Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,
We’ve had another wonderful week here at Hastings Middle School. Classrooms were full of focused learning and friendly faces, and our students continue to impress us with their enthusiasm and kindness.
This week, our students completed their first round of reading and math screeners (FastBridge), and we’re proud of their effort.
We saw HMS spirit and community in action this week, from families joining our PTA Q&A session on Wednesday evening to our Student Council stepping up as leaders with a new presentation to share their goals.Thank you to everyone who participated, your involvement makes a difference! It’s inspiring to see our students taking initiative and pride in our HMS community.
Our staff continue to reinforce the "Raider Way" values of being safe, respectful, and responsible. It’s wonderful to see students supporting one another and earning Raider Recognition tickets for positive behavior. Together, with your support at home, we’re building a strong and caring school community.
Go Raiders!
Ryan Wynn
Principal
Hastings Middle School
September/October Events
9/22 No School - Staff Development Day
10/10 No School: Teacher Workshop
10/14 Evening Conferences
10/15 No School: Conferences
10/16 No School: Teacher Association Day
10/17 No School: Teacher Association Day
Student Portrait Previews
Some students did not receive their printed portrait previews last week. If you have not received an email from Cahill Studios or your child did not bring home a printed copy on Wednesday, please contact Cahill directly.
📞 Toll Free: 866-229-0135
🔗 Request your online access code here
🚗 Student Drop-Off &🚦Traffic Flow
To keep students safe and traffic moving smoothly, please note these important rules:
🚫 No Student Drop-Off: Students may not be dropped off in front of the District Office entrance.
🚫 No Thru Traffic: Vehicles are not allowed to cut through the bus loading zone or restricted lanes on the Pinecrest side.
✅ Parent Drop-Off Routes: Please follow the designated green parent routes on the map for morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up.
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 following these procedures to ensure safety for all students and staff.
🚨 Updated Pick-Up and Drop-Off Procedures
As part of our ongoing commitment to safety, we want to remind families about our process for picking students up early and dropping off items. While these procedures are not entirely new, we are emphasizing them to reduce congestion in the office and keep our welcome area calm and secure.
Item Drop-Offs
If you are dropping off an item for your child, please leave it on the table in the vestibule. Paper and pen will be available for labeling the item. We will ensure the item is delivered to your child.
Early Pick-Ups
If your child needs to leave early for an appointment or is being dismissed from the nurse’s office, please follow the process below:
If you are scheduling an appointment, please contact the front office ahead of time to let us know. If the nurse has already contacted you to pick up your child, you do not need to call again.
After you call (or are contacted by the nurse), we will send a pass to your child right away so they know when to leave class and come to the office. They will then be ready and waiting for you at the time of pick-up.
When you arrive, your child should come right out to meet you. If they do not come out within 5–10 minutes, please call the office at 651-480-7060 to let us know.
If circumstances require, you may enter the first set of doors, ring the doorbell, show your ID to the camera, and we will call your child down to the office. Showing ID in this case ensures that anyone entering the building is either a parent or an approved emergency contact.
If someone other than a parent is picking up (for example, a grandparent, aunt, or another emergency contact), we will always verify their ID to confirm they are listed as an approved contact before releasing your child.
Important Clarification
These procedures apply only to students leaving early during the school day. They do not change our regular morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up routines. Families should continue to follow those procedures as usual, including the established drop-off location on the 55 side of the building.
The most important point to remember is that we want to minimize the need for parents or adults to enter the building unless it is absolutely necessary.
Cell phones must be put away during the school day from 7:55 a.m. until 2:35 p.m.
1️⃣ First Offense: Device is confiscated and turned into the office. Student may pick up the device at the end of the day.
2️⃣ Second Offense: Device is confiscated and turned into the office. A parent/guardian/caretaker must pick up the device at the end of the day.
🔁 Beyond the Second Offense: Continued issues with cell phone use will result in a behavior plan 📋 developed with the parent/guardian, principal or assistant principal, and student.
Report your student's full absence through Campus Parent Portal
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)
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
NAPAC Cultural Craft Nights
Click here to RSVP for NAPAC Ribbon Workshops!
🎒 School Supplies from HFS
If your child is still in need of school supplies, or if you know of new families joining our district, Hastings Family Service (HFS) has extra supplies available throughout the year. Families can call 651-437-7134 to schedule a time to pick out what they need. Teachers are also encouraged to reach out if classroom supplies are needed at any point.
We are grateful to Hastings Family Service and our community for helping ensure every student starts the year prepared for success!
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.
Volunteers Needed: Raider Cove
We are looking for volunteers to help in the Raider Cove on Fridays during student lunch. Each shift is just one hour, and we need at least two volunteers per time slot to keep things running smoothly. You’re welcome to sign up for multiple shifts or help with all grade levels if you’re able.
👉 Sign up here
Your time and support make a big difference for our students!
Additionally, you can help our Raider Cove by purchasing items from this PTA wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2OU91JQ2MB671?ref_=wl_share
Volunteers Needed: 5th/6th Grade Dance
We are also seeking parent and family volunteers for the 5th and 6th Grade Dance on Thursday, October 9th, from 6:30–8:00 p.m. If you’d like to help, please email hmsraiderway@isd200.org or call the HMS Wellness Center at 651-480-7084.
Thank you for supporting our students and school community!
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!
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 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:
