Principal Corner

Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,

The countdown is on, and we are so excited to welcome our students back to Hastings Middle School next week! Our 5th graders will kick things off on Tuesday, and we’ll have the joy of welcoming all grades on Wednesday. We can’t wait to see our hallways filled with energy, smiles, and the excitement of a new school year.

Thank you to all the families who joined us for open house this week. Your support and enthusiasm make such a difference as we begin this journey together. With our dedicated staff, engaged families, and incredible students, I know this year will be filled with growth, learning, and new opportunities.

Here’s to an amazing start and a memorable 2025–2026 school year.

Go Raiders!

Ryan Wynn
Principal
Hastings Middle School

🚨 Responding to Emergencies at HMS

In the wake of the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, we recognize how deeply unsettling such events are for families. It’s a stark reminder of the need for clear, practiced emergency protocols, not just for safety, but for peace of mind. At Hastings Middle School, we use five common terms to respond quickly and clearly during emergencies. Knowing this shared vocabulary helps reduce confusion and keeps everyone safe:

HOLD – In Your Room or Area
Stay in the classroom. Hallways remain clear. Learning continues.
Examples: medical emergency, maintenance, animal in the building
SECURE – Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors
Remain inside; no one enters or exits. Learning continues. All internal operations continue.
Examples: dangerous situation in neighborhood, unknown person outside
LOCKDOWN – Locks, Lights, Out of Sight
Move out of sight, doors locked, lights off. Released only by admin or police.
Examples: weapon on campus, active assailant
EVACUATE – To a Safe Location
Move to a designated safe area (often outside).
Examples: fire, gas leak, hazardous materials
SHELTER – Hazard & Safety Location Announced
Move to a protected space until the hazard passes.
Examples: tornado, severe storm, flooding

Remaining Safe, Respectful, and Responsible during these situations is the most important thing we can do.

📎 Standard Response Protocols: All 5 Terms

Student Support Team

Main Office

📞 651-480-7060

Ryan Wynn – Building Principal

Pam Johnson – 7th & 8th Grade AP

Scott Addyman – 5th & 6th Grade AP

Wellness Center

📞 651-480-7084

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

About Us

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)

🕒 Schools Hours

7:55 AM – 2:35 PM

🚌 Afternoon Bus Staging

To help ensure a safe and efficient dismissal, our afternoon buses line up in designated areas around the Middle School.

Pinecrest Side: Routes 1–3, 6–13, 16, 21, and 22 stage along Pinecrest.
Highway 55 / North Lot: Routes 4, 14–20, and 23 stage in the north parking lot by Highway 55.

Please remind your student to know their bus route number and where it will be parked at the end of the day.
👉 Click here to view the full staging map

Dates to Remember

September Events

2 First Day of School (5th Grade Only)

3 First Day of School (6th-8th Grade)

4 7th and 8th Grade Picture Day

5 5th and 6th Grade Picture Day

22 No School - Staff Development Day

October Events

10 No School: Teacher Workshop

14 Evening Conferences

15 No School: Conferences

16 No School: Teacher Association Day

17 No School: Teacher Association Day

Raider Ready

On the first day of school (Wednesday, September 3rd), students will use advisory time to get “Raider Ready” for learning.

Being Raider Ready means coming to each class prepared with:

Charged Chromebook
Pencils
Planner
Binder
Book for independent reading

During advisory on the first day, students will set up their binders and receive their planners. When they come home that day, please ask them to show you their binder and planner!

You can view our full school supply list here.

Picture Day Reminder! 📸

Important Message from Cahill Studios!

Hastings Middle School Picture Days are on:

Thursday, September 4th (7th & 8th Grade Students)

Friday, September 5th (5th & 6th Grade Students)

Cahill Studios will be sending you important picture day information from the following email address: no-reply@imagequix.com so keep a lookout. This is where you'll receive your online gallery link as well!

View your 100+ FREE Background options and Picture Day Survival Guide on the Cahill Studios website!

How to Order?

All galleries will be online to view and order 2-5 business days after picture day.

All online orders placed within 7 days of link delivery will have the option of Free Shipping to the school and will receive a FREE Low-Resolution Digital Download in any Package and BYOP bundle so don't forget to order!

Don't like your first day photo?
Wait to purchase photos, and your student can have their picture taken on Retake Day:Tuesday, October 7th

The Cahill Studios Team

www.cahillphotostudio.com

Email: service@cahillphotostudio.com
Office Number: 715-268-9363
Toll-Free Number: 866-229-0135

🏴‍☠️ Raider Way Updates

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.

The Raider Way Team uses a framework that teaches and reinforces what it means to be safe, respectful, and responsible at HMS. This is a key component to building community and helping everyone at HMS feel safe and supported and that this is a place they belong.

Part of living the Raider Way is showing pride in our school and community. If you want to purchase Raider Way gear to celebrate being a part of Raider Nation, use this link to order by September 7, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

Click here to learn more about how we live the Raider Way at HMS, ways we celebrate student success and ways you can volunteer and support our mission.

🚴‍♂️ E-Bike Rules & Guidelines

Minnesota state regulations require riders to be 15 years of age or older to operate an e-bike. Since none of our middle school students meet this requirement, and with safety as our top priority, e-bikes will not be permitted on campus. We want to ensure that all students are using safe and age-appropriate modes of transportation to and from school.

For more details, please refer to the attached resource and flyer, which provide additional information about e-bike use and safety.

Athletics Registration

Details about Hastings Middle School — including location, available sports programs, and the school start date — can be found on our athletics website.

https://ms.hastings.k12.mn.us/o/hms/page/registration-information

We’re excited to share our new HMS Family Resource Page, a live collection of links and documents to support families throughout the year. This includes:

Parent guides for Schoology and Infinite Campus
Calendar and event reminders
Family tech support
Communication tools
Back-to-school documents, and more!

Additional Notes

🚗 Drop-Off & Pick-Up Reminder

For safety and efficiency, please follow these procedures:

5th & 6th Grade → Highway 55 side

7th & 8th Grade → Pinecrest side

Families with multiple grades → Choose one side (Highway 55 or Pinecrest) and use it consistently

During school hours → All drop-offs/pick-ups must be on the Pinecrest side

⚠️ Parking Reminder: Please do not park in the Highway 55 parking spots or sit in them with your child until doors open. These are limited staff parking spaces, and we need to keep them available.

Thank you for helping keep our routines safe and smooth!

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 are donated on a regular basis, and donation dates will be shared in advance.

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

Parent partnership is an important part of making Hastings Middle School a success! Whether it’s through volunteering your time or contributing resources, your support can make a big difference.

PTA Membership: Our PTA is looking for parents/guardians to continue supporting our students and staff! Contact Devyn Dimmick-Partington with interest at: devyn.dimmick@gmail.com

HMS Family Newsletter | Aug. 28th