Chalkboard

CALENDAR WINNERS: The artwork of 13 Nebraska students will be featured in the 2010 “Nebraska: Don't Waste It!” environmental calendar for the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. The students were invited to a ceremony last month at the State Capitol. Their artwork was chosen from more than 1,750 submissions. Each month, the calendar will feature one of the 12 winning environmental posters. A 13th winner's artwork — by David von Behren, an eighth-grader at Falls City Middle School — will provide the calendar's cover. The other young artists are: Austin Cornelius, a fifth-grader from Knickrehm Elementary in Grand Island; Maddy Dimmitt, a first-grader at St. Ludger Elementary in Creighton; Justin Lee, a sixth-grader at Brownlee Elementary; Mariola Sanchez, a fifth-grader at Knickrehm; Sloan Roseberry, a ninth-grader from Falls City High School; Darci O'Neel, a fourth-grader at Elyria School; Kelsey Sloup, a sixth-grader at St. John Lutheran in Seward; Hannah Standlea, a kindergartner at West Lawn Elementary in Grand Island; Jazzmine Tate, an eighth-grader at McMillan Magnet Center in Omaha; Kara Trampe, an eleventh-grader at Amherst High School; Brian Mueting, a student at the Madonna School in Omaha; and Bailey Anstey, a sixth-grader at St. Bernadette Catholic School in Bellevue. Copies of the free calendar are available by writing the department at P.O. Box 98922, Lincoln, NE 68509-8922, or by sending an e-mail request to NDEQ.moreinfo@nebraska.gov.

10 AND COUNTING: St. Patrick Catholic School in the Elkhorn area celebrated its 10th anniversary with the start of the 2009-10 school year. To help mark the occasion, students and staff posed for a photo in the form of a 10 and an exclamation point.

PUBLIC ART: “Snapper,” a 500-pound-plus chain saw carving of a snapping turtle, is now at home at Gifford Farm in Bellevue. Local chain saw artists Bill Watson and Dan Horton of Council Bluffs donated their time to provide the turtle for the many schoolchildren of the Omaha metro area who visit Gifford Farm. “Snapper” was carved from an approximately 100-year-old sycamore tree that had to be taken down after the June 2008 windstorm. Snapper's new home will be the Nature Explore Outdoor Nature Classroom at Gifford Farm Education Center, a department of Educational Service Unit No. 3. Children visiting the Outdoor Nature Classroom can climb on the turtle as they play and learn.

FORE: Gross Catholic High School will have a fund-raising golf tournament at 11 a.m. Sept. 21 at Platteview Country Club. Proceeds from the Cougar Classic Golf Tournament will benefit the school's athletic and activities programs. To register, contact Lynn Couvillon Poly, director of development, at 734-2000.

FOR BURKE PARENTS: Burke High will have ninth-grade parent night at 6 p.m. Wednesday, followed by an open house.

GETTING OUT EARLY: Tuesday will bring teacher collaboration day to the Westside Community Schools. For students, this means all grades will dismiss at 1 p.m.

ONE MEASUREMENT: First quarter progress reports will be distributed Thursday at Westside High.

MAKING MUSIC: Douglas County West Community Schools is looking for instruments to add to its inventory. Instruments do not have to be in perfect condition. They can be dropped off at the district offices or any of the schools. Questions? Contact Band Director Randy Garton, 402-359-2121 before 9:30 a.m., 402-779-2646 after 9:45 a.m., or rgarton@dcwest.org.

FUNDRAISER: Skutt Catholic High School will host its annual fundraiser, Angel Flight, on Sept. 19. This year's theme is “Passport to the World.” The event will feature live and silent auctions and will honor a distinguished graduate. General chairmen for this year's event are Kevin and Denise Bartels and Kevin and Shari Munro. Tickets for the event are available online at skuttcatholic.com (click on Angel Flight link) or can be purchased by calling the Skutt Catholic Advancement office at 333-0818.

NATIVE STUDIES: Nearly 4,000 OPS fourth-graders will learn about Native American culture during the fifth annual Dreams of Eagles Indian/Native American Education Days. The students will take field trips Tuesday through Thursday to the event at the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha campus. This year's theme is “Honoring Native America: Past-Present-Future.” Elders and tribal members from the Ponca, Santee Sioux, Yankton Sioux, Winnebago/Ho Chunk, Omaha, Cheyenne River Sioux, and Rosebud Sioux Tribes will provide perspectives on urban and reservation life. Faculty from Sinte Gleska University, one of the oldest tribally controlled colleges in the country, also will present information. More than 40 Native American artists and experts will share facts and stories. Learning station displays will include leather, moccasins, jewelry, paintings, clothing, herbs and medicines, dance, language and clothing. Four tepees also will be displayed to represent four tribes native to Nebraska: Winnebago, Sioux, Omaha and Ponca.

