Category Archives: General

We continue to hear the rumor that Hay Springs Public School is closing.  Let me make it very clear:

HAY SPRINGS PUBLIC SCHOOL IS NOT CLOSING!

Financially:  We have paid off all operational loans, have adequate month-to-month funds to pay bills, and have increased our ending cash balance the last three years.  Many cost saving strategies have been implemented.  We are fiscally solvent.

Academically: We are one of the top performing schools in the Panhandle and State.  We perform well above the State average on the Nebraska State Assessment and the ACT.  We score at or towards the top of every academic measurement.

Facilities: We continue to improve school district facilities. We put walls in the elementary school, new handicapped doors on the main entrance and lunchroom, replaced concrete as needed, replaced the roof on the High School, and we have addressed other deferred maintenance.

Staff: Across the board we have outstanding teachers and support staff.  They come early, stay late, and work on the weekends.  Our employees are dedicated to helping our students be successful. Every student receives individual assistance if needed.  Every teacher, paraprofessional, secretary, cook, custodian, and bus driver focuses on what’s best for our students.

Students: Our students are exceptional, work hard, and care about learning.  They are taking responsibility for their own learning.  On top of that they are involved in multiple activities.  Without exception we are seeing improvement on our assessment tests.

Parents: Our parents are supportive and want their children to receive the best education possible. We get 100% attendance at our parent/teacher conferences.

We would ask that if you hear this rumor you contact the school and I will personally contact the person who is making these false statements.  Be proud and supportive of your school, students, and staff.  They are the future of Hay Springs.

Stephen Pummel
Superintendent of Schools

Thanks to all parents for supporting the school to improve student attendance.   So far this school year we have a 96.97% (Almost 97%) attendance rate.  This is up from 94.42% during the 2009-2010 school year.  That’s a great improvement!

Parents be aware, the Department of Education is monitoring all students’ attendance.  We are required monthly to turn in student absences.  Your child’s attendance is monitored along with their State Assessment scores. It’s imperative you send your child to school everyday.

There is a direct correlation between attendance and student success.  Students that have excellent attendance are more successful in school.  Along with that Colleges and potential employers receive attendance information and use that to determine acceptance into college, special programs, or a job.

We would ask parents to assist with the following.

1. Schedule appointments after school or on Friday whenever possible.
2. If your child is not running a fever, throwing up, or obviously sick, send them to school.  Often students want to stay home when they have a big test or project due.
3. Perhaps most important, make certain your child has a regular bedtime.  Plenty of sleep will make it easier to get your child up in the morning for school.
4. Middle and High School students are notorious for using their cell phones, texting, or using their computer well into the late evening and early morning hours.  An easy solution would be take the cell phone at bedtime and if possible turn the wireless Internet off when kids go to bed.
5. Monitor the school calendar and schedule vacations and trips when school is not in session.  With the four-day school week students need to be in school everyday.

When your child is ill or has to miss school remember to call the office and report them as sick.

2nd through 5th grade students will be participating in Jump Rope for Heart (JRFH).  We will start our JRFH at the beginning of February.  These students will have 2 fundraising packets this year:  one for Jump Rope for Heart and one for Kyler Kelly.  All money in the JRFH packet will go to the American Heart Association.  All money in Kyler’s packet will go to the Kyler Kelly account at Security 1st Bank. Kyler Kelly is the newborn son of Keith and Adriene Kelly of Hay Springs and has recently had heart surgery at Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

Best practices when donating:

• Please be specific as to which cause you want your money to go to.
• Make sure your name and the correct amount of money is put on the correct envelope immediately.
• Checks are preferred. When writing your check, please make it payable to either: Kyler Kelly Account or Jump Rope for Heart.

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing deployed and returning troops with cost-free methods to communicate with family while serving in the United States Military. Since the program began in 2004 it has raised more than $7million and provided over 114 million minutes of free talk time. They mail roughly 12,000 calling cards every week. The organization has also recycled over 8.3 million cell phones.
Hay Springs High School is now a designated drop off sight for Cell Phones for Soldiers. There is a box for donations near the main office at the school. Please bring your old cell phones, chargers and iPods to donate. These items will be recycled and the money is use to purchase calling cards for the soldiers. If there are any questions you may visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com or contact Zoe Schneider.

Mirror, mirror on YOUR wall, perhaps? Two hardwood-inlaid floor mirrors were anonymously donated to the shop to be raffled off to raise money. The mirrors were hand-made by a local craftsman. You can purchase the tickets at Security First Bank, or call Hay Springs Public School at 308-638-4434 and ask for Mr. Badje. The ticket prices are: one (1) ticket for $5, three (3) for $10 or eight (8) for $20. All proceeds go to the Industrial Technology Department. Please note: it is local pickup only but shipping is free if you live within thirty miles of Hay Springs. The drawing date for the raffle is November 15, 2011. These mirrors would make great Christmas presents.

Smile BIG!!! The date has been set for this year’s school picture day. Pictures are scheduled to be taken on Wednesday, October 19 in the auditorium. The photographer will be Sheila Letcher from Sheila L. Studios.

Follow us on Facebook! Hay Springs Public School now has a Facebook page. The focus of this page is very specific; school closings/late starts, activity schedule changes, urgent messages, and emergency notifications.

For daily news and happenings at Hay Springs Public School, go to www.hshawks.com or for specific information about your child’s progress, log into Infinite Campus by clicking the Infinite Campus link on the Hawks website.

Stephen Pummel
Superintendent of Schools

Riding in style!!! Hay Springs Schools’ first Suburban is now in and has been in for about a week. It is a brand new, gold 2011 Chevy Suburban. The next two should arrive in a couple weeks. Mr. Pummel wants us all to remember to take care when riding in any school vehicle so they will last as long as possible.

Mrs. Mandelko commented, “It’s awesome and very much needed.”