Dear Panther Families and Community,

The first semester of the 2025-2026 school year is behind us, and it was a great semester, the teachers and staff have done an amazing job!  I can’t tell you how proud I am of all of their work and service to Hershey Public Schools.  It is a pleasure serving as the Superintendent for the Hershey School district.

Hershey Public Schools currently serves 513 TK–12 students, and option enrollment continues to play a major role in our district. We have 235 option-in students and 27 option-out students, resulting in a net gain of 208 students through option enrollment. In other words, option enrollment represents 46% of our total student enrollment, which makes it an important part of who we are as a school community.

We also want our community to know that many option-enrolled students have meaningful ties to Hershey. Nearly half (48%) of our option students have a direct connection through being children of alumni (22%), children of staff (15%), or former residents who have moved away (11%). This reflects the strong reputation of our schools and the lasting connection many families feel to Hershey.

Option enrollment also supports our ability to recruit and retain strong staff. Out of 71 staff members, 28 (40%) have had their own children attend Hershey through option enrollment. This is a meaningful indicator that our staff believe in our schools—and it also helps us attract and keep talented educators who want their children to be part of the Hershey school community.

Option enrollment is one important way Hershey Public Schools continues to grow and strengthen opportunities for students. As we plan, we will keep using this information help with program decisions so we can maintain strong class sizes, support services, and extracurricular opportunities for all students. We are grateful for the families who choose Hershey, and we remain committed to providing a safe, welcoming, high-quality learning environment that serves both our resident students and those who option to be part of our Panther community.

Students return to school for the first day of the second semester on January 6th.  School will not be in session for Pre K-12th grade students on January 19th for a scheduled teacher in-service day.

Please be sure to check your phone messages for weather-related school announcements, as this is one of our primary ways to communicate late starts and school closings. If your phone number has changed, contact your school office as soon as possible so we can update your information. Updates will also be shared through traditional media outlets and on our social media channels. Whenever possible, we make weather-related decisions the night before; however, changing conditions may require a decision early in the morning. Student safety is always our top priority in these decisions. If school is in session during winter weather, families may use their best judgment about whether it is safe for their child to attend.

I’m always happy to visit—stop by my office or give me a call anytime if you have questions, concerns, or comments.           

Educationally,

Jane Davis, Ed.S.

Superintendent

Hershey, NE — Hershey Public Schools hosted Christmas Programs this month for our PreK–3, 4–6, and 7–12 students. Each program showcased the strength of our fine arts opportunities and the hard work of our students. Our PreK–3 program continues to be the most attended event we host each year, and it is always special to see our gym filled with families and community members cheering on our youngest performers. A sincere thank you to our music instructors—Sara Anderson, Becky Brittenham, and Lori Evans—for their time, talent, and dedication in preparing students for these wonderful performances.

Hershey senior linebacker Rhodee Hill capped an exceptional 2025 season by being named to the 2025 Omaha World-Herald C2 First Team All-State and earning NSAA Class C-2 District 6 Player of the Year honors!

On the ground, Hill’s 1000+ rushing yards led Hershey and placed him among the top rushers in Class C-2, adding valuable production to the Panthers’ attack. Defensively, he was among the team’s most consistent performers, finishing with 105 total tackles during the 2025 fall campaign.

One of Hill’s standout performances came in a win over Amherst, when he rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown, recorded eight tackles, and added a sack.

Hill’s leadership extended beyond the stat sheet, as teammates and coaches alike credited him for his effort, toughness and ability to elevate the Panthers’ play in high-pressure moments.

The honors mark a rewarding finish to Hill’s high school career and recognize his impact as one of the most dynamic and influential players in Class C-2 this season.

Congratulations to Hershey senior, Rhodee Hill, on an outstanding fall campaign!!!

As Hershey High students continue preparing for college and scholarship opportunities, it’s important for families to be aware of ACT changes rolling out for the 2025 calendar year through spring 2026. The ACT (American College Testing) is a standardized exam used by many U.S. colleges in admission decisions, and strong scores can strengthen an application and may help students qualify for merit-based scholarships. Currently, the ACT includes four subject tests—English, Math, Reading, and Science—with an optional Writing (essay) section.

