HMS Summer Communication #3
August 23, 2022
Dear HMS Parents, Guardians, and Students,
The anticipation for the start of the year is high! We will be welcoming our staff that are new to our district this Thursday and Friday and then all of our teachers will be back next week. We have already been seeing teachers in the building getting their classrooms ready!
This will be our last communication we share with you all before school starts. If you don't find the information that you are looking for in this communication, or the previous two communications, please be sure to come to our open house on Wednesday, August 31 sometime during our 5:00-7:00 timeframe.
School pictures will be on Tuesday, September 6 for 5th graders in our media center (teachers will make sure students get to their pictures). Pictures for grades 6-8 will be on Wednesday, September 7 in the gym (students will be brought down by their teachers during assigned times). There will be no pre-ordering this year--so no forms to fill out ahead of time. Students will have their pictures taken and parents will receive an email with a link to view the pictures. Parents can then select the picture they want and can choose from a variety of backgrounds.
We also want you to know that we have changed the administrators and grade levels they are working with. Mrs. Pam Johnson (our new interim AP) will be working with 5th grade Gold Pod and 6th grade, Mr. Joe Haas will be working with 5th grade White Pod and 7th grade, and Mr. Steve Kovach will be working with 5th grade Blue Pod and 8th grade.
As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions to the number below or 651-480-7060.
Steve Kovach
HMS Principal
651-480-7066
Up To Date On Vaccinations?
Please make sure that your student is up to date!
Schedules, Lockers and Technology!
- Please know that the schedules are 99% done. Students MAY see slight changes between August 24 and the start of school as we are still making some changes/shifts with our staffing. If you have specific questions regarding your students' schedule, please contact your grade level counselor. 5th grade: Charlie Black, 6th grade: Brooke Johnson, 7th grade: Megan Latch, and 8th grade: Ellen Rademacher.
- Students are welcome to leave items in their lockers when they either do a self-guided tour (August 25, 26 or Sept 2--8:00AM-3:00PM) or during our open house on Wednesday, August 31, 5:00-7:00PM.
- We ask that students do NOT use tape inside or outside their lockers. Students have been able to hang things inside their lockers using magnets. This helps us keep the lockers in good condition, as well as not damaging the paint. Thank you in advance for adhering to this simple request!
- One more reminder to please consider purchasing the Chromebook protection plan through the district form process. If students qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, the Free and Reduced form needs to be filled out and the protection plan will be covered for those who qualify. The application can be found here.
- Parents/Guardians, please check that your contact information listed in Infinite Campus is correct so we can easily get ahold of you if needed. This includes a contact phone number and address, as well as emergency contacts.
HMS OPEN HOUSE
We will have maps at the Door 1 entrance (Pinecrest side, 11th Street) and everyone is welcome to walk the building, stop into classrooms to meet teachers, find student lockers and practice their combination, and just get a general lay of the land.
5th grade families can attend one of the two optional information sessions described in the 5th grade section below.
We look forward to seeing you all!
ATTENTION 5TH GRADE STUDENTS AND FAMILIES
We are VERY excited to welcome our 5th graders to HMS! Here are 5th Grade-specific items:
- The first day of school is ONLY FOR 5th GRADE! On September 6, 5th grade will have the whole building to themselves (with our staff of course). This will give them the opportunity to learn all they need to know about how their day will go.
- Our building will be open for self-guided tours on August 25th and 26th and again on Friday, September 2. The building will be open from 8:00AM to 3:00PM.
- 5th graders will be getting their assigned Chromebooks on the first day of school and each Chromebook will have a protective carrying case (with a handle). Please consider purchasing the insurance coverage described in the last district communication.
NEW INFORMATION
- Our Counselors and administration will do a brief, optional presentation in the auditorium during our open house on August 31st at 5:15 or 6:15 pm. This is only for 5th grade parents and students and we will share tips for how to be successful in 5th grade.
- We want to you to have the information about the people who will be supporting our 5th grade students. The 5th grade counselor is Charlie Black. Our administrative team will be splitting up 5th grade. Mr. Steve Kovach will be working with the Blue Pod, Mr. Joe Haas will be working with the White Pod, and Mrs. Pam Johnson (our new Interim Assistant Principal) will be working with the Gold Pod.
- When schedules are open for viewing tomorrow, you will access them through the Infinite Campus parent portal. Information on how to access this was shared in the last district communication. If you have issues getting into Infinite Campus, you can contact tech support by emailing campusportal@isd200.org.
- School pictures will be taken for 5th grade on Tuesday Sept. 6th
Keeping Changes on Your Radar
Students will:
- be asked to not wear hats and hoods during the school day. They CAN wear them to school and when they leave school, but not during the day.
- be keeping their personal items (backpacks, etc...) and school supplies in their assigned lockers. This will cause students to be more aware of what they need for particular classes and exercise some planning and organization.
- not be using their cell phones/headphones/airpods or any device (other than school-issued Chromebook) during the school day. This policy is spelled out in more detail in communication #1.
Locker Mates
We have many new Locker Mate shelves that fit our lockers that are available for purchase for $20. There are a limited amount of used ones that will sell for $5.
If you would like to purchase one, please stop by the HMS main office.
Hastings Middle School Walking Distance
The walking distance for secondary students is a 1.75 mile radius from the school. This is an increase from the .75 mile radius for elementary students. More information will be coming from the district and bus company on how to access our courtesy bus routes.
A map showing the walking area is available on the district's website.
Clubs and Activities at HMS
We will be working on having advisors and gathering more information about how students will sign up for clubs and activities at HMS. This will be shared as soon as we have it all firmed up.
The list below are activities that have occurred in the past and ones that we want to offer beginning this year. Please know that some may not be able to happen if we do not have enough interest or if we do not have an advisor.
Art Club
Future Educators Club
Garden Club
Green Team
Jazz Band
Knowledge Bowl
LEGO Robotics
Spanish Club
Math Masters
Outdoor Club
Science Olympiad
Speech Team
Spiral Singers
Student Council
Theater
Writing Club
Youth in Government
Please keep an eye out for more specific information in the near future.
Middle School Athletics
Registration will be open for 2 weeks after the first day of practice.
Affinety- Click here to register/purchase apparel
HMS PTA (Parent Teacher Association)
You can sign up for the Hastings middle school PTA for the upcoming school year!!
This year the PTA will be helping the Raider Way Team set up and staff a new store, where students can use raider way tickets like cash to buy themselves some fun items.
We also are planning on a fundraiser in the fall, hosting book fairs, STEM family community event on an evening in October, continue our Raider Wear Store, hosting an art club after school, and so much more. So please join now so you don’t miss out on all the fun! Teachers should also sign up so they can apply for a National PTA grant for their class and or school.
The link below can be used by all to sign up--the cost is $15. Thank You!
We are HMS!
Email: skovach@isd200.org
Website: http://ms.hastings.k12.mn.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=92533&pageId=92541
Location: 1000 West 11th Street, Hastings, MN
Phone: (651)480-7060
Twitter: @mn_hastings