This morning, all Gretna Public Schools librarians came together to collaborate, share ideas, and prepare for the start of the school year. It was great to see them working, chatting, and catching up. This dedicated group is passionate about connecting students with books, resources, and opportunities to learn. We are so fortunate to have such talented individuals who are excited to welcome students back and inspire a love of reading. #BeGretnaGreat

10 days ago, Gretna Public School District
Middle School and High School librarians gathered in Gretna High School library posing for a picture
Elementary librarians sitting at a table in the library collaborating and smiling at the camera

This morning, Gretna Public Schools staff gathered at Gretna East High School to enjoy breakfast, great company, and the chance to reconnect before the new school year begins.

In the auditorium, Superintendent Travis Lightle reminded us of our WHY, the reason we show up, connect, and make a difference every single day. Every interaction is an opportunity to create a lasting memory for a child and to give them the most powerful gift we can: unconditional acceptance.

He reminded us that the students who challenge us the most are often the ones who need us the most. Our mission this year is clear: ensure EVERY child feels seen, valued, and accepted.

We also celebrated staff for their years of service and recognized those who received letters for outstanding work. What a wonderful way to begin the year together.

Thank you to Ranae Duncan for capturing these moments.

#RememberYourWhy #BeGretnaGreat #EveryChildEveryDay

11 days ago, Gretna Public School District
Gretna East auditorium filled with all staff gathering for speech for new year
a group of staff members sitting in auditorium seating at GEHS smiling for camera
Gretna East cafeteria tables filled with staff members gathering for breakfast
circle of 4 staff members laughing and talking with each other
Superintendent Travis Lightle shaking hands with a staff member earning 20 years of service award
GPS board members in cafeteria talking to staff members
two staff members sitting in auditorium seating smiling at the camera
staff members seated in the auditorium waiting for speech to start
a long table in cafeteria filled with staff members laughing together and talking
board member with staff members talking in groups in cafeteria

This morning, our incredible District Office staff gathered in the parking lot before heading to the all staff workshop at Gretna East High School. These behind-the-scenes leaders work tirelessly to keep the district running smoothly and when things don’t go as planned, they’re often the first to take the brunt of it. Still, they show up with smiles, solutions, and a strong spirit of collaboration. Their work is often underappreciated, but their impact is immeasurable. We’re grateful for every one of them. #BeGretnaGreat

11 days ago, Gretna Public School District
a group of nine district office staff members who are all smiles standing in the parking lot of the district office headed out to the all staff meeting
Gretna Public Schools Parents/Guardians,

We are currently experiencing high traffic on NebSIS Family as many parents/guardians are logging in to view schedules and letters. As a result, some users may notice that their documents are loading slowly. They should appear once system traffic decreases.

If you have already completed Student Verification, please do not submit it again. We kindly ask for your patience and recommend trying again later. If schedules or letters are still not loading after a few hours, please feel free to contact us for assistance.

Thank you so much for your understanding, and we apologize for the inconvenience this may cause.

Gretna Public Schools Administration
12 days ago, Gretna Public School District
Gretna Public Schools logo with a "G" and text reading NebSis delays high traffic alert

New staff continued their training this week with a focus on foundational reading skills. Led by our incredible district reading specialists, teachers explored practical strategies to help students become confident, capable readers. #BeGretnaGreat

19 days ago, Gretna Public School District
Large group of new teachers gathered for training on new reading techniques all smiles and collaborating between desks.
classroom of new teachers sitting at desks all eyes on presenter at the whiteboard showing reading techniques
group of seven teachers sitting in classroom at desks collaborating and smiling with each other
Presenter speaking to new teachers in front of classroom while staff is sitting at the student's desks
Large classroom of teachers laughing and sharing ideas with each other

District Leaders Gather at DLR to Prepare for the New School Year
This week, all building administrators came together at DLR for a district-wide leadership meeting. The day focused on collaboration, strategic planning, and student-centered goals. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity for our leaders to align efforts, share insights, and prepare for a successful year ahead.

We are grateful for their continued leadership and dedication to building strong school communities.

