Dear Hershey Elementary Families & Friends,

Spring has officially arrived, bringing warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and plenty of activities both at school and in our community. With only about 35 student school days remaining, it's crucial that we all remain focused on finishing the year strong academically.

As tempting as it may be to give in to "spring fever," please continue to encourage your child to maintain their academic priorities despite the distractions of beautiful spring weather, busy evening schedules, and various Hershey Public School spring events. Your partnership in keeping academics at the forefront is greatly appreciated!

Looking ahead, we will soon begin our final testing session with Spring Benchmarks using AimsWeb+ and NWEA/NSCAS MAP platforms. All students in grades TK-6 will participate in both assessments. These tests are important, and we ask you to remind your child to take their time, try their best, and stay focused throughout the testing process.

To help motivate students, we are excited to announce our upcoming MOJO Student Challenge! Similar to last year, students will be challenged in several areas, including attendance, academic performance, behavior, and testing results. Additionally, we look forward to unveiling our brand-new Academic Achievement Board, which will celebrate student growth, individual and class percentile achievements, and overall testing success. This special board will proudly display accomplishments from students in grades TK-12 and will be revealed at our much-anticipated Academic Pep Rally!

Thank you for your ongoing support as we work together to make this spring a successful and rewarding time for all our students. Go Panthers!

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"

04.01.26 - April Fool’s Day

04.02.26 - Spring Testing Pep Rally (2:45 PM)

04.03.26 - No School - Easter Break

04.03.26 - Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

04.04.26 - School Librarian Appreciation Day

04.06.26 -  No School - Easter Break

04.07.26 - Fire Drill 

04.13.26 - Muffins with Mom (Preschool)

04.13.26 - April Student of the Month Presentations

04.13.26 - April School Board Meeting

04.15.26 - Q4 Midterm - Progress Reports Sent Home with Students

04.22.26 - Earth Day

04.22.26 - Administrative Professional Day

04.23.26 - 4th Grade Field Trip

04.24.26 - Arbor Day

04.28.26 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

05.01.26 - Seniors Last Day

05.04.26 - 6th Grade Invention Convention (5:30)

05.04-05.08 - Teacher Appreciation Week

05.06.26 - School Nurse Day

05.08.26 - All Library Books Due

05.08.26 - Millionaire Party

05.08.26 - Bump-up Day (TK-6)

05.09.26 - Graduation Class of 2026

05.11.26 - Fire Drill

05.11.26 - May School Board Meeting

05.12.26 - Spring Sing

05.13.26 - PK, Kdg, 1st, 6th Field Trip

05.14.26 - 3rd Grade Field Trip

05.18.26 - 2nd Grade Field Trip

05.18.26 - Speech Pathologist Day

05.18.25 - PK Graduation (2:00)

05.19.26 - Elementary Field Day (12:30-3:30)

05.20.26 - 11:30 Dismissal - Last Day of School

TK-6 HPS March Student of the Month Nominees

This month, we take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our incredible students. Through the Hershey Public School Student of the Month program, we recognize those who go above and beyond—students who exemplify kindness, dedication, and a positive attitude in everything they do.

From September through April, teachers nominate students who consistently demonstrate qualities such as hard work, respect, and a commitment to making our school community a better place. These nominations highlight students who shine as leaders, friends, and learners.

Congratulations to all our March classroom nominees! Your efforts, positive attitude, and dedication to excellence set a powerful example for your classmates and our school as a whole. We are so proud of each of you!

Hershey Public Schools is proud to congratulate our February HPS Student of the Month nominees—students recognized by their classroom teachers for consistently modeling Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility across our classrooms, hallways, cafeteria, and playground. This recognition is sponsored by the district and celebrates Panthers who set the standard every day.

