Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,

This week we welcomed our students back from winter break, and our halls were filled with energy. Students jumped right back into learning, sharing vacation stories and setting new goals for the quarter. We took time to reinforce our core values of being safe, respectful, and responsible. Mr. Addyman led grade-level assemblies where students reflected on themes like how small choices can create big changes, focusing on what we can control, and owning our actions. It was inspiring to see students engage thoughtfully and return with positive attitudes.

On Wednesday, our HMS PTO held its first meeting of the year. Our PTO began the process of becoming an official nonprofit organization, which will strengthen our school-family partnership. We are grateful for our PTO and all our parent volunteers. Thanks to their efforts, December’s Jingle Bingo was a huge success. It was a memorable event for students, with many prizes and enthusiastic helpers. We also received a generous donation from Crossroads Church this week to support our students and our families. Our community’s support truly makes a difference.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Enjoy the weekend, and as always, Go Raiders!

Ryan Wynn
Principal
Hastings Middle School

Hastings Middle School has been invited by Dakota County and the Public Arts Advisory Committee to help promote the 2026 Dakota County Student Art Contest. This annual event celebrates young artists across the county, and we encourage our HMS students to showcase their creativity!

Key Details:

Families and students can view the official flyer here:

This is a great opportunity for our artists to shine! Thank you for encouraging your student to participate!

1/19 No School: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

1/20 No School: Teacher Workshop

1/22 7th Grade Courage Retreat

1/29 How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery

1/30 How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery

We’re currently hiring Paraprofessionals (PSAs) across the Hastings School District! These positions play an important role in supporting our students and staff every day.

If you or someone you know is interested in making a difference in our schools, we encourage you to apply today!

👉 Apply Now!

Next week students will be taking Fastbridge tests in Language Arts and Math classes. These computer-adaptive tests tell us if students might need extra help in reading or math. They also show students' progress in reading and math over time. Students set goals for winter testing after their fall Fastbridge testing, and this will be an opportunity for students to reach their self-created goals!

For these tests, students will need a charged chromebook, wired headphones, and an IDR book for when they finish their test.

Thank you for your support for students' engagement in Fastbridge testing next week!

Ryan Wynn – Building Principal

Pam Johnson – 7th & 8th Grade AP

Scott Addyman – 5th & 6th Grade AP

Brooke Johnson – 5th Grade Counselor

Jade Achman – 6th Grade Counselor

Ellen Rademacher – 7th Grade Counselor

Megan Latch – 8th Grade Counselor

Cyndi Sheehan – School Social Worker

Main Office 651-480-7060

Wellness Center 651 480-7084

Nurse's Office 651-480-7072

Attendance Line 651-480-7061 (late or absent), 651-480-7062 (passes to leave school)

7:55 AM – 2:35 PM

Thank you to our HMS Raider Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) for coordinating donations and volunteers for Jingle Bingo in December! We received an amazing supply of items for students to earn by winning Bingo, and we truly appreciate the parent volunteers who helped us prepare and run Jingle Bingo.

This week, we welcomed students back to HMS after our winter break with some powerful reminders for how to live the Raider Way and be safe, respectful, and responsible. One of our assistant principals, Mr. Addyman, led students through grade-level assemblies focusing on the following themes:

School-home extension: Ask your child about how they have made small choices to create big, positive changes.

With the icy winter conditions, we want to remind families about the importance of wearing proper footwear with good traction when coming to and from school.

Our Buildings and Grounds team has done a great job maintaining and treating walkways and parking lots, but we are still seeing students come to the health office after slipping and falling, particularly when they walk off approved paths and onto icy grassy areas.

To help prevent injuries, please remind students to:

Thank you for helping us keep HMS healthy and safe!
Nurse Erin and Nurse Katie 🌸

Lost and found items are primarily located near the gym. These include clothing, water bottles, hats, and similar items, which students can collect during the school day. After school, students and families can access these items by entering through the gymnasium doors.

Smaller valuables, such as headphones and jewelry, are kept at the Welcome Center. These can be retrieved during school hours or after school until 3:30 pm.

Please remind your child to regularly check the lost and found for any missing items throughout the school year. Unclaimed items will be donated on the following dates:

• February 25

• March 13

• May 1

Parent/guardians are welcome to eat lunch with their student. Please alert Rachel Boatman in the Welcome Center 24 hours in advance either by phone (651-480-7062) or email (rboatman@isd200.org). When notifying Rachel Boatman, please state the day you are planning on coming in to eat lunch and your child's name/grade level. To enter the building, you will need to show your driver's license as part of our check in system.

Grade Level Lunch Times are Below:
Grade 5: 11:19-11:44
Grade 6: 12:16-12:41
Grade 7: 10:50-11:15
Grade 8: 11:47-12:12

If you need assistance logging into the Parent Portal and Schoology:

Reach out to Natalie Zeyen nzeyen@isd200.org 651-480-7084

Parent partnership is a vital part of making Hastings Middle School a success! Whether it’s through volunteering your time or contributing resources, your support makes a big difference for our students and staff.

PTO Membership
Our PTO is looking for parents/guardians to join and help continue supporting our school community. If you are interested, please contact Devyn Dimmick-Partington at devyn.dimmick@gmail.com.

Ways to Get Involved:

• Volunteer Sign-Up (Raider Cove): Click here to volunteer

• Raider Cove Amazon Wish List: View the wishlist here