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

9 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

10 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

10 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
11 days ago, Gretna Public School District
Gretna Public Schools logo with a "G" and text reading NebSis delays high traffic alert
My name is Delanie Ferzely and I am so very excited to be teaching 5th grade at Aspen Creek this upcoming school year! I recently graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I majored in both elementary and special education. I was the little girl playing school all of her childhood, so my dreams are really coming true. This will be my first year teaching, and I am so excited and gracious for the opportunity to start at ACE!
15 days ago, WENDI KISTLER
Photo of Delanie Ferzely, new 5th grade teacher.
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!
15 days ago, WENDI KISTLER
Picture of Julie Kuzel, new 4th grade teacher.
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.
15 days ago, WENDI KISTLER
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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

18 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

23 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
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
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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
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!
3 months ago, WENDI KISTLER
Photo showing Aspen Creek's students of the month of May.
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
3 months ago, WENDI KISTLER
Image showing a Read-At-Home Plan for Student Success in reading.
Check out fifth grade's annual egg drop challenge!!!
3 months ago, LAURA HEINKE
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egg drop
egg drop
egg drop
egg drop
egg drop
Let the countdown begin!
3 months ago, WENDI KISTLER
A list of theme days for the last 10 days of school.
We're Hiring for the 2025-2026 School Year!
3 months ago, WENDI KISTLER
Add that shows Aspen Creek Elementary School is hiring paras 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”.
3 months ago, Gretna Public School District
Gretna Public Schools logo with QR code to Census link and text reading Please Respond ASAP
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!
4 months ago, WENDI KISTLER
Picture of the girls in our running club preparing for the Guardian Run.
Picture of some of the boys in the running club preparing to start the race.
Picture of our running club coaches with principal, Mrs. Kistler.
👏 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! 🙌
4 months ago, WENDI KISTLER
Photo of ACE's students of the month of April. Recognized for the pillar of courage.

🎉 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! 🎨👏

4 months ago, WENDI KISTLER
Arbor Day drawing of trees, green grass, deer, and "Give new life to your yard." written on it.
Arbor Day drawing of trees, clouds, and "Give new life to your yard." written on it.
Arbor Day drawing of trees, clouds, a backyard and "Give new life to your yard." written on it.
A photo of ACE's three Arbor Day poster contest winners.
A photo of ACE's three Arbor Day Poster Contest winners with Mrs. Kelly, art teacher.