March 2020
SECTION A: A3 TeamMates of the Month A5 Education official lauds LPS programs A8 ConnectLPS A12 LPS, LES program powers valuable physics lessons SECTION B:
Moore sixth-grader wins spelling bee
B1 African-American Read-In honors black authors B5 LPS P.E. teachers named best in state
Rikhil Jasti, a sixth-grader at Moore Middle School, won the 33rd annual Lincoln Public Schools Oral Spelling Bee on Feb. 8.
World language teachers honored
He was among nearly 30 middle school students who competed in the bee, held at Culler Middle School. Jeffrey Ogbonnaya, a sixth-grader at Irving Middle School, placed second.
B10 Wellness column
Lux student wins volunteerism award B11 Menus B12 Thank You Lincoln
There were plenty of sweaty palms and bouncing knees inside the Culler auditorium - but not for Jasti. “I like being on stage,” he said. “I’ve never had stage fright.” Jasti had been practicing one to two hours a day for the past three weeks with his mother, who first introduced him to spelling bees when he was in second grade. “Spelling is my thing,” he said. By the eighth round, it was down to Jasti and Ogbonnaya. They traded correct spellings for three more rounds with words such as salamander, periodically and amino. In round 11, Jasti won by correctly spelling haughty and vortices. He's now entered into the Omaha World-Herald Midwest Spelling Bee in March, and the winner of that contest will be flown to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. LPS co-sponsors the spelling bee with the Lincoln Journal Star.
Community News is a publication of Lincoln Public Schools. If you have any questions about this publication please contact Jason Keese, 436-1619; or Mindy Burbach, 436-1609; Lincoln Public Schools P.O. Box 82889 Lincoln, NE 68501-2889
March 2020 | Community News | Section A
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March TeamMates of the Month
Michael and Brandon: It’s Been a Journey If Lincoln High senior Brandon had a fan club, his TeamMates mentor Michael would be the president. As Brandon looks back on his last few years recalling his accomplishments, Michael enthusiastically interjects with additional highlights, “He’s also in the IB Program! Just forgot to mention that? I can barely spell IB,” Michael teases. Brandon is in the rigorous International Baccalaureate program at Lincoln High. He also plays cello and violin in the school’s orchestra, assists with the musical, has taught himself two additional instruments, and has a job in food service. Michael has a full plate, too. He is the audio-visual technician at Lincoln High, but also runs his own small business, serves on two nonprofit boards, and has a two-yearold son. Michael and Brandon’s weekly meeting serves as a welcome break from their busy schedules. Brandon and Michael have been matched since Brandon was in eighth grade. Over the years, their visits have been mostly conversation-based, rather than focused on any particular activity. Brandon says the dialogue improved his ability to have conversations beyond a classroom setting and helped him manage stress when he transitioned to high school. “He’s become somebody I can talk to about stress,” Brandon explains. “Just having Michael to be able to bounce stuff off of like, ‘How should I prioritize this’?” Although Michael has helped Brandon with stress and time management, Michael recognizes a reciprocal ability to offer new perspectives. In a recent visit, Michael lamented dealing with an expensive car repair. Michael recalls fondly, “He brought it down to life like, ‘it’s just a truck, man’,’” echoing Brandon’s calm inflection. Beyond the stress-relief of conversation, the match values the genuine companionship they’ve gained from TeamMates. “I kinda forget we’re in a [mentoring] program, really,” Brandon admits. Michael agrees: “It is a friendship.” It is a friendship they intend to maintain. Brandon’s upcoming graduation is a source of excitement for both.
They believe their history of conversation-based visits will translate well into the transition to phone calls and texting life updates, if Brandon is accepted into one of the out-of-state schools to which he applied. Michael shares that Brandon’s achievements and promising future give him hope. “I’m excited to see his next three or four years. As he’s doing things. I intend to point out to my son, ‘he’s continuing onto school, look how he successful he…,” Michael pauses. “You’re his role model,” he tells Brandon. “You may not know it yet, but you’re gonna be. It’s so cool to know I can use you as an example that hard work actually pays off.” Brandon is humble to acknowledge his accomplishments, but recognizes his growth. “I’ve grown as a person, and I’ve grown in
height!” Brandon jokes, recalling that he was five feet, four inches tall when they first met, compared to his now six-feet-tall stature. Michael quips, “And I didn’t have any grey hair!” Brandon points out Michael’s own life transition during their years matched as TeamMates. “It was really cool to see him go from single to married, and now he’s got a two-year-old.” Michael agrees, “It’s been a journey!” Both mentee Brandon and mentor Michael have gone through big life changes during their five years matched as TeamMates. The thing that hasn’t changed is their weekly time together, an opportunity to chat about the challenges and joys of life, and their admiration for one another.
