Raider Families and Staff,

It’s hard to believe that in the past week, we went from sunny, eighty-degree days to a snowy Halloween!  You have to love our MN weather.  With our first glimpse of snow, I’ll use that as an opportunity to review our inclement weather protocol.  

Today’s update includes helpful weather reminders, an election day message, a chance to get involved as we update our district’s strategic plan, opportunities to honor our Veterans, a coming soon feature to report attendance, and the usual calendar highlights.

Inclement Weather

Let those early snowflakes serve as a reminder to double-check your contact information! Weather-related announcements are sent by email, text (for those opted in), and phone calls to all listed numbers.  For those of you interested in the details of who makes these decisions and the process, I have a complete document available here.

Election 2024

As Election Day 2024 approaches, there’s a sense of excitement in the air as we embrace our right to vote—and for some of our students, they will cast their ballot for the very first time. This election season has stirred strong passions across the political spectrum, and I am so proud to be part of a community where diverse opinions and views are acknowledged with civility and respect.

In the days following the election, we will continue to respect our students’ First Amendment rights, with the expectation that all political expression remains appropriate for the school setting and does not disrupt teaching and learning. We also recognize that today’s political climate can cause stress and anxiety, especially for our students. Please remember that our counselors and all staff are here to provide support as needed.

We are truly fortunate to live, work, and learn in a district where we care deeply about one another and support each other. Thank you for your partnership and dedication to fostering a respectful and positive learning environment for all.

Hastings Strategic Plan

Mark your calendars to share your insights as the Hastings School Board updates the district’s strategic plan. This input session, facilitated by Gail Gilman from the Minnesota School Boards Association, will guide the district's direction, incorporating feedback from the recent School Perceptions survey. Your voice is essential in shaping our district’s future!

DATE: Monday, November 18, 2024

TIME: 6:00 PM

LOCATION: High School Lecture Hall

The district’s current strategic plan is available for your review here.

Veterans Day 2024

It was such a special event to bring the Veterans Day Program back to the high school last year.  We are embarking on the previous schedule of hosting a memorable Veterans Day Program during the school day every other year and look forward to hosting again in 2025.  Although the district is not hosting a formal observance, in alignment with MN Statute 120A.42, one hour of the school day will be devoted to a patriotic observance of the day.  

Coming Soon…. 

Tired of calling in attendance notifications? Our district is committed to streamlining services and enhancing convenience. Starting next semester, you’ll have new options for reporting attendance. Stay tuned—more details are coming soon!

Calendar Reminders

• Upcoming calendar reminders:

  • November 28-29 Fall Break

• 24-25 School Calendar in its entirety

Raider Events

• Raider Athletic Calendar

• Raider Events Calendar

As always, thank you for your ongoing support of Hastings Public Schools. If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tamara Champa
Superintendent, Hastings Public Schools

Tilden Community Preschool is designed to provide a variety of age-appropriate experiences that contribute to the growth and development of children ages 3 to 5. These experiences serve as a foundation for later school experiences.

Samantha Perreault has been a Community Education Paraprofessional in the Preschool program for the past 7 years. “Early childhood education is a building block in a child’s educational journey. By providing a positive experience that is safe for them to make mistakes and learn through play is tremendously important to me. Involving children through modeling appropriate behavior and problem-solving skills allows children to know more and grow in their abilities. There are a lot of “indivisible” rules in society and life. Helping children to see and learn this is pivotal,” shares Ms. Perreault. 

Samantha understands the importance of learning through hands-on and gross motor play. “Watching children grow in their confidence and learning new skills is a very rewarding part of my job,” she says.

Ms. Perreault lives in the Hastings community and has children enrolled in the district. She is inspired by her family and her amazing colleagues. When she isn’t teaching new skills to our youngest learners, she loves playing volleyball, boating, bike riding, and spending time with her family. 

Thank you to Samatha and all the other Early Childhood staff who helped build a robust educational base for our kids. Your work benefits our schools, students, and community!

Hastings Public Schools is seeking certified lifeguards to provide services during the school day for the swim unit of our physical education classes at Hastings Middle School. The hours for this position will vary on a day-to-day basis, depending on the class schedule, and will occur between November 11, 2024 and February 4, 2025. We are willing to split the times/dates if you are not able to provide services on all of the dates/times. Please apply at https://www.applitrack.com/HastingsISD/onlineapp/. If you have any questions, please reach out to Tonia Wood via phone at 651.480.7021, or by email at twood@isd200.org.