Cardinal Community Newsletter

❓What would the proposed school improvement project include?

🛠️The plan focuses on classroom space, student support, facility improvements, and learning environments.

📄 The proposal includes:
14 new elementary and secondary classrooms
4 new spaces for students needing additional support
Approximately 35,095 square feet of new construction
Approximately 12,133 square feet of renovated space
The proposed addition would connect to the existing PreK–12 building, allowing the district to bring all students under one roof and eliminate modular classrooms.

🔗Explore the proposal at the website link below.

The Doniphan-Trumbull Student Council invites you to submit a local address using the form below for yourself or a veteran who might be interested in attending our Veterans Day Program on Wednesday, November 11th. Our Veterans Day Program will honor the brave men and women who protected our freedom. Their immense sacrifice shaped our nation, and we want to gather to ensure their legacy is never forgotten.

Welcome back to Nest News! Where you get your news from inside the nest! 🪺

Whether on the field or in the classroom, our DT students are continuing to shine. Check out this week’s broadcast for all the highlights, major shoutouts, and upcoming events! 👏

🎥📣🔴 ⚫️

On Monday, October 5th and Tuesday, October 6th, Doniphan-Trumbull Public School completed their every 5 year accreditation site visit from the Nebraska Department of Education. Members of the site visit team were as follows:

• Sean Molloy, Asst. Superintendent at Norris Public School
• Dr. Mitch Kubicek, Superintendent, Milford Public School
• Scott Harrington, High School Principal at Adams Central Public School
• Kristen Slechta, Director of Learning, Hastings Public School
• Jessica Shepard, Associate Director of Special Services, Education Service Unit #9
• Michael Shively, Elementary Principal, Sutton

The team reviewed school improvement goals, evidence of processes, the district action plan, assessment data, perceptual data, and conducted classroom visits. They interviewed focus groups to include 12 students, 7 teachers, 9 parents, 2 board members, 4 administrators, while visiting over 30 classrooms.

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

Doniphan-Trumbull Elementary celebrated several major wins in October. On October 5th and 6th, an accreditation team from the Nebraska Department of Education visited DT and gave high praise to the school system, highlighting the staff's training in the Science of Reading and the school's strong data-driven processes. To build on this success, the elementary school will begin evaluating High-Quality Instructional Materials during the 2027–2028 school year for future curriculum adoption.

Family engagement was also at an all-time high following the rollout of a new sign-up system, yielding an impressive 97.7% attendance rate across PK through 6th grade Parent-Teacher Conferences. In addition to student success, staff and administration remained dedicated to professional growth, participating in leadership rounds at Silver Lake, beginning-of-year data analysis in reading and math, and specialized training sessions covering Title IX, hiring processes, and threat assessment.

Pre-K 4: Wesley Gilliland & Bentley Thieben

K: Amaya Gomez & Kaden Lilienthal

1st Grade: Kazden Hatt & Tristan Aulner

2nd Grade: Theo Heinemann & Briar Webb

3rd Grade: Ben Johnson & Wes Hoffmann

4th Grade: Brady Belville & Huxen Weldon

5th Grade: Rosie Benson & Avery Gohner

6th Grade: Leom Deepe & Tessa Schleicher

September Teacher of the Month: Mr. Schultz

Congratulations to 5th-grade teacher Mr. Schultz for being recognized as the September Teacher of the Month. Known for boosting reading scores and maintaining high expectations for his students, Mr. Schultz balances strong academic leadership with a warm, caring side. He keeps his classroom engaging and lighthearted with great jokes, self-deprecating humor, and a constant smile. His colleagues celebrate him as a supportive, top-tier team player whose students are lucky to have him!

These students were selected by a team of teachers to go to the Leadership Conference at UNK on October 20, 2026! It was such a tough decision, but these students have worked hard to earn this opportunity. We are so proud of each one of them!

Tessa Schleicher, Aubree Bivens, Gaberial Aulner, Sammie Reich, Avery Zakrzewski, Annistyn Dyer, Kenny Brandt, Jovie Lenstrom, Mila Weldon, & Max Dvorak

Fall is approaching, which means cooler temperatures are on the way! We want to remind our Cardinal families to keep an eye on the weather and make sure students are dressed appropriately each day. ❤️🖤💛

Please be sure to send your student to school with:
- A jacket or sweatshirt
- An extra pair of pants to keep in their locker — just in case!

Being prepared helps keep our Cardinals comfortable, happy, and ready to learn all day long!

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).

A huge THANK YOU to the DT Staff for trusting us with your new gear! 🌟

Families — we’re ready for you! 🎉 You can order your DT apparel online right now using the link below, or grab a paper order form in person during Parent-Teacher Conferences this week!

🎒 Did you know? Every piece of apparel is designed and produced by our very own DT students! By ordering, you’re helping our students gain real-world skills in business management, communication, and graphic design.

Starting Oct 15, Cardinal Warehouse will be open every Thursday from 3:50 to 5:15 PM. We operate following the school calendar.

