Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,
Tonight our Hastings Middle School community is gathering for fall family-teacher conferences. It is wonderful to see parents and guardians connecting with teachers to talk about progress, celebrate growth, and set goals together. These conversations strengthen the partnership between home and school and help us support every student.
Thank you to our dedicated staff for the thoughtful preparation that goes into each conference, and thank you to our families for making time to be here. If you are still on your way or signing online, we look forward to seeing you this evening. If you already met with teachers, thank you for your insights and collaboration.
A quick reminder of the week’s schedule: there is no school for students tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15, due to conferences. There is also no school on Thursday and Friday, October 16–17, for MEA break. We hope everyone enjoys a restful long weekend.
We appreciate your partnership and the care you show our students every day. Together, we are building a positive and supportive learning community. – Go Raiders!
Ryan Wynn
Principal
Hastings Middle School
October/November Events
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
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)
Teaching and Learning Updates
Many HMS students are engaging in goal setting around their fall math and reading Fastbridge and IXL scores. Your student should have received a score report from their math and reading teachers this week. If you have any questions about these scores, please reach out to your child's math and language arts teacher. Additionally, check in with your student to see what they are doing each month to improve their scores from fall to winter testing.
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.
💻 Save Your Spine (and Your Wallet)!
We’ve noticed an increase in students throwing away Chromebook spines or hinge covers when they fall off, thinking their device is broken. Please know that these parts can often be easily reattached by our tech staff without any repair cost. If your student’s Chromebook spine falls off, they should simply bring it to Brennan in the tech office — this can prevent an unnecessary $15 repair charge
🩺 Health Office Updates
We want to keep our HMS community safe and healthy! Here are this week’s updates from the health office:
Undiagnosed Rashes 🌸 – Per school board policy, all undiagnosed skin rashes require a doctor’s note before a student can return to school. We’ll continue to keep this reminder in the newsletter for another week.
😴 Rest Matters! – To help combat illness, please remind your student to get plenty of rest and good sleep routines as we head into the colder months. A well-rested body is better equipped to stay healthy!
📎 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 and restful long 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:
