Dear Panther Families and Community,

We just completed the first nine weeks of the 2025-2026 school year.  I want to thank everyone for all you have done to help make it a great start to a successful year.  I also want to congratulate all the coaches, staff, activity sponsors and students for all of their effort in the fall activities. 

Those of you who attended parent teacher’s conferences noticed the wonderful decorations and all the work that the elementary library did for the book fair.  Thank you for all your hard work! We had a great turnout we had.

We have many celebrations in November, the Veteran’s Day Program will take place at the school on November 11th at 9:30 am in the Activity Center and November 17th through the 21st is American Education Week.  Make sure that you say “Thank You” to a teacher for everything they do for kids in the Hershey School District.  Teachers put in a lot of extra time helping students and it is nice for them to hear positive comments from students, parents and patrons of the district.

The fall weather has been beautiful, however eventually the weather will change and slick road conditions and reduced visibility may alter the start and stop times of the school day.  Decisions to have a late start or early out are cautiously considered based upon weather reports, news media, and personal observations when we drive around and check roads.  School closure information is sent out to parents via Thrillshare, our communications platform which includes, voice and text messages, as well as organizing our social media posts.  The following radio or TV stations will also be contacted:  KNOP-TV, KX104/KODY radio, KOLN-TV, NTV, KOGA radio, and KELN/KOOQ.  Parents always have the final decision on whether to send their children to school or if they want to pick them up early.

Students do not have school on Monday, November 7th for Fall Break and there is no school November 26-28 for Thanksgiving Break.

I am always open to suggestions or comments on anything pertaining to school.  Feel free to give me a call at 368-5574 or stop by the school.  Have a great month and Go Panthers!

Mrs. Jane Davis, Supt.

Have a wonderful month!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Jane Davis, Ed.S.
Superintendent

We are gathering parent feedback to help improve our playground area. Your input will help us make decisions that ensure the playground is safe, fun and appropriate for all students.

During school construction, the PreK–3 and 4–6 playgrounds were temporarily combined into one shared space. Now that construction is complete, the Board of Education would like your input on whether one combined playground is sufficient, or if the playgrounds should be split, with a playground added for students in grades 4–6. 

One of the Board’s 2025–2026 goals is to renovate the elementary school playground to improve its overall quality, ensuring it is durable, safe, and enjoyable for students. The Board also recognizes that drainage and surface areas will be important considerations for any future elementary playground areas to ensure safety, durability, and accessibility.

This is a short survey, and we would love your input.  If you could answer this survey by Tuesday, November 4th, it would be greatly appreciated.

Parent Survey Link: Please click HERE

                       Hershey Panther Pride Marching Band Performing at State Marching Band Competition!

The Hershey Panther Marching Band wrapped up an amazing season this past weekend, earning a Superior rating at the NSBA State Marching Competition in Kearney! This achievement is the perfect way to end a year full of hard work, early mornings, and an incredible attention to detail.

Earlier this fall, the band also earned Superior ratings at both the Minden Band Fest and the Columbus Festival, showing off their talent, teamwork, and dedication at every single performance.

A big shout-out to Mrs. B and Mrs. Evans for their awesome leadership, preparation, and commitment to our students. Their energy and passion continue to grow and strengthen the Panther Fine Arts program—we’re so lucky to have them!

And of course, a huge thank you to all of our 2025 Panther Pride Marching Band members. Your hard work, positive attitude, and school spirit made this a season to remember. We’re so proud of you and can’t wait to see where your musical journey takes you next!

Way to go, Panther Pride Marching Band!

Each November,  we’re proud to celebrate American Education Week — a time to recognize the amazing students, staff, and families who make Hershey Public Schools such a special place. The first American Education Week was held back in 1921, started by the National Education Association and the American Legion to highlight the value of education and bring communities together in support of their schools.  More than 100 years later, that purpose still rings true. Here in Hershey, we see it every day — from our Power Hour program that gives students extra time and support, to our Transitional Kindergarten where our youngest learners take their first steps in school. It’s a great reminder that education really is a team effort, and we’re thankful for everyone who helps our students learn and grow.