🎉 March Nominees:

TK - Zachary Green

KJ - Brighton Sanders 

KM - Bowen Sneed

1J - Grayson Lowman

1W - Rayken Kohler

2H - Adeline Lorenson

2S - Jeremiah Walter

3K - Kate Colvin 

3KO - Brynlee Star

4A - Kaisen Crowell 

4H - Roland Brittenham

5B - Nolan Haddow

5T - Bryar Jensen 

6C - Rex Siegel 

6M - Alec Simonson

TK-6 HPS March Student of the Month: Alec Simonson

Congratulations to Alec Simonson (6M), chosen as the overall March HPS Student of the Month! Alec is an all-around great student who consistently maintains good grades. He shows maturity in the classroom and is always respectful, responsible, and willing to help others. Alec sets a positive example for his classmates through his hard work and attitude toward learning. I’m very proud of Alec and know that he is more than ready and capable of taking on Junior High  next year! Keep up the awesome work, Alec – we are so proud of you!

Regular attendance and arriving on time are key to student success. When students are at school each day and ready to learn, they build strong routines, feel more connected, and make greater academic progress.

⏰ Tardy Bell: 8:15 AM
Students are considered tardy if they arrive after the bell rings, so we encourage families to plan for drop-off and getting into the building before 8:15.

🚗 Drop - Off & Arrival Expectations

To keep our morning traffic moving safely and smoothly, please follow these procedures:

Use the designated drop-off areas:
West Crushed Rock Lot
South Gravel Lot
South Paved Lot
Activity Center Entrance (drop-off only)

Do NOT enter or stop in the bus drop-off lane.

Please do not block traffic, and remember there is no parking in drop-off lanes.

If using the Activity Center Entrance, please stay clear of the bus lane at all times.

📞 Reporting Absences

If your child will be absent for any reason, please contact the school office as soon as possible to notify us of your child(ren)’s absence. Communication helps us ensure student safety and maintain accurate attendance records.

🩺 Appointments & Instructional Time

Whenever possible, we encourage families to schedule appointments outside of school hours. Consistent instructional time is important, and avoiding missed class time helps students stay on track.

Thank you for helping us keep mornings safe, organized, and focused on learning!

Weather Preparedness: Spring in the Air!🌸☀️

As we step into the month of April, the days are growing longer, and signs of spring are beginning to emerge. While occasional cool mornings may still linger, warmer temperatures and sunnier afternoons are becoming more frequent. With this shift in weather, it’s important for your child to dress appropriately for outdoor play as we continue to enjoy fresh air and recess.

This is a great time to transition from heavy winter gear to lighter jackets, sweatshirts, and comfortable layers that can be adjusted throughout the day. As always, we will monitor the temperatures to ensure a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience for all students.

Here are our updated reminders and guidelines for outdoor play:

🌡️ Indoor Recess: If the "real feel" temperature drops below 0°, students will stay inside for recess to remain warm and comfortable.
🧥 Layer Up: When temperatures are below 50°, students should wear a jacket or sweatshirt to stay comfortable during outdoor activities.

Your support in following these guidelines helps all students make the most of the changing seasons while staying safe and comfortable. Let’s welcome spring with energy and excitement! 🌼🌞

🚗 Drop-Off / Pick-Up & Safety Reminders

As we return from winter break, we appreciate your help reinforcing safe arrival and dismissal routines. Consistent procedures help keep our students safe and keep traffic moving smoothly.

🚶 Walkers — Release Procedures

All elementary walkers are dismissed through the West Elementary Doors.
Please remind your child to exit the building safely and follow all adult directions at dismissal.

🚌 Bus Riders — Important Reminders

Bus riders should report to the Commons Area at the end of the day and:

Check in with their driver

Sit at their designated table until called to load

Follow all bus riding expectations (please refer to the Student Handbook)

No food or drinks on the bus unless otherwise allowed by the driver

If the bus is equipped with seatbelts, students must buckle up

Thank you for supporting safe and respectful bus behavior!

🚘 Parking Lot Safety & Traffic Flow

Our parking lots can become busy quickly, especially during winter weather. Please help us maintain safe traffic flow by:

Following all posted signs and staff directions

Staying in your lane and watching closely for students crossing

Avoiding blocking drive lanes or loading zones

Keeping drop-off/pick-up moving efficiently

Safety is our top priority—thank you for being patient and attentive during arrival and dismissal.

