeavors of getting the word out about summer EBT. It is important to ensure that families have submitted their Free/Reduced lunch applications for the 26-27 school year.

Students who were approved for Free or Reduced-price meals during the 2025-2026 school year are eligible to receive 2026 Summer EBT benefits and do not need to complete an application.

Please call 531-299-6310 with any questions!"

Please see below for a list of community resources available to families.

Free service through NDE and NSCS

Nebraska SMART, a free online tutoring program developed by the Nebraska State Colleges in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE), has now expanded statewide, providing all K–12 students with access to one-on-one academic support at no cost.

How Nebraska SMART Works:

• Parents must register their children for tutoring through the Nebraska SMART website.
• Once registered, students (or parents) can schedule sessions or connect instantly using our on-demand feature.
• Tutoring is available in 15-, 30-, 45-, or 60-minute increments; on-demand sessions are available in 10-minute blocks.
• All sessions take place on Pearl, a secure online tutoring platform that records and manages communication.
• Tutors are education majors who have been admitted to their programs, completed background checks, and are mentored by College Program Coordinators.

High school is just around the corner, and now is the perfect time to audition, practice, and prepare for the 2025-2026 school year! Many high school clubs, sports, and activities hold auditions, parent meetings, or tryouts now, so don’t wait—jump in and get involved! As the saying goes, “Ain’t nothin’ to it, but to do it!”

Opportunities exist in a variety of activities, including but not limited to:

• Athletics – Football, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Dance Teams, Drill Teams
• Performing Arts – Marching Band, Color Guard/Flag Corps, Show Choir
• Leadership & Clubs – JROTC, DECA, Educators Rising, GSA, Black Student Leadership Council, FFA, and more!

Why get involved?
Students who participate in activities and athletics report being happier, forming friendships before day one, knowing classmates in their courses, having better attendance, achieving higher GPAs, and being more likely to graduate. Simply put—school is better when you’re part of something bigger than just the classroom!

For more information, check the social media pages (X, Facebook, Instagram) or the website of the high school your 8th grader will attend this fall. You can also call the school directly. Still have questions? Contact the McMillan office at 531-299-2440.

Get involved—make the most of high school from day one!

The Campus Portal for Parents allows parents and guardians to monitor their children's academic progress online. If you do not have a Parent Portal account, please click the Infinite Campus icon to access directions.

Zūm Parent App

With Zum app, you can better protect your student's safety by:

1. Tracking your student’s ride in real-time and receiving ride updates
2. Knowing the driver profile and vehicle assigned to transport your student
3. Viewing pick-up and drop-off time estimates
4. Starting real-time chat with our support team if needed
5. Canceling rides when necessary

Download the Zūm App (iOS) (Android) from your carrier’s App Store.

If you have questions or concerns about your child's transportation, their eligibility to receive transportation, a late bus or more, please call the transportation hotline at (531) 299-0140.

Hey Monarchs!

Good luck to Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, and our Girls and Boys Track wrap up this month! Intramural 6th grade Volleyball, Alice in Wonderland, AcaPenta to Nationals, and Band, Chorus and Orchestra competing in Adjudication in April were also highlights!

In true Monarch spirit, let’s focus on “keeping the main thing the main thing.” As we dive into Spring athletics, it’s important for our students to stay sharp in three key areas: Academics, Behavior, and Community.

We’re dedicated to building STUDENT-athletes here at McMillan, which means your child must be passing all their classes to be eligible for playing time—just like in high school.

If you have any questions, feel free to stop by and see me!

Clubs meeting after school during the month of May:

Monday's:

• YMCA Lion's Pride
• P4K on given days Tre

Tuesday's

• Robotics - 3:10 to 4:45 in the basemen with Ms. Clark - see Ms. Clark if interested
• YMCA Lion's Pride
• P4K on given days with Tre

Wednesday's:

• Journalism Club - Room 258 from 3:20 with Mr. Pruisner - All are welcome

• Magic @ the MAC ​Card Club​, Room 155, 3:20-4:30​

• YMCA Lion's Pride
• P4K on given days with Tre

Thursday's:

• Drama Club - Room 166 with Mr. Trask from 3:15 to 4:30. All are welcome
• Drama Club rehearsals are in FULL SWING with Alice in Wonderland - more coming soon!
• YMCA Lion's Pride
• P4K on given days with Tre
• Science Olympiad with Mr. Huber

Friday's:

• YMCA Lion's Pride
• P4K on given days with Tre

This Month: See opportunities for Quizbowl with Mrs. Dewitt

All this Month: Alice in Wonderland performance May 1 and 2.

Alex Curran, McMillan Activities/Athletic Director

📢 Attention 6th & 7th Grade Families: Required Physicals & Immunizations

7th Grade Entry Requirement

Nebraska State Law requires that all students entering 7th grade have a physical examination completed by a Physician, PA, or Nurse Practitioner. A copy of this exam must be submitted to the school nurse before the start of the school year.

📌 Important Details:
✅ The physical must be dated AFTER March 1, 2026
✅ This physical also counts as a sports physical if your child plans to participate in athletics
✅ Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus & Whooping Cough) – REQUIRED for all incoming 7th graders

Submitting Your Child’s Records

Once your child receives their physical and immunizations, please submit a copy to the school Health Office or have the doctor’s office fax it to (531) 299-2459 so we can update records.

Sports Physicals for 7th Graders Entering 8th Grade

📌 If your child plans to play sports in 8th grade, they must have a sports physical dated AFTER May 1, 2026.

If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Bonacci-Lemay at (531) 299-2441.

Thank you for ensuring your child is ready for future seasons! 💙💛

- Nurse Bonacci-Lemay

• Phone: (531) 299-2441
• Nurse Fax: (531) 299-2459
• Nichole.BonacciLemay@ops.org

The Mission of McMillan

The Mission of McMillan Middle is to academically challenge students and to promote student ownership of learning in a safe, diverse, and respectful environment.

The Vision of McMillan

• Collaborate with School, Family and Community-based partners
• Provide an Innovative, project-based, cross-curricular school setting
• Integrate components of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math through Project Lead the Way. (PLTW)

2025-26 School Improvement Plan Goals: (The What)

• Raise our Reading Scores by 15% from 29.17u% to 52.18%.

• NSCAS ELA and Math assessments will increase proficiency from 24.49% to 30.49%.

• Reduce Chronic Absenteeism rate of 55.24% to 44.19%.

• Increase English Language Proficiency, as measured by the ELPA 21 summative, from 28.81% to 43.81%.

Our focus on Culture to drive Improvement: (The How)

Safe
At McMillan, safety comes first. Through staff training and clear protocols, we create a caring environment where students and staff feel physically, emotionally, and socially secure every day.

Responsible
Responsibility means being prepared, making good choices, and learning from mistakes. We hold ourselves and each other accountable for actions, effort, and growth through feedback and the PDCA cycle.

Respectful
Respect is shown in how we treat people, our school, and ourselves. We value every voice, celebrate differences, and create a welcoming space for all.

Email: andrew.walters@ops.org
Website: https://www.ops.org/mcmillan
Location: 3802 Redick Avenue, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 531-299-3923
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OPSMcMillanMiddle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OPS_McMillan