We are working closer and closer to the end of the winter season and approaching the spring season. This past month has been a whirlwind with students back in class and Panther Activities in full swing! It will not be long until we work our way through the month of February and we will be standing on the doorstep of spring. I encourage us all to bear down and finish off the last part of the winter months with our best effort and enthusiasm of the season! 

Please be aware of a couple of items I included in the newsletter this month. First, I have included some reminders for upcoming activities in the months of February, March, and April that will be here before we know it. Second, I have included some reminders for the Class of 2026. With the second semester underway, the clock is ticking for application, scholarships, and graduation requirements.  Lastly, I have included a like to the list of activities for the month of February. We have a number of HOME events at the beginning of the month that you can come to support Panther students! 

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 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 are focusing as a staff on the importance of Common Expectations! We want all stakeholders to know that when students are in the classrooms that 1) Students will be greeted at the doorway 2) Students are to be prepared for class 3) Students will be actively engaged in the lesson taught that day. 

Hershey FFA members delivered an outstanding performance at the District Career Development Events (CDEs) held Wednesday in North Platte, earning top finishes, championship honors, and multiple qualifications for the Nebraska State FFA CDE competitions.

From the welding shop to the judging floor, Hershey students proved their dedication, preparation, and teamwork with impressive results across four competitive events: Welding, Floriculture, Natural Resources, and Meat Evaluation.

Hershey FFA’s Welding team had a dominant showing, finishing as District Runner-Up and punching their ticket to the state contest. Individual highlights included:

Team Overall: District Runner-Up — State Qualifier

MIG Welding: Ty Vaughn — District Champion

YIG Welding: Trey Allison — 5th Place Overall

Oxy-Acetylene (OA) Welding: Gage Gartrell — 2nd Place Overall

Hershey’s Floriculture team earned a strong 4th place finish overall, qualifying for state while bringing home multiple ribbon awards:

Team Overall: 4th Place — State Qualifier

Faith Kearney: 6th Overall — Purple Ribbon

Allie O’Brien: 13th Overall — Blue Ribbon

Brynlee Dawkins: 29th Overall — Blue Ribbon

Ashlyn Allen: 49th Overall — White Ribbon

Hershey FFA’s Natural Resources teams competed at an elite level, with Hershey #1 earning the district title and Hershey #2 narrowly missing a higher finish after a tiebreaker.

Hershey #1: Kolton Palm, Jacob Murphy, Dillon Lorensen, Dalton Sterner

District Champion Team — State Qualifier

Hershey #2: Christian Allen, Coy Corfield, Kale DaMoude, Noah Murdock

5th Overall (lost tiebreaker)

Christian Allen — Individual District Champion

Hershey FFA’s Meat Evaluation team placed 6th overall, earning recognition as a State Alternate.

Team Overall: 6th Place — State Alternate

Kolton Palm: White Ribbon

Sam Sachtjen: White Ribbon

Layla Sanchez: White Ribbon

These results reflect the time and commitment Hershey students have invested in sharpening their skills and representing their chapter with pride. The Hershey FFA program also expressed gratitude for the staff and community support that continues to help students succeed.

A special thank you goes to Mr. Winchester, who spent early mornings each week helping prepare Hershey’s welding team for competition.

With multiple teams qualifying, one thing is clear: Hershey FFA is State Bound!

Congratulations to all Hershey FFA members on an incredible District CDE performance!

Please join us in celebrating HPS Senior, Amelia Lake, on being selected for the 2026 State FFA Choir!!! She along with a number of other FFA students across the state of Nebraska will sing throughout the Nebraska State FFA Convention which will take place on March 25th - 27th.

Congratulators to Amelia and we wish her the best as she represents Hershey on the big stage! 

This year we will continue to dive into and focus on strengthening our instruction through the Marzano Instructional Framework. This year we will take time to reflect and work on the importance of having curriculum aligned to standards, having assessments that give students and staff a clear understanding of what they know, and continuing to work on engagement strategies in the classroom.

It is our hope and expectation that through our continual work within the Marzano Framework and building a strong curriculum for our students, we can continue to improve the student experience and see students Learn, Grow, and Thrive here at HPS!!

Please click on the LINK BELOW to access the Activities Calendar for the month of February!! We will continue to participate in a number of activities this month and there will be many opportunities to support our Panthers on the courts, mat, and stage!!!

LINK: https://www.hpspanthers.org/events 

Once again, Mr. Cudney and Mrs. Pettera will be hosting a "Panther Spring Connection" on Wednesday, April 15th for students in current grades 6th thru 12th.

There will be designated grade level times for students and parents to get final REMINDERS on the current school year as well as some PREVIEW information for the 2026-2027 school year. 

Save the date on your calendars for this important evening! 

HPS will not be in session for students on Monday, February 16th and Wednesday, February 25th.  

