HAST Families Happenings

This week is Homecoming Week, and we are excited to celebrate our HAST Hawks! We look forward to a fun week filled with school spirit and opportunities for our students to come together as a school community.

Please remember that Wednesday, September 16, is a Virtual Learning Day (VLD). Students will complete their assignments through eLearning, and there will be no in-person instruction that day.

We also want to thank our families for their patience and cooperation during arrival and dismissal. Your continued support in following our procedures helps keep traffic moving and ensures the safety of our students, staff, and families.

Thank you for helping us make Homecoming Week a positive and memorable experience for everyone. Go Hawks!

Dr. Snedden

Homecoming Spirit Week is here! 🎉 This is a whole-school celebration for BOTH our middle school and high school students, and we want everyone joining in the fun and showing their HAST spirit all week long!

• Monday, Sept. 14 – 90’s Throwback Day: Break out the baggy jeans, flannels, windbreakers, scrunchies, overalls, and chunky sneakers.
• Tuesday, Sept. 15 – Twin Day: Find a friend and dress alike!
• Wednesday, Sept. 16 – Virtual Learning Day: No in-person instruction. Students will complete their learning from home.
• Thursday, Sept. 17 – Sports Day: Wear your favorite jersey, team gear, tracksuit, or classic athletic look.
• Friday, Sept. 18 – Extreme Black & Gold: Go all out in HAST black and gold! We will also have a whole-school pep rally on Friday to celebrate together.

Please note that the Homecoming Dance is for high school students only.

Let’s celebrate our Hammond Academy Hawks and make Homecoming Week a great one! 🖤💛 Go Hawks!

Progress reports were sent electronically on Friday, September 11. With our delayed start, students have only completed 12 instructional days, so these reports are an early snapshot of their progress.

• Please take time to review your student’s grades together and check PowerSchool for missing assignments or areas that may need attention. We encourage families and students to continue checking PowerSchool weekly.
• The first quarter ends October 14; there is still plenty of time for students to make progress and finish the quarter strong. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your student’s teacher.

Wednesday, September 16, will be a planned Virtual Learning Day (VLD) for all students while HAST staff participate in professional development.

This will be an asynchronous A Day. Students will not attend live classes. Instead, they should follow their A-Day schedule and complete assignments for each A-Day class.

Teachers will post assignments in Google Classroom by 8:00 a.m., and students should complete all work by 3:00 p.m. Attendance for the day will be based on work completion.

Please encourage your student to check each A-Day Google Classroom, complete all assigned work, and submit assignments on time.

Students should reach out to their teachers if they have questions or need help. While teachers will be participating in professional development throughout the day, they will be available to respond to student questions.

• Parents, this is a reminder that uniform pants are not allowed to have designs on them.
• For safety and security reasons, students may now only exit through Doors A and M during regular school dismissal. Students leaving school before 2:55 p.m. must exit through Door A.

An amendment has been made to the Student Handbook to reflect this change.

• Parents, please speak with your students about respecting others' property and privacy. Touching, hiding, or locking another student's iPad, as well as taking pictures of students without their permission, is not permitted. Students found engaging in these behaviors will face immediate consequences in accordance with school policy.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

There will be a callout meeting for Freshmen interested in joining the class of 2030 committee Monday the 14th after school in Ms. Pappas’ room (room 221). We are looking forward to meeting with Freshman students on Monday!

Hammond Academy parents and guardians are invited to apply to become substitute teachers! This is a flexible opportunity to earn extra income while supporting our students and school community.

Guest teachers can accept assignments based on their availability. Whether you are available occasionally or several days each week, your support can make a meaningful difference by helping students continue learning when their regular teacher is absent.

As a parent or guardian, you are already an important part of the Hammond Academy community—we would love to have you join our guest teacher team!

Apply to Become a Substitute Teacher

For questions or additional information, please contact Stephanie Kite, Guest Teacher Coordinator

• Please reach out should your family need support with community resources. Additionally, we are able to assist with household cleaning supplies and hygiene products in the wake of the storm recovery. Please reach out if you are in need of these items.

• If your student previously had a 504 plan and is new to HAST, please make sure to provide me with a copy if you have not already done so. I will be holding conferences for new students first and then will move into annual updates for students who had a 504 last year. If there are immediate concerns, please reach out anytime and we will ensure that your student’s needs are met. As all of our students settle into the new block schedule and teachers, we want to ensure we are attentive to your student’s adjustment and plan accordingly.

• Please reach out for any concerns related to your student’s academics, behavior, mood, or home related concerns that are disrupting your child’s ability to function from day to day. I want to be in tune with our students and attentive to supportive measures while they are at school. Your child’s mental health has a direct effect on how they function academically throughout the year.