📍 108 E Plum Street

Come see our newly organized space!
Cardinal Cubby - gently used clothes
Home decor, shirts, and other items made by DT students!

Doniphan-Trumbull Secondary School has had an event-filled month marked by academic achievements and strategic instructional growth. During a recent site visit from ESU 9 leadership, visiting administrators praised the school's positive culture, structured instructional routines, and effective implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials across ELA and Social Studies classrooms. Building on strong gains in reading performance, the secondary team is now sharpening its focus on writing instruction through targeted professional development, cross-curricular standards, and the implementation of The Write Tools strategy to boost overall student literacy outcomes.

Recent academic assessments highlight strong performance across grade levels, with national percentile medians reaching up to the 81st percentile in science and the 88th percentile in math. Secondary students are also benefiting from the first year of Dibels data collection to better support reading fluency and comprehension. Looking ahead, the junior class will participate in the live John Baylor ACT Prep session on December 9th at the Doniphan Event Center, hosted locally through a partnership with ESU 9. Despite a busy schedule of fall activities and upcoming safety drills, student attendance remains exceptional at an overall rate of 97.26%.

This week, D-T FFA members put their soil knowledge to the test at this year’s South Central Area Land Judging contest! Members evaluated soil characteristics and considered how land can be used and managed responsibly, applying what they’ve learned in the classroom.

We’re proud of our members for representing Doniphan-Trumbull and building their skills through hands-on agricultural experiences!

The seniors in Culinary Arts class made cakes for the Doniphan Fall Festival. The theme this year is 90 years of memories and traditions. The students did an amazing job baking and decorating cakes while embracing the Fall Festival theme. The cakes will be auctioned off on Saturday night (October 3rd) in the West Gym with all the proceeds going towards the Cemetery Association. 🎂🍁

On Wednesday, our Advanced Art students spent the day getting creative at the annual Mural Day Competition hosted by Hastings College’s Department of Visual Arts! 🎨

Students arrived to a surprise prompt: choose an animal, an inanimate object, and a place. Then, they had the rest of the day to collaborate with their team and turn their three choices into an original mural.

Here are the students that were nominated for #TheCardinalWay in September.....Michael Harrenstein, Addie Rainforth, Madi Roach, Luke Carmin, Brogan Lenstrom, Brody Cummings, Marissa Schwab, Miyah Antle, Talon Weidner, Marley Schleicher, Patrisha Cruz, Veselka Keen, Peyton Barnett, Khloe Wheeler, Konner Epp, Remy Colburn, Austin Witter, Tyce Bruns, Audrina Brandt, Remy Colburn, Kale Williams, Cameron Sipp, Aiden Long, Wesley Martin, Ryker Foster, Quincey Bennett, Jaylee Hatt, Owen Zakrzewski, Owen Sawicki, Will Berlie, Audrina Brandt, Hadleigh Deetz, Kendall Pohlenz, Austin Witter, Bentley Henderson, Audrey Bishop, Xander Cushing, Claire Johnson, Olivia VanDiest, Jace Maschmann, Charlie Christensen, Kinsley Gehle, Madi Oman, Bentley Henderson, Drake Hohlen, Mason Bressler, Grace Hohlen, Miles Drake

These students displayed positive attitudes, excellent class participation, listened well, and followed directions. They also showed great effort in the classroom and were willing to help their peers. Keep up the strong work!! 😁

Tyce Bruns, Kinsley Gehle, & Marley Schleicher

The Sophomores were able to attend the Career Exploration Day, hosted by the Nebraska National Guard and the Business & Education Committee of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce. This event was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore a wide range of careers and discover the educational paths that can lead them to their dream jobs. Our students participated in hands-on activities and interactive experiences, our students got a real feel for professions in fields like health sciences, education, law enforcement, construction, and more! They were able to chat with employers and representatives from colleges about how to turn their career dreams into reality. 🚒 🏥

Next week, the Freshmen will attend the "Connecting the Dots" career simulation. Connecting the Dots is an interactive, day-long career exploration and work-readiness simulation program operated statewide by Nebraska 4-H and Nebraska Extension for 9th students planning their educational and career pathways. Through interactive career simulations, students learn to connect their high school course choices directly to postsecondary training, college, military opportunities, and local workplaces. Participants complete personality and career-cluster inventories, network with local business, industry, and postsecondary education volunteers, and build essential work-readiness skills through workshops focused on résumé writing, interviewing techniques, and professional etiquette. We are excited to offer this opportunity again for our students at DT. 📚 👩🏻‍🔬

Our Career and Technical Work -Based Experience Education (CTE) program at Doniphan-Trumbull continues to reach new heights! Over the past few years, we’ve worked hard to expand our CTE Work-Based Experience program, and this year we are thrilled to celebrate a record number of participating students. To participate, students must meet specific course requirements at DT and secure a position with a local cooperating business.

