Gretna, we hope you'll join us next Thursday!

Stephen Mackey is coming back to Gretna on November 12, and you won't want to miss this conversation!

His presentation, “Five Things Students Wish Adults Knew…But Are Too Afraid to Tell Them,” is a great opportunity for parents, grandparents, educators, coaches, and anyone who cares about kids to better understand what young people are facing today.

There's more happening that evening, too! Community resource partners will be on hand to share information and connect families with local resources and support. Topics include mental health and wellness, child and family behavioral health, suicide prevention, mentoring, substance misuse prevention, food assistance, and much more.

You can attend the presentation at whichever location works best for you:

*. Gretna East High School – Presentation at 6 p.m. (Community exhibits open at 5:30 p.m.)

*. Gretna High School – Presentation at 7 p.m. (Community exhibits open at 6 p.m.)

The event is open to the entire community! Bring a friend and join us for an evening of listening, learning, and connecting.

We hope to see you there!
about 18 hours ago, Gretna Public School District
Text reading "All Are Welcome! November 12 Community Forum"
Nothing better to do on a rainy day than to spend some time with Henry visiting Mr. Vos's classroom! Thanks, Henry and Chaplain Jeff Kaiser, for lifting our spirits on a cool, dreary day!
3 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Group of students gathered around a dog on a classroom floor smiling
Mrs. Ricci’s Kindergarten class went on a leaf and scavenger hunt this week!
6 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Group of young elementary students cheering with raised arms outside against a brick school building as fallen autumn leaves rain down over them.
Young boy crouching near the base of a tree, filling out a fall scavenger hunt checklist clipped to a blue clipboard.
Two young boys standing on a school lawn, proudly displaying their completed fall scavenger hunt clipboards to the camera.
Elementary students walking through a grassy school yard holding clipboards and pencils during an outdoor fall scavenger hunt activity.
A smiling young girl in a pink shirt standing in a field covered with fallen autumn leaves while holding a clipboard.
Class of young children scattered across a leaf-covered lawn outside a school building, comparing their scavenger hunt clipboards.
Elementary students sitting in a circle on the grass outside, reviewing their fall scavenger hunt worksheets on clipboards together.
Group of young students posing under a tree with hands full of fallen autumn leaves, preparing to throw them into the air.
Elementary school class cheering and tossing armfuls of yellow autumn leaves into the air on a sunny day outdoors.
Students sitting spaced out in a decorative stone patio courtyard outside a brick school building, working on clipboards.
Mrs. Gunn’s 3rd grade class had fun being paleontologists for the afternoon as they dug for fossils!
8 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Two elementary school girls laughing while kneeling on a concrete patio to dissect a small fossil excavation block on a paper plate.
Young girl sitting cross-legged on a sidewalk smiling next to a paper plate with an excavation block during an outdoor science activity.
Two boys sitting cross-legged on a concrete ground, using blue plastic tools to chip away at a sand block on a paper plate.
Two young boys sitting against the side of a building, using plastic knives to carefully scrape away at a small fossil block on a paper plate.
Two boys sitting outdoors on the sidewalk in front of a metal railing, holding plastic tools around a paper plate containing a dig block.
Two young girls sitting cross-legged on a sidewalk, smiling at the camera while excavating a small block on a paper plate.
Two elementary school girls sitting opposite each other on a concrete patio, using small plastic tools to work on a dig block together.

Gretna, You're Invited! Stephen Mackey Returns November 12

Gretna Public Schools, hosted by the Citizens' Committee, invites families and community members to an evening with nationally recognized speaker Stephen Mackey on Thursday, November 12, 2026.

Mackey will present "Five Things Students Wish Adults Knew...But Are Too Afraid to Tell Them," sharing insight into the challenges young people face and practical ways adults can build stronger connections and provide support.

Choose the location that works best for you:

Gretna East High School
Community exhibits open at 5:30 p.m.
Presentation begins at 6:00 p.m.

Gretna High School
Community exhibits open at 6:00 p.m.
Presentation begins at 7:00 p.m.

Both locations will also offer eighth-grade registration and community exhibits featuring resources for children and families.

