Hastings Middle School Family Flier
February 25, 2024
Helpful Links
Speak Up! Online Safety, Bullying, Harassment Reporting
Planned Absence Form & Instructions
6th Grade School Supply List 7th Grade School Supply List 8th Grade School Supply List
Board Policy Highlights
Non Discrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunities
Principal Message
Dear Parents of Hastings Middle School,
I hope this letter finds you well. I want to express my sincere gratitude for your cooperation and support during Thursday's lockdown at Hastings Middle School. Your understanding and cooperation played a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff.
In times of crisis, the strength of our community truly shines, and I am incredibly proud to be a part of the Upper Arlington schools alongside such dedicated and caring families like yours. Thursday's events reminded us of the importance of preparedness and unity in the face of adversity.
I would like to extend a special acknowledgment to the Upper Arlington Police Department for their swift and effective response. Their professionalism and dedication helped to quickly resolve the situation and ensure the safety of everyone on campus.
As we move forward, I encourage you to take some time to discuss school safety with your child. It's natural for children to have questions or concerns after such incidents, and open communication is key to helping them feel safe and supported. A parent shared this article that I believe provides valuable insights and guidance on how to approach this conversation with your child: https://kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org/mental-health-resources/school/how-to-talk-to-your-child-about-school-safety
Please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority, and we are here to support you and your family every step of the way. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or any member of our team.
I also didn’t want the week to end without a huge thank you to our PTO and all of the parents who contributed to our Teacher Appreciation Week. You made us feel loved and cared for. Thank you.
Warm regards,
Penny Stires
Proud Principal
Hastings Middle School
Hastings Middle School
Online Academy 2024-2025
Registration for the UA Online Academy is conducted prior to the start of a new semester. Registration for the Online Academy is a semester-long commitment with the option to re-enroll in your home building the following academic year.
Registration for the first semester of the 2024-2025 school year opens on May 13, 2024, at 8:00 a.m. and closes on May 19, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.
Please complete this form beginning on May 13 if you would like to enroll your student in the Online Academy for the first semester.
Please note that the full payment of $396.00 is due by August 30, 2024.
Please contact Tawnya Schroeder (tschroeder@uaschools.org) with any questions or concerns.
Yearbook 2023-2024
Our yearbook company had an "over print" situation with our yearbook this year! We have some extra yearbooks that are available to sell. If you are interested in reserving a book (payment will be due when they are delivered the last week of school, they are $40) please email our yearbook advisor Allison Tomlin: atomlin@uaschools.org. The deadline to reserve is May 13.
Summer Reading Requirement for Grades 6-8
This summer, please have your child read at least one choice book that they have not read before. If your child is entering 6th grade, your child's choice book must be a memoir, autobiography or biography.
8th Grade Student/Parent Meeting - UAHS Wrestling [2024-2025 Season]
Upper Arlington High School Head Wrestling Coach Matt Stout will conduct a meeting for all 8th grade students who are interested in wrestling at UAHS for the 2024-2025 season. The meeting will be held on Sunday, May 19, at 5pm, in the PE classroom on the 1st floor in the athletic corridor at UAHS. At least one (1) parent should attend the meeting with their wrestler. If there are any questions, please contact Coach Stout at: MStout@brickergraydon.com.
6th Grade Parents/Guardians Only
Pittsburgh Trip 2024-2025 (Updated)
Next year, seventh grade students will be doing an overnight trip to Pittsburgh. This trip will take place October 17-18th. Registration information, fee and itinerary are included in this packet.
Updated Immunization Records Needed
All students entering 7th grade are required to have on record proof of immunizations for school attendance. The two updated doses for 7th grade include Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) and Meningitis (MCV4).
Board Policy for reference: po 5320
Ohio School Required Immunizations for School
Ohio Immunization Requirements for School Attendance 2024-25
Safety Education Lessons
During the month of May, the Hastings school counselors are teaching classroom lessons focused on body safety to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 288. Senate Bill 288, signed by Ohio Governor DeWine in January 2023, includes requirements for annual lessons for Ohio’s K-6 students in child sexual abuse prevention. These lessons use instructional materials from the Second Step Child Protection Unit and reflect current research and best practices in the area of child safety.
Please click on the link below for more information regarding the lesson objectives and questions you could use to continue the conversation at home. Safety Education for 6th Grade.pdf
Counselor's Corner
Monthly Wellness Newsletter for Students
The Counselors created a monthly newsletter with wellness strategies and self-care challenges for students. Each month will have a theme, a new strategy, and a self-care challenge, along with references to the research associated with it. The students will receive this newsletter via email. You can view the newsletters below. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please reach out to your students' grade level counselor. Thanks! 🙂
Monthly Wellness - October 2023
Monthly Wellness - November 2023
Monthly Wellness - December 2023
Monthly Wellness - January 2024
Monthly Wellness - February 2024
6th Grade: Catherine Shapiro, cshapiro@uaschools.org
7th Grade: Kelly Dainton, kdainton@uaschools.org
8th Grade: Tina Farbizo, tfarbizo@uaschools.org
Upper Arlington School-Based Mental Health Clinician: Kristen Armbrust, karmbrust@uaschools.org
From the District
Gifted Parent Presentation
The Gifted Coordinators of Central Ohio are inviting parents to attend a special presentation, Helping Gifted Kids Manage “All the Feels”. Please click HERE for more information!
Student iPad Distribution Information
Each student will return their old iPad and receive a new 10th-generation iPad as the 2023-25 school year begins. These new devices are equipped with a ruggedized case featuring an attached keyboard and trackpad plus increased storage, processor speed, and a USB-C charging cable and power adapter.
