Activity Info – Week of 12/07/25

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
What: Morrill vs. Hay Springs Basketball
Where: Morrill High School, Morrill, NE
When: 3:00 PM – Boys JV Full Game, Girls Varsity to follow Boys JV, Boys Varsity to follow Girls Varsity
Note: Morrill does not have enough girls to play JV, therefore the Boys JV game was moved earlier and as a result of that, the Varsity games may also start a bit earlier.

Wednesday, December 10, 2025
What: National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Where: High School Auditorium, Hay Springs, NE
When: 3:30 PM

Thursday, December 11, 2025
What: The Night, The Lights, and the Music Concert
Where: High School Auditorium, Hay Springs, NE
When: 7:00 PM

Friday, December 12, 2025
What: Varsity Girls Wrestling Invitational
Where: Gordon-Rushville High School, Gordon, NE
When: 11:00 AM

Saturday, December 13, 2025
What: Varsity Boys Wrestling Invitational
Where: Gordon-Rushville High School, Gordon, NE
When: 10:00 AM

Saturday, December 13, 2025
What: Crawford vs. Hay Springs Junior High Girls Basketball
Where: Crawford High School, Crawford, NE
When: 10:00 AM

Saturday, December 13, 2025
What: Hay Springs vs. Banner County Basketball
Where: Lister Sage Building, Hay Springs, NE
When: 1:00 PM – Boys JV(2 quarters), 2:00 PM – Girls Varsity, 4:00 PM – Boys Varsity

Student Of The First Quarter – Jacob Dorshorst

Student Of The First Quarter – Jacob Dorshorst

“Jacob is a polite, respectful, and hardworking student. He holds himself to high standards and works daily to reach them. Whether it’s his daily assignments, One Act, Speech , or FBLA, he always puts his full effort into whatever it is that he is doing. Jacob volunteered to help set up the park for Friendly Festival this year, and he stayed until the last thing was done. He carries himself with integrity, and represents himself, his school, and his community with pride. I am so happy to see Jacob receive this award; he is so deserving.”

“Jacob stands out as an intelligent, kind, and dependable member of our school and community. He consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic and curiosity for learning, approaching every challenge with thoughtfulness and enthusiasm. What truly sets Jacob apart is his willingness to help others—whether offering support to classmates, leading by example, or contributing to a positive classroom environment. His character, intelligence, and compassion make him a well-rounded student who represents the very best of Hay Springs High School.”

“I am very excited for Jacob to receive this award. Jacob is a truly authentically great kid. In a world where there is a lot of hate and unkindness, Jacob is the opposite. He is kind and so very caring and kind to the teachers, staff, and peers! He excels at school and works hard at any task in front of him. One thing that I admire about Jacob is he will always greet people and carry up a conversation. This says a lot about a student when they will look an adult in the eye and ask them how their day is going and just visit with them.”

“I appreciate Jacob’s hard work and dedication in the classroom and to his activities. I also want to note how kind he is to others and is always friendly in the hallway. Jacob does not give into peer pressure and he is such a great role model for younger students. I believe he is very deserving of student of the quarter. Congratulations, Jacob!”

“Jacob is a light in this school. Always willing to help out without being asked and starting a conversation with anyone in the hallway. He isn’t afraid to be himself but also puts himself out there to be successful. A great leader for others to look up to and someone who is willing to help younger students achieve their goals. Jacob is someone who is never down but can always help cheer others up and he will gladly do so. He is very deserving of student of the quarter and I am so proud to have him as one of our students. Great job Jacob!”

“Jacob is one of those students who is just willing to do whatever needs done. He will show up for extra rehearsals, performances and fund raisers; and he does it without one ounce of complaint. Jacob is also the student who brightens a room just by walking into it. He has a great attitude and a joyful disposition. Jacob would be an excellent student of the quarter.”

“Jacob is always eager to help. He has a great attitude and is not afraid to try new things. Jacob is also eager to learn new concepts, asks questions and applies what he has learned. Jacob leads by example. Congrats, Jacob!”

