Dear Panther Families,

I am pleased to share that the first few weeks of school have gone very well. I want to congratulate all our fall activity participants and their sponsors on a successful start. The enthusiasm and school spirit shown by our students and staff at recent events has been outstanding.

I would like to take this opportunity to provide several important updates for our families:

Debit/Credit Card Payments
Hershey Public Schools will be accepting debit and credit card payments. Cards may be used for admission to games, concessions, purchases at the team store, and other miscellaneous office items that are tied to the Activities Account. Please note that standard processing fees will apply. This system is not connected to the online lunch program cannot be utilized for the lunch program. Please read below for more information on the lunch program and our new system Edutrak.

School Lunch Program
We are very excited to have Opaa! here as our Food Service Management Company, parents are welcome to visit and eat lunch with your child(ren) to experience lunch as well. Opaa! offers several new features for our students. Due to recent issues with eFunds, we have transitioned to Edutrak for all online lunch payments. Families are encouraged to begin using this system immediately.

We are also pleased to once again serve Birdwood Beef through our school lunch program. To support this effort, we ask each household to complete and return a 2025–26 meal application as soon as possible. Applications are available online, through the family account feature of Edutrak. If you have questions, please contact the School Nutrition Office.

Facilities Update
Improvements are underway at our main entrance. New framing and glass have been installed, and new signage will be added soon. We look forward to the positive impact this project will bring. We have also completed renovating our geothermal heat pumps and other HVAC needs. This projected was completed over the summer and made possible with an NDEE 1% Energy Loan in conjunction with Hershey State Bank.

Communication
Hershey Public Schools will continue to rely on our mobile app to enhance communication with students, parents, and staff. The “Rooms” feature will again be utilized, along with the app’s ability to send voice calls, text messages, push notifications, and updates from a single platform.

We kindly ask families to ensure the school has the most up-to-date phone number and email address for your household. Strong and timely communication will be essential throughout this year. Any significant updates will be communicated as quickly as possible.

Activities and Events
This month will include many home and away activities. Please continue to follow our school website and social media accounts for livestream links, including YouTube and our opponents’ channels.

Thank you for your continued support as we begin this school year together. We are looking forward to many successes ahead.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Jane Davis, Ed.S.
Superintendent

Hershey School Board President Steve Koch Represents Nebraska at National Forum

Hershey Public Schools is proud to announce that School Board President Steve Koch was chosen to represent Nebraska at the National Forum on Education Policy in Salt Lake City, Utah. This important event is sponsored by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) and brings together leaders from across the country to discuss the future of education.

Mr. Koch attended the Forum with a group of Nebraska leaders, including Commissioner of Education Brian Maher, John Spatz from the Nebraska Association of School Boards, Senators Jana Hughes, George Dungan Lonowski, and Danielle Conrad Juarez, State Board of Education Members Elizabeth Tegtmeier, Maggie Douglas, and Kristin Christensen, and Mike Baumgartner from the Nebraska Coordinating Council for Higher Education.

“I was honored to be invited to attend and to represent school boards from Nebraska,” said Steve Koch. “It was a great opportunity to learn, share ideas, and make sure the voices of Nebraska schools are part of the national conversation.”

Superintendent Jane Davis praised Mr. Koch’s role, saying, “We are so proud of Steve. His leadership on our school board is outstanding, and his service at the national level shows his commitment not only to Hershey students but to all students across Nebraska.”

Hershey Public Schools Launches New Online Lunch Payment System

Hershey Public Schools has made a change to its online lunch payment system. Due to recent issues with eFunds, the service has been paused, and families will now use Edutrak for all online lunch transactions.

Edutrak is now up and running, providing families with a convenient, all-in-one platform to manage lunch accounts. With an Edutrak account, parents and guardians can:

Check account balances
Review statement information
Customize low balance notifications
Complete a free and reduced-price meals application
Make online lunch payments

This new feature replaces eFunds, which is no longer being used for online transactions. Families who already have an Edutrak account are automatically set up and ready to go.