ACT, Inc. is introducing an “Enhanced” ACT in phases beginning in April 2025. The updated version will be about 75 minutes shorter and will include 44 fewer questions, giving students more time per question and reducing testing fatigue. Another major change is that the Science section will become optional, similar to how the Writing section works today. In addition, the Composite score (1–36) will be calculated using only English, Math, and Reading. If a student chooses to take Science, that score will be reported separately and will contribute to a STEM score. The Math section will also change from five multiple-choice options to four, and students will still be able to choose either paper-and-pencil or digital testing (at participating sites). The new format begins with national digital ACT testing in April 2025, expands to paper/Saturday tests in September 2025, and then rolls out to school-day ACT testing in spring 2026.

These updates are designed to make the ACT more flexible, less stressful, and more modern by allowing students more choice, shortening the test, and offering digital options that better reflect how students learn and test today. Families can help students prepare by staying informed about which test dates use the new format and planning ahead. All juniors will take the state-mandated ACT on April 8, 2026, and sophomores will take the PreACT on the same 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:

Homeroom Classrooms Enjoyed Participating in the Annual Door Decorating Contest!  Great Entries This Year!

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.

Team Store Opens Soon!

The Hershey Panther Team Store will be opening in the next few weeks and will feature T-Shirts, Polos, 3/4 zips, Sweatshirts, Hoodies and Hats! The Team Store accepts our new electronic payment methods! Show your team sprit with some new panther gear!

Please watch for our digital online store in the coming weeks!

The link to the store is HERSHEY TEAM STORE

We’re at the halfway point of the school year, which makes this a great time for a Mid-Year Digital Check-In. Just like we pause to reflect on grades, goals, and routines, it’s also helpful to reflect on our digital habits. A short “digital reset” now can help keep our online world healthy, positive, and manageable for the rest of the year.

Students and families can use this check-in to ask a few simple questions: Is my screen time helping me or stressing me out? Are the apps I’m using boosting my mood—or draining it? Do I feel pressure to always be online? If so, it may be time to set a boundary, mute a chat, or take mini breaks so there is space for sleep, activities, and time with friends offline.

This is also a reminder about digital citizenship—how we communicate and treat others online. Are my messages, comments, and posts kind and respectful? Are my online interactions helping relationships grow, or creating confusion and drama? We encourage students to be thoughtful about what they share, protect everyone’s privacy, and remember the power of words and actions online.

Families play an important role in this process. Consider having a quick conversation at home about healthy screen time, respectful communication, and what to do when something online doesn’t feel right. Thank you for partnering with us to support students in being safe, responsible, and positive digital citizens—both in school and beyond.

Panther News for PreK–6 — Click to Read!

Panther News for 7-12— Click to Read!

HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS — ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR NEWSLETTER January 2026

All winter activities are underway for the 2025–2026 season. Each program has embraced the PATH through the Jungle (Process-Oriented Accountability, Teamwork, and Honesty) and is off to a strong competitive start. Best of luck to all of our students and coaches as the season continues!

PLAY PRODUCTION

Hershey Play Production has wrapped up a successful season, finishing with a 6th place district performance in Bridgeport. Their production was highly entertaining, and our students represented Hershey with pride. Congratulations to the cast and crew on a great season!

GIRLS BASKETBALL

The girls basketball team is off to a strong start and currently holds a 4–2 record. The Panthers return to action on January 6 at South Loup (4:00 PM tip-off). The team will be back home on January 9 to face Maxwell, with the JV game beginning at 4:00 PM.
Good luck, Panther Girls Basketball!

BOYS BASKETBALL

Boys basketball currently sits at 2–4 on the season. The Panthers will return to action on January 6 at South Loup (4:00 PM tip-off). The team will be back home on January 9 against Maxwell, with the JV game beginning at 4:00 PM.
Good luck, Panther Boys Basketball!

WRESTLING

Panther Wrestling continues to improve each day as they work through the early season.
Girls: January 3 — North Platte HS Girls Tournament (10:00 AM)
Boys: January 10 — Central City (10:00 AM)
Home Dual vs. Ogallala (Boys & Girls): January 15 — Hershey (5:00 PM)
Best of luck, Panther Wrestling!

SPEECH

The Panther Speech Team will compete on January 10 at the Lexington Meet, beginning at 8:00 AM. Our students continue to work hard and prepare to perform at their highest level.
Break a leg, Panther Speech!

GO PANTHERS!

— Bernie Madison, Activities Director

Lunch Menus

To see the lunch menus for December - Click Here

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 Device, this will ensure that you are seeing the updated information. Events | Hershey Public Schools