Standing Bear Elementary

Dear Standing Bear Families,

Well, here we are already in December! We only have 13 student days left this month, and then we will be halfway through the school year. This is such an exciting and magical time of year, but we encourage students to stay focused and continue working hard throughout December. I’ve seen amazing growth from students during the first semester, and we want to keep that momentum going.

During the long winter break, we also encourage students to keep READING! It’s so important for them to continue building and maintaining their reading skills.

Here are some fun and meaningful ways to keep your student engaged over the break:

• Create a family reading challenge. Set a goal for minutes or books read, and celebrate when your student reaches it.

• Read together every day. Even 10–15 minutes makes a big difference. Take turns reading aloud or discuss what you’re reading.

• Visit your local library. Explore new genres, pick out books of interest, or join any winter reading programs.

• Start a short family book club. Read a chapter book or a few picture books together and talk about your favorite parts.

• Build a cozy reading nook. Add blankets, pillows, or soft lights to make reading time more inviting.

• Incorporate reading into daily life. Have your student help read recipes, instructions for games or crafts, or signs and maps while traveling.

• Try audiobooks. Perfect for long drives or quiet afternoons, and great for building listening comprehension.

• Encourage writing, too. Students can keep a winter break journal, write stories, or send letters or cards to family and friends.

Thank you for your continued support! Let’s finish 2025 strong and enjoy a wonderful winter break filled with learning, growth, and lots of reading.

Stay positive, patient and flexible!

Sincerely,

Bridget O'Melia

Parents-

As a staff, we are working hard to encourage all students to put forth their best effort on the upcoming MAP tests. Your child’s teacher will notify you of the specific dates for the Math MAP and Reading MAP assessments.

To help students understand the importance of doing their best, we recently held an assembly focused on effort, perseverance, and the purpose of the MAP test. The MAP assessment is given three times each year (Fall, Winter, and Spring). It is designed to measure individual student growth over time. With each testing cycle, every student should show some growth.

This year, we are excited to introduce our MAP Growth Grocery Cart as extra motivation! Students who show at least one point of growth on their MAP tests will get to choose an item from the grocery cart. In addition, their names will be entered into an end-of-year drawing for a chance to win a gift card. While it is very uncommon for a student not to show growth, we have noticed that when this does occur, it is often due to rushing through the test, just randomly marking answer choices, or a general lack of effort, something we hope to prevent with these new incentives.

You can help your child be prepared for the upcoming tests by ensuring they get plenty of sleep, enjoy a healthy breakfast, and hear encouraging reminders to simply do their best.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

Great opportunity to read and listen to stories over the winter break!

Above is the Upcoming Events Link, this is updated in real time and will have additional information about upcoming events as they get closer

December:

9th- PTO Meeting at 6pm

13th- Standing Bear Craft Fair

22nd-31st- No school (winter break)

January:

School selection applications for 2026-27 open (see attachment below)

1st- 2nd- No school (winter break)

19th- No school (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)

27th- 2 hour late start

February:

13th- No school for students (professional development day)

16th- No school (President's Day)

24th- 2 hour late start

March:

12th- Parent/Teacher Conferences

13th- No school for students/ Parent/Teacher Conferences

14th- No school

16th-20th- No school (spring break)

April:

16th- School Carnival (more info coming prior to the event)

17th- No school for students (teacher plan)

20th- No school for students (articulation day)

May:

1st- FIELD DAY! (more info coming prior to the event)

5th- 2 hour late start

20th- Last Student Day

Specific details for events will come out closer to the event.

This list is complete as of today. Events will be added as necessary.

You can always check back for updates and check the PTO postings. Thank you!

Catching Our CUBS doing great things....Way to go CUBS!!

COLD RELATED GUIDANCE: Note the weather each morning and send your student with appropriate outdoor clothing (hats, gloves, etc.) We will try to get out for some fresh air when able, even if it is for a short time. It is good for students to get a few minutes to run around.

Conditions that are to be considered:

• Temperature

• Wind chill index

• Local weather reports

• Length of time outside

• Adequacy of the clothing being worn

We reference the colored safety zone temperature guide below:

• Green zone. The safest temperature to go outside to play is 30 degrees or higher.

• Yellow zone. Playing in temperatures between 20 to 30 degrees should be carefully monitored as the weather will affect body temperatures to cool quickly. Consider shortening outdoor time.

• Red zone. Children should not play outside if the feels like temperature is less than 20 degrees.

Tutoring Support

Holiday Supports

Vision and Learning

Research indicates that approximately 1 in 4 students have a vision problem that can negatively affect their learning. It's essential to note that 80% of what children learn is acquired through their eyes, making regular eye checkups crucial for maintaining optimal vision health.

Please contact the Health Office if you have concerns or received a letter indicating further evaluation by a health care provider is encouraged after screenings were completed here at school.

We have a website and app. We hope you like it! Make sure to check it out and get your student added to the directory! Directions on the image.

