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.Click Here to Order Meals for 1/19/21
Enforceable Statements
Keri Buker, Licensed School Counselor, Hutchinson Middle School
As we approach the midpoint of what has undoubtedly been a very difficult school year for a multitude of reasons, power struggles with your children are sure to emerge. Stress levels have likely been running high for months, and patience for both parents and kids is low. It’s not uncommon for parents to make big threats when their child is not complying with their requests. These threats (sometimes empty) only perpetuate an on-going cycle of a parent/child power struggle.
What can you do? In 1977 Jim Fay and Foster W. Cline, M.D. founded Love and Logic. “Love and Logic is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in the interactions with children. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic is a way of working with children that puts parents and teachers back in control, teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world, with its many choices and consequences.”
Using Love and Logic’s “enforceable statements” with your child is just one way to avoid power struggles. Enforceable statements follow an easy fill-in-the-blank formula. There are many versions, and if you use them enough you’ll find the one that rolls right off your tongue.
Enforceable statements tell kids what WE will do or allow rather than trying to tell THEM what to do. As a parent, you get to decide what you will provide and under what circumstances.
Here are a few examples:
- Feel free to _____ after you _____. Feel free to play XBox after you complete your homework for today.
- I’d be happy to _____ when you _____. I’d be happy to bring you to your friend’s house when you finish your chores.
- You may _____ as long as _____. You may have your phone as long as you have passing grades.
- I’ll _____ when _____. I’ll listen when your voice is calm. I’ll do that when manners are used.
Enforceable statements are not bribes. A bribe might sound something like this, “if you want to come on the fishing trip, you need to pass all of your classes.” It puts the child in complete control of the situation. An enforceable statement, however, gives power of their behavior to both parties. An enforceable statement in this scenario would sound like this, “I’d be happy to have you join us on the fishing trip when you have passing grades.”
When you phrase it in this manner, if your child makes a poor choice he/she has the opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. However, that is dependent on a parents follow-through with what they said they would or wouldn’t do. Setting and enforcing those limits can be really hard, but boundaries=love.
Keep a few of these phrases in mind the next time you feel yourself being sucked into a power struggle. Try one out and see how telling them what you will allow rather than telling them what to do shifts the dynamic in a positive direction.
Happy New Year!
School Board Meetings: January 11, 2021
The ISD 423 Board of Education will conduct a reorganization meeting Monday, January 11, 2021 beginning at 5:30 pm via teleconference and a regular meeting Monday, January 11, 2021 following the reorganization meeting. Click Here for Live Stream
Public Comment: Members of the public wishing to address the Board concerning any agenda items must submit comments via email to info@isd423.org no later than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting. Emails must contain the person’s name, address and the agenda item being addressed. Comments will be read aloud into the record.
Activities: January 11-15, 2021
Click Here to View This Week’s Activity Schedule
For more information about the HHS Activities Department – Click Here
Click Here for Spectator Guidelines
Tiger Pride!
Tiger Take Home – Order by 1/25/21
Hutchinson Food Service Program is excited to offer an opportunity for families to order some of their students’ favorite menu items to serve at home.
Families benefit from the low cost bulk products and profits from these items benefit our Food Service Department.
Whether you want to stock up for the winter or split a case with family and friends this is a great way to support Hutchinson Public Schools!
Parents can order by logging into their Tiger Portal and clicking on the Smartschoolk12 icon. Then click School Store.
Community members may order by calling 320-234-2603 and dropping off payment at the District Office.
Orders must be submitted by Monday, January 25th.
Pick up Monday, February 2nd at West Elementary from 3:45-4:45pm.
Click here for nutrition and prep information for items
Bridging the Gap
Tutors
Tutors: The District does not endorse or recommend specific tutors; however, a list of people providing tutoring services is available.
Learning Model & School Calendar Changes Effective 1/19/21
The District is making a change in learning models due to the declining local Covid-19 rates and the new requirements associated with Executive Order 20-103. Elementary students will return to in-person learning starting Tuesday, January 19. Secondary students will return to hybrid learning on Tuesday, January 19.
