JH/HS Principal Newsletter

Happy New Year!! It is amazing to think that we are already in the second semester here at Hershey Public School. It will not be long before we are counting down the days to the end of the school year and celebrating the Class of 2025. The new semester brings a fresh start for us all and it is my hope and expectation that all students, staff, and stakeholders bring their best as we transition into 2025!

Please be aware of a couple of items I included in the newsletter this month. First, I have included some reminders I will be sharing with the student body when classes resume. Please take a look at these so you are in the loop as to the expectations of students here at Hershey. Second, I have included some reminders for the Class of 2025. With the second semester upon us, the clock is ticking for application, scholarships, and graduation requirements. Lastly, I have included the list of activities for the month of January. We have a number of HOME events that you can come to support Panther students this winter!

Finally, please know that all stakeholders are here for ALL students to be successful. If there are any questions or concerns you have, please feel free to reach out to the staff and administration here at Hershey Jr/Sr High School and we will be more than happy to help make sure ALL students are successful and have a great experience here at Hershey!

We are excited to announce the HPSEF December Students of the Month!! These students exemplify the hard work and character we seek here at HPS!! Grade level winners include:

7th - Lane Tyan

8th - Kolton Palm

9th - Abigail Hiatt

10th - Cole Murdock

11th - Hadley Hill

12th - Jax Staton

Additionally, the following students were selected as the Junior High and High School Student of the Month!

Junior High - Lane Tyan

Senior High - Hadley Hill

We are excited to continue to work with the staff here at HPS on the importance of PANTHER MOJO. This provides a simple framework for our staff and students to come back to when remembering what is foundational here at Hershey! MOJO stands for the following:

Meaningful Engagement

cOmmon Expectations

Joy in Learning

Opportunities for Growth

This month we return as a staff on the importance of MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT! As we start a new semester, we have the opportunity to revisit classroom expectations and what engagement looks like in the classroom. For us at Hershey, we want all stakeholders to know that when students are in the classrooms that 1) Learning Taking Place 2) Connection and Relationships Prioritized and 3) Student Voices are Heard.

This year we will continue to look at and focus on strengthening our instruction through the Marzano Instructional Framework. This year we will take time to focus on the importance of Engagement Strategies in the classroom with the focus of Increasing Student Response Rates in the month of January.

Another layer to our framework on the 7-12 side will be the importance of Panther M.A.D.: 4 Ways Teachers Make a Difference each day in the classroom! We will collaborate with our staff to ensure that on a daily basis our students experience 1) On Grade Level Content 2) Strong Instruction 3) Strong Engagement 4) High Expectations.

It is our hope and expectation that, through deepening our understanding of the Marzano Framework as well as revisiting the 4 areas of Panther M.A.D, we can improve the student experience and see students Learn, Thrive, and Grow here at HPS!!

From a joint effort with the administrative team and junior high team of teachers, we have continued our Junior High Academic Intervention plan to help students get off the down list and pass classes. These interventions were implemented towards the end of the first quarter and are designed to help the student identify why they are failing a class, what supports are around him/her to improve their grade, and what assignments can be turned in to improve their grade. These interventions take place during the lunch hour and over the course of the first and second quarter we saw a reduction in both the number of failing student grades and the number of students on the Down List!! A big THANK YOU to Mrs. Harmoni Wagner for all her hard work and dedication in working with our students in this endeavor

The JH students will take part in the Winter NSCAS Growth testing the week of January 13th through the 17th. We ask that parents/guardians help ensure students get a good night's rest on those dates and come prepared to test. The data collected from these tests helps drive our 7-12 instruction as well as identify students who may need some extra support in the classroom. Thank you in advance for your help with this!