EDUCATION WEEK: The Omaha Public Schools will host a series of open houses during Omaha Education Week, which will begin Monday. During the open houses, parents and families are invited to their child's school to meet teachers and staff, tour the building and sign up for parent organizations. The open house schedule: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Catlin Magnet, Conestoga Magnet, Crestridge Magnet, Fullerton Magnet, Lothrop Magnet, Skinner Magnet, Spring Lake Magnet, Western Hills Magnet, Blackburn and Parrish; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Beveridge Magnet, Bryan Middle, Alice Buffett Magnet, Hale Middle, King Science Magnet, Lewis and Clark Middle, Marrs Magnet, McMillan Magnet, Monroe Middle, Morton Magnet, Norris Middle and Wilson; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Benson High, Bryan High, Burke High, Central High, North High, Northwest High and South High; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Head Start sites, nonmagnet elementary schools, Integrated Learning Program, J.P. Lord, Career Center and Transition Program at PVA.

WITH CREAM? The Ralston High School principal will have a coffee with constituents at 7:15 a.m. Friday.

FOREIGN VISITORS: Members of Chosen, a singing group of seven children from Uganda, have been touring the United States on behalf of Action for Empowerment, an independent group that provides care and education to orphans whose parents have died of AIDS. Chosen performed at several Westside elementary schools, including Paddock Road, Sunset Hills and Loveland.

NO SCHOOL: Students in the Bennington Public Schools won't have classes Friday due to teacher in-service day.

SMILE: Thursday will be picture day at Aldrich Elementary in Millard.

COME SEE: Buffett Middle School in OPS will have curriculum night and an open house from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

ONE FULL WEEK: This will be a busy week at Ezra Millard Elementary in Millard. The PTO will offer school carnival fun for families with games, rides and food from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. From 5:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. on Monday, there will be a Developmental Assets Parent Night for kindergarten and first grade. Tuesday will be a repeat of Monday's event, except for fourth- and fifth-grade. Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. will be SOAR night for kindergarten and first-grade. That's when parents and children work on reading activities that help “Support Our Awesome Readers.”

MAY I HAVE THE WORD'S ORIGIN, PLEASE? Kiewit Middle School in Millard will have a building-wide spelling bee Tuesday.

PARADE TIME: Douglas County West Community Schools will have a homecoming parade Friday afternoon. The homecoming dance will be from 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Sept. 19.

PICTURE TIME IN BLAIR: Wednesday will be picture day at Arbor Park Intermediate in the Blair Community Schools. The cameras will flash on Friday at Deerfield Primary and West Primary.

HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH: Elementary students in the Fort Calhoun Community Schools will have a health screening on Wednesday. The next day, high schoolers will have a health screening.

THREE EVENTS: Fullerton Elementary in OPS will have a book fair, open house and bake sale from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

COME VISIT: Prairie Wind Elementary in OPS will have a bake sale and open house from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

PICNIC FUN: Loveland Elementary in Westside will have a family picnic from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Loveland Field.

OPEN HOUSE: Thursday will bring a 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. open house and curriculum night at Florence Elementary.

SAY CHEESE: Tuesday will be picture day at Minne Lusa Elementary in OPS.

BIG NIGHT: Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. will be curriculum night and open house at Nathan Hale Middle School in OPS.

SAY CHEESEBURGER: Photos will be taken during the school day Thursday at Sherman Elementary.

BUSY TIMES: Springville Elementary in OPS will have an open house and bake sale from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

LOTS OF EVENTS: On Monday, lower school students at Brownell-Talbot will gather to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at 9 a.m., a time when schools nationwide also will be singing the anthem to mark the 195th anniversary of the poem set to music. Sixth-graders at Brownell-Talbot will have their outdoor education program Wednesday through Friday at Camp Calvin Crest near Fremont. And from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Thursday, Headmaster Dianne Desler will have the school year's initial Third Thursdays With the Headmaster coffee and conversation in the Fireside Room. Thursday also will be the Founder's Day Celebration.

APPLAUSE: Kindergartners at Rockbrook Elementary will go to the Rose Theater on Friday.

ABCs AND MORE: Sandoz Elementary in Millard will have first-grade reading and writing night from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.

ROCKING 'ROUND THE CLOCK: It will be Sock Hop time from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday at Norris Elementary in Millard. The hop will be a night of fun and dancing.

NO BUNNY EARS: Thursday will be picture day at Bryan Elementary in Millard. On Friday, it will be time for the students at Millard's Montclair Elementary to smile.

THE SUM OF ALL THINGS: Second- and fourth-graders at Ackerman Elementary in Millard will have math night from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

WELCOME: Cody Elementary in Millard will have curriculum night and a PTA meeting, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

BRIGHT SMILES: Wednesday will be picture day at Blumfield Elementary in the Ralston Public Schools.