In accordance with Executive Order 20-94, school districts are required to provide an additional 30 minutes of teacher preparation time during the student instructional day for teachers that are required to teach in more than one delivery model. Thus, the secondary student instructional day will be shortened by 30 minutes. This only pertains to the Hutchinson Middle and High School at this time. Revised bell schedules will be sent to all secondary students prior to January 19. If your secondary student rides the bus, you will also receive a new afternoon drop-off time. The morning secondary bus routes will continue as scheduled. The elementary bus routes will not be impacted by this change.
Learning Model Schedule (as of 12/22/20)
Elementary Schools (PreK – Grade 5)
- Monday, January 4: Distance Learning Resumes
- Monday, January 18: No School for Students (Martin Luther King Day)
- Tuesday, January 19: In-person Learning Begins
Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12)
- Monday, January 4: Distance Learning Resumes
- Monday, January 18: No School for Students (Martin Luther King Day)
- Tuesday, January 19: Hybrid Learning Begins (Click Here for Hybrid Calendar)
The District will continue to closely monitor the county, community, and school district case rates. We will work with our Covid-19 regional support team to determine if further changes will be required.
Please continue your efforts in supporting social distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing. It is especially important to screen your children before they return to school after the holiday break. If symptoms are present, please have your child stay home. Please know the District is doing the best we can to deliver the best education possible during this difficult time. The District appreciates your patience and support as we work through this pandemic.
Stay safe and take care.
Sincerely,
Daron VanderHeiden
Superintendent
Take Time, Give Yourself a Positive Mindset
By Jill Bridge, Licensed School Counselor
Oh the holidays are here. You have been preparing for this momentous occasion for months. During the preparation period or even at this very moment you may have dealt with self-doubt. Can I get it all done? Will it be enough? Am I enough? There are times in life when we feel less than, less than our best or our perception of what we “should” be. This mantra in your mind may happen every year during this timeframe. Now throw the year 2020 in the mix with COVID-19 and BAM it is a whole new ball game.
If you are feeling all feelings or stuck on a few that don’t feel too great, there are things you can do to help yourself. Now, if you ever get stuck and don’t think there is a way out remember to reach out for help. In McLeod County there is a mental health crisis response service that is available 24 hours a day seven days a week. All you have to do is call 320-864-2713. If you start to wonder what can I do to help myself, one option is to talk to someone; a friend, a loved one etc. about your feelings.
Sometimes talking to yourself is a great strategy; you can also call it self-talk. The goal of talking to yourself is to help create a positive mindset. This isn’t a one and done idea for concurring everything, but building a positive mindset can help you feel happier, create better friendships and do better at school or your job. Our mindset is a set of beliefs we have about ourselves, others, the world around us and what we are able to do. They are built slowly over time but if you keep focusing on positive thoughts and remove the negative thoughts you will help create a more positive mindset. A positive mindset can help you work through problems and decisions you have to make each and every day.
Taking calming deep breaths is another great strategy. You breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Take it nice and slow. Think of it as smelling a hot cup of cocoa. Slowly breathe in through your nose, smelling the wonderful chocolatey aroma (you can also use hot cider or another beverage if cocoa isn’t something you enjoy). Then breathe out through your mouth to help cool down your beverage. Remember if you breathe out too hard you will splatter the drink and that will not get us to a calm state of mind. You can pair your breathing with self-talk. Breathing in and saying to yourself, “I am ___.” Then breathing out and filling in the blank (smart, enough, brave, caring etc.).
Remember, you are enough. When self-doubt or a negative mindset tries to shadow over you look to the things large and small that you have accomplished. Make a list. List out the things you have done. Include vacuuming the house, buying groceries, even those day-to-day tasks that might not feel like much are an accomplishment. Don’t sell yourself short by believing you need to be like someone else. Your journey is unique and not like any other. It’s time to give yourself grace.
So during this holiday season, take time. Time to appreciate your accomplishments, revel in all the storms you have walked through and opportunities you have taken. They do not need to be earth shattering moments, but moments that make up who you are at this very moment. Moments that make you, you. Keep focusing on the positives and get rid of that negative mindset because you have and will continue to do amazing things. I hope this helps you find joy and peace this holiday season.