• If your child is in need of community based therapy services and you are looking for a convenient option, we have partnered with Pillars of Wellness. Sessions will be via telehealth in a private area at school and occur consistently with the assigned therapist. This is a great way to ensure your child has ongoing support therapeutically as well as the short term solution-focused sessions that are offered as needed with me.

Lisa James, MSW, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker | 504 Coordinator | Certified School Safety Specialist

Hammond Academy of Science and Technology
33 Muenich Ct.
Hammond, IN 46320

Phone: (219) 852-0500 ext. 129
Email: ljames@hammondacademy.org

HAST is pleased to share the NWI No Child Hungry Buddy Bags program, which provides free weekend food support for students. Buddy Bags include food for Saturday and Sunday, with items for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

Families who would like their child to participate can simply complete the electronic sign-up form below. This is a wonderful resource available to support our HAST families and help ensure students have access to nutritious food throughout the weekend.

https://www.jotform.com/build/262533991582062?iak=45de0089d760dc5f3c8092dc4a8d9d59-cf22c7d939c2c7ba

Lilly Endowment Scholarship

• Great news for our seniors—the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship deadline has been extended! Seniors who are interested in applying should review the updated information on the flyer and take advantage of the additional time to complete their application.

Senior Interviews Have Begun!

• Senior interviews are underway! Our counselor will be meeting one-on-one with each senior to discuss graduation plans and help prepare them for their next steps after HAST, whether that includes college, career training, the military, or the workforce.
• Families of seniors are also encouraged to complete the Free/Reduced Lunch Application and return it to the Business Office as soon as possible. If your family qualifies, it can provide important financial benefits, including reduced or waived costs for SAT retakes and college application fees. Even if you have not completed the form in the past, please consider doing so this year.

🎓 College Application Week — Save on Application Fees!

• September is a great time for our seniors to begin submitting college applications!
• During 2026 College Application Week, many Indiana colleges and universities are waiving their application fees, giving students an opportunity to apply to schools they are considering without the usual cost.
• The colleges listed in the flyers below are participating, although some schools require a special application code or specific instructions to receive the waiver. Please read the information carefully before submitting an application.
• We strongly encourage seniors to take advantage of these fee waivers. Applying to several schools can help students keep their options open as they compare programs, scholarships, financial aid, and future opportunities.
• Seniors: this is a great week to get those applications started! 🎓🖤💛

Due to the storms and delayed start to the school year, HAST has extended the deadline for families to submit required physicals and immunization records.

• All 6th and 9th grade students, as well as any student new to HAST, must have a current physical on file by September 25, 2026. Students in 6th and 12th grades should also make sure all required immunizations are up to date.
• Students who participate in athletics, bowling, or theater must also have a current physical on file.

• We appreciate families taking care of these requirements as soon as possible.
• Beginning September 28, students who are missing a required physical, immunizations, or an approved exemption will not be able to attend school until the required documentation is received.

If you have any questions regarding physicals, immunizations, or required health documentation, please contact Nurse Powell at apowell@hammondacademy.org.

Special Education Notice:

• Families of students who receive special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) should have been contacted by the school to set up a move-in meeting.
• If you have not yet been contacted, please reach out to the Special Education Department so we can ensure that you have the information and support you and your child need.

Multilingual Education Notice (LDP):

• Our middle school students will begin receiving pull-out services this week to support their language, and our high school students receive support within their classrooms. Please let us know if you feel your child could benefit from more support after reviewing their Individual Language Plan (ILP), which were sent through parentsquare.

What is an IEP, ILP, or 504???:

• Your child’s plan is more than a document to review once a year—it is a guide for the supports your child should receive at school.
• Families can ask for plain-language explanations of accommodations, services, goals, and other terms that may be unfamiliar. I
• t can also be helpful to ask, “What does this look like during a typical school day?” For example, if the plan includes extended time, what assignments or assessments does that apply to?
• If your child receives support in a particular subject, when and where does that support happen? Understanding these details can help families know what their child’s plan is designed to provide and what they can expect throughout the school year.

Please let us know if you have any questions about these documents.

Save the Date!

Multilingual Family Night October 9, 2026 6:00–8:00 PM

!!!FLYER TO BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK!!!

• We invite our whole school to join us for an evening of connection, information, and fun! More details will be shared soon, so be sure to mark your calendar.
• Most importantly, remember that you are an important part of your child’s educational team. We are here to help and look forward to partnering with you throughout the school year.