“Jacob is truly deserving of being named Student of the Quarter. He is consistently helpful, hardworking, and kind. Jacob is always friendly and respectful toward both staff and his peers, and I’ve witnessed many occasions where he willingly lends a hand whenever needed. He is actively involved in school and embodies the qualities we expect of a Hay Springs student. Congratulations, Jacob — this is a well-deserved honor!”

“Jacob is a standout in both academics and extracurricular involvement, consistently demonstrating excellence, leadership, and dedication. He is actively engaged in Esports, Music, Speech, FBLA, One Act, and Track—balancing a demanding schedule with remarkable focus and enthusiasm. In the classroom, Jacob is an exceptional student: curious, prepared, and always willing to go the extra mile. His positive attitude and collaborative spirit make him a valued peer, often supporting classmates and contributing meaningfully to discussions. In just two years of high school, Jacob has achieved impressive milestones. He has qualified for both state Speech and state FBLA, and proudly represented our school at the FBLA National level—evidence of his hard work and
determination. Jacob’s commitment to growth, both academically and personally, sets a powerful example for others. Keep up the outstanding work, Jacob!”

“One of my favorite memories of teaching you wasn’t in my class. Although you were always a terrific student, worked hard, got stellar grades, what I remember most is a time when I subbed for Mrs Varvel. Of course my luck, the computer wasn’t working so her lesson plans went out the window and instead we practiced country dancing. I loved your enthusiasm! You were so fun to teach you didn’t complain no matter who you danced with even an old lady sub teacher. Something else that sticks in my mind was when I cooked for football dinners. You were always gracious and offered to help clean up. Thank you for always being an individual and making your own way at Hay Springs High School. (and I am very sorry you did not like the reading program in 4th grade. LOL)”

Veteran’s Pictures

Hay Springs Public Schools would like to invite the community to submit a picture of a veteran that you would like to honor in the Veterans’ Day Program slideshow, which will be displayed before the program begins. Please include their name, branch, and relationship if you prefer. We have many submissions from previous years. If you have not yet submitted a picture, please do so by emailing Brad Bounous at brad.bounous@hshawks.com.

2025 Band Trip

Dear Hay Springs Community (and beyond),

I want to take this moment to thank you for the support you provided through the purchasing of peaches, concession stands sales, and bake sales as well as general donations. We left with 14 Hay Springs students and 6 adults on Wednesday, May 28th and returned on Sunday, June 1st. Along the way we went to Universal Studios, California Adventure, Disneyland, spent some time on the beach (we have stories from the beach!), the SanDiego Zoo and so much more! We also spent a morning doing a Disney Leadership Worksop. It was a cool experience where we got to learn more about who we are and what we can bring to where we are.

I also wanted to let you know how amazing these students are. They were respectful to all they met, made friends easily and of course were always up for a good time. Hay Springs was very well represented and I’m so glad I got to be apart of the story!

I also need to send a huge shout out to our “family leaders”-Jessie Anderson, Jessica Mintken, Sarah Russell, Jim Varvel, and Eric Wellnitz. They worked so well as a team and were so much fun to be around. They cared for your kids very well! If you know them, please make sure to give them a big thank you because we quite literally ran them ragged!

Ricky Wohl needs a shout-out all his own! Did I mention we left at 2:30AM on Wednesday morning? None of us had to drive, because Ricky drove us in our Hay Springs bus! He also took his Sunday and picked us up and drove us home. It was such a gift to not have to drive!

We made many new friends along the way from our Travel With Barb (if anyone is taking a trip with students-let me connect you with the best!!) tour guide; Kyle, numerous bus drivers who were fun to get to know and just random people we came across through all our adventuring!

Long story short (too late!)-your generosity opened up a great big world to our students. They saw and did things that built them up as human beings and were just plain fun to be around. Please ask them questions about the trip and have them share our adventures with you! Make sure they show you their pictures!

I am so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful community. Thank you for your generosity!

Raime Varvel

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