The 2022-2023 school year concludes and now summer break commences. Students and teachers at Papillion-Lavista High School are now able to relax for the next three months.

Majority can agree that teachers envision summer break a little differently than students.

“I just hung out with my kids and we went around Omaha doing fun stuff together,” biology teacher Ms. Sydney Hiatt said.

While some were spending precious time with their families, others were busy hanging out with friends and making countless memories.

“I went to the lake with my friends and we went tubing,” sophomore Alexis Chadek said.

To kick off summer, our community prepares for one of the most popular events in Papillion during the summer time.

Papillon Days is a huge event that takes place in June. This year was the 76th year of this tradition. 

“The environment is energetic and there’s lots of activities to do,” sophomore Bella Tvrdik said.

Papillion Days is also an opportunity for vendors to sell their products. Tents are set up all along the park and they sell jewelry, bags, food and more.

“I got a henna tattoo, and I looked at the necklaces they were selling,” Chadek said.

The sponsors create an environment that gives an opportunity for all ages to attend.

“The vendors cater to both kids and adults and everyone is walking around saying hi. I think all the different aspects, the carnival, the parade just bring a lot of age groups together,”  math teacher Ms. Stephanie Kimball said.

With all of this going on in the community the school wanted to join in.

New policy changes were issued this school year and have impacted students’ learning atmosphere. The new phone rule the most of all.

“I spend more time in class doing my work, usually I would just go on my phone. I haven’t been able to listen to music in class though which sometimes helps me focus,” sophomore Lilah Newman said.

Although most kids are still adapting, the teachers are hopeful that this rule will benefit their students and boost their learning environment.

“An end goal for me would be that by the end of the school year kids kind of rely a little less on them. Usually when you’re in the middle of class or at the end of class kids don’t really want to talk to each other. I think hopefully it allows them to connect a little bit more and talk to each other and maybe talk to people they wouldn’t normally talk to,” history teacher Ms. Emily Thies said.

Summer of 2023 was an eventful one for sure, it almost went too fast, but students are finally getting back on their feet and ready for the school year.

“I am a little overwhelmed but excited to take on the new year,” Tvrdik said.