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📣 HMS WEEKLY NEWSLETTER — SEPTEMBER 3

It’s Thursday, which means our HMS Weekly Newsletter is here! 💙💛

Take a few minutes to check out this week’s newsletter for important updates, upcoming events, celebrations, and everything happening around Hastings Middle School.

https://canva.link/hastings-saxons-weekly-newsletter-sept-3-2026

Thank you for staying connected and being part of our Saxon community! 💙💛

Have a great week, Saxons!
#HMS #HastingsMiddleSchool #SaxonStrong
about 17 hours ago, Jeffrey Saunders
HMS Weekly Newsletter
The Saxons road trip out to Williamston this evening searching for their first victory of the season. Let's go!
about 18 hours ago, Hastings Area School System
A graphic that says Gameday in big letters featuring two football players in dark blue uniforms against the backdrop of crowded bleachers

No school Sept. 4 and 7. We hope all our Saxons have a restful, safe long weekend. We look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday!

about 18 hours ago, Hastings Area School System
Graphic that says "No School" along with the dates September 4 and September 7
Welcome to school, little learners! Nervous faces turned into big smiles this week as our GSRP preschoolers stepped into our classrooms for the first time. We are so excited to watch them start their education journey. Have a great year!
2 days ago, Hastings Area School System
Two children sit at a table eating lunch. The girl on the left, with pigtails, smiles at the camera with a boy next to her who is also smiling.
A teacher on the far left watches on as two little kids look into the camera. A girl is putting some food in her mouth while the boy gives a slight wave.
A young girl with blonde hair holds up a stack of jumbo legos that she assembled.
Two young kids show off their toys to the camera. The girl shows a stack of jumbo legos she assembled and the boy holds up a small toy car.

📸 PICTURE DAY IS TOMORROW!

Hastings Middle School Picture Day is Wednesday, September 2, from 8:00–10:00 a.m.

Students received a picture packet on their first day of school. Families have two options:

Order with the packet: Complete the form and send it with payment.
Order online: Use the unique student code found in the upper-left corner of the packet to order pictures online.

📚 Don’t forget your yearbook!
Yearbooks can be ordered using the bottom-right corner of the picture packet, highlighted in yellow, or online. While you're ordering pictures, this is a great time to order your yearbook, too!

Please take a few minutes tonight to make sure your student is ready for Picture Day tomorrow! 📸💙💛

3 days ago, Jeffrey Saunders
Picture Day Reminder!
Friday night before kickoff, we paused to celebrate the Baum family and their incredible dedication to Saxon Football and the Hastings Area School System!

Through the Baum Family Foundation, their ongoing generosity continues to transform our community. From upgrading Johnson Field with brand-new stadium lights last season and fresh turf over the summer, to covering athletic fees so no Saxon student ever has to pay to play, their impact touches every corner of our program.

The Baum family legacy is undeniable, and Hastings is so much stronger because of it!
4 days ago, Hastings Area School System
A man with a suit stands to the left of a couple, who are holding a plaque. All three are smiling for the camera. In the background you can see they are standing on a football field.
You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful night for a home opener on Friday night!

While the Saxons came up short tonight, dropping a hard-fought battle to Thornapple-Kellogg 25-16, it was a high-energy, entertaining game that sets the stage for an exciting season ahead.

Win or lose, it's always: Go Saxons!
4 days ago, Hastings Area School System
A marching band walks along the track with a crowded stands of people in the background.
Two football players in dark blue uniforms holding American flags prepare to run their team out on to the field.
A close up of a group of marching band musicians. They are holding their instruments in front of them and yelling.
A group of people walks toward the camera. One man points directly at the photographer.
A large group of high school kids sit a section of bleachers. They draped a banner over the edge that reads "Welcome to the Dark Side Trojans"
Hastings Summerfest is always a great reminder of why it’s good to be home. Today brought the chance for our alumni to reconnect, relive the glory days, and see firsthand how Hastings Area School System continues to thrive.

The annual HHS Alumni Banquet was a huge success, made even more special by a performance from our Varsity Singers. The Class of 1986 held their own reunion, while members of the Class of 1966 took a nostalgic trip down memory lane with a tour through some of our school buildings.

Once a Saxon, ALWAYS a Saxon!
4 days ago, Hastings Area School System
A choir director stands with his back to the camera as he directs a large group of boys and girls in front of him.
Three older individuals stand in front of a brick school building that reads Central School on the front.
A large group of high school-aged girls and boys pose for a photo in what appears to be the corner of a gymnasium.
📣 Hastings Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Here’s our weekly newsletter for Hastings Middle School! 📰 We’re excited to share some updates, upcoming events, athletics, fine arts, and other important information with our Saxon families.

https://canva.link/hastings-middle-newsletter-august-28-go-saxons

Have a great weekend, and Go Saxons! 💙💛
7 days ago, Jeffrey Saunders
HMS Newsletter
Earlier this month, we had the privilege of hosting members of the Guenther family for a tour of Central Elementary, the middle school, and our “new” high school. Their father, Richard Guenther, served as superintendent from 1961 to 1982, and all nine of his children graduated from Hastings High School.

Walking the halls, the siblings shared memories (like running through empty school buildings while their dad worked late until they were summoned to his office over the PA system), reminisced about band and athletics, and recalled the infamous senior “gauntlet” on the second floor. The Hastings Performing Arts Center was a new addition that they marveled at, a testament to our community's incredible support.