March 2020 | Community News | Section A
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U.S. education official lauds LPS special education, early childhood programs A high-ranking U.S. Department of Education official visited a special education program and an early childhood program at Lincoln Public Schools on Feb. 6, afterwards lauding the school district for the “phenomenal” job it’s doing in these areas. Laurie VanderPloeg, director of the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education, was in Lincoln to speak at a Nebraska Department of Education conference Feb. 6. That morning, she took time out of her packed schedule to visit the early childhood program at Kooser Elementary School and the Independence Academy, a special education program that prepares students with disabilities, primarily ages 18 to 21, to gain the skills and connections they need to facilitate a positive transition into adult living. Independence Academy students gain community-based work and life experience at various sites throughout Lincoln, including the site that VanderPloeg visited at Southeast Community College. She offered high praise for LPS after visiting with students and staff at the Independence Academy. “I'll be honest with you, the Lincoln schools have done a phenomenal job in relationship to allocating resources, providing professional development opportunities, as well as really good coaching models for mentorship, to build and develop the knowledge, skills and abilities of staff to meet the unique individual needs of students with disabilities within their programming,” VanderPloeg said. Mentioning the early childhood program, she also commended LPS for the extensive services and support offered to its “whole continuum” of students, from birth all the way to 21 years of age. “It was very impressive to be able to be an observer within the Lincoln programs,” she said. “You're doing an exceptional job. I commend you for the work that you're doing - the dedication of your staff, dedication of your administration, and the hard-working commitment to making a difference in the lives of all of your students within the Lincoln public schools. So we really appreciate that.” LPS serves more than 7,000 students through its special education programs and more than 2,000 children across the city through its early childhood program.
March 2020 | Community News | Section A
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ConnectLPS Meadow Lane Elementary School
“Incredible work, scientists!”
Clinton Elementary School Pages and Pancakes Night
Huntington Elementary School
“Whew... quite a dance party!”
Here’s some of our favorite photos from LPS schools in the past month. Want to see more? Connect with your school’s social media at lps.org/connect.
March 2020 | Community News | Section A
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Adams Elementary School
“Second graders played the game ‘scoot’ today to practice subtraction with regrouping!”
Arnold Elementary School
“To celebrate the end of their clothing study, Ms. Kristine’s preschool class decorated t-shirts.”
Moore Middle School
Culler Middle School
“Seventh grade social studies students went down to the YMCA preschool to teach a lesson based on what they learned in class last semester. This group turned a lesson in the seventh grade classroom into a chance for preschoolers to learn about kings and queens and the letters ‘K’ and ‘Q.’ All with a puppet show too!”
“What better way to kick off Spirit Week than with Pajama Day!”
Dawes Middle School
“Our Black History Month celebration did NOT disappoint! Thank you to the Belmont Tracks Scholars for putting on another great performance, the Dawes step team, the student speakers, Miss Bolkovac for her planning and preparation and especially our special guest speaker/performer, Mr. Marro Lamar for sharing such a positive message and of course your music!”
March 2020 | Community News | Section A
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LPS, LES partnership powers valuable physics lesson There are nearly 900 wind turbines operating in Nebraska, providing more than 14 percent of the state’s energy. Thanks to a partnership with Lincoln Electric System (LES), a group of physics students at Lincoln North Star High School recently learned firsthand what it takes for a turbine to produce all of that valuable energy. LES provided physics teacher Karen Covil and her students all of the supplies necessary to construct and test energy produced by miniature turbines. Students used supplies such as paper plates, compact discs, construction paper and masking tape to create blades they attached to a turbine roughly 12 inches tall. Once assembled, they pointed a small fan at the turbine, crossed their fingers and waited for it to spin. If successful, they measured the energy output with a small voltage meter. Covil said they have been studying energy transformation, including how wind energy is converted into electrical energy. She said the exercise was an opportunity for students to apply physics they’ve been learning to the real world, as well as improve their STEM skills. “I would like them to take away that wind energy is an important alternative energy source and it might be something that we use more of in the future,” Covli said, “and also that we’re always looking to increase our efficiency with equipment.” Senior Hannah Amberg loved the hands-on nature of the lesson. “I think it’s so much fun. It’s one thing to learn about it and then on the interstate see those huge turbines, but with this you actually get to learn about it and actually see through trial and error if it’s actually going to work,” said Amberg, whose blades were a success. The origin of the wind turbine lesson dates back to last summer, when Covil was one of nearly 20 middle and high school science teachers from Lincoln Public Schools who joined LES for the first-ever emPowering Energy Educators workshop. The workshop was a pilot, designed to provide teachers with the tools to excite and inspire students about energy generation and supply them with real-world industry examples and data. It also sought to equip those in attendance with an understanding of career paths in the industry to help guide more students looking to pursue careers in energy. “If we want teachers to excite and inspire students about real-world applications, in many cases we need these partnerships to provide exposure and immersion,” said James Blake, LPS K-12 science curriculum specialist. “I’m excited LPS has teachers like Karen that benefit from her connections with LES.” Blake is co-chairing a citywide networking group, the Lincoln STEM Ecosystem (LNKSE), with Bryan Seck from Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and Prosper Lincoln. LNKSE is a group of volunteers from all sectors of the community collaborating to build more of these real-world connections that teachers and businesses can utilize. Find out more about the efforts of LNKSE and get involved at www.lnkse.org or follow the group on Twitter at @lnkse.
