
Hastings Middle School Family Flier
February 25, 2024

Hastings Middle School 2024-2025
May 11, 2025
Dear HMS Families,
This week is shaping up to be one of the busiest—and most exciting—weeks of the school year here at Hastings!
Our 8th graders are heading off to Washington, D.C. for their capstone trip, and we know they’re going to make some incredible memories. At the same time, we’re looking forward to welcoming our incoming 6th grade students for conversation and lunch in our cafeteria. Windermere will visit on Tuesday, Greensview on Wednesday, and Wickliffe on Thursday. We’re excited to meet our future HMS Bears and are planning a warm and inviting experience for them!
I’m also thrilled to share some special news: Catherine Shapiro has been named our Teacher of the Year for 2024–2025! Catherine brings compassion, excellence, and positive energy to our school community each and every day. This recognition is incredibly well deserved, and we’re proud to celebrate her!
It’s hard to believe we’re down to just 13 school days! For our 8th grade families, please mark your calendars for our 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony on May 29th from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Seating in our gym is limited, and we want to be sure everyone has a chance to attend. To put it into perspective: if every student brings three guests, we would be at standing-room only—so we kindly ask families to plan accordingly.
Lastly, we want to thank our incredible PTO and all the parents who donated and supported us during Teacher Appreciation Week. We felt the love and couldn’t be more grateful for your continued partnership and kindness.
Wishing you all a great week ahead!
Warmly,
Penny Stires
2025-2026 Athletics Registration
If your student will be in 7th or 8th grade next year and wants to participate in athletics, please complete the process linked below. Fall athletics begin on August 1st!
2025-2025 Athletics Registration
For any questions, feel free to contact our Athletic Director, Charles Chandler.
FIRST Robotics Challenge!
Find your perfect fit in FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC)! Whether you’re into technology, creativity, business, or leadership, there’s a place for you.
Service Hours
If your child has entered service hours for this school year and the hours are still not approved, it means whomever the student listed as the event supervisor has not yet verified the hours.
Please encourage your child to reach out to the supervisor. They will get an email from x2vol. It is one question where the supervisor clicks to verify the hours.
Please reach out to Catherine Shapiro at cshapiro@uaschools.org if you have any questions.
Health Office Restroom
Please remind your students that they will always be able to find personal hygiene supplies in the health office restroom. We need everyone to know that there is a place to find what they need, even if a restroom dispenser is empty. This helps us make sure it gets refilled promptly for others as well. Thank you!
Upcoming Important Dates
May 13th - 16th: 8th Graders in Washington DC
May 15th: Class Socials for 6th and 7th Graders
May 19th: Sources of Strength Walk-a-thon
May 22nd: Farmer's Market!
May 26th: No School
May 28th: Spring Fling (during the school day)
May 29th: Last Day for Students (1:30pm dismissal)
May 29th: 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony (10:00-11:00am)
May 30th: Last Day for Staff
6th Grade
6th Grade Social
May 15, 2025, from 5:20-6:50 pm is our 6th grade social! We are looking for volunteers to help chaperone the event and donate food and water. This event will be outside at HMS on the basketball court and grassy areas/fields.
All food/water donations should be dropped off by 9:00 a.m. in the front office by May 15th labeled " 6th grade social," since the other grades will be having their donations dropped off at the same time.
2025-2026 Pittsburgh Trip Information
Please register and pay the deposit for the Pittsburgh trip by May 23rd. If you have questions, please reach out to Beth Joseph and/or Tawnya Schroeder.
Click here for registration instructions.
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).
Please forward a copy of your student’s updated immunization record to:
hastingshealthclinic@uaschools.org or bring a hard copy to the school office.
Board Policy for reference: po 5320
Ohio School Required Immunizations for School
Ohio Immunization Requirements for School Attendance 2025-26
7th Grade
7th Grade Social
The Seventh Grade Spring Social is on May 15th from 3:30-5:00. The theme this year is Beach Party.
We are looking forward to celebrating this school year with the Class of 2030! Please click on the link if you are willing to help chaperone or donate items to help make the spring social a success. Thank you in advance for volunteering.
All details about the social are included on the sign-up genius.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044EAFAD22A7FF2-56667405-7thgrade
8th Grade
No new information this week!
Washington DC Trip Information
Dates: May 13, 2025 - May 16, 2025
Website: www.studentadventures.org
Trip Code: HMS2514
Questions?: Cathy Johnson or Evie Lay
Counselor's Corner
Service Hours Information
Middle School students in Upper Arlington are asked to complete five hours of community service each year. If your child is volunteering anywhere this year or even just out shoveling a neighbor’s driveway (and not getting paid), those things count toward hours.
The information about community service and logging hours is on the Hastings website: https://hastings.uaschools.org/academic-program/community-service
We will be working with students to help them log hours later this month. Students should see their grade level counselor if they have questions.
Contact Information
6th Grade: Tina Farbizo, tfarbizo@uaschools.org
7th Grade: Catherine Shapiro, cshapiro@uaschools.org
8th Grade: Kelly Dainton, kdainton@uaschools.org
District Updates
Hazel Health Teletherapy Services for Elementary Students
Summer can mean changes in routines, unstructured time, and the stress of new transitions. Did you know that our school offers students access to Hazel Health’s online therapy program all summer long? Match with a licensed therapist that specializes in kids for virtual sessions from the convenience of your home. Free for UA elementary students. Check it out: Hazel Health Summer Teletherapy Services for Elementary Students. The barcode on the flyer has an updated “how to opt-in" process for families to access teletherapy during the summer.
Graduating or leaving UA Soon?
Don’t forget to update your email address for college applications or job hunting.
Your UASchools email will stop working 1 month after you graduate!
Check out the Leaving UA Soon? page on UA Mobile Learning Resources for what to do next and tips on how to take important files with you.
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.aspx
PTO
Hello Hastings Community!
STOCK UP FOR FALL - We are selling Supply Kits for $16.50. Each kit includes a binder, paper products, pens, pencils, post its, and other miscellaneous school supplies. Contents per kit vary, porch pick up in north UA. Get a jump on next year and take advantage of the low low price!!
https://hastingsmspto.membershiptoolkit.com/store/product/1500005
Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Staff Appreciation Week - especially our chairperson, Mai Corso. She is amazing and we are lucky to have her!!
Our Spring Spirit Wear Sale is ON - ALL TEE SHIRTS ARE $10!! Grab some new duds to perk up your closet and support the PTO.
https://hastingsmspto.membershiptoolkit.com/store/14977
Spring Flower Sale: Pickup for the Spring Flower Sale will be on May 16th at the Upper Arlington High School Band Room from 4pm to 5:30pm. If you are unable to make it by 5:30, please email hastingspto@gmail.com and we will make arrangements to get your arrangements to you 🙂
The PTO has the following openings available for 2025-2026:
Frozen Fridays Co-Chairs: This tag team plans fun and engaging activities for 6-7 Fridays in the winter when students cannot go outside for recess. Work with your partner to secure volunteers, schedule entertainment, and order supplies for this much appreciated activity.
Restaurant Nights: The committee coordinates with local businesses to create dine out nights or other experiences; the PTO receives a financial percentage of all business generated during the promotional period.
FOLKS, THE PTO CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT FRESH VOLUNTEERS. WE HAVE A NUMBER OF 8TH GRADE PARENTS MOVING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL - WE NEED NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS OTHERWISE WE WILL NOT HAVE A PTO ANYMORE!!! Please reach out to hastingspto@gmail.com to get more details!