Hello, my name is Julie Kuzel and for the past eight years I have worked with students in grades 3-5 as a special education para at Aspen Creek. I am thrilled to be transitioning into my new role as a 4th-grade teacher this fall. My husband, Jason, and I have lived in Gretna for the past 20 years and have three kids that attend Gretna Public Schools. Our daughter Claire, will be a junior in high school and our twin sons, Ethan and Ryan, will be 8th graders this year. I am particularly excited for this school year since I had the privilege of working with the upcoming fourth graders while they were in third grade. This year promises to be full of discovery, creativity, and learning — I can't wait to see what we accomplish together!
Hello! My name is Justin Leifeld, and I’m proud to be joining the team at Aspen Creek. I was born and raised in Humphrey, Nebraska, and recently graduated from Midland University. This will be my first year as a classroom teacher, and I couldn’t be more excited to begin this journey.
Before stepping into this role, I worked as a paraprofessional at ES2 Independent, where I developed a strong passion for supporting student growth. I’m looking forward to creating a positive, welcoming, and safe learning environment where all students feel valued and inspired to learn.
I’m thrilled to be part of the Aspen Creek community and can’t wait to meet my students and their families.
Before stepping into this role, I worked as a paraprofessional at ES2 Independent, where I developed a strong passion for supporting student growth. I’m looking forward to creating a positive, welcoming, and safe learning environment where all students feel valued and inspired to learn.
I’m thrilled to be part of the Aspen Creek community and can’t wait to meet my students and their families.
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
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
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
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
Congratulations to our Students of the Month for Creativity! 🎨💡
These amazing students have shown outstanding imagination, original thinking, and creative problem-solving in and out of the classroom. We’re so proud of how they bring new ideas to life every day!
Keep dreaming big and thinking outside the box!
Read At Home Plan for Student Success!
What a great resource to assist you in understanding how to support your child’s reading development and progress. Check it out! Feel free to email me if you have any questions! Mrs. Kistler
https://www.education.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Read-At-Home-Plan-NDE.pdf
Check out fifth grade's annual egg drop challenge!!!
Let the countdown begin!
We're Hiring for the 2025-2026 School Year!
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”.
The morning air was filled with energy, excitement, and the spirit of community at the Guardian Run! 💚✨
Students from all across Gretna came together — not just to race, but to celebrate hard work, determination, and each other.
Way to go, ACE Running Clubs! Your perseverance and heart were shining every step of the way.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible coaches for inspiring and leading the way. 🙌
Watching our runners cross the finish line, cheered on by teammates and friends from every school, was truly something special.
We are so proud of each and every one of you — you made it a morning to remember!
👏 Huge shoutout to these AMAZING students for showing incredible COURAGE and being recognized by their teachers! 💥 Your integrity, strength, and character inspire everyone around you every single day! 🌟
We are SO proud of you, Aspen Creek Elementary's April Students of the Month! Keep shining bright and keep up the awesome work! 🙌
🎉 Congratulations to these talented students for winning the Arbor Day Poster Contest! 🌳✨ They were recognized last week by the City of Gretna Arbor Society for their amazing artwork. Way to go — we are so proud of you! 🎨👏
2nd Grade had a great field trip to Morrill Hall at UNL campus!
For more than 15 years, Gretna Public Schools' third graders have participated in a one-of-a-kind tradition: a history tour of Old Gretna led by the Superintendent. From the original jail and blacksmith shop to the first schoolhouse site, students explore key pieces of the town’s past while gaining pride in their community.
#BeGretnaGreat #GretnaGuardians #GPSHistoryTour
Congratulations to these outstanding students for being recognized by their teachers for demonstrating exceptional COOPERATION! Your integrity and strong character make a difference every day. Way to go, Aspen Creek Elementary's March Students of the Month! Keep up the great work!
2nd grade students began coding with BeeBots. They worked together to create a maze and took turns coding the robot to run through the course. Students worked on problem-solving skills, practiced cooperation, and developed spatial reasoning.
Introducing the first-ever Gretna Playbook! Your one-stop guide to all summer camps at Gretna East & Gretna High Schools. Whether your child is in elementary, middle, or high school, there is a camp for them-based on the grade your child will be entering in 2025-2026. These camps are open to all students-no matter which high school they will attend. QR codes for easy registration! Start planning your summer fun today! You can also find more details on our school websites' News sections. https://tinyurl.com/4csk3k5v #BeGretnaGreat #GretnaPlaybook