“I think it’s so much fun. It’s one thing to learn about it and then on the interstate see those huge turbines, but with this you actually get to learn about it and actually see through trial and error if it’s actually going to work.”
March 2020
Event honors contributions of African-American authors Lincoln Public Schools hosted the annual African-American Read-In event on Feb. 5, featuring LPS staff, students and community members reading and performing excerpts from African-American literature and sharing stories about the authors and their work. The hour-long event, held in conjunction with Lincoln City Libraries, explored African-American history and the contributions of African-Americans in the world of literature and the arts. It’s part of a nationwide literacy initiative during Black History Month, with similar events happening across the country. Reading, speaking and performing at the event were: • Bill Bryant, student advocate for the African-American community, LPS • Pete Ferguson, youth development coordinator, LPS • Marshawna Kapke, student at Lincoln North Star High School • Shanna Letcher, student advocate for the African-American community, LPS • Chris Haeffner, director of library media services, LPS • Jeremy Williams, fourth-grade teacher at Zeman Elementary School • Alethea Stovall, dean of students, Bryan College of Health Sciences • Vann Price, human resources supervisor of secondary personnel services, LPS • Marro Lamar, recording artist • Belmont Elementary School TRACKS scholars • Kamri Sylve, news reporter, Channel 10/11 television • Sändra Washington, Lincoln City Council member-at-large • Pat Leach, director, Lincoln City Libraries
'Challenge yourself. Reach out to people who don’t look like you.’ Many seventh-graders at Schoo Middle School have been reading the book “Ghost Boys” this year. It tells the story of Jerome, a 12-year-old African-American boy killed by a white police officer after displaying what turns out to be a toy gun. The book, written by Jewell Parker Rhodes, grapples with tough questions and pushes readers to examine their biases. On Jan. 31, Schoo seventh-graders gathered for an assembly and heard from a current Lincoln Police Department officer and a retired LPD captain, both of whom read the book and talked about how it relates to their lives. Genelle Moore retired from the police department as a captain in 2017. She joined the department in 1982 and was its first African-American female officer. Officer Luke Bonkiewicz has been with the Lincoln Police Department for 10 years. He attended Irving Middle School and Lincoln High School. They both hope their discussion on Friday inspires students and others to have similar conversations about race, injustice, kindness and community. “With life you don’t get any do-overs,” said Moore, who now works for the Lincoln Public Schools Human Resources Department. “Step out of your comfort zones. Challenge yourself. Reach out to people who don’t look like you.” “One of the main messages I got from Jerome in the book is to listen - but not just listen, listen to understand,” said Bonkiewicz, who also pushed students to live lives of “heroic virtue.”
“One of the main messages I got from Jerome in the book is to listen - but not just listen, listen to understand.” One of the students, Marcus, said afterwards he felt “emotionally attached” to the book and believed Friday’s event was beneficial. “I think it’s really cool so young people can get this in their minds before they’re adults
and form those unconscious biases,” he said. At the end of the assembly, Moore had the students repeat after her that they would promise, “To do better! To be better! To live better!”
