High Plains embracing challenge

Dear Editor:
Greetings from the Storm!
High Plains Community Schools has met the challenges of the 2020-2021 school year head on and have worked diligently to continue to provide the education and experiences our student deserve. We are proud of staff and students for working to keep our HPC community safe. School disruptions have been minimal and have only occurred as extreme caution to ensure the safety of all.
Each year, districts are required to report data, such as test scores, teacher experience, and finances to its stakeholders. Several pieces of data provide a snapshot into HPC. Recent testing data continues to show strong academic growth of students. ACT scores have showed a consistent growth over the last five years.
HPC teachers continue to consistently review data which helps guide instruction and meet student needs.
Anonymous bullying and climate surveys were given to students at the end of the 1st semester to provide valuable feedback relating to HPC’s culture.
HPC continues to experience K-12 enrollment growth. HPC’s student-teacher ratio still allows for small group instruction and pays close attention to individual students and their progress. The relationships formed between staff and students create a unique setting that leads to the ultimate academic experience.
HPC teachers bring a wealth of experience to the classroom and are well above the state average in teaching experience. HPC teachers continue to be life-long learners, furthering their own education while being able to access HPC’s tuition reimbursement incentive. HPC promotes a growth mindset and being life-long learners. Our teachers continue to be at the forefront of that philosophy.
The HPC teacher-mentoring program is thriving. It provides support for first year and new teachers to the district, to promote a strong instructional environment and a school culture of high morale.
Program goals are designed to connect new teachers with a professional mentor teacher as support and motivation in developing strong classroom practices. Mentors help mentees develop positive, supportive and professional relationships and networks throughout the school and district and provide accurate information about HPC, its programs, and available resources.
At High Plains Community Schools, we embrace the challenges that we face and view them as opportunities for success. HPC has completed work on Level 1 status of Marzano’s Highly Reliable School. During the 2020-2021 school year, HPC has turned its focus to attaining Level 2 status. Level 2 is Ensuring Effective Teaching in Every Classroom. We have identified a clear vision of instruction at HPC to ensure best instructional practices and continued growth as educators.
HPC’s prekindergarten program is currently on Level 3 of Step Up to Quality. The Step Up to Quality is a voluntary program through the Nebraska Department of Education that takes high-quality early childhood programs and makes them even stronger. The PK students learn and explore with a variety of educational materials daily, while learning important social skills.
HPC Elementary and Junior High adopted new English Language Arts materials (CKLA/Amplify) as 1-step in reaching the district’s literacy goals. Along with quality materials, a 3-year professional development plan was established to support staff with literacy instruction and implementing the new materials.
The upper elementary (4th-6th grade) have STEM opportunities during their Enrichment classes in which they explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Also, all elementary students explore
Science content with a new resource this year, Generation Genius. With Generation Genius students learn about Science through videos, reading, and online activities.HPC’s activities programs include dedicated coaches and sponsors. Extensive hours and energy are spent in personal growth opportunities through coaching clinics, book study and film review to ensure HPC students receive the experiences and coaching they deserve.
Dual credit classes are offered to our HPC juniors and seniors and if a specific path is followed, can enter college with one semester of college credits received.
HPC has expanded job-shadowing programs to include medical field studies in cooperation with Merrick Medical Center in Central City. Due to COVID this program will be able to continue in 2021-2022. The HPC animal science lab continues to expand providing students with experiences from birth to adult animal care. The addition of a separate birthing lab has added to the overall experience for our students.
HPC is a leader in the state in providing innovative Agricultural Education through our seed to feed program and partnerships with local area farmers, Orthman Manufacturing, Reinke Irrigation and AKRS Equipment, who help support our HPC Field Lab.
HPC is one of the only schools in the state that has center pivot irrigation technology on school grounds.
The center pivot is equipped with state of the art technology from an advanced control panel, GPS navigation, and variable rate technology. It will provide an advanced STEAM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education to all of our students, not just those in our Ag Science classes.
The HPC 7th & 8th grade are provided with a wide array of exploratory opportunities. STEM, graphic design, engineering, foreign language, and animal science are just a few examples.
Students at HPC have received local and statewide recognition with projects in photography, graphic design, and through National FFA.
The HPC Board continues to work hard to update and upgrade facilities, doing so in a fiscally conservative and responsible manner. The HPC Board of Education is moving through the design-build and lease-purchase process to add additional locker rooms, concessions, restrooms, classrooms, storage and coaches’ offices to the existing High School. This addition will allow boys and girls to have their own locker area during game nights, appropriate facilities for officials, a proper concession and restroom area for fans. It will also ensure HPC-TV has its own studio area along with the Art room having sufficient space and safety area for the kiln.
HPC has the utmost respect for our neighboring schools, their academic and activities programs, boards of education and communities. Each strive for excellence and are dedicated to the success of their students.
We continue to support a talented and dedicated staff from our bus drivers, cooks, and custodians to our secretaries, principals, teachers, paraprofessionals, and coaches. Our entire staff is committed to ‘Every Student, Every Day, Every Way’.
Please follow HPC on Twitter at @HPCSTORM and ‘Like’ High Plains Community Storm on Facebook.
Feel free to contact me anytime at btonniges@hpcstorm.org or call 402-765-2271
Go Storm!
Brian Tonniges – Superintendent
Brian Tonniges,
High Plains superintendent