Today Superintendent Lightle stepped into a new role as school bus driver. From elementary to high school, students were surprised to see him behind the wheel. Our elementary students showed their approval with big smiles and a thumbs up. It was a wonderful reminder that leadership means being ready to help wherever needed. Thank you to Superintendent Lightle and all of our dedicated staff who make sure students arrive safely every day. #BeGretnaGreat

1 day ago, Gretna Public School District
Superintendent Lightle sitting at the driver seat on the bus all smiles waiting for the students to drive them home for the day
Superintendent Lightle and elementary student smiling on the bus as he gets ready to drive them home
Middle School student waving as he gets on the bus Superintendent Lightle is driving
Students boarding the school bus on their way home with Superintendnet Lightle driving
Bus full of elementary students giving a thumbs up as Superintendent Lightle speaks to them from the driver seat
Students boarding the school bus on their way home with Superintendnet Lightle driving
New fall math games in Mrs. Fisher's kindergarten practicing one-to-one correspondence, fine motor skills, counting, and number recognition.
4 days ago, MAGGIE MEIER
A student is using legos to show their number recognition and counting skills.
Two students are playing fall themed math games.
A student is using clothes pins to show number recognition and counting skills.
A student is using a pumpkin game to show his number recognition skills.

Reminder - TES now serves breakfast as an option for students. This is not a required program for all students, but can be a good option for some families. Due to dietary/allergy restrictions we can not provide breakfast until we have a completed form. If you would like for your child to have breakfast as an option, please complete the form below.

GPS Sack Breakfast Program Information & Form

9 days ago, THOMAS ELEMENTARY
Information regarding the breakfast program at Thomas Elementary

$2,000 GUARDIAN RUN GOAL MET!!!

Great work TES., we have met the $2,000 goal for our Guardian Run fundraiser. Students and staff can enjoy a pajama day on Monday, Sept. 22nd, 2025.

If you would like to donate, you can do so online or by sending a check made payable to Thomas Elementary PTO. The website to donate is: https://gretnaschoolsfoundation.org/how-to-help/ptos.html (then click on Donate to the Thomas Guardian Run).

Sept. 25th- Pre-K Guardian Run (Click for Information/Schedule)
Sept 26th - K-5: Guardian Run (Click for Information/Schedule)

9 days ago, THOMAS ELEMENTARY
$2,000 dollar goal met for our PTO Guardian Run!
Kindergarten - Mrs. Fisher and 3rd grade - Mrs. Hicks buddy classes reading together.
11 days ago, MAGGIE MEIER
buddy classes reading together
buddy classes reading together
buddy classes reading together
buddy classes reading together
buddy classes reading together
buddy classes reading together
Mr. Lenny visited kindergarten classrooms this week and talked to us about the power of "yet"!
23 days ago, MAGGIE MEIER
Mr. Lenny visited kindergarten classrooms this week and talked to us about the power of "yet"!
Mr. Lenny visited kindergarten classrooms this week and talked to us about the power of "yet"!
Everyday in the classroom counts! When you plan around breaks your child get the most out of their learning adventure here at Thomas!
24 days ago, ALICIA JUDERNATZ
Geometric black, yellow, and green background with text stating Plan around school breaks! Thomas Elementary recognizes the connection between time spent in the classroom and student success. We kindly encourage you to plan your trips, vacations, and students absences around our academic calendar when possible.
First grade students at TES finished up their gingerbread week with some yummy cookie treats!
26 days ago, AMANDA FORAL
First grade student at desk smiling with gingerbread cookie
First grade student at desk smiling with gingerbread cookie
First grade student at desk smiling with gingerbread cookie
The PTO has planned some great events. Please join us for the fun! Thank you for supporting our students and staff!
30 days ago, Thomas PTO
1st and 2nd Grade Night at the Thomas Elementary Playground on Monday, September 8th from 6-7pm.
Thomas Dine Out Night at Glazed N Raised on Saturday, September 13th from 6am -12pm.
PTO Meeting on September 9 at 6:30pm in the Thomas Elementary Library.
We are proud and excited to display our students' artwork in our conference room and hallways! These were prints from Artsonia, our digital portfolio that students use in art class.
30 days ago, MATTHEW NAYLOR
Student Artwork
Student Artwork
Students Artwork
The 2025-2026 school sponsored clubs at Thomas Elementary.
about 1 month ago, THOMAS ELEMENTARY
Image showing all of the sponsored clubs at Thomas Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year.
All 452 students collaborated on Mr. Naylor's 'Make Your Mark' art project. What a creative way for all students to make their mark as one school community. Great work!
about 1 month ago, THOMAS ELEMENTARY
Make Your Mark collaborative art project posted in the hallways at Thomas Elementary.

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

about 2 months 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

about 2 months 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

about 2 months 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
about 2 months 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

about 2 months 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

2 months 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
4 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
4 months ago, Gretna Public School District
GPS logo with a "G" and text reading 2025 Census Please Respond ASAP