Note from the Principal – August 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Welcome back to the 2025-26 school year. I hope you were able to enjoy some summer fun vacationing, playing ball, swimming or just hanging out with friends and family. With the start of school in mind, I want to share some important information with you before the first day of school.
The first day of school for students will be Thursday, August 14th. This will be a FULL day of school with lunch provided. Thursday, the 14th will be a Music day and Friday, the 15th a PE day.
The best and most updated way to stay connected with what is going on is through the 1R calendar and Northwest district calendar. You may also follow us on the 1R Facebook page, 1R Website and Northwest Website. Important Links below:
Mrs. Bachle has been busy over the summer uploading and updating PowerSchool information. The parent portal for PowerSchool allows you to check grades and attendance. Mrs Callihan put together a great video / slideshow providing you with “how to” when it comes to PowerSchool. Please watch this and get signed up and logged into Powerschool. video
It is vital that your contact information is up-to-date with your most current phone numbers, addresses and email information. We will use this information to contact you in case of emergencies, events, inclement weather and many other important details. We will be utilizing Bright Arrow for our alerts. All notifications are set to be sent to specific contacts documented for your child. Please contact the office when any changes or additions are made regarding contacts and notifications. If you have questions please contact Mrs. Bachle.
Please welcome these new staff members at 1R and St. Libory. Caitlin Houdek is the 6-8 Music teacher. Ms. Tamara Johnson as middle school trimester Spanish teacher. We have two new para’s joining the 1R family Mrs. Jeanne Mettenbrink and Mrs. Twyla Martin. Please welcome these new staff members to 1R and the Northwest district.
PTO has been busy planning for the upcoming year. They hosted the Welcome Back Pool Party last Saturday, July 26. It was a wonderful evening for some swimming and fellowship. The next event will be the 1R Open House on Monday, August 18th from 5:30-7:00 PM. There will be a free will donation for a hotdog meal deal, chips, water and Rice Krispie treat. There will be a variety of fun raffle prizes to sign up for. PTO volunteer sign up sheets will also be available. Teachers will be in their classroom for tours and will be passing out raffle tickets to families who visit their classrooms. Raffle drawing will begin at 7:00 PM – more information to come. PTO and the district will use PeachJar as a tool to share flyers, fundraisers and upcoming events this year. PeachJar updates come in emails on Sunday evenings. This year’s board members are Angela Rodenbaugh – President, Stacia Shaneyfelt – Secretary, Nicole Dramse- VP and Lisa Allan -Treasurer.
Parents and guardians you will need to set up and/or revisit your lunch accounts. Students will need to have current daily balances for a hot lunch. If not, you will receive alert notifications, paper notes and/or your child may be asked to call home if balances are negative. If you would like to eat lunch with your child for a special occasion please contact the office the day before or the day of by 8:30 AM so we may include you in the lunch count. The hot lunch prices are K-5- $3.30, 6th-12th-$3.45 and adult -$4.80. Milk is $.55 You may set up your accounts via e-Funds. Here is a link to the English 2025-26 Free & Reduced English Lunch Form, Spanish version 2025-26 Free & Reduced Spanish Lunch Form.
Middle School Tech Fees – As noted in our device user agreement during the registration process, each year students in grades 6-8 are required to pay a technology use fee. This $25 fee allows students to take the Chromebook home on the first day of school. Payments can be made with cash/check in the office or credit card via e-Funds. It is important to remember that this fee does not include damage fees. Students will be charged a $25 incident fee for any damage or repairs needed on their device. This is a per incident fee and is a flat $25 fee per incident. The technology use fee may be waived if you have qualified for 2025-26 Free & Reduced English Lunch Form or 2025-26 Free & Reduced Spanish Lunch Form AND you have completed the English version of Sharing Form or Spanish Version of Sharing Form prior to paying the user fee. We ask that these 6th-8th grade fees be paid by Friday, August 22. If the fee is not paid the student will not be allowed to take their chromebook home.
Middle School Sports – Please see the Northwest District & 1R Website under Middle School Athletic Information. Fall sports will be 7th & 8th grade football at NW, 8th grade girls volleyball at Cedar Hollow, 7th grade volleyball at 1R and Cross Country at Northwest. Transportation will be provided for the athletes to their practice facilities. Parents will be responsible for picking up their athlete at the designated practice site. All athletes must have a current physical on record before they may practice. Practice for fall sports will begin the first full week of school Monday, August 18th-22. Coaches will send home parent notes on the first two days of school with parent meeting information and schedules. Please be checking with your 7th & 8th graders for updates.
Please mark your calendars for a middle school informational night Thursday, August 21st at 6:30p.m. This is for all 6th grade, new middle school families or any one who would like more information about middle school. Teachers and staff will host presentations on curriculum, subjects, grading, schedules and discipline etc….
The state legislature made some changes to the cell phone usage in schools. This change in law won’t impact us much as we already have this in practice in our K-8’s. Here is the new cell phone policy:
Electronic Communication Devices and Cell Phones. K-8’s we ask all these items be left in lockers or at home. All students are prohibited from accessing or using an electronic communication device while on school property or attending a school instructional function, unless:
- When required by a student’s Individualized Education Program or 504 Plan;
- When authorized by the District for educational purposes during instructional time;
- In the case of an emergency or perceived threat of danger;
- When necessary to monitor or manage a student’s health care; or
- When determined appropriate by the Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee.
All exceptions listed herein must be approved in advance by the appropriate school staff member. Any student who violates this Policy may be subject to discipline under the District’s Student
Discipline Policy.
Dress code is another area of focus for this school year. Please see the updated dress code policy: dress code.
As we begin the new school year please review protocol for morning drop off and after school pick up. We ask that students not arrive before 7:45 AM if at all possible. The last bell on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday is at 3:15 PM and Wednesdays at 2:00 PM. We ask that no children are at school 30 minutes after the last bell. Please share this information with other guardians, siblings, grandparents or others who may be transporting your child. Our first priority is the safety of students, staff, and parents. It typically takes less than 15 minutes for pick up on any given day from start to finish. If you need to pick up your child early for an appointment please call ahead and park in the east parking lot. If you need to enter the building please park in the east parking lot NOT in the driveway or on the south side grass.
Traffic flow map: 1R Entry-Exit
Third City Connect will partner with us again as an after school day care provider. You may contact Third City Christian Church for details. Clayton Loghry is the contact (308) 384-5038.
We look forward to serving you and your child with a high quality education. The Northwest Public Schools Mission is: “To Connect, Grow and Inspire our future generations.” Please do not hesitate to contact myself, our office or staff if you have questions at 308-385-6352. Looking forward to another great year at 1R!
Sincerely,
Mr. Retzlaff, Principal
