Dear Panther Families,
Click the link to access the Panther Pulse - Elementary Newsletter: 🎄December 2025 Edition
📬 What’s Inside This Month’s Newsletter:
🎄 Season of Joy & Gratitude: A warm December message celebrating growth, kindness, and our ROAR values.
🏫 School Highlights: ROAR success, Student of the Month (Congrats, Kyler!), and a staff spotlight on Tracy Ballentine.
📸 Recent Events: Veterans Day activities, fall classroom projects, and student leadership roles.
📚 Winter Assessments: What aimswebPlus and NWEA MAP are—and how they guide student growth.
🎯 Family Tips: Goal-setting, testing reminders, literacy/math practice, and reinforcing positive behavior.
🎶 December Events: Holiday concerts, classroom winter parties, and the upcoming Board of Education meeting.
❄️ Winter Break & Weather: Canned food drive goal, illness reminders, proper winter attire, and transportation updates.
🎁 Holiday Message: Warm wishes for a joyful, peaceful Christmas season with your families.
As we step into December, I hope each of you have the chance to enjoy a restful and meaningful Thanksgiving spent with family and friends. This time of year brings with it a special blend of gratefulness, memories, good food, twinkling lights, crackling fireplaces, and the joy of being together. As Christmas approaches, we’re reminded of the deeper meaning of the season—generosity, compassion, and the importance of helping others in need. The holiday spirit is already alive and well in our school community, and it’s a joy to witness.
Reflecting on the school year so far, it’s incredible to see how much our students have grown since August. They’ve found their groove as we near the end of Quarter 2 and Semester 1. Classrooms are buzzing with new learning, curiosity, and confidence. Teachers and students have built strong routines and established clear expectations. Our Panthers continue to show what ROAR looks like each day—Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Responsibility—through their actions in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria, and playground.
This month is a wonderful opportunity to focus on gratitude and winter kindness. Whether it’s lending a hand, offering a smile, demonstrating patience, or celebrating someone’s success, each act makes our school a better place. I’m proud of the effort, perseverance, and positivity our students show, and I’m equally grateful for the families and staff who support them every step of the way.
As we move into this festive season, may your homes be filled with warmth, your hearts with joy, and your days with moments that matter. Thank you for sharing your children with us and for being part of the Hershey Panther family.
Wishing you all a wonderful December filled with peace, kindness, and the magic of the holidays.
Jared Thomsen
Elementary Principal
📞 (308) 368-5572
📧 jared.thomsen@hpspanthers.org
Empowering All Students to Reach Their Full Potential.
"Learn, Grow, Thrive – Hershey Public Schools"