1. Healthcare

February 2015
Hershey Public Schools, P.O. Box 369, Hershey, NE 69143
w w w .h p s p a n t h e r s .o r g
(308) 368-5572
Mr. Troxel and Mrs. Rotert have both decided that this school year will be their last at Hershey
Public Schools. They have both decided that they will retire from education. The students and
staff will miss each of them dearly, but we are happy for them and wish them well in their
retirement years! We have begun advertising for each position.
Hershey Elementary school will hold parent-teachers conferences on Thursday, February 5th
from 4-8 PM and again on Friday, February 6th from 8:00 until noon. Elementary students will
not be in school on February 6th.
The students and staff did an excellent job reaching their goal in the canned food drive this past
December which benefited the Hershey/Sutherland food pantry. Because the students and staff
met this goal, Spring Break has been extended an extra half day. School will not be in session
for a half day on Thursday, March 12th so there will be NO SCHOOL ON THURSDAY, MARCH
12th. Please mark that on your March 2015 calendar.
The board of education has set March 15th of each year as the last day to submit an option
enrollment request for the 2015-2016 school year. Students will not be allowed to option in or
out of Hershey Public Schools after March 15th. The only two exceptions will be unless they had
been attending Hershey School and moved out of the district and wants to continue attending
school at Hershey or if a student moves into a district after the deadline and did not have a
chance to option in or out.
Parents will be notified when we are not having school due to bad weather or other reasons by
our School Messenger automated calling system. Please make sure that you notify the school if
you have any special number you want the system to call to give you the school closing
information. The system can have daytime numbers as well as evening numbers. Information
will also be posted on our school website and on Facebook. We will still be calling the following
news media to inform them of a late start or closing so you may want to listen to one of the
following radio or TV stations: KNOP-TV, KX104/KODY radio, KOLN-TV, NTV, KOGA radio,
and KELN/KOOQ radio.
Let me know if I can ever be of assistance to you in anyway. Have a great month!
Educationally,
Jane Davis, Superintendent
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News from the High School Principal
“Still lie the sheltering snows, undimmed and white;
And reigns the winter’s pregnant silence still;
No sign of spring, save the catkins fill,
And willow stems grow daily red and bright.
These are days when ancients held a rite
Of expiation for the old year’s ill,
And prayer to purify the New Year’s will.”
Helen Hunt Jackson
February is the month of expiation which resulted in a Roman festival of purification held
on February 15th each year. To expiate is to make amends for. Expiation is used
throughout the Old Testament to make amends for ones sins. The Romans used the
sacrifice of animals in this celebration. Helen Hunt Jackson is most noted for her poetry
about life’s trials and temptations, and, and described human nature. Her mother and
father died when she was very young and she lost her first husband and two children
before her 35th birthday, so it no wonder she wrote about life’s trials. She was also a
lifelong friend of Emily Dickenson.
The testing season is getting underway and I have found it interesting to see how our
students are being prepared for this. I’ve observed Miss Lapp preparing her 8 th graders
for the writing test. She is a master teacher and has these kids eating out of her hand.
Instead of moaning and groaning about taking this test they are actually excited about it
and really want to show how well they can write. This is exactly what we want to see,
because with this attitude, they will do as well as they possibly can. I commend them
for their effort and the pride they are taking. Good job, kids!!!
I’m going back into some of newsletters and reiterate something I have written about in
the past and would like to reemphasize. The following are suggestions of how parents
can support their child’s education:
A. Attendance: Good school attendance is critical to academic achievement.
B. Attitude: Parents need to display a positive attitude toward school in general.
C. Priority: Education must be given their first priority for it to come out on top.
D. Support: Children need their parent’s help. When a child needs help on
homework or other special projects, it is their parents they turn to. They may
even need to find help outside of the home, a tutor for example.
E. Role Model: The parent needs to be a positive role model for the child in
helping to shape the child’s opinions and attitudes about learning.
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F. Parents need to keep in touch with their child’s school and have a positive
relationship with the teacher instead of blaming the teacher for a lack of
success.
