Home News NCPS board discusses field turf, snow removal, budget September 15, 2022 in News If all goes according to plan, Nebraska City High School will host a special reception as part of its Homecoming activities on Friday, Oct. 7, to thank the Paul, John, Anton, and Doris Wirth Foundation for its ongoing support of field turf projects at Pioneer Field. The Nebraska City Public Schools board of education discussed the field turf project during the board’s regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 12. The current schedule calls for a crew from Sprinturf to arrive in Nebraska City on Sept. 19 to replace the current turf, which was also paid for in part by the Wirth Foundation in 2008. The foundation also provided financial support for the resurfacing of the track around the field in 2012. During the meeting, board members instructed NCPS Superintendent Mark Fritch to create a Request for Quotes (RFQ) for snow removal services for the district, and he was also instructed by the board to seek bids on projects involving cooling towers at Nebraska City High School, Nebraska City Middle School, and Hayward Elementary School, which will be paid for with a combination of district building funds and the district’s remaining federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. Prior to the regular September meeting, the board hosted a special budget hearing to review the proposed 2022-2023 district budget. The board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the District Office, 1700 14th Ave., to approve the district’s 2022- 2023 budget. The district will also host a tax request hearing at the same special meeting. The next regular NCPS board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the District Office, 1700 14th Ave. NCPS principals’, activities reports Prior to the monthly Nebraska City Public Schools board of education meeting, each building principal and the middle and high school activities directors submit reports to the board. This year, the principals and activities directors are using the following format: Guiding Principle 1: High Quality Instruction and Learning Expectations (GP 1) Guiding Principle 2: Culture, Connectedness, and Personnel Effectiveness; Expectations, Development, and Excellence (GP 2) Guiding Principle 3: Whole Child Focused Learning; Curriculum, Instruction, Programs, Experience, and Approaches (GP 3) Guiding Principle 4: Communication and Stakeholder Engagement; Communication, Engagement, and Transparency (GP 4) Guiding Principle 5: District Resources: Budget, Facilities, and Staffing (GP 5) Northside Elementary, Principal Brent Gaswick GP 1: Nothing reported this month. GP 2: The school year is off to a good start, and students are adjusting to the new routines. In Kindergarten we have been focusing on transitions and cooperation. The effects of Headstart being without a teacher for a long period last year were evident. GP 3: Teachers have completed the NWEA testing and have identified those students who will require an IRiP plan for reading and will be talking to parents at conferences about the additional support the students will receive along with ways parents can help at home. As we get further into the Science of Reading training I feel teachers will have a stronger understanding of how to differentiate the interventions for the students and help them improve their reading skills. GP 4: We are excited to have Edge return to the building on Tuesday, September 13 to read with the students and give them a book for home. GP 5: Nothing reported this month. Hayward Elementary, Principal Scot Davis GP 1: RTI- response to intervention groups starting 9-19-22 / IRiP- Individual reading improvement plan start 9-19-22 GP 2: 1st PJ was on 9-1-22 / HW Heroes- Addison Walker and Leira Womochil / Responsibility is our Col. Character focus for September / Hallway Expectations is our behavior focus GP 3: Nothing reported this month. GP 4: EDGE 3rd Grade Super Citizens- Johnny Appleseed / Parent Teacher conferences are on 9-14 and 9-15 GP 5: September Student enrollment: 3rd= 102 / 4th= 91 / 5th= 91/ Total= 284 Nebraska City Middle School, Principal Ethan Pellatz GP 1: Staff have been engaged in professional development so far this year during Pioneer Time. ELA and Special Education staff from the Middle School have been engaged in the Science of Reading. The rest of our staff have been creating, updating, and revising pacing maps, units of study, and lesson plans to create vertical and horizontal alignment in each department. GP 2: On Friday, September 2nd, the MS conducted its first House Meetings/Pep Rally. Houses competed in three events with Morton House leading with 240 points. Steinhart was the defending champion from last year. GP 3: Through collaboration with the After School Clubs, new eSports computers have made their way to the Middle School. These devices will be utilized for a middle school after school club, High School eSports competition, and with our Industrial Technology program. GP 4: On Wednesday, September 14th, and Thursday, September 15th, Nebraska City Middle School will be hosting Parent/Teacher Conferences. We are