Parents, grandparents, educators, coaches, and all who care about young people are encouraged to attend. Let's make time to listen, learn, and strengthen our community.

Mark your calendar for November 12!

Visit the News section of any Gretna Public Schools website for complete event details, addresses, and additional information.

Learn more about Stephen Mackey at https://mackeyspeaks.com/

9 days ago, Gretna Public School District
image of a man speaking with open hands and text reading Gretna, You're Invited! Be here: November 12
Mrs. Johnson’s 3rd graders have been learning about fossils and did a fossil dig yesterday!
9 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Young boy wearing a Nebraska t-shirt smiling outdoors while showing dusty hands from a fossil digging activity.
Young girl in a plush hooded onesie standing on a sidewalk, displaying a small fossil specimen in her open palm.
Young boy crouching on a sidewalk outdoors, holding small crushed sedimentary rock fragments in his palm during a science activity.
Girl in pink striped pajamas sitting cross-legged on a sidewalk while using a small tool to excavate a yellow fossil block.
Detailed close-up of a student's dust-covered hands holding a small fossil uncovered during a classroom outdoor activity.
Three young boys sitting on a sidewalk using wooden sticks to excavate fossils from sand blocks during an outdoor lesson.
Young boy wearing glasses and a yellow shirt leaning over a sidewalk to carefully chip away at a fossil excavation kit.
Two elementary students sitting on a concrete walkway, using wooden tools to dig into small clay blocks during a hands-on activity.
Two girls sitting cross-legged on a sidewalk, collaborating to dig out a fossil block using small wooden sticks.
Student sitting on the ground in halloween pajamas using a wooden craft stick to carefully scrape away at a yellow fossil block.

Congratulations to our Trunk or Treat Winners! Many thanks to everyone who assisted with making our 2nd Annual GES Trunk or Treat a success.  Special thanks to everyone who signed up to create a trunk, to the PTO for donating candy, to D&K Heating and Air for their $50 donation to Gambinos for the winning trunk, to the families and friends of GES who donated candy, to the Gretna Middle School Student Council for their help, and finally to all of the families who showed up to participate.  Please see the attachment of this year's winning trunks.  See you all next year.  Mrs. Sharon Kudlacek and Mr. Chris Vos

