Welcome back, teachers and staff! We kicked off the year with a district-wide assembly at the Hastings Performing Arts Center, then headed back to our buildings to prepare for the year ahead. We can’t wait to welcome our students back soon.

The HASS Board of Education will be meeting next week.

Band camp isn’t all work and no play. This morning, they wrapped up the session with a rousing game of tug-of-war. Band is definitely not for the faint of heart!

Today, we hosted the annual Business, Industry, and Education (BIE) Luncheon, an event that brings educators and employers together to explore the most effective ways to connect students with meaningful career opportunities.

This year’s luncheon marked the launch of the Career Consortium of Barry County, a new county-wide initiative focused on strengthening career exploration and support for all students. We’re proud to partner with Barry Intermediate School District, Delton Kellogg Schools, Kellogg Community College, and the Barry County Chamber to build a more connected, supportive pathway from classroom to career.

It's back-to-school for our office personnel. All school offices are now open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and available to assist you.

School’s just around the corner! Students return on August 18, and preschoolers start September 2.

To help everyone get ready, we’re hosting open house events at each school on Wednesday, August 13. It’s a great chance for students to meet staff, tour the building, and get the inside scoop on what to expect this year.

Check out the schedule below and make plans to stop in.

Over the years, the needs of our agricultural education students have grown, which comes with the territory in a rural community like ours. Now, the Agricultural Barn, where much of that hands-on learning happens, is set to grow, too. Earlier this week, the Hastings Area School System Board of Education approved a proposal to add a lean-to onto the existing barn behind the high school. The project will be fully funded by a Section 61 grant designated for CTE agriculture programs. This new addition will expand the barn’s functionality and boost its storage capacity, helping support the next generation of ag students.

Our Coding Camp for students in grades third through fifth concluded this week with an exciting and fun Family Day. Parents and siblings joined us to explore the games and activities our young coders have been working so hard on, from creative projects to interactive challenges. It was a fantastic camp this year, filled with learning, creativity, and fun. Thank you to everyone who helped make it a success!

As our middle schoolers wrap up Trades Camp, here’s a glimpse of the incredible work they accomplished last week. They completed picnic benches for the YMCA and began building hunting blinds, hands-on projects that put their skills to action. A huge thank you to CopperRock Construction and the YMCA of Barry County for generously welcoming students to their respective construction sites. These real-world experiences are a game-changer for young learners!

Some hallways at Hastings Middle School were buzzing yesterday — literally! A few of the students attending Elementary Coding Camp spent the morning flying drones through the halls while others dove deeper into learning the basics of coding. A great mix of hands-on fun and future-ready skills!

The first week of Middle School Trades Camp was a busy and exciting one for students. Last week, they visited the city water plant, observed Consumers Power crews upgrading electrical lines, and learned about potential career pathways in both industries. Back at camp, students built nesting shelves and began work on picnic tables for the YMCA. A strong start to a summer of hands-on learning and skill-building!

Today, we celebrate all the incredible Saxon dads, stepdads, grandfathers, and father figures in our school community. Your support, guidance, and love help shape the next generation in powerful ways...both at home and in our classrooms!

Some elementary ELL students are diving into a two-week food camp at the CERC! 🍽️📚 They're not only exploring the kitchen and creating delicious food but also reading stories connected to the foods they prepare, blending literacy with hands-on learning in a flavorful way! 👩‍🍳

After stops at places like Jamestown and Williamsburg, our 8th grade travelers reached Washington D.C. yesterday, taking in sights such as Ford's Theater, National Archives and the White House.

A group of 8th graders are out enjoying a fun and educational trip to Washington D.C. Safe travels and have a GREAT time!

Tears, jubilation, hugs…even some silly string and popsicles. Students throughout the district celebrated their last day of school in all kinds of ways. We want to thank all the students, teachers, parents, and staff who made this school year such a success. Now go enjoy your summer. You’ve earned it!

Before heading into summer break, a few dedicated middle schoolers spent a couple of weeks upgrading the school’s 3D printers in Mr. Renner’s room. Thanks to support from the Barry Community Foundation's Wilson H. Craig Jr. Memorial Fund Grant, Payton, Jackson, and Alex followed detailed instructions and successfully installed all the upgrades to make the printers faster and more efficient. They're now ready to take on future projects with even better tools!

Students at Star Elementary are sliding into the summer. They beat the heat in the coolest way possible today with their Slip-n-Slide party!

Like Principal Wilson said, no phase of school keeps you in the same building as long as elementary school. Tomorrow, Southeastern’s fifth graders will say goodbye to the halls they’ve called home for years. Parents, teachers, and staff came together to celebrate their journey and send them off with pride. Congratulations, 5th graders ... you did it!

Southeastern Elementary kids work hard, and they play even harder! Today, they held their end-of-year celebration, which was sponsored by the school's PTO. They had inflatables, Kona Ice, cotton candy. .. and the longest line was for the opportunity to drop Mr. VanBemDen into the dunk tank. It was a great celebration for a year of hard work!