There is so much reason for hope

(A PVH teacher waves at students from a safe distance during a teacher parade)

Greetings, Papillion La Vista Community Schools! I hope this message finds everyone safe and healthy. You and your children’s safety are the District’s top priority.

As all of us adjust to our new normal, it is a good time to reflect on how much our world has changed in just a few short weeks. We are surrounded by an endless stream of disheartening news by the 24-7 media cycle. We find ourselves social distancing, endlessly washing our hands, disinfecting our homes, and in some cases, adjusting to the challenges of working from home and engaging our children. Talk of COVID-19 dominates nearly every conversation.

But there is so much reason for hope. We have seen countless individuals show us what positive leadership looks like. Teachers and parents organizing parades, so our students know that we love them and miss them. Citizens flooding the District with offers of money, support, and assistance. Volunteers offering to help our Food Services Team distribute meals to our families in need. The number of individuals who have stepped forward to serve our community is simply unbelievable.

Every generation of Americans has faced a life-defining experience of some sort; I know this challenge will bring out the very best in our staff, our families, our students, and our community. We owe so much to so many. Our medical professionals who work tirelessly to combat this disease in our clinics and hospitals. Our truck drivers and service industry who selflessly work to keep essential services running. Our first responders who continue to protect us while risking their own personal safety. And of course, our military who safeguard our liberties at home and abroad.

We know you have many questions. Commencement, prom, and preparations for seniors are questions that frankly, we do not have answers for yet. We will do our best to share updated information without jamming up your email inbox. We have hosted two Facebook Live events in the last three weeks and will continue to use this as a way to connect with all of you. Please send us any additional questions you have and we will do the best we can to get all of them answered. We will continue updating the website and District social media sites with new information.

In closing, please know this. The PLCS Family is here to support you as we adjust to these difficult times. Please be gentle with one another. We will emerge from this better, stronger, and more resilient. Thank you for your continued patience and support. Our school district’s best days are ahead of us.

Yours in Education,
Andy

PLCS works to keep schools safe, students healthy

Happy March, Papillion La Vista. We’ve been blessed with a relatively mild winter and spring appears to be just around the corner. Spring is one of the very best times of the year in Nebraska. Our two rescue dogs, Macy and Evie, love to take long walks around Shadow Lake and the Rikli kids are chomping at the bit to spend some quality time outdoors. We’re all looking forward to taking a break from academics with spring break fast approaching.

We would like to talk about self-care and the coronavirus, in particular. The winter months are always difficult with the common cold and flu causing misery in many of our households. The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has the potential to create even more challenges for our families, so the school district is working closely with our public health officials to minimize any risk to your students and your family.

Here is what we’ve done so far. The District has a pandemic response plan that we are currently reviewing. This plan is a comprehensive document that details how the school district will respond during emergency situations. 

Each disease outbreak is different, of course, so we will work closely with our staff and health experts to make sure our plan adequately meets the need of our schools and your children. The school is also consulting with health officials from across the metro area to assure our plans are in good order and that we have the very best information about the virus. 

Area Superintendents are also collaborating with one another on response plans and communication to parents. A Task Force has been formed and all school districts in the metro-area will have a twice weekly conference call to discuss the latest information and possible responses if the situation grows more concerning. 

Our best advice to parents is to exercise common sense and good hygiene practices. This would include regular hand washing, staying home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. If you would like more specific information, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has an excellent website and a list of resources: www.cdc.gov. 

Our schools continue to be safe places to send your children, and we trust our parents to make good decisions for their children. You always have the right to keep your child home if you have concerns about their well-being or are worried that they may be ill. If in doubt, sit them out! 

Thank you for your support and #BeKind.