On February 16th, Hershey Public Schools is hosting the ESU16 PLC Day which brings together the schools from Educational Service Unit 16 for a day of staff development and learning. It is a great day of collaboration and encouragement for the staffs in our ESU16 district!

On February 25th, Hershey Public Schools is excited to host the SPVA Speech Championships, bringing together talented student orators from across the conference for a day of incredible speech competition! 

Hershey Junior/Senior High will be holding the final round of testing in the month of April. All 7-10 students will participate in the spring round of NSCAS/MAPS testing to be held the final two weeks of the month.

Hershey Juniors will participate in taking the ACT test and Hershey Sophomores will participate in taking the Pre-ACT test on Wednesday, April 8th. These students will continue to have access to the John Baylor "Onto College" ACT test prep as well as having nationally renowned ACT Prep presenter, Chad Cargill, to share with sophomore and junior students on Monday, March 16th. 

All testing provides critical data for all stakeholders to use in order to make a student's educational experience the best it can be at Hershey! We look forward to the final round of testing this spring at HPS! 

HPS Panther Important 12th Grade

January - NCAA Clearinghouse Registration 

1.19.26 - No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

2.16.26 - No School - ESU 16 Professional Development

2.25.26 - No School - SPVA Speech 

3.2.26 - Start of NSAA Spring Sports

3.12.26 & 3.13.26 - No School - Spring Break 

3.21.26- HPS Prom 

4.3.26 & 4.6.26 - No School - Easter Break 

4.8.26 - Pre-ACT / ACT Testing Day - Senior Schedule TBD 

4.13.26 - 4.21.26 - Spring MAPS Testing - Senior Schedule TBD 

4.27.26- Activities Honors Night 

5.3.26 - Senior Baccalaureate @ Our Lady of Guadalupe

5.4.26 - Senior Trip @ TBD 

5.5.26 - Seniors Last Day | HPS 7-12 Honors Ceremony 

5.6.26 - Graduation Practice & Final Walk @ 2:00 PM 

5.9.26 - Class of 2026 Graduation @ 10:00 AM 

12th Grade Reminders 

Pass Classes + Stay on Track = Graduation is ONE SEMESTER AWAY 

ACT Test Prep = Homeroom & 24/7 Access - Take Advantage NOW 

Panther Power Hour: Mon - Thur 3:45 - 4:45 PM **CHANGE** 

Attend the April 15th “Panther Spring Connection” starting at 6:00 PM in the Activities Center. 

MUST complete the FAFSA or parents must come in and complete the FAFSA opt out form in person…..State of Nebraska graduation requirement! 

Scholarships!!!! Get Thrillshare Rooms & board outside Mrs. Pettera’s office 

Cap & Gowns….Got to pay $62.00 before you receive them. 

Scholarships will be awarded/announced at the May 5th Academic Awards Ceremony. The activities honors night will be reserved for activities.  

Hershey Public Schools is excited to host the 2026 Hershey Prom which will be held on Saturday, March 21st.

The evening will start with the Grand March at Hershey High School scheduled to start at 7:00 PM in the Activities Center. The event will then transition to Venue 304 in North Platte for the dance portion of the night which will start at 8:30 PM and run to 11:00 PM. The doors will open at Venue 304 at 8:00 PM and all students will be subject to a breathalyzer test upon entrance. If students leave the dance prior to 11:00 PM, parents will be notified and a students will not be readmitted.

Looking forward to celebrating a great tradition with Panther students and their guests. All guest forms must be turned into the main office by Wednesday, March 11th. 

Hershey Public Schools is proud to recognize the academic excellence of its students by announcing the Quarter 2 All A Honor Roll and A Average Honor Roll. These honors celebrate the hard work and dedication of students across all grade levels who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.

All A Honor Roll

The All A Honor Roll highlights students who have achieved straight A's in all their coursework for the quarter. This prestigious recognition reflects their commitment to excellence and sets a high standard for academic performance.

A Average Honor Roll

The A Average Honor Roll recognizes students who have maintained a strong overall GPA with an average of an A grade. These students have shown consistent effort and determination in their studies.

Hershey Public Schools congratulates all students on their accomplishments and extends its gratitude to the teachers, staff, and families who support their educational journeys. The school is committed to fostering a culture of academic success and celebrating the achievements of its learners.

The following items need to be turned in to the high school office PRIOR to a student-athlete participating in spring sports practice on Monday, March 2nd, 2026.

2025-2026 Physical (After 5.1.25)

NSAA Consent Form

HPS Drug Testing Consent Form

Looking forward to an EXCITING spring sports season in Panther Nation!!!

Below are the dates school will not be in session during the rest of the school year. Please make every effort to plan trips, vacations, and student absences during this time. 

