Cardinal Community Newsletter

This month, we’re shining a spotlight on our dedicated board members who volunteer their time, expertise, and passion to steer our school community toward success. 🎓💼

Thank you for:

• Guiding our vision and setting strategic goals 📈

• Championing student opportunities and resources 🎒

• Advocating for staff, families, and community partnerships 🤝

• Making tough decisions with our students’ best interests at heart ❤️

Your leadership and commitment help shape a brighter future for everyone here!

#BoardAppreciationMonth #ThankYouBoardMembers #CommunityLeadership #GratefulForYou

Our Digital Media Team at D-T continues to provide quality content for our students, staff, and community. Check out their latest efforts below and subscribe to their content.

Senior wide receiver Jack Poppe made history this season, breaking the Class C2 career receptions record surpassing the previous all-state record. The October 24th game marked this incredible milestone for the four-year varsity player. But that's not all. Poppe also shattered the school's single-game receiving record surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards this season. As Poppe looks toward college, he hopes to continue his football career. Congratulations, Jack, on an outstanding career as a Cardinal! 🏈

📖 Read the full story and relive all the highlights:

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/doniphan-trumbull_public_school_ar/article/image/large_f9d213a3-fc84-4ea3-aba9-f2fb96c8c5dd.jpeg

Year 2 is off and running—our Cardinals are soaring higher than ever! #CardinalsSoar #DTJournalism #TheCardinalWay #StateChamps

This season, Cardinal basketball fans can enjoy an enhanced viewing experience from home! Our Digital Media team has launched live broadcasts with student commentary for home games, using Hudl's Production Truck platform.

Senior students Taylon Bennett, Rylen Soundy, and Preston Sjuts serve as the voices behind the broadcasts, with support from other Digital Media team members and underclassmen learning the craft. Students are gaining hands-on experience in live broadcasting, production setup, and on-air communication while producing professional-quality content complete with starting lineups, instant replays, commercials, and halftime and post-game statistics.

"I didn't want to pass up this opportunity for our seniors to launch something this exciting," said Social Media teacher, Sydney Atkinson. "The team has learned so much in a short time and continues to improve with each broadcast."

Looking ahead, the program may expand to include local business sponsorships and additional sports next year, creating even more opportunities for students to develop digital media skills while supporting Cardinal athletics.

To watch with commentary, simply access the DT live stream or Hudl Fan during home games. It's the same easy access you're used to—now with an exciting student-produced broadcast experience complete with all the visuals and stats you'd expect from a professional broadcast!

1. Elementary
   
2. Preschool Happenings
3. Special Education Update
4. Secondary News
5. Activities Update

Elementary Update: Strong Academic Growth & Upcoming Events

We're thrilled to share that our students continue to excel! Mid-year testing shows 78% of students at or above benchmark in reading and 71% in math—significantly outperforming national averages.

Grade-Level Highlights:

• Kindergarten is building strong foundations with 79% at benchmark in reading and 67% in math
• 1st Grade is excelling in math with 86% of students above benchmark
• 3rd Grade reading shows exceptional growth with 25% more high performers than last year
• 4th Grade science instruction continues to shine with significant gains
• 5th Grade math remains a bright spot with 85% of students above benchmark
• 6th Grade exceeded all growth expectations across reading, math, and science

Every grade level grew more than expected this year, demonstrating the exceptional instruction happening in our classrooms!

Mark Your Calendars:

• Report cards go home January 9th
• 6th Grade Musical - Friday, March 20th
  • School performance: 1:30 PM
  • Community performance: 6:00 PM

Thank you for your continued partnership in making our school community strong!

What an incredible experience! Our students had the amazing opportunity to attend a UNK basketball game, and we couldn't be more proud of how they represented Doniphan-Trumbull.

When UNK extended this invitation, we knew it was more than just a fun outing—it was a chance for our students to show what it truly means to be a Cardinal. We set high expectations: students needed to maintain under 10% absenteeism, demonstrate positive behavior with no office referrals, and stay in good academic standing with no failing grades or missing work. And our kids rose to the challenge!

