Aardvark News

August 2024

A Message From Principal Kluck-Spann

Hello Irving Families! Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. I hope you have all had a fantastic summer and that your Irving student is getting excited for school to begin! Our staff has been busy preparing for students and we are all looking forward to having students back in the building. Although we all enjoy the additional planning time and the slower pace summer months provide, we are ready for kids and all the energy they bring to school each day. As always, if you have any questions, concerns, etc...please feel free to reach out!

My best,

Rachael

Wednesday, August 7, 5:30-7:30 pm: 6th Grade Open House (starting in the Irving auditorium)
Thursday, August 8, 5:30-7:00 pm: 7th & 8th Grade Open House
Monday, August 12, 2024: 1st day of school for 6th grade students
Tuesday, August 13, 2024: All middle school students start school
Wednesday, August 28-Friday, August 30: MAP Fall Reading Assessments

Please Welcome NEW Irving Staff

We are thrilled to welcome new faces to our Irving staff. Each individual brings a wealth of experiences, talents and skill sets to our already phenomenal teaching staff and can't wait to get to know our students, families and community. New and/or returning to Irving this year:

Haley Furtwangler: 6th Grade Special Education Teacher
Holly Murdoch: 7th Grade Special Education Teacher
Jordan Dudley: Student Support Center Special Education Teacher
Kate Regler: 8th Grade Special Education Teacher
Megan Gerl: 7th Grade Math Teacher
Jeremy Smith: 8th Grade Science Teacher
Shelley Vlasin-Poore: School Librarian
Ann Ellenberger: 8th Grade Science Teacher

MEET THE IRVING ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM

Principal: Rachael Kluck Spann (rklucks@lps.org)

Associate Principal: Deanna Macek (dmacek2@lps.org)

Instructional Coordinator: Cory Hachiya (chachiy@lps.org

Special Education Coordinator: Anne Marie Boose (aboose@lps.org)

We are here to partner with all families and want to ensure your student’s experience at Irving is positive. We welcome email and phone calls and are always available to help. If you call the main office (402-436-1214) our secretarial staff will direct your call to the appropriate administrator.

Irving Open Houses

6th Grade: Wednesday, August 7

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm (students & families start in the auditorium)

7th & 8th Grade: Thursday, August 8

5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

We can't wait to welcome all of you to the 2024-2025 school year!

INTRODUCING IRVING ADVISORY!

All Irving students are enrolled in a 14 minute Advisory class (Homeroom) at the beginning of the school day. During advisory, students will participate in community building, develop academic strategies to enrich achievement & practice behavior expectations to ensure our students are engaged in their learning and connected to our community!

Irving Traffic Plan for drop off & Pick Up

You may have noticed, the morning drop off & after school pick up at Irving is a busy time. In order to keep our students safe and to increase efficiency, we have worked with our district safety and security personnel to develop a traffic plan for before school drop off & after school pick up. This plan was established in 2022-2023, and reviewed regularly as we promote a safe drop off/pick up process. You will notice at the beginning of the year, administrators will be at student cross walks before and after school and there will be an increase in supervision as we know it will take all of us working together to ensure the new traffic plan is a success. Below is a link that describes the plan in detail:

DOWNLOAD THE TRAFFIC PLAN HERE

BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL SUPERVISION & EXPECTATIONS

BEFORE SCHOOL

Breakfast at Irving occurs from 7:30-7:53. Students eating breakfast will enter through the main entrance (Door #1-the only unlocked door during this time) and go directly to the cafeteria. When students are finished eating, they are expected to clean up their area and they may wait in the cafeteria for the bell to sound at 7:53, or they may return outside to wait for the bell. If your student is running a little late, they may grab a 'grab & go' breakfast in the cafeteria on the way to first period.