9 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Trunk or Treat Winners 2026!
The students in Mrs. Kudlacek’s 5th grade class had a wonderful time at their field trip to Hot Shops Art Studios! It was a fun time filled with learning, discovering, and experiencing the amazing world of art. What a great opportunity to see creativity come to life!
11 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Students seated in rows watch a glassblowing demonstration inside an industrial workshop with active kilns in the background.
A glassblower demonstrates working with molten glass on a blowpipe for a audience of seated students inside a workshop.
Group of elementary students gather inside an art gallery with brick walls to view framed black and white photographs.
An instructor gestures and speaks to a group of attentive students touring an artist workshop and sculpture studio.
Students stand on a city sidewalk looking up at a tall brick building adorned with a large mural.
A group of young students gather indoors to view colorful blown glass ornaments and artwork on display shelves.
Students gather in a sculpture studio as an instructor speaks near shelves of tools and art equipment.
Group of elementary school students surrounding an instructor inside a music room filled with instruments and art decor.
Students sit on stools watching a potter shape clay on a spinning pottery wheel in a ceramics studio.
Seated students observe a glassblower working near a glowing hot furnace during a glass studio demonstration.
Mrs. Schreiner’s 5th grade class showed strong leadership skills and positivity while they played Bingo with Apace members as a community project!
16 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Two elementary school girls standing behind a prize table filled with toys and candy, holding a microphone and small prize while calling out numbers for a game.
Four participants sitting at a white table in a cafeteria, smiling as they play a game of bingo with cards and red and blue markers.
Group of five adults and children sitting around a long folding table in a school cafeteria, smiling while playing bingo together.
Participants gathered at a white table in a school cafeteria, smiling together during a bingo game activity.
Four participants sitting around a table in a school cafeteria, smiling and holding up a peace sign while playing bingo.
Family group sitting at a white cafeteria table, smiling together as they play a game of bingo with colored markers.
A boy and a man sitting together at a white table in a cafeteria, smiling at the camera with bingo cards set out before them.
An adult man in a blue shirt and a young boy in a red Puma hoodie sitting together at a table with bingo cards spread out in front of them.
Group of participants gathered around a table playing bingo in a school hallway, with two young boys smiling for the photo.
Wide view of a school cafeteria filled with participants sitting at tables playing bingo, with students leading the activity from a table with prizes.
We look forward to seeing everyone at our Trunk or Treat this Thursday from 5:30-7:00!
17 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Gretna Elementary Trunk or Treat
We celebrated White Cane Awareness Day at GES today by recognizing one of our awesome students, Mitchell, who uses a White Cane! Mitchell got to show us on announcements how he uses his White Cane and lots of students and teachers wore white today for him!
22 days ago, Gretna Elementary
A young boy holding a white cane poses indoors next to a smiling female teacher who holds a beaded keychain.
Elementary students sit cross-legged on a colorful alphabet rug in a classroom, posing together for a group photo with two teachers behind them.
A group of elementary school students and a teacher gather in a carpeted school hallway for a group photo, with one boy holding a white cane.
Five female school staff members smiling together for a group portrait in an office in front of a wooden owl mascot sign.
A young boy holding a white cane stands between two smiling women in front of a beach-themed photo backdrop.
A young boy holding a white cane poses with three smiling women standing behind him against a beach curtain backdrop.
3rd grade celebrated their first quarter reading party today with students who read 400 minutes. Way to go, 3rd graders!
22 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Three young boys sitting at a school cafeteria table, smiling and clinking their juice boxes together in a toast over paper lunch bags.
Group of six young girls sitting around a lunch table in a school cafeteria, smiling together with paper lunch sacks and juice boxes.
Group of elementary students sitting along a cafeteria table during snack time, making peace signs and smiling for the camera.
Large group of young students sitting along cafeteria tables with brown paper sacks and juice boxes, smiling together in a brightly lit hallway area.
Group of elementary school girls sitting around a cafeteria table during lunch, smiling together next to brown paper bags and juice boxes.
Group of elementary school boys leaning together around a cafeteria table, making playful faces and smiling for a group picture.
Mrs. Gunn's 3rd grade class had a beautiful day for a field trip to Arbor Day Farm on Monday!
23 days ago, Gretna Elementary
A large class of elementary school students and their teacher sitting and standing together on giant wooden chairs in a wooded park area.
An adult chaperone and a group of young students posing along a concrete ledge beneath a wooden bridge next to a calm stream.
Group of children playing and climbing on a large suspended outdoor cargo net mesh play area surrounded by trees.
Six young boys posing for a photo inside and around a giant purple and green decorative cauldron prop outside near a small wooden hut.
Mrs. Gunn’s 3rd graders celebrated finishing their Personal Narrative writing unit with a publishing party and popsicles!
23 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Two elementary school girls smiling while sitting cross-legged on a concrete walkway outdoors, holding test tubes and reviewing papers next to chalk drawings.
Two young girls sitting on a sidewalk outdoors, holding markers and colored sheets while smiling and completing an activity together.
Two elementary school girls kneeling on a concrete path outside near a brick school building, holding papers and science supplies while working together.
A group of young boys sitting in a circle on a sidewalk near a lawn, working together with worksheets and holding small items during an outdoor activity.
Three girls sitting cross-legged on a concrete walkway in front of a brick building, smiling while holding papers and science materials.
Mrs. Johnson’s 3rd grade class had a great time at Arbor Day Farms today!
25 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Three boys playing with large wooden building blocks and wooden beams on a red wooden platform outdoors.
Group of children standing on an elevated wooden canopy walkway holding activity papers, smiling down through the surrounding tree foliage.
An adult guide wearing a cap and cargo shorts addressing a group of young students gathered along a paved outdoor path decorated with pumpkin figures.
Four young girls sitting together in a large carved wooden chair on a porch, holding water bottles and smiling for a close-up photo.
Young children walking through an outdoor entryway structure decorated with large decorative spiders, candy corn props, and faux cobwebs.
Group of students gathered inside a building, looking through glass windows into a room labeled "CIDER ROOM" while an instructor holds up an educational poster.
A young boy crouching down and looking through the hollow center of a large fallen tree log outdoors.
Group of young elementary students holding activity sheets while posing together on three oversized wooden chairs outdoors surrounded by trees.
A young girl in a yellow shirt and pink jacket riding a zipline seat through a wooded playground area.
Kindergarten had a wonderful time at Nelson's Produce Farm for their field trip!
27 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Group of young students sitting around a long outdoor picnic table under a tent canopy, smiling and raising their hands for the camera.
Line of barrel train cars styled like farm animals carrying children down a gravel path, pulled by a tractor in the distance.
Children leaning over a wooden fence next to a metal grain silo, looking down at large orange pumpkins growing in a field patch.
Five young boys standing side-by-side with their arms around each other on a dirt path outdoors, smiling for a group photo.
Young girl in a striped shirt extending her hand to feed a sheep inside a barn pen, while another student looks on.
Two young girls standing together at a farm enclosure fence, reaching in to feed and pet a black sheep named Dolly.
Large group of young students smiling together inside a giant decorative woven basket adorned with sunflowers and a burlap bow.
Group of young children playing and crawling inside a large black plastic drainage pipe on a sandy play area outdoors.
Children playing inside a large indoor corn pit, using toy dump trucks, diggers, and buckets to scoop corn kernels.
Teacher waving while standing atop a large mound of stacked hay bales next to students and an American flag under a clear blue sky.
Nothing better on a sunny Friday than to go to Nelson’s Produce Farm! The kindergartners had a great time exploring the farm!
27 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Group of school children standing atop a large mound of stacked hay bales with an American flag flying behind them on a clear blue day.
Group of adults and children sitting together on wooden benches aboard a covered wagon ride, looking out over a open field on a clear, sunny day.
Large group of children posing together inside a giant decorative basket woven with a burlap bow and yellow sunflowers at Nelson Produce Farm.
Young girl in a white floral shirt holding a small cup of grain and hand-feeding a black-faced sheep through a red metal livestock gate in a barn.
Children playing inside a large indoor corn pit filled with dried corn kernels, using buckets, shovels, and toy trucks near a wooden slide and staircase.
Two young children wearing red and green shirts leaning forward inside a barn enclosure to feed and pet small goats reaching through the wooden fence.
A young boy in an olive green jacket feeding feed from a small cup to a brown and white goat reaching its head through a wooden pen fence.
Young boy holding out a handful of grain to feed a sheep reaching its head through a red metal pen inside a barn.
Three children riding oversized pedal tricycles along a dirt track outdoors with farm machinery and fields in the background.
A young boy in a grey shirt and blue shorts reaching up to pet the nose of a brown horse standing in a wooden stall inside a barn.
GES Families - we are in the final push for getting trunks and candy donations for our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat at GES!