asking that families sign up for a time slot online using SignUp Genius. The schedule provides for windows from 3:30 – 7:30 on Wednesday and 8:00 – 11:45 and 12:45 – 6:00 on Thursday. Teleconferences or Video Calls are available for those who would not like to attend in person. GP 5: Our maintenance department has been busy with updates to the HVAC systems in the Middle School. We are in the process of replacing several compressor units inside the building. The cool air that is now flowing through some classrooms has brought smiles to staff and students. Current Enrollment (September 8th, 2022): 6th Grade: 98 Students / 7th Grade: 117 Students / 8th Grade: 114 Students / /Total Enrollment: 329 Students (+3 from August 2022 Enrollment) Nebraska City Middle School activities, Dean of Students Kaleb Walker GPs 1 and 2: Nothing reported this month. GP 3: Fall Activities Volleyball: The Junior Pioneer Volleyball team has 42 girls out for volleyball! With work from the coaches the Pioneers are looking forward to having a great season and have organized practices and teams so that every athlete gets the best experience possible. We love having so many athletes interested in being a part of Pioneer Volleyball! Games begin on September 13th against Plattsmouth in Nebraska City. Football: The Junior Pioneer Football team has 44 players on the team.The team has been working hard and practicing a new system which they have taken to very well! The team will compete in a two team format, an A and a B team. All scheduled games will have both teams play. The Junior Pioneers play Falls City as their season opener on September 8th in Falls City. Cross Country: The Middle School Cross Country team consists of Jayden Bailey, Julian Rodriguez, Lewis (Jack) Vasser, Rhys Reimers, Moo Law Eh, Faith Couch. With competitions already underway, the Junior Pioneer Cross Country team has made great strides (get it!?). After School Clubs: Nebraska City Middle School is excited to begin our first quarter after school clubs! We have a lot of students interested in our clubs and are pleased to offer the following activities: Swimming Club, Bowling Club, Diamond Painting Club, eGames Club, Fishing Club, Singing Club, Soccer Club, Pioneers to the Moon Club, 8th Grade Girls Weight Lifting, Homework Club, and Hangout Club. We are so very grateful for our partnerships with local businesses and locations to help us offer great experiences for our students! GPs 4 and 5: Nothing reported this month. Nebraska City High School, Principal Brian Hoover GP 1: Congratulations to Mrs. Lacey Glasford! Mrs. Glasford was named 1st Congressional District Outstanding Social Studies Teacher Award of the Nebraska State Council for Social Studies. NCHS currently has 32 dual enrollment students and 43 students enrolled in SENCAP programs. Personal Finance class consists of 3 sections of 11th and 12th grade students and 1 section of 10th grade students. We have them scheduled this way as there are certain elements of the class (for example, Clifton Strengths) that the 11th and 12th grade had during Career and Human Development. GP 2: Mr. Thompson and Mr. Hoover met with Jen Madison and Lori Brody from ESU 4 and went through a collaborative training on Friday, September 9th on Walkthrough Effectiveness. Leadership Cadre class and Mr. McNeely are doing an excellent job of setting up lessons for the Freshmen. Advisors meet with Freshmen every Wednesday to discuss Academics, Social (going to games, cheering, etc.), or behavioral issues. GP 3: State Supreme Court will be at NCHS on November 2nd to argue a case for some of our students as well as other students from around the area. Auburn HS, Lourdes CC, Syracuse, and Conestoga will be bringing students as well Mission Fields Partnership – Starting in September, Mission Fields came to present to the Student Council about the impact of Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) on family members. Feedback from the Student Council was very positive and they feel this will be impactful to students at Nebraska City High School. GP 4: Parent Teacher Conferences are set for September 14th and September 15th. Our NCHS Facebook page has had nearly 10,000 post interactions over the past month and has increased to over 1,700 followers. Thank you to the PTO for working with the NCHS staff for creating an outstanding Back to School Bash and Pep Rally. GP 5: Thank you to Mrs. Valenta’s class for their work on beautifying NCHS! They have pulled weeds, picked up garbage, and done landscaping this past week and the grounds look fantastic. Nebraska City High School activities, Assistant Principal/ Activities Director Matt Thompson GP 1: Pioneer Football has faced a couple of really tough challenges to this point in the season. Currently the Pioneers are 0-2 with losses to Fort Calhoun and Roncalli. Despite the setbacks on the field the numbers of participants in the program remains high, and has actually grown over the course of the last week with 4 more players joining the team. The Pioneer volleyball team is off to a great start this season. Currently the Pioneers are 3-2 on the season. Highlights from the first five