Irving staff begin supervision duty outside promptly at 7:45. Students are not permitted into the building until the morning bell rings at 7:53 AM, unless they are eating breakfast, are enrolled in 'Morning Choir' or have a pass to meet with an administrator, counselor or teacher. 7th grade students enter the building through Door #2, 8th grade students (and breakfast attenders) enter through Door #1 and 6th grade students enter the building through Door #19.

**If we are experiencing inclement weather, 6th grade students may enter the building through Door #19 and will be supervised in the 6th grade hallway, 7th grade students may enter through Door #1 and will be monitored in the main hallway and 8th grade students may enter through Door #2 and will be supervised in the back area of the cafeteria.**

AFTER SCHOOL

Irving staff supervise student dismissal each day until 3:10. Students should leave school grounds by 3:15 each day UNLESS they are participating in an after school club, Homework Hub, intramural activities, have made arrangements to work with a teacher or have been assigned after school detention time. Students participating in programming at the Rec Center are also expected to be at the Rec Center by 3:10 each day. If a student is late to the Rec Center, the Irving staff working with the student, will write a pass for the student to participate in programming at the Rec Center.

Please encourage your child to leave school grounds promptly after school. We are happy to work with families if/when students need to remain after school on occasion due to transportation conflicts.

Lunch & Recess Times & Expectations

Irving students have lunch/recess at the times listed below:

6th grade: 11:20-11:50
7th grade: 11:55 -12:25
8th grade: 12:44 -1:14

All students will eat lunch in the cafeteria. When students are done eating, they will signal (raise their hand) to a cafeteria supervisor they are finished and the student will be dismissed to discard their lunch tray, or cold lunch garbage and may go to their assigned recess area. At the end of 6th & 7th grade lunch/recess, supervisors will line students up by class and students will be escorted back to class by their teacher. If parents/guardians would like to come into school to have lunch with their student, please notify the office so we may make arrangements for you to eat with your student. Parents/guardians may bring lunch from an outside restaurant for their child only.

Recess for all students is located at the playground behind the school or on the playground/basketball hoops located between Door #1 & Door #2. Recess activities include basketball, soccer, 4 square and/or just walking & talking with peers.

Cell phone/electronic personal device Expectations

Lincoln Public Schools has been working with school administrators and staff over the last year to develop new rules on cell phones and personal electronic devices used during instructional time and have new digital hall pass system at all secondary schools.

During many conversations and feedback surveys, it became clear from staff, students and families that student behavior needs to be addressed immediately. These new rules being implemented at the middle and high schools this year will help maximize instructional time, increase communication, and enhance safety.

The cell phone/electronic device expectations for all middle school students are outlined below:

Personal electronic device expectations (cell phones, headphones, earbuds, smartwatches, etc.)

Recent studies have shown that excessive cell phone and social media use are causing a mental health crisis for our teenagers. These studies resulted in the U.S. Surgeon General releasing an advisory in May about the negative effects of social media on teens’ mental health. Experts agree that children and teens need clear cut rules and limitations when it comes to using digital devices and social media platforms.

Lincoln Public Schools has implemented the following consistent electronic device expectations across the school district to help reduce the number of outside distractions during the school day to maximize instructional time.

Information about cell phones and personal electronic devices expectations in school will be shared with students during the first week of school.

All personal electronic devices must be powered off and out of sight at all times during the school day. The use of personal electronic devices by students is NOT allowed during the school day. This includes classrooms, hallways, common spaces like lunchrooms, and restrooms between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
If each student has their own school locker, the personal electronic device should be turned off and stored in the locker prior to the start of the school day.
Smartwatches may be worn, but cannot be used for communication purposes.
If a student uses a personal electronic device during the school day the following sequence of consequences will be applied. (Compliance at any step will prevent movement to the next step.)
- Step 1: Staff will ask the student to put their electronic device in the designated storage location in the classroom. (Does not count as an electronic device infraction if the student complies with the teacher's request). If the student does not comply, move to Step 2.
- Step 2: The teacher will contact the office and the device will be collected and held in the main office for the remainder of the day. The incident will be logged as an electronic device infraction. If the student does not comply, move to Step 3.
- Step 3: If the student refuses to turn over the device, they will be removed from the classroom and escorted to the office or designated problem-solving location. The device will be held for the remainder of the day.
If a student is accessing a personal electronic device in the hallway during the instructional period, the student will be returned to their classroom and asked to put their device in the classroom holder.
Students who need to contact parents/guardians for emergency reasons may request to use the phone in the school office.
Parents/guardians who need to communicate immediate information with their student during school hours may contact the school office and a message will be shared with the student.
As in years past, the school is not responsible for the loss of personal items brought to school.

