Gretna High School

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!

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

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

Congratulations Class of 2025! Gretna YouTube will broadcast the ceremony live on Sunday https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwcgEuPa8mySV2XM0Oodayg

Summer update from the GHS nurse.

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”.

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

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

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

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

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.

GHS Nurse News - April 2025 Read the following for information regarding student visits to the nurse's office.

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.

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

Important Update for Gretna Families Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, Gretna Public Schools will implement a new 10-point grading scale and transition to an A-F reporting system. This change is part of our District Strategic Plan and is backed by research from our K-12 District Grading Committee. Read the full news article on the district and any school website. New Grading Scale (2025-2026): A: 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 D: 60-69 F: Below 60 Why the Change? • Better alignment with colleges and other schools • Clearer representation of student achievement Timeline: • Fall 2025: New grading scale begins • 2025-2026: Ongoing updates to grading practices What about past grades? Grades earned before 2025-2026 will remain the same and not be adjusted. We’re committed to ensuring a smooth transition for all! For more details, read the full news article on any district and school website or reach out to your school administrator. #BeGretnaGreat #BuildingAFutureTogether #GradingUpdate

Celebrating Our Oratorical Contest Winners The Gretna Optimist Club sponsors the annual Oratorical Contest, providing young people with a platform to express their perspectives on the world. This year’s topic, “How Optimism Has Guided Me Through Trying Times,” encouraged students to reflect on personal, national, or historical experiences—helping them develop both written and spoken expression skills while competing for college scholarships. One of the judges, Kathy Johnson, shared, “I was moved in all sorts of emotional directions by these students’ stories. People just really have no idea of the weight kids carry.” Theresa Huttman, Oratorical Contest Coordinator, added, “I always look forward to this particular Optimist event. I’m amazed by the bravery these students show in choosing to participate. They share their vulnerabilities in a competitive public speaking format, which most people would never choose to do. We are so very proud of each and every one of them.” Superintendent Travis Lightle says, “Public speaking is a fear for many, so it’s truly impressive to see four high school students step up and share how optimism has helped them overcome adversity. Our future is in good hands.” Congratulations to our winners: Avery Johnson (GEHS) – 1st Place Makayla Ingram (GHS) – 2nd Place Alice Drummond (GHS) – 3rd Place Gavin Luthi (GHS) – 4th Place Each district-level winner will receive a scholarship to use at a college, university, or trade school. We are incredibly proud of these students for sharing their voices and embracing the power of optimism. #BeGretnaGreat

Due to the potential for inclement weather, the District Final: Scottsbluff vs. Gretna HS Boys Basketball game has been rescheduled to 6 p.m. Mountain Time or 7 p.m. Central Standard Time. To watch the game live, click the link below: https://rb.gy/e0la7a

The school board has approved updated middle school boundaries for the 2025-2026 school year with the opening of Giles Creek Middle School. These changes help balance enrollment and maintain strong educational opportunities. You can read the full article here: https://www.gpsne.org/article/2048704. Please visit our website and click Boundary Map on the header. View the interactive map and select “Middle 25-26” to see where your student will attend next year: https://www.gpsne.org/page/boundary-map.

Updated Parent-Teacher Conference Information