Health and Wellness

 

Grand Island Public Schools is excited to partner with the Cook Center for Human Connection and their website ParentGuidance.org. This is a mental health resource for parents and provides parents a trusted place to go for real answers, to find support and real help for their children.

For additional resources on mental health, visit this link. Select your state and school district from the drop down menu to gain access to resources and webinars regarding mental health. 

 
This FREE resource offers parents access to licensed therapists delivering different courses for parents on topics like living with a child with depression, identifying anxiety, coping with grief and loss.

The four parts of this service are:

1. GIPS Webinars & Presentations

• Grief: The Healing Process After Loss
  • Replay Link - ENGLISH
  • Replay Link - SPANISH
     

• Your Child's Anxiety
  • Replay Link - ENGLISH
  • Replay Link - SPANISH
    
     
• Emotional Regulation - Recognizing What's Wrong
  • Replay Link - ENGLISH
  • Replay Link - SPANISH
    
     
• How to Create Smart, Safe and Private Digital Lives
  • Presentation - ENGLISH
  • Presentacion - SPANISH

2. Mental Health Newsletter

• February 2024 Newsletter - "Creativity & Clarity: Emotional Regulation" - ENGLISH  |  SPANISH
   
• March 2024 Newsletter - "Happy Kids are Healthy Kids" - ENGLISH  |  SPANISH
   
• April 2024 Newsletter - "Sleeping Sound: Understanding How Sleep Affects Children's Mental Well-Being" - ENGLISH | SPANISH
   
• May 2024 Newsletter - "Growing Minds Understanding Mental Health Across Developmental Stages" - ENGLISH | SPANISH
   
• June 2024 Newsletter - "Bullying Prevention: Breaking the Cycle of School Avoidance" - ENGLISH | SPANISH
   
• July 2024 Newsletter - "Embracing the Digital Detox: Navigating Mental Wellness in the Digital Age" - ENGLISH | SPANISH 
   
• September 2024 Newsletter - "Peer Pressure: Helping Your Child Navigate Peer Pressure & Make Healthy Choices" - ENGLISH | SPANISH
   
• November 2024 Newsletter - "Chronic Absenteeism" - ENGLISH | SPANISH
   
• December 2024 Newsletter - "Building Better Behaviors" - ENGLISH | SPANISH
   
• February 2025 Newsletter - "Raising Resilient Kids: The Role of Failure in Development" - ENGLISH | SPANISH 

3. Online Parenting Courses

• In ParentGuidance.org, click on “Courses” select over 50 Free courses in the privacy of your own home.

 

4. Ask a Therapist

• In ParentGuidance.org, click on “Ask a Therapist” to review therapist responses to Frequently Asked Questions submitted by parents, or submit a question of your own.

 

Questions?

Contact your school social worker or reach out to communications@gips.org. 

School is a place where students learn academic skills like reading and math, and life skills like healthy eating, friendship and physical fitness. When families provide snacks for children at school, it is an opportunity to partner with the school to encourage healthy eating. Below are examples of fun, festive and nutritious snacks for families to prepare for school celebrations.

Please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Prepackaged, store-bought foods with ingredient and nutrition labeling are required.
• Ask the teacher ahead of time about any food allergies of students.
• Ask the teacher if regular-sized package of crackers, cereal, yogurt, etc., can be divided at school or if individually packaged items are preferred.
• It would also be helpful to send any paper products such as bowls, cups and spoons that will be needed to serve the snack.
• Cold foods, including cut fruits and vegetables and dairy products need to be kept refrigerated until serving.

Fruit Group

• Fresh fruit such as apples or bananas - be sure to wash!
• Store-bought fruit tray
• Pre-packaged apple slices
• Individual fruit cups
• Applesauce cups or pouches
• Dried fruits like cranberries, mango, pineapple, raisins, berries, etc.
• 100% fruit leathers or roll-ups
• Frozen 100% fruit popsicles
• 100% fruit juice

Vegetable Group

• Pre-packaged carrot sticks
• Store-bought vegetable tray
• 100% vegetable juice or 100% juice fruit and vegetable blends

Milk Group

• Yogurt cups or yogurt tubes - can also be frozen first for a cool treat
• String cheese
• Cheese cubes or slices
• Low-fat (1%) or non-fat plain and flavored milk

Grain Group

• Whole wheat crackers
• Whole grain cereal
• 100 calorie granola bars or snack packs
• Graham crackers
• Trail mix
• Whole grain tortilla chips, baked chips or sweet potato chips
• Pretzels or popcorn
• Whole grain muffins

Protein Group

• Bean dips such as hummus
• Nuts such as almonds or walnuts
• Pre-packed deli meat tray

Combinations from the Food Groups

• Bagels and low-fat cream cheese
• Snack mix – cereal, popcorn, dried fruit, pretzels, whole grain crackers, etc.
• Yogurt parfait with yogurt, cereal, fruit, etc.
• Cheese and whole grain crackers

Celebrations do not always have to involve food. You might consider some alternative ways to celebrate those special events. See the “Non-food Ideas for Celebrations at School” for more info.