matches include a third place finish in the Plattsmouth tournament and a three set sweep of future Trailblazer conference member Ashland-Greenwood. Pioneer softball is also off to a fantastic start with a record of 9-2. Those nine wins include tournament runner-ups at Auburn, and Milford, and a tournament championship at the Omaha South tournament. The Pioneers have been hitting really well sporting a .438 team average. Both boys and girls have competed well in the opening portion of their seasons. Mason Houghton has headlined their efforts and has emerged as one of the best runners in Class B. Mason is not alone as Alex and JR Rico give a very formidable top 3. The girls team has also competed very well to this point and have continued to improve in the early portion of the season. Evie Madison has led the way for the Pioneers, while Alex Meyer, Malayna Madsen and Josslyn Crispin have provided depth to their lineup. The girls golf team has had 3 invitationals and 1 triangular this year. All eight girls have been able to play a competitive round. They won the triangular and have placed 3rd, 4th, and 5th in their invitationals. Their home invite at Wildwood Golf Course will be September 19th and a home dual will follow the next day on September 20th. They will also be hosting districts on Oct 3rd at Table Creek Golf Course. One Act will be performing Our Place. Our Place is a short production that contains both dramatic and comedic scenes that show how one location can hold significance to so many people for many different reasons. Nearly 40 students expressed interest in acting or working tech for the show. To accommodate the number of interested students, there will be a competition and a non-competition version of the play. Science Club completed their annual membership drive. The model used for the membership drive is similar to FCCLA with daily incentives. Science club currently has 13 members signed up; 4 new members, 9 returning members. FFA recently took an officer’s trip to Burwell and started the Connecting Chapters Program with Farm Bureau. FFA members will also begin Area Range Judging on Wednesday. GPs 2 through 5: Nothing reported this month. Latest Stories Did you know? September 16, 2022 – Blue September 16, 2022 Cook – Red September 16, 2022 – Blue September 16, 2022 – Blue September 16, 2022 by Zeiger Construction, Syracuse – Milton September 16, 2022 Obituaries September 16, 2022 What a Week! September 15, 2022 Peru State Women’s Golf Finishes in Fourth at Peru State Invite September 15, 2022 Second AppleJack weekend to focus on food September 15, 2022
If all goes according to plan, Nebraska City High School will host a special reception as part of its Homecoming activities on Friday, Oct. 7, to thank the Paul, John, Anton, and Doris Wirth Foundation for its ongoing support of field turf projects at Pioneer Field.
The Nebraska City Public Schools board of education discussed the field turf project during the board’s regular meeting on Monday, Sept. 12.
The current schedule calls for a crew from Sprinturf to arrive in Nebraska City on Sept. 19 to replace the current turf, which was also paid for in part by the Wirth Foundation in 2008. The foundation also provided financial support for the resurfacing of the track around the field in 2012.
During the meeting, board members instructed NCPS Superintendent Mark Fritch to create a Request for Quotes (RFQ) for snow removal services for the district, and he was also instructed by the board to seek bids on projects involving cooling towers at Nebraska City High School, Nebraska City Middle School, and Hayward Elementary School, which will be paid for with a combination of district building funds and the district’s remaining federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
Prior to the regular September meeting, the board hosted a special budget hearing to review the proposed 2022-2023 district budget. The board will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the District Office, 1700 14th Ave., to approve the district’s 2022- 2023 budget. The district will also host a tax request hearing at the same special meeting.
The next regular NCPS board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, at the District Office, 1700 14th Ave.
NCPS principals’, activities reports Prior to the monthly Nebraska City Public Schools board of education meeting, each building principal and the middle and high school activities directors submit reports to the board. This year, the principals and activities directors are using the following format: Guiding Principle 1: High Quality Instruction and Learning Expectations (GP 1) Guiding Principle 2: Culture, Connectedness, and Personnel Effectiveness; Expectations, Development, and Excellence (GP 2) Guiding Principle 3: Whole Child Focused Learning; Curriculum, Instruction, Programs, Experience, and Approaches (GP 3) Guiding Principle 4: Communication and Stakeholder Engagement; Communication, Engagement, and Transparency (GP 4) Guiding Principle 5: District Resources: Budget, Facilities, and Staffing (GP 5)
Northside Elementary, Principal Brent Gaswick
GP 1: Nothing reported this month.
