In a heartwarming display of community support, Papillion La Vista Community Schools staff members are staying cozy this winter thanks to a district-wide "Pick Me Up" initiative. Throughout February, Superintendent Dr. Andy Rikli and district leadership have been distributing custom-designed sweatshirts to employees across all PLCS buildings.

Each sweatshirt features unique artwork representing individual school buildings, forming part of a comprehensive district map created by local artist Graham Burkum. The design aligns with this year's district theme: "We Are PLCS."

"This initiative exemplifies the strong bonds within our PLCS community," said Dr. Christopher Villarreal, Director of Communications. "Seeing the excitement on our staff members' faces as they receive these personalized sweatshirts, especially during these cold February days, reinforces the sense of unity and pride we share as a district."

The project was made possible through generous sponsorships from numerous community partners, including premier sponsors Acapriccio Dance Company, BCDM Architects, Beardmore Subaru, and Tshirts.com. Additional support came from local businesses and organizations such as the Association of American Educators - Nebraska, Athletico Physical Therapy, BounceU, Boyd Jones, First Nebraska Credit Union, Harris and Davis, Horace Mann - Kevin Scheiding Agency, Mama's Pizza, Mathnasium, Monarch Siding & Windows, Papillion La Vista Community Schools Foundation, and Papillion Orthodontics.

This collaborative effort between the school district and local businesses demonstrates the strong community support that makes PLCS a special place to learn and work.