Be Known for Caring

I would like to devote this blog entry to discussing mental health. Sadly, mental health challenges are all too common. Almost all families have dealt with these challenges at some point; depression, anxiety, self-harm, and in extreme cases, suicide. My own father dealt with serious, long-term depression before passing just over a year ago. I have visited families in hospitals and attended funerals for students who have taken their own lives. It is one of the parts of my job that I dread the most.

As the father of three school age children, student safety and wellness is always our top concern. We know that emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges create obstacles for our students. Our Board of Education wisely recognized this reality and added a specific goal around mental health to our District Strategic Plan. We have not solved the issue, but we are making progress.

Working with the mayors of Papillion and La Vista, our school district has formed PLV Cares. The purpose of PLV Cares is to review and communicate the resources in our community to address unmet mental health needs. The PLV Cares group includes representatives from law enforcement, community service providers, and health care professionals. The group has already made great progress including a Facebook Live event on suicide awareness and a Parent and Teen  Workshop on suicide awareness and depression.

We have made important progress in other areas as well. PLCS recently partnered with Boys Town National Hospital to offer the Safe Schools Crisis Hotline. This hotline will be available to families free of charge to access when dealing with crisis situations. PLSHS alum Sarah Rose Summers recently met with our students to discuss the importance of kindness. We continue to partner with Project Harmony to provide wrap-around services to families in need. Lastly, the District will host an upcoming workshop for families on the importance of kindness and bullying prevention, two key aspects of mental health awareness.

We are all responsible for safe, healthy schools and communities. If you have suggestions on topics you’d like me to cover, please drop me a line. And as always, Be Kind!

September 20, 2018

Be Known for Kindness

Welcome back to the 2018-19 school year. Fall is my favorite time of year: the excitement of back to school, the fast-approaching autumn colors, hoodies, trips to the pumpkin patch, and yes, FOOTBALL! My family recently attended the annual Monarch-Titan football game, and Amy and I were reminded of the many things we love about this school district. The sense of pride, the support from our families, and above all, an undeniable sense of community. Papillion La Vista Community Schools is truly a special place.

I would also like to thank everyone for your support of the bond. Election night last May was a bit nerve-wracking to say the least. Our family and friends gathered at a local restaurant to have dinner and watch the results roll in. I was so pleased with the community’s overwhelming support. We have already started work on the project list including the expanded parking lot at Foundation Field and the security door locks at our elementary buildings. You will hear more about the bond projects and time lines in the coming months. We are committed to focusing on the safety and security projects our voters prioritized. We want to make the process and communication as transparent as possible. 

Lastly, Papillion La Vista Community Schools has joined other schools across the metro area in the #Be Kind initiative. Our district theme for 2018-19 is, In a World Where You Can Be Known for Anything, Be Known for Kindness. I attended the Be Kind press conference at UNO and was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. Representatives from all three of our communities—Papillion, La Vista, and Bellevue—attended the event including personnel from the City, Police Departments, and Fire Departments. It made me very proud to live in such a caring, forward-thinking city.

So, from the Rikli family to yours, have a great 2018-19 school year and BE KIND.

P.S. Linus the cat says ‘hi.’