2024 LPS Student Vote prepares students for civic engagement
Sheridan Elementary School students Claire and Oliver wore proud looks on their faces as they placed “I Voted” stickers on their clothes on Oct. 30.
The two Sheridan fifth graders joined thousands of other children across the Lincoln area in the 2024 Lincoln Public Schools Student Vote event. Students from local public and parochial schools in Lincoln and the surrounding area take part in Student Vote every two years. The social studies department at LPS oversees the project, which first began in 1992 as a partnership between the school district and radio station KFOR.
“I thought it was really fun and empowering because doing this with all my classmates, I felt like everyone was learning something new,” Claire said. “Everyone was talking to each other and getting so excited and it actually felt like a big deal, because it wasn’t just a few people excited about it, it was this whole schoolwide excitement. It wasn’t just a few people, it was everybody that was having fun with this.”
Oliver said he enjoyed doing something that his parents have talked about around the dinner table for many years.
“It felt like my parents, being in a small cubicle with a little paper,” Oliver said.
LPS K-12 Social Studies Curriculum Specialist Jaci Kellison said the reactions of Claire and Oliver are why Student Vote matters. The
activity’s goal is to help students become more informed citizens once they reach adulthood. They learn that voting is a core principle of democracy, an educated vote is essential and all voices count in the voting experience.
“Student Vote is really important because it really allows students to dive deeper into our democratic process,” Kellison said. “It allows students to see the importance of voting, it allows students to understand what kinds of decisions voters get to make, why their vote matters, how their vote matters.
“They learn everything about the why, but also the how, so it really allows them to put that into action. We know that it increases the likelihood that they will become voters when they are of voting age.”
Fifth grade teacher Matt McMullin served as a Student Vote advisor at Sheridan. He worked with Claire, Oliver and other student election commissioners to plan and implement schoolwide activities. He said all of the Sharks were having fun on Student Vote election day.
All LPS students in grades 4-12 made five decisions at the ballot box. They cast votes in the United States House of Representatives race in Nebraska District 1, both U.S. Senate races in Nebraska and the U.S. President race. They also voted on Measure 436, which was an initiative about Nebraska businesses offering earned paid sick leave for employees.
Some LPS schools also gave students in grades Kindergarten-3 a chance to vote on issues like future school spirit days. McMullin said Sheridan teachers felt it was good for students to build decision-making skills early in life.
“I think it’s important just in general to give students the real experience of what anything is,” McMullin said. “Just setting them up at a young age of seeing why their voice matters, seeing why it’s important to vote, seeing what the process is like, it gives them that responsibility, that ownership piece. I think it’s important to do that for them no matter how old they are.”
Leading up to the Student Vote election day, the LPS Communications Department produced three promotional videos. The videos featured multiple elected officials and community leaders who spoke about the process of voting, the importance of informed voting and the need for civility in elections.
The Sharks came into the library throughout the day to vote. They first created voter identification badges and brought them to a check-in table. They then proceeded to a separate part of the library to vote on both a Chromebook and a paper ballot. They brought their paper ballots back to a main table and placed them in a ballot box. Each student then received a circle-shaped sticker to wear the rest of the day.
Kellison smiled as she watched the Sharks enjoy their opportunity to vote.
“This is one of my favorite days of the year, because you can just feel the excitement when you go into buildings, particularly elementary buildings,” Kellison said. “You just feel that excitement that they are doing something that grownups get to do.”
Claire said she had learned a lot from becoming a voter in the Sheridan library.
“I feel like this election actually did make me realize the importance of that one day your vote will count, one day you will actually be choosing who you want to run your country,” Claire said.
“I guess you can’t know the whole experience unless you’re actually voting for everything, but I feel like this has given us a really, really good preview of what it will be like to vote when we do turn 18.”
It felt like my parents, being in a small cubicle with a little paper. - Oliver, Student
Lincoln TeamMates
TeamMates inspires love of reading through Linked2Literacy partnership
You may have noticed gray canvas bags with the stamp of Linked2Literacy and TeamMates Mentoring appearing in elementary schools. Those bags are making their way into the hands of third through fifth
graders who are currently matched with a TeamMates mentor.
Given the TeamMates mission, “to positively impact the world by inspiring students to reach their full
potential through mentoring,” thepartnership made a lot of sense.
