Elementary Newsletter 📰

Parents,

As we find ourselves already 9 days into the quarter, the sights and sounds of fall are beginning to make their way to our community. The leaves are starting to turn, the mornings are crisp, and we are settling into the routines that mark the beginning of a new school year. It's a time of fresh starts, new friendships, and exciting opportunities for growth.

Our teachers and students are working hard to establish strong classroom routines and foster positive learning environments. We've seen so many bright smiles and enthusiastic faces, and it's clear that your children are embracing this new school year with energy and excitement. Thank you for your continued support in helping us make these first few weeks a great success. We look forward to a wonderful fall season filled with learning, growth, and memorable experiences!

Educationally Yours,

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”

9.02.24 - Labor Day (No School)

9.03.24 - Teacher In-Service PLC (Hershey) (No School)

9.04.24 - Safety Patrol Starts

9.06.24 - Semester 1 Bus Evacuation Drill

9.09.24 - Present Student of the Month

9.13.24 - Little Cheer Camp

9.16.24 - Mid Term (Progress Reports Handed Out)

9.24.24 - PK Individual & Class Pictures (Nebraska Portraits)

9.24.24 - TK12 Picture Retake Day (Nebraska Portraits)

9.24.24 - Health Screenings (Preschool, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th and 10th)

09.26.24 - In-School Savings Program Opens (7:50-8:05 AM)

10.01.24 - Blood Drive

10.07.24 - Present Student of the Month

10.11.24 - End of Q1/Homecoming

10.14.24 - Teacher In-Service (No School)

10.15.24 - Start of Q2

10.24.24 - PK-12 PTC’s

10.25.24 - PK-12 PTC’s

11.01.24 - Teacher In-Service (No School)

We strongly encourage all TK-6 parents to use the west parking lot as the primary pick-up and drop-off location. This area is specifically designed to ensure a smooth and safe process for students arriving at and leaving school.

Concerns About Alternate Locations: We understand that some parents have been using the south gravel lot or the paved concrete lot for pick-up and drop-off. However, both of these areas can become extremely busy during the morning and after school, which poses safety concerns for our students.

Safety First: To ensure the safety of all students, we urge parents to begin using the west parking lot. Students may enter the school through the west doors or walk around to enter through the activity center. Your cooperation in following these guidelines will greatly contribute to the safety of all students

Students who must wait for older siblings (7-12) after school, are asked to wait in the cafeteria.

• Paras will be stationed throughout the hallways and outside to help ensure safety of the students

• Paras will help children cross the street and ensure they find their parent(s)

• All students who ride the bus meet in the cafeteria with their corresponding driver. Buses leave the parking lot at 3:50 PM (Mon-Thurs) and 2:45 PM (Friday).

This year, we've implemented a new procedure where all students head outside for recess before going to lunch. Research shows that recess before lunch can lead to better behavior in the cafeteria, improved focus in the classroom, and students eating more of their lunch. To ensure a smooth transition, students arrive at recess in a 10-minute staggered timeframe, starting with transitional kindergarten at 11:00 AM and ending with 5th and 6th grades at 12:00 PM. This staggering not only reduces the number of students on the playground at one time but also allows for more adult supervision, as both teachers and paras are actively involved. Students have 20 minutes scheduled for lunch but can take up to 30 minutes to finish eating, ensuring they don’t feel rushed. As we continue to settle into this routine, I'm confident that it will become even smoother as the week goes on.

K-6 Lunch Times

*School breakfast/lunch prices for the 2024-2025 year are as follows:

Breakfast:

• K-12 - $1.95

• Adult/Guest - $3.00

• Extra milk - $0.55/carton
• Extra Lunch Entree - $2.65

All parents are strongly encouraged to complete Free and Reduced Lunch Application (https://5il.co/kd7g), even if you are certain that you don’t qualify. We appreciate you taking time to complete this application.

Amy Newton, Christy Schmitz, Greg Hilton, Floydene Dressel, and Karen Ditch will be transporting your children for the 2024-25 school year.

