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.