Elementary Newsletter 📰

As the crisp air and colorful leaves of fall settle in, we find ourselves completing 6 of the 8 weeks in Quarter 1, with 27 school days under our belts as of September 27, 2024. The first quarter has been filled with great progress and excitement, and with fall benchmark testing now complete in grades TK-6, we are ready to dive deeper into the academic growth of each student. Our students gave their best effort during testing, and this data will allow us to establish a strong baseline, helping us meet each student where they are academically. With this foundation, we’re ready to work hard and produce significant growth throughout the 2024-25 school year.

Throughout September, our staff has been focusing on "Meaningful Engagement" as part of our MOJO framework—M (Meaningful Engagement), O (cOmmon Expectations), J (Joy in Learning), and O (Opportunity to Grow). Each letter of this acronym represents our commitment to challenging ourselves and growing professionally as educators. As we move into October, our focus will shift to "cOmmon Expectations" in the classroom. This month will be full of events and opportunities for our school community, including our Ribbon Cutting and Open House on September 27, where Student of the Month nominees will help cut the ribbon. Other highlights include a blood drive on October 1, Student of the Month recognition on October 7, and the end of Q1 and Homecoming on October 11.

As we embrace the start of this beautiful fall season, we want to extend our warmest wishes to all of our Hershey Public Schools families. This time of year brings new opportunities for growth and learning, and we are excited to see the amazing progress our students will continue to make. We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and parents as we move forward together into the rest of the school year. Here's to a season full of joy, success, and many memorable moments! Happy fall, and thank you for being a part of our wonderful school community.

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”

9.27.24 - Preschool Advisory Committee Meeting

9.27.24 - Ribbon Cutting/Open House 2:00 PM (Student of the Month Nominees will help cut ribbon)

10.01.24 - Blood Drive

10.07.24 - Present Student of the Month

10.11.24 - End of Q1/Homecoming

10.11.24 - Homecoming Parade

10.14.24 - Teacher In-Service (No School)

10.15.24 - Start of Q2

10.16.24 - Fire Station Visit (PK-3)

10.21-10.25 - HELP Club Scholastic Book Fair

10.24.24 - PK-12 PTC’s

10.25.24 - PK-12 PTC’s

10.28 - 10.31 - Red Ribbon Week

10.31.24 - Parade of Costumes (Halloween)

11.01.24 - Teacher In-Service (No School)

Dear Students, Staff, Parents, and Stakeholders,

This month, we’re taking a deep dive into the 6 Core Rules of Digital Citizenship, focusing on the power of words and actions, being kind and courageous, and becoming critical thinkers and creators online. In today’s digital world, content creation has never been easier or more visible, which is why it’s important to pause before posting. Ask yourself: Is this content kind, necessary, and respectful? Words and actions have the power to uplift or harm, so let’s use our voices to spread positivity and encouragement.

As we navigate the online world, we must also stand up to negativity—mute, block, or unfollow content that brings stress to your digital life. It takes courage to disengage from gossip and negativity, but by wording responses positively and respectfully, we can foster a kinder digital environment. Be brave and lead with kindness, always! Parents, we encourage you to have ongoing discussions with your children about the power of their words and actions online.

Being responsible digital citizens doesn’t stop at kindness. It also means thinking critically about the content we consume and share. Before reposting, check for credible sources and avoid clickbait that can mislead or compromise personal information. The internet is full of fraudulent sites, so be cautious and thoughtful about the information you share and the digital footprint you create.

We invite all stakeholders to join us for a Digital Citizenship Open House on Monday, September 30 at 6:30 PM in the Media Collaboration Space. This event will provide valuable insights into the 6 Core Rules of Digital Citizenship, along with discussions on student cell phone usage

#DigitalCitizenship #PANTHERMOJO #BeKindOnline #CriticalThinking

Dear Parent(s)/Guardians,

Hershey State Bank and Hershey Public Schools have joined together to open the Hershey Panther Branch of Hershey State Bank for students in grades Kindergarten-6th! Our first day of business will be Thursday, September 26, 2024 with the branch open every Thursday morning after that for students to make deposits into their own savings account. The bank will match the initial deposit of all new depositors up to the $5. Any new depositors throughout the year will be matched but not existing depositors. 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 2024-25 school year. If you have questions, call Mrs. Elliott or Mr. Thomsen at the School.

During the week of October 6-12, we will be observing Fire Prevention Week with our PK-3 students, engaging them in a variety of activities designed to teach important fire safety skills and planning. This is a crucial time to discuss fire safety at home, and we strongly encourage each family to conduct a home fire drill to ensure everyone is prepared in case of an emergency.

It’s also a good reminder to regularly test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Experts recommend testing these devices once a month and replacing the batteries twice a year to ensure they function properly.

As part of our Fire Prevention Week activities, PK-3 students will visit the Hershey Fire Department on Wednesday, October 16th. Students will walk to the fire station, weather permitting, so please make sure your child dresses appropriately for the day.

A special thank you to the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department for their dedication to keeping our community safe and for their continued support of our educational programs!

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon! The book fair will be located in the collaboration space. Parents must enter through the south door main entrance. The HELP Club will be organizing this wonderful event and want to remind you that every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!). The Book Fair will be open before and after school for viewing and or purchasing of books. Students will have the opportunity to check out all of the books. The HELP Club always creates a teacher wish list of books that they could utilize for their classroom. If you have interest in purchasing a book for the classroom please look for the wish list as you enter the collaboration space. The book fair will be available during parent-teacher-conferences on the 24th & 25th.