Non-Food Ideas for Celebrations at School

Celebrations such as birthdays and holiday parties are important to every child and they like to celebrate with their classmates. However, not all celebrations need to include food. Fun facts about non-food celebrations:

• Have been found to be just as fun and special for kids
• Make it easier to involve all students, even those growing numbers of students with food allergies, diabetes or other health-related issues
• Ease the financial burden for some parents who struggle with the cost of purchasing food/drinks for an entire classroom
• Reduce waste, making them environmentally friendly
• Create less clean-up for janitors
• Make at-home food celebrations with family and friends even more special
•  

10 Ways to Enjoy a Non-Food Celebration at School

Always check with your child’s teacher first to see what they find acceptable for their classroom and be sure to provide advanced notice to make sure that they can fit the plans into their schedule.

1. Small age-appropriate toys or school supplies such as bouncy balls, stickers, erasers, pencils, tops, magnifying glasses, notepads, bubbles, etc.
2. Purchase a book for the classroom or school library.
3. Buy an educational game for use in the classroom.
4. Send in supplies and directions for a craft for the kids to do. Or create sidewalk chalk art or a mural.
5. Arrange for the kids to play a game indoors or outdoors. If you don’t have any ideas, talk to your child’s teacher. They are likely to know what the kids will enjoy and what will work well
   in the classroom setting.
6. Ask the teacher for extra recess. Go on a class walk, nature hike or historical walking tour of the local area.
7. Arrange a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt around the classroom or playground. You can even use a theme that ties into what they are learning in class.
8. Turn on some music and have a dance party. Ask the teacher if you can send in a dance song, and have the whole class do the hokey pokey or the chicken dance! Invite the nurse or principal!
9. Have the children design, build and run an obstacle course. Do relay races such as a 3-legged race or balance a plastic egg on a spoon.
10. Plant herbs, flowers or vegetables. Each child could do the planting in small pots or make just a few to keep in the classroom.

 

PDF: English | Spanish

 

The GIPS Wellness Policy requires that any food sold to or provided for students meet specific standards the USDA defines as SMART SNACK guidelines. Find out if your snack is a SMART SNACK here.

SMART SNACK nutrition guidelines:
National PTA: Smart Snacks and Child Nutrition

 

Why are Smart Snacks important?

1. More than a quarter of kids' daily calories may come from snacks.
2. Kids who have healthy eating patterns are more likely to perform better academically.
3. Kids consume more healthy foods and beverages during the school day. When they are Smart Snacks, the healthy choice is the easy choice.
4. Smart Snacks Standards are a Federal requirement for all foods sold outside the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. 

 

Smart Snacks Beverages 

USDA Smart Snacks in School

Why should GIPS schools avoid food-related fund-raisers?

Students’ lifelong eating habits are greatly influenced by the types of foods and beverages available to them.

When unhealthy foods are sold “for a good cause,” students may think that such foods are a normal, healthy part of a balanced diet. However, cookies and candy have little, if any, nutritional value, and using them in fund-raisers contributes to poor eating habits. Schools should, instead, encourage truly healthy eating habits by avoiding things like candy sales, as well as other unhealthy food-related fund-raisers.

Fundraisers that support academics:

• Read-a-thon
• Science fair
• Spelling Bee
• Workshops or classes of interest

Fundraisers that support the arts:

• Art show
• Concerts
• Dances
• Play and musicals
• Talent show
• Singing telegrams
• Rent-a-band or rent-a-choir

Fundraisers that support physical activity:

• Walk-a-thon
• Bike-a-thon
• Jump-rope-a-thon
• 10k run
• Fun run
• Golf, tennis, horseshoe, or other sport tournament
• Bowling or skate night
• Sports camps or clinics

Items you can sell:

