Mental Health Resource Reminders
Elkhorn Public Schools understands the importance of prioritizing mental health for our students. In an effort to raise awareness of available mental health resources and create avenues for parents to open or continue a dialogue with their child, EPS has provided the following list of resources for parents.
Helplines and Websites
- Safe2Help
https://www.safe2helpne.org/
531-299-7233 - Boys Town Hotline
https://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/
1-800-448-3000 or text VOICE to 20121 - Nebraska Family Helpline
https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Nebraska-Family-Helpline-Child-Mental-Health-Issues.aspx
1-800-866-8660 - The Trevor Project
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
1-866-488-7386 - 211: Get Connected. Get Help.
https://www.211.org/get-help/mental-health
211
Community Organizations
- More Tomorrows by the Kim Foundation: https://moretomorrowsne.org/
Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255 - Arbor Family Counseling: https://www.arborfamilycounseling.com/
EPS partners with Arbor Family to provide a limited number of free counseling sessions to our students and staff members.
Contact: 402-330-0960 - Grief’s Journey: https://griefsjourney.org/
Contact: 402-502-2773 - Lutheran Family Services: https://www.lfsneb.org/
Contact: 402-342-7038 - Catholic Charities Behavior Health: https://www.ccomaha.org/program-and-services/behavioral-health
Contact: 531-213-7396
EVVMS Book Club Participants Explore New Genres
EVVMS media specialist, Amy Williams, had to get creative with her grade-level book club this year, but nonetheless, students flocked to all the same. For the 2020-21school year, nearly 30 students are coming together to read and discuss books with their peers.
According to Ms. Williams, books read during the first semester of the school year focused on the current Golden Sower list, but for the second semester, students were given more of a say in their chosen reads as they voted on different options presented. Each grade level went a different genre route, with 6th graders diving into historical fiction. 7th grade students chose to align their pick with their current curriculum and are reading a fantasy novel, and 8th graders decided on a sci-fi novel.
Once the books were chosen, students got started by reading a few chapters every week, and they continue to meet weekly to discuss the assigned chapters. Students are encouraged to come to the meetings with questions or specific quotes from the book that they would like to discuss which gets them engaged in what they are reading.
“Sometimes our meetings get a little off-topic, but as long as students are feeling encouraged to pursue reading and are exciting about what they are reading, then I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be,” says Ms. Williams.
2021-2022 9th Grade Course Registration Information
Current EPS 8th grade students will soon have an opportunity to learn more about the next steps in their education as they participate in discussions with high school counselors regarding their course registration for the upcoming school year.
High school counselors will visit each EPS middle school in February to distribute course registration information which outlines courses offered to 9th graders, as well as specific course recommendations.
Parents will also receive a video link to further explain the registration process and course offerings. Students and parents should then discuss the recommendations and elective courses and complete the forms prior to the second round of counselor-visits in late February and early March to finalize courses.
The full schedule for these discussions is as follows:
- Elkhorn Grandview Middle School
- Initial Visit: February 25
- Parent Information Video Distributed: Evening of February 25
- Registration Form due to Middle School Counselor: March 3
- Follow-up Visit: March 10
- Elkhorn Middle School
- Initial Visit: February 24
- Parent Information Video Distributed: Evening of February 19
- Registration Form due to Middle School Counselor: March 1
- Follow-up Visit: March 5
- Elkhorn Ridge Middle School
- Initial Visit: February 10
- Parent Information Video Distributed: Evening of February 10
- Registration Form due to Middle School Counselor: February 15
- Follow-up Visit: February 24
- Elkhorn Valley View Middle School
- Initial Visit: February 10
- Parent Information Video Distributed: Evening of February 10
- Registration Form due to Middle School Counselor: February 15
- Follow-up Visit: February 24
Families who are new to EPS should contact their assigned high school as soon as possible to begin the registration process for the 21-22 school year.
- Elkhorn High School:
Tracy Frevert, (402) 289-4239 - Elkhorn North High School:
Lynette Arnold, (402) 289-0322 - Elkhorn South High School:
Lori Holstein, (402) 289-0616
Upcoming Thanksgiving and Winter Break Schedules
All EPS buildings will observe a Thanksgiving and Winter Break schedule to include the following no-school days and remote learning weeks:
- Wednesday, November 25, 2020: No School, Teacher In-Service
- Thursday, November 26 – Friday, November 27, 2020: No School
- Monday, November 30 – Friday, December 4, 2020: Plan E, All Students in Distance Learning
- Monday, December 21 – Tuesday, December 22, 2020: No School, Teacher In-Service
- Wednesday, December 23, 2020 – Friday, January 1, 2021: No School
- Monday, January 4 – Friday, January 8, 2021: Plan E, All Students in Distance Learning
Notably, changes to these break dates and the addition of 2 remote learning weeks immediately following breaks were approved by the EPS Board of Education on October 12, 2020. The 2020-2021 calendar which includes all recently approved changes and important EPS dates can be viewed here.
EPS Celebrates Another Year of Growth as District Welcomes Students in Two New Buildings
In alignment with the previous 33 years, Elkhorn Public Schools (EPS) celebrated its 34th consecutive year of enrollment growth with the start of the 2020-2021 school year, welcoming over 10,000 K-12 students in 19 school buildings. As part of that growth, EPS proudly opened the doors to two new schools this fall, welcoming over 250 K-5 students at Woodbrook Elementary and over 650 9th-11th grade students at Elkhorn North High School in their inaugural year.
Woodbrook Elementary, led by Principal Pam Wahl, is located in the northwest quadrant of the EPS district, near 186th and Ida. The school, which is the home of the Bobcats, is the twelfth elementary school for the District. According to Principal Wahl, “Woodbrook’s staff consists of fabulous, veteran teachers from across the district, dedicated to developing a love of learning and empowering students to reach the highest levels of learning. We are looking forward to developing strong parent/school relationships as we get to know our students, parents and community members.”
Elkhorn North High School, home of the ENHS Wolves, is led by former Elkhorn High School Principal Dan Radicia and is located near 180th and Maple streets. Principal Radicia and the ENHS staff are excited about the opportunity to add a third high school to EPS ranks and continuing the tradition of excellence for high school students in the district.
Record growth, outstanding achievement, and strong community partnership are only a few of the hallmarks that make our community a great place to live, learn and grow. As a new school year begins, EPS looks forward to another year of excellence in all facets of our students’ education.