#BeGretnaGreat

24 days ago, Gretna Public School District
photo of GPS administration sitting at tables with laptops at DLR for back to school planning
photo of GPS administration at DLR for back to school planning
Calling all new 9th Graders to GHS! The 2025-2026 Freshmen Orientation is just around the corner. Please plan on attending this fun and informative event to meet your teachers, follow your 1st day schedule, get your laptop, take your school photo, and spend time with Dragons!
2 months ago, GHS
A poster to explain 9th grade orientation containing a goofy water water dragon face named Dennis, script discussing 9th grade orientation in circles forming a venn diagram on a backdrop of black.
This week, we’ve been welcoming new team members to Gretna Public Schools as they begin their onboarding and orientation process. Whether in the classroom, administration, support roles, or operations, these dedicated professionals are learning about our district’s mission, values, and commitment to student success. We’re proud to grow our team with passionate individuals who play a vital role in building a strong foundation for a lifetime of success for every student. #BeGretnaGreat #NewStaff #GretnaPublicSchools #BuildingOurFuture #TeamGretna
2 months ago, Gretna Public School District
New Staff Members learning about technology at Gretna Public Schools
New Staff at Gretna Public Schools in a large conference room learning about technology provided to students and staff
New GPS staff at tables with their laptops learning about technology during onboarding
Bright new staff faces at the onboarding at the administration building
New GPS Staff getting one on one help as needed during onboarding
20D18713-5FBC-4B7E-B932-9F010AE56F78
Televisions on wall in conference room with several new staff members learning about GPS technology during onboarding
New Staff at Gretna Public Schools getting hands on with their technology equipment
Attention All Gretna Residents! Thank you to everyone who has already completed the annual Census. If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to complete it by June 18th. Your participation is vital—it helps shape the future of Gretna and supports the growth of our school district. There are four easy ways to complete the Census: • Fill out the form directly. • Scan the QR code. • Use the postcard you received in the mail. • Visit www.gpsne.org and click on “GPS Census.” We appreciate your time and help with this important community effort! Census Form: https://tinyurl.com/n4hrvuj6
2 months ago, Gretna Public School District
GPS logo with a "G" and text reading 2025 Census Please Respond ASAP
For a list of Honor Roll recipients, go to this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E3CtPbV-AS3EVvfSBqo6BdhHYSNCuap7/view?usp=sharing For a list of Merit Roll recipients, go to this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YxKbxLtQG8Wsz-IcrKPqHxXGfYAS2Qq2/view?usp=sharing
2 months ago, Gretna High School
Spring 2025 Honors Announcement for Honor (3.5-4.0) and Merit Roll (3.0-3.49).
Congratulations Class of 2025! Gretna YouTube will broadcast the ceremony live on Sunday https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwcgEuPa8mySV2XM0Oodayg
3 months ago, Gretna High School
Announcement for GHS graduation ceremony Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 2:00pm at Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ralston
Summer update from the GHS nurse.
3 months ago, Gretna High School
GHS Nurse News May 25-July 25 - includes options for students and families to stay connected during summer
Attention all residents of Gretna! You will soon receive mail from the Gretna Public School District regarding the census, which must be completed as soon as possible. The great news is that you don’t have to wait for the mail! You can complete the census using one of the following three methods: • Go directly to the form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScS7yXo4YjhWgSZw-9dII8BaAAcqckBlQE0o6RQfyztsi-z8w/viewform • Scan the QR code. • Visit www.gpsne.org and select “GPS Census”.
3 months ago, Gretna Public School District
Gretna Public Schools logo with QR code to Census link and text reading Please Respond ASAP
Gretna Educator Helps Guide CS Instruction at NETA Kim Ingraham-Beck, technology teacher at both Gretna High School and Gretna East High School, recently presented a breakout session at the Nebraska Educational Technology Association (NETA) Conference titled “I'm Teaching CS, Now What?” With Nebraska’s new computer science standards now required at every grade level, Kim’s session focused on helping educators—whether new or experienced—develop a clearer understanding of how to implement effective CS instruction. She provided practical strategies, classroom-tested resources, and ideas for boosting student engagement. Her work supports fellow educators while continuing to position Gretna Public Schools as a leader in technology integration and computer science education. #BeGretnaGreat #NETA2025 #ComputerScienceEducation #InstructionalLeadership #GretnaPublicSchools #EdTech
4 months ago, Gretna Public School District