“This program is a natural fit for us,” TeamMates of Lincoln Coordinator Jim Bennett said.
Linked2Literacy, with the help of a state-supported mentoring grant, is committed to empowering mentor matches by providing age-appropriate books, games and toys that make learning enjoyable while reinforcing the importance of literacy in a child's development.
“Reading together is one of the many ways that TeamMates enjoy their weekly meetings as they build relationships and trust,” Bennett said.
Inside each bag is a collection of books chosen based on the preferences of the child receiving them. The topics include animals, art, space, food, outdoors, sports, travel/world and agriculture.
Inspired by the words of Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations, Linked2Literacy strives to amplify the benefits of one-to-one, relationship-based mentoring.
Annan writes, “For everyone, everywhere, literacy is a basic human right. Literacy is the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.”
To learn how to become a Teammates mentor, you can find more information at https://https://lincolnteammates.org/ become-mentor/.
Six secrets to a fun winter break
By Michelle Welch, RD, LMNT LPS District Wellness Facilitator
Enjoy the time you have. Depending on your family, there may be lots of downtime, travel, or realistically, you might be working quite a bit of that time. Enjoy whatever time you have together by planning activities involving all of you. It could be looking at holiday lights, playing card games or board games, baking, sledding, even going to the library to pick out fun books to cuddle and read together. All of these activities can create great family moments. Help kids focus on family traditions instead of “stuffing.” If you have family traditions, or would like to start some, set expectations early that you would like to focus energy on family time this year. Be it bell ringing, caroling, helping the less fortunate or even specific foods that you involve them in making for the special days you celebrate, all may be memory making. Talk with your kids if you need to rein in your budget this year, but trade it for more time with you. Then keep that promise.
Holiday device holds. Making special efforts to put away phones during family events requires extra planning by us as their adults. Give kids targeted device times directly before or after family events and be very clear with expectations. Talk with other adults about your plans so that you may be a joined front. Then make sure you have activities to help prompt conversation and interaction between groups. Reward your kids (and yourself) for making it through device-free.
Be the family tech summit leader. The hold our devices have on us all is very real. Each of us likely look forward to some time on our device, but how much is too much? Consider using Wi-Fi curfews and device settings as tools to prevent your family time from becoming endless scrolling or gaming time. Have a family tech summit and set clear guides so that players know when to log off instead of being cut off mid-game. Having them set “heads up” alarms can help. Yes, you are in charge.
Indoor snowball fight, anyone? One of my favorite, silly
items are the oversized pom poms which are marketed as “indoor snowballs.” While not perfect for every household (pets that would try to eat them or lots of fragile, valuable items), they can be great fun for a wintery night. We’ve used them for meetings and with senior citizens as well. One tip: Be sure there are no open container drinks or plates of food, because, of course, two points will be scored. Just know your crowd.
Keep kids’ days structured and moving. Younger kids like structure and they love to move. Your teenage sleep-in days are ahead, but for now, keep those days planned and moving. Set an outing for each day, be it the YMCA, walking in the mall, going to the library or running errands. Whatever gives them a reason to move with you is something good to plan for.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful Winter Break!
DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS
AT MERCY CITY CHURCH
DECEMBER 24TH
4:30PM | 6PM | 7:30PM
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE INVITED TO CHRISTMAS EVE AT MERCY CITY CHURCH! WE WILL HAVE WORSHIP, AN ENCOURAGING MESSAGE, AND COOKIES!
GRAB YOUR FAMILY AND WE WILL SEE THERE!
MERCYCITY.CHURCH PLAN YOUR VISIT NOW!
THERE ARE ITEMS HIDING ON THIS PAGE! CAN YOU FIND THEM ALL?
Contact Jenn Boettcher at jenn.boettcher@mtko.org or 402.817.0615 with any questions.
Here are some of our favorite photos from LPS schools in the past month. Want to see more? Connect with your school’s social media at lps.org/connect
SHERIDAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Facebook
“This week we celebrated our school psychologist, Shelby Glaser! Thank you for supporting our students, families, staff, and community! We are PSYCHED to have a Sharktastic School Psychologist like YOU!"
DAWES MIDDLE SCHOOL Facebook
“Ms. Carpenter-Janike's 7th grade science students complete a lab.”
LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL Instagram
“Hoops for Hope was a huge success last night thanks to the LHS Student Council. Here are a few photos from the game! #GoLinks”
LOOKING FOR A BOOK?
Rivka's Presents By Laurie Wallmark, Illustrated by Adelina Lirius
MexiKid By Pedro Martin
Eight Nights of Flirting By Hannah Reynolds
LPS students spread compassion at schools during World Kindess Day
Moore Middle School students Ash, Bella and Caden made history on Wednesday when they signed their names to a special World Kindness Day banner.
The three Mountain Lions joined thousands of other Lincoln Public Schools students in the inaugural LPS banner signing project. Students and staff wrote their names on banners placed in prominent spots at each school across the city. They pledged to share three acts of kindness with other people throughout the day.
Ash, Bella and Caden smiled as they penned their names on a banner taped on the wall of the school’s main gym. They then played volleyball together in an inclusive physical education class.
Ash and Caden both said they were happy to promote the message of kindness through the banner activity.
“I think it’s really important to be kind, because you never know when someone is having a bad day, and you can cheer them up with the things you do,” Ash said.
“It’s very important, because making someone feel welcome and being welcoming and kind to one another really opens up a whole new world,” Caden said. “People feel the courage to go out and have a good day.”
Carrie Foster is a special education supervisor at LPS and helped organize the banner project. She is a member of a districtwide unified activities and sports committee that wanted to find more ways to highlight inclusion at all schools. Members are planning to sponsor an inclusive project each semester across LPS.
Committee members wanted to jumpstart the campaign on World Kindness Day, which is held every year on Nov. 13. They felt having students sign banners was an easy and effective activity that could create a large ripple effect of kindness. Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools provided funds to purchase the banners, and teachers and administrators ensured students could easily locate and sign them.
“Creating those inclusive environments means you’re going to be kind to people, so this is a way to start planting seeds about inclusion and making sure everyone has a place,” Foster said.
Jennifer Wagner is the special education coordinator at Moore and has worked with fellow teachers to establish inclusive classes and activities. She was excited about the future possibilities at school after students produced a banner full of signatures.
“This banner signing will be a great start as we work to provide more unified activities at Moore and find more ways to celebrate the kindness our students and staff show others every day,” Wagner said.
Wagner said the unified P.E. program has been a highlight of the year for many Mountain Lions. Students with intellectual disabilities participate in P.E. classes all five days of the week, and eighth grade peers alternate between health and physical education classes every other day.
Life Skills programming is for students with identified special education needs where they learn academics, as well as job-related and other skills that help them live more independently. These skills include how to do laundry, interact
appropriately with others and communicate effectively.
The setup allows students with intellectual disabilities to participate in a general education class with two sets of peers during the week. It also allows more eighth graders to have a chance to connect with classmates and become friends with them.
Ash and Bella played on the same side of the court in one of the volleyball games, and Caden served the volleyball with teammates in a second game on the other side of the gym. Students with intellectual disabilities and eighth grade peers competed side by side and supported each other with kind words and actions.
Moore physical education teacher Samantha Mac supervised the action as she moved around the gym. Everyone cheers and gives high fives on the court.
“We have a lot of really good kids in this group,” Mac said. “They do a great job.”
Moore students will have an opportunity to join unified activities next year in high school. Foster said all eight high schools offer unified bowling and unified track and field for students, and many buildings sponsor other unified ac-
tivities such as music, theater and afterschool clubs. She felt those programs have allowed World Kindness Day to happen every day at LPS.
“We have had some kids who have really enjoyed the experience and are now thinking about going into teaching, and there are some real authentic friendships that happen between people,” Foster said. “For everyone involved, it’s just a really cool thing.”
Ash said being in Moore’s unified P.E. class has given her a clearer focus on her future career. She is looking forward to joining Foster and Wagner in the special education field someday.
“I think I’ll want to be a special education teacher,” Ash said. “If I’m kind, then it makes me feel better and other people feel better.”
Bella agreed as they talked together in the gym. She said writing her name on the inaugural kindness banner was a fun way to make history and spread compassion at Moore.
“It makes people feel good,” Bella said.
