Elsie A Hastings Elementary School

My daughter has attended Hastings since kindergarten and is now in second grade. She loves it. It is a wonderful school and we couldn't be happier with the teachers, administration, office staff and curriculum. The children are very nice and friendly and my daughter has made some wonderful friends.
--Submitted by a parent

The pre-school curriculum is basically, choose a Mother Goose rhyme for the day. The local YWCA is so much better-better teachers with far more training and a far better awareness of multicultural issues. The pre-school teachers clearly dislike Asians, especially men. They openly rename children from any names they dislike and they display no cultural background of Latinos or Asians (as required by standards for teachers in Mass). I can't comment on the principal as she is leaving (which is likely a good thing) but I do know the front office staff allows parents who have kidnapped children to pick up others children. The frotn office staff is pretty ugly to anyone not white too.
--Submitted by a parent

As a parent I have seen how the principal disparages parents and children of color and it hurts me deeply. She treats me well as I am blond and white but she clearly dislikes the people of color, especially parents. Maybe it is because many have more education than she does? I am not sure. I do know she will do all she can, and the Superintendent is the exact same, to support uneducated white parents, but never parents of color. So sad, it's the kids who suffer. My first grader can tell.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had three children attend Hastings for the past six years, and will continue to be at the school for another two years. Hastings is an excellent school! We are so fortunate to have such an experienced and professional staff, from their outstanding principal, Pattie Berkey, to all their wonderful teachers, guidance counselor, school psychologist and, of course, school aides. Their Special Education and English Language Learner departments are top notch, as well. Their integrated preschool program is among the best, in my opinion. Both typical and non-typical children benefit from being in this program and I highly recommend it from personal experience. Their Strings Music program has an outstanding reputation, as it does in all of the schools in Westborough. I cannot say enough about how fortunate we should all feel, as parents, to be a part of such a wonderful school system! - Chiara
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Hastings for her Kindergarden school year and I thought it was fantastic. From the the Principal, to the guidance counselors, to the teachers, and even to the school lunch helpers, they all knew her name and worked all year to help her fit in and feel comfortable. We were new to the area and my daughter felt the normal stress of that. Every staff member at Hastings, I felt, really cared about her and her needs. I can recall one evening going out for pizza in Westborough and the women in charge of the school cafeteria was there. My daughter reconized her right away and gave her a big hug. That's how this school is. It's great that my daughter can attend a school in which the staff cares about each and evey one of their students. I feel privilaged that she attends this school.
--Submitted by Kristin, a parent

My daughter went to this school in 2004 and 2005 for first grade and part of second. I was very disappointed in the school. She came from a really amazing school and if she had started here I probably would have never seen anything wrong. It wasn't that it was bad, it just wasn't great.
--Submitted by a parent