Wishing all of our students and families a happy and successful start to the school year!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Danielle Lopez

Director of Special Programs

Kindness Comes in Many Languages

Phone: (219)852-0500 ext.105

My Email: dlopez2@hammondacademy.org

• Please be sure to pay your child’s yearly ipad insurance fee of $19.75 if you have not done so yet. You may pay in person with Ms Landa or online.

• A big shout out to HAST Alums Jacob Tomczak, Chris Ramirez and Frederck Nimon for helping out with the collection of a large Lever Bros soap donation for our families. These guys went with Mrs Nimon to collect and bring the donation back to the school! Thanks for your help!

The ParentSquare mobile app is the best way to stay connected with HAST and receive important school information.

The app allows parents and guardians to:

• Receive school and classroom notifications
• Read posts and announcements in one place
• Send and receive direct messages with staff
• View photos, forms, and other shared information
• Manage notification preferences
• Receive push notifications directly on your phone

While ParentSquare can also send messages by text and email, the mobile app provides the most complete ParentSquare experience and makes it easier to keep all school communication together in one place.

Check Your Notification Settings

To make sure you are receiving the messages you want:

1. From Home, tap the menu (≡) in the top left.
2. Tap Account.
3. Tap Notifications.
4. Make sure School Alerts is turned on if you want to receive all alerts and notices.
5. Under Direct Messages, choose how you would like to be notified:
   • App – receive a push notification
   • Text – receive a text message
   • Email – receive an email
6. Under Posts, choose Mobile, Email, or both. Then select:
   • Instant – receive a notification as soon as a post is sent
   • Digest – receive one daily summary of posts

Please note: If you have both app and text notifications enabled, ParentSquare may deliver regular post notifications through the app first and use text as a backup when needed. Direct Messages and Alerts can still be sent by text.

We strongly encourage all parents and guardians to download the ParentSquare app and make sure their notification settings are turned on.

Attention for those interested in Girls on the Run! Please do not let cost keep you from registering your student! This program operates with a sliding scale and in cases where families can not afford any payment, we can ensure your girl is covered! Girls in need of running shoes and/or sports bras also will receive these for free. We would love to have your girl on the team this fall! For any questions, please reach out to Mrs. James ljames@hammondacademy.org or send a direct message on Parent Square. If you would like to proceed with registration, you will see the sliding scale options within registration available.

• September 14-18 Homecoming Spirit Week
• September 16. NO in person school- Virtual Learning Day
• September 17 HAST School Board Meeting 4:00 blue conference room
• September 18 HAST Pep Ralley
• September 19 Homecoming Dance 6 p.m.- 9 p.m.
• September 23-24 ILEARN Checkpoint 1 (Grades 6-8)
• September 21-25 College Go Week!
• October 7 PSAT Day (Grades 8-11) Asynchronous Learning (B-day) for 6,7, and 12th grade
• October 14 End of Quarter One Grade Period
• October 15-16 Fall Break
• October 22-23 Mandatory Student-Led Conferences Grades 6-12

• October 27 (B-day) Picture Make-up day

A few updates and reminders from our Food Services team:

• Salad bar coming soon!
• Encourage your student to check out our snack bar during lunch. A variety of snacks are available for $1 or $2 cash.
• Pizza Friday continues! Students can purchase a delicious slice of pizza for $2 cash.
• HAST participates in Offer Versus Serve (OVS) at breakfast. OVS allows students to choose from the breakfast items offered while helping reduce food waste. Students must select at least three items, including a fruit or vegetable, and they may take all items offered if they choose.
• Please see the attached Offer Versus Serve at Breakfast Notification for more information.

It’s another exciting week for HAST Athletics! Our student-athletes are working hard, representing Hammond Academy with pride, teamwork, and determination. From volleyball and soccer to boys tennis, there are plenty of opportunities to come out, cheer on our Hawks, and show your HAST spirit.

Come out and support our student-athletes—Go Hawks! 🖤💛

• Grade 6 Team Lead : Carl Dunlap cdunlap@hammondacademy.org
• Grade 7 Team Lead: Alyssa Medina amedina@hammondacademy.org
• Grade 8 Team Lead: Jason Meyer jmeyer@hammondacademy.org
• Grade 9-10Team Lead: Mira Projovic mprojovic@hammondacademy.org
• Grade 11-12Team Lead Matt Sokol msokol@hammondacademy.org

• It's crucial to keep your information updated to ensure you're always in the loop with HAST. This will not only foster a strong partnership but also contribute to the success of all our students.
• We are on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Parent Square.
• You may update your email address on our mailing list by going to the Parents tab: https://hammondacademy.org/home/
• In the menu, select “Update Your Email Address.” The form also gives you the option to have us delete your old email address. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SPELL YOUR EMAILS CORRECTLY.