Thank You to Our Community…
A BIG thank you goes out to the following businesses in our community that contributed to our Annual Food Drive this year.  We are able to help many of our families during the holiday season because of the community support from the students, parents, staff, and businesses.  We raised $878 that will be used to help our families!  Thank you to:

§    Mrs. Gosch, Mr. Guenther, Mrs. Henry, the Conflict Managers who spent time visiting businesses, shopping, organizing and distributing.
§    Access Elevator
§    Andersen Industrial Engine Co., Inc.
§    Anders Watch Repair
§    A United Automatic Doors and Glass
§    Babers Barber Shop
§    Bakers on Saddle Creek(provided help with groceries and turkeys)
§    Shannon Station Limited
§    Center Trophy
§    Certified Transmission
§    Cummins Great Plains, Inc.
§    Cuts and Such
§    Dan D Auto
§    Donald Moore – State Farm Insurance
§    Edward Jones Investments – Terry Graves
§    Exclusive Honda and Acura Repair
§    Forest Green Lawn Care
§    Gerda’s Bakery
§    Gillen Insurance Services, Inc.
§    Mr. Tint – Automotive Appearance Specialists
§    Lamar Outdoor Advertising
§    ITC Management, Inc.
§    Kubat Pharmacy
§    MBC Construction Co.
§    MJL Enterprises
§    Midtown Eyecare, Inc.
§    Milacek Monument
§    Omaha Steaks
§    Papio Traders
§    Professional Audiology and Hearing
§    Pruitt, Inc.
§    Roberts Electric
§    Ron’s Garage
§    SBT Hair Specialists
§    Select Auto Body
§    Simmonds Restaurant Management
§    Westlawn-Hillcrest Funeral Home
§    Xerox Company

What a wonderful community!   We can’t thank you enough!  

Winter Break

The Winter Break is upon us!  The last day of school for all students is Friday, December 16, 2005.  Students will return to school on Monday, January 2nd, 2006. There is also no school for all students on January 13th, 2006.  This is the Semester Break Day.  On Monday, January 16th all school are closed to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The staff and students would like to wish you a happy Holiday Season!

Star Students                      
What a wonderful group of students!  We had 30 students who were Star Students for November!  They had to show they care, work hard on their school work and be good citizens!   As a result, the principal got to have lunch with THEM!  They were:  Trevor R., Samantha C., Roberto G., Ngoc N., Lauren P., Jordan K., Olivia L., Bryson W., Linda K., Kayla H., Maelvy M., Nehemayah H., Connor P., Rhianna G., Chelton B., Gabriella C., Alex T., Terriana B., Daniel W., Kaylee S., Jessica P., Caroline V., Karen S., Brandon S., Lauren L., Humberto Z., Mamie L., Netrian H., Shelby L., and Jake S.  

Elf Shelf is Tonight!!!
What another great way to kick off the holiday season!  Take a few minutes and let your kiddos do the shopping!  Come to Beals for a $3.00 spaghetti and meatballs dinner ($10.00 for families of four and over) and let your children shop at our Elf Shelf.  There are gifts ranging from $.25 to $10.00.  It is in the gym beginning at 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  We are also having a Bake Sale!  

Character Counts
Have you seen our many bulletin boards around the building?  Not only do we have fantastic art work up from Mr. Sollenberger’s art classes, but we have been working on respect, responsibility and caring for others—these are three of the Six Pillars of the Character Counts Program in which our school is involved.  Students can earn having their name listed on this board for exhibiting one of the characters.  We have also been practicing “Random Acts of Kindness”.  Classes are doing something nice for each other and demonstrating how to care for one another without spending money!   We hope it will carry over at home and into the community!

News from Holy Cross
Time to remind our kiddos of “Stranger Danger” and how to keep safe!  We did receive a report from Holy Cross regarding a female high school student approached by a stranger in a car and offered a ride.  This occurred at 42nd and Pacific.  She declined and then he offered her money.  The description of the man is as follows:  white male, short brown hair, with the middle section of the hair long and spiked.  He has a long, big face.  He is in his late twenties or early thirties and was driving a green SUV.  Please call 911 if you see someone who fits this description.  

Absences and Tardies
School time starts at 8:55 a.m. and it currently ends at 3:40 p.m.  If your kiddo is coming to school after 8:55 a.m., he/she is considered tardy unless it is after 10:30 a.m. and then they are one half day absent.  When a student has been absent five days, our counselor usually places a phone call to you to see how we can help improve the attendance.  At ten days absent, a letter is usually sent explaining the importance of being on time and in school everyday.  After the ten days, our Student Personnel Assistant could be notified to assist.  If there appears to be a history of absences or tardies, our Student Personnel Assistant could be called at anytime to assist!   Help us set a good example for our kiddos by making them be at “their job” on time!

2006 Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Awards
The Alice Buffett Award was designed to recognize outstanding teachers in the Omaha Public Schools. These teachers make the Omaha Public School District one of the best in the nation. Over the past seventeen years, Omahans have submitted thousands of nominations for the Alice Buffett Outstanding Teacher Awards. If you know of an Omaha Public Schools teacher who belongs among these award recipients, please notify the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, 222 Kiewit Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska, 68131. Nominations must be received no later than January 31, 2006.  We have some pretty terrific teachers here at Beals!   All it takes is a letter (it doesn’t have to be formal) telling about a teacher you think is wonderful and why.  

The Beals Prekindergarten Classes

Would like to Invite You To their Program on

Tuesday, December 13th at 10:00 AM  and 2:00 PM

In the Second Floor Foyer.

We hope to see you!

[ http://www2.ops.org/BEALS/winter05.html ]See the K-6 Winter Program pictures

Parents and Guardians:
Per the negotiated agreement with the Omaha Education Association, Omaha Public Schools’ elementary teachers will have two additional planning days for the second semenster of the 2005-06 school year.  Those planning days have been designated for Friday, February 3, 2006 and Friday, March 10, 2006.  Elementary students will not have school on those two days.

Also, beginning January 17th, the second semester of the 2005-06 school year, elementary students will be dismissed at  3:45 p.m. (five minutes later than the current dismissal time).  This later dismissal time will be in effect for the rest of the semester.  Elementary staff duty hours have been extended to 4:05 p.m.