This semester, three eligible students are gaining hands-on, real-world industry experience in diesel mechanics, automotive repair, and culinary arts, with a fourth student gearing up to begin an electrical services placement this January. We are immensely proud of these students for stepping into the local workforce to build practical skills, and we look forward to seeing our CTE program continue to expand and empower future professionals!

Doniphan-Trumbull athletics had an action-packed stretch filled with championship performances and competitive momentum.

Cross country delivered outstanding results, swept by the boys team who captured titles at both their home meet and the LouPlatte Conference (LPC) Championship. Kaser Johnson led the way with 1st-place finishes in both races, complemented by strong LPC medal performances from Carter Hannon, Bladen Rainforth, Owen Zakrezewski, and Ian Kohmetscher, alongside Sevyn Russell's runner-up finish on the girls side. Addie Rainforth won the junior high girls home race, along with numerous Cardinal runners placing on both the girls and boys side. Special thanks to the Crane Trust and all community and staff volunteers for supporting a successful home event. 🏃🏻‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️

On the softball diamond, the team wrapped up an impressive postseason push by winning the LPC Tournament and securing a victory over Plattsmouth in the first round of districts, but falling to Hastings to end their season with an 11–14 record. 🥎

Our lady golfers ended their season at districts at Lakeside Country Club on October 5. ⛳

Looking ahead, Cardinal athletics remain busy as volleyball enters LPC tournament action and prepares for senior night against Sandy Creek ahead of sub-districts. 🏐 Meanwhile, cross country turns its sights toward districts at McCool Junction and the state meet in Kearney. 👟 The football team continues to work as they approach the end of regular season play. 🏈

Junior high girls basketball and junior high boys wrestling will begin the week of October 26. High school winter conditioning kicks off the week of November 9th and practice starts on November 16. 🏀 🤼

Go Cardinals! 🔴🖤

Sevyn Russell - 7th & State Qualifier 🏅

Your Doniphan-Trumbull Boys Cross Country team came to compete and left as DISTRICT CHAMPIONS! 🏆

Kaser Johnson - 1st

Carter Hannon - 5th

Bladen Rainforth - 8th

Owen Zakrzewski - 20th

Ian Kohmetscher - 36th

Proud of these Cardinals! ❤️🖤

Junior High State XC Championship! The finest junior high runners competed at Papillion-La Vista South High School. Eight ladies participated and Addie Rainforth came away with a 3rd place medal and the girls team placed 4th overall in the class C/D race! Congrats to our runners!! 👟🏅

The Lou Platte Conference girls golf tournament was hosted today at Indianhead Golf Course and they played in the rainy conditions for 9 holes! ⛳

Our own, Addison Schleicher, held strong and earned 10th place! 🏅 Congratulations!!

The Doniphan-Trumbull FCCLA members attended the 2026 FCCLA Fall Leadership Conference at UNK on September 24th. The members were provided opportunities to learn more about FCCLA and engaged in activities that provided knowledge and skills they can use in their own chapter.

1. Free/Reduced Meal Application
2. Upcoming Dates
3. 2026-2027 Academic Calendar

Families who meet income guidelines may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. We encourage every family to apply — it's quick and confidential.

👉 APPLY HERE — Free/Reduced Meal Application Link

Applications are accepted year-round. If you applied last year, you will need to reapply for the new school year. For best results, turn in the application after August 1, 2026.

If you have questions about meal pricing or your student's meal account, please contact our Nutrition Department at 402-845-2282 or swilliams@dtcardinals.org

• October 22 - 12:30 pm Dismissal
• October 23 - No School (Fall Break)
• November 13 - 12:30 pm Dismissal
• November 25 - 27 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

Each year, the Doniphan-Trumbull Board of Education reviews and approves the district's academic calendar, and we're excited to share what's ahead for next school year!

This year's calendar includes a few thoughtful updates designed to maximize student learning time, support family planning, and provide consistent schedules throughout the year.

Access the calendar here: https://aptg.co/mGy15p

Mark Your Calendars!

• 🚨Aug 13 - First Day of School

• 🏫 First Day of School (Preschool): August 19, 2026

• ⛄Dec 21-Jan 4 - Winter Break

• 🎓May 8 - Senior Graduation

• 😎May 20 - Last Day of School

Here's what families can expect:

• 175 student days / 185 staff days — in line with Nebraska requirements and teacher contract parameters.

• Two-week Christmas break — returning again this year, consistent with last year's calendar.

• Adjusted spring break — three days have been grouped together for a more meaningful mid-spring break.

• Early dismissals moving to 12:30 PM — formerly 1:30 PM — will now be 12:30 PM dismissals, giving families a more predictable and consistent schedule on early-release days.

• Minor adjustments to parent-teacher conferences — updates were made to maximize instructional days and provide greater consistency for families with minimal disruption to the school week.

• One schedule note for May — D-T will host the LPC Track Meet, which results in one adjusted student day for that event.

• We're proud of a calendar that balances student learning time, staff professional growth, and family planning needs. Look for the full approved calendar to be shared soon!

• Questions? Reach out to the district office — we're happy to help.