Education

Newman Grove Public Schools

About Our School and Facilities

Our school is a PreK-12 attendance center with an enrollment of 217 (2022-2023).

Our elementary (PreK-6) enrollment is 146 with an average class size of 16. The junior high (7-8) enrollment is 23 with an average class size of 12. High school (9-12) enrollment is 48 with an average class size of 12. The smallest classes are 7th Grade and 12th Grade with 8 students; the largest is 5th Grade with 23. There are currently 33 students in pre-school. We have a morning and afternoon session which are a combination of 3 and 4-year-olds.

Our buildings are organized so that we have one classroom per grade or major subject area.

The current campus consists of a new elementary addition which first held students in September of 2020. This replaced a three-story brick elementary building that was built in (1921), a gymnasium (cement block) built in 1969, a single-story brick cafeteria (1928), which is remodeled from the old gym, and a $2 million-dollar high school addition (1997). There is also a new agriculture education building on the west side of the highway which began holding students in 2020. The new elementary addition, 5-12 school, gym, and cafeteria are now all connected under one roof.

Programs and Resources

The Newman Grove Public School district is accredited by the State of Nebraska.

The Newman Grove Public Schools has a Pre-School program that meets 4 days a week with a morning and afternoon session.

We have full-day everyday kindergarten.

Newman Grove is a School-Wide Title School. This allows for any student to receive help when the need arises.

The elementary reading curriculum is the Wonders program with additional help coming through various interventions as needed for individual students. The math curriculum is the Envisions program and it along with the Wonders program are preparing our students to be college and career ready as they advance through the grades. The elementary uses both the school and public library on a regular basis and A.R. (Accelerated Reader) has been re-instituted for the elementary with great success. We celebrate our Bluejay Readers during our Rockin Rally held at the end of each quarter.

We have one full-time learning resource teacher who serves K-12. The service unit provides a School Psychologist, Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, and school nurse who visit our campus during the week. We have hired a full time K-6 Title 1 teacher who started in August of 2022.

Data meetings are held weekly for the elementary staff to integrate curriculum materials, communicate with parents, discuss student needs and progress, look at school-wide and individual data, and plan activities. Data meetings are held monthly for junior high and high school staff to review student academic progress. We are using the Bluejay Way to help motivate students’ academic behavior. Students who remain in good standing are allowed a flexible option during access on Thursday.

Vocal music classes are available for students grades K-12. Students perform during winter and spring music programs. High school vocal students participate in an area clinics, honor choirs, local programs in the winter and spring, and district music.

The high school science program offers many opportunities for students. The Olson Nature Preserve Program offers students a summer experience studying the environment. The Shell Creek Watershed Program allows students to collect data and research water quality in the Shell Creek. The Shell Creek Watershed website is a great source of information http://ngshellcreekwatershed.weebly.com These programs have received local, state, regional, and national recognition. The Colorado trip allows students to study history and mountain ecology. The Niobrara trip lets students study paleontology at Ash Falls and while canoeing the Niobrara River to observe the merging of many eco-systems. The Niobrara River Valley is the northern and southern most fringes of many plants and animals as well as the east and west boundaries of many plants.

Vocational programs include Agriculture, Business, and Computer Technology which are available to our secondary students.

A work-study program is available for seniors.

High school students have the opportunity to take high school and college credit classes in consortium with NECC. Students have taken a variety of classes. Another method that students can gain college credit is through online classes which are available through many colleges.

Dual credit courses are offered at Newman Grove for juniors and seniors in conjunction with NECC in Biology II and Accounting II. A Newman Grove teacher instructs these classes. Other dual credit classes may come from NECC.

The school counselor provides developmental guidance lessons to students in grades K-6. Academic, Personal, and Social behavior; safety; career awareness; and character development lessons are taught. A variety of drug and alcohol materials (Red Ribbon Week), fire safety, character education, and career education are used in grades K-12. Seniors participate in a Senior Careers Class that consists of 8 class periods during the first semester which includes resume building, scholarship searches, financial aid, college selection, interest inventories, and help with career guidance. It is followed up with monthly Career Classes and updates during the second semester.

Due to our co-op with Boone Central, the following sports are available for grades 7-12: volleyball, football, cross country, softball, basketball, boys golf, and track. Wrestling is offered in Newman Grove. Dance is an activity that is available to our students locally.

The junior high has a Quiz Bowl team that attends competitions.

NECC conducts an Inter-School Scholastic contest on their campus. Tests are given in over 30 areas.

High school students have a variety of co-curricular clubs from which to choose, including FBLA, SkillsUSA, and FFA. The high school also has an active Student Council and National Honor Society Chapter.

We have been fortunate to have several foreign exchange students in our building in the past.

The use of technology is highly encouraged and supported. The District has instituted the 1-to-1 concept in which each junior high and high school student is given a laptop for educational purposes. In the elementary, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades all have 1-to-1 iPads and grades 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th have laptops for their educational advancement.

Library

From the humble beginnings in a room in the high school building in 1923 under the direction of Miss Martha Thomassen, and with the strong, constant backing of the Women’s Civic Improvement Club, the Newman Grove Public Library has grown into a larger, handicapped-accessible facility which includes a Community Room. The library is accredited by the Nebraska Library Commission. It is open 31 hours a week for use and is staffed by one librarian and one helper. The collection numbers about 16,500 volumes and has an average annual circulation of 6,500 volumes. The library is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees which is appointed by the mayor and approved by the City Council.

A Library Foundation was formed as a non-profit corporation and as a vehicle for the library to receive supplemental funding for a library building program, or for purchase of special items which supplement the library. The Library Foundation is governed by a board composed of the current library board, past library board members, other library advocates of the community and from outside of the library’s governmental service.

The library sponsors the Newman Grove Book Discussion Group and Write-It-Right Club. Other programs offered at the library are summer reading program, summer story hours, children’s game nights and bi-monthly individual elementary class visits (pre-6). The library has a collection of books, genealogy information, videos, audio books, large print books, magazines, cake pans and fax services.

Eight internet stations are available for public use and include a colored printer. Internet use is provided free by Vyve Broadband of Columbus. Internet users must be 10 years old or above. There are two game computers for children. An On-Line Public Access Catalog (OPAC) is maintained for the convenience of patrons.

A Community Room is available for non-profit meetings and gatherings. This includes a kitchenette, a separate out-side entrance, and restroom facilities. The facilities are available seven days a week by reservation.

For More Information

Kathy Strong
Library Director

PO Box 430
Newman Grove, NE 68758
(402) 447-2331 | Visit Website