Cardinal Community Newsletter

Hey there, Cardinal families! We've got some exciting news about our school community for the 2024-2025 year. Our nest is growing, with 23 more students joining us!

Here's what's happening:

- Our 1st grade is having a growth spurt! We've welcomed 16 new friends.

- The 6th grade crew is getting a big boost, too, with 14 more students.

Overall, we have 236 smiling faces in our hallways this year, up from 213 last year. That's a lot of new friends to make!

We're thrilled to see so many families choosing our school. It shows that once kids join our Cardinal family, they want to stay!

Don't worry, though – even as we grow, we're still committed to keeping our classes small and making sure every student gets the attention they need to soar.

To all our new Cardinal and returning students – It's going to be an amazing year of learning and fun together!

The difference column is year to year, while the parenthesis number indicates the change in that specific group of kids from one grade to the next.

We're excited to share some updates about our littlest learners and our special education services.

Preschool Soars into the New Year:

Our preschool program is off to a fantastic start! We have 11 curious 3-year-olds embarking on their first school adventure, guided by one dedicated teacher, Ms. Shona Uden, and Ms. Williams and Ms. Bucy helping out as paras. For our 4-year-olds, we have a bustling group of 32 eager learners, supported by two teachers, Ms. Hollister and Ms. Rollen, and two paras, Ms. Stevie Schafer, and Ms. Alondra More. That's a total of 43 preschoolers ready to learn, play, and grow!

Our special education program continues to provide excellent support to students of all ages. We're happy to welcome eight new verified students who have joined our district while we've said goodbye to one student who moved away. Here's a quick look at our current numbers:

We're proud to serve a total of 70 students across all age groups (home-based, preschool, elementary, secondary, and 18+ programs), ensuring each child gets the individualized attention they deserve.

Our dedicated staff is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment where every child can thrive. We're looking forward to a year full of growth, achievements, and plenty of smiles!

Stay tuned for more updates, and don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about our preschool or special education programs. Together, we're building a strong foundation for every Cardinal to soar!

PBIS Initiative Takes Flight

We're excited to announce the launch of our new Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model this year! This initiative aims to recognize and reinforce positive behaviors among our students. Keep an eye out for our new TV displays upstairs, which will not only share important announcements but also highlight students who exemplify #thecardinalway. Let's celebrate those who go above and beyond!

Enrollment Soars to New Heights

We're thrilled to report record-breaking enrollment numbers across several of our specialized courses:

• Mechatronics: 15 students

• CNA: 2 students per semester

• Health Sciences: 14 students

• College English: 13 students

• Calculus: 10 students

Our innovative programs continue to attract eager learners:

• Social Media/Journalism: 8 students

• Intro to Internship: 7 students

Career Pathways Expand

The Apprenticeship America program, introduced last year, now has two dedicated students. We're also exploring culinary internship opportunities at Ozzy's for students interested in Culinary Science. These real-world experiences provide invaluable preparation for future careers.

We're proud of our growing programs and the enthusiasm of our students. Here's to another great year of learning and achievement!

The school nutrition department has announced important updates to its meal policies that all students and parents should be aware of:

1. No Free Seconds: Even students receiving free or reduced-price meals are not entitled to free second helpings. All additional portions must be purchased.

2. Positive Balance Required for Extras: To obtain extra food items, student accounts must maintain a positive balance. Negative balances will restrict access to additional portions.

3. Salad Bar Not Included with Packed Lunches: Students who bring lunch from home should note that accessing the salad bar is not complimentary. There is a charge for using the salad bar for those not purchasing a full school meal.

4. Salad Bar as a Healthy Option: The salad bar remains an excellent choice for students seeking extra fruits, vegetables, and salads. It offers a variety of fresh, nutritious options to supplement meals or as a standalone choice. Students purchasing a full school meal have access to the salad bar as part of their meal.

5. Students wishing to purchase from ala-carte have to pay for those items, even if students are on free and reduced.

These changes aim to ensure fair access to meals while maintaining the program's financial sustainability. The nutrition department emphasizes that the salad bar continues to be a key component in promoting healthy eating habits among students.

Students and parents with questions are encouraged to contact the nutrition department for further clarification. The department reminds everyone that nutritious, balanced meals remain available to all students, with free and reduced-price options for those who qualify.

As we settle into the new school year, we're excited to share some updates from around our district.

Athletics Classification Update:

Our Cardinals are ready to compete! Here's the classifications of our teams this year:

- Cross Country: Class D

- Girls Golf: Class C

- Softball: Class B

- Volleyball: Class C2

- Football: Class C2

Community Coffee Dates:

We love connecting with our Cardinal community and families! Our first community coffee on August 9th was a great start. Come and grab a cup of coffee or a cookie from 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM in the high school commons. It is an open house as well, if it has been awhile since you have been in the building, feel free to look around and take a tour. Here are the upcoming dates:

- September 27th

- October 25th

- November 27th

- January 3rd

- March 7th

- April 18th

- May 21st

These informal gatherings are perfect for chatting with district leaders, asking questions, and sharing your thoughts. We hope to see you there!

Your engagement helps make our district stronger. Go Cardinals!

Facility Improvements:

We're committed to providing the best environment for our students:

- The Clean Air Project, which is improving our indoor air quality, is in its final stages.

- Roofing projects have been successfully completed.

- Thanks to Southern Public Power for providing new bike racks as a part of their Operation Round Up grant program.

Doniphan-Trumbull has received a $165,000 grant from the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) to enhance safety measures. The funds will be used to upgrade exterior and interior doors and locks.

This grant is part of a $10 million statewide initiative to improve school safety. Out of 217 applications, 171 schools were awarded funding. The selection process considered factors such as program needs, objectives, and alignment with the four pillars of School Safety & Security: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.

The improvements will include replacing the current exterior doors and enhancing the locks with controlled access from outside of the building. These enhancements aim to create a safer learning environment for students and staff.

Safe2HelpNE is an anonymous reporting system available to students, staff, and parents across Nebraska. It allows users to report concerning behaviors that could impact school safety.

Key features:

• Completely anonymous

• Available for all Nebraska schools

• Covers a wide range of concerns including: • School threats • Bullying and cyberbullying • Suicide concerns • Criminal activity

By providing a secure channel for reporting potential safety issues, Safe2HelpNE plays a crucial role in maintaining a safe learning environment. Remember, if you see something concerning, Safe2HelpNE offers a confidential way to speak up and potentially prevent harm.

For more detailed information about how to use Safe2HelpNE and its importance, an informational video is available. This video provides a step-by-step guide on how to make a report and explains the process of how reports are handled. To access this informative resource, please visit the Safe2HelpNE website or ask your school administrator for the video link.