Greetings Raider Families and Staff,
Hello, October!
Although our colors have had a slow start, we can look forward to watching our autumn colors continuously change throughout the month.
In this edition of the Raider Update, I’m happy to share important information and multiple opportunities for you to ensure that your voice is heard. Discover how you can participate in our Safe Routes to School planning, learn more about our upcoming School Perceptions Survey, and stay informed about our upcoming calendar and Raider events.
Ensuring Safe Routes to School
Safety is a top priority in our district, and we are committed to establishing secure routes for students traveling to and from school. Thanks to a planning grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation, we are developing a comprehensive Safe Routes plan for all six of our school sites. This plan will provide recommendations to make walking and biking to school easier, safer, and more enjoyable for students and their families.
We need your help! Please take a few minutes (5) to complete our survey by October 15. Your input on current travel practices will provide key information as we structure this plan. SURVEY LINK
Additionally, we’ve included an interactive map where you can share your feedback on existing walking and biking routes, as well as note any barriers or opportunities for improvement. Your insights will directly contribute to making our schools more accessible and safe for everyone. INTERACTIVE MAP
Thank you for helping us create a safer, more comfortable commute for our students!
School Perception Satisfaction Surveys
Parent and staff surveys will be distributed on Thursday, October 10, and they will close on October 21. Student surveys will be given the week of October 14. Please review the following information for both the parent and student surveys.
*Parent Survey
The parent survey will be delivered to all primary email accounts registered in our school information system on Thursday, October 10. Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide your feedback. Following the completion of the survey, there will be a community “tour” with numerous opportunities to directly hear the feedback and action steps to address trend data. It is always our goal to continuously improve and to ensure that we are responsive to the needs of all of our students and families. An overview of our results will also be included in November Raider Updates. We deeply value your comments and suggestions, and together, we will continue to shape the future of the Hastings School District.
While I hope that you take the survey early, the window will remain open until 5pm on the 21st of October. As a reminder, this survey is being conducted by School Perceptions, an independent educational research firm. If, for some reason, you do not receive the survey, please check your "spam/junk" folder or contact the district office for assistance.
*Student Survey
Beginning on Monday, October 14, 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 student's 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 positively 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 with the surveys 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 10.
Calendar Reminders
September 30 - No School - Staff Development
October 11 - No School - Teacher Workshop
Week of October 14 - Conferences
October 17-18 - No School - MEA
24-25 School Calendar in its entirety
Raider Events
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
