August 2025 Newsletter
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! The building has been active over the summer; we were very excited so many students attending activities throughout the summer in the building!
As we are preparing to begin a new school year, I want to take a moment to thank our staff, students, and community for their continued support and partnership. This summer, we’ve made exciting progress on several projects across the district. We are replacing 29 geothermal HVAC units that were installed in 2010 to improve energy efficiency and classroom comfort—a project made possible through low‑interest financing from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, in partnership with Hershey State Bank. Signage has been updated in the school, the Main Entry is in the process of being updated; the Competition Gym Floor was repainted and resealed, and we also installed new carpet in the several classrooms, added fresh paint and updated flooring in the building, and completed deep cleaning of classrooms, furniture, and cabinetry. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our outstanding custodial team—Todd, Savanah, Clay, Malachi, and Lew—for their hard work and dedication all summer long. I also want to thank our office staff: Stacy, Diana and Stacey for their work this summer. Many behind the scenes jobs are completed to prepare for the new school year! These gals do a great job!
We have updated our cell phone and personal electronic device policy to help students stay more focused, engaged, and connected to their learning during the school day. Over time, we observed that frequent phone use in classrooms and hallways was creating distractions, limiting meaningful interactions, and impacting academic performance. By reducing phone usage during instructional time, we are creating a more productive environment where students can concentrate, participate in class discussions, and build stronger relationships with peers and teachers. This change supports student well-being, helps limit social media pressure during the day, and reinforces a culture of respect and responsibility across our school. More information will be found in this newsletter.
Hershey Public Schools is excited to begin working with Safe2Help NE as our anonymous reporting system for 25-26. This system is designed for students, staff, and parents to anonymously report concerning behavior that could impact the safety of students or school across Nebraska. More information will be shared on this through our website, and student handbook.
We are excited to welcome students back for the 2025–2026 school year, which will begin on Tuesday, August 19th. I’m pleased to invite all families to our upcoming Back-to-School Open House events. First, the 7–12 Chromebook Checkout Night will be held on Thursday, August 14, from 7:00–9:00 PM. Students and parents can pick up Chromebooks, visit classrooms, and attend a presentation about Student Services from Dr. Luke McConnell and a presentation on digital citizenship from Karen Haase of KSB School Law. Then, on Monday, August 18 at 5:30 PM, we’ll welcome PreK–6 students and families to visit classrooms and enjoy a complimentary meal generously donated and served by Hershey State Bank. We’ll also feature presentations from Dr. McConnell and a representative from KSB will present on safe and responsible use of technology. These events are designed to help families connect with our school community, get acclimated for the year ahead, and understand the digital tools students will be using. Throughout the fall semester, we will provide more information on this topic to parents, teachers, students, and stakeholders.
I want to take this opportunity to welcome the following new staff members to Hershey Public Schools:
- Emily Kammerer will teach Ag Education and will be our FFA Sponsor
- Dale Hall will be a new PE teacher and help with Adaptive PE and will also be our Head Boys and Girls Wrestling Coach and Head Girls Tennis Coach.
-Daymen Hollingsworth will be a new custodian.
-Shelley Norsworthy will be a new bus driver.
-Katie Cranmore – Early Childhood Paraeducator
-Stacy Spector – Paraeducator
We are excited to have these teachers and staff members on board! Please take a moment to welcome them to Hershey Public Schools when you get a chance.
On August 22nd, we will kick off the evening with a volleyball scrimmage at 5:00 PM, followed by a Community Pep Rally featuring our cheerleaders at 6:30 PM. After the pep rally, the football scrimmage will take place. We invite everyone to come out and support our Panthers! It’s shaping up to be a busy and exciting few weeks as we celebrate and prepare for the 2025–2026 school year.
Communication between teachers, coaches, students, and parents will continue to utilize “Rooms.” Rooms simplify the digital classroom while bringing all communications into one place. If you change email addresses or cell phone numbers, please let the office know as this is also utilized for our school-wide messaging service, which can send a text, email, and phone call to parents and students. This system is tied into our Hershey Public Schools App. Please search the app stores with “Hershey Panthers” to download and install.
