From April 24 – 28, Omaha Public Schools will celebrate its first #OPSProud week, a time to recognize and honor the accomplishments of students and staff.
In addition to a variety of activities throughout the week, the district will spend time online sharing stories and data that exemplify the great things happening every day – from the $63 million earned in scholarships last year to its reaching the highest test scores in district history.
We’ve had the unique opportunity to collaborate and film in many schools in the district and below are a few of our favorite short pieces. Watch the films, share your favorites and continue the support for our schools.
1. Omaha Bryan High School — Urban Agriculture Academy
The Urban Agriculture Academy at Omaha Bryan High School is not your typical ag-education program. In the Academy, students learn how to take traditional agriculture principles and adapt them for the city, by utilizing a dedicated space on Bryan High’s campus and a small plot of land donated by a private farm down the street from the school.
2. OPS Dual Language Program
For native English speakers, learning to speak Spanish is a valuable and marketable skill for young adults preparing for life after high school. For students being raised in households where Spanish is the primary language spoken, the ability of educators to communicate directly and effectively with parents can make it easier to encourage their involvement. Factor in that studies show students who are bilingual do better in school, and it becomes clear why Omaha Public Schools created its inclusive and comprehensive Dual Language Program.
3. Omaha North STEM — Merging Tradition and Technology
As Omaha North High School’s STEM program gained in popularity, it became difficult to coordinate overlapping activities because classrooms and work areas were spread throughout the campus. Students approached their teachers with an idea: imagine if all STEM students could gather in one collaborative learning space with convenient access to resources and technology. Their plans reflected a type of learning environment, from the arrangement of classrooms to the floor-to-ceiling windows enclosing the space. Watch what happens when students dream big for their school and community!
4. Choosing Wilson: Challenging norms to achieve student success
With a focus on leadership, technology, and communication, Wilson Focus School is challenging norms to achieve student success. This elementary school within the Omaha Public Schools District follows an extended day, extended year calendar and it is open to all third- through sixth-grade students in the Omaha metropolitan community. Watch to learn why so many public school parents choose Wilson Focus School to prepare their child for future success.
5. Morton Middle School: Expanded Learning Opportunities for Young Minds
While a typical workday for parents might end at five or six in the afternoon, a typical school day ends hours earlier. For families without access to after-school care, this leaves a large time gap during which many children go unsupervised in empty homes. While many high schools and elementary schools offer before- and after-school opportunities for their students, middle school students often do not have the same types of extended day programs. Seeing this void, Morton Magnet Middle School in Omaha partnered with Boys & Girls Club of Midlands (facilitated by Collective For Youth) to create a ground-breaking, after-school program that addresses students’ social, emotional, and academic needs.
6. Liberty Elementary: A Community Solution
With 95 percent of Liberty students coming from homes living under the poverty line, educators have to get creative to provide the resources the children need to succeed. From study skills programs, to an on-campus health clinic, to English classes for parents, Liberty is proving that with the right opportunities any child can achieve great things. By teaching students that school is their job, children learn focus and responsibility that will benefit them in the future. The school has become a true haven for students and parents alike.
Click here for a full list of #OPSProud week activities.
