JH/HS Principal Newsletter

The calendar has turned over to another month and it is incredible to think that we are two weeks away from the end of the first quarter here at Hershey JR/SR High School!!! The past six weeks have been a blast seeing educators working with our students and the 7-12 student body showing up and bringing their best effort each and every day. Even though the newness of the new school year is starting to wear off, the energy and passion the students and staff are bringing has been a joy to watch and I am encouraged to see what the next quarter will bring!

A couple of items to keep in mind as we make the transition to the month of October. First, we will be holding 7-12 Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday and Friday, October 19th and 20th. These will be held at Hershey High School in the Main Gym from 2:45 - 8:00 PM and 8:00 - 12:00 PM respectively. Fall sports season will be wrapping up for both the junior high and high school teams. Please be on the lookout for information concerning start dates and practice times for these teams.

Finally, please know that all stakeholders are here for ALL students to be successful. If there are any questions or concerns you have, please feel free to reach out to the staff and administration here at Hershey Jr/Sr High School and we will more than happy to help make sure ALL students are successful and have a great experience here at Hershey!

We have officially launched the Thrillshare Rooms communication platform last month for all teachers and parents to use to communicate within the classroom. Each parent should have received a text message and an email explaining how to sign up for their students' classes. This allows parents and students to be able to see what is taking place in class as well as serve as a place for safe and secure communication between teachers, students, and parents. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the school and we will be happy to help you out!

We are continuing to work on our initiative for the 23-24 school year by having a common set of expectations/language for staff, students, and community members here at Hershey. This initiative is called PANTHER MOJO and we will continue to work to make it visible around the school and on social media posts. The acronym for MOJO stands for the following

Meaningful Engagement

cOmmon Expectations

Joy in Learning

Opportunities for Growth.

As a staff we see these four common expectations as a great roadmap for success for the students and staff here at Hershey. These items provide all stakeholders a rallying point to come back to throughout the year to make sure we stay on the path to provide the best learning experiences for our students and staff!

10.2.23 - Girls Golf @ C-5 District Meet (Crandall Creek G.C.)

10.2.23 - Softball @ C-10 Sub District Tournament (Chadron, NE)

10.2.23 - Reserve Volleyball @ Perkins County Triangular

10.3.23 - Hershey Blood Drive @ Legion Club

10.5.23 - Cross Country @ SPVA Championships (Pheasant Run G.C.-Grant)

10.5.23 - JH Volleyball vs Gothenburg Junior High

10.5.23 - R/JV/V Volleyball @ Sutherland High School

10.5.23 - JH Football @ Chase County Junior High

10.6.23 - Softball @ Class C District Final (TBD)

10.6.23 - Varsity Football @ Valentine High School

10.7.23 - Marching Band @ Cheyenne Marching Festival (TBD)

10.7.23 - Varsity Volleyball @ Maxwell Triangular

10.9.23 - NO SCHOOL - Staff Professional Development Day

10.9.23 - Girls Golf @ Class C State Meet (Columbus C.C.)

10.10.23 - Girls Golf @ Class C State Meet (Columbus C.C.)

10.10.23 - Varsity Volleyball @ Perkins County Triangular

10.11.23 - Softball @ Class C State Tournament (Hastings, NE)

10.12.23 - Softball @ Class C State Tournament (Hastings, NE)

10.12.23 - Cross Country @ C-5 District Meet (Crandall Creek G.C.)

10.12.23 - JH Football vs Adams Middle School

10.12.23 - JH Volleyball vs NPSP Middle School

10.13.23 - END QUARTER 1

10.13.23 - Softball @ Class C State Tournament (Hastings, NE)

10.13.23 - Varsity Football vs Gordon-Rushville High School

10.14.23 - Marching Band @ BandFest (Minden High School)

10.14.23 - Varsity Volleyball @ SPVA Tournament (Perkins County H.S.)