PowerSchool also has a mobile app for students and parents so that you can keep up-to-date on grades and assignments daily. Please download the PowerSchool app from the app store as well. It is available on all platforms.
Hershey Public Schools does have a social media presence: Facebook (Hershey Panthers), Twitter (@hersheypanthers), and Instagram (@hpspanthers). On each social media platform, you may search for Hershey Panthers. If you follow Twitter, you can follow using #hpspanthers. We now have a Hudl presence and we are able to stream more activities and events through Hudl or on our YouTube Channel. You will see a link on www.hpspanthers.org to watch the activities!
Communication between all school stakeholders will be increasingly important this year! We will communicate any significant changes as soon as possible. We look forward to a great school year!
Educationally,
Mrs. Jane Davis, Ed. S.
Superintendent
View Online: 7-12 Mr. Cudney’s Newsletter
View Online: TK-6 Mr. Thomsen’s Newsletter
August Activities Director Newsletter
Fall sports season is upon us. All activities will gear up for fall camps and work to be competitive for the 2025 fall activities season. Having just finished up an excellent summer program in which the kids have put in deposits toward a successful fall campaign!!!
All NCAA fall practices start on the 11th of August.
Softball will begin their season on the 21st of this month vs Cozad. The gals will be at home on the 28th of August. Good Luck, Panther Softball!
Volleyball will serve for the first time on the 26th of this month in Sutherland for the HOF jamboree. The ladies will be home on the 28th of August vs Broken Bow. The gals will have a scrimmage on the 22nd of August at 5:00 PM prior to the Community Pep Rally. Good Luck, Panther Volleyball!
Cross Country fires the starting gun on August 28th at Arrowhead GC in Medicine Valley starting at 10:00 AM. The kiddos are ready to run the courses. They have put in those summer miles to bring in those fall smiles. Good Luck, Cross Country!
Football kicks off on the 29th of August vs Gibbon, here at home at 7:00 PM. The fellas will scrimmage on the 22nd of this month after the Community Pep Rally at 7:00 PM. Good Luck, Panther Football
Girls Golf hit the links on the 25th of August dueling Gothenburg at Wildhorse GC teeing off at 2:00 PM to start the season. Good Luck, Panther Golf.
Band has their band camp at the beginning of this month. They head to GI for the State Fair Parade on the 25th of August. Good Luck, Panther Band.
Bernie Madison, Activities Director
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As part of Hershey Public Schools commitment to students’ safety and mental health, beginning in August we are launching an anonymous reporting program, which will allow students and parents to make anonymous reports about concerns of safety or student wellness. Our program is student-focused, as opposed to crime-focused, meaning it is a tool for alerting caring adults about students who need help—not snitching. This is part of our continuous effort to increase campus and student safety, and provide students with a safe, completely anonymous outlet to share concerns.
Students can use our new Safe2HelpNE app to report: bullying, suicide concerns, depression, sexting, stealing, threats, cutting, abuse, dating and domestic violence, fights, drugs, alcohol, weapons or other types of dangerous situations that threaten their safety or the safety of others. Their reports will be addressed by a trained school threat assessment team.
When you or your student have a concern, you can go to www.safe2helpne.org on your computer, tablet, or laptop-- or you can download the free Safe2HelpNE mobile app-- and make a 100% anonymous report in less than five minutes.
The use of anonymous reporting apps in state programs like Safe2Tell Colorado have proven to be successful in providing the tools and information needed for school officials and to proactively address concerning behaviors, potential incidents of violence, and other harmful situations on campus before they develop. We look forward to working with you and your student to continue making Hershey Public Schools a safe school district.
Educationally,
Mrs. Jane Davis, Supt.
Safe2Help Nebraska
LUNCH MENU
https://myschoolmenus.com/organizations/3386
HERSHEY BOARD MEETING MINUTES
https://meeting.sparqdata.com/Public/Organization/58
HERSHEY ACTIVITIES
https://www.hpspanthers.org/events
It is the policy of the Hershey Public School District not to discriminate on the basis of sex, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, age or national origin in its education programs, administration, policies, employment or other agency programs.