Check out more displays of generosity throughout LPS on our Acts of Kindness page at https://home.lps.org/kindness/
Creating those inclusive enviroments mean you're going to be kind to people.
- Carrie Foster, Special Education Supervisor
Monster Mashup: Elliott and Lincoln High artists unite for special project
Lincoln Public Schools students ensured that monster mania would run past its usual Halloween closing date this fall.
Dozens of community members came to Elliott Elementary School on Nov. 6 for the inaugural Monster Jam Art Show. Creatures from outer space, fantasy lands and deep imaginations filled both sides of a hallway in Elliott’s basement. Young artists from Elliott teamed up with Lincoln High School students for a project that taught them many valuable lessons.
Second grader Hazel beamed as she found her decorative monster on a display board. She drew a creature with a round purple head and a pink body. The sky behind her monster was filled with stars, clovers, feathers and green teardrop-shaped stickers.
“I made a crown with these,” Hazel said as she pointed to a row of silver pearl-shaped beads on the monster’s forehead. “I liked it.”
“I’m really proud of my daughter for pursuing things in art,” Hazel’s father Nick said. “Watching her do what she loves to do is fantastic.”
Elliott students in first grade, second grade and English Learners Level 1 classes created mixed-media drawings of happy monsters in art classes led by Jodi Heiser. They then passed along their artwork to students in Lindsey Weber’s class
at Lincoln High. The Links used materials such as watercolors, cardboard, felt and fabric to curate detailed interpretations of each monster.
Weber asked Heiser earlier this year if she would be interested in having Lincoln High students form artistic partnerships with her class. Weber’s son is a second grader at Elliott, and she felt it would be a natural fit to have the Links and Owls work together.
Heiser said she immediately knew the project would be a top-of-thecharts success with everyone at Elliott.
“I loved the idea,” Heiser said. “I thought it would be super fun for the kids to get involved and be able to see their ideas framed in another light.”
More than 100 students soon began drawing creatures of all sizes, colors, textures and shapes on pieces of paper. All of the monsters had to be friendly, but there were no other guidelines beyond that.
“The kids loved it, and I think the idea of creating a monster was so playful for them,” Heiser said. “We talked a lot about textures and things that you can touch to give the monster different feelings, and they have all of this stuff on them from texture trays. They all found their favorite things.”
I thought it would be super fun for the kids to get involved...
- Jodi Heiser, Teacher
The Owls sent their drawings down the road to Lincoln High for the project’s second phase. Each high schooler selected a piece of art to reimagine through their own creative lenses. Some students like Raven produced paper-based versions with watercolors, pencils, markers or crayons, while others like Kyleigah made three-dimensional objects with their sewing and construction skills.
Weber collected all of the designs and brought them to Elliott for the art show. She and Heiser placed each pair of creatures together to let the elementary students see how the high schoolers worked with their monsters.
Weber said before the show that the Links gained many academic and social benefits from the experience.
“Through this project, high schoolers will learn how to creatively and respectfully use the ideas of others while also creating something new,” Weber said. “They’ll discover how to honor the origins of an idea and find the nuance in that process.”
The stage was then set for each Elliott student to find their monster at the show. First grader Sofia discovered her green monster on top of a hallway ledge. Both ears were shaped like hockey sticks and there were a pair of plaid squares on its face.
“I like it because it’s really beautiful,” Sofia said.
Fellow first grader Farrah looked up with excitement as she saw her blue creature hanging in a row of pictures on a wall. Her smiling monster stood in a field of hearts and flowers and held up a cookie for all to see. She completed her image by making a sky full of purple and pink hearts.
“I liked to draw it,” Farrah said.
Many Lincoln High students also sent messages to Elliott artists on sticky notes that were placed alongside the drawings. Henry worked on Hazel’s monster and formed a creature standing above rows of blue skyscrapers. His smiling monster held three flowers in one hand and a piece of candy corn in the other hand.
“Hey Hazel, I really liked how colorful you made your monster and it looks amazing!” Henry wrote on a yellow note. “I hope you liked my version of your monster, I tried to make it just as cool as yours. I hope your Halloween was fun this year too! Have a safe and fun school year!”
Weber said she would like Monster Jam mania to thrive in Elliott’s hallways for many years to come.
“It’s a wonderful project,” Weber said. “I hope it can become a Lincoln staple!”
