New Riegel Families and Friends,
Happy New Year New Riegel Parents and Friends!
We hope all of you had a wonderful start to 2026 and are looking forward to a successful and productive year as we continue our goals for this school year.
We want to begin by extending a sincere thank you to our school counselors and community partners for their outstanding work in organizing and distributing food to families in need during the winter break. Their efforts ensured that students and families were supported beyond the school day and reflect the strong sense of care and community that exists at New Riegel.
Our SAIL, Jacket Leadership, and advisory programs continue to thrive, with staff and students participating in a wide range of activities throughout the first semester, providing additional guidance and support to enhance the learning experience for all students.
Our middle and high school Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) program continues to grow under the guidance of Mrs. Zeno, with elementary support led by Mrs. Barrows. MTSS is a proactive framework designed to identify and support students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs through different levels (tiers) of instruction and intervention. This system allows staff to respond early, use data to guide decisions, and provide targeted support to help every student succeed.
The Board of Education has approved the district to work with The Ability Center to bring a facility dog to our school. The dog will work alongside trained handlers—Mrs. Barrows, Mrs. Zeno, Mrs. Depinet, and Mrs. Schalk—with Mrs. Barrows serving as the primary caretaker, to provide academic, social, and emotional support for students and staff.
Key points include:
The dog will always be with a handler.
Interactions with students will occur only when directed by a handler.
Parents may opt their child out if desired.
The dog will not be permitted in the auditeria and will have a designated resting area.
Daily activities will include social-emotional lessons, Title I reading, group and individual counseling, and select after-school events.
The facility dog is expected to arrive no earlier than the 2026–2027 school year.
A fundraiser to support the program will be introduced in January, building on generous contributions already received from anonymous donors.
This month, the district will review the FY2026 tax budget, which will be submitted to the county auditor in January as the first step in the annual budgetary process.
We also want to thank and recognize our Board of Education members—Jaclyn Schalk, Jeff Hohman, Darrell Tiell, Darrin Nye, and Erin Love—for their time, dedication, and leadership in supporting the New Riegel School District.
As the second semester begins, we encourage parents to contact your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns regarding progress. Teachers are your first point of contact, and our staff is always willing to meet to support your child’s education. We are looking forward to a strong second semester of teaching and learning and to continuing our work to provide the highest quality education for all students.
Mr. Rombach