If your child is scheduled to ride the bus but has alternate plans or will not be riding on a particular day, we kindly ask that you communicate these changes to the district office. Our secretaries will then relay this information to the classroom teacher, the student, and, most importantly, the bus drivers. Most families have the bus driver's phone number and can also send a text message to them if it happens to be outside of the office hours. This communication is vital to ensure that no students are left at school at the end of the day or missed during morning pick-up. We greatly appreciate your cooperation in helping us keep all students safe and accounted for. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

My job is to make sure our bus drivers transport your children the safest way possible. If you ever have any questions or concerns with your bus route or incidents on the bus, do not hesitate to contact me right away. All of our bus drivers are properly trained and understand they have the most important jobs ensuring the safety of your child’s transportation.

In order to provide safe transportation to and from school on the school buses it is imperative that students strictly follow the rules of behavior as defined in the Student Handbook. Please understand the driver’s primary responsibility is the safe transportation of your children. He or she cannot be distracted by behavior problems while driving. Our buses are equipped with on-board cameras. Misconduct can create complications for our drivers and present a safety hazard on the bus. I will meet with students who are seen and/or reported in violation of these and any other rule of conduct on the bus and I will also notify parents of the behavior that must be corrected. Consequences for school bus misconduct may include restriction or suspension from bus privileges and other disciplinary measures up to and including expulsion from school. The following are the conduct rules for students riding the bus. Please review these with your students:

1. Standing while the bus is in motion.

2. Extending arms or objects out of windows.

3. Blocking aisles or emergency exits.

4. Harassing or bullying other students.

5. Using inappropriate language or gestures.

6. Eating or drinking on the bus without permission.

7. Damaging or vandalizing bus property.

8. Bringing weapons, drugs, or any other prohibited items on the bus.

9. Disregarding the bus driver's instructions.

10. Engaging in disruptive behavior that distracts the driver.

11. Smoking or vaping on the bus.

12. Fighting or physical altercation with other students.

13. Putting feet or belongings on the seats.

14. Exiting the bus at unauthorized stops.

15. Using electronic devices.

16. Engaging in any behavior that poses a safety risk to themselves or others.

17. Any other behavior that violates the school's code of conduct or transportation policies.

By maintaining respect for these rules, for the bus driver, and for other students we can ensure a safe and comfortable ride to and from school for everyone on the bus.

As we approach the fall season, our students will soon be taking important district assessments. Tentatively scheduled, Aimsweb®Plus will be administered during the week of September 9-13, followed by the NWEA MAPs the week of September 16-20. These assessments are designed to measure and track student growth, helping us tailor instruction to meet each child's unique needs.

Aimsweb®Plus is a powerful tool that provides the framework, data, and guidance educators need to effectively allocate resources and interventions. The system helps us identify learning gaps early on, allowing us to intervene promptly and support students in their academic journey. Most Aimsweb®Plus assessments are brief, taking just 1 to 4 minutes, yet they provide predictive insights into reading and math achievement. This tool is teacher-friendly, easy to administer, and yields reliable and valid results.

The NWEA MAP Growth test is an adaptive, computer-based assessment that measures student achievement across subjects like math, reading, and science. It adjusts the difficulty of questions based on the student's performance, ensuring a personalized assessment experience. This test is crucial for understanding each student's academic level and tracking their progress over time.

Helping Your Child Prepare

As these assessments approach, it's important to ensure that your child is ready to do their best. Here are a few tips to help them prepare:

1. Get Plenty of Sleep: A well-rested child is better equipped to focus and perform during assessments. Ensure your child gets enough sleep each night leading up to the test days.

2. Eat a Nutritious Breakfast: A healthy breakfast fuels the brain and body, providing the energy needed to stay alert and engaged during the assessments.

3. Encourage and Celebrate Their Effort: Remind your child that these tests are just one way to measure their learning. Encourage them to do their best, celebrate their efforts, and focus on reaching their personal goals.

4. Aim for On-Time Arrival: Ensure your child arrives at school on time, especially on assessment days. This helps them start the day calmly and reduces any added stress from rushing.

By supporting your child with these simple steps, you're helping them approach these assessments with confidence and readiness. We are here to support every student and look forward to seeing their growth and progress this year.

Hershey Public Schools utilizes Rooms, a tool for parent-teacher chat and classroom announcements. If you weren’t able to link your child, please email your teacher and they can get you added. Parents are encouraged to download the HPS Panthers App; once downloaded, parents will be able to toggle between the school app & rooms.

https://www.hpspanthers.org/