We currently have 7 more openings for trunks to be decorated. It would be great to reach our goal of 31 trunks like last year - so please consider helping out!

We also have openings for 31 bags of candy donations yet as well. We anticipate as many ghost and goblins as last year, so we'd like to be sure to have enough candy on hand for the evening's fun.

To volunteer a trunk or to donate some candy, please use this link to sign up. We'd like all sign ups to be completed no later than Wednesday, Oct. 14. Thanks in advance for everyone who is helping to support this GES Community event!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4EAEAE23A1FC1-65093107-copy#/
28 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Bus loop aerial view showing students trick or treating.
Mrs. Johnson’s 3rd grade class enjoyed a publishing party with popsicles today!
28 days ago, Gretna Elementary
Five children gather outside on the grass near a brick school building, holding papers and eating popsicles while engaging in an activity together.
Five elementary students sit in a circle on a concrete outdoor patio while eating colorful popsicles and reviewing handwritten papers spread around them.
Four elementary students sit cross-legged on a concrete sidewalk under the shade of a tree, eating popsicles while reading and writing on papers and notebooks.
🧦 Our annual GES Sock Drive starts next week! Help families in need at Heartland Hope by donating new socks! 🧦

Donations will be accepted October 12th - October 23rd.

The PK-2 class and the 3-5 class with the most socks donated will earn a popsicle party!
28 days ago, Gretna Elementary
GES Sock Drive from October 12th-23rd