Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually by students across the country and is the nationโs oldest and largest drug prevention awareness campaign. This year, DTSD will be observing an extended Red Ribbon Week, with events being held October 26 through November 6. The extension allows secondary students in the hybrid instructional model to participate in person with the various theme days. Click the headline for details on the theme days for each building level.
At the October 13 DTSD Board of School Directors meeting, revised attendance protocols for fall sporting events were adopted in response to recent changes in guidelines from the state level. For soccer, field hockey and volleyball, the board approved the issuing of two adult passes for each Hershey player and each visiting team player. For football, band and cheerleading, the board approved the issuing of two adult passes for each senior member of the Hershey football team, band and cheerleading squad.
Instructional procedures implemented as part of Derry Township School Districtโs COVID-19 mitigation efforts have an impact on the way the district will handle unplanned daily schedule changes resulting from inclement weather or other interruptions beyond our control. To help families with planning for such circumstances, the district has created a quick reference guide; please click on the headline to open the fact sheet.
Derry Township School District is working to bring students back into a face-to-face learning environment for the 2020-21 School Year. With the well-being of students and staff at the forefront and taking into consideration PA Departments of Education and Health guidelines related to COVID-19, the district is planning for multiple contingencies that will allow it to continue with a robust educational experience. As planning progresses, updates and related information for the community will be posted here; click the headline for more information.
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing new approaches to education, weโre more reliant on technology tools as part of instruction than ever. The DTSD Technology Department is here to provide support. Click the headline for helpful tips, FAQs, and directions on how to create an IT Ticket to get help from District Technology staff
To help homeowners the Derry Township School District has joined Dauphin County and the Township of Derry in waiving penalties on 2020 School Real Estate Taxes until 12/31/2020. School District Real Estate tax bills will be issued on July 1, 2020. The bills will still include the ability to receive a 2% discount if the bill is paid in full prior to August 31, 2020. If not paid prior to August 31, 2020 the amount listed on the tax bill will be payable through 12/31/2020. Please note this only applies to Real Estate Tax bills issued on July 1, 2020, the penalties are still due on the Occupation Taxes and Interim Real Estate tax bills.
The COCOA Principles embody a district-wide culture where students and staff demonstrate DTSD's core beliefs ofACADEMICS: Second Marking Period Honor Rolls
Second Marking Period Honor Rolls for the 2019-2020 school year have been released for Hershey Middle School and Hershey High School.
ACADEMICS: HMS Student Wins Geography Bee
Congratulations to Ben Fredrickson; the 7th Grader bested fellow competitors Rian Kelly (8th Grade, 2nd place), Brady Keller (7th Grade, 3rd place) and 30 other contestants to win the Hershey Middle School Geography Bee. The contest featured all manner of questions related to the study of the physical features of the earth.
CITIZENSHIP: School Bus Driver Recognized
At the February 10 school board business meeting, Superintendent Joe McFarland and the DTSD Board of School Directors recognized school bus driver Joe Godino. While transporting students home earlier this winter, Godino encountered a vehicle which had left the roadway, flipping on an embankment with its motor running and wheels spinning. He took immediate action to ensure the safety of the students on his bus while also notifying emergency responders and helping the driver and two passengers escape their overturned vehicle.
All schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, including Derry Township School District, have adopted use of the “Safe2Say Something” anonymous tip line as a means of improving campus safety and improving school climate. The tip line is operated and monitored 24/7 by the Office of the Attorney General where tips are reviewed, classified, and forwarded to the appropriate school district. Tips that are found to contain information that may indicate a "life safety" issue are prioritized and immediately forwarded to the appropriate county emergency dispatch center.
Students, parents, and community members can submit tips via three methods:
