DISTRICT PHILOSOPHY STATEMENT

(adopted September 22, 1997)

Values and Goals

All students can learn.  It is the district’s responsibility to prepare students with the knowledge, understanding, skills, and strategies they need to be productive, responsible citizens in a democratic society.  We view our schools as communities of learners.  Each individual is valued as a unique person and as a member of the larger group.  We model a safe, caring community in which students, teachers, administrators, and parents have real opportunities for collaborative participation through which to attain our educational goals.

We strive to help students develop lifelong capacities to enjoy learning, working, and relating to others.  We value education because it is a process which helps each individual to achieve his/her maximum potential.  Education helps to provide a person with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing world, to function in harmony with the environment, to enjoy the fellowship of others, and to live cooperatively in society with respect for individual and group differences.  It disciplines and broadens one’s outlook; it helps each individual to develop principles by which to guide actions, and values by which to measure them.

View of Learning and Learner

Learning is an active, constructive, and reflective process. We are committed to creating a nurturing, interactive, learner-centered environment which meets with needs of our diverse student body.  An understanding of development provides a necessary foundation for assessing, supporting, and challenging children’s growth – intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and aesthetic.  Children have multiple intelligences and need a variety of approaches.  We assist students in learning to inquire, take risks, set goals, and assess their work.  Rigor is essential to a caring approach to education.  The schools promote deep inquiry and hold high standards for demonstrating understanding and proficiency.

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The Regents Bill of Rights for Children

A Statement of Principles and Goals                     3/17/89

I.         All children have the right to a healthy, secure, nurturing infancy and early childhood.

II.       All children have the right to live in circumstances which permit healthy intellectual emotional physical and moral development.

III.      All children have the right to a free, sound, basic education.

IV.   Each child has the right to an education appropriate for his or her individual needs.

V.     All children have the right to an education which respects their culture, race, socioeconomic background and the language of their home.

VI.   All children have the right to schools and educational programs which are effective.

VII.  .All children have the right to educational programs which prepare them for jobs, for college, for responsible family life and for citizenship in a self- governing society.

VIII. All children have the right to pursue their education without fear.

IX.   All children have the right to the resources needed to secure their educational rights.

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Hastings Students' Bill of Rights

I.              a learning environment free from physical danger,

II.           a school free from harassment and ridicule;

III.             a clean and healthy environment;

IV.          security for personal and school property;

V.            protection from plagiarism;

VI.          instruction free from disruption;

VII.      orderly and secure lunch periods;

VIII.    school sponsored social events free from disruption;

IX.       access to all district activities on an equal basis,
          regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin;

X.              a student discipline policy which guarantees their due   process rights by providing them the opportunity to    present their version of the facts prior to the    imposition of any disciplinary penalty.

All Hastings students have the following responsibilities:

I.         to be familiar with and abide by all district policies, rules and regulations pertaining to student conduct;

II.       to work to the best of their abilities in all academic and extracurricular pursuits;

III.      to hold themselves to the highest standards of conduct, demeanor, and sportsmanship;

IV.   to be in regular attendance of school and in class,  and

V.     to contribute to the maintenance of an environment that
      is conducive to learning.

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