Over
the last several months, the foreign language students at Papillion-La Vista
High School have been collecting funds to support Heifer International. Heifer
International is a charity the helps to provide areas of poverty with
sustainable agriculture. Instead of just providing food for families, Heifer
International provides families with animals that provide food and agricultural
products like milk, eggs and honey that can be traded or sold at markets. The
PLHS students raised $1,131.31 to send to the organization. With that donation,
the organization will be able to provide a family with a gift of clean water ($300), 1 water buffalo ($250),
2 goats ($120 each for a total of $240), 1 llama ($150), 1 pig ($120), a trio
of rabbits ($60) plus some change $11.31.
PLHS World Language Students Support Heifer International Charity
PLHS and PLSHS Students Compete at State Journalism
Recently, students from Papillion-La Vista High School and Papillion-La Vista South High School competed in the state journalism competition. The students competed against the 1st-3rd place winners and state qualifiers from each class from across the state. The results of the competition are:
· Jordan Cahill (PLHS) - Sports Action Photography State Runner-Up
· Daniel Rich (PLHS) - Yearbook Theme Copy Writing - State Runner-Up
· Reid Matthias (PLHS) - Photo Illustration, 5th
· Hannah Payne and Brittney Adwell (PLSHS), In-Depth Newspaper Coverage, 2nd
· Lydia Pace (PLSHS), Newspaper Layout, 4th
· Emmalie Harris (PLSHS), Yearbook Sports Feature Writing, 4th
· Matthew Stoss and Emmalie Harris (PLSHS), Yearbook Theme Development, 5th
Papillion-La Vista School District Hands Out Inaugural Aplus Awards
On Friday, May 16, Papillion-La Vista School District held their End of the Year Celebration. At the celebration individuals who had dedicated 25, 30 and 35 years to the district, as well as those retiring, were recognized. In addition, the School District handed out their inaugural Aplus Awards. Aplus (Annual Papillion-La Vista Unbelievable Staff) Awards are designed to recognized outstanding staff in four categories: Classified staff member, rookie of the year, elementary teacher/specialist, and secondary teacher/specialist. The PL Schools Foundation provides one of their employees an award. Each of the award winners received a plaque and cash prize.
This year’s Papillion-La Vista School District Aplus winners were:
· Classified: Dennis Schumacher, custodian at Anderson Grove Elementary
· Rookie of the Year: Seth Hiveley, PE teacher at La Vista West Elementary
· Elementary Teacher/Specialist: Sue Pieper, literacy facilitator at Walnut Creek Elementary
· Secondary Teacher/Specialist: Nate Cain, special education teacher Papillion-La Vista South High School
This year’s Papillion-La Vista Schools Foundation Aplus winner was:
· Kiley Benson, Site Director at Rumsey Station Elementary
To see a full bio and pictures of each of the winners, click here.
Upper Left Photo: Dennis Schumacher (right center), receives the
Aplus Award for Classified Employee of the Year from Andy Isaacson, PLEA
President (left), Gene Klein, President of PL Schools Foundation (left center)
and Superintendent Dr. Rikli (right) at the PLSD End of the Year Celebration. Upper Right Photo: Seth Hiveley (right center), PE teacher at La
Vista West receives the Aplus Award for Rookie of the Year from Andy Isaacson,
PLEA President (left), Superintendent Dr. Rikli (center left) and Gene Klein,
President of PL Schools Foundation (right) at the PLSD End of the Year Celebration. Center Photo: Nate Cain (right center), special education
teacher at Papillion-La Vista South High School receives the Aplus Award for
secondary teacher of the year from Superintendent Dr. Rikli (left), Andy
Isaacson, PLEA President (left center) and Gene Klein, President of PL Schools
Foundation (right) at the PLSD End of the Year Celebration. Bottom Left Photo: Kiley Benson (right center), kids club site
director at Rumsey Station, receives the Aplus Award for Foundation employee of
the year from Superintendent Dr. Rikli (left), Andy Isaacson, PLEA President
(left center) and Gene Klein, President of PL Schools Foundation (right) at the
PLSD End of the Year Celebration. Bottom Right Photo:Sue Pieper (right center), Literacy Facilitator
at Walnut Creek Elementary, receives the Aplus Award for Elementary Teacher of
the Year from Superintendent Dr. Rikli (left), Andy Isaacson, PLEA President
(left center) and Gene Klein, President of PL Schools Foundation (right) at the
PLSD End of the Year Celebration.