GHS and GEHS teacher in front of an audience with screen presenting teaching material
high school teacher in front of a large screen presenting teachable machine to audience
Gretna Staff Member Presents at NETA Conference At this year’s Nebraska Educational Technology Association (NETA) Conference, Gretna East and Gretna High School Instructional Technology Coach Trina Popple led a session titled “The Great Escape: Designing Digital Escape Rooms to Boost Engagement.” Her presentation demonstrated how educators can use Genially to build digital escape rooms that serve as review games, encouraging students to collaborate, problem-solve, and stay engaged. The session was well attended and offered practical strategies for integrating technology into instruction. This presentation reflects the ongoing efforts of Gretna Public Schools staff to bring forward-thinking, student-centered approaches to the classroom. #BeGretnaGreat #NETA2025 #DigitalLearning #EdTech #InstructionalTechnology #GretnaPublicSchools
4 months ago, Gretna Public School District
large crowd gathered in a conference room while GHS teacher presents her designs
teacher speaking to a crowd in front of a large audience with The Great Escape on screen
large group gathered in conference room to learn from GHS teacher about creating engaging games for students
teacher presenting to a packed house on "The Great Escape" shown on the screen about creating games for students to boost engagment
GHS Junior Selected for Prestigious Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program We are proud to share that Benjamin Wilderdyke, a junior at Gretna High School, has been selected to participate in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for the 2025–2026 academic year. CBYX is a highly competitive program that fosters cultural exchange between Germany and the United States. Each year, only 65 students nationwide are chosen to participate. As a recipient, Ben will receive a full scholarship for a yearlong stay in Germany, including opportunities to engage in events connected to the German Bundestag (Parliament). Ben is the third GHS student to be selected for this prestigious program. To qualify, he completed a rigorous application process, secured recommendations, and traveled for an in-person interview, which included navigating his first flight independently. Ben will depart in August 2025, and we look forward to hearing about the experiences and perspectives he brings back. #BeGretnaGreat #CBYX #GlobalLearning
4 months ago, Gretna Public School District
student posing for a photo in front of the Germany classroom
GHS Students Excel on National German Exam; Arya Thompson Wins Prestigious Travel Award We are incredibly proud of GHS Sophomores Arya Thompson and Collette Brown, who both placed in the 90th percentile on this year’s National German Exam—a major academic achievement! Their high scores qualified them to apply for the GAPP/PAD Travel Award, a prestigious study abroad opportunity. Through a competitive selection process with German teachers from across Nebraska, Arya Thompson was chosen to represent our state. She then passed additional testing and a national review to earn a spot on the three-week immersion trip to Germany this June. Arya becomes the third GHS student to win this award through academic testing, and we are incredibly proud of both Arya and Collette for their outstanding performance and dedication to language learning. Pictured: Collette Brown (left) and Arya Thompson (right) #BeGretnaGreat #GAPPTravel #AcademicExcellence
4 months ago, Gretna Public School District
Two students posing for the camera in the hallway in front of German class door
Filling out the FAFSA is a state graduation requirement. Please click here for more information including the "opt out" form: https://tinyurl.com/ykadtba3. Please contact your school with any questions.
4 months ago, Gretna Public School District
FAFSA Night - April 22nd - GHS
GHS Nurse News - April 2025 Read the following for information regarding student visits to the nurse's office.
5 months ago, Gretna High School
This is a pamphlet titled GHS Nurse News for April 2025. It contains information about why students come to the office. The top reason is "personal need": bandaid, being hungry/thirsty, bathroom. Parents can help by making sure kids eat a healthy breakfast, bringing water to school and getting enough sleep.
On March 26th, Rochelle Brown-Rainey, daughter of Holocaust survivor Magda Brown, spoke to Gretna High American History students. For years, Magda traveled the country, sharing her powerful story of surviving Auschwitz and Buchenwald, and later building a new life in the U.S. Magda spoke to over 100,000 people in person, touching many more lives online. After her passing in 2020, Rochelle continues her mother’s mission, sharing Magda’s harrowing story and keeping her memory and message alive. 275 students were in attendance, honoring this incredible legacy.
5 months ago, Gretna High School
Over 250 students in Gretna High School auditorium listening to speaker on the stage.
Gretna High School students with speaker Rochelle Brown on stage
Rochelle Brown speaking to over 250 students on stage in the Gretna High School auditorium