EVENTS ALL WEEK: Oakdale Elementary in Westside will have a book fair from Monday through Friday. The school also will have an open house at 7 p.m. Thursday.

COMB YOUR HAIR: Tuesday will bring pictures at Paddock Road Elementary in Westside.

ANTS, GO AWAY: Wildewood Elementary in Ralston will have its Family Recess and Picnic at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Wildewood Park.

WITH FOOD: Beals Elementary in OPS will have an open house, dinner and PTA bake sale from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday.

WAYS TO GO: Nearly 800 first-graders will imagine themselves behind the wheel of a tractor, fire truck, state patrol car or a large crane. The parking lot of Papillion Zupan Soccer Complex will be a sea of vehicles as more than 20 businesses from the metro area participate in the Papillion-La Vista School District's “Vehicle Day” on Friday. Vehicle Day introduces the students to a variety of careers associated with vehicles. Businesses that participate will be able to showcase their vehicles and explain about the career associated with it. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

TWO EVENTS: Bryan Middle School in OPS will have an open house and curriculum night from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

BUS DRILL AND MORE: Students at Parkview Heights in La Vista will have a bus evacuation drill Monday. The school will have pancake night from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday. The next day will be Fun Friday.

OUTDOOR FUN: Sixth-graders at Portal Elementary in La Vista will have their outdoor education unit Monday and Tuesday at the 4-H Camp in Gretna. The sixth-graders won't have school Wednesday.

FRESH AIR: Rumsey Station sixth-graders in Papillion will have their outdoor education unit Wednesday and Thursday at the 4-H Camp in Gretna. They won't have school on Friday.

BUSY WEEK: Anderson Grove Elementary in the Papillion-La Vista schools will have picture day on Thursday. Also that day, the SAC Federal Credit Union will bring its “Dollar Dog” deposit program to the school. Third- and fourth-graders will go to the Rose Theater on Friday.

TWO MEETINGS: The PTO at G. Stanley Hall Elementary in La Vista will have its first meeting of the school year at 6 p.m. Thursday, followed by a 7:30 p.m. room parent meeting.

READ AND EAT: Hickory Hill Elementary in Papillion will have Popcorn Reading on Friday.

HELLO, MR. MAYOR: Papillion Mayor David Black will visit Carriage Hill Elementary second-graders on Tuesday to discuss leadership.

TWO GENERATIONS: Tuesday will be Grandparents Day at Carriage Hill Elementary in Papillion. Activities will last from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

SCHOOL'S OUT: Children will not attend Bellevue Public Schools on Friday due to teacher training.

CARNIVAL: The PTA Carnival at Bellevue Elementary will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

GRANDPARENTS, FUN: Fairview Elementary in Bellevue will honor grandparents at a special dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. The school carnival will run from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday.

ATTENTION, PARENTS: LeMay Elementary in Bellevue will have a celebration of learning from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

PRIDE WALK: The PTO at Westmont Elementary in South Sarpy District 46 is sponsoring a Walk of Pride from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. The walk is a “get to know you” event with students, neighbors, teachers and staff. The Sarpy County Sheriff's Office also will be there. Students and their families will walk one mile around the neighborhood and then return to school for a barbecue, bounce house, music and socializing.

HOW'S HE DOING? Parent-teacher conferences will be Wednesday at Plattsmouth High School.

COMB YOUR HAIR: Wednesday will be picture day at Plattsmouth Elementary School.

CURRICULUM OVERVIEW: Papillion Junior High will have a health curriculum meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

ALL SMILES: Thursday will be picture day at Reeder Elementary in Millard.

READ: Abraham Lincoln High School in Council Bluffs carried this notice in a recent daily announcements: Barnes & Noble at the Mall of the Bluffs offers a teen fiction Book Club that meets at 11 a.m. on the last Saturday of the month.

FUN IN THE SUN: The choir at Abraham Lincoln High in the Bluffs is on a trip to Worlds of Fun today.

ATTENTION, PARENTS: Thursday will bring parent teacher conferences to Wilson Junior High in Council Bluffs.

SAY MOZZARELLA: Kirn Junior High in the Council Bluffs Community School District will have picture day Tuesday.

CARNIVAL TIME: Franklin Elementary in the Bluffs will have its school carnival from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday.

AWARD: Lincoln North Star High School social studies teacher Brian Burback is a 2009 recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award from the National Council for Geographic Education. The award recognizes and supports excellence in geography teaching at the elementary, middle and high school level. Nominees are evaluated for teaching skills, leadership, professional development, involvement in student activities and development of innovative teaching materials and strategies. — Compiled by Sue Story Truax