Dear Parents & Guardians,

We celebrated the 100th day of school last Wednesday, January 28th! We had some awesome dressed-up elementary students—check out the 1R Facebook page to see some of the highlights. Sadly, I did not have to dress up to look like I was 100! As we close out January, here are a few important reminders for February.

Northwest Orientation for 8th Graders
Eighth graders interested in attending Northwest for the 2026–27 school year are invited to attend Northwest 8th Grade Orientation on Thursday, February 5th  This is a great opportunity to explore everything Northwest has to offer, meet staff, tour the building, and begin preparing for freshman year

Event Details:

– Main Presentation: 7:00 PM in the auditorium.

– Open House: Begins at 6:15 PM, Student Council members will be available for building tours

– Entrance: Please use the main door (Door #1) on the east side of the building.

Online Registration Information (2026–27 School Year)
Northwest Public Schools online registration for current students will open on April 1, 2026. Information videos and registration details can be found on the Northwest Public Schools website.

Who Should Register?

• Current Students
• New Students
• Preschool Students
• New Kindergarten Students

Kindergarten Enrollment (2026–27)
We are now looking for kindergarten students for the 2026–27 school year. Children who are 5 years old on or before July 31, 2026 are eligible.
Please call the office at 308-385-6352 and notify Mrs. Bachle so we can begin sharing important information.

Student Status Defined

• Returning Students: Currently enrolled in a  district school
• New Students: New to the district for the upcoming school year

When Should I Register?

• Returning Students: April 1–14, 2026 via PowerSchool Parent Portal
• New Students: Beginning April 15, 2026 via the district website

Preschool Registration

• Available February 1, 2026
• Returning students: PowerSchool Parent Portal
• New students: District website

Parent–Teacher Conferences

• Wednesday, February 18 and Thursday, February 19
• Time: 3:30–8:00 p.m.
• Early dismissal at 2:00 p.m. both days
• No school Friday, February 20

K–5 Conferences: Scheduled individually with classroom teachers (online sign-ups are being shared).
Grades 6–8: No scheduled times—parents may attend anytime between 3:30–8:00 p.m.

Teacher Availability

• Wednesday: Mrs. Wissing (Science), Mrs. Liberty (K–5 Music), Mrs. Houdek (6–8 Music), Mrs. Erickson
• Thursday: Mr. Simmons (PE), Mr. Herrmann (Social Studies), Mr. Meyer (5–8 Band)

Please contact teachers if you are unable to attend.

FERPA Reminder
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits us from sharing academic information with anyone other than biological parents or documented legal guardians. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in meeting these legal requirements.

Specials & Curriculum Updates

• Spanish with Ms. Johnson (2nd trimester) ends February 19
• Mrs. Felske will begin the 3rd trimester on Monday, February 23, focusing on technology and STEM lab activities
• 7th grade students will also begin a Health class with Mrs. Felske

Please stop by during conferences if you have questions.

Band Clinic & Concert
On Wednesday, February 25, all 6th–8th grade band members will attend a district-wide band clinic at Northwest High School.

• Transportation and lunch provided
• Concert at 3:15 p.m. in the auditorium 
• Parents are invited and will pick up students after the performance
  Questions may be directed to Mr. Meyer at tmeyer@ginorthwest.org.

Student & Activity Highlights
Congratulations to:

• Oakley Baker (5th)
• Jade Crick (6th)
• Violet Placke (7th)
• Hailyn Evans (8th)

for representing 1R at the Hall County Spelling Bee!

Middle school sports are off to a great start, with success in girls wrestling and boys basketball. Our Middle School Show Choir kicked off their season with a 3rd Place finish in Hastings—congratulations! Please refer to the 1R calendar for updated events and times.

PTO Updates

• PTO Meeting: February 2 at 6:00 p.m.
• Culver’s Dining Night Out: Tuesday, February 17 (4:00–8:00 p.m.)
• Happy Brush Family Event: Sunday, March 1 (1:00–3:00 p.m.)

Flyers will be sent home soon. To help or volunteer, please contact PTO President Angela Rodenbaugh at amrodenbaugh@gmail.com.

We are excited to share that PTO received $20,970 in matching grant funds from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment. Combined with PTO fundraising and Galen “Gus” Meyer memorial donation, we are happy to announce we are moving forward with the Rubberized Mulch Playground Project this year. Thank you to our PTO, families, and the Meyer family for helping make this possible!

On behalf of the staff and myself, thank you for your continued support. Please follow our 1R Google Calendar and Facebook page for the most up-to-date information. If you have any questions regarding your child’s education, please contact the office at 308-385-6352.

Sincerely,
Mr. Retzlaff
Principal