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"

Mark Your Calendar!

September 1 – No School (Labor Day) PK–12
September 2 – Teacher In-Service (PLC) – No School PK–12
September 8 – Student of the Month Recognition (September)
September 8 – School Board Meeting – 7:00 PM
September 12 – Mid-Term (Progress Report Sent Home)
September 17 – Constitution Day
September 18 – Health Screenings (PK–4th, 7th, & 10th graders)
September 19 – Little Cheer Camp (2:30–5 PM)
September 23 – School Photo Day Retakes & Preschool Pictures
September 25 – TK–6 In-School Savings Program Begins (7:50 AM)
September 29 – October 3 – Homecoming Week
September 30 – Blood Drive

📝 Schoolwide Updates & Reminders

Back-to-School Success – We’ve had an amazing start! Students are settling into routines, meeting expectations, and showing Panther Pride.
Attendance Matters – Being present and on time each day makes a huge difference. Please help us by encouraging strong attendance habits. Students shall arrive no later than 8:10 AM, as the tardy bell rings at 8:15 AM.
Arrival & Dismissal – Thank you for following our drop-off and pick-up procedures. A few reminders: [all parents are encouraged to utilize the west crushed rock parking lot, south gravel lot, or concrete lot to park; all students will start their day in the cafeteria for breakfast or activity center for walk-club;].

Learning & Academics

Classroom Routines – Students are learning new classroom expectations and procedures that set them up for a great year of learning.
Upcoming Assessments –
- Aimsweb®Plus: September TBD
- NWEA MAPs/NSCAS: September TBD
These assessments help us understand each child’s strengths and areas for growth.
We are working to finalize our assessment calendar. These dates will be shared with all stakeholders soon.

Behavior & Expectations

Panther ROAR – Students are practicing Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility throughout the school. Students who exhibit these overarching behaviors receive praise and a ROAR Ticket. Students have opportunities to redeem these tickets for various rewards and or prizes.
Common Expectations – We are reviewing expectations in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria, and playground.

🏫 Parent-Teacher Partnership

Parent-Teacher Conferences – Mark your calendars! Conferences will be held October 23–24. More information will come soon. Parent Sign-up information will be available at the beginning of October!
At-Home Support – Encourage your child to read nightly, practice math facts, and get plenty of rest for full school days.
Stay Connected – Teachers value communication — don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns. Utilize Apptegy/Thrillshare Rooms.

Keep Your Contact Information Updated in PowerSchool

As we begin a new school year, it’s very important that we are able to stay connected with you. One of the best ways we communicate important information is through your contact details in PowerSchool.

If you have not yet logged into your Parent PowerSchool account to review and update your phone number(s), email address, and emergency contacts, please do so as soon as possible.

Without current information in PowerSchool, you may not receive important district text messages, phone calls, or emails regarding school closures, events, and urgent updates.

✔️ Please take a few minutes this week to log in and make sure your information is accurate and complete.
✔️ If you need assistance or are unsure how to update your account, please don’t hesitate to call the elementary office — we will be glad to help you.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure smooth and effective communication throughout the school year. Keeping your contact information updated helps us keep you informed, connected, and prepared.

Bus Regulations – Summary

General Rules

Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right.
Bus drivers have the same authority as teachers.
Students must follow all school rules, the student code of conduct, and the driver’s instructions.
Repeated misconduct can result in loss of bus-riding privileges.

Rules of Conduct on School Vehicles

Obey the driver promptly.
Wait safely for the bus, away from traffic and the stopping area.
No fighting, bullying, harassment, or horseplay.
Enter calmly, without crowding, and go directly to assigned seats.
Remain seated; keep aisles and exits clear.
Do not throw or pass objects on, from, or into the bus.
No profanity, obscene gestures, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances.
No weapons, look-alike weapons, hazardous materials, nuisance items, or animals.
Conversations should be in normal tones; no loud or boisterous behavior. Avoid distracting the driver.
Be absolutely quiet at railroad crossings and whenever the driver requests silence.
Windows may only be opened with driver permission. Nothing may be extended outside.
Secure any items that could cause injury in an accident.
Respect the rights and safety of others.
Keep the bus clean; remove personal items and trash when leaving.
Students may only get on/off at assigned stops unless pre-approved by the superintendent or transportation director.
Video cameras may be used on buses to monitor behavior.

Consequences

Misconduct must be reported by drivers to administration.
Students may face disciplinary action, including:
- Notes sent home
- Suspension of bus privileges
- Exclusion from activities
- In-school suspension
- Short- or long-term suspension from school
- Expulsion
These consequences are not progressive — any listed consequence may be applied at the administration’s discretion.
Misconduct records are kept like other student discipline records and may be forwarded to law enforcement if serious.

Special Transportation Rules

Requests for alternate drop-off points will not be accommodated unless there are extenuating circumstances and approval from administration.
Non-route students may not ride home with friends unless:
- Written permission is provided by the non-route rider’s parent (including date, name, signature, and drop-off location).
- Space is available.

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.

Tornado Drill Reflection

On August 26, 2025 our students and staff at Hershey Elementary participated in a tornado drill. Safety is one of our top priorities, and practicing emergency procedures helps ensure that everyone knows exactly what to do should a real situation arise.

What Happened
At 9:15 AM, we conducted a schoolwide tornado drill. Students and staff followed our evacuation plan to move into the Super Gym shelter area. Classes walked quietly and on the right side of the hallways, funneled smoothly into two lines at the stairways, and were seated quickly and in an organized fashion once inside.

We were proud to see that all TK–6 students made it safely to the shelter, along with several 7–12 students, and there was still room to spare. The process was calm, efficient, and showed how well our Panthers can work together in an important safety situation.

Why We Do This
In Nebraska, severe weather can occur with little notice. Typically, a tornado watch means conditions are favorable for a tornado, and a tornado warning means one has been sighted or indicated by radar. If placed under a tornado warning, we would evacuate to the shelter just as we practiced today.

What’s Next
The drill went very well overall. One area we will continue to work on is maintaining a “0” voice level once inside the shelter so that directions can be heard clearly. Teachers and staff will continue to reinforce this with students in future practice drills.

We appreciate your support in helping us create a safe environment for every child.

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.

Student Health Screenings (Thursday, September 18, 2025)

Student Health Screenings (Thursday, September 18, 2025) On Thursday, September 18, 2025 Hershey Public Schools will be conducting our mandatory student health screenings. Students in Preschool, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th and 10th grades will all participate. The Health screenings will include measuring students' height, weight, vision, hearing, and dental. Parents/Guardians will be notified in writing if there are any concerns that were 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 contact the School Nurse for further questions or concerns at (308) 368-5572. For more information about health screenings, or to view frequently asked questions, please click here!

District Resources

Rooms (Parent-Teacher Chat)

2025-26 School Calendar

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve you and your family as the elementary principal at Hershey Public Schools. I’m truly grateful for the partnership we share in helping your child grow and succeed.

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!

Take care,

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"

The Panther Pulse