Mike Troxel, Principal
News from the Activities Director
It almost doesn’t feel like winter anymore with all of these warm days we are getting at
the end of January. I know the students have enjoyed seeing some warmer days and
so have our teachers. January was a very busy month for all of our winter activities.
Our speech team started their season in January and have been working very
hard. Mrs. McConnell has made it a goal to get more to state and bring back some
hardware. They are coming off a record breaking year last year where they qualified a
record eight students to state. If you ever get a chance to come out to a speech meet it
is an amazing experience to see our students perform. Keep up the good work and
good luck the rest of the season to our Speech Team!
The basketball teams are working every day to get better and hope to peak as the
season comes to a close. Our boys enjoyed a great four game winning streak over the
month of January. Girls are facing many different challenges of adversity but what is
amazing is the girls refuse to make any excuses. I know both Coach Jorgenson and I
have been proud of their efforts and we are working every day to see our teams
improve.
Wrestling has been going fast as well and all of them have been improving every
week. Congratulations to Chayton Crow and Brian McGahan who continue to bring
home medals every week. The team will compete in the SPVA Wrestling Tournament
the first week of February at Perkins County. This year the format for the tournament is
back to an individual format instead of dual. This gives every wrestler the opportunity to
compete in their weight class working to bring home a medal.
The SPVA always congratulates any coach or sponsor that has served in the
conference when they retire. We paid tribute to Teresa Rotert and her 30 years of
service to the South Platte Valley Conference at the SPVA basketball tournament. Here
at Hershey we have seen and been a part of such an amazing vocal music program,
girl’s golf program, and quiz bowl program. It was a great an opportunity for other
schools to congratulate her on all her success and commitment to this
conference. Thank you Teresa for everything you have done for Hershey Public
Schools, SPVA, and the NSAA!
Jeremy Thomas
Activities Director/7-12 Assistant Principal
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NEWS FROM THE ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL
Believe it or not, January 26th marked the 100th Day of School! Time seems to fly by,
especially when we are enjoying our work each and every day. February is a busy
month at school as winter winds down and we turn our focus to spring activities.
The next few months are affectionately known to us at school as “testing season”. Our
4th graders began testing season with the NeSA writing assessment on January 27th
and 28th. Testing season runs through April with NeSA and/or NWEA assessments
taking place in all grades. These tests will assess students in the areas of reading,
writing, math, and science. The assessments help us make decisions about curriculum,
instructional methods and what we believe will work best for each student moving
forward. We do need to focus on the importance of these assessments, but we do not
intend to over-focus on them.
Hershey students are well prepared for each assessment they are given and we hope
they have an attitude of “Bring It On, I am ready.” You can help us by making sure your
child knows they are well equipped for each test and that no matter the outcome, you
will always love them. Many students experience test-taking anxiety and sometimes the
best way to relieve that tension is for them to know their parents and teachers have
confidence in them. Please help us instill the “Bring it on” mindset in all our students!
The students and staff have continued to work hard over the past month and we hope to
see that work pay off during the upcoming testing season!
Educationally Yours,
Jason M. Calahan
Elementary Principal
FEBRUARY CHARACTER COUNTS PILLAR – CARING
The Character Counts trait for the month of February is Caring.
To begin the month and promote the pillar of caring, students are asked to dress in red
on Wednesday, February 4, 2015.
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Individuals who are caring are kind, helpful and generous to everyone. Caring people
are unselfish. They are considerate; they think how their conduct affects others and
how others feel. Caring people are charitable and forgiving, and they do good things
without expecting a reward.
Parent-Teacher Conferences for K-6 only will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on February
5 and from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 noon on February 6. Letters have been sent home with the
students explaining the conference procedures.
School will dismiss for all K-12 students at 2:45 on February 5 (afternoon preschool will
dismiss at 2:45 as well). On February 6, students in grades K-6 will not have school,
but students in grades 7-12 will have school as normal.