2.16.26 - Presidents Day - Staff Professional Development

2.25.26 - SPVA Speech - Staff Professional Development

3.12.26 & 3.13.26 - Spring Break 

4.3.26 & 4.6.26 - Easter Break

All students are welcome to attend Panther Power Hour here at Hershey throughout the school year! 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 3:45 - 4:45 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. Lorensen'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!

2025-2026 Weighted Grading Scale

We will continue in the 2025-2026 school year with the use of weighted grading for ALL Dual Credit Classes. This list of dual credit classes offered at Hershey that will count towards this include the following:

• English 1010

• English 1020

• College Algebra

• College Speech

• College Psychology

• College Sociology

• College Trig

• College Stats

• College Wealth Build

• College Accounting

• Welding 1050 NEW

The grading scale that will be used will be similar to a number of other area schools who use weighted grading for dual credit courses.

• A = 5.0

• B = 4.0

• C = 3.0

• D = 2.0

• F = 0.0

HPS Breakfast & Lunch Menus

We are excited as a district to now partner with Opaa! as our new food service provider here at HPS! They will continue to offer breakfast and lunch for all students, as well as a “Second Chance Breakfast” for 7-12 students at the conclusion of first period. Check out the following link for updated daily menus! LINK: https://myschoolmenus.com/organizations/3386

Nebraska SMART (Success Made Accessible through Rural Tutoring) is a free virtual tutoring program for K-12 students who attend any Nebraska school. Teacher education candidates from Chadron State, Peru State, and Wayne State Colleges remotely tutor students through an online tutoring platform.

Nebraska SMART was established by the Nebraska State College System in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Education, which awarded an Innovation Grant to the State Colleges to develop a rural tutoring program. Chadron State College, Peru State College, and Wayne State College collaboratively offer this free online tutoring program to K-12 students in Nebraska.

Please follow the links below for more information on how this free program can benefit your students!!!

NEBRASKA SMART TUTORING WEBSITE LINK https://nscs.edu/nebraskasmart

NEBRASKA SMART TUTORING VIDEO LINK https://youtu.be/6nFWyY1fEGA

Please look at the above map to see parking and entrance locations for activities this fall at Hershey High School! Please note there is handicap parking close to the school just on the south side of the Activities Entrance. Additionally, the HPS Activities Entrance as well as main entrance to the school are now marked with clear signage!

Below are some GREAT tips and reminders shared by our 7-12 guidance counselor, Jolene Pettera! 

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 2026 Thrillshare Room  as well as outside Mrs. Pettera’s office. 

The next ACT test is April 11th-late registration is March 23rd (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.

No Missing Work Recognition

In an effort to reward students who are continually doing what is asked of them and staying on top of their work, we have started a No Missing Work recognition. Panthers who have no missing work during the course of a week will be entered into a weekly grade band drawing for a $5.00 gift card to the Hershey Concession Stand. The winners will get a gift card and be posted to HPS social media!

Electronic Device Policy

The district has adopted an updated personal electronic device policy for the 25-26 school year. Students in grades 7-12 will be asked to put all personal electronic devices (cell phones/watches/ear buds) in a school issued pouch that is to be placed in their school issued backpack from 8:15 AM until 3:42 PM. Students in grades 9-12 can access their personal electronic devices from the start of the lunch period until 1:00 PM. Students that fail to comply with the new policy will have their personal electronic device confiscated and turned into the office and progressive disciplinary action will be taken. There will be more information shared out on school social media as well as at the beginning of the school year kickoff event.

7-12 Food & Drink Policy

In order to comply with FDA guidelines as well as promote healthy decisions and lifestyles, we will continue to work on limiting food and drink in the building for students during the 2025-2026 school year. Students MAY NOT bring in outside food or drink into the classroom and/or any food or drink brought into the building must be consumed before school starts at the beginning of the day or before classes resume following lunch.

7-12 Student Tardy Policy

In order to get students to class on time and begin lessons, the HPS tardy will continue to be 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

• Any unserved discipline will be doubled after a week of it being assigned by HPS administration.

7-12 Homeroom Period

Starting this school year, all students in grades 7–12 will end their day in a designated homeroom classroom. This new structure was developed through collaboration between a teacher committee and the HPS administration. The final 20 minutes of each school day have been intentionally designed to provide meaningful support and enrichment for all Hershey 7–12 students.

• During this time, students will engage in a variety of activities, including:

• ACT test preparation

• Character development lessons using Mike Smith’s Harbor video series

• Weekly grade checks and opportunities to complete missing work

• Skill-building in organization, planning, and goal setting

• Targeted academic intervention

• Homeroom competitions and games to foster community and engagement

• Designated reading time to support and strengthen literacy

This dedicated period is intended to help students grow academically, socially, and emotionally as they prepare for success both in and beyond the classroom.

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!