March 2020 | Community News | Section B
B5
LPS P.E. teachers honored as best in Nebraska Three physical education teachers from Lincoln Public Schools have been honored as the best in Nebraska. The Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) of Nebraska announced the winners during its annual conference in November. They also were recognized at the Feb. 25 Lincoln Board of Education meeting. • Amy Cariotto from Lincoln Southwest High School was named the 2019 Nebraska High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. SHAPE said Cariotto “takes physical education to the next level. One of her goals is to try to find as many opportunities that are new to the students as possible, so they can approach the activity with an open mind. One of the ways she does this is through partnerships within the community. Cariotto provides her students with multiple experiences outside of the school building to truly emphasize the connection of lifetime activities.” • Charlotte Ceballos from Lefler Middle School was named the 2019 Nebraska Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. “Ceballos is creative in finding ways to adapt lessons for students and continues to seek out new strategies to incorporate into her class,” SHAPE said when announcing the award. “Her passion as a teacher creates a high level of student energy, engagement, interest and pride. Ceballos places high importance on the social and emotional learning of her students, as well as skill development for lifelong physical activity. She not only teaches kindness and empathy, but also how to support and motivate each other.”
LPS teachers Amy Cariotto (far left), Charlotte Ceballos (second from left) and Cathy Mohlman (far right).
• Cathy Mohlman from Irving Middle School was named the 2019 Nebraska Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year. “Mohlman is a true advocate for students with special needs in the classroom, school and community,” SHAPE said. “She has taught in a variety of settings, from self-contained adapted physical education classes to an inclusive model through physical education classes with their peers. Molhman’s energy and enthusiasm for teaching is evident through her passion in the classroom. She teaches her students so much more than how to be active safely; she teaches them social and life skills.”
Three world language teachers named best in the state Three Lincoln Public Schools world language teachers have been honored as the best in the state. The Nebraska International Languages Association (NILA) honored the following LPS educators last semester: • Jami Holbein Swanson of Lincoln North Star High School was named the 2019 Spanish Teacher of the Year. In her nomination letter, North Star French teacher Cara Heminger said this about Holbein Swanson: “Her talents include connecting with students, bringing Spanish culture to life, and managing work groups to get the maximum amount of outcome in the minimum amount of time...She is a deep thinker, a lifelong learner, a well-liked teacher, and a valued friend and colleague to all of her colleagues in Lincoln Public Schools.” • Sasha Van Zandt from Lincoln Southwest High School was named the 2019 French Teacher of the Year. Lisa Maupin, a French teacher at Lincoln East High School, said the following about Van Zandt in her nomination letter: “Sasha Van Zandt is one of the most dedicated teachers I know, and always thinks of her students first. She works tirelessly for their benefit, creating new and exciting activities in the classroom, pushing them in their linguistic skills and opening up in them a love for the language and culture.” • Kelleen Browning, a German teacher at Lincoln Southeast High School, won the 2019 New Language Teacher of the Year Award, which recognizes someone who shows great promise during their first five years of teaching. Southeast French teacher Krisen Tangen said this about her colleague in her nomination letter: “Kelleen blends both historical and modern culture into her classes, and cleverly uses technology both for
research and communication. Her students are continually collaborating and interacting, both in written and oral interpersonal communication…I have observed her classroom, and it is evident that students know the expectations, so they are on task, but they are also comfortable and happy being in that class.” NILA announced the winners at its fall conference. They also were honored at the Feb. 11 Lincoln Board of Education meeting.
Lux student named state's top middle-school volunteer An eighth-grade student at Lux Middle School has been honored as the top middle-school volunteer in the state. Sawyer Zeece has earned the 2020 Prudential Spirit of Community Award as Nebraska’s top middle-level youth volunteer. She’ll join honorees from other states at a national recognition event May 2-5 in Washington, D.C. Zeece learned she won the award Feb. 3. “I was kind of shocked,” she said. “I didn't really expect it - I didn't really think there was any way I was gonna be considered for it.” Zeece has been volunteering at Lincoln Children’s Museum since June. She volunteered three times a week during the summer and typically volunteers once a week during the school year. She helps with camps, after-school clubs and has formed a particularly strong bond with a six-year-old boy who has autism. “He gets very sad when it’s time for Sawyer to leave,” said her mom, Amy Zeece. Said Sawyer, “It’s really rewarding to help change other people’s lives. It makes a positive impact on your life.” She also will be recognized during an awards ceremony at Lux later this semester.