ACCELERATED READER POINTS
Students who have earned AR (Accelerated Reader) points since the last newsletter
include:
10 Points:
Alayna Feeney - KJ
Sarah Mundt - KJ
Chase Mugrage - KM
Jackson Smith - KM
Tatume Rinke - 2H
Baylee Halouska - 2T
Rylee Halouska - 6H
20 Points:
Rachel Simonson - KJ
Kale Kirby - KM
Ella Thompson - KM
Maddex McConnell - 1J
Kennedi Cook - 1J
Kristian Santillano - 2H
Kaitlyn Thomas - 2T
Gracie Halouska - 4S
30 Points:
Alexis Pinkerton - KM
Rhodee Hill - 1W
Jarrett Vanarsdall - 2H
40 Points:
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Madison Haddow - KJ
Cole Murdock - KJ
Taylor Sokol - KJ
Makenna Foster - 1W
Drew Hoelscher - 3R
Aidan George - 4K
Kaiden Howell - 4S
Matthew Bruns - 5G
50 Points:
Lance Kirby - 2H
Blake Badgley - 2T
Tia Massie - 3R
Haley Stansbery - 6H
550 Points:
Aidan George - 4K
250 Points:
Brandy Bode - 4S
Ethan Marshall - 4K
Hayley Carpenter - 5K
600 Points:
100 Points:
300 Points:
Skyler Hund - 5G
Hannah Hendricks - KM
Madison Guernsey - 4K
Kacey Dethlefs - 6H
Addison Frederick - 1W
Tyler Abbott - 5G
Brandon Eller - 6H
150 Points:
350 Points:
700 Points:
Heaven Hutchison - 3D
Hadlea Cronister - 5G
Joslyn Glos - 6H
Rylan Hudson - 3R
Shyanne Lambert - 6K
800 Points:
Olivia Moorhead - 3R
400 Points:
Reagan Hudson - 6K
Kandice Thompson - 3R
Jane Fischer - 4S
850 Points:
Michalee Brownawell Macie Ebmeier - 5G
Brecken Glos - 5K
4K
Shyanne Lambert - 6K
1250 Points:
Haley Woodson - 4K
450 Points:
Mekenna Fisher - 5G
Calie Troyer - 4S
Carly Sexson - 6H
200 Points:
500 Points:
Emma Elliott - 2T
Brandy Bode - 4S
Congratulations to the students for their effort and dedication to reading.
AR SUCCESS
Elementary students who made their first semester Accelerated Reader goals were
treated to a party in the library on January 20th for K-3 grades and January 22nd for 4-6
grades. Mrs. Sokol, librarian, hosted a total of 122 students from grades K through 6.
Having that many students make their monthly goals for the first semester is
commendable. Congratulations on a job well done!
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7th and 8th graders who were chosen to participate in the Singing Youth of Nebr. Honor
Choir held on Jan. 17, 2015 at NPHS. Teresa Rotert director. 180 area 7th,8th, and
9th grade students from area schools participated. Great day of music!
Congratulations
Malachi Murtaugh was chosen to be a member of the 2015 Nebr. Wesleyan University
Honor Choir to be held in Lincoln on Febr. 12-14.
HELP CLUB
Thank you to all who have helped with the the Box Top Program. We received over
$1,400 in box top money to be used at our school. Way to go Hershey and thank you
Kristi Eller for you hours of dedication counting the box tops! The Coke program has
changed a few things which has made the program difficult for us to cash in. Therefore,
we will no longer but collecting caps. Thanks for all who have collected and helped with
the program. We have cashed in what we had and purchased some items for our
school Carnival. Thank you Marie Parker for all your hard work and dedication entering
each cap for the program.
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The school carnival will be on Friday, March 27th. The theme this year is “Fiesta”. We
will have a Taco Bar Menu, many fun games for all the kids plus and outstanding
redemption table of prizes. We will be looking for volunteers to bring cakes and run
games. Let one of the HELP Club members know if you can help out. Hope to see you
all there!
Our next meeting is February 2, 2015 at 3:45.
