HHS March News
3/8/2023
Dear HHS Families,
Welcome to March! Our days are getting longer, our skies are getting brighter, and our school year is approaching May with tremendous speed and excitement!
The scheduling process is completed with great success again this year! Our Counseling Department is looking through all of the requests, determining which electives, required courses, and AP classes students are interested in! This, too, is an exciting time!
Seniors are finishing up with the FAFSA process, making plans for post-high school life, and trying to enjoy the time they have left with friends, staff, and extra-curricular activities! What an exciting time for all of us! Winter sports have finished up and Spring sports are becoming organized and planned as we speak!
Mark your calendars! TESTING (for in-person and virtual students) begins after we return from Spring Break. SAT and PSAT testing will be on April 12, while ACT WorkKeys and MME will be on April 13. It is important for students to attend their scheduled test days. Parents, please try to plan accordingly with any outside appointments so your student does not miss their test on these days. Thank you! More testing details specific to each grade level will be emailed out to students and parents as it gets closer. Please be reminded that all Juniors are required by the Michigan Department of Education to complete all three tests as a graduation requirement - SAT, Workkeys, and MSTEP.
As we think about our year gaining speed and then wrapping up, we lean to what our seniors must be feeling and experiencing right now. I've seen excitement, confusion, fear, sadness, joy, and trepidation. As you might guess, there are probably multiple emotions going on within the hearts of our seniors.
One thing I do know as we get closer to May is that new emotions often emerge. Seniors turn into risk-takers with thoughts of free will and free choice playing around in their heads. I love this about the emergence of young people out into the free world! I encourage families to have meaningful conversations with their seniors about making smart choices as we navigate toward graduation. I certainly do not want any senior excluded from graduation due to poor choices being made. The staff and I will be having conversations with our seniors, too, so that all expectations leading to graduation are very clear. Thirteen years of hard work and countless hours of learning are an important reason to celebrate! I want that for every senior!
Recently, we were able to hold two assemblies for our entire student body. The first was held on February 27 and was centered around giving our students a clear understanding of the harmful effects of vaping, whether with nicotine or with THC (marijuana). This assembly was important due to the recent uptick in discipline due to nicotine and THC use. It was a good opportunity to help our students understand the high expectations we uphold for appropriate behavior and to outline the dangerous impact these drugs have on students and their learning.
Thanks to the generous support of the DeCamp Family Foundation our students were also able to hear a presentation from Ms. Shandy Longcore, a speaker from Embracing Imperfections. Ms. Longcore spoke about suicide prevention and the power of one person to make a difference. Our staff and students were reminded of how important just one voice can be. It is our hope that her message was well-received by all.
As we enter the last few months of the school year there are many dates coming quickly so please be sure to look ahead and get these events placed on your calendars... especially as we celebrate our seniors! :)
Also, please continue to encourage your students to work toward achieving our new semester academic goal:
Our School Goal: Course Proficiency/Completion
Goal: By June 2, 2023, the percentage of students who are passing CORE in-person classes with 60% or higher will stay at least 85%.
Our students were spot on the first semester so we are in hopes that this, too, will be an achievable goal!
Thank you for all of your "behind the scenes" support, help, and encouragement! We know it takes all of us moving the ship in the same direction! When we do this, our kids win!
As always, please reach out if you have any questions!
Kindly,
Teresa Heide
Board of Education Work Session
High School families are invited to attend an interactive meeting with the HASS School Board. The purpose of this meeting is to give families the opportunity to hear important information about our facility and security needs. This is also a great chance for our board members to hear your concerns regarding these two topics. We would love to see you there!
Who: Any HASS parent, guardian, teacher, staff member, etc
When: Tues, March 14 at 7:00 pm
Where: Hastings Middle School Commons
Tutoring Program
Credit Recovery Program
Important Senior Meetings: Save-the-Dates!