Parents,

Grades PK-6 will be celebrating Halloween on Thursday, October 31, 2024. All students are encouraged to dress in their Halloween costumes during the school day if they wish.

• Important: Anything that can be sprayed or thrown needs to be left at home as it often becomes a distraction. Small amounts of face paint will be allowed until it becomes a distraction to your child or others learning. We encourage you to stay away from paint on their arms and or hands.

Classroom Parties - Only parents who have voluntarily signed up or have been asked to help by their child's teacher, are allowed in respective classrooms. Classroom parties will start around 2:15 PM.

The public is welcome to attend the annual Parade of Costumes at 3:00 PM in the competition gym.

If you can't attend in person, no problem... The parade will be live streamed on our Hershey Panthers YouTube Channel Following the conclusion of the parade, Children will be dismissed to their parent/guardian if they are in attendance.

• Watch Online: I encourage parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to subscribe to our Hershey Panthers YouTube Channel if you haven’t already.(https://www.youtube.com/c/HersheyPublicSchools ) Click the red SUBSCRIBE button.

Parents will need to enter the south commons (activity entrance) doors and check in with Stacy Carder. Parents and Grandparents are encouraged to park in the south or west gravel lot. Folks who need to utilize handicap parking will park on the south concrete lot.

As we near the end of the first quarter, it’s time to prepare for our first Parent-Teacher Conferences of the 2024-2025 school year. Conferences for PK-6 students will be held from 4:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, October 24, and from 8:00 AM to noon on Friday, October 25. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher, celebrate their achievements, and discuss goals for the rest of the semester. I strongly encourage you to schedule a time to meet, as your involvement plays a vital role in your child’s learning journey. More information on how to sign up will be shared by the district soon, and I look forward to seeing a high turnout of parents. Elementary parents have always shown tremendous participation, and we hope to see you all there! If you’re unable to attend during the scheduled times, please reach out to your child’s teacher to arrange a meeting before or after school.

I also want to express my gratitude for the incredible level of parental support and involvement we have here in Hershey. Research consistently shows that students with engaged parents are more likely to succeed in school and life. I encourage you to continue monitoring your child’s progress using the PowerSchool app, which is an excellent tool for keeping up with grades and any missing assignments. Some of the most valuable support you can offer is spending time each evening discussing your child’s school day and staying actively involved in their education.

🚨A sign-up link will be shared with all parents soon! The directions can be found below.🚨

We kindly ask that separated or divorced parents work together to schedule a single conference for their child, ensuring consistent communication and collaboration between home and school. The procedure for scheduling your PreK-6 grade teacher conference is outlined below. If you have any questions or difficulty scheduling your conferences, please call the elementary office at 308-368-5572.

If you have a concern with PE, Music, Band, Art, Guidance, Library, Resource, or Title, please email the respective teacher.

Grades PK-6 Classroom Teachers and Resource:

Step 1: Go to www.hpspanthers.org

Step 2: Click on Menu - Under the Parents section - Click Parent Teacher Conferences.

Step 3: Select Elementary Parent Teacher Conference Sign-Up

Step 4: You are now ready to sign up.

Step 5: Select your student’s teacher by clicking on

Step 6: Next, view the times available and then select next to the time that will work for you.

Step 7: Enter your email.

Step 8: Click continue to review and confirm your email. (over)

Step 9: Type in Your Name and Student Name

Step 10: Click Save and Done.

Step 11: Repeat for each child you will be scheduling a conference for.

To view all of your scheduled conferences:

Go to www.signup.com

Click Register (top right) or Click Sign In

Fill in required fields.

Click Continue - click Start Planning.

View Upcoming Invitations:

To edit or cancel your scheduled times, you must be logged in to www.signup.com. Click on the teacher’s name under My Invitations and Edit Spot or Remove your conference.

If you have any questions about the process or have difficulty registering, either email sarah.ostmeyer@hpspanthers.org or call the elementary office at

308-368-5572 for assistance.

Please have your students’ time and date reserved on the website by no later than Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

This year’s theme is “Life is a MOVIE. Film Drug Free!”

• Monday – Red-OUT Day: “Wear RED for Red Ribbon Week” – Wear as much RED as you can to show your support for Red Ribbon Week and staying drug-free.
• Tuesday – Movie Star Day: “We are famous for being drug free” – Dress up as if you are a famous movie star walking the red carpet or as your favorite movie character.*
• Wednesday – Hawaiian Vacation Day: “We lei off drugs” – Wear a lei and/or Hawaiian clothing,
• sunglasses, etc.*
• Thursday – Halloween Costume Day: “Say Boo to Drugs” – Wear your Halloween costume for two reasons: Celebrate Halloween and the choice to be drug-free. (Please, follow school rules pertaining to Halloween costumes)*

* Clothing choices must follow the school’s dress code.

Mrs. Winder

As the school year progresses, maintaining regular attendance is key to your child’s academic success. Consistent attendance not only helps students stay on track with their learning but also allows them to fully engage in classroom activities, build strong relationships with their peers, and develop essential social and academic skills. Missing just a few days can create gaps in understanding, making it harder for students to catch up.

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

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/