• Candles
• Gift wrap, boxes, bags, Greeting Cards
• Magazine subscriptions
• Coupon books or cards
• Holiday wreaths / Mistletoe
• Gift certificates
• Cookbooks
• Balloons / Decorations
• T-shirts and sweatshirts
• Books / Calendars
• Buttons and pins
• Christmas ornaments
• Emergency kits for cars
• School spirit gear
• Plants, flowers, seed
• Coffee mugs and cups
• Scarves and stocking caps
• Spirit, seasonal, state, or US flags
• Megaphones / School Frisbees
• Decals / Bumper stickers
• License plate holders w/ school logo
• Valentine flowers
• Stadium pillows or seats

 

Activities you can DO:

• Bagging groceries at a local supermarket
• Garage sale
• Auction or silent auction
• Carnival
• Car wash
• Game night
• Craft show
• Haunted house
• Recycling drive
• Bingo night
• Karaoke night
• Chess, checkers, or other board game tournament
• Treasure hunt or scavenger hunt

 

PDF 

Physical Examination Form
All students are required to have a physical examination completed by a healthcare provider for Preschool or Kindergarten and 7th grade.  Any student who transfers to GIPS from out of the state or out of the country is required to have a physical examination by a healthcare provider before they attend school. 

Sports physicals are required for any student grades 7-12 who wish to participate in activities during the school year. Please check with your school principal, athletic director, coach, or school nurse if you have any questions.
 

• Physical Vision Exam Form
   

Immunizations
Certain immunizations are required by the State of Nebraska before students may attend school.

• School Immunization Requirements - English
• School Immunization Requirements - Spanish

Special Meals Forms
If your child has food allergies or food intolerances, please complete the appropriate form so the correct meal accommodations can be made for your child. 

• Statement Stating No Changes - English
• Statement Stating No Changes - Spanish
• Request Meal Accommodation
• Special Diet Medical Request - English / Spanish

Request to Monitor Behavior Forms
If you or your child’s physician would like to have behavior monitoring completed on your child for medication assessment reasons or ADHD/ADD monitoring, please complete the consent form. 

• Request to Monitor Behavior Form - English
• Request to Monitor Behavior Form - Spanish

Medication Consents
If you wish for the nurse to administer medication during the school day, please complete the medication administration consent form and provide appropriate medication for your child. If medication consent was completed during your online registration, you do not need to complete a paper form. 

• Medication Parent Consent - English
• Medication Parent Consent - Spanish

Individualized Healthcare Planns (IHPs) / Emergency Action Plans (EAPs)

• Anaphylaxis
• Asthma
• Cancer
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Diabetes
• Multiple Medical Needs
• Oxygen
• Seizure
• Tracheostomy
• Tube Feeding

Forms may be faxed to your school, emailed to your school nurse, or returned to the school office when buildings are open.
Please call or email your school nurse if you have any questions!

The school social worker serves as a liaison between the school, home and community agencies, building upon a relationship of trust and mutual respect, to facilitate problem-solving efforts for at-risk students which will result in increased student social and academic success.

SERVICES PROVIDED

Social workers:

• Work together with student, parents, school personnel, community agencies and others to help make school a successful and relevant experience for students.
• Assist parents and families in understanding and reducing factors which contribute to school performance problems:
  • absences/tardies
  • financial concerns
  • behavior difficulties
  • lack of positive peer relationships
  • court/legal involvement
  • health, medical, nutritional concerns
  • parenting skills
• Provide supportive counseling on a short-term basis with parents/families.
• Work with community agencies to understand the needs of students/families and to assist students/families in accessing community resources.
• Provide assistance with crisis intervention services for students and school staff in the case of a sudden death, suicide, or other significant traumatic event, as requested.
   

MISSION AND BELIEFS

The Grand Island School Social Work Program will support the educational process by enhancing the Grand Island Public Schools' ability to meet its academic mission, especially where home, school, and community collaboration is the key to achieving that mission. Our school social workers will actively address barriers within the child, home, school, and community that interfere with student achievement.

We believe that an effective school social worker program:

• is strength-based and family-centered.
• is proactive and preventative.
• advocates dignity and respect for all students and families.
• celebrates the diversity of each student.

We also believe that:

• student success is heightened when families, teachers, and social workers work collaboratively.
• family involvement is essential to create positive outcomes.
• children are increasingly impacted by social forces that negatively affect their role as students.
   

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance by the students at school is essential for students to obtain the maximum opportunities from the education program. Parents and students alike are encouraged to ensure an absence from school is a necessary absence. Students shall attend school unless excused by the principal, or principal’s designee, of their attendance center. This policy, developed in collaboration with the county attorney, is an attempt to address the problem of excessive absenteeism.

Excessive absenteeism is the failure to attend school for the minimum number of days established in the school calendar by the board. The Grand Island Public Schools sets the minimum number of days at 95% of days that the student’s school is open and in session.