- Thursday, March 23 @ 1:00 pm
- Wednesday, May 17 @ 1:45 pm
Seniors! Please plan to attend your mandatory Senior Meeting on Thursday, March 23, at 1:00 PM here in our Performing Arts Center. We will be going over many important items regarding graduation, the local scholarship application, as well as passing out Caps & Gowns and Announcement orders at this meeting. This meeting is for senior students only (and includes both virtual and in-person seniors). We look forward to seeing you there!
Save-the-Date: Graduation 2023!
- Graduation 2023 is on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Hastings High School, with the Senior Honors Convocation being held the night before on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Both events will begin at 7:00 pm.
- Seniors: If you have not ordered your Cap & Gown, please contact Mrs. Peake! Late orders for Caps & Gowns may still be placed with Jostens, however, a late fee may be applied and delivery is not guaranteed before our March Senior Meeting. Late orders may be placed NO LATER than March 31 online at Jostens.com or by phone (1-800-JOSTENS). If you need assistance paying for your Cap & Gown, please contact Mrs. Erb or Mrs. Heaton.
Scheduling Process Complete
Our counselors will be double-checking that all students have 6 scheduled credits and that there are no conflicts! Lots to do before the close of school.
It is our hope that all schedules will be completed by August, as the entire district must wait for the completion of one year (2022-2023) and the roll-over to the new year (2023-2024). This takes place in mid-July.
Thank you, again, for your support and effort in getting your student to meet the scheduling deadline. If you have any questions, please reach out out to the High School Counseling Department.
Attendance
Reminders:
- Parents are able to view their student's absences and tardies in PowerSchool.
- Students are considered TARDY for 1st Hour from 8:00-8:10.
- Please allow ample time to get students around to leave for appointments by calling 30 or more minutes ahead of the requested leave time. High school students are frequently working outside of their assigned classrooms for different reasons and can even be outside of the building for a classroom project. (example, the football field)
- If attending a medical/dental appointment during the school day, students may get a School Excuse note from that appointment and bring it to the high school office (or fax to 269-948-8081).
Counseling Corner
COUNSELING CORNER
Our Counseling Team sends out Grade-Level Newsletters consistently. The March Newsletter will be coming soon! Please be looking in your student email for the most up-to-date information!
If you missed last month’s, see below for the most recent newsletter from FEBRUARY:
Freshman Class of 2026 https://www.smore.com/ya9g7
Sophomore Class of 2025 https://www.smore.com/h05ye
Junior Class of 2024 https://www.smore.com/xryfw
Senior Class of 2023 https://www.smore.com/159t2
Yearbook Orders
Arts
School Musical: "The Wizard of Oz" March 16, 17, and 18
Don't miss the exciting show, The Wizard of Oz, presented by the students of HHS on March 16, 17 and 18 in the Performing Arts Center! Shows are at 7:00 pm each day, with an additional 2:00 pm performance on Saturday. CLICK HERE for tickets!
HPAC EVENTS:
The Friends of HPAC along with the Thornapple Arts Council are excited to present the following special events coming up at the Hastings Performing Arts Center!
April 28- Aubrey Logan: Jazz and Pop Trombone and Vocals, brought to you by Mark & Margaret Christensen and the Dempsey Foundation
CLICK HERE for tickets!
For more information about the HPAC, CLICK HERE.
Athletics
- Sports Physicals: A completed MHSAA Physical Card must be on file with the Athletic Department before a student may begin participation in any school sport. A completed physical is one that was performed by a medical professional on or after April 15, 2022. Should your student need a physical card they are available for pick up at the Middle School Office, or the High School Athletic Office. Forms are also available to print by visiting the High School page on our district website www.hassk12.org . Choose the Athletics tab, then Athletic Forms. If you are unsure if your student has a current physical on file please contact Mrs. Northrop or Mr. Goggins in the Athletic Department.
