Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,
Our teachers have been hard at work in their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), analyzing student screeners and diagnostic data to tailor upcoming lessons and instruction. Their focus remains on ensuring that every Raider has the support and challenge they need to be successful.
We also celebrated our school community this week by introducing our new 2025–2026 Student Council members. Congratulations to these students for stepping up as leaders! This evening, our 5th and 6th graders will enjoy a fun Halloween-themed dance. It’s always wonderful to see students building friendships and showing their Raider spirit outside the classroom. A huge thank-you goes out to all the staff and parent volunteers who helped make this event possible.
Enjoy the long weekend (remember, no school on Friday for a staff workshop day), and as always – Go Raiders!
Ryan Wynn
Principal
Hastings Middle School
October/November Events
10/10 No School: Teacher Workshop
10/14 Evening Conferences
10/15 No School: Conferences
10/15 Lost and Found: Donation Deadline
10/16 No School: Teacher Association Day
10/17 No School: Teacher Association Day
11/6-11/7: Fall Musical: Annie Jr.
11/11: 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert
11/20: 5th & 6th Grade Band Concert
11/27 No School: Fall Break
11/28 No School: Fall Break
📋 Parent, Staff, and Student Surveys
Parent, staff, and student surveys will be distributed on Monday, October 13. Please review the following information for both the parent and student surveys.
Parent Survey
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.
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 that any opt-out forms need to be returned by the end of the school day on Thursday, October 9.
Understanding Fastbridge and IXL Scores 📊
In the next week, students will be receiving their Fastbridge and IXL fall testing scores in their math and language arts classes. Students took these tests in September, and the results help teachers and teams make decisions about how to better support each student.
Fastbridge scores provide a broad measure of math and reading skills and are reported in the following categories:
High Risk: The student likely needs additional support in math or reading.
Some Risk: The student may need some targeted support.
Low Risk: The student is on track and likely to meet grade-level expectations.
Exceeds Expectations (EE): The student is doing very well and is likely to meet or exceed grade-level expectations.
IXL scores serve as an additional diagnostic tool that measures students’ overall skills in math and reading. A student’s IXL level (from the IXL Flex Diagnostic) represents their working grade level.
Most students will be setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely) around their Fastbridge scores. To support this process, ask your child:
If you have any questions about your student’s scores, please contact their math or language arts teacher.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Conference Schedule
Tuesday, October 14: 4:30–8:30 PM
Wednesday, October 15: 8:30 AM–3:30 PM
Conference Format
Each conference is 5 minutes long with a 2-minute transition between sessions.
The default format is Google Meet.
If you would prefer to meet in person, please select that option as a special request when signing up.
👉 Click here to sign up for conferences.
Building Entry & Security Procedures
Families attending in person will enter through Door 1 on the Pinecrest side of the building.
The doors will be locked during conferences, and all adults will check in at the main doors just like a normal school day.
Please remember to bring a photo ID for check-in using our RAPTOR system and existing school security protocols.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Kama Kirsch at 651-480-7060.
Note for 5th Grade Families
Due to the large number of families and limited time slots, we kindly ask that you do not request separate conference times for Raider Success or WIN. These classes are pass/fail and do not receive letter grades. You can monitor your child’s progress in these areas online.
If you have specific questions or concerns, please reach out to the teachers directly via email—they’ll be happy to help.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to ensure that every family has the opportunity to discuss their child’s progress.
A couple of important reminders for our 8th grade families:
🥐 Butter Braid Pick-Up
Orders will be available for pick-up Monday, October 13th in the HMS Cafeteria from 2:35–5:30 PM.
🏕️ Eagle Bluff Trip Requirements
Please make sure to complete the medical forms, online forms, and trip payment as soon as possible. These are required for your student to participate in this exciting learning experience!
Retake Pictures Have Been Delivered! 📸
Gallery links have been sent from no-reply@imagequix.com. If you don’t see it in your inbox, please check your junk, spam, or promotions folders.
🆓 Free Shipping Options
To School: Available through Wednesday, October 15th with the bulk order.
To Home: Get free shipping on subtotals over $45 using code SHIP25.
❓ Didn’t Receive an Email?
Request your gallery password HERE.
📞 Questions or Concerns?
Cahill Studios Customer Care Team
✉️ service@cahillphotostudio.com
📱 715.268.9363 | 866.229.0135
🌐 www.cahillphotostudio.com
Depression Awareness & Suicide Prevention Program for 6th Grade Students
The middle school years are often an emotional rollercoaster for students and families. To proactively address student well-being, Hastings Middle School will partner with University of Wisconsin–River Falls School Psychology graduate students to deliver the Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program on November 4, 2025, for all 6th graders.
This program helps students:
Understand that depression is a treatable illness
Recognize the warning signs of depression and suicide
Learn how to seek help for themselves or a friend by talking to a trusted adult
Students will view short educational videos, engage in discussion with HMS counselors and mental health staff, and complete a short screening questionnaire. The screening is not a diagnosis but helps identify whether further evaluation may be beneficial.
If you do not wish your child to participate, please complete the Opt-Out Form and return it to the Counseling Office by Monday, November 3, 2025.
For more information, visit the Parent SOS Information page or preview the Student Questionnaire.
Questions may be directed to Counselor Jade Achman at (651) 480-7081.
🎁 Project Share Holiday Assistance Program
Join the Curriculum Advisory Committee — Help Shape Learning in Hastings!
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.
Main Office
📞 651-480-7060
Wellness Center
📞 651-480-7084
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)
The Raider Way is a team of dedicated staff who work to ensure that everyone at HMS is being safe, respectful, and responsible by using the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework.
We want to keep our HMS community safe and healthy! Here are some important updates from the health office this week:
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease 👣 – We continue to see cases of hand, foot, and mouth disease. Please keep an eye out for symptoms and keep students home if they are ill.
💉 6th Grade Immunization Reminder – A reminder to all 6th grade parents: if your student visits the doctor this year, please make sure their Tdap and Meningococcal immunizations are up to date. You can drop off the paperwork at the health office anytime to avoid a last-minute appointment in September!
Undiagnosed Rashes 🌸 – Per school board policy, all undiagnosed skin rashes require a doctor’s note before a student can return to school.
Measles Alert ⚠️ – The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has reported measles cases in Dakota County. Because rashes can look similar, it’s important to identify the cause before sending your student to school.
📎 Helpful Resources:
🤒 Illness and Keeping Your Child Home
A student should not come to school (and may be sent home) if they have or have had:
📞 Reporting Absences
Absences may be reported by calling the main office of your child’s school. Please share symptoms and/or any diagnosed communicable conditions such as:
Chicken pox
Strep throat
Cough and fever
Influenza
Pink eye
If your child has an injury or illness that requires changes to their school day, please contact the health office before they return.
Wishing everyone a healthy weekend,
Nurse Erin and Nurse Katie 🌸
Lost and Found
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:
October 15
November 26
December 23
February 25
March 13
May 1
Parent Lunch
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
Parent Portal and Schoology Access
If you need assistance logging into the Parent Portal and Schoology:
Reach out to Natalie Shofner nshofner@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.
PTA Membership
Our PTA 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:
