President’s Award for Educational Excellence

      EHS Recipients

Hannah Arington
Tanner Bailey
Andrew Berger
Kadie Bond
Samantha Bowdino
Stephanie Brummond
Sarah Chadwell
Meaghan Delaney
Morgan Delaney
Drew Dudley
Jesse Elser
Logan Fast
Derrick Feldman
Brandon Fowler
Logan Fraser
Karl Frazier
Tee Jay Grooters
Kylee Hanel
Adam Hornig
Sarah Houston
Isaac Kelley
Kayli King
Grant Kobes
Ryan Kwapniowski
Nicholas Lassek
Ariel Lennard
Joseph Logue
Abigail Magers
Hannah Milenkovich
Kylie Murcek
Brenna Nelson
Mikayla Nordin
Madilyn Pickering
Colton Roessner
Sarah Rouse
Caitlin Rucker
Brittany Schulte
Brendan Schutte
Skyler Simpson
Sydney Urzendowski
Christopher Weber
Leanna Willer

ESHS Recipients

Caitlin Allely
Kelsey Anderson
Andrew Bachman
Daniel Briggs
Kathryn Bullock
Brittancy Cech
Connor Dietrich
Kalyn Dixon
Joseph Drummond
Morgan Edwards
Emily Fink
Nikita Formichev
Vaishnavi Ganesan
Lauren Gehring
Sarah Ghannam
Michael Greufe
Brett Hatfield
Lauren Hays
Courtney Holcomb
Lindsey Hollmann
Elizabeth Howorth
Gabriella Hurov
Justin Isaacson
Amanda Johnson
Riley Jones
Taylor Karbowski
Garrett Kraudy
Kayla Krings
Michael Le
Cameron Maciejewski
Rebecca Madden
Elyse Mancuso
Jacob Mann
Sara Mantz
Lucas Marston
Morgan Mattly
Hayley Miller
Hylan Miller
Abra Misselt
Matthew Moore
Erica Myrick
Alyson Nielsen

Ann Pearson
Aaliyah Pete
Nicholas Polodna
Alec Price
Sarah Raymond
Jacob Sesker
Kaitlyn Stava
Kristen Strevey
Ryan Suhr
Kylie Sveum
Abigail Vaupell
Joseph Vencil
Jennifer Wies
Elliana Wilcox

Maria Wishard
Mallorie Wright

Physical Forms

• EHS (Antlers Activity Site)
• ESHS (Storm Activity Site)

Skyline students and staff know iPads can be powerful educational tools, not just toys.  One potential advantage is that students can receive immediate feedback using the iPads, which may not be possible through traditional methods.  For example, students may see errors within a math problem and have the opportunity to look for and correct mistakes.

Tyson Whorlow, Skyline kindergartner, said his favorite iPad project was when the second grade students came to teach his class how to use the Sock Puppet App.  In Kindergarten, students focus on reading comprehension through story retelling. “We learned about the plot of the story and then recorded our plots. It was really fun,” he said.

Students have also learned how to use Quick Response Codes, or QR codes.  Using an app, students can scan QR codes and the iPad will be redirected to a link.  Some third-graders even learned how to create their own QR codes so they could share their PowerPoint presentations on famous authors with others.  “You can just take a picture of the QR code and it will show you my work,” said Skyline third-grader Morgan Foote.  “Before no one else could see my work because it was just on the computer.”

Skyline teachers have used the iPad pilot as an opportunity to incorporate more technology into everyday curriculum.  “We have used the iPads for many activities in reading, math and social studies,” said fourth grade teacher Jacquie Mack.  “It’s a great way to keep the students engaged and incorporate fun and different ways to learn.”

Teachers admit—students are not the only ones who have learned something since the addition of iPads.  The school has held several training sessions so teachers can share information on different apps and how to evaluate apps for educational purposes.  Fifth-grade teacher, Derek Strohman, likes using the iPads in the classroom because of the availability of up-to-date information.  “This makes teaching and learning really exciting for students and teachers in the ever-changing world of technology,” he said.

The District continues to research and evaluate the effectiveness of iPad use in classrooms, and has found several promising applications.  Beginning in 2013-14 iPad carts will be transitioned into elementary classrooms to supplement existing technology.