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:

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

It’s easy to lose track of how much time we spend on our phones each day. A few minutes here and there can quickly add up—sometimes to hours each day, weeks each year, or even a full month of our time. Our goal isn’t to give up our devices altogether, but to be more mindful about how we use them.

This week, I’d like to encourage everyone to take a quick look at your screen time. Notice where your time goes, and then challenge yourself to cut back by just 15 minutes a day. 

That small change might open up more time for conversations, hobbies, or simply a little more rest.

Let’s work together to model balance and intentional technology use for our students and families. Little choices can make a big difference in how we connect, learn, and live each day.

Hershey High School celebrated an exciting milestone for the Class of 2026 during Apply to College Day—a special event designed to help seniors plan their next steps after graduation.

Throughout the afternoon, 30 Panther seniors worked on college and postsecondary applications with help from counselors and staff. Students completed applications, explored scholarships, and connected with college representatives from across Nebraska and beyond.

“We’re so proud of our seniors and the dedication they’ve shown toward their future goals,” said HPS 7–12 counselor Jolene Pettera. “This event was a wonderful way to celebrate their hard work and make sure every student has the support to take that next step.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 for your hard work and excitement about the future—we can’t wait to see where your journeys lead!

Hershey FFA students created a mini farm at the school on Friday, October 24th.  The FFA wanted elementary students to experience agriculture in a real, hands-on way. Many kids only see farms from a distance, so this event gave them the chance to get up close to the animals, equipment, and people who help feed the world.

Hershey FFA hosted its annual Elementary Ag Day to be able to give students hands-on opportunities to see, touch, and learn about local agriculture. Students rotated through a variety of stations that featured livestock, farm equipment, and interactive displays. 

This event was organized by the Hershey FFA officer team and included more than 30 FFA members, along with support from parents, Farm Credit Services employees, and community sponsors. Together, they created a fun and meaningful learning experience that helped our youngest Panthers understand just how important agriculture is in their daily lives.

Panther News for PreK–6 — Click to Read!

Panther News for 7-12— Click to Read!

Hershey Public Schools – Activities Director Newsletter November 2025

The fall sports season is in the books, and all of our activities have competed at a high level, making Panther Nation proud!

Softball

The Lady Panthers finished the season with a 6–17 record, closing out their year in Cairo, NE, where they faced a tough Centura team in Sub-District play. The gals competed hard but fell 12–0 to Centura. Great effort this season, Lady Panthers!

Volleyball

The volleyball team wrapped up a strong season with an 18–12 record. The Panthers finished as Sub-District finalists, falling 1–3 to a talented Centura team. The girls were competitive all year long and represented Hershey with pride. Great year, Panther Volleyball!

Cross Country

Congratulations to Matthew Blomstedt for qualifying for the State Meet! Matthew achieved a personal record (PR) at the district meet to qualify and then PRed again at State in Kearney. Fantastic job, Matthew, and great work by all our cross country athletes this season!

Football

The Panthers football team finished with a 5–5 record and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2017! The team faced a strong Hartington Cedar Catholic squad in the first round, ultimately falling 48–0. Outstanding effort this year, Panthers!

Girls Golf

The girls golf team showed tremendous growth this season, ending their year in District play at Perkins County on October 6. Although no golfers advanced to State, the team battled all day and made great strides throughout the season. Nice work, Panther Girls Golf!

Band

The Panther Pride Marching Band earned a Superior Rating at the NSBA State Competition on October 25 in Kearney. An incredible accomplishment that reflects hours of dedication and teamwork. Congratulations, Panther Pride!

Thank You, Seniors!

A heartfelt thank you to all of our senior student-athletes, musicians, and participants who have given so much to Hershey Public Schools. Your leadership, hard work, and dedication have left a lasting impact on our programs and set the bar high for future Panthers. Once a Panther, always a Panther!

Go Panthers!
— Bernie Madison, Activities Director

November Lunch Menus

To see the lunch menus for October - 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