Omaha Public Schools, Partners Advance Work at Burke Stadium Following 2024 State Track & Field Meet

The 124th Nebraska High School State Track & Field Championships will take place at Burke Stadium from May 15 through May 18, 2024. It is the 53rd year Omaha Public Schools and Burke High have proudly hosted the event.

Following the conclusion of this year’s championships, Burke Stadium will close through the summer, fall and winter of the 2024-25 school year for significant renovations and upgrades. Areas of focus include the competition track surface, concourse, restrooms and press box.

The investment from alumni, philanthropic partners, the Omaha Public Schools Foundation and Omaha Public Schools will total nearly $8 million.

“We are excited to see partnerships make a difference for students, families and our community,” said Omaha Public Schools Chief Operations Officer Charles Wakefield. “This is another step forward, ensuring that Burke High remains the long-term home of Nebraska’s State Track & Field Championships.”

Omaha Public Schools Foundation Executive Director Toba Cohen-Dunning added, “The Omaha Public Schools Foundation has been a proud partner of Omaha Public Schools and the Burke Alumni Association since the beginning stages of the renovation project. We are thrilled to see the upcoming improvements made for future generations of student athletes.”

To accommodate construction work, events like the Omaha Marching Invitational, and Westview and Burke High football home games will be moved to nearby stadiums in Omaha Public Schools during fall 2024.

 

 

McMillan Academic Pentathlon

McMillan AcaPenta 2024

The McMillan Academic Pentathlon teams have worked extremely hard all year to prepare for a chance to qualify for the national competition. After rigorous rounds of testing, BOTH teams qualified to represent the entire state of Nebraska at the National Competition in Phoenix, Arizona! GO MONARCHS! #opsproud

Donate to help fund the trip and send the teams to Nationals!

 

World Refugee Day Scholarship

Omaha World Refugee DayThe Omaha Refugee Task Force (ORTF) is a collaborative effort of refugee community leaders, resettlement agencies, city officials, and other service providers whose purpose is to advocate for and address refugee issues in Omaha.

We meet the first Wednesday of every even-numbered month (six times per year) from 9:00am-10:30am (currently via Zoom).

We have working subcommittees focused on Health, Mental Health, Housing, Education, and Employment that meet at various times.

View the requirements and download the application form here:
Applications are open to refugee and immigrants students from Omaha Public Schools who have or will graduate in the 2022-2023 school year.
We look forward to reading your application!

OPSF Is Hiring

OPSF Kids Club

Omaha Public Schools Foundation is hiring applicants for full and part-time positions for their Kids Club Program. We offer competitive wages, pleasant surroundings, and an opportunity to work with enthusiastic children. Visit the link below to learn more and apply.

Jackson Theater

Disney Musicals in Schools

Jackson Elementary started a theater program in 2022 in cooperation with Omaha Performing Arts and Disney Musicals in Schools! The mission of Disney Musicals in schools is to develop a sustainable theater program in Elementary Schools. We began last year by selling tickets to our show, doing a bake sale in December and selling concessions at our show in March. This year we plan to do the same fundraisers, add a costume sale in September and sell concessions at some other school events. We also want to raise funding to take our student participants to see the Broadway version of The Lion King at the Orpheum theater in March!

If you would like to help us get started with our current production Aladdin, or donate for student tickets to see the Lion King- please consider making a donation below! We’d also love to see you at our show on March 1st or 2nd at Jackson Elementary! Links to tickets will be available in January.

Based on the iconic animated film, with an Academy Award-winning score by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Disney’s Aladdin KIDS is sure to send audiences soaring on a flying carpet ride filled with romance and adventure. When the street urchin, Aladdin, vies for the attention of the beautiful princess, Jasmine, he uses a genie’s magic power to become a prince in order to marry her. Iago, Jafar, the Genie, and more are here in Disney’s Aladdin KIDS, a musical adventure filled with magic, mayhem and the power of love. Specific to Disney’s Aladdin KIDS are the Djinn, a group of unique stage magicians who execute the magical moments of the show.

The shows are March 1 and 2 at 6:30pm at Jackson Elementary in the Gym. The door to the gym (back side of the school) will be the entry door and the door will “open” at 6:00pm. Tickets will go on sale in January and ALL tickets will be held at will call.

 

Omaha Public Schools Winter Guard

WinterGuard Logo

The Omaha Public Schools Winter Arts program looks to engage color guard students in all high schools through full year instead of just the summer and fall. By combining schools and resources, we are able to bring an activity to parts of the OPS community that historically have had little to no participation as well as creating a collaborative space for students to develop connections and relationships with their peers throughout the district.

We anticipate the cost of the season will range from $150 to $200 per student, which we do not ask them to pay out of pocket. Any little bit can help ensure that this activity can flourish within our community.

Show your support. Purchase merchandise. 15% of all proceeds benefit the Winter Arts.