Raider Update
April 14, 2024
Message from the Superintendent
Greetings Raider Families and Staff,
This week’s Raider Update serves as a celebration of our upcoming staff appreciation and our employees of the semester. Also included are the topics of middle school persuasive writing, and the usual calendar reminders.
Staff Appreciation - Thank you to all our staff and to all who have worked tirelessly to make this year’s event a special one! This year’s celebration will take place on Thursday, April 18th. In addition to celebrating the work of all our staff, we’ll be recognizing and honoring years of service, honoring our retirees, recognizing our employee of the year, presenting community education awards and unveiling candidates for Hastings teacher of the year award. We’re lucky to have such a dedicated, incredible staff and are excited to honor the work of all.
Congratulations to our Spring 2024 Employees of the Semester!
The results are in and I’m excited to announce that the following employees were recognized as employees of the semester. Each was nominated by a colleague with a compelling reason why their actions stand out and was followed by a committee voting process. We’re grateful for their unwavering commitment to ISD 200.
Casey Likes DO
Kristina Cook HMS
Dirk Wassink KEL
Michaela Burr PEL
Anthony Letourneau HHS
Emily Kendell MEL
Middle School Persuasive Letter Writing - This past week, I was the lucky recipient of a number of student letters with hopes of persuading a few changes in the middle school. A few of my favorite topics included comfy furniture, start times, cell phones, hats and hoodies, discipline, recess, silverware, and lunch options. Truth be told, a few made it to the next principal agenda.
Calendar Updates and Reminders: Please review the district calendar and the event calendar to make sure you don’t miss any events. As you know, spring gets incredibly busy, especially for our families with seniors.
In closure, thank you for your support of Hastings Public Schools. As always, please contact me with any questions or feedback.
Sincerely,
Dr. Tamara Champa
Superintendent
(651) 480-7001
ISD 200 Staff Spotlight
Shayla Kasel - Social Studies Teacher at Hastings Middle School
While there is never a dull moment in middle school, building relationships with students and getting them excited to learn is the favorite part of Ms. Kasel’s job. Shayla started with ISD 200 three years ago as a social studies teacher at Hastings Middle School. “My goal is to add a little positivity to every kid’s day. Every student is different, and watching them all grow and progress over the year is a gift,” says Ms. Kasel.
In addition to her work as a teacher, Shayla works as a WEB Coordinator. WEB (Where Everyone Belongs) is a middle school transition program for 5th graders. She helps train selected 8th graders to become WEB leaders, and those students help guide their 5th-grade peers through the challenges of adjusting to their first year in middle school.
Shayla’s husband grew up in Hastings and is an ISD200 alum. She doesn’t have kids in the district yet, but they welcomed their first baby in February! She’s excited for her kids to attend Hastings Public Schools.
Shayla is inspired by her mom, sisters, and other strong females in her life. She is also incredibly grateful for all the amazing colleagues she gets to learn from every day!
When Ms. Kasel isn’t sharing her love of learning with our kids, she enjoys hiking, fishing, and playing pickleball. She also likes to relax with a good book or spend time with family and friends.
We’re thankful for dedicated teachers like Ms. Kasel, who work hard every day to make our students' experiences what they are. Fun, positive, and set up for success!
No School April 18 & 19
You have heard the saying, "Use it or lose it" so we are offering the GRASP program this summer. GRASP is a correspondence program for grades K-8 which helps students maintain reading and math skills while they are on summer break.
This program helps students retain skills learned during the past school year by providing review exercises. Students work on lessons weekly, send them in, and receive feedback from real educators. There is even an online option for 4th-8th grade. Order the grade level your student is in the process of completing. This is a review program, not intended for introducing new topics. Families save $10 when registering for both Math and Reading! Registration closes Sunday, April 28th. Materials can be sent to your child's school for distribution if they attend one of our public schools. If you do not attend one of our public schools, you will be notified when materials are available for pick up from Tilden Community Center.
Hastings Middle School PTA Updates
Hastings Middle School PTA's next meeting is May 7th. Please join us!
The Hastings Middle School PTA is looking for help with the upcoming book fair and volunteers in the Raider Cove. Links are below:
- Book fair May 6 to the 10th https://www.scholastic.com/bf/hastingsmiddleschool1
- Raider cove volunteers needed on Thursdays and Fridays over lunch periods 10:30 am-12:40 pm https://signup.com/go/SmKCbxi
- Parents can also help by donating items to the Raider Cove. Here is the Amazon list for those items https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/A44X90PIOYTO?ref_=wl_share
Contact the Middle School PTA at hastingsmiddlepta@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page.
My Sister Liv - Film Screening & Discussion
Hastings High School Ceramics Students present: Empty Bowls, April 17
You are invited to attend the Empty Bowls event on Wednesday, April 17th, at 5:30 p.m. in the HHS Commons. Guests can choose their bowl and enjoy a light meal from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., followed by a short presentation on hunger in our community and the world.
Empty Bowls events happen worldwide, and the premise is simple: guests choose a handmade bowl to use that evening and take home as a reminder that there are always Empty Bowls in the world. The suggested minimum donation is ten dollars in exchange for a meal and the bowl as a keepsake. The proceeds from Empty Bowls will be split between the Hastings Family Service (our local food shelf) and Heifer International, which will enable us to donate an ark to needy families. An ark is oxen, rabbits, cows, sheep, goats, and healthier, hardy animals that will go forth and multiply, improving lives for countless families and children all over the world. Our goal this year is to raise $4,000 or more! Seeing so many young people passionate about working together to end world hunger is exciting. We hope you can join us!
For more information or to make a donation, please feel free to contact HHS art teacher Bert Casperson at bertcasperson@isd200.org. Thank you!!
- 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 the Raider Update, contact us at kgorr@isd200.org.