PLSD Students Place Well at National French Contest
Students
at Papillion-La Vista High School and Papillion-La Vista South High School
joined students from across the country in March and took part in the National
French Contest. In March, students are given an exam that focuses on
comprehension (listening and reading) and grammar. Students are then scored at
the state and national level based on their results. The results from the
contest are:
PLHS Donates to Wounded Warriors Family Support
PLHS
Hero Run Donation Photo: In early May, the Papillion-La Vista High School fine
arts department hosted the Hero Run. The Hero Run is a run/walk that benefits
the Wounded Warriors Family Support organization. Recently, students donated
the $600 of proceeds to the Wounded Warriors Family Support. Pictured PLHS
students Avery Hardy Rachael Andersen, Molly Michalek, Maddy Russell, Anna
Siggers, Daniel Erickson, Zach Benak, Tyler Cox, PLHS Band Teacher Tim Keller, and
Kevin Sander, Wounded Warriors Family Support.
PLSD Teachers Receives Air Force Association Nebraska Teacher of the Year Award
Laurie Little, PLSD High Ability Teacher, recently received the Air Force Association Nebraska Teacher of the Year Award. The Air Force Association’s mission is to advocate for a strong aerospace defense, emphasize the need for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, and support the Air Force Family. The teacher of the year program recognizes classroom teachers for their accomplishments and achievements in exciting k-12 students about STEM and preparing them to use and contribute to tomorrow’s technologies. Laurie received a $500 prize. She is also now in the running for the national Air Force Association Teacher of the Year.
Papillion-La Vista High School Honor Roll
Papillion-La Vista South High School Honor Roll
Papillion Junior High Honor Roll
La Vista Junior High Honor Roll
PLHS Places 3rd in NSAA U.S. Cellular Cup Final Standings
Each year the Nebraska Schools Activities Association (NSAA) teams with U.S. Cellular to recognize successful activities programs in the state of Nebraska with the U.S. Cellular Cup. The annual awards program, which began in in 2007 to recognize the state’s most successful high school athletic and fine arts programs, is presented to the 12 Nebraska high schools which earn the most points during the school year by participating in NSAA education based activity programs. Papillion-La Vista High School recently learned that they placed 3rd overall in the U.S. Cellular Cup Standings. They placed 5th and 6th in the girls and boys top ten respectively.
Patriot PTO Receives Honor from PTO Today
Each year PTO Today accepts nominations from across the country for outstanding parent groups. The Patriot Elementary PTO recently learned that they received an honorable mention in PTO Today’s 2014 Parent Group of the Year search.
PLSD Superintendent Becomes Blue Angels VIP
During this past weekend’s Air Show at Offutt Air Force Base, Papillion-La Vista School District Superintendent Dr. Rikli had the opportunity to be a special VIP for the Blue Angels. Dr. Rikli was chosen as an alternate to participate in a Blue Angel flight. Even though he didn’t have the chance to fly, Dr. Rikli was able to meet Blue Angel pilots and take photos with the pilots and the planes.
Photo: Papillion-La Vista School District Superintendent Dr. Andy Rikli poses with Blue Angels Commander Tim “Oz” Oswalt during his community key influencer Blue Angels briefing.
Rumsey Station Student Represents Nebraska as Fuel Up To Play 60 State Ambassador
Earlier this spring, Rumsey Station 5th grade student Rachel Diehm learned that she had been selected as the 2014-15 state ambassador for Nebraska for Fuel Up to Play 60. Rachel was selected to be a state ambassador because she reached over 25,000 points with Fuel Up to Play 60 and submitted an application and essays on what she would do to promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyles. For being chosen as the state ambassador, Rachel and her Fuel Up to Play 60 school sponsor and Rumsey Station PE teacher Joe Pudenz won an all-expenses paid trip to Arlington, Texas to participate in the Fuel Up to Play 60 National Summit from July 14-17. While there, Rachel learned tips on how to implement a successful Fuel Up to Play 60 program, received program and leadership training and participated in a variety of contests that prompted healthy lifestyles. This was a great opportunity for Rachel to represent her school, district and state at the national level.
Photo:
Rumsey Station student Rachel Diehm works on making a strawberry surprise
during the Fuel Up to Play 60 National Summit. Rachel was chosen as the
Nebraska Ambassador for Fuel Up to Play 60.
Photo: Rumsey Station student Rachel Diehm poses with her team members from across the country during the Fuel Up to Play 60 National Summit. Rachel was chosen as the Nebraska Ambassador for Fuel Up to Play 60.
PLHS Marching Band Collects Food for Tri-City Food Pantry
Photo: Members of the Papillion-La
Vista High School marching band show off the over 2,600 pounds of food they
recently went out in the community and collected. The food was donated to the
Tri-City Food Pantry.
