Dear Parents and Community Members,
October 2026 District Newsletter - Click Here
The 2026-2026 school budget has been finalized. District valuation increased by five percent, and the tax levy has been set at 1.006054. This is a decrease of .038519 cents from last year, which equals a 3.8 percent reduction. If you have any questions about the budgeting process, I encourage you to stop in and visit with me—my door is always open.
Hershey Public Schools is celebrating Homecoming Week this week (Sept 28-Oct 3)! On Friday at 1:30 p.m., we will hold our parade down Main Street. The parade will feature the band, cheerleaders, dazzlers, royalty, and a float from each class in grades 9–12. PreK–12 students will attend, and everyone will come together afterward in the Activity Center for a spirited community pep rally. Later that evening, Hershey will take on Valentine at 7:00 p.m. at Summers Field! Please attend to cheer on the Panthers! The Homecoming Dance will follow on Saturday from 8:00–10:30 p.m. It promises to be a fun and jam-packed week filled with Panther pride!
Please note that students will not be in session on Monday, October 12, so that our teachers can participate in a full day of professional learning. These opportunities allow our teachers to collaborate, grow in their practice, and bring new strategies back into the classroom to support student success.
I would also like to take a moment to stress the importance of our upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences. These conferences will be held on Thursday, October 22, from 4:00–8:00 p.m., and Friday, October 23, from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon. Please note there will be no school for students on October 23. Parent/Teacher Conferences are one of the most valuable opportunities we have to work together for your child’s success. They provide a chance for open communication about what your student is doing well and where they may need additional support. When parents and teachers partner closely, students benefit through higher achievement, greater confidence, and stronger relationships at school. I strongly encourage all parents to attend—your involvement truly makes a difference.
This year, we are pleased to continue our initiative to help everyone in our school community understand what it means to be a good digital citizen. Digital citizenship and AI is about being responsible when using technology, AI and the internet. We will focus on six core rules: finding balance in our digital lives, respecting privacy, understanding the power of words and actions, thinking critically and creating responsibly, defining who we are online, and—new this year—using Artificial Intelligence responsibly. Each week we will share resources through social media, school displays, and other communications to encourage active engagement and celebrate success stories within our district.
With colder weather approaching, I want to remind families that you will be notified of school closings or late starts through our Apptegy communication system, which provides phone calls, text messages, and posts on our social media pages. Please let the school know if there is a specific number you would like added to the system. We will also continue to notify local news outlets. Please keep in mind that parents make the final decision regarding whether their child should attend school when travel may be unsafe due to weather conditions.
As always, my door is open. Please feel free to stop by my office or give me a call if you ever have questions or comments.
Have a wonderful month!
Educationally,
Jane Davis
Superintendent
The 2026-2026 school budget has been finalized. District valuation increased by five percent, and the tax levy has been set at 1.006054. This is a decrease of .038519 cents from last year, which equals a 3.8 percent reduction. If you have any questions about the budgeting process, I encourage you to stop in and visit with me—my door is always open.
Hershey Public Schools is celebrating Homecoming Week this week (Sept 28-Oct 3)! On Friday at 1:30 p.m., we will hold our parade down Main Street. The parade will feature the band, cheerleaders, dazzlers, royalty, and a float from each class in grades 9–12. PreK–12 students will attend, and everyone will come together afterward in the Activity Center for a spirited community pep rally. Later that evening, Hershey will take on Valentine at 7:00 p.m. at Summers Field! Please attend to cheer on the Panthers! The Homecoming Dance will follow on Saturday from 8:00–10:30 p.m. It promises to be a fun and jam-packed week filled with Panther pride!
Please note that students will not be in session on Monday, October 12, so that our teachers can participate in a full day of professional learning. These opportunities allow our teachers to collaborate, grow in their practice, and bring new strategies back into the classroom to support student success.
I would also like to take a moment to stress the importance of our upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences. These conferences will be held on Thursday, October 22, from 4:00–8:00 p.m., and Friday, October 23, from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon. Please note there will be no school for students on October 23. Parent/Teacher Conferences are one of the most valuable opportunities we have to work together for your child’s success. They provide a chance for open communication about what your student is doing well and where they may need additional support. When parents and teachers partner closely, students benefit through higher achievement, greater confidence, and stronger relationships at school. I strongly encourage all parents to attend—your involvement truly makes a difference.
This year, we are pleased to continue our initiative to help everyone in our school community understand what it means to be a good digital citizen. Digital citizenship and AI is about being responsible when using technology, AI and the internet. We will focus on six core rules: finding balance in our digital lives, respecting privacy, understanding the power of words and actions, thinking critically and creating responsibly, defining who we are online, and—new this year—using Artificial Intelligence responsibly. Each week we will share resources through social media, school displays, and other communications to encourage active engagement and celebrate success stories within our district.
With colder weather approaching, I want to remind families that you will be notified of school closings or late starts through our Apptegy communication system, which provides phone calls, text messages, and posts on our social media pages. Please let the school know if there is a specific number you would like added to the system. We will also continue to notify local news outlets. Please keep in mind that parents make the final decision regarding whether their child should attend school when travel may be unsafe due to weather conditions.
As always, my door is open. Please feel free to stop by my office or give me a call if you ever have questions or comments.
Have a wonderful month!
