Update on School Principle

Jeff Linden’s first semester as the new school principal at Hastings Senior High School has brought new changes to the school.

Linden’s first semester has already seen loads of changes, such as the recent pep rallies the school. The second semester is now here, bringing a close to the first semester. Linden plans to turn this school around to a more positive environment.

“I want you guys to have a great experience here. You guys have a lot of great opportunities, and knowing what they are is important. That’s why having those pep rallies is to know what we have here, what activities, cause it’s not just about sports. We have clubs, we have activities, we have a lot of things going on in this school, and I’m trying to help you guys to find a place that admits to you to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” Linden said. 

With the change in new leadership, Mr. Linden is already bringing new ideas into the school and bringing old ideas back.

“I think they’re (Mr. Linden’s ideas) positive. I think it makes school more of a place where kids want to be, and they don’t feel it’s just all about academics, and that’s the only thing I think we added a lot more. The other things that are important too, socially,” math teacher Kirk Ortegren said.

Ideas like the pep rallies and another dance being brought back, more familiar events in the future could help increase attendance rates within the school.

“I think that it’s a transition that needs to happen. That kids start to realize there’s a lot more to high school than just the academics. To be honest, a lot of kids don’t like the classes they’re in right now. They don’t see the point in them, and I think that makes it hard on the teachers. So if we can give them a little bit of incentive outside of the classroom, plus even more reason to why they want to be in the class like looking into careers and stuff like that. Overall, just trying to make this a more positive place,” Ortegran said. 

The 6-Day Policy has been a recent hot topic for the school, with talks of it now being enforced after 9-10 years of it being in the student handbook. According to the policy, “Students who are absent more than six times from any class in a semester will lose credit for that course unless the assistant principal determines that, due to the nature of absences, credit shall be awarded. It is the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian to determine if an absence is a legitimate absence from school,” located on page 38 of the student handbook under the attendance policy section. 

“I think if people feel like ‘Hey, with this policy in place. It’s going to encourage more attendance,’ It’s something we got to consider,” Superintendent Jeff Schneider said.

‘Notifications of absences that are not accounted for will be attempted communication via phone, email, message, or written communication. Students who exceed the 6-day limit must meet with an assistant principal to discuss the circumstances and provide evidence contributing to the excessive absences,’ also, from the handbook. From the principal’s numbers, 88% of students show attendance daily, while 12% of students are absent.

“We are starting to work together better by talking to kids and being preemptive on (missing school), ‘Hey, I see you’re not at school; what can we do to help you? Is it that you don’t have a ride? What are some things keeping you from school,” Linden said.

Another addition is the Make-A-Wish dance that the principal and student council have brought back in recent years to spread awareness about critical illnesses between the ages of 2½ to 18. The Make-A-Wish program is a non-profit organization that helps fulfill the wishes of others and has been around since 1980.

“I think it would be cool to have another time where kids could come together and have some fun,” Linden said.

With the Make-A-Wish dance being brought back and helping fund the organization, other dances help fund a cause that students weren’t aware of before. 

“If students attend and have fun, but yet follow the rules. I think we could see things added back. I really think it’s up to the students,” Schneider said. 

The school has only recently been used to homecoming and prom dances, with the new addition of the Make-A-Wish dance to help raise some money for a good cause. The Make-A-Wish dance has been postponed till further notice. 

“Being a part of that (Make-A-Wish) is a great thing to do, and so this is not just something for you guys to do, but also for a good cause so you guys can be a part of something bigger than yourselves,” Linden said.