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Message from the Superintendent:

Superintendent Champa

Raider Families and Staff,

I hope you’re enjoying the snowy weekend. In today’s newsletter, you’ll find information about the district, opportunities for community engagement, a reminder to join us for the in-person community collaboration event on February 19, and the regular calendar updates to help you plan ahead. Thanks for staying engaged with Hastings Public Schools!

State of the District - Community Engagement
This past Wednesday, I had the privilege of presenting the state of our district at the annual Hastings Chamber State of the Community Event. It was a valuable opportunity to share key insights, including the results of our recent survey, the progress on our draft strategic plan, and updates across each of our priority areas.

As we move forward, we remain committed to keeping the community informed and engaged. Several events are scheduled this winter and early spring, creating more opportunities for meaningful conversations and collaboration. I invite you to join us for the upcoming event on February 19th. Additionally, I’m happy to meet with your group or organization to provide an overview and answer any questions you may have.

Community Collaboration Event - February 19th at 6pm: Mark your calendars. The next community collaboration event is scheduled for February 19th at 6pm in the high school lecture hall.  In addition to a number of informational topics, time will be dedicated to gaining additional feedback regarding the development of the district’s strategic plan. We hope to see you there!

Calendar Reminders

  • Upcoming calendar reminders:

    • February 17: No School

  • 24-25 School Calendar in its entirety

  • 25-26 School Calendar

Raider Events

  • Raider Athletic Calendar

  • Raider Events Calendar  

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of Hastings Public Schools. If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tamara Champa
Superintendent, Hastings Public Schools

Thomas Garding

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Thomas Garding

Special Education Teacher at HMS

Our students who need additional support receive exceptional guidance from a fantastic new teacher. Thomas Garding joined the outstanding Special Education team at Hastings Middle School this year. This dedicated group of educators empowers our students to develop the skills and confidence they need to reach their full potential.

Thomas has called Hastings home for the past four years and was eager to become more involved in our community. Despite holding a teaching position in a nearby district, he felt that working in Hastings would offer a unique opportunity to contribute to our collective growth. He is also the proud father of a two-year-old daughter, who is already on track to be a future Raider!

Mr. Garding thrives on connecting with his students, sharing moments of laughter, and witnessing their progress. He wants the community to know how deeply the students he works with feel supported and how much they appreciate that encouragement.

His inspiration comes from his daughter: "Her courage, curiosity, and kindness constantly motivate me to be better and to bring out those qualities in everyone around me," he says.

When he’s not helping students at school, Mr. Garding enjoys reading, writing, gardening, woodworking, tackling house projects, and playing guitar.

Welcome to ISD200, Thomas. We’re so happy to have you with us!

Georgeanne

National School Resource Officer Day - February 15

Next Saturday is National School Resource Officer's Day. We want to sincerely thank Officer Georgeann Freeman for all of her hard work and dedication in keeping the students and staff at Hastings Public Schools safe.

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Hastings Public Schools

Please click on the links below to email the building principal or site leader. We've also included the phone numbers to the main offices of each of our district's sites:

  • Tilden Community Center 651-480-7670

  • Kennedy Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7221

  • McAuliffe Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7390

  • Pinecrest Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7280

  • Hastings Middle School (5-8) 651-480-7060

  • Hastings High School (9-12) 651-480-7470

  • Hastings Alternative Learning Center 651-480-7690

*If you need any assistance in translating the Raider Update, contact us at kgorr@isd200.org.

Website: www.hastings.k12.mn.us
Location: 1000 11th Street West, Hastings, MN, USA
Phone: 651-480-7000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hastingspublicschools