News from the HEALTH OFFICE...

Welcome back Irving students! All 7th grade immunizations need to be turned in by the end of 1st quarter (October 10, 2024). Students who return to school after fall break will be excluded from school on October 16, 2024 if immunizations are not received. Also, please remember to turn in required 7th grade physicals and dental notes.

If your student has asthma, anaphylaxis, or seizures please contact the health office for an action plan. Action plans need to be filled out yearly.

Health Office Fax: 402-458-3214

Phone Number: 402-436-1214 EXT. 4

PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Irving administrative team and other Irving staff will facilitate a Irving Parent Advisory Council meeting once a quarter in the Irving library from 5:00 - 6:00 pm. The purpose of this monthly meeting is to continue to foster a positive relationship with all of our stakeholders and to create open lines of communication with our community. Parent Advisory Council will meet on the following dates:

Tuesday, August 27, 2024
Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Tuesday, March 25, 2025

UPDATES FROM THE IRVING PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

News from the Library

Incoming 6th grade students will receive NEW passwords the week school begins! Below, you'll find the dates regarding the 2024 6th grade password change:

Tues, August 13: Students will receive an email from [LPSCS sender] including the new password
Tues, August 20: Students will receive a reminder email including the password again
Wed, August 21 (overnight): The emails containing the passwords will be removed by Computing Services
Wed, August 21 (overnight): LPS Computing Services will update student accounts with the new passwords. No action is needed from teachers nor students.
Thurs, August 22: Students will log into all LPS devices and approved applications using their NEW password.

News from the Counseling center...

Our school counselors wear many hats at Irving and serve as a wonderful liaisons between students, staff and families. Students may expect to see counselors throughout the day as they present classroom lessons, facilitate small groups, help with supervision & spend time with individual students. Currently, grade level counselors are continuing to welcome new Irving students and are busy modifying/updating student schedules. If you have questions or concerns, Irving school counselors are:

6th grade: Beau Gothier (bgothie@lps.org)

7th grade: Janis Fiero (jfiero@lps.org)

8th grade: Abby Rehm (arehm@lps.org)

In addition, we are fortunate to have a school social worker at Irving three days a week! Our school social worker is Makenzie Hofmeister, and she is more than happy to provide information families may need regarding community resources and/or other supports. Makenzie may be reached at mhofmeis@lps.org

For all information about enrollment, ParentVue, StudentVue, etc..please reach out to our registrar Christina Day (cday@lps.org) and she too is more than happy to help answer any questions!

Introducing Digital Solutions for School photos

Lincoln Public Schools will now be using Digital Solutions to take and distribute the official school portrait of your student.

As part of the new and improved process, we are transitioning from pre-orders before photo day to emailing a proof of the portraits home after photo day. Families will order the portraits online. You will receive an email with an ordering link five business days after picture day. All packages will be delivered to your home via the United States Postal Service. This change aims to provide a more convenient and flexible experience for families, allowing you to review and select your favorite photos at your leisure.

Please note: This means LPS will no longer be using Lifetouch to provide these services.

Complete the online enrollment verification

If you haven’t already, please verify your child’s information online through the parent portal, ParentVUE. This includes updating contact and emergency information, signing consent release forms, etc. We would appreciate you completing/updating the information before the first day of school. Note: this process is to be completed each year.

