Papillion and La Vista gear up for the new school year
Papillion, Nebraska – As the beginning of the school year approaches, students of Papillion and La Vista are preparing to embark on a new chapter.
Earlier this week, the district commemorated its time-honored Teacher Appreciation Celebration at Werner Park.
Educators of Papillion La Vista Community Schools, whether novices or veterans, are gearing up to embrace their roles.
Kaley Tigani, an educator of sixth-grade students at Carriage Hill Elementary School, remarked, “I feel like, as a teacher, it takes a minute to recover from the school year and just get used to being on your own time, and then all of a sudden, it’s time to go back.” Despite the academic term not having commenced, Tigani mentioned her proactive efforts. “There is probably not a teacher that does not come up in the summer and gets their classroom ready before we have to be back. So, we’re up here on our own time making sure that our classroom is organized and that we have everything we need for students,” she explained.
The celebration in honor of the educators commenced with a breakfast, complemented by complimentary offerings from various vendors. Olivia Mathews, attending the event for the first time, shared, “There’s lots of vendors here, lots of smiles, lots of people and free coffee. It can’t really get any better than that.”
For Mathews, a special education paraprofessional, the upcoming academic year holds the promise of her inaugural complete term. Discussing the intricacies of her role, she stated, “You have to have a lot of patience when working this job. Not every day is going to go as smoothly as you want it to, and sometimes, especially in my field, when you’re working with kids who have special needs or individualized learning plans. It can be a little more difficult.”
Mathews’ association with the district isn’t just professional; it’s familial. With her father having dedicated over two decades to the district, she feels an intrinsic calling to contribute. “I feel in my heart that this is where I’m supposed to be at this moment and time,” Mathews reflected.