March 2020 | Community News | Section B
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Secrets to having luckier kids By Michelle Welch, RD, LMNT, LPS Wellness Facilitator You know those people, yeah, those families who seem to have all the luck? Their kids appear to be thriving and successful; life seems in balance. Well, no one’s life is perfect, despite what social media shows you, but how might you boost you and your family’s luck a bit more? Love the library. It’s free, it has infinite resources to expand your world and it can help remind you to celebrate the joy of reading with your kids. If they are younger, reading with them is a serious difference-maker for them in the long haul. As kids get older, help them look for new authors to help them stretch their reading muscles. A kid who loves to read and visits the library often is never bored. Busy family? Boost your creative time on the go. It may be making up song parodies in the car during drop-off and telling fun stories after school or on the road. It may seem to be a little deal, but practicing these skills will help kids in the classroom develop their writing voice, not to mention create great memories. My kids, now in their late teens, still fondly remember doing this. Be a kid with your kids. All parents have so much to do; giving yourself permission to play in the yard, build a snowman or blanket fort may not be top of your list but set some time aside to do just that. Whether you choose to invest 20 minutes of face-to-face fun each evening or set aside a night of the week as family night, do what you can to soak up the joy of your kids—quick, before they grow up! Set the timer. A smart friend of mine was talking about how she had set a blocking timer on her phone that limits her social media time. She has two littles and found it was the secret to keep her from getting lost in her device time vortex. For me, deleting gaming apps off my phone is a huge difference maker. My dog also appreciates the increased eye contact. Accidentally boost math skills. Far before TV cooking and fashion competitions, I spent much time in the kitchen and sewing room due to 4-H. The good news: these skills are much “cooler” now than in my day. Even better, they can lead to mad math skills. Cooking, baking and sewing can give kids next level math skills, particularly when it comes to fractions, as they give kids active visuals. Sneaky. Delicious and fashionable! Board and card games can also be an excellent sneaky math skill builder. Fuel the luck. How lucky do you feel when you are short on sleep? Not eating well? Feeling sick? Thanks for doing all you can to set and keep regular bedtimes (for kids and devices—in separate locations). Not to mention, working to ensure your kids are eating breakfast and getting the best possible nutrition and health care you have available to your family. This parenting gig can be tough at times. We are there with you and support your good efforts to boost the future for your kids and our community. The harder we try, the luckier we get. Thanks for all that you do!
March 2020 | Community News | Section B
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March Breakfast
March Elementary Lunch
March Secondary Lunch
March 2020 | Community News | Section B
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The Lincoln community reaffirmed its support of public education on Feb. 11 when it voted overwhelmingly in favor of a $290 million Lincoln Public Schools bond issue. Just over 62 percent of Lincoln voters cast their ballots in favor of the bond issue that will address building needs in every zip code of the city, as identified in the school district’s updated 10-year Facility and Infrastructure Plan. “Lincoln is a community that values quality school facilities and invests in safe, comfortable and secure learning environments for students and staff,” said Lincoln Board of Education President Lanny Boswell during a press briefing after 80 percent of counted ballots indicated the bond issue would comfortably pass. “LPS is committed to accommodating growth, investing in existing facilities and ensuring that facility investments are efficient and well maintained. Tonight we celebrate and tomorrow a new phase of work begins.” Boswell thanked numerous individuals and groups: members of the LPS High School Task Force and Superintendent’s Facility Advisory Committee; LPS Superintendent Steve Joel and LPS staff; parents, teachers and students; and elected officials, community and business leaders.
Thank you to a community that supports education in such a big way, and thank you to the community for being willing to roll up your sleeves and help us when we need that help.”
Joel also heaped praise on the Lincoln community and noted that a bond election is often a report card of sorts for a school district. “Bond issues, when they succeed, are endorsements and confidence in the work that we produce,” Joel said, later adding, “Thank you, Lincoln, and thank you to a community that supports education in such a big way, and thank you to the community for being willing to roll up your sleeves and help us when we need that help. We are truly, truly humbled and grateful, and we’re looking forward to a very exciting future.” LPS Associate Superintendent for Business Affairs Liz Standish said for the next four to five years, the school district will spend between $4 million and $7 million a month on bond issue projects.
“That’s amazing,” she said. “It’s going to benefit students, and it’s going to benefit the local economy.” Standish offered a timeline for many of the bond projects, including: • A new high school in northwest Lincoln that will open in the fall of 2022. • A new elementary school in northeast Lincoln that will open in the fall of 2022. • A new high school in southwest Lincoln that will open in the fall of 2023. • A variety of projects at 14 schools this summer, including roofing, bleacher replacement, parking lot resurfacing, playground replacements and traffic flow enhancements. • Bid packages will begin to be released this spring to ensure that LPS can maximize the summer construction season. “We’re excited and we’re ready to get to work.” More information about the bond issue and the 10-year Facility and Infrastructure Plan can be found online at lps.org/2020bond.