Educationally,
Jane Davis
Superintendent
The 2026-2026 school budget has been finalized. District valuation increased by five percent, and the tax levy has been set at 1.006054. This is a decrease of .038519 cents from last year, which equals a 3.8 percent reduction. If you have any questions about the budgeting process, I encourage you to stop in and visit with me—my door is always open.
Hershey Public Schools is celebrating Homecoming Week this week (Sept 28-Oct 3)! On Friday at 1:30 p.m., we will hold our parade down Main Street. The parade will feature the band, cheerleaders, dazzlers, royalty, and a float from each class in grades 9–12. PreK–12 students will attend, and everyone will come together afterward in the Activity Center for a spirited community pep rally. Later that evening, Hershey will take on Valentine at 7:00 p.m. at Summers Field! Please attend to cheer on the Panthers! The Homecoming Dance will follow on Saturday from 8:00–10:30 p.m. It promises to be a fun and jam-packed week filled with Panther pride!
Please note that students will not be in session on Monday, October 12, so that our teachers can participate in a full day of professional learning. These opportunities allow our teachers to collaborate, grow in their practice, and bring new strategies back into the classroom to support student success.
I would also like to take a moment to stress the importance of our upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences. These conferences will be held on Thursday, October 22, from 4:00–8:00 p.m., and Friday, October 23, from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon. Please note there will be no school for students on October 23. Parent/Teacher Conferences are one of the most valuable opportunities we have to work together for your child’s success. They provide a chance for open communication about what your student is doing well and where they may need additional support. When parents and teachers partner closely, students benefit through higher achievement, greater confidence, and stronger relationships at school. I strongly encourage all parents to attend—your involvement truly makes a difference.
This year, we are pleased to continue our initiative to help everyone in our school community understand what it means to be a good digital citizen. Digital citizenship and AI is about being responsible when using technology, AI and the internet. We will focus on six core rules: finding balance in our digital lives, respecting privacy, understanding the power of words and actions, thinking critically and creating responsibly, defining who we are online, and—new this year—using Artificial Intelligence responsibly. Each week we will share resources through social media, school displays, and other communications to encourage active engagement and celebrate success stories within our district.
With colder weather approaching, I want to remind families that you will be notified of school closings or late starts through our Apptegy communication system, which provides phone calls, text messages, and posts on our social media pages. Please let the school know if there is a specific number you would like added to the system. We will also continue to notify local news outlets. Please keep in mind that parents make the final decision regarding whether their child should attend school when travel may be unsafe due to weather conditions.
As always, my door is open. Please feel free to stop by my office or give me a call if you ever have questions or comments.
Have a wonderful month!
Educationally,
Jane Davis
Superintendent
Dear Parents and Community Members,
The 2026-2026 school budget has been finalized. District valuation increased by five percent, and the tax levy has been set at 1.006054. This is a decrease of .038519 cents from last year, which equals a 3.8 percent reduction. If you have any questions about the budgeting process, I encourage you to stop in and visit with me—my door is always open.
Hershey Public Schools is celebrating Homecoming Week this week (Sept 28-Oct 3)! On Friday at 1:30 p.m., we will hold our parade down Main Street. The parade will feature the band, cheerleaders, dazzlers, royalty, and a float from each class in grades 9–12. PreK–12 students will attend, and everyone will come together afterward in the Activity Center for a spirited community pep rally. Later that evening, Hershey will take on Valentine at 7:00 p.m. at Summers Field! Please attend to cheer on the Panthers! The Homecoming Dance will follow on Saturday from 8:00–10:30 p.m. It promises to be a fun and jam-packed week filled with Panther pride!
Please note that students will not be in session on Monday, October 12, so that our teachers can participate in a full day of professional learning. These opportunities allow our teachers to collaborate, grow in their practice, and bring new strategies back into the classroom to support student success.
I would also like to take a moment to stress the importance of our upcoming Parent/Teacher Conferences. These conferences will be held on Thursday, October 22, from 4:00–8:00 p.m., and Friday, October 23, from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 noon. Please note there will be no school for students on October 23. Parent/Teacher Conferences are one of the most valuable opportunities we have to work together for your child’s success. They provide a chance for open communication about what your student is doing well and where they may need additional support. When parents and teachers partner closely, students benefit through higher achievement, greater confidence, and stronger relationships at school. I strongly encourage all parents to attend—your involvement truly makes a difference.
This year, we are pleased to continue our initiative to help everyone in our school community understand what it means to be a good digital citizen. Digital citizenship and AI is about being responsible when using technology, AI and the internet. We will focus on six core rules: finding balance in our digital lives, respecting privacy, understanding the power of words and actions, thinking critically and creating responsibly, defining who we are online, and—new this year—using Artificial Intelligence responsibly. Each week we will share resources through social media, school displays, and other communications to encourage active engagement and celebrate success stories within our district.
With colder weather approaching, I want to remind families that you will be notified of school closings or late starts through our Apptegy communication system, which provides phone calls, text messages, and posts on our social media pages. Please let the school know if there is a specific number you would like added to the system. We will also continue to notify local news outlets. Please keep in mind that parents make the final decision regarding whether their child should attend school when travel may be unsafe due to weather conditions.
As always, my door is open. Please feel free to stop by my office or give me a call if you ever have questions or comments.
Have a wonderful month!
Educationally,
Jane Davis
Superintendent