Please visit https://synergyvue.lps.org/ to access and log in to your ParentVUE account. Once you have logged in, select the Online Registration button in the upper right corner, and follow the prompts to update and verify your information. It is important that you complete this task as soon as possible.

If you have previously used your ParentVUE account, but can’t remember your password, you can reset it online at https://synergyvue.lps.org/. If you have not yet activated your LPS ParentVUE account, please contact the main office of your child’s school for instructions and an activation key.

If you have questions or need help with completing these steps, please contact your child’s school.

NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE

Free & Reduced Lunch Applications

Did you know LPS families can potentially save money by filling out the Free and Reduced Meal Application. This application must be completed each year in order for families to qualify for free or reduced school meals. We are encouraging families* to fill out the Free and Reduced meal application online as soon as possible.

*Please note: If your family received notification in July that your student has been Directly Certified for the 2024-2025 school year or you attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school then an application is not needed. CEP schools are: Culler, Dawes, Goodrich, Park, Lefler, Arnold, Belmont, Brownell, Campbell, Clinton, Elliott, Everett, Hartley, Huntington, Lakeview, McPhee, Norwood Park, Pershing, Prescott, Randolph, Riley, Saratoga, and West Lincoln.

This application must be completed each year in order for families to qualify for free or reduced school meals. Families who do not complete the application will be charged normal meal prices for any school meals their child eats.

You can go to our website to fill out this quick and easy online application. If you do not have access to the online application, you can go to your child’s school office and pick up a paper application.

Additional information about Free and Reduced meals is on our website: https://home.lps.org/ns/free-reduced. If you have any questions, please call (402)436-1747 or email us at freeandreduced@lps.org.

News from Rec center...

After School Program

Lincoln Parks and Recreation has been serving Irving Middle School families after school since 1977. Much has changed in the past 39 years, and we believe supervised, safe, fun, and meaningful after school activities are as important as ever for middle school students. Some students visit the rec. center simply because they need a place to go after school; however, our staff is intentional about making the center "more than just a place to go." After school staff does this by focusing on a positive environment, supportive relationships, and constructive programs. During after school hours at Irving Recreation Center, middle school students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of age-appropriate, fun, and enriching activities. Students can stay as busy as they’d like with homework, clubs, and special events, or they can simply choose to socialize with friends. We encourage all students to be engaged and take advantage of the activity choices available at the rec. center.

HOURS

Irving Rec. Center is open exclusively to Irving students upon school dismissal until 5:00 p.m. Students are welcome to stay after 5:00 p.m. when the rec center opens to the public. Closing times vary by season.

AFTER SCHOOL MEMBERSHIP

Students must submit an After School Member Form participate in clubs and be eligible for discounted punch cards and year passes. Need-based scholarships are also available to qualifying members.

FEE INFORMATION

•$3.00 per day

•$45.00 for a 20-day punch card (20% discount)

•$350.00 for a school year pass (30% discount*)

*Year pass discount calculated at 180 days.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

HIGHLIGHTS

•Homework Room

•Special interest clubs, classes and activities

•Game room

•Field trips

•Adult supervision

THE BASICS

•Students must have a pass to enter the rec center after 3:15 p.m.

•A student cannot enter the rec center on another student's punch card.

•Loitering and/or waiting for rides outside the rec center are not allowed.

•Students who drop-in following school intramurals must pay the daily fee at that time.

•Students may remain at the center after 5:00 p.m. The center is open to the public at that time.

•Make sure to sign up to receive our monthly email newsletter!

CLOSED

Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, M.L. King Jr. Birthday,

Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, the Last day of School and Election Days (the rec center is a polling location.)

The Rec Center will also NOT be available to Irving students on PLC days (the last Tuesday of the month). Rec Center Staff will be participating in staff development during this time.

August Newsletter: August 2024

Thanks for taking time to stay informed about our Irving Community!

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