Illness and Keeping your Child Home

A student should not come to school (and may be sent home from school) if they have or have had:

• a fever of 100 degrees F or more in the past 24 hours

• vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours

• an undiagnosed skin rash

Reporting Absences
If your student will not be at school, please call and report the reason for their absence at 651-480-7391. If your student is ill, please report their symptoms and/or any diagnosed communicable condition like chicken pox, strep throat, cough and fever, influenza, or pink eye. It is recommended that you follow the MDH and CDC exclusion guidelines for communicable diseases.

Immunizations

In order to attend school, students must show that they're in compliance with Minnesota School Immunization Requirements (see the Minnesota Department of Health Link below for more Information). Hastings School's immunization policy states that students who are not up to date on their immunizations will not be allowed to start school until they provide the school with documentation that they have received the required immunizations.
Parents/guardians may check their student's immunization status by logging on to the parent portal in Infinite Campus. To see the immunization records, click on the HEALTH tab. If your student's immunization status says "current for grade" in ALL immunizations required by law, then the student is up to date and ready for the start of school. If your student is not current, they will need to get the required immunizations to attend the first day of school. Yearly physicals with their healthcare provider are strongly encouraged for students to have optimal health.

Parents/guardians may choose to decline immunizations for their students by filing a legal exemption with the school. Student Immunization Form

If you have further questions, please reach out to our health office at 651-480-7395.

Your child's safety is of prime importance to us. There are a few procedure guidelines that help us maintain a secured building and limit the number of distractions to our classrooms. Our building is designed to have a single entry point during the school day. Please keep the following in mind:

• Always check in at the office whenever you are at school.

• We have a secure entrance, please ring the doorbell and state your reason for visiting.

• When delivering things for your child (ex. snow gear), please drop them off at the office. We will deliver articles or call your child down to the office.

• When picking up your child early from school, please do so by signing them out at the office. The office personnel will contact your child’s teacher to dismiss them and meet you in the office.

Bring your ID

Please bring your driver's license with you when you are checking out your student or visiting.

In order to minimize interruptions to the classroom, we ask that students do not get picked up early unless absolutely necessary. On those occasions when it is necessary to pick your child up during the school day, please go to the school office to sign your child out. The office staff will call the classroom and have the student sent to the office. Teachers will not release students unless the office gives prior approval. This practice has been established to help protect your child.

Our first goal is to keep everyone safe!  We also want our system to be efficient.  Efficiency cannot jeopardize safety.    

We have two options for families to drop off/pick up students between 8:30-8:50 AM.

1. Use the Drop-off/Pick-up Lane to let students independently exit the vehicle on the curbside and enter the school through Door #1. 

2. Park in a designated parking stall (there are nearly 30 open stalls) and walk with your child(ren) to the sidewalk or up to Door #1.

There are a couple of practices that are not considered safe options and need to stop immediately.  

DO NOT...

1. Drop off students in the Thru Lane. There are two lanes in front of the building, one is for dropping off and the other is to be used to bypass a stopped car.  

2. Drive down the parking lot lanes and let students out in the middle of the parking lot.  

3. Get out of your vehicle in the Parent Drop-off/Pick-up Lane or Lane Thru lanes. 

Please help us increase efficiency by using the entire designated Drop-off/Pick-up Lane.  This area extends past Door #2.  Also, If you are getting out of your vehicle, then you should do that in a designated parking stall.

If you are running behind, you still need to make safe decisions based on the guidelines outlined above. 

Use the system to help all of our students, including your own, to remain safe.

What is the Minnesota Free School Meals Program?

The Minnesota Free School Meals Program provides state reimbursement to schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program so that students can have one breakfast and one lunch at no cost at school.

Can the meals be picked up or brought home like we did during the pandemic?

No. Congregate meal service is required in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. Meals may not be taken off campus, sent home, delivered, or picked up by parents or others.

Do I still need to complete the Application for Educational Benefits?

Families need to complete the Application for Educational Benefits. Applications for Educational Benefits determine how much funding your child’s school receives for educational programs and support. Additionally, eligible families can qualify for other benefits, such as:

• WIC Benefits

• Metro Transit Assistance Program

• FCC Affordable Connectivity Program/Reduced price internet programs

• Some summer camps, athletics programs, and child cares offer scholarships or discounts

What is included in the MN Free School Meals Program?

The student must choose at least three items to be counted as a reimbursable meal at breakfast. The student must choose a ½ cup serving of fruit or vegetable as part of their breakfast. At lunch, the student must choose at least three components to be counted as a reimbursable meal. The student must choose a ½ cup serving of fruit or vegetable as part of their lunch.

What is NOT included in the MN Free School Meals Program?

Single-item purchases and non-reimbursable meals are not free. Some examples include: a carton of milk, snack items, a second entrée, a second breakfast, or a second lunch, meals that do not meet the minimum requirements, and meals served to teachers, staff, and other adults.

The price for student breakfast and lunch meals will be $0 for all sites.

Fill out the Form! The Application for Education Benefits helps determine how much education funding your school will receive. Complete an application for your student for the school year 2024-25.

• Students and families may qualify for other program fee reductions based on their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Parents should complete an Application for Education Benefits.

• Only meals that meet the requirements are reimbursed. Students that want additional or single items will be charged for those items.

• The 2024-25 Free and Reduced Meal Application is available online on the district website under Food Service, and a paper application has been mailed out to families.

For more information, please call Krystel Ebel 651-480-7050 or Brittney Hirschauer 651-480-7126

Hastings Public Schools

The Hastings School District consists of approximately 4,300 students. Please click on the links below to email the building principal or site leader. We've also included the phone numbers to the main offices of each of our district's sites:

• Tilden Community Center 651-480-7670

• Kennedy Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7221

• McAuliffe Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7390

• Pinecrest Elementary (K-4) 651-480-7280

• Hastings Middle School(5-8) 651-480-7060

• Hastings High School (9-12) 651-480-7470

• Hastings Alternative Learning Center 651-480-7690

*If you need any assistance in translating this newsletter, contact us at kgorr@isd200.org.

Website: www.hastings.k12.mn.us
Location: 1000 11th Street West, Hastings, MN, USA
Phone: 651-480-7000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hastingspublicschools