We’re looking for family members who want to help shape learning in
Hastings Public Schools!

The Curriculum Advisory Committee works to review what students learn, how progress is measured, and how we can ensure every student experiences a rigorous and engaging education that challenges every student to thrive and succeed. This committee is composed of a majority of teaching staff, with representatives from school and district administration, as well as family and community members.

Members share feedback and ideas that help us improve access to great learning and ensure our curriculum reflects the strengths of our community.

The Committee meets at the Pinecrest Media Center from 5-6 pm on the following dates:

• October 22

• January 28

• April 22

Please fill out this form if you are interested in joining the Committee. If we receive more interest than we have available to participate on the committee, we will conduct a random draw to determine who will serve.

Thanks,

Andrew Hodges
Director of Teaching and Learning
Hastings Public Schools

Parents and Guardians of 9th Grade Students,

Each year, we bring in Youth Frontiers to help us host a day of team and relationship building for our 9th grade students.  The 9th grade students, Link Leaders, and a few staff members will engage in fun, thoughtful, and challenging activities to support our school values of strong academic/activities/athletics and sound decision making while developing a school climate that is positive and welcoming to all students and staff.  

On Tuesday, October 21, Youth Frontiers, Inc. of Minneapolis will present the Respect Retreat at The Confluence and Resurrection Methodist Church in Hastings.  Students should report to the HHS gym at 7:45 a.m. to pick up their name tag and retreat location.  They will load the busses at 8:00 a.m. and return to HHS by 2:20 p.m.    Student attendance is mandatory as this is a regular day of school.

Youth Frontiers is a non-profit organization that has been working with students in grades 4 through 12 for over twenty years to provide retreats on important values such as kindness, courage and respect.  Their purpose is to build the character of young people and, by doing so, they work to promote a positive and welcoming climate in school.  Youth Frontiers staff members and current HHS student Link Crew leaders will focus on creating an atmosphere of respect and non-violence in our school.  We feel that this retreat will build class unity and form positive relationships among our students.  Youth Frontiers explains the core concepts of the retreat and provides questions for parents to use to process the experience with their kids at this link    http://www.youthfrontiers.org/ respect-retreat/

• Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2025 
  Student attendance is mandatory - this is not an optional day of school - this is a regular day of school.

• Place: The Confluence and Resurrection Methodist Church

• Time: Students should report to the gym at 7:45 a.m. to pick up their name tag and retreat location.  They will load the busses at 8:00 a.m. and return to HHS by 2:20 pm.

Transportation is provided.  Students have the option of having a meal made for them by the HHS cafeteria or they can choose to bring their own bag lunch.   Students are NOT allowed to leave during the lunch break.  Please - no backpacks - thank you!

We encourage parents to inquire about the retreat experience once their student returns home.  We are looking forward to a wonderful day of learning and building school community.

Sincerely,
Chris Moore
Assistant Principal

At Hastings Public School District, your child’s success is at the heart of everything we do. We're always looking for ways to make our schools even better, and we know that starts with listening to you.

Parent Survey :
To help us understand what’s working well and where we can grow, we’ve partnered again with School Perceptions, an independent research firm, to conduct a short parent/guardian survey. Your honest feedback will help guide our next steps and strengthen the connection between home and school.

Keep an eye on your inbox! The survey link will be emailed out on October 13 and will remain open through October 27 at 5:00 PM. If you don’t see it, be sure to check your spam or junk folder.

Your voice matters, and your input can make a big difference. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts and help us continue building a school community we can all be proud of.


Student Survey:
Beginning on Monday, October 13, students in the Hastings School District (grades 4-12) will also have the opportunity to participate in the School Perceptions Student Life Survey. The survey is designed to measure students' engagement at school. It will provide our District with answers to important questions, such as:

• What practices help our students learn, and what barriers are in the way?

• Do students feel supported?

• What could be done to increase student involvement, both in and out of the classroom?

The survey is online and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Once the survey is done, the District will receive a summary report that will not include confidential or identifiable information. The purpose of the survey is to ensure that our practices are meeting the needs of our students. Any trend data will be used in our upcoming planning and programming to ensure continuous improvement.

This survey is designed ONLY to reflect on the engagement and opportunities for our students. However, if you would like to preview the survey, it is available in the district office, in the office of every school, and has been posted on our website. If you would prefer that your student not participate, please return the opt-out form, which is available on the website and is also provided here for your convenience.

Please note: any opt-out forms need to be returned by the end of the school day on
Thursday, October 9.

Below are reminders about our cell phone policy at HHS

All cell phones must be put away during class time - even out in the pod or hallway
Students are allowed to use their phones during passing time and at lunch

First Offense:
The device confiscated and turned into the office
The student may pick up their device at the end of the day

Second Offense:
The device confiscated and turned into the office
The student may pick up their device at the end of the day

Beyond the second offense :
The device confiscated and turned into the office
A parent/guardian must pick up the device from the Student Office
If cell phone usage continues to be an ongoing problem, principals will work with parents/guardians on a behavioral plan