1.2.25 - JV/V GBB & BBB vs Broken Bow Indians

1.6.25 - No School - HPS Teacher Work Day

1.7.25 - Start of Second Semester

1.6.25 - Reserve BBB @ Perkins County Tournament

1.7.25 - JV/V GBB & BBB vs South Loup Bobcats

1.9.25 - JV WR @ Gothenburg Invitational

1.9.25 - JH GBB & BBB @ Sutherland Sailors

1.10.25 - JH BBB Nebraska Portraits Picture Day

1.10.25 - JV/V GBB & BBB @ Maxwell Wildcats

1.11.25 - Speech @ Lexington Invitational

1.11.25 - V WR @ Central City Invitational

1.13.25 - JH GBB & BBB vs NPSP Irish

1.13.25 - HPS School Board Meeting

1.14.25 - JV WR @ Perkins County Invitational

1.15.25 - NSAA District IV Meeting

1.16.25 - WR vs Ogallala Indians & Holdrege Dusters Triangular

1.17.25 - JV/V GBB & BBB vs Valentine Badgers

1.18.25 - Speech @ Wallace Invitational

1.18.25 - V WR @ Chase County Invitational

1.18.24 - JV/V GBB @ Holdrege Dusters

1.20.25 - No School - HPS Teacher Inservice

1.20.25 - SPVA BBB Quarterfinals

1.21.25 - SPVA GBB Quarterfinals

1.23.25 - SPVA GBB & BBB Consolation Games

1.23.25 - V WR @ Red Cloud/Blue Hill Dual

1.24.25 - V WR @ David City Invitational

1.24.25 - GBB & BBB @ SPVA Semifinals

1.25.25 - GBB & BBB @ SPVA Finals

1.25.25 - Speech @ Broken Bow Invitational

1.25.25 - JH BBB @ Ogallala Indians

1.27.25 - JH GBB & BBB @ NPSP Irish

1.29.25 - FFA @ CDE # 1

1.30.25 - JH BBB vs Broken Bow Indians

1.31.25 - V WR @ Ord Invitational

1.31.25 - JV/V GBB & BBB vs Bridgeport Bulldogs

We will continue to run Panther Power Hour here at Hershey throughout the second semester! Panther Power Hour is designed to provide a space for students to recover failed credit (11th & 12th grade only), make up tests and quizzes, or simply to have a quiet space to work on homework after school. Panther Power Hour is held Monday - Thursday from 4:00 - 5:00 PM and is staffed by an HPS teacher. The following rooms will be used for the following days:

Monday - Mrs. Swartz’s Room

Tuesday - Ms. Aylward’s Room

Wednesday - Mrs. Stoner’s Room

Thursday - Mrs. Eshleman’s Room

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Cudney or Mrs. Pettera for more information!

The 2024 Canned Food Drive came to a conclusion last month, and the students and staff at Hershey stepped up in a BIG WAY! The Hershey Student Council set an initial goal of 12,000 points and when the Canned Food Drive concluded the final total of 23,568 points had almost DOUBLED the initial goal set!

In the end, the team of KM/11th/3rd/6th came out as the OVERALL GRADE LEVEL winners with a total of 7,144 points. They were rewarded with a special Root Beer Float party the last week of school for their winning efforts.

As a result of the student & staff efforts, there was NO SCHOOL on Friday, December 20th and staff and students alike had an extra day added to their Christmas Break.

THANK YOU to all who have participated and your willingness to step up to bless those in need this holiday season!

Below is the schedule for the FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL back on January 7th as well as a schedule for GRADE LEVEL MEETINGS with myself and Mrs. Pettera beginning on January 7th and running through January 13th.

We will work collectively as administration and staff to REINFORCE student expectations and get the second semester started off in the same manner we did at the beginning of the school year!!

First Day Schedule

8:00 - 8:15 Staff Meet & Mingle with Students in Commons Area

8:15 – 8:35 7-12 Assembly in Competition Gym

8:35 - 8:40 Students Transition to First Period

Students will follow this schedule for the remainder of the day.

Period 1: 8:40 AM – 9:24 AM

Period 2: 9:27 AM – 10:11 AM

Period 3: 10:14 AM – 10:58 AM

Period 4: 11:01 AM – 11:45 AM

Period 5: 11:48 AM – 12:20 PM

Lunch: 12:20 PM - 1:00 PM

First Lunch: 12:20 PM

Second Lunch: 12:23 PM

JH Lunch: 12:26 PM

Period 6: 1:00 PM – 1:44 PM

Period 7: 1:47 PM – 2:31 PM

Period 8: 2:34 PM – 3:42 PM

Grade Level Meetings

7th & 8th GRADE Tuesday, January 7th

FRESHMEN Tuesday, January 7th

SOPHOMORES Wednesday, January 8th

JUNIORS Thursday, January 9th

SENIORS Monday, January 13th

Below are some continued supports from Mrs. Pettera and the guidance office for our junior and senior students!

• Fill out the FAFSA form or complete an in-person opt out form at the HPS Main Office (Nebraska State Graduation Requirement).
• Continued appointments with Mrs. Pettera to review credits, career goals, and college plans.
• Scholarships continue to posted in the Class of 2025 Thrillshare Room as well as outside Mrs. Pettera’s office.
• The next ACT test is February 8th-late registration is January 3rd (register at www.actstudent.org)
• Make an appointment with Mrs. Pettera to review credits, career goals, and college plans.
• Make college campus visits!
• Do you have your letters of recommendation?
• Is your biographical essay complete?
• Is your resume complete?
• Fill out college applications. If you have any questions be sure to consult Mrs. Pettera. Submit your application now, along with all necessary forms and application fee.
• Tell Mrs. Pettera where you have applied so transcripts can be sent.
• LAPTOPS with Microsoft Office are available for USE IN the LIBRARY. They cannot be taken/checked out from this area at this time.
• There is a printer for SENIOR USE in the LIBRARY. Please have a library staff member assist you when you need to print.

