Pick up your 2025–26 yearbook today after school or tomorrow evening during the first football game at the High School Athletic Commons.
Excited for what this year brings? You can already pre-order the 2026–27, as well!

Earlier this month, we had the privilege of hosting members of the Guenther family for a tour of Central Elementary, the middle school, and our “new” high school. Their father, Richard Guenther, served as superintendent from 1961 to 1982, and all nine of his children graduated from Hastings High School.

Walking the halls, the siblings shared memories (like running through empty school buildings while their dad worked late until they were summoned to his office over the PA system), reminisced about band and athletics, and recalled the infamous senior “gauntlet” on the second floor. The Hastings Performing Arts Center was a new addition that they marveled at, a testament to our community's incredible support.

Although Tricia (Class of 1963) couldn't join us, we remembered her along with Annette (1965), Chuck (1966), Greta (1968), Kris (1970), John (1977), Bob (1978), Jeff (1980), and Buni (1982).

Their visit highlights our core mission to shape successful Saxons who make a difference in the world and return to support the schools that raised them.

Thank you, Guenther family, for the wonderful trip down memory lane! To infinity and beyond…and back.

Congratulations to Malillany, who passed the state's WIDA English Language Test! This demonstrates Malillany’s strong command of the English language and earned her a certificate as well as some fresh pencils for the new year. It's a huge accomplish for one of our ELL students. ¡Buen trabajo, Malillany!

Due to mechanical issues, the Hastings Community Education & Recreation Center (CERC) will be closed this evening. This includes the cancellation of the Black and Gold swim meet.

Before the first bell rings, our bus drivers set the tone for the entire school day, getting our students to each building safely.

We're looking for drivers to join our team and fill an important need in our district, providing competitive pay and flexible hours along the way.

Put in your application: https://jobs.redroverk12.com/org/hassk12

The back-to-school vibes are at an all-time high today in Hastings. Welcome back, everyone!

Our seniors were the first to step onto campus bright and early this morning for their last first day of school. Despite a partially cloudy sky hiding the sun, Senior Sunrise was still a hit with everyone gathering for breakfast, lawn games, and a chance to catch up with friends before the morning bell.

With only 180 school days standing between today and graduation, every moment counts. Take it all in, class of 2027!

Hastings High School is hosting Freshman Orientation on Sunday, August 16, from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the high school gym. Incoming freshmen are invited to become acquainted with our building (with the help of our awesome Link Crew!) before the official start of the school year.

Join us to get all the information you need for a smooth transition to high school and kick off your first year with Saxon Pride!

Here is a complete breakdown of all breaks and holidays for the upcoming 2026–27 school year to help plan family vacations and child care! ⬇️

Will we be seeing you at Baum Stadium this season?

We will be hosting local physicians on Tuesday, August 4, at the high school gym and locker room area so students can complete a physical for the 2026–27 athletic season.

Physicals for girls will be held from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m., with boys to follow from 7:15 to 8:30 p.m. This year, we are suggesting a $10 donation per physical to help cover the costs of providing this service. However, please do not let the donation keep you from attending Physical Night. We want to ensure as many of our Saxons as possible are set up for their upcoming seasons!

Physicals are open to incoming 6th graders through incoming seniors and will be valid for the entire 2026–27 athletic year. As a reminder, all of our student-athletes' information must be registered through FinalForms.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the athletic office at 269-945-6164.

Our back-to-school open house dates are set! Come join us to tour the school, meet your teachers, and kick off a great year together.

Hastings High School is pleased to welcome Ryan Mitchell as our new Assistant Principal overseeing Career and Technical Education (CTE) and the Hastings Virtual Academy.

Mr. Mitchell brings a strong background in educational leadership, student support, workforce development, and vocational training. Most recently, he served as Principal of Ionia Middle School, where he led school improvement efforts focused on instructional excellence, positive school culture, student achievement, and collaborative leadership.

In his new role, Mr. Mitchell will lead Hastings High School’s CTE programs and the Hastings Virtual Academy, helping expand opportunities for students to explore career pathways, develop industry-relevant skills, and succeed through both traditional and alternative learning environments.

Please join us in welcoming Jared Swiger as the new Director of Transportation for Hastings Area School System! Jared brings a blend of transportation experience, business leadership, and operational expertise to our district. We’re thrilled to have him.
We're also very thankful for the job done by Dale Krueger, who now has the opportunity to focus all his attention on buildings, grounds and facilities!

Mr. Powell is certainly on the move this year!

A few months ago, we announced his appointment as our new Director of Career and Technical Education. Since then, an exciting new opportunity emerged, and we are thrilled to share that Mr. Powell will now instead serve as our new High School Principal!

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Powell on this new leadership role. Stay tuned for more exciting staff announcements at the high school and across the district in the coming weeks!

There is a lot of activity happening across the Hastings Area School System, and we're excited about these facility upgrades! 🚧

Crews are hard at work on a variety of bond-funded projects, including:

- A repaved parking lot between Central Elementary and Hastings Middle School.
- Newly remodeled boys and girls locker rooms at Hastings Middle School.
- A revamped media center at the high school, plus extensive renovations in the kitchen and cafeteria.

As progress unfolds this summer, we will provide more updates!

Bright new turf is down on Johnson Field, and it's already looking fantastic! Crews will be putting the finishing touches on the project in the coming weeks, and now football season just needs to hurry up and get here! 🏈

The Saxons made some noise at the Division 2 Girls Track & Field State Championship over the weekend, highlighted by a state championship performance by Bella Friddle! A trio of Saxons medaled at the meet:

🥇 Bella Friddle captured her second career state championship in the high jump, clearing a school-record 5'9". She also medaled in the long jump (4th) and 100 meters (8th).

🏅 Olivia Friddle, took 6th in discus (126'9").

🥈 Caroline Randall placed 3rd in the 3200 meters, shattering the school record at 10:45.88.

Incredible weekend for these athletes!
📸: The Hastings Banner

Here are some 📸s from last week's Concert in the Hayfield. Always a great event! A huge thanks to everyone who had a hand in organizing this year's concert and to all those who attended!

"It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure." — Ernie Harwell

Thank you for an amazing 2025-26 school year. Have a great summer and we'll see you in the fall for more adventures!