Papillion Manor Donates School Supplies to Trumble Park
Photo: Marcy Wiese (left) and Jenny Janovich
(right) both of Papillion Manor donate a box of school supplies to Trumble Park
principal Amy Wemhoff. The supplies were collected by the staff and residents
of Papillion Manor.
City of La Vista Donates School Supplies to G. Stanley Hall Elementary
Photo: City of
La Vista Police officer Jamie Brown and Marty
Leming of Lifegate Church donate school supplies to G. Stanley Hall Elementary. Over
the last several weeks, City of La Vista employees and residents have been
collecting pencils, notebooks, backpacks and other
school supplies. The City of La Vista has partnered with G. Stanley Hall
Elementary to ensure all students are prepared for the school year and
collected the school supplies to help that effort. The City collected enough to fill the back of
a pick up truck.
PLHS and PLSHS Students Recognized as AP Scholars
Recently, students from both Papillion-La Vista High School and Papillion-La Vista South High School were chosen as Advanced Placement (AP) scholars for the 2013-2014 school year. A total of 215 Papillion-La Vista School District students took 423 AP exams during the 2013-2014 school year. Of the 423 exams 270 were passed. AP exams are scored on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest. A score of 3 or higher on any one exam, earns a student college credit for that course. The AP Scholar Awards are recognition for outstanding achievement in Advanced Placement courses. The winners in each category are:
AP Scholar – granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
Robert Anderson (PLHS)*
Logan
Banister (PLSHS)
Rachel
Cournoyer (PLSHS)*
Samuel Dominello (PLHS)*
Katie
Dyball (PLSHS)*
Ryan Fucinaro (PLHS)*
Emmalie
Harris (PLSHS)*
Abigail Heath (PLHS)
Jase
Hueser (PLSHS)
Julia Lynam (PLHS)*
Lauren McNeil (PLHS)*
Jessica Melcher (PLHS)*
Juliette
Morales (PLSHS)
Margaret
Murtha (PLSHS)
Don
Nguyen (PLSHS)*
Eric
Perez (PLSHS)
Emily
Popelka (PLHS) *
Darik Rosser (PLHS)
Alissa Schovanec (PLHS) *
Matthew Smutzer (PLHS) *
Elle Thompson (PLHS) *
Shayla
Vance (PLSHS)*
Sydney
Vickery (PLSHS)*
Rachel Walter (PLHS) *
Erin
Wiebe (PLSHS)
Jesse
Willett (PLHS) *
Madelyn Willett (PLHS*)
Lindsey
Yank (PLSHS)*
AP Scholar with Honor – granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
Erin Bertone (PLSHS)
Cecilia
Flott (PLHS) *
Ethan Free (PLHS)
Mallory
Gandy (PLSHS)*
Ian Goodwin (PLSHS)*
Emma
Himes (PLHS) *
Jacob King (PLHS) *
Gina Metzler (PLHS) *
Cory Plugge (PLHS) *
Madeline Russell (PLHS)
Eliza
Snyder (PLSHS)*
Maggie Webb (PLSHS)
Robyn Wells (PLHS) *
AP Scholar with Distinction – granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
Reese
Burton (PLHS) *
Abigail
Feden (PLSHS)*
Nicole
Kragt (PLHS)
Robert
Larsen (PLSHS)*
Danielle Pham (PLSHS)
Stephanie Schiffert (PLHS) *
Benjamin Wachholtz (PLHS) *
National AP Scholar – granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.
Stephanie Schiffert (PLHS) *
*Stephanie is the first
students from PLHS to receive this honor.
(*) = 2014 graduates
Papillion-La Vista School District Celebrates First Day of School
Photo: Hickory Hill students Jasmyne Long and Payton Long pose for a picture in front of the Hickory Hill Elementary sign as they prepare for the first day of school.
Photo: Anderson grove student Caleb Pell reads a book on the first day of school.
Yahoo Donates Filled Backpacks to La Vista West Elementary and La Vista Junior High
Yahoo recently donated 400 backpacks stuffed with pencils, pens, paper and other school supplies to La Vista West Elementary. There was also 50 donated to La Vista Junior High. Yahoo donated the supplies and Yahoo staff and family members (from the La Vista and Omaha location) stuffed the bags. Yahoo knows it is important for all students to start the school year off with the needed supplies and helped to further that cause.
Photo: Yahoo employee Paul Gilg shows off some of the backpacks that Yahoo donated to La Vista West Elementary and La Vista Junior High.