If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact the HELP Club President,
Tina Vanarsdall at 530-8898.
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EducationQuest Foundation
College Planning Bulletin
A monthly college planning guide for Nebraska high school students
February 2015
It's FAFSA Time!
If you’re a college-bound senior, you must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to apply
for state, federal and college-based financial aid. Submit the form before your college’s FAFSA priority date
(typically between March 1 and April 1) as some financial aid is awarded first-come, first-served. Check with your
college to learn their specific date.
Follow these steps to complete the FAFSA:
Complete your taxes early as the FAFSA requires current tax information. Within three weeks after you and your
parents file your tax forms, your IRS data should be available to retrieve and transfer into your FAFSA through the
IRS Data Retrieval process.
Gather these student and parent items:
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2014 federal income tax forms and, if applicable, Schedule K-1 (Form 1065)
2014 W-2 forms
Student’s driver’s license number
Social Security numbers
Birth dates
Date parents were married, separated, divorced or widowed
Current cash, savings and checking account balances
Current investment values (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CDs, etc.) excluding your home and retirement
accounts
 Value of business (if more than 100 employees)
 Value of investment farm (Do not include the value of a family farm that you or your parents live on and
operate.)
 2014 child support (paid and/or received)
 2014 Workers’ Compensation
 Other untaxed income in 2014 such as housing/food/ living allowances for military and clergy
 Alien Registration Number for eligible non-citizens
Be prepared to answer the following FAFSA question:
Did you or anyone in your household receive any of the following federal benefits?
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Supplemental Security Income
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
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TANF ((Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
Free or Reduced Price Lunch
WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children)
Complete and file the FAFSA at FAFSA.gov. The colleges you list on the application will receive the results.
If you’re filing the FAFSA for the first time and would like free personal help, call the EducationQuest location
nearest you to set up an appointment: Omaha – 888.357-6300, Lincoln - 800-303-3745, Kearney - 800-666-3721, or
Scottsbluff – 800.303.3745, ext. 6654.
Join EducationQuest for a FAFSA Completion Webinar
This free webinar will walk you through the FAFSA and help you complete the form.
EducationQuest FAFSA Completion Webinar
Tuesday, February 24 - 7 p.m. (CT)
Webinar link
To join the webinar, click on the link. The password is college.
Check out these free FAFSA tools
Visit the “FAFSA Tools” section at EducationQuest.org where you’ll find:
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College Funding Estimator – estimates your FAFSA results
FAFSA Demo – walks you through the online FAFSA
FAFSA Checklist – provides a list of items you need to gather before you complete the FAFSA
FAFSA Tutorial – explains each FAFSA question
Apply for EducationQuest’s Scavenger Hunt Scholarship!
Apply by March 31 for EducationQuest’s Scavenger Hunt Scholarship. You could earn $500 toward your
college education! Here’s how it works:
1. If you haven’t already, complete a profile in ScholarshipQuest at EducationQuest.org.
ScholarshipQuest is a scholarship search tool with over 2,000 Nebraska-based awards.
2. If you are a Nebraska resident in grades 9-12, you will see the EducationQuest Scavenger Hunt
Scholarship as one of the scholarships that will appear on your results page.
3. “Scavenge” around the EducationQuest website to find answers to questions in a survey.
4. EducationQuest will draw a winner from those who answer all questions correctly. The winner will
receive $500 to invest in a NEST 529 College Savings Plan.
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February “To Do” List
Seniors:
___ Complete student and parent 2014 tax returns.
___ Complete the FAFSA at FAFSA.gov.
___ Continue to apply for scholarships.
Juniors:
___ Register by February 13 for the March 14 SAT.
___ Register by March 13 for the April 18 ACT.
For free help with college planning, contact the EducationQuest location nearest you:
Kearney
Lincoln
Omaha
308-234-6310
402-475-5222
402-391-4033
800-666-3721
800-303-3745
888-357-6300
EducationQuest.org
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
Your Journey to College Begins with Us
We need the alumni to keep us informed of their name, CURRENT mailing address,
and the year they graduated. Send the information to Loren Johnson, 304 Nansue Rd,
Hershey NE 69143 or [email protected]. Our phone # is 306-368-5440.