10.16.23 - JH Volleyball @ Broken Bow Middle School

10.16.23 - Reserve Volleyball vs NPSP High School

10.17.23 - R/JV/V Volleyball @ Chase County High School

10.19.23 - PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES (2:45 to 8:00 PM)

10.19.23 - Marching Band Exposition @ Summers Field

10.20.23 - PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE (8:00 - 12:00 PM)

10.20.23 - Cross Country @ Class C State Meet (Kearney C.C.)

10.20.23 - Varsity Football @ Amherst High School

10.21.23 - Marching Band @ NSBMA State Contest

10.23.23 - Varsity Volleyball @ Class C Sub-District Tournament

10.24.23 - Varsity Volleyball @ Class C Sub-District Tournament

10.28.23 - Varsity Volleyball @ Class C District Final

Below are some GREAT tips and reminders shared by our 7-12 guidance counselor, Jolene Pettera!

• Make an appointment with Mrs. Pettera to review credits, career goals, and college plans.

• Make college campus visits!

• Continuing working on scholarships that are posted in the senior room. New scholarships are posted as they become available.

• Do you have your letters of recommendation?

• Is your biographical essay complete?

• Is your resume complete?

• ACT test is October 28th-late registration in Oct. 6th (register at www.actsudent.org)

• Fill out college applications. If you have any questions be sure to consult Mrs. Pettera. Submit your application now, along with all necessary forms and application fee.

• Tell Mrs. Pettera where you have applied so transcripts can be sent.

• College Night hosted by Education Quest at 7:00 PM in the HPS Collaboration Space. They will cover the following topics:

• Financial Aid Process

• Types of Aid Available

• FAFSA

• Scholarship Resources

• Admission to 2 & 4 Year Colleges

Below is the link to the 2023-2024 Student Handbook. This outlines the rules and expectations for students here at Hershey Public Schools! We have covered the following items with the 7-12 student body in a school wide assembly as well as in grade level meetings. Your support and encouragement of our school policies at home goes a long ways in creating a great environment for learning here at HPS!

• Safe/Secure School
• Chromebook Usage
• Cell Phone/Personal Electronic Device Policy
• Academic Eligibility & Good Standing
• Lunch/Open Campus
• Grading: Make-up Work / Late Work
• Dress Code

Here is the link to the complete 2023-2024 Student Handbook: https://www.hpspanthers.org/page/handbooks

Hershey Public School Homecoming 2023-24 was full of spirit and festivities. The week kicked off with the whole student body decorating the hallways representing different video game themes. Seniors recreated the video game "Pac-Man", Juniors went with the classic 90's video game, "Super Mario.” The Sophomores went with a newer video game as their theme, "Subway Surfer” and the Freshmen went with a recent classic, "Minecraft.” Finally, 7th and 8th graders transformed their hall into the farm themed video game, Hay "Days". Throughout the week the students dressed to show school spirit by wearing fun costumes. Due to the uniqueness of the schedule this year, the homecoming game was played on Thursday, September 28th, instead of Friday. This allowed the volleyball team to have a homecoming game of their own, as they hosted the Valentine Badgers in a R/JV/V match starting at 3:00 PM. Following the volleyball match, the homecoming football game Hershey vs. Chase County started at 7:00 p.m. The Hershey Panthers scored on a touchdown late in the first half with Cooper Hill throwing to Kaden Thompson for the touchdown and the game was 15-6 at halftime in favor of the Longhorns. The Dazzlers and Sparklers followed with high energy and electric moves. In the second half, the Panther defense continued to play tough and the hometown team was able to put another touchdown on the board, but the Hershey Panthers fell short to the Chase County Longhorns by a score of 22-12. Following the game, the Homecoming Royalty and Court were presented. Hershey’s Homecoming Candidates for 2023-2024 were Freshmen attendants Ella Thompson and Cole Murdock, Sophomore attendants Makenna Foster and Brady Odean, and Junior attendants Alyssa Quiroga and Josiah DeBuc. The Senior Royalty this year were Haily Miller, Adrienna Quiroga, Gracie Seamann, Presley Tridle, Alex Brown, Cooper Hill, Brodey Hund, and Kaden Thompson. The Homecoming Queen and King for 2023-2024 were Adrienna Quiroga and Alex Brown. To conclude the week the students attended the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night, from 8-11:00.

The Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) and Currency are proud to sponsor Believers & Achievers, a state-wide awards program that recognizes Nebraska’s future leaders. Believers & Achievers was designed to reward high school students in Nebraska for their excellence in academics and participation in NSAA activities. Those students who show a commitment to citizenship, school involvement and community projects will be honored in the Believers & Achievers program. Seniors to be, who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 (on an unweighted 4.0 scale) and participate in NSAA sponsored activities are eligible for nomination.​This year, Hershey Public Schools is proud to announce the three local recipients for this award. They are seniors Haily Miller, Kaden Thompson, and Gracie Seamann. These three Panthers represent what it means to be a student-athlete and lead the way for other students here at Hershey! Congratulations to these three Panthers on this great award and wish them the best as they compete at the state level! #PANTHERMOJO

Below is the bell schedule for the upcoming school year:

1st Period 8:15-9:03

2nd Period 9:06 - 9:54

3rd Period 9:57 - 10:45

4th Period 10:48 - 11:36

5th Period 11:39 - 12:26

JH Lunch 11:35 - 12:05

JH 5th Period 12:07 - 12:57

SH Lunch 12:26 - 12:55

6th Period 1:00 - 1:48

7th Period 1:51 - 2:39

8th Period 2:42 - 3:42

On Friday School is let out at the end of 7th Period at 2:39 PM.

As district and breakfast menus are updated, they can be found at the following LINK: https://www.myschoolmenus.com/organizations/300

Below are the dates school will not be in session during Q2:

• October 9th - Professional Development Day

• November 1st - Professional Development Day

• November 22nd - 24th - Thanksgiving Break

• December 25th - January 3rd - Christmas Break

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held this year on Thursday, October 19th and Friday, October 20th here at Hershey High School in the Main Gym. All parents & guardians are encouraged to attend this event as it serves as a great opportunity for parents and teachers to communicate about the students and how to partner to aid in the success of the student. There will also be time to communicate with administration and other support staff if there are any questions or concerns you may have. Additionally, for SENIOR PARENTS, there will be a College Night hosted by Education Quest at 7:00 PM in the HPS Collaboration Space. So please mark your calendars to attend Parent Teacher Conferences on either October 19th or 20th!

Students and families are encouraged to communicate concerns related to the mistreatment of others. For students, a trusted adult is the recommended point of contact. This can be an administrator, teacher, coach, or other trusted person. This adult will then work with administration to respond promptly and appropriately. Parents/guardians are encouraged to communicate concerns directly with HPS Administration.

The most important part of any school is the safety and well being of the students and staff! Several items exist within schools to support school safety. These include:

• Secured access during the school day. Visitors to school must check-in at the main office after they are allowed access through the office doors. All other doors are to be closed and locked during the course of the school day.

• Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is established. This provides a consistent student and staff response to potential emergencies. More information about SRP can be found at this LINK.

• Minimizing deliveries during the school day. We understand that a parent may wish to deliver food to students for special occasions, and we appreciate this. We discourage this from being a regular occurrence.

• Minimizing student visits to vehicles during the school day. Students that forget a school-related item in their vehicles may check-in at the main office before they are allowed to visit their vehicles.

We appreciate the important part our students, staff, and families play in keeping our school safe.

In the first two weeks of school, we have successfully completed one of our two district wide tornado drills as well as one of our two bus evacuation drills for the school year! We believe that we want to continue to prepare our students in the case of an emergency so that we are prepared in the case of a true emergency!