The Exploring Program is open to students ages 14-20 and is operated by the Mid-America Council, the same organization responsible for Metro Boy Scout troops.  Local community organizations and businesses initiate “Explorer Posts” where students can go and learn about career fields that interest them.  “It’s one thing for me to talk with students about a career; but it’s another for them to experience it,” Dowd said.

This school year, EHS junior, Anel Vidal, participated in the Exploring Program via Creighton University’s Dental post.  After reading about the Exploring Program, Anel thought dentistry sounded interesting.  Once a week, for two months, Anel was able to get a behind the scenes look into dentistry.  Most of her time was spent making dental molds, talking to Creighton students and role-playing patient situations with other Explore students.

Like most students, Anel attended Exploring classes after school.  Because the program takes place outside of school hours, students can visit all of the Exploring Posts that interest them.  Privacy laws and busy schedules have made scheduling traditional job shadowing opportunities for students difficult, Dowd said.  The Exploring Program provides a job shadowing experience that is more convenient for the business and the student.   

While Anel has decided dentistry is probably not the career path for her, she said the experience was well worth it.  “If you get the opportunity you should go for it,” she said.

Anel’s counselor agrees.  “Sometimes finding out you don’t want to pursue a career path is just as important as finding out you do,” Dowd said.

Tomjack has been the principal at Elkhorn Middle School (EMS) since 2003.  Deb Garrison, who currently serves as the EMS assistant principal, will take over as EMS principal in 2014-15.

To aid in establishing and planning the new school, a core teaching team has been selected.  The Elkhorn Grandview Middle School (EGMS) core team includes: Krisa Smith (EMS Language Arts/Reading), Linda Blomenkamp (EMS Math), Dawn Bodyfield (EMS Science), Kyle Bluhm (EMS Social Studies), Jill Annis (ERMS Media Specialist), Chris Johnson (EMS Fine Arts), Jeannette Lant (EMS Career and Tech. Ed.), Deb Wesch (EMS Guidance Counselor), Jennifer Wragge (EMS Physical Education).

EGMS is under construction at 17801 Grand Ave, near 180^th and Fort Streets and will open in 2014.  Students currently residing in the West Dodge Station, Manchester and Sagewood attendance areas will attend Elkhorn Grandview Middle School.

After Mary Lennox is orphaned, she becomes the ward of an uncle in England she has never met. As she adjusts to her new life secluded at Misselthwaite Manor, Mary discovers a secret garden. If she can uncover the mysterious circumstances behind the garden, she might be able to save her sickly young cousin and melt the heart of her emotionally distant uncle. A touching coming-of-age story, based on the classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Adapted by Jerry R. Montoya.

Nationally, there has been a push for STEM education in schools as job growth in technological fields continues to grow.  STEM education is intended to show students how the four subjects can work together for practical application.

Using ‘bookmarks’ to save your child’s favorite websites

By using online ‘bookmarks’ to save your child’s favorite websites you can help to prevent them from mistakenly visiting inappropriate websites.  Bookmarks save the URL on your computer for future use and they are simple to use.  Visit your child’s favorite website on your web browser and click bookmark at the top of your screen to save the site. 

Think Before You Tweet

Did you know that 37 percent of employers use social media to research a candidate before hiring?  Many colleges and universities are also looking to sites like Facebook and Twitter before finalizing scholarships or allowing admissions to clubs and organizations.

Talk with your student to make sure he or she understands the importance of being responsible online.  Online posts stay in cyber space long after the user has deleted them.  Remind your student to think, and re-think, before posting anything online.

PowerSchool Now Available as an App

PowerSchool is now portable! The PowerSchool for Parents app is available for download from the App Store and compatible with the iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch®*. Parents can easily view each child’s progress in a single feed to check grades, review assignments, and more! 

After downloading the app, enter 68022 for the zip code and choose search.  Select Elkhorn Public Schools and then login using your PowerSchool parent access login.  If you have not yet created an access account, please contact your child’s school.

Please note this app is only for parents of students in grades 4-12, and is not yet available for android devices.

(Elkhorn Public Schools Policy 507.13—Internet Safety Policy was written in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act)