This is a friendly reminder that we want all students in school when classes are in session! We understand a variety of things come up which may make a student miss class. As a district, the following would be counted as excused absences for students if communicated by the parent/guardian:

• Physical or mental illness of the student or of a child whom the student is parenting (a physician’s verification is required after four (4) consecutive days of absence for illness)
• Severe weather
• Medical appointments for the student or for a child whom the student is parenting without a
• Death or serious illness of the student’s family member
• Attending a funeral, wedding or graduation
• Appearance at court or for other legal matters
• Observance of religious holidays of the student's own faith
• College planning visits
• Personal or family vacation
• School sponsored activities which require students to be absent from school
• Other absences which have received prior approval from parents and the Principal

For all unexcused absences, the following policy is in place to help ensure students have the needed class time to earn credit:

• Each student will be allowed a maximum of 9 absences per class, per semester. Time missed in excess of this limit will be made up in summer school or before and after school. Absences resulting from participation in school activities or suspensions will not count toward the 9-day limit. Students and parents will be informed after 6 absences from any class. Failure to make up the time will result in loss of credit. Elementary and Junior high absences in excess of 9 days must be made up or retention may become a consideration.
• A student may receive a waiver of make-up time if he or she can successfully demonstrate with documented evidence, to an attendance committee, that all absences, for which a waiver is requested, have been excusable absences.
• Note- Suspended days do not count toward the nine-day maximum if work is successfully completed.
• The following scale will be followed on reduction of credit for students grade 9-12:
• 10-14 days absent 1 credit deduction or waiver
• 15-19 days absent 2 credit deduction or waiver
• 20-24 days absent 3 credit deduction or waiver
• 25-29 days absent 4 credit deduction or waiver
• 30+ days absent 5 credit ded./no credit or waiver

In order to get students to class on time and begin lessons, the HPS tardy policy has been updated to the following

• Weekly Tardy List Ran Monday AM from Previous Week
• Detentions / ISS Assigned by Assistant Principal
• All to Be Served by End of Current Week

• Discipline Progression
  • 0-4 Tardies - Grace Period
  • 5-9 Tardies - 30 Minute Detention
  • 10-14 Tardies - 60 Minute Detention
  • 15-19 Tardies - 1 Day ISS
  • 20-24 Tardies - 2 Day ISS
  • 25-29 Tardies - 3 Day ISS
  • 30+ Tardies - TBD

All 7-12 Students NOT out for a winter sport are encouraged to take part in Panther Off-Season S&C sessions here at Hershey High School!!! Daily sessions will focus on strength, range of motion, core stability, and plyometric explosiveness. Sessions will run from 3:50 - 4:30 PM Tuesday - Wednesday -Thursday in the Panther Weight Room. Parents and Students, please remember that Success is EARNED - Success is not GIVEN!!! For more information, contact Mr. Keith Lloyd (HS Math / Head Boys Track & Field).

Below is the bell schedule for the upcoming school year. We will have ONE LUNCH for all 7-12 students with a staggered release from 5th period as detailed below:

1st Period 8:15-9:03

2nd Period 9:06 - 9:54

3rd Period 9:57 - 10:45

4th Period 10:48 - 11:36

5th Period 11:39 - 12:26

1st HS Lunch: 12:20 - 12:57

2nd HS Lunch 12:23 - 12:57

JH Lunch 12:26 - 12:57

6th Period 1:00 - 1:48

7th Period 1:51 - 2:39

8th Period 2:42 - 3:42

On Friday School is let out at the end of 7th Period at 2:39 PM.

As district and breakfast menus are updated, they can be found at the following LINK: https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/300

Students and families are encouraged to communicate concerns related to the mistreatment of others. For students, a trusted adult is the recommended point of contact. This can be an administrator, teacher, coach, or other trusted person. This adult will then work with administration to respond promptly and appropriately. Parents/guardians are encouraged to communicate concerns directly with HPS Administration.

The most important part of any school is the safety and well being of the students and staff! Several items exist within schools to support school safety. These include:

• Secured access during the school day. Visitors to school must check-in at the main office after they are allowed access through the office doors. All other doors are to be closed and locked during the course of the school day.
• Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is established. This provides a consistent student and staff response to potential emergencies. More information about SRP can be found at this LINK.
• Minimizing deliveries during the school day. We understand that a parent may wish to deliver food to students for special occasions, and we appreciate this. We discourage this from being a regular occurrence.
• Minimizing student visits to vehicles during the school day. Students that forget a school-related item in their vehicles may check-in at the main office before they are allowed to visit their vehicles.

We appreciate the important part our students, staff, and families play in keeping our school safe. This year we plan on running eight fire drills, four SRP drills, two tornado drills, and two bus evacuation drills all in an effort to help students and staff be prepared in the event of an emergency.

We believe that we want to continue to prepare our students in the case of an emergency so that we are prepared in the case of a true emergency!