Fees for Online Payments

Please note that fees are associated with online payments made through Edutrak:

Low balance email notifications will continue to go out around 6:45 p.m. daily. Families are encouraged to set up or log into their Edutrak accounts to stay informed and up to date.

Purchase your HPS Activity Pass - Information Below

Activity Passes are available to purchase for the 2025-2026 season. Family passes are available for the entire year, or just the fall and winter seasons. You can also buy a single adult pass or a single student pass. Please see more information below:

Hershey FFA Fall Kickoff Recap – August 19th

What a fantastic way to start the school year! The Hershey FFA hosted its Fall Kickoff on August 19th, bringing together over 70 members and their families for an afternoon of fun, food, and fellowship. Birdwood Beef treated everyone to delicious burgers, while the officer team kept things cool by serving up homemade snow cones. A big thank you to everyone who came out to make this event such a success—we can’t wait for what’s ahead this year! Stay tuned for more events and opportunities to get involved!

Health Screenings

On Thursday, September 18th, 2025, state mandated student health screenings will be conducted on students in Preschool through 4th, 7th, and 10th grades. Screenings to be conducted include height, weight, vision, hearing, and dental screens. Parents/guardians will be notified in writing of any concerns identified and/or if further evaluation by a healthcare provider is recommended. Health screenings are not diagnostic and do not take the place of routine visits with the student's medical provider. Please refer to the Health Screening FAQ for more details and contact the School Nurse for further questions or concerns.

Senior Information from the counselor:

Applying for scholarships is right around the corner.

Seniors need the following three things to apply for most scholarships.

A resume.

3 letters of recommendation-cannot be family members, one needs to be a teacher, one outside of school, the third can be your choice.

A biographical sketch essay. (students have been given an outline example to follow)

Please make sure you can access rooms and are part of the class of 2026. This is where scholarship information will be placed. It will also be emailed to senior students.

Elementary News - September 2025 Edition

From the Desk of Mr. Thomsen: Welcome to the September Edition

Dear Panther Families,

We are now one week into back-to-school mode, and what an amazing start it has been! The halls and classrooms are already filled with energy, excitement, and hard work. Our students have done a wonderful job diving back into a full day of learning. They are adjusting to new procedures in their classrooms, meeting the expectations of their new teachers, and learning our common expectations throughout the building.

It has been a joy to see students working so hard, both inside and outside of the classroom, as they settle back into the rhythm of school life. Please take a moment to congratulate your son or daughter on the effort and accomplishments they are already achieving here at school. Their growth and positive attitude during this first week have set the tone for a fantastic year ahead!

📖 What’s in the September Newsletter

Schoolwide Updates & Reminders
Learning & Academics
Behavior & Expectations
Parent-Teacher Partnership
Keep Your Contact Information Updated in PowerSchool
Bus Regulations – Summary
What is SRP? (Standard Response Protocol)
Tornado Drill Reflection
Panther Branch In-School Savings Program Opens (9/25)!
Student Health Screenings (9/18)
Mark Your Calendar – September 2025

As we move further into September, I am confident our students will continue to grow, learn, and shine. Thank you for the support you provide at home — it makes a tremendous difference in helping our Panthers succeed each day. Together, we are building a strong foundation for both academic achievement and positive character.

Let’s keep celebrating the little victories and encouraging our children to give their best effort. I look forward to an outstanding month ahead for our entire Panther family!

Jared Thomsen
Elementary Principal
📞 (308) 368-5572
📧 jared.thomsen@hpspanthers.org

Empowering All Students to Reach Their Full Potential.
"Learn, Grow, Thrive – Hershey Public Schools"

Link to the Elementary Newsletter - Please click here to view the entire elementary newsletter.

What is SRP? (Standard Response Protocol)

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is a nationally recognized safety framework developed by the “I Love U Guys” Foundation. It provides a common, simple language and set of actions for students, staff, and first responders during different types of emergencies.