The students who earned this opportunity showed dedication in the classroom, responsibility in their attendance, and respect in their daily interactions. They proved that when you set your mind to excellence, amazing experiences follow! Both students and staff agreed—this trip was a slam dunk! The energy, the excitement, and the pride our Cardinals showed made us beam with joy. Hearing students say they'd love to do something like this again tells us everything: when we hold ourselves to high standards, we create memories that last a lifetime. To every student who met these expectations: you should be incredibly proud! You've shown that success isn't just about one moment—it's about the choices you make every single day. Keep up the outstanding work, Cardinals! 🏀

December was filled with festive fun at DT Elementary! Our students enjoyed watching their teachers compete in hilarious "Minute to Win It" games, bringing plenty of laughter and school spirit to the season. 🎄 The highlight of our holiday celebrations was our Christmas concerts, featuring performances from Kindergarten through 6th grade in both band and music. Our young musicians showcased their talents and filled the auditorium with the sounds of the season, making their families and community proud. 🎵 The month wrapped up with joyful classroom parties where students celebrated together with games, treats, and holiday activities. It was wonderful to see our Cardinals enjoying time with classmates and teachers before heading into winter break. 🎉 Thank you to all the families who attended our concerts and supported these special traditions. These moments of celebration and connection are what make our school community so special!

Congratulations to our December students of the month! These students were nominated by their classroom teacher for being safe, respectful, and responsible at DT! We are proud of you all!

PreK: Danaly Castillo Ramos, Hallie Harmon, & Brynlee Nielsen

K: Katherine Epley & Mila Belau

1st: Tate Mogilefsky & Eli Harmon

2nd: Rosie Benson & Allie Reich

3rd: Elijah Petersen & Amelia Braden

4th: Poppy Smith & Gideon Campbell

5th: Briggs Anderson & Brit Butcher

6th: Kimber Fowler & Spencer Bernshausen

Keep up the good work!

Congratulations to Mrs. Shafer for being our November teacher of the month. Mrs. Shafer is one of our Kindergarten teachers at DT. She is calm and cares about all of her students! Congratulations Mrs. Shafer! We are so happy to have you at DT!

Preschool Enrollment Update

Preschool enrollment packets were sent home before winter break with a return deadline of January 15th. We're excited to see continued strong interest in our preschool program!

Current Enrollment Interest:

• 4-year-old program: 22 children seeking enrollment
• 3-year-old program: 21 children seeking enrollment
• Younger siblings on our waitlist: 16 two-year-olds and 4 one-year-olds

Our program capacity is 16 children per section. Enrollment priority is given to families living within the Doniphan-Trumbull School District, children of district employees, children with disabilities, and children identified as high-risk.

Tuition Information: The board will be reviewing a proposed tuition adjustment for the 2026-27 school year to help maintain our quality program. Current families will receive detailed information about any changes following board approval.

If you have questions about preschool enrollment or would like more information about our program, please contact the elementary office.

If you know of a child who lives within the boundaries of the Doniphan-Trumbull Public School District, who may have a disability, and may need but is not receiving Special Education or 504 services, please contact Nancy Niles, PO Box 300, Doniphan, NE 68832 (402-845-2730).

This student led store offers clothing, rugs, home decor, kitchen items, cookies, and gently used clothing. Many items are made by students and can be personalized to meet your needs. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesdays at 108 E Plum in Doniphan, NE!

Special Education Update

Our special education program recently completed the state's Indicator 13 compliance review, which measures transition services for students ages 14 and older who receive special education services. We're proud to report that no issues of non-compliance were found!

We're thrilled to announce that Hornaday Manufacturing has made a generous $3,000 donation to our Kind Nest Food Cupboard! This donation will help us expand food choices for families facing food insecurity, including fresh produce and gift cards from Steve's Butcher Shop.

Thank you to Hornaday Manufacturing for supporting our students and families in such a meaningful way!

Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools is proud to recognize our junior high and high school students who earned a spot on the Excellence Honor Roll and Honor Roll for the first semester. These students have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their academics and exemplify the Cardinal Way through their commitment to excellence.

Achieving honor roll status requires consistent effort, strong study habits, and a genuine commitment to learning. Our students have balanced their coursework with extracurricular activities, athletics, and other responsibilities—all while maintaining high academic standards. This achievement reflects not only their individual talents but also the hard work they put in day after day.

To all our Excellence Honor Roll and Honor Roll students: congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! Your dedication to your education makes DT proud, and we encourage you to keep up the excellent work as we move into the second semester.

We also want to thank our teachers, support staff, and families for the important role they play in supporting our students' academic success. It truly takes a team effort to help our Cardinals soar!

Secondary School Success: Strong Academic Performance

December brought positive momentum to our junior high and high school! Attendance trended upward across all grades, and our students are demonstrating strong academic achievement.

Academic Highlights:

• Honor Roll Success: Half of our 7th graders and 55% of seniors earned Excellence or Honor Roll recognition this semester
• High Pass Rates: The vast majority of students passed all their classes, with 98% of seniors, 95% of sophomores, and 89% of both 7th and 11th graders succeeding in every course
• 8th Grade Turnaround: This group has made remarkable progress—last year at this time, over 50% were struggling, but now 75% are passing all classes
• Senior Success: All seniors are on track to graduate with the courses they need

Our PBIS competition continues to motivate students, with Mr. Barth's class leading the junior high and seniors ahead in the high school race. Points are earned through attendance, honor roll achievement, positive behavior nominations, and reduced tardies.