GP 2: The school year is off to a good start, and students are adjusting to the new routines. In Kindergarten we have been focusing on transitions and cooperation. The effects of Headstart being without a teacher for a long period last year were evident.
GP 3: Teachers have completed the NWEA testing and have identified those students who will require an IRiP plan for reading and will be talking to parents at conferences about the additional support the students will receive along with ways parents can help at home. As we get further into the Science of Reading training I feel teachers will have a stronger understanding of how to differentiate the interventions for the students and help them improve their reading skills.
GP 4: We are excited to have Edge return to the building on Tuesday, September 13 to read with the students and give them a book for home.
GP 5: Nothing reported this month.
Hayward Elementary, Principal Scot Davis
GP 1: RTI- response to intervention groups starting 9-19-22 / IRiP- Individual reading improvement plan start 9-19-22
GP 2: 1st PJ was on 9-1-22 / HW Heroes- Addison Walker and Leira Womochil / Responsibility is our Col. Character focus for September / Hallway Expectations is our behavior focus
GP 3: Nothing reported this month.
GP 4: EDGE 3rd Grade Super Citizens- Johnny Appleseed / Parent Teacher conferences are on 9-14 and 9-15
GP 5: September Student enrollment: 3rd= 102 / 4th= 91 / 5th= 91/ Total= 284
Nebraska City Middle School, Principal Ethan Pellatz
GP 1: Staff have been engaged in professional development so far this year during Pioneer Time. ELA and Special Education staff from the Middle School have been engaged in the Science of Reading. The rest of our staff have been creating, updating, and revising pacing maps, units of study, and lesson plans to create vertical and horizontal alignment in each department.
GP 2: On Friday, September 2nd, the MS conducted its first House Meetings/Pep Rally. Houses competed in three events with Morton House leading with 240 points. Steinhart was the defending champion from last year.
GP 3: Through collaboration with the After School Clubs, new eSports computers have made their way to the Middle School. These devices will be utilized for a middle school after school club, High School eSports competition, and with our Industrial Technology program.
GP 4: On Wednesday, September 14th, and Thursday, September 15th, Nebraska City Middle School will be hosting Parent/Teacher Conferences. We are asking that families sign up for a time slot online using SignUp Genius. The schedule provides for windows from 3:30 – 7:30 on Wednesday and 8:00 – 11:45 and 12:45 – 6:00 on Thursday. Teleconferences or Video Calls are available for those who would not like to attend in person.
GP 5: Our maintenance department has been busy with updates to the HVAC systems in the Middle School. We are in the process of replacing several compressor units inside the building. The cool air that is now flowing through some classrooms has brought smiles to staff and students.
Current Enrollment (September 8th, 2022): 6th Grade: 98 Students / 7th Grade: 117 Students / 8th Grade: 114 Students / /Total Enrollment: 329 Students (+3 from August 2022 Enrollment) Nebraska City Middle School activities, Dean of Students Kaleb Walker GPs 1 and 2: Nothing reported this month.
GP 3: Fall Activities Volleyball: The Junior Pioneer Volleyball team has 42 girls out for volleyball! With work from the coaches the Pioneers are looking forward to having a great season and have organized practices and teams so that every athlete gets the best experience possible. We love having so many athletes interested in being a part of Pioneer Volleyball! Games begin on September 13th against Plattsmouth in Nebraska City.
Football: The Junior Pioneer Football team has 44 players on the team.The team has been working hard and practicing a new system which they have taken to very well! The team will compete in a two team format, an A and a B team. All scheduled games will have both teams play. The Junior Pioneers play Falls City as their season opener on September 8th in Falls City.
Cross Country: The Middle School Cross Country team consists of Jayden Bailey, Julian Rodriguez, Lewis (Jack) Vasser, Rhys Reimers, Moo Law Eh, Faith Couch. With competitions already underway, the Junior Pioneer Cross Country team has made great strides (get it!?).
After School Clubs: Nebraska City Middle School is excited to begin our first quarter after school clubs! We have a lot of students interested in our clubs and are pleased to offer the following activities: Swimming Club, Bowling Club, Diamond Painting Club, eGames Club, Fishing Club, Singing Club, Soccer Club, Pioneers to the Moon Club, 8th Grade Girls Weight Lifting, Homework Club, and Hangout Club. We are so very grateful for our partnerships with local businesses and locations to help us offer great experiences for our students!