⏰ Morning Arrival Reminder

For student safety, building doors do not unlock until 7:50 AM and students are not supervised prior to that time.
Please do not allow your child to exit the vehicle or arrive at school before staff are present.

We appreciate your support in planning drop-off times accordingly—this helps ensure all students are supervised and safe.

Spring Testing Pep Rally: April 2, 2026 (2:45)

Spring Assessment Schedule:

AIMSweb Plus Testing

NWEA MAP & NSCAS Testing

📅 April 13 - April 22, 2026

💡 Students, get ready to show what you know!

🌷📚What Parents Need to Know about AimswebPlus, MAP Growth, and NSCAS📝🌱

As spring approaches, students in Transitional Kindergarten (TK) through 6th grade will participate in several assessments designed to monitor their academic progress and guide instructional strategies. Understanding these assessments can help parents support their children's educational journey. Below is an overview of three key assessments: Aimsweb®Plus, NWEA MAP Growth, and NSCAS.

Aimsweb®Plus: Monitoring Foundational Skills

Aimsweb®Plus is an assessment system that evaluates foundational reading and math skills for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It combines curriculum-based measures with standards-aligned assessments to provide a comprehensive view of a student's abilities. The primary purposes of Aimsweb®Plus are to screen for learning gaps, identify at-risk students, and monitor individual and group progress over time.

For example, in the School District of Philadelphia, Aimsweb®Plus is used to assess math and English literacy skills for all students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This helps teachers understand each student's current performance level and tailor instruction accordingly.

NWEA MAP Growth: Measuring Academic Progress

The NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth is a computer-adaptive assessment that measures students' academic achievement and growth in subjects like reading and math. Unlike traditional tests, MAP Growth adjusts the difficulty of questions based on the student's responses, providing a personalized assessment experience. This approach offers immediate insights into what students know and are ready to learn next, allowing teachers to tailor instruction to individual needs

MAP Growth assessments are administered three times a year—fall, winter, and spring—to monitor progress and set growth goals. The results help teachers identify students' strengths and areas for improvement, facilitating targeted instruction. For instance, Richardson Independent School District utilizes MAP Growth to assess students' instructional levels and measure academic growth throughout the school year.

NSCAS: Nebraska's Statewide Assessment

The Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System (NSCAS) is a statewide assessment program designed to measure student performance against Nebraska's content area standards. Students in grades 3–8 participate in NSCAS Growth assessments for English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, while students in grades 5 and 8 also take the NSCAS Science assessment. These assessments are administered in the fall, winter, and spring to provide ongoing insights into student learning.

NSCAS Growth assessments are computer-adaptive tests that adjust to each student's performance level, offering a personalized assessment experience. The results help educators understand how students are progressing academically and inform instructional decisions. For example, the Nebraska Department of Education has transitioned to NSCAS Growth to streamline assessments and prioritize information that supports learning throughout the year.

Supporting Your Child During Assessments

As a parent, you can play a vital role in your child's assessment experience:

Stay Informed: Understand the purpose and structure of each assessment. Resources like the NWEA Family Toolkit offer valuable information to help you navigate the assessment process.

Encourage a Positive Mindset: Help your child approach assessments with confidence by emphasizing that these tests are tools to help them learn and grow.

Establish Routines: Ensure your child gets adequate rest, nutrition, and a calm environment during assessment periods.

Communicate with Teachers: Discuss your child's assessment results with their teachers to understand their progress and identify areas where additional support may be beneficial.

By familiarizing yourself with these assessments and actively supporting your child, you contribute to their academic success and overall well-being.

Our school is incredibly fortunate to have dedicated, talented, and caring staff members who make a tremendous impact on our students every day. Throughout April and May, there are several important dates set aside to honor these remarkable individuals. We encourage everyone—students, families, and colleagues—to take a moment to express your gratitude with a kind message, a thoughtful phone call 📞, a quick text 📱, or a handwritten note ✍️. Let's show our heartfelt appreciation!