The five main actions are:

Hold – Stay where you are.
Secure – “Get inside, lock outside doors.”
Lockdown – “Locks, lights, out of sight.”
Evacuate – Move to a different location.
Shelter – Take protective actions for hazards such as tornadoes, severe weather, or hazmat situations.

How We Utilize SRP at School

Training & Drills – Teachers and students practice each SRP action multiple times during the year.
Clear Communication – Announcements use SRP terms (e.g., “Secure! Get inside. Lock outside doors.”).
Consistency – All staff members follow the same language and protocols.
Collaboration – Local law enforcement and emergency responders are trained on SRP.
Reassurance for Families – Parents know what each term means and can understand responses during emergencies.

Why SRP Works

Simple, Action-Based Commands – Easy for all ages to remember.
Standardized – Same system used nationwide.
Safe & Effective – Keeps students and staff calm and focused during emergencies.

Panther Branch In-School Savings Program Opens (9/25)!

Attention TK–6 Parents!

We are excited to announce that our Panther Branch In-School Savings Program officially opens for the 2025–26 school year Thursday, September 25, 2025, in the cafeteria from 7:50–8:05 AM!

Hershey State Bank and Hershey Public Schools have joined together to open the Hershey Panther Branch of Hershey State Bank for students in grades Transitional Kindergarten-6th! Our first day of business will be Thursday, September 25, 2025 with the branch open every Thursday morning after that for students to make deposits into their own savings account. A school branch fits perfectly with Hershey State Bank’s philosophy of educating children on the importance of saving so they are better prepared to handle their finances in the future.

What does all this mean to you and your child? Your student will now be able to open a savings account, with your permission, and start saving towards short- and long-term goals they have like a new toy, iPod, a car, or even college.

The Hershey Panther Branch is a unique setup and is only active at Hershey Public Schools. Some important things to note about the branch are:

All money deposited will be under one large school account, however, information about each child’s deposits will be maintained separately.
Withdrawals from this account will not be allowed at school until the child graduates 6th grade or leaves the school.
Withdrawals and deposits to the child’s account will not be allowed at Hershey State Bank
When a child leaves our school, or graduates 6th grade, a check will be issued for their balance in the account.
The branch will be open each Thursday to accept student deposits.
Each student will have their own ledger to record their deposits. These will be maintained at the school and will not go home with the student.
In lieu of interest, children receive incentives provided by Hershey State Bank.

The goal of this program is to provide our students the opportunities to not only learn about savings and how financial institutions operate, but to also become savers themselves. We are building a community of economists here at Hershey Public Schools and want your child to become a savvy saver.

ALL STUDENTS (existing and new) must return this permission slip if they wish to participate for the 2025-26 school year. If you have questions, call Mrs. Elliott or Mr. Thomsen at the School.

High School Principal's Welcome

We are in the swing of things here at Hershey Jr/Sr High School! It is so exciting to have the staff and students back into the building and seeing the educational process back in our building. It is a very exciting time with students settling back into the routine of school, staff working hard to build relationships and deliver content to students, and the start of fall activities off and running. There are many GREAT things taking place on a daily basis in Hershey and I look forward to what the month ahead brings!

As I have stated before, please make note of a couple of items in this month's newsletter. First, please check out the IMPORTANT DATES for the month of September. These dates are critical to make sure of all stakeholders as we get into the start of a new school year. Second, I included some information about the work we are doing with our staff here at HPS to ensure the best educational experience possible. Finally, there are other items of importance for families to use as a reference as we start a new school year here at HPS!

As always, if there is anything we can do to support you and your family, do not hesitate to reach out to me here at the school. We have the privilege of working with great students every day and if there is a way we can partner to make it a better experience, let’s have that conversation!

2025 Fall Sports Media Day

The Hershey Panthers hosted the 2025 Fall Sports Media Day on Friday, August 22nd, marking the official kickoff to the fall activities season.

As part of the event, Nebraska Portraits captured both team and individual photos for all fall sports programs. In addition, local media representatives from KNOP News 2, the North Platte Telegraph, and the Sutherland Courier conducted interviews with Panther athletes and coaches, providing the community with an inside look at the teams and their outlook for the year.