Elementary Students:
Elementary Student devices will be automatically configured and ready for use when they are delivered to classrooms prior to the first day of school.
Middle and High School Students:
All Middle and High School students will need to pick up their device over the summer during the weeks of July 29th and August 5th. Families will need to reserve a time slot during those dates prior to picking up their student’s device when the full schedule is announced.
Device pickups will happen at Upper Arlington High School, on the south end of Golden Bear Boulevard. Families can park in the lot on Brandon Road, and enter through the main doors. In order to receive your new iPad, you must turn-in your current device. Please be sure to back up anything you need on your current iPad as your device must be erased before it will be accepted. Be sure to enable iCloud sync within Notability prior to wiping your device or your notes will be irrevocably lost. Students may opt to take their devices home to activate them, otherwise support staff will be available to assist.
For students that cannot pick up their devices during these 2 weeks, we will have iPads available for pickup in each building’s tech office after the start of school.
Stay tuned for additional details in future updates.
New iPad and Wired Headphone Compatibility Information
The new iPads no longer feature a traditional headphone jack. At this point in time we are recommending families purchase USB-C Headphones for use with the new iPads. Please include this information in your Back to School planning or materials lists!
2024-2025 Transportation Information Form
The 2024-2025 Transportation Information Form is now available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. All families of students entering first through eighth grade this fall will need to complete this form to share how their student will be getting to and from school and to request school transportation, if needed and eligible, for the upcoming school year. You can access the 2024-2025 Transportation Information Form in the PowerSchool Parent Portal by clicking on the Forms icon in the left navigation bar and then scrolling to the bottom of the page and clicking on the Transportation form.
Your student’s Transportation Information Form will be available in PowerSchool through Friday, May 24.
Survey opportunity for MS and HS parents/guardians
Parents/guardians of students in grades 6 through 12 are invited to participate in a survey opportunity to provide feedback on a variety of topics related to student agency in their educational experience, such as school-community relationships and student stressors and successes in schools. This survey is part of our work at the middle school and high school levels with the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports public education in the state of Ohio. The parent/guardian survey will remain open through the end of the day on Sunday, May 19. You can access the survey at this link.
Helpful Links
Transportation Questions: schoolbusquestions@uaschools.org or call 614-487-6477
Upper Arlington Schools Lunch Information link: https://www.uaschools.org/NutritionalServices.aspx
PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://ps-uar.metasolutions.net/public/home.html
If you need assistance logging into PowerSchool, you may reach out to: familytechhelp@uaschools.org
Student Fees/SPS EZpay: https://www.spsezpay.com/upperarlington/login.aspxPTO
Hello Hastings Community!
CLASS OF 2030 & 2031 PARENTS: The PTO has a number of volunteer positions available for next year, including Concessions Co Chairs, Spirit Wear Co Chair, and President Elect. Please reach out to hastingspto@gmail.com for more information. We cannot continue to provide quality support for staff and students without additional parent help! Thank you!
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Staff Appreciation Week was a HUGE SUCCESS!!
A TREMENDOUS thank you to the parents who donated to make this event a hit. Each day was planned with a theme, the staff and faculty were fed, loved, and cared for - it was a super week! An extra special thank you shout out to Mai Corso, the committee lead on the event, and Susan Collichio, Kavitha Kotha & Miranda Stone for going above and beyond this week.
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Our last Restaurant Night of the year is Next Week, May 14-16 at Carsonie’s! Get your family some Italian Fries or Spaghetti & Meatballs and support the PTO at the same time. Mention Hastings Middle School and we will receive 15% back from your meal!
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REMINDER- if you bought Spring Plants for the PTO Plant Sale, pickup is Monday, May 13th
Location is Holy Trinity Church, 2001 Northwest Blvd, 43221
Your items will be available for pickup around 2:30pm through 6pm
If you know you will be unable to pick up your flowers, please reach out to Georgia Kaltenbach (614.599.1621) or reply to this email ASAP so that we can coordinate other arrangements!
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DID YOU KNOW - the Hastings PTO and Yellowbird Foodshed are good friends! Yellowbird Food Shed is an organization that works with over 100 food growers and producers from Ohio to deliver local, fresh food from the farms to UA. You can become a supporter of our farmer friends by signing up for a subscription box with Yellowbird Foodshed - the possibilities are many, with products including produce, meat, and wellness items to enhance your health and support local at the same time.
Here's how it works:
-Visit https://yellowbirdfs.com/
-Create an Account and Log In
-Select My Account in the upper right corner
-Select Preferences from the list on the left side of the screen
-Scroll down to Additional Fields
-Find your school under the Affiliation drop down menu
-Save Preferences and start shopping!
Dig into all that Ohio has to offer and enjoy!!
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Volunteer to work the School Store - see your kids in action Wednesdays and Fridays at Hastings! Quick shifts, fun times… check out the Sign Up Genius link below!
DID YOU KNOW - we stock the school store with plenty of supplies to support your student… pens, pencils, markers, white out, notebooks… the store is open Wednesday & Fridays and we accept cash as payment! If there is something you think would be a useful addition to the store, reach out to hastingspto@gmail.com and make your recommendation today!
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Thanks to all the volunteers coordinating these initiatives, and we appreciate our Hastings Community being so stellar.
Let me know if you have any questions! Thank you!
Georgia Kaltenbach
PTO President
The Stand Project
The Stand Project is an Upper Arlington community action project focused on the prevention of youth substance abuse and committed to standing by students and families in finding help. While substance abuse prevention is at the core of our mission, we engage the community through education on a broad range of topics that impact young people's risk and protective factors.
Save the dates for these informative programs! Event details and additional resources can be found on our Spring 2024 Flyer and events calendar.