HMS Family Newsletter | Dec. 12th |
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Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,
It was a fantastic week at Hastings Middle School filled with learning and community spirit. In our classrooms, students remained focused and engaged as we approach winter break. Teachers were proud to see their creativity and effort remain strong throughout the week.
On Thursday evening, our 7th and 8th grade choir gave a beautiful winter concert. Their holiday songs were impressive, and months of practice shone through as families filled the auditorium. We are proud of our student musicians and grateful to Ms. Borgen for guiding them.
We also saw wonderful leadership and generosity in our school community this week. Two seventh graders organized a fun “Grinch Day” dress-up event, showing great initiative to spread holiday cheer. In addition, families have started donating items for our upcoming Jingle Bingo celebration. It’s inspiring to see everyone come together to support our students. |
| Enjoy the weekend, and as always, Go Raiders! Ryan Wynn
Principal
Hastings Middle School |
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🎨 Dakota County Student Art Contest – Now Open! |
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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! |
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Level Up Spotlight: Celebrating Student Growth! |
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Another round of Level Up Awards was handed out to students last week at Hastings Middle School! |
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These awards recognize students who’ve shown growth and who model the Raider Way by being safe, respectful, and responsible. Way to go, Raiders! Keep reaching for new heights and leveling up daily! |
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Auditions for the HMS winter play, How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery, will take place next week after school in the auditorium: |
- Wednesday, December 17
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Thursday, December 18
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Auditions begin at 2:45 PM. Students will be placed into smaller groups and dismissed as each group finishes, so end times will vary based on participation. We’re excited to see our talented Raiders take the stage! 🎭 |
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Whoville Wednesday Dress-Up Day |
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Hello HMS families!
We’re excited to share that our next school dress-up day: Whoville Wednesday is coming up on Wednesday, December 17. Inspired by How the Grinch Stole Christmas, students are encouraged to join in the fun by wearing:
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- Red and green clothing
- Grinch-themed apparel
- Outfits inspired by the Whos from Whoville
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As always, regular school guidelines still apply: no hats, hoods, or masks. We can’t wait to see our hallways filled with Whoville spirit! |
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12/16 Choir Concert (Grades 5-6) 12/17 Whoville Dress-Up Day 12/24-1/4 No School: Winter Break |
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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! |
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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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January Benchmark & Screener Schedule |
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Students will complete their IXL Benchmark and FastBridge screeners in January during their math and language arts classes. Thank you for supporting strong attendance and engagement during these important testing windows.
FASTtrack Reading
• Dates: January 12–13
• Where: Language Arts classes
• What students need: Wired headphones aMath Screener
• Dates: January 14–15
• Where: Math classes
• What students need: Wired headphones IXL Benchmark Window
• Dates: January 5–23
• Where: Math and Language Arts classes
• Note: Specific testing days will be determined by classroom teachers. |
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Main Office📞 651-480-7060 |
| 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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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.
On Tuesday, December 23rd our Hastings Middle School will be doing Jingle Bingo for students! We are in need of parent/guardian donations. Thank you to all who have signed up to volunteer, our slots are filled!
To donate, use this Amazon wish list and drop off items at the Hastings Middle School welcome center: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3JNOE2VRZM9GG?ref_=wl_share
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A few important reminders from the HMS Health Office this week:
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- 📞 Parent & Emergency Contacts – Please take a moment to review and update your primary contacts in the Student Portal.
- It is our procedure that only a parent or guardian listed as a primary contact may release a student from school.
- A student will only be released to an emergency contact without parent/guardian consent if they have a fever over 100°F, are vomiting, or if there is a medical emergency.
- Keeping this information current helps us ensure your child’s safety and clear communication in any situation.
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🤒 Illness Update: Influenza A – We are seeing Influenza A circulating in the building. Please continue to take care of yourself and your family — wash hands often, stay hydrated, get plenty of rest, and stay home if feeling sick.
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Thank you for helping us keep HMS healthy and safe!
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: 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 Zeyen nzeyen@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. 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: |
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