Newsletter information? Email Diana Connell at [email protected]
Help save our planet! Go paperless our website is www.hpspanthers.org
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HERSHEY PUBLIC SCHOOL
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015
The Hershey Public School Board of Education held their regular meeting on January12, 2015 in the board conference room.
Official notice of the meeting was advertised in the January 8th edition of the Courier Times and posted in three places within the
Village. The meeting was called to order @ 6:30 AM followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the notification to those in
attendance of the posted Open Meetings Law poster. Members present were Steve Koch, Floydene Brown, Brenda Johnson, Bob
Arnett, members elect Lucas McConnell and Jodi Seamann. Also present were Superintendent Davis, Bookkeeper Konken and
Principal’s Calahan, Troxel and Thomas.
Oath of Office was administered to and recited by Robert Arnett, Jodi Seamann and Lucas McConnell.
**Approved the consent agenda which consists of the minutes of the December 8 th regular meeting, bills for payment in the amount
of $506,303.65 and all financial reports.
**Approved check #18344 for payment in the amount of $390.00. Roll call vote; S Koch-yes, B Johnson-yes, J Seamann-yes, F
Brown-yes, B Arnett-yes, L McConnell-abstain on advice of the district’s legal counsel to avoid the appearance of impropriety. 50-1, motion carried.
Newly elected officers for 2015 are:
Treasurer – Brenda Johnson
President – Steve Koch; Vice- President – Bob Arnett; Secretary – Floydene Brown;
New appointed committee members for 2015 are: Building & Grounds: Bob Arnett, Floydene Brown & Brenda Johnson.
Finance: Brenda Johnson, Lucas McConnell & Bob Arnett. Negotiations: Steve Koch, Brenda Johnson & Floydene Brown.
Transportation: Steve Koch, Floydene Brown & Jodi Seamann. Americanism: Lucas McConnell, Bob Arnett & Jodi Seamann.
Curriculum: Lucas McConnell & Jodi Seamann
**Approved Hershey State Bank and Nebraska Liquid Asset Fund as the official school depositories for 2015.
**Authorized Superintendent, Jane Davis to sign all State, Local and Federal forms for 2015.
**Regretfully accepted the resignation of High School Principal, Michael Troxel effective the end of the 2014-2015 school year.
**Approved the 2015-2016 Title I contract with Educational Service Unit #16.
**Approved the 2015-2016 contract with Educational Service Unit #16.
Principals reported on the holiday basketball tourney in Sidney, Maxwell Schools will be leaving the SPVA conference the end of
this current year, SPVA basketball tournaments are coming up as well as SPVA jr-high music. New handicap bus has arrived &
have installed new security camera in the bus. AYP letter has been sent out to parents (this in conjunction with No Child Left
Behind Act). Thank you to the HELP Club for sponsoring the Christmas movie and the Rain Forrest Animals Assembly. Thank
You to those staff members who planned & organized the January 5th In-Service day.
No Board Reports
Superintendent Davis reported on the area superintendents’ meeting with Senator Mike Groene, update on teacher/principal
evaluation model, ESU 16 will sponsor “Circle of Security Parenting Series” for anyone interested here at the school. Upcoming
meetings are ESU 16 Board Training on January 28th @ Adams Middle School, NP; NASB Legislative Conference on January 25
& 26 in Lincoln; NASB Education Forum on February 2 & 3 in Kearney; NRCSA Legislative Forum on February 18 in Lincoln
& NRCSA Annual Conference on March 19 & 20 in Kearney,
Next regular meeting will be held on Monday, February 9, 2015 @ 6:30 PM.
Meeting adjourned @ 7:25 AM.
It is the policy of the Hershey Public School District not to discriminate on the basis of gender, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, age or national origin in its education programs,
administration, policies, employment or other agency programs.
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