Aardvark News

• Thursday, October 2 at 7:00 pm: 8th grade Choir Concert in the Irving auditorium

• Monday, October 6-Friday, October 10: Student Council sponsored Spirit Week!

• Monday, October 6 at 1:30 pm: Evacuation drill #4 SRP Evacuation Video for Secondary Schools 

• Wednesday, October 8: Science Focus/Arts & Humanities Counselor visit to 8th grade lunch/recess

• Friday, October 10: Last day of 1st Quarter

• Monday, October 13: School not in session-Fall Break

• Tuesday, October 14: School not in session-District Professional Learning & Teacher Plan Day

• Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 pm: 7th & 8th grade with Lincoln High Orchestra Concert in the Irving auditorium

• Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 pm: 7th & 8th grade with Lincoln Southeast Jazz Band Concert in the Irving auditorium

• Friday, October 24: Picture re-takes in the Irving auditorium

• Monday, October 26 at 6:00 pm: One Book/One Family in the Irving library

Intramural Opportunities at Irving...

Our fall sports season is winding down with all city cross country and the LPS middle school volleyball tournament both wrapping up each season the first week of October.  Athletes interested in wrestling or in girls basketball should be watching daily announcements for upcoming meetings sharing tryout information, practice schedules, and google classroom codes for athletes to find any important announcements for day to day information.  This includes game and meet schedules, practice changes, etc.  Athletes are expected to check this daily and communicate information home to families.  If athletes skip practice, they are expected to communicate with their coaches ahead of time whenever possible.

If an athlete has participated in a fall sport or families have already completed a permission form, they DO NOT NEED TO complete another form.  Permission forms only need to be completed once per year.  For those who have NOT done so, this can be completed by going to the LPS website and using the jump code BDPT to access the form or using this link.  If students do not have this form filled out by the first day of practice, that student cannot practice with the team and cannot attend until the form is completed.  Information about individual sports can be found below:

Only immediate family is allowed to attend games and any sibling or child in the household who is not participating in the game or meet can be in attendance must have an adult to supervise.  Students not playing are not allowed to attend and will be asked to leave.  Schools do not have the space nor supervision to allow additional spectators.

WRESTLING INFORMATION

Coach:  Mr. Ottley

Meet Schedule:                                            

• October 18th: 8am report time

• October 24th: 4:45pm report time

• October 30th: 4:45pm report time

• November 7th (ALL CITY TOURNAMENT): 4:45pm report time 

GIRLS BASKETBALL INFORMATION

Coaches: Mr. Davison, Mr. Vaughn

All games except the LPS tournament will have an A, B, and C game, with A team playing at 8 am, B team at 9 am, and C team at 10 am.  Please have your athletes arrive around fifteen minutes before their game, but not much before. 

Game Schedule:                                            

• October 25th: at Irving vs Lefler 

• November 1st: at Scott

• November 8th: at Irving vs Moore

• November 15th: at Mickle

• November 22nd:at Schoo

• December 3rd: All City Tournament (time and location TBD)

Lincoln Public Schools does post updates and intramural schedules.  This site can be found here. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at rokamoto@lps.org or individual team coaches.  We are really looking forward to a great fall season.  Go Aardvarks!

NEWS FROM THE COUNSELING CENTER...

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. To reinforce the importance of bullying prevention, the LPS Strategic Plan supports student and staff wellbeing and outcomes as priority areas.  Our LPS Anti-Bullying Policy commits to providing physically safe and emotionally secure environments for all students and staff.  To support this policy, bullying prevention is taught through a variety of content areas and opportunities.  In addition, all LPS middle and high schools have a Hope Squad.  Hope Squad members are respectful and empathetic UPSTANDERS who aim to connect their peers to a trusted adult who can help. Our continued focus is to increase awareness of bullying prevention and provide opportunities for students to apply self awareness, social awareness and responsible decision making skills. We are committed to creating strong connections and a sense of belonging for all students as we stand up against bullying.

Thank you for your continued support with bullying prevention efforts in Lincoln Public Schools.  Below are resources for families about bullying prevention.

Resources for Families: 

• Cyberbullying: What Teens Need to Know

• Website: https://pacerteensagainstbullying.org/

• Website: Cyberbullying Research Center

• Lincoln Public Schools Resource: The-Facts-About-Bullying

• Nebraska Department of Education Parent Resource: NDE Bullying Flowchart

PAR Framework Updates

At our school, we believe that students thrive when their efforts and accomplishments are recognized and celebrated. Acknowledging positive behavior not only helps students feel seen and valued but also motivates them to continue learning, making thoughtful choices, and contributing positively to our community. We strive to balance recognition with opportunities for students to develop their own sense of responsibility and pride in their work. By intentionally reinforcing both effort and growth, we help students build confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning, creating a foundation that supports success both inside and outside the classroom.

Parents can help at home by noticing and naming their student’s positive efforts, whether it is finishing a task they like to avoid, showing kindness to a sibling, or persevering through a challenge. Simple words of encouragement, celebrating small wins, and asking reflective questions like “What are you most proud of today?” can go a long way in building your child’s confidence and motivation. Together, we can support a culture where students feel valued and inspired to grow.

News from Computing Services...

A Parent Guide to Student Chromebook Use in LPS

Parenting a “Chromebook student” can present some interesting challenges. While few students would choose to do worksheets all evening just for fun, your student might actually WANT to be on their Chromebook at night. It can be hard to tell what they’re focusing on while staring at the device screen. Use this Parent Guide to Student Chromebooks & the Digital Learning Environment in LPS resource to help inform your conversations about expectations for Chromebook use at home.

Top 10 Things to Know about Student Technology in LPS

There is a lot that parents COULD know about the tools their students use in LPS. These are the 10 most important things! 10 Things to Know about Student Technology in LPS

Reminder: Intentional Damage to Chromebooks

As a reminder, damage caused on purpose, or because of a lack of care for the Chromebook, cannot be covered by the Chromebook Assurance Program (CAP). Families will be billed for any intentional damage.

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