The superintendent shall designate an attendance officer. The attendance officer will investigate the report of any child who may be in violation of the state’s compulsory attendance statutes.

If any student has accumulated absences of a total of more than 5% of the days, or hourly, of the current required attendance days or the hourly equivalent, the school shall render all services in its power to compel the student's attendance. These services include but are not limited to the following:

1. Verbal or written communication by school officials with the person or persons who have legal or actual charge or control of any child; and
2. A meeting or meetings between the school attendance officer, school social worker (or school principal or a member of the school administrative staff, if the school has no social worker), the student's parent/guardian and the student (if necessary) to develop a plan to solve the excessive absenteeism problem
   The plan shall consider but not be limited to:
   1. Determine if illness is related to physical or behavioral health of the child (verified by appropriate documentation);
   2. Educational counseling to explore curriculum changes such as alternative educational programs to solve the excessive absenteeism problem;
   3. Educational evaluation to assist in determining the specific condition(s) contributing to the excessive absenteeism problem, supplemented by specific efforts by the school to help remedy any condition diagnosed.
   4. Investigation of the problem by a school social worker (or principal or administrative staff member) to identify conditions contributing to the excessive absenteeism problem. If services for the student and student’s family are determined to be needed, the investigator shall meet with the parent/guardian and child to discuss any referral to appropriate agencies to remedy the conditions.

If the parent/guardian refuses to participate in such meeting, the refusal will be documented in the child’s attendance records.

Students are subject to disciplinary action for excessive absenteeism. Disciplinary action for students receiving special education services will be assigned in accordance with the goals and objectives of the student's Individualized Education Program.

The school may report to the county attorney of the county in which the person resides when the school has documented the efforts to address excessive absences, the collaborative plan to reduce barriers identified to improve regular attendance has not been successful, and the student has accumulated more than twenty (20) absences per school year. The school shall notify the child’s family in writing prior to referring the child to the county attorney. Illness that makes attendance impossible or impracticable shall not be the basis for referral to the county attorney. A report to the county attorney may also be made when a student otherwise accrues excessive absences as herein defined.
 

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

• Let your child know you expect him/her to attend school.
• Acknowledge your child's bad/ill feelings, while still expecting them to attend school with mild symptoms.
• Contact the school when your child is absent or tardy.
• Consult with your child's physician when illness is contributing to poor attendance.
• Use your family, as well as resources in the school and community, to work on attendance problems.
• Talk with your child's teacher, counselor, or social worker in order to address attendance issues.
• Together a plan can be developed to improve attendance.

Grand Island Public Schools appoints a behavioral awareness point of contact for each school.

Below is the list for GIPS for the 2025-26 school year:

• DODGE ELEMENTARY - Michelle Walker, Social Worker
• GATES ELEMENTARY - Jazmin Allan, Counselor
• HOWARD ELEMENTARY - Amy Hanna, Social Worker
• JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY - Carrie Whitcomb, Counselor
• KNICKREHM ELEMENTARY - Rebecca Duran Meyer, Social Worker
• SKILLS ACADEMY AT LINCOLN ELEMENTARY - Kimberly Pecar, Social Worker
• LINCOLN ELEMENTARY - Kristin Schultz, Social Worker
• NEWELL ELEMENTARY - Jami White, Social Worker
• O'CONNOR LEARNING CENTER (OLC) - Anabel Gonzalez, Social Worker
• SHOEMAKER ELEMENTARY & ENGLEMAN ELEMENTARY - Scott Senseman, Social Worker
• STARR ELEMENTARY - Nichole Nesvara, Social Worker
• STOLLEY PARK ELEMENTARY - Sally Smith, Social Worker
• WASMER ELEMENTARY - Julie Westerby, Social Worker
• WEST LAWN ELEMENTARY - Regina Juhl, Counselor
• BARR MIDDLE SCHOOL - Luis Mejia, Social Worker
• WALNUT & WESTRIDGE MIDDLE SCHOOLS - Carrie Sheldon, Social Worker
• GRAND ISLAND SENIOR HIGH - Alyssa Alexander & Ashley Walker, Social Workers
• SKILLS ACADEMY AT WESTRIDGE - Josie Lindell, Social Worker
• HIGH SCHOOL SKILLS ACADEMY - Sam Minne, Social Worker
• SUCCESS ACADEMY - Dawn Deuel-Rutt, Social Worker

• Wellness Action Plan
• Triennial Assessment - 2023
• Concussion Awareness