It will be a busy day of homecoming festivities today, capped off with a BIG game against Harper Creek. Go Saxons!

Saxon cross country had a strong showing at the Portage Invitational over the weekend, one of the largest meets in the state. Caroline led the way with an impressive 4th-place finish, clocking in at 18:30. Ryan Harris and Josh Roberts also recorded personal bests. Overall, it was a great performance by the team!

Barry Intermediate School District is asking voters this November to consider a Regional Enhancement Millage. This proposal would generate local funds through property tax to directly support educational and career-readiness programs for all students and school districts within the ISD — including Hastings Area Schools.

Learn what it means for our community and cast an informed vote at: https://barryisd.org/rem

Barry County United Way and Volunteer Center generously donated leftover school essentials from their backpack program to both Central and Southeastern Elementary Schools. We are so appreciative of this thoughtful gift, which helps ensure all our students have the supplies they need to stay equipped and ready to learn!

This week is going to be quite... animated... over at the high school! Each class has transformed their hallway for homecoming, drawing inspiration from beloved animated movies like Monsters Inc., Cars, Inside Out, and Toy Story. Looks great!

The 34th Annual Hastings Marching Band Invitational is underway! 🎶 Head over to Baum Stadium to see some of the area's best marching bands in action. Performances will run all evening, with the Saxons closing out the night with an exhibition performance at 8:45 p.m. 🎺🥁

Today, our 3rd and 4th graders enjoyed a special performance of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus at the Hastings Performing Arts Center. This wonderful opportunity was made possible through the generous support of the DeCamp Foundation, who provided the event free of charge. What a treat for our students!

The Saxon cross country teams hosted the I-8 Conference meet this week at Historic Charlton Park. The girls’ team climbed the standings, finishing fourth overall, while the boys secured fifth place.

Varsity competitors for the girls were Caroline, Emerson, Chloe, Maddie, Ayssa, Lily and Alexa. Caroline finished first overall with a time of 19:17.

On the boys’ side, the team was led by Tanner, Caleb, Parker, Alex, Eli, Carter, and Spencer.

A special shoutout goes to Billy, who stood out as the only Saxon to record a season best time at the meet; congratulations, Billy!

The teams are back in action tomorrow at the Portage Invite. Go Saxons! (Photos by Kim DeCamp)

Saxon Volleyball is proud to team up with The Side-Out Foundation this October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month! This includes hosting a Pink Out Game on October 8! Help the team reach their goal of $1,500!

Ways to donate ⬇️
💻 Donate directly through the fundraising page: https://giving.side-out.org/campaigns/22049
💵 Donate in person during the match
👚 Purchase a Pink Out T-shirt prior to the match!

Did you know today is National Walk to School Day? While we’re always grateful for our amazing transportation department and the reliable bus service they provide, sometimes it’s fun to take a different route...on foot!

This morning, Northeastern Elementary students gathered at LifeGate Church for cider and donuts (a big thank you to the church for hosting) before walking to school together.

This morning at Hastings High School, before first hour, a backpack containing a folding knife in its original packaging was discovered on school premises. There was no imminent threat to students or staff. Our staff acted swiftly and followed established safety protocols to address the situation.

The student associated with the backpack has been sent home pending a thorough investigation by HHS administration and the Hastings Police Department. We are committed to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all students and staff.

We extend our gratitude to our staff for their prompt and professional response. We will continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our school community.

Jim "Basketball" Jones visited our Central Elementary and Middle School students, bringing an action-packed assembly filled with basketball stunts and important lessons on character building. Students had a great time!

As we await finalization of the state budget, we want to provide clarity for our families regarding school breakfast and lunch. Following recent action by our Board of Education, we are pleased to share that, regardless of state-level decisions, our district will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students through December 2025.

Further information about meal program plans beyond that date will be communicated as it becomes available.

We value the importance of ensuring every student has access to these nutritious meals, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue offering this support to our school community.

The smell of pancakes filled the air at Baum Stadium this morning as seniors gathered for the Senior Sunrise, celebrating the start of their final year at Hastings Area Schools. The event also kicked off the TeamFi fundraiser to support the senior party. Wishing all seniors a wonderful year ahead ... it goes by quickly!

Our school board will be meeting tonight at 7 p.m. at HMS. All members of the public are welcome.

You couldn't ask for a better day for Hastings Southeastern Elementary's fall cookout! Thanks so much to members of First Presbyterian Church (including some recognizable faces) for volunteering today!

This morning, the Barry County United Way & Volunteer Center launched its annual fundraising campaign and kicked off the 2025 Day of Caring.

Today and Saturday, hundreds of volunteers will be hard at work on projects that make a difference all across Barry County.

Some of our high school students rolled up their sleeves at the YMCA of Barry County, lending their energy and teamwork to trail cleaning projects. This spirit of service is exactly what the Day of Caring is all about, which is neighbors coming together to strengthen our community.

Thank you to everyone who is pitching in to make Barry County a better place to live, work, and play!

Fall cookout season has begun! Hastings Central Elementary kicked things off today by welcoming parents in for a lunch filled with 🍔burgers🍔, 🌭hot dogs🌭, and plenty of tasty treats. It was a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, share a meal, and see firsthand how well our students are settling into their new routines. What a great start to the year!

After a last-minute win last week, the Saxons fall in another close one tonight. It was a great effort by our Saxons with awesome fan support!

The Saxons have their home opener tonight. We'll see you there!