HMS Family Newsletter | Nov. 7th |
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Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,
This first week of November has been filled with excitement and accomplishment at Hastings Middle School. We began the second quarter on a strong note, carrying forward the positive momentum from quarter one. On Thursday and Friday, our fall musical Annie Jr. graced the stage, and our talented students delivered outstanding performances. It was wonderful to see so many families, staff, and community members in the audience, supporting our young actors and celebrating their hard work.
As we reflect on the end of first quarter, I want to recognize our students’ academic progress and growth. Last week, teachers and staff celebrated student achievements through our “Level Up” awards program, highlighting those who showed exceptional growth and perseverance in their learning.
Now that Quarter 1 is behind us, we are focussing on helping students set new goals for Quarter 2. In advisory classes, students have been learning organization tips and reflecting on their own progress to ensure they are ready to thrive in the months ahead. Thank you, families, for reinforcing good study habits at home and encouraging your children to do their best.
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Our school community continues to shine in character and generosity, not just in academics. Next week, our students will kick off a friendly Penny Wars fundraiser, bringing in spare change from November 10–14 to support a local charity. It’s inspiring to see their enthusiasm for helping others, and we appreciate your support in this effort. We are also grateful for the many parents and guardians who volunteer their time for school events. Whether it was helping backstage for the musical or signing up to chaperone the upcoming 7th & 8th Grade Beach Dance on November 14, your involvement makes a big difference. These partnerships between school and home create a strong, caring environment where our students can flourish. |
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Thank you for your continued support and for helping make HMS a great place for our kids to learn and grow. I’m proud to be part of this HMS community and excited for all the opportunities the new quarter will bring.
Go Raiders!
Ryan Wynn
Principal
Hastings Middle School
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11/6-11/7: Fall Musical: Annie Jr.
11/11: 7th & 8th Grade Band Concert
11/14: 7th & 8th Grade Beach Dance
11/20: 5th & 6th Grade Band Concert
11/27 No School: Fall Break
11/28 No School: Fall Break
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Depression Awareness & Suicide Prevention Program for 6th Grade Students |
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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 11th and 12th, 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.
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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!
💼 Job Fair Opportunity:
Join us at the Hastings High School foyer on Wednesday, November 13 from 3:00–5:00 PM for our District Job Fair. Onsite interviews will be available!
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📸 Yearbook Orders — Don’t Miss Out! |
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🎁 Project Share Holiday Assistance Program |
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While we’re just settling into fall and enjoying the cooler temperatures, it may seem early to think about the holidays, but Hastings Family Service is already preparing!
Project Share is an annual holiday gift and meal assistance program for families who live within ISD 200 and have children. Registration opened October 22, when families will meet one-on-one with a volunteer to:
Share their children’s holiday wish lists Indicate whether they’d like gifts wrapped Request a holiday meal Select small gifts or stocking stuffers for each household member
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If your family could benefit from this support, or you know someone who might, please visit Hastings Family Service to learn more and register. |
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📚 The Scholastic Book Fair is Coming to HMS! 🎉 |
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The Scholastic Book Fair is a fantastic opportunity to share the excitement of new books with your child. Independent reading fosters a love for learning and supports academic success, so don’t miss out!
Family Event Date:
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- Thursday, December 4 | 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
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Location: Near the Hastings Middle School Auditorium
Book Fair Homepage: Scholastic Book Fair – Hastings Middle School
Set up a Book Fair eWallet, a secure digital payment option that allows your child to shop cash-free at the Fair! Visit our homepage to learn more.
School Dates:
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- Monday, December 8 | 7:35 AM - 2:45 PM
- Tuesday, December 9 | 7:35 AM - 2:45 PM
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Location: Hastings Middle School Library Media Center
We can’t wait to see you there!
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Main Office📞 651-480-7060 |
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Wellness Center📞 651-480-7084 |
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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)
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AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination. A team of dedicated staff at HMS supports students in AVID with an elective class for eighth grade students and with schoolwide strategies to support students grow in their agency and college and career readiness.
On Monday, November 3rd students received new planners for Quarter 2. Planners are a great tool for students to organize assignments and important dates. Additionally, there is a goal setting tool on page 8 of the planner for Quarter 2. Check in with your student to see if they have completed this activity and, if not, complete the goal setting worksheet together!
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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. |
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Penny War Runs Next Week
Students can start collecting spare change to bring in for the HMS Penny War, which will run from November 10th-14th. Students can bring in change to help their grade level collect the most coins and win grade-level trivia at lunch! The proceeds from Penny Wars will support a local charity, which will be voted on by students.
7th/8th Grade Beach Dance is Next Week
On Friday, November 14th we will be hosting a 7th and 8th grade student Beach Dance from 6:30-8 p.m. in the HMS Cafeteria. We are looking for parent/guardian volunteers to help with this event. If you are interested, please email nshofner@isd200.org or call the HMS Wellness Center at 651-480-7084.
Additionally, for student and staff safety we use the Raptor system for all building visitors to check in at the Welcome Center.
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- If you have visited any ISD 200 building this year, and received a visitor ID by scanning your id, you are in our system and will have a visitor ID printed/waiting for you the night of the dance.
- If you have not visited a building yet this year, please come to Hastings Middle School and check in at the Welcome Center at least two days before the dance to scan your ID into our security system so that we can print you a visitor ID for the night of the dance.
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Seeking volunteers for the Raider Cove on Fridays!
The Raider Cove and Cove Advisory Outposts are a place for students to exchange their Raider Recognition tickets for rewards and incentives. The Cove opened today for students during lunch and will be open on select Fridays throughout the school year.
Here are some ways you can support the Raider Cove:
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🩺 Health Office Updates
We want to keep our HMS community safe and healthy! Here’s an important reminder from the health office this week:
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💊 Medication Procedure Reminder – All medications at Hastings Middle School should first go through the health office. In certain cases, students may carry and administer their own medication. Per district policy, the proper paperwork must be on file to do so.
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🩺 Health Conditions in Infinite Campus – It’s best practice to have your student’s health condition documented in Infinite Campus so staff can respond appropriately in a medical emergency.
- If we are unaware of an existing condition and cannot reach a parent during a time-critical situation, it may cause dangerous delays in receiving proper care.
- These procedures are in place to ensure that student safety remains our number one priority at Hastings Middle School.
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🤒 Not Feeling Well? Visit the Nurse First! – As cold and flu season approaches, please remind your student that if they aren’t feeling well during the school day, they must visit the health office before contacting a parent or guardian.
- Our nurses will assess your child’s symptoms and determine if going home is necessary.
- This helps us track illness trends, limit classroom exposure, and ensure that students receive proper care and communication before leaving school.
- Parents who receive a message from their student about not feeling well should encourage them to go to the nurse rather than picking them up directly from class.
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If your student has a medical condition that should be documented in our system, or medication that needs to be administered at school, please reach out to Nurse Erin or Nurse Katie in the health office.
Wishing everyone a safe and healthy week,
Nurse Erin and Nurse Katie 🌸
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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:
November 26 December 23 February 25 March 13 May 1
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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
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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
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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:
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