For Hastings families, the final weeks of summer bring a familiar mix of excitement, preparation and the occasional frantic search for a missing backpack.
The 2026-27 school year is approaching, and Hastings Public Schools will again use a staggered opening schedule designed to give students entering new buildings a little extra time to settle in.
Students in grades five and nine will report for their first day Monday, Aug. 31. Those grades represent two of the district’s biggest transitions, with fifth-graders beginning middle school and ninth-graders entering Hastings High School.
Students in grades six through eight and grades 10 through 12 will join them Tuesday, Sept. 1. Kindergarten through fourth-grade students will have their first full day Wednesday, Sept. 2. There will be no school Monday, Sept. 7, for Labor Day, giving students and staff a three-day weekend shortly after the year begins.
Before elementary students begin their regular classroom schedules, families at Kennedy, McAuliffe and Pinecrest elementary schools will participate in Raider Set Go on Monday, Aug. 31, and Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Rather than holding a traditional elementary open house, the district gives each kindergarten through fourth-grade student and family a scheduled 25-minute appointment with the student’s teacher. Families may bring school supplies, see the classroom, learn basic routines and ask questions before the first full day.
Class placements are expected to be shared in mid-August, along with information families can use to schedule their appointments. The program is intended to give children a quieter, more personal introduction to their classroom than they might receive during a crowded open house.
Middle school families will have their own opportunity to prepare during an open house from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Hastings Middle School.
Students and families may visit classrooms, meet teachers, practice locker combinations and locate important areas including the cafeteria, gym and nurse’s office. An activities and resource fair will also be available in the cafeteria, with information about athletics, school activities, Infinite Campus, Schoology and other technology tools.
The middle school is also planning an open house bingo activity, with families encouraged to walk through a student’s schedule, log into the Parent Portal, learn about the nurse and lunch programs and meet staff members.
Hastings High School will welcome families from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26.
A meeting for ninth-grade students and new families will be held from 5 to 5:45 p.m. in the auditorium. The larger open house is available to students at all grade levels, allowing them to meet teachers, locate classrooms and lockers and become familiar with the building.
The evening will also include an information and resource fair, along with an activity fair featuring high school athletics, clubs and other student organizations.
Superintendent Kristine Wehrkamp Herman said district employees have been preparing to welcome students and build a positive beginning to the year.
“The start of the school year always brings a mix of excitement and anticipation,” Herman said. “Our staff has been preparing to welcome students back and create a strong start for everyone.”
The district will continue emphasizing student belonging, support and growth, she said, while offering opportunities through academics, arts, activities and the high school’s Pathways program.
Transportation is another item families should check before the buses begin rolling.
Bus routing information is expected to become available Monday, Aug. 17, through the Parent Portal. Families of students in kindergarten through eighth grade will have the opportunity to opt out of transportation if they do not plan to use district buses. High school students must opt in for transportation.
Students in grades five through 12 who live within the 1.75-mile walking radius of the middle school or high school may register for a courtesy stop. Courtesy-stop registrations received from Aug. 8 through Sept. 4 are expected to begin service Sept. 14.
Hastings Family Service is also preparing its annual School Supplies Assistance program for families living in the district or whose children attend an ISD 200 school.
Registration opens Monday, Aug. 3. Families must call Hastings Family Service to register and schedule an appointment. Supplies will be distributed by appointment from Aug. 17 through Aug. 21.
A free and low-cost vaccination clinic for eligible children will also be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at Hastings Family Service. The clinic will operate on a drop-in basis, with no appointment required.
Families should review student immunization records before school begins, particularly for children entering kindergarten, seventh grade and 12th grade, when additional vaccinations may be required. Parents should also submit updated medication permission forms and yearly health action plans when needed.
Students will continue to receive one breakfast and one lunch at no charge through the Minnesota Free School Meals Program. Families are still encouraged to complete the Application for Educational Benefits, however, because the information helps determine school funding and may qualify families for reduced activity fees and other assistance. Extra meals, individual milk purchases and snack items are not included in the free meal program.
For high school athletes, the school year will begin before the first classroom bell. Fall sports practices are scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 17. Online registration opened July 15, with on-time registration available through Aug. 13.
With open houses, teacher appointments and staggered starting dates spread across several days, families will want to keep the calendar nearby. The beginning may require a little organization, but it also gives students time to learn new hallways, meet new teachers and begin another year as part of Raider Nation.