GPs 4 and 5: Nothing reported this month.
Nebraska City High School, Principal Brian Hoover GP 1: Congratulations to Mrs. Lacey Glasford! Mrs. Glasford was named 1st Congressional District Outstanding Social Studies Teacher Award of the Nebraska State Council for Social Studies.
NCHS currently has 32 dual enrollment students and 43 students enrolled in SENCAP programs.
Personal Finance class consists of 3 sections of 11th and 12th grade students and 1 section of 10th grade students. We have them scheduled this way as there are certain elements of the class (for example, Clifton Strengths) that the 11th and 12th grade had during Career and Human Development.
GP 2: Mr. Thompson and Mr. Hoover met with Jen Madison and Lori Brody from ESU 4 and went through a collaborative training on Friday, September 9th on Walkthrough Effectiveness.
Leadership Cadre class and Mr. McNeely are doing an excellent job of setting up lessons for the Freshmen. Advisors meet with Freshmen every Wednesday to discuss Academics, Social (going to games, cheering, etc.), or behavioral issues.
GP 3: State Supreme Court will be at NCHS on November 2nd to argue a case for some of our students as well as other students from around the area. Auburn HS, Lourdes CC, Syracuse, and Conestoga will be bringing students as well Mission Fields Partnership – Starting in September, Mission Fields came to present to the Student Council about the impact of Substance Abuse Disorder (SUD) on family members. Feedback from the Student Council was very positive and they feel this will be impactful to students at Nebraska City High School.
GP 4: Parent Teacher Conferences are set for September 14th and September 15th.
Our NCHS Facebook page has had nearly 10,000 post interactions over the past month and has increased to over 1,700 followers.
Thank you to the PTO for working with the NCHS staff for creating an outstanding Back to School Bash and Pep Rally.
GP 5: Thank you to Mrs. Valenta’s class for their work on beautifying NCHS! They have pulled weeds, picked up garbage, and done landscaping this past week and the grounds look fantastic. Nebraska City High School activities, Assistant Principal/ Activities Director Matt Thompson GP 1: Pioneer Football has faced a couple of really tough challenges to this point in the season. Currently the Pioneers are 0-2 with losses to Fort Calhoun and Roncalli. Despite the setbacks on the field the numbers
of participants in the program remains high, and has actually grown over the course of the last week with 4 more players joining the team.
The Pioneer volleyball team is off to a great start this season. Currently the Pioneers are 3-2 on the season. Highlights from the first five matches include a third place finish in the Plattsmouth tournament and a three set sweep of future Trailblazer conference member Ashland-Greenwood.
Pioneer softball is also off to a fantastic start with a record of 9-2. Those nine wins include tournament runner-ups at Auburn, and Milford, and a tournament championship at the Omaha South tournament. The Pioneers have been hitting really well sporting a .438 team average.
Both boys and girls have competed well in the opening portion of their seasons. Mason Houghton has headlined their efforts and has emerged as one of the best runners in Class B. Mason is not alone as Alex and JR Rico give a very formidable top 3. The girls team has also competed very well to this point and have continued to improve in the early portion of the season. Evie Madison has led the way for the Pioneers, while Alex Meyer, Malayna Madsen and Josslyn Crispin have provided depth to their lineup.
The girls golf team has had 3 invitationals and 1 triangular this year. All eight girls have been able to play a competitive round. They won the triangular and have placed 3rd, 4th, and 5th in their invitationals. Their home invite at Wildwood Golf Course will be September 19th and a home dual will follow the next day on September 20th. They will also be hosting districts on Oct 3rd at Table Creek Golf Course.
One Act will be performing Our Place. Our Place is a short production that contains both dramatic and comedic scenes that show how one location can hold significance to so many people for many different reasons. Nearly 40 students expressed interest in acting or working tech for the show. To accommodate the number of interested students, there will be a competition and a non-competition version of the play.
Science Club completed their annual membership drive. The model used for the membership drive is similar to FCCLA with daily incentives. Science club currently has 13 members signed up; 4 new members, 9 returning members.
FFA recently took an officer’s trip to Burwell and started the Connecting Chapters Program with Farm Bureau. FFA members will also begin Area Range Judging on Wednesday.
GPs 2 through 5: Nothing reported this month.