Masters Newsletter

There will be no school on Monday, September 7th, due to Labor Day. Enjoy the time off with your child(ren).

Attendance Matters - Did you know it takes an average of three days for students to catch up for every one day they're absent? Omaha Public Schools is committed to working with our families to support student attendance every day, because we know every minute counts. Our district has updated our action plan to follow state guidelines on assisting students who miss a significant amount of class time. Our student attendance team will meet with families of students who have 20 total absences, whether or not those absences are excused. The team will work with the family to create a collaborative plan to improve attendance. You can make an impact on your student's attendance now, and we're here to help. If anything is getting in the way of getting your student to school, please contact your school's principal, school support liaison, school counselor or bilingual liaison for help.

As a fun incentive to encourage students to get to school by 8:50 and remain at school until the end of the school day at 4:05, students with perfect attendance will be entered in a drawing weekly for a chance to win a day in the Attendance Chair in their classroom.

Students enrolled in Omaha Public Schools are provided free health screening in accordance
with Nebraska State Statute. Screenings are conducted throughout the school year and may begin as early as August.

Students in early childhood, kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, seventh, and tenth grades
are screened for hearing, vision, dental, height, and weight per the rules and regulations set forth
by the state of Nebraska. The screening is conducted to help identify health concerns in as early a stage as possible, in an effort to enhance learning. Screening is not intended to be diagnostic, but to identify students with potential problems. Findings that need further evaluation by a health care provider will be sent home.

Per Nebraska State Regulations, a parent/guardian may supersede the mandated school health
screening by submitting a statement signed by an authorized health care provider attesting that
the required screening has been completed in the previous six months. An updated healthcare
provider statement must be submitted each school year.

Contact your school nurse for any questions regarding screening.

Save the date! Masters' first Godfather's Night Out (108th & Maple) of the school year is Thursday, September 17th (every third Thursday of the month). This fun family event is available from 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. At time of payment, please indicate your affiliation with Masters to ensure 20% of your total bill goes to the school. Hope to see you there!

Safety is a top priority at Masters Elementary. Our district uses the terms and actions outlined in the SRP-K12-Parent-Handout_EN as we manage events outside of our regular routine such as a fire, evacuation, severe weather or other disruption.

We regularly practice Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter procedures so students and staff can easily understand what to do and expect in each situation.

To ensure open communication, families will receive a message when we have an SRP response at Masters Elementary.

When your child is experiencing a stressful life event, Connections at Project Harmony can help! Connections connects children and their families to counseling services, joins children who are going through similar situations through group counseling, addresses difficulties in accessing counseling, and collaborates with school staff and qualified counselors in the community. For more information, please contact Miss Wills, school counselor, at (531) 299-1800 or email at hanna.wills@ops.org.

As we begin a new school year, it is always a great idea to refresh children’s memories regarding safety rules. Listed below are a few tips for review.

1. Remind your children about strangers.

2. Remind your children to refuse anything from strangers, including money, gifts or rides.

3. Remind your children to keep a safe distance from strangers and not to give strangers directions or help. Adults need to get assistance from other adults.

4. Stress to your children the importance of taking the same route to and from school every day.

5. Always walk in groups. There’s safety in numbers.

6. Be aware of “safe” houses to go to in case of any emergency. Locate several houses along your route that your child could go to if necessary.

7. Teach your children to always report to you or another adult any suspicious or threatening behaviors or actions.

8. Expect your children to keep you informed about where they are at all times.

9. Instruct your children to yell for help if needed. If in distress, they may need to draw attention to themselves.

10. Instruct your child to go to the nearest adult if he/she finds a suspicious object of any kind at home or at school.

Let’s keep our kids safe!

Northwest High School cheerleaders are sponsoring a Mini Cheer Camp on September 29th and October 1st. For more information, please go to NW Mini Cheer Camp.

9/7 No School, Labor Day

9/16 Grade 1 Field Trip - The Rose Theater

9/17 Godfather's Family Night Out

9/29 Two Hour Late Start