We would love for you to join the PTO too ($10), but that is not required to add your student. The directory is only available to those that are connected to the school and sign-up, it is not public.

Building Security

For the safety and security of our students and this building, anyone entering the building must stop in the office first.

Drop Off Zone

We ask that you please continue to pull all the way down to the second crosswalk if possible (by main front doors). We can then unload around 10 vehicles rather than 5.

We currently have a school staff member assisting your child to breakfast or the classroom at the main doorway for all student’s morning arrival. REMINDER: School doors don’t open until 8:35 AM for classroom entrance and breakfast opening hours.

We ask again for you not arrive for end of school day pick-up until 3:55pm to prevent traffic flow congestion issues .

Please be attentive and cognizant of all school crossing guard officials and adhere to their requests during student morning drop-off and pick-up times. Our goal is to ensure your child’s overall safety.

Birthday Celebrations

We ask that only non-food items be brought for birthday celebrations. Please check with your child's teacher to discuss day and time for treats to be dropped off.

• FOR SAFETY, PLEASE USE THE SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS. DO NOT WALK OVER THE GRASS AND INTO THE PARKING LOT
• Drop off is 8:35AM, that is when breakfast is open and staff are on duty
• Please have student(s) ready to get out when you pull up
• Pull all the way down if able
• If you need to get out to assist your child, go into the parking lot lane not the main drive
• If your student is NOT eating breakfast they need to enter through the main front doors rather than the cafeteria doors
• Grab and Go Breakfast- If your student is eating breakfast, they need to enter the building through the cafeteria doors. They may enter through the main front doors if they choose not to eat the district provided breakfast.

When parents pull onto school grounds, outside staff will input your family number to indicate that you have arrived. Classroom teachers will get your student(s) ready to dismiss.

How this works- We will enter your Family Number into a form, this will be visible to classroom teachers in the building and they will dismiss. Students will be dismissing out the main front doors staggered based on your arrival time. Students will NOT be dismissing out any other doors.

It will be extremely helpful if you let your student(s) know your preferred lane for pick-up. This will help them know to look for you in the main drive or the parking lot lane. Once your student(s) are loaded, you can pull out of the pick-up line to leave. DO NOT EXIT YOUR VEHICLE

What you will need at dismissal:

• You will need to place your car hanger number on your rearview mirror so it is clearly visible to outside staff.

• You will need to pull all the way down to the front door (as cars move ahead, you move ahead) if you are picking up on the main drive, pull all the way down to the front main entrance or up to the vehicle in front of you. If you are picking up in the parking lot lane, you will still need to pull all the way forward. ALL students will exit out the main front doors.

• We will call your student(s) out as you arrive, continue to pull forward whenever possible until all your students are loaded.

• Kindergarten students- dismissal will remain the same for parents who walk up to get kindergarten students. If you are choosing to drive through for pick up, parents will still pull up like all other vehicles with their family number visible.

• Early Childhood will remain the same. Parents will need to park and come check out their child.

• Walk up parents- A staff member will be located out front, you can provide them with your family number so teachers are aware you are ready to pickup. Your student(s) will then be dismissed. Parents do not need to enter the building. If you need to go into the building to pick up your student, you MUST stop at the office for a visitor badge and to sign the check out sheet.

Each family will receive 2 car hangers. If you would need additional ones, please contact the office. It is imperative not to lose your issued designated car hanger numbers. Please clearly display upon arrive so there is no confusion to expeditiously release your child for pick-up.

WE WILL BEGIN DISMISSAL (ENTERING NUMBERS) AT 4:00PM. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE AT SCHOOL BEFORE 3:55PM TO PREVENT AN INITIAL BACKUP. The line moves very fast once we begin the dismissal process.

Thank you for everything!

Early Pickup for Students

If you are picking up your students early for a doctor appointment, etc please call the office at least 5 minutes ahead of time and we will have you child ready to go at the designated time. Parents will need to come into the office to check out your student(s).

Safety remains our top priority in the Omaha Public Schools. We now have a Visitor Management System to ensure we are provided the most secure environment. Visitors will need to ring the outside doorbell. Once the secretary answers, she will verify your student's name and visitor's name prior to opening the front door. If the visitor's name is not in our system, they will not be let into the building. We ask that you understand that it may take a few minutes to gain access into the building while the secretaries verify your information. Please make sure you have updated contact information and that your emergency contacts are current.

Visitors will need to use the kiosk to get a visitor badge. This will require you to get a photo taken and use the printed visitor badge with your photo.

Large events such as holiday celebrations, music programs and family nights will not require the same check in process. Entrance into these events will be monitored by staff.

Email: bridget.omelia@ops.org
Website: https://standingbear.ops.org/HOME/tabid/36/Default.aspx
Location: 15860 Taylor Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 531-299-2140

Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following individual has been designated to address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (402-557-2001).