Although Tricia (Class of 1963) couldn't join us, we remembered her along with Annette (1965), Chuck (1966), Greta (1968), Kris (1970), John (1977), Bob (1978), Jeff (1980), and Buni (1982).

Their visit highlights our core mission to shape successful Saxons who make a difference in the world and return to support the schools that raised them.

Thank you, Guenther family, for the wonderful trip down memory lane! To infinity and beyond…and back.
10 days ago, Hastings Area School System
A group of middle-aged siblings sit in auditorium chairs posing for the camera.
A group of middle-aged siblings stand in an auditorium with chairs behind them cposing for the camera.
A group of middle-aged siblings stand on gym bleachers together with a bright yellow wall behind them posing for the camera.
Congratulations to Malillany, who passed the state's WIDA English Language Test! This demonstrates Malillany’s strong command of the English language and earned her a certificate as well as some fresh pencils for the new year. It's a huge accomplish for one of our ELL students. ¡Buen trabajo, Malillany!
11 days ago, Hastings Area School System
A girl and her teacher jointly hold a certificate that says "Access Test Certificat" on it
A girl holds a certificate that says "Access Test Certificat" on it
📣 Hastings Middle School Weekly Newsletter

Here’s our weekly newsletter for Hastings Middle School! 📰 We’re excited to share some updates, upcoming events, athletics, fine arts, and other important information with our Saxon families.

https://canva.link/hmsnewsletter820

Have a great weekend, and Go Saxons! 💙💛
15 days ago, Jeffrey Saunders
HMS Weekly Newsletter
Before the first bell rings, our bus drivers set the tone for the entire school day, getting our students to each building safely.

We're looking for drivers to join our team and fill an important need in our district, providing competitive pay and flexible hours along the way.

Put in your application: https://jobs.redroverk12.com/org/hassk12
16 days ago, Hastings Area School System
The front of a school bus with text over it saying "Hiring Bus Drivers"
The back-to-school vibes are at an all-time high today in Hastings. Welcome back, everyone!
18 days ago, Hastings Area School System
An older female student with a backpack gives a high five to a smaller girl.
Two students with backpacks on their back exchange a high-five
A girl stands in front of her school sign with a smile on her face while her mom takes a photo.
Two femaile students exchange a hug with another girl looking on
A man with a tie stands at the door to a school giving fist bumps to students who enter.
Schedule Changes Update

We want to provide an update regarding student schedules. Our team is working diligently and around the clock to correct the scheduling issues that have affected some of our students and families.

We are doing everything we can to have all necessary schedule changes completed by Sunday. However, if we are unable to complete every change by then, we will continue working as quickly as possible at the beginning of the school week to ensure the remaining issues are resolved.

We sincerely apologize for the frustration and stress these scheduling issues have caused our students and parents. We understand how important it is for students to have accurate schedules, and we are working to remedy the situation as quickly as possible.

Thank you for your patience, understanding, and continued support as we work through these issues.

Sincerely,
The Hastings Middle School Team
21 days ago, Jeffrey Saunders
Schedule  Changes
Student schedules are currently being uploaded into PowerSchool. Due to ongoing technical difficulties with the system, our counseling and scheduling teams will be making updates throughout this week and into the middle of next week.

Please note that any schedule you may see in PowerSchool during this time is not final and is likely to change. We ask that you disregard any schedules that appear until we announce that scheduling has been completed.

To allow our staff to focus on resolving these issues as quickly as possible, we also ask that you please do not call the front office with scheduling questions at this time. Final schedules are not expected to be completed until the middle of next week.

We appreciate your patience, understanding, and support as we work through these technical challenges. We will provide another update as soon as schedules are finalized.
28 days ago, Jeffrey Saunders
Here is a complete breakdown of all breaks and holidays for the upcoming 2026–27 school year to help plan family vacations and child care! ⬇️
about 1 month ago, Hastings Area School System
The 2026 Manufacturing Summer Camp kicked off today! Middle schoolers had the opportunity to tour Viking Group, Inc., one of our local manufacturers. Students also started the entrepreneurship curriculum and enjoyed a bite to eat.

The Manufacturing Summer Camp is a partnership between Hastings Area Schools, SparkForce, and the local community. The program aims to expose middle school students to manufacturing skills to help them start planning for a career. Students learn about educational pathways for manufacturing positions, necessary certifications, basic financial concepts, and projected career opportunities in the field.
about 1 month ago, Hastings Area School System
We will be hosting local physicians on Tuesday, August 4, at the high school gym and locker room area so students can complete a physical for the 2026–27 athletic season.

Physicals for girls will be held from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m., with boys to follow from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. This year, we are suggesting a $10 donation per physical to help cover the costs of providing this service. However, please do not let the donation keep you from attending Physical Night. We want to ensure as many of our Saxons as possible are set up for their upcoming seasons!

Physicals are open to incoming 6th graders through incoming seniors and will be valid for the entire 2026–27 athletic year. As a reminder, all of our student-athletes' information must be registered through FinalForms.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the athletic office at 269-945-6164.
about 1 month ago, Hastings Area School System
A bright logo that says "Saxon Sports" along with the tag line "Go Saxons!"
Your next visit to Hastings Middle School or Central Elementary just got a whole lot smoother. Crews have wrapped up a much-needed overhaul of our parking lot, and a freshly paved spot is ready and waiting for you. We are excited to put this upgrade to good use!
about 1 month ago, Hastings Area School System
An aerial view of a parking lot that is freshly paved featuring bright yellow lines
A far-away vantage point of crews working on a parking lot.