Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,
This week was bursting with Raider pride as our school celebrated Homecoming Week. Each day, students showed their creativity and enthusiasm by dressing up for fun spirit themes from tourist outfits on Tuesday to sports jerseys on Wednesday, bold pink on Thursday, and all-out Raider Blue & Gold on Friday. The hallways were full of energy and laughter, and it was wonderful to see our HMS community united in fun and school spirit.
Today, we capped off Homecoming Week with an all-school pep fest assembly outside in the “bowl” on the north side of campus. Our 8th grade WEB leaders did an outstanding job leading the crowd in cheers, and students from every grade cheered on their peers during some friendly competitions and games. We even had our band strike up the Raider Fight Song to end the celebration. It was a fantastic display of Raider pride and togetherness. The positive energy was contagious!
In the classroom, learning remained front and center alongside the festivities. This week our students completed their fall diagnostic assessments in reading and math, and we are proud of the focused effort they put into these tasks. Teachers will use these results to better support each student’s learning, and we appreciate our students for doing their best.
Outside of class, students found many ways to shine as well. We kicked off new extracurriculars like our Writing Club and Outdoor Club. Our fall sports teams are already making us proud. The HMS girls’ tennis team earned a sweeping 7–0 victory in a match this week, and several of our cross country runners finished in the top ten at their meet. It’s wonderful to see so many students getting involved and supporting one another’s interests and talents.
This Homecoming week truly highlighted what is special about our HMS community. The positivity, teamwork, and school spirit on display. Whether in class, at the pep fest, or on the field, it made me proud to be your principal. Thank you for your continued support and for encouraging your children to make the most of these middle school moments. Enjoy the weekend, and as always –
Go Raiders!
Ryan Wynn
Principal
Hastings Middle School
October/November Events
10/7 Picture Retake Day
10/9 5th/6th Grade Dance
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
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
October 9th — 5th & 6th Grade Dance
The Hastings Middle School cafeteria will host a Halloween-themed dance for 5th and 6th graders on Wednesday, October 9th, from 6:30-8:00 pm.
Admission is $6, or $5 with a school supply donation (items such as pencils, loose-leaf paper, glue sticks, etc.).
📋 Parent, Staff, and Student Surveys
Parent, staff, and student surveys will be distributed on Monday, October 13. Please review the following information for both the parent and student surveys.
Parent Survey
At Hastings Public School District, your child’s success is at the heart of everything we do. We're always looking for ways to make our schools even better, and we know that starts with listening to you.
To help us understand what’s working well and where we can grow, we’ve partnered again with School Perceptions, an independent research firm, to conduct a short parent/guardian survey. Your honest feedback will help guide our next steps and strengthen the connection between home and school.
Keep an eye on your inbox! The survey link will be emailed out on October 13 and will remain open through October 27 at 5:00 PM. If you don’t see it, be sure to check your spam or junk folder.
Your voice matters, and your input can make a big difference. Thank you for taking a few minutes to share your thoughts and help us continue building a school community we can all be proud of.
Student Survey
Beginning on Monday, October 13, students in the Hastings School District (grades 4-12) will also have the opportunity to participate in the School Perceptions Student Life Survey. The survey is designed to measure students' engagement at school. It will provide our District with answers to important questions, such as:
What practices help our students learn, and what barriers are in the way?
Do students feel supported?
What could be done to increase student involvement, both in and out of the classroom?
The survey is online and takes about 10 minutes to complete. Once the survey is done, the District will receive a summary report that will not include confidential or identifiable information. The purpose of the survey is to ensure that our practices are meeting the needs of our students. Any trend data will be used in our upcoming planning and programming to ensure continuous improvement.
This survey is designed ONLY to reflect on the engagement and opportunities for our students. However, if you would like to preview the survey, it is available in the district office, in the office of every school, and has been posted on our website. If you would prefer that your student not participate, please return the opt-out form, which is available on the website and is also provided here for your convenience. Please note that any opt-out forms need to be returned by the end of the school day on Thursday, October 9.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences will be held October 14th from 4:30-8:30pm and October 15th from 8:30-11:30 and 12:30-3:30. The default option will be to meet via Google Meet, but in-person attendance can be requested during the sign-up process. Conferences will be scheduled for 5-minute time blocks. The conference link for scheduling will be available Monday, October 6th.
📸 Important Message from Cahill Studios
Hastings Middle School Retake Day
📅 Tuesday, October 7th
Families can view 100+ FREE background options and the Picture Day Survival Guide on the Cahill Studios Website.
Retake Information
If your child needs a retake (already had their picture taken and needs a new one), please complete the Retake Form or notify Cahill Studios by Thursday, October 2nd.
Filling out the form is not required, but students not on the list are not guaranteed a retake photo.
If your student missed the original Picture Day, please remind them to have their picture taken on Retake Day.
Ordering Photos
Galleries will be available online 2–5 business days after Retake Day.
Orders placed within 7 days will:
✅ Ship free to the school
✅ Include a FREE Low-Resolution Digital Download with any Package or BYOP bundle
📧 Email: service@cahillphotostudio.com
☎ Office: 715-268-9363 | Toll-Free: 866-229-0135
During Advisory today, students who completed the MCA assessments last year received their individual MCA results. Hard copies of these reports were sent home with students.
We encourage families to review the results together, as they provide valuable insight into academic progress and areas for growth.
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)
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.
October Focus: Safety at HMS
Throughout October, we will be focusing on safety at Hastings Middle School. One key area is the “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which guides our emergency response procedures.
Over the next two Wednesdays, advisory teachers will be sharing Standard Response Protocol slides with students to ensure everyone understands the safety procedures we follow at HMS.
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!
Our health office team has a few reminders and updates for families:
🤕 Physical Education Injuries – If your student has an injury that requires them to be excused from physical education, please send in a doctor’s note. This ensures we can make an official change to their schedule.
💨 Asthma Care – Students who require an inhaler must also have an asthma action plan on file. Please call or email the health office if you have any questions about this process.
🦠 Seasonal Illness – This week, we’ve seen cases involving sore throats, headaches, and stomachaches. Please remind your child to wash their hands regularly ✋🧼 and get plenty of rest 😴 to help us all get through respiratory season.
Wishing everyone a healthy 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 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
Hastings Middle School is committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for all students. Families and students have access to a Bullying Report Form that can be used if there are concerns about bullying at school.
The form allows students, parents, and guardians to share important information so that our staff can address issues promptly and appropriately. You can find the form here: Bullying Report Form.
Please know that our goal is always to foster a positive school climate where every student feels safe, respected, and supported.
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:
