Kellom Elementary is fortunate to have a wide pool of volunteers to help with the success of our students. Below is a listing of the volunteers and the special services they have provided.

Creighton University Students	Twice a week, students from Creighton University tutor Kellom students in grades 2-6. They assist with their daily homework, reading goals, and mentoring.  The Education Department provides students to deliver lessons for our students in the areas of reading and technology.
Creighton University Department of Information Technology DoIT	The employees have become very involved with the students of Kellom elementary. Several employees have joined the TEAMMATES program that joins them with a student to mentor for the school year. The organization has offered students the opportunity to participate in their gaming night which includes interaction on the newest technologies available. The group also brought in gifts and needs for our new families. They have provided readers, goal buddies for our Winners Circle program, and assisted with Fall Festival and Kellom's Field Day, held in Creighton's Morrison Soccer Stadium.
Alegent Health	Through our partnership with Alegent, Kellom has been provided with a mental health therapist on-site four days a week to work with our students.
McDonalds-24th and Cuming	Located in our school community, McDonald's holds a McTeacher's night twice a year. On this night Kellom families are invited out to dine at McDonald's. A percentage of the profits are then shared with Kellom.
Securities America	Securities America signed on as Kellom's Community Partner in the 07-08 school year. They have offered assistance during our Fall Festival. They are also interested in funding some of our technology goals.
Embrace Teachers	For many years, the Embrace Teachers organization has adopted the staff at Kellom Elementary. The organization offers support to the staff to show the communities appreciation for their dedication to the students and success of Kellom. Some examples of their gratitude includes monthly treats left in the teachers mailboxes, donations of classroom supplies, and serving a delicious dinner during Parent/Teacher Conferences. They have also offered their assistance in the beautification of our courtyard.
Luther Memorial Church	For several years the members of this organization have offered their assistance to the students and staff of Kellom. Some of their contributions include, classroom supplies, members read aloud to classrooms and assist teachers in the classroom. The students involved in our school chorus had a chance to perform at the church before the holidays. The members of the church provided a luncheon for the students and staff members chaperoning.
Payless Shoe Source	Payless Shoe Source awarded Kellom elementary a $1000.00 grant towards resources for our school. The funds will be used for supporting the curriculum in classrooms.

 

 

Communication:
All students will increase reading comprehension across the curriculum.

Math/Science:
All students will improve problem-solving skills across the curriculum.

Safe & Secure Climate:
All students will demonstrate respect and responsibility for others in the learning environment and school activities.

Kellom opened in November 1952 at 1311 North 24th Street. Currently, Kellom Elementary serves approximately 400 students in grades pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. The diverse school community provides many learning opportunities for all students. Students receive additional assistance through such special programs as Reading First, Winner’s Circle, All-Day Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten. Kellom Elementary has an active Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and enjoys support from many Adopt-a-School partners, such as, Creighton University, Alegent Health, Hearthstone Homes, and Metro Area Transit. The focus at Kellom fosters globally responsible, compassionate, resilient, and productive citizens. The Kellom staff strives to nurture and develop the talents of active learners, increase academic achievement, develop appropriate life and social skills, and encourage healthy lifestyles within a safe environment. 

 

The Paul Street School was the original frame building erected in 1892 at the corner of 24th and Paul. It was later renamed Kellom School. In November of 1952, this school building was replaced with the present Kellom School. It was dedicated the same year, and was the first new building constructed by the School District of Omaha in twenty-seven years.


Both the old and the new schools were named after John H. Kellom, who was a prominent figure in Omaha’s educational planning during pioneer days. Mr. Kellom came to Omaha from New York City in 1857. He helped establish the first school in Omaha and served as a member of the original district school board. He later became a member of board of trustees for the earliest standard high school in Omaha. He also served as a teacher, a principal, and the first superintendent of schools in the city.


Kellom was the first school in Omaha to be a community enterprise. As early as 1940, school officials began suggesting the need to replace “old Kellom” with a community center. They stated, “Here is a golden opportunity for the city and the school district to provide a combined school and recreation center.” Their dream ultimately became a reality.


In addition to being the first community enterprise, Kellom was also the first school building to house children from kindergarten through sixth grade, thus truly becoming an “elementary school”.


In 1964, Kellom School was included in the local AID (Assistance for Interculturally Deprived) program, and later designated as a Title I School. This program has provided specialized instruction in reading and math.
In 1976, as a result of the desegregation plan, Kellom School became a primary center, serving children from kindergarten through third grade. In the early years of the desegregation program, Kellom received second grade students from Gilder, Giles, and Chandler View schools and the neighborhood community. Third grade students came from Pawnee, Ashland Park, Pleasant Hill and the surrounding neighborhood. As a result of some schools closing, Gilder, Pawnee and Ashland Park remained as “feeder schools”.