- Spring sports It's hard to believe that Spring sports practice/try-outs begin on Monday, March 13. Sports offered to students at the high school level during the spring season are Baseball, Softball, Track & Field, Boys Golf, Girls Soccer, and Girls Tennis. Students must have a current physical on file in the Athletic Office in order to participate. Even if a student has never played a sport before, all are welcome to join a team.
Thank you for your continued support of athletics for our students!
Spring Break
Wishing our staff, students and families a wonderful Spring Break Week!
Upcoming Dates
March 9-12: BPA State Leadership Conference
March 10: Half Day/ Dismiss 11:15
March 16-18: HHS Musical, “The Wizard of Oz”
March 18: Science Olympiad Regionals at WMU
March 20: Board of Education Meeting @ HHS
March 23: Senior Meeting
March 25: Mary Youngs Scholarship Concert
March 30: Half Day/ Dismiss 11:15 to start Spring Break
March 31-April 7: Spring Break
April 10: School Resumes
April 12: SAT & PSAT
April 13: ACT WorkKeys & MME
April 20: Blood Drive
April 27-30: Jazz Festival
May 1-5: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 1-11: AP Exams
May 11: HS Choir Concert
May 12: Senior Decision Day Breakfast
May 13: Prom
May 17: Senior Meeting
May 19: Half Day/ Dismiss 11:15- Seniors Last Day
May 19-21: Band Scrap Metal Drive
May 23: Underclassman Honors Night 7:00
May 24: Senior Honors Night 7:00
May 25: Graduation 7:00
May 29: No School/Memorial Day
May 31-June 2: Exam Week
June 2: Half Day/Last Day of School
Helpful Resources
- Barry County Community Mental Health Authority (BCCMHA): https://www.barrycountyrecovery.com/; 500 Barfield Dr. Hastings, MI 49058 269-948-8041
- United Way’s 2-1-1 is a FREE information and referral service hotline available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. United Way’s 2-1-1 provides a central resource for local community services and information. 2-1-1 provides a quick, easy-to-remember way to access community information. 231 S. Broadway, 269-945-4010
- Barry County Substance Abuse: 500 Barfield Dr. Hastings, 269-948-4200
- Barry-Eaton Health Connections: 350 E. Woodlawn, Hastings, 1-800-553-2565
- Community Action - Emergency Services for COVID-19; 877-422-2726; Utility support, Minor home repair support, Burial services support related to COVID-19, Housing service support
- Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services: https://www.pinerest.org/locations/hastings/ Hastings/Caledonia location at 450 Meadow Run, Suite 300 Hastings MI 616-891-8770 or 866-457-6363 For crisis and assessment for hospitalization, call 616-455-9200. Locations in Caledonia, Lake Odessa, and Grand Rapids
Contact Us
Other important contact information:
- Principal: Teresa Heide, teresa.heide@hassk12.org, 269-945-6165
- Assistant Principal: Matt Flessner, matthew.flessner@hassk12.org, 269-945-6159
- Principal Secretary: Ashley Peake, ashley.peake@hassk12.org; 269.945.6162
- Assistant Principal/Athletic Director: Mike Goggins, mike.goggins@hassk12.org
- Athletic Secretary: Cheryl Northrop, cheryl.northrop@hassk12.org
- Counselor: Melinda Heaton, melinda.heaton@hassk12.org
- Student Support: Peg Denman, peg.denman@hassk12.org
- Social Work: Dawn Coltson, dawn.coltson@hassk12.org
- Social Work: Renee Herbert, renee.herbert@hassk12.org
- Counseling Secretary: Kristi Erb, kristi.erb@hassk12.org
- Attendance Secretary: Danielle Petrak, danielle.petrak@hassk12.org
- Main Fax - 269-948-8081
- Athletic Fax - 269-945-6125
- Office Phone - 269-948-4409
- facebook.com/HastingsHighSchoolMi
Email: teresa.heide@hassk12.org
Website: hassk12.org
Location: 520 West South Street, Hastings, MI, USA
Phone: 269 948-4409
Facebook: facebook.com/HastingsHighSchoolMi