Mid-year NWEA testing takes place January 12-15, with results to be shared in February. Our students are setting goals and ready to show their growth!

Alyssia Piersol, Mak Carmin, Emma Hoppe, Natalie Keezer, Charlee Richter, Deadra Rader, Diezel Uhrich, Paxton Bivens, Ava Delgado, Brielle Bruns, Addison Schleicher, Krista Hudelson, Jack Poppe, Remy Colburn, Veselka Keen, Konner Epp, Listo Llanes, Paisley Butcher, Kaura Reiners, Peyton Barnett, Makensie Heil, Addie Rainforth, Koda Kaiser, Landon Bartlett, Peyton Barnett, Hadley Krueger, Trevin Huebner, Chivonne Kraft, Audrina Brandt, Ryker Foster, and Ian Kohmetscher

Winners of the #cardinalway award are Mak Carmin, Addie Rainforth, and not pictured Peyton Barnett. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

Our student-athletes are making us PROUD across multiple sports and activities this winter! The boys basketball team is off to an impressive 8-2 start and currently ranked 8th in Class C1 on MaxPreps. Congratulations to Parker Volk for reaching a major milestone - surpassing 1,000 career points! The girls basketball team is showing steady improvement with a 5-5 record. 🏀 Our wrestling programs continue to dominate the competition. The boys wrestling team has won 3 out of 6 tournaments this season, with 6 wrestlers ranked in the top 10 individually and the team ranked 6th overall. The girls wrestling team has earned medals in every single tournament, including three 3rd place finishes at Franklin on Friday. 🤼 Speech season is underway with competitors participating in their first meet this past Saturday. 📣

The Cross Country team was recognized January 13th during the home basketball game against Centura. The state championship team was honored and the championship banner was unveiled during halftime of the girls varsity game!

Thank you for all who came out to support your Cardinal athletes and helped us celebrate this amazing accomplishment!

1. Coming Soon...Online Registration for Families
2. Staff Spotlight
3. Cardinal Way Award Submissions Open
4. Board Leadership Updates
5. Upcoming Dates
6. 2025-2026 Academic Calendar

Over the past two months, a team of administrative assistants, counselors, principals, and Dr. Braden has been meeting as a task force to review our current registration process for new and returning families, identify potential solutions, and develop recommendations. This work was grounded in the following goals (link for more information on goals):

1. Streamlined Efficiency

2. Family-Centered Experience

3. Integrated System

4. Data Quality & Accessibility

5. Consistency & Simplification

This award will recognize a staff member(s) who has personified our mission, vision, and core values throughout the 2025-2026 school year. We are asking that you nominate staff members who have gone above and beyond in their dedication to providing every student with a quality education in a safe and positive learning environment. They should demonstrate a commitment to our vision of innovation, service, and achievement in their role at Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools. Additionally, they should embody the core values of integrity, growth, and respect in all their interactions with students, fellow staff members, and the community.

D-T encourage all staff members and/or families to take the time to consider who they believe best personifies The Cardinal Way and submit a nomination. This award is open to all staff members, regardless of their role in our organization. Nominations can be submitted using the nomination form below. The award will be selected by a committee.

I look forward to celebrating the outstanding achievements of our staff members and recognizing the winner of The Cardinal Way Award at our annual Years of Service celebration

The Board of Education held their annual organizational meeting on Monday, January 12, 2026. During this meeting the following officer elections were completed:

• President - Amanda Groff
• Vice-President - Doug Rader
• Treasurer - Zachary VanDiest
• Secretary - John Schultz

• February 11 & 12 - 1:30 dismissal - Parent-Teacher Conferences
• February 13 - No School
• February 20 - 1:30 PM Dismissal
• Week of February 16 - Girls & Boys State Wrestling
• March 6 - No School - Girls State Basketball
• March 9 - End of 3rd Quarter
• March 12 - No School - Staff Professional Development
• March 13 - No School - Boys State Basketball

The Board of Education approved the 2025-2026 Academic Calendar at their most recent board meeting. Dates of note are included below:

🚨Aug 14 - First Day of School

⛄Dec 22-Jan 5 - Winter Break

🎓May 9 - Senior Graduation

😎May 19 - Last Day of School

The full calendar is linked here: https://www.dtcardinals.org/page/calendar-year-at-a-glance