Upcoming Appreciation Dates:

Paraprofessional Appreciation Day – April 3, 2026 🍎
Paraprofessionals are essential in supporting students' academic growth and emotional well-being. Help us thank them for their invaluable assistance and kindness.

School Librarian Appreciation Day – April 4, 2026 📚
Librarians open doors to discovery, learning, and imagination. Let's show appreciation for the vibrant learning spaces they create.

Administrative Professionals Day – April 22, 2026 📋
Our administrative professionals keep our school running smoothly behind the scenes. Celebrate their tireless efforts and organizational talents.

School Bus Driver Appreciation Day – April 28, 2026 🚌
School bus drivers ensure our students arrive safely each day. Please join us in acknowledging their dedication and commitment.

Teacher Appreciation Week – May 4-8, 2026 ✏️📖
Teachers nurture, inspire, and motivate our students every day. Let’s make this week extra special by showing our gratitude for their passion and dedication.

School Nurse Day – May 6, 2026 🩺❤️
School nurses care deeply for the health and wellness of our students. Express your thanks for their compassion and expertise.

Speech Pathologist Day – May 18, 2026 🗣️💬
Speech pathologists make a profound difference in students' communication skills and confidence. Help us honor their impactful contributions.

Together, let’s ensure each staff member feels valued and celebrated for their incredible commitment to our students! 🌟

🐾 Q3 ROAR Assembly - Celebrating Positive Choices!

Q3 ROAR Assembly (Photos + Videos)

Hershey Elementary students gathered this week for our Quarter 3 ROAR Celebration Assembly, a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the many positive choices our students have made throughout the quarter.

At Hershey Public Schools, ROAR stands for Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility. These four core values guide our expectations for student behavior and help create a positive and supportive learning environment for everyone. Throughout the quarter, students earn ROAR cards from staff members when they demonstrate these behaviors in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria, playground, and across the school community.

Over the past several months, students have been collecting these ROAR cards as recognition for their efforts. During the assembly, students had the opportunity to redeem their accumulated ROAR cards by entering them into prize drawings. Students could place their cards into any of the available prize buckets, choosing the experience they were most excited about.

This quarter’s ROAR reward experiences included:

VIP Lunch Access – Winners receive a one-week VIP Lunch Pass, allowing them to skip the lunch line and enjoy seating at the special VIP lunch table in the cafeteria.

Ice Cream Sundae Bar – Students will enjoy creating their own ice cream sundae with a variety of toppings while celebrating their positive choices with friends.

Board Game Time in the Library – Winners will spend time in the library playing classic games such as UNO, Connect 4, Jenga, Candy Land, Chess, puzzles, and more.

After the main ROAR prize drawings were completed, all remaining tickets were combined for additional prize drawings. Students whose names were drawn received certificates to local businesses in North Platte.

We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of our local partners, including:

Applebee’s, Runza®, Qdoba, Dave’s Place (Pizza Boxes)

As your child redeems their certificate at one of these businesses, we encourage you to thank their management team on behalf of Hershey Public Schools. We truly appreciate their partnership and their continued commitment to supporting our students.

This celebration would not have been possible without the many staff members and students who helped make the event special.

A special thank you to the HPS Cheer and Dance teams, who performed for students and helped lead fun skits during the assembly. Thank you as well to the Cheer and Dance sponsors for their leadership and support.

We would also like to recognize the dedicated members of our ROAR Committee, including:

Chelsey Margritz, Rachel Klein, Jade Siegel, Lindsay Stier

Additional staff members who helped with photos, skit details, and presentations included:

Dani Bode, Tracy Ballentine, Sarah Ostmeyer, Kelly Murdock

Students also had the opportunity to participate in a fun student skit, where randomly selected participants carefully held an empty pizza box with one hand while trying to knock other players’ boxes out of their hands. Staff members even joined in the fun! A special thank you again to Dave’s Place in North Platte for donating the pizza boxes used in the activity.