In 1988 a full-time guidance counselor was assigned to Kellom School. The guidance counselor provides for social-emotional needs of students through group and individual instruction. Discussions with students, administrators, teachers, and parents are provided as needed.


In 1995, the demolition of the Logan/Fontenelle housing Projects and the implementation of scattered site housing led to a considerable decrease in Kellom’s neighborhood enrollment. Due to increased enrollment at Yates School, second and third grade students were transported to Kellom. Kindergarten and first grade students at Kellom were neighborhood residents or students from surrounding school attendance areas.


During the 1999-2000 school year, a court ordered mandate disallowed busing for the purpose of desegregation. The school district, in compliance with the courts, initiated neighborhood attendance areas according to various zones. At this time, the students that attended Yates would be in the Kellom attendance area. Kellom would once again service students from kindergarten through 6th grade. Kellom would also become an academy with special emphasis on small class size, additional support for students, and Spalding training for teachers to promote phonics, reading, and writing.


Kellom acquired the Omaha Housing Authorities’ offices attached to the east end of the original building during the spring of 2000. This space was renovated for additional classrooms and offices during the summer of 2000. Additional renovation included some window replacements in the main classrooms, new carpeting in several classrooms, central air-conditioning, and new blinds for additional enhancement of the building atmosphere.
Currently, Kellom houses four all day kindergartens, a half-day pre-kindergarten, and first through sixth grades. Special education programs include two Early Childhood Special Education classrooms, speech-language services, and primary and intermediate resource programs. A challenge program is also offered at Kellom. Specialists at Kellom provide instruction for library, vocal music, instrumental music, physical education, art, and technology.
Kellom Academy reflects a number of minorities creating maximal opportunities for integrative school experiences. Kellom’s current population is 380-400 students. Of this population, 75% are African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic and 25% are Sudanese, Asian, Native American and Somalian. Eighty-eight percent of the current populations receive free or reduced lunches qualifying Kellom as a Schoolwide Title I school. Our mobility rate is 67.5%. This offers unique learning challenges for the staff and students.

Kellom Academy offers several special programs to our students. A mentoring program is offered during the school day utilizing partnerships with Creighton University, Metro Area Transit, Teammates and several businesses within the community. After school tutoring is also available for designated students and Americorp provides opportunities for students to have additional academic support throughout the day. Kids Club is a childcare program available to students before and after school. Breakfast is available to all students on a daily basis before the academic day begins.


Kellom is fortunate to have a firm foundation with the Adopt-A-School Partners: McDonald’s on 30th and Cuming, Metro Area Transit Bus Lines, Metro Community College, Hearthstone Homes, and Creighton University Department of Information Technology.  Luther Memorial Church on 60th and Western has unofficially adopted Kellom. They provide much needed supplies of clothes, hats, mittens, and backpacks as well as personnel to read with students and provide academic support. Several teams from Creighton University athletic department have volunteered to help with classroom activities, academic tutoring, and staff assistance. A Positive Action Center (PAC) was established to support the Building Management Plan and provide additional educational opportunities in the area of social skills and problem solving.


Reading First, a scientifically based reading research grant, has become a part of the primary students' daily reading routine. They spend 90 minutes a day with uninterrupted reading time utilizing the most reliably effective teaching approaches of systematic and explicit instruction. Reading First entails five essential components of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.

Students have received recognition through the African American Youth Award and Outstanding Achievement for English as a Second Language.
Kellom has hosted a Family Night in which parents are invited to explore the various projects their students have created at different grade levels. The Winner's Circle program is in its second year.  The objective is to give students recognition for achieving quarterly goals in the areas of:  reading, math, and citizenship.  Each class has a goal buddy visit once a month from area businesses.  Each quarter a celebration is held for the students with parents and community volunteers in attendance.

Kellom School is proud to have played a role in the lives of many successful individuals. Graduates of Kellom have been and continue to be active in the community and in the arts. These people include such notables as Fred Astaire, Roger Sayers, Gayle Sayers, Bob Gibson, and Brenda Council together with many other fine citizens of our city.


The staff at Kellom has also received numerous awards including several Buffet Awards, Nebraska State Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year Award, the Mary Volcek Award from the American Red Cross for outstanding water safety, the Ezra Tabor Award, and the Kellom PTA Outstanding Honorarium.


Staff members are continually involved in professional growth offerings within the school district and at local universities, and as a result, many hold advanced educational degrees.


We are proud of Kellom's students, staff, parents, and community members and they share the name of All-Stars with pride.

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Vision:

Our focus at Kellom Community fosters globally responsible, compassionate, resilient, and productive citizens.

 

Mission:

We nurture and develop the talents of active learners and promote academic achievement, life and social skills, and healthy lifestyles within a safe environment.