Fall Sports Media Day once again served as a proud tradition for Hershey, highlighting the hard work and dedication of student-athletes while building excitement among fans and families ahead of competition.

Mike Smith "Live" 7-12 Event - September 8!

Hershey High School is excited to announce that Mike Smith, youth entrepreneur, coach, and founder of Mike Smith Live, will be on campus Monday, September 8 to lead his Design Your Life workshop with students in grades 7–12 and our staff.

What Is Design Your Life?

Mike Smith is a Stanford-certified Design Your Life Coach who helps young people explore who they are, identify their strengths, and design a future filled with purpose and possibility. His workshops encourage students to ask big questions about their values, goals, and choices—giving them practical tools to navigate transitions and challenges with confidence.

At Hershey, Mike’s Design Your Life session will:

Guide students to reflect on their own story and strengths.
Provide strategies to set goals and make intentional choices.
Encourage creative problem-solving and resilience in the face of setbacks.
Help staff and students build a shared language for growth and support.

Why It Matters

Too often, students are told what to do but not how to design a life that’s meaningful to them. Mike’s workshop is about equipping Hershey Panthers with the mindset and tools to pursue opportunities, overcome challenges, and create a personal vision that extends beyond high school.

We’re proud to bring this unique learning experience to our school as part of our commitment to student leadership, well-being, and lifelong success.

Nebraska Portraits School Re-Take Day

Families of students are reminded that the school picture retake day will be on TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd and will take place throughout the day here at HPS. Ordering information will be shared electronically via email to all parents/guardians in the days following picture retake day.

This day is for any student/family that missed the original picture day or is wanting a second chance in taking their school pictures for the year. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the school office for more information.

To read the entire 7-12 Principal Newsletter for September - Click Here

September Lunch Menus

To see the lunch menus for September - Click Here

Calendar Event Information

It is important that you are viewing the Hershey Event Calendar in the correct app on your mobile device. In order to see updates on your cell phone when activities change, please utilize Google Calendar on your Apple Device, this will ensure that you are seeing the updated information. Events | Hershey Public Schools

September Activities Director Newsletter

The fall sports season is upon us. All activities have competed at the end of August and will continue to build the PATH (Process oriented, Accountability, Teamwork, Honesty) culture at Hershey Public Schools.

As we begin competitions and set out for the start of a promising 2025-2026 activities campaign, remember we will have a number of activities here at Panther Nation such as a number of home volleyball games, four football games, as well as four softball games and many lower level activities. Please, take a look at Diana's “Ticket/Extra duty” sign up sheet, and come support the Panther activities.

Softball began their season on the 21st of August with a loss to Cozad. The gals got their 1st win of the year over Alliance in the Holdrege tourney on the 22nd of August. Then they played a very good Kearney Catholic team on the 28th and fell in both games of the double header. The gals will be at home again on the 4th of this month vs Alliance at 4:00 PM. Good Luck, Panther Softball!

Volleyball started the season off at home on the 28th of last month vs pre-season #4 Broken Bow and battled in a 5 set thriller coming out with the win! The ladies will be back at home on the 2nd of this month vs Ogallala with 1st serve for the reserves at 4:30 PM. Good Luck, Panther Volleyball!

Cross Country fired the gun on August 28th at Arrowhead GC in Medicine Valley. The boys placed 3 and got 3rd, gals medaled 3 and got 2nd, JH medaled 2. The teams will be in action at the Irish Invite on the 4th of this month. Good Luck, Cross Country!

Football kicks off on the 29th of August (today’s writing) vs Gibbon, here at home at 7:00 PM. The fellas are lookin’ good and have been working hard in preparation for the 1st kick of 2025. Good Luck 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. They played a scramble type format and had fun. They linkers will be back on the course on 4th of September at the Creek Valley Invite. Good Luck, Panther Golf.

Band performed in GI for the State Fair on the 25th of August and looked good, with many compliments on their performance. Good Luck, Panther Band.

Bernie Madison, Activities Director

September 2025 Newsletter