We would also like to thank our custodial staff for their help setting up the Activity Center and preparing the space for the celebration.

Events like this remind us how powerful positive recognition can be in building a strong school culture. We are proud of our students for the effort they show each day in demonstrating Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility.

Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community partners for helping make our ROAR program such a success.

Encouraging a growth mindset in children helps them embrace challenges, persist through difficulties, and view effort as a path to mastery. Here are some strategies to nurture this mindset at home:

Praise the Process: Focus on your child's effort, strategies, and progress rather than innate abilities. For example, say, "I'm proud of how hard you worked on that puzzle," instead of, "You're so smart." This reinforces the value of effort and learning.
Mindset Works

Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities: Encourage your child to view mistakes as a natural part of the learning process. Discuss what can be learned from errors and how to approach the task differently next time. This helps them understand that failure is a stepping stone to success.
Mindset Works

Discuss the Brain's Ability to Grow: Explain that the brain is like a muscle that gets stronger with use. Learning new things creates new connections in the brain, enhancing its capabilities.
School of Education Online

Model a Growth Mindset: Share your own challenges and how you've overcome them through effort and perseverance. This demonstrates that learning is a lifelong process and that persistence leads to improvement.

By implementing these practices, you can help your child develop resilience and a positive attitude toward learning, setting the foundation for lifelong success.

We’re excited to remind all Kindergarten through 6th-grade families about a great opportunity to help your child build strong financial habits! The Panther Branch is open every Thursday morning and welcomes student deposits of any amount.

📍 Where: Cafeteria / Commons Area
🕒 When: Thursdays • 7:50–8:05 AM

The Panther Branch is a fun and meaningful way for students to begin developing healthy saving habits early on. Whether it’s spare change from an allowance, birthday money, or a small weekly deposit, every contribution helps teach the value of saving for the future.

✅ Why Participate?

💡 Build Essential Skills: Students learn budgeting, goal-setting, and financial responsibility.
📈 Plan Ahead: Even small deposits add up quickly and teach the importance of preparing for future goals and unexpected needs.
🎉 Fun & Engaging: Saving becomes an exciting routine and something students look forward to each week!

It’s never too late to start. Encourage your child to join us and take the first steps toward building a strong financial foundation—one deposit at a time!

🐾 Go Panthers!

👏A Round of Applause!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible individuals and groups who continue to make a difference in our school community:

Our Amazing Bus Drivers – Your dedication to ensuring students arrive safely to and from school every day is truly appreciated. Thank you for all you do!

Substitute Teachers, Paraprofessionals, and Support Staff – Your unwavering commitment ensures that learning never stops, no matter the challenges. Thank you for always stepping in when needed!

Our Custodial Team – Your tireless efforts to maintain a clean, safe, and welcoming environment do not go unnoticed. Thank you for your dedication to our school's well-being!

All parents, grandparents, and guardians attending elementary parent-teacher conferences – Your involvement and support make a huge difference in our students' success. Thank you for your partnership!

HELP Club, Sponsors, Isabell Auction, Donors – Thank you for organizing an amazing Help Club Silent Auction.

As we move into the month of April, we are encouraged by the full arrival of spring and the continued growth we see in our students each day. This time of year brings renewed energy, new opportunities, and steady progress — all of which are reflected in the meaningful learning happening throughout our classrooms.

We are incredibly grateful for the strong partnership between our school and families. Your support, encouragement, and involvement continue to create a positive learning environment where students feel safe, valued, and motivated to do their very best. Together, we are building strong academic foundations while fostering a community grounded in kindness, respect, responsibility, and Panther pride.

As we move further into the final months of the school year, our focus remains on finishing strong. April is a time of growth and momentum, and we will continue to channel that energy into engaging learning experiences that help every student succeed and thrive.

Thank you for your continued support of Hershey Public Schools. We look forward to the opportunities ahead this month and celebrating the ongoing accomplishments of our students. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. Wishing you and your family a wonderful and refreshing April.

Go Panthers!

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"