Click Here to View the Current Activity Schedule
For more information about the HHS Activities Department – Click Here
Congrats Madison & Erin!
Cornerstones of Early Learning
By Marijean Storlie, Early Childhood Family Education Coordinator and
Mary Myers-Reinarts, Play and Learn Preschool Teacher/Program Coordinator
The back-to-school buzz is still in the air! With the Hutchinson Public Schools construction project we welcome a new Early Learning Center at West Elementary. Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), Early Childhood Screening (ECS), and Play and Learn Preschool have all come together under one roof where collaboration and learning can blossom.
ECFE is an early learning program offering a variety of class options for families with children ages birth to kindergarten entrance. Our classes include separating and non-separating options for parent and child, special classes as well as family events. Sibling care is also available for some classes. A typical class includes a parent-child playtime and a circle time where all families engage in movement activities and songs. Separation classes also include a parent discussion time for parents to share, support and learn while their child has an extended play time opportunity with their peers.
ECSE professionals are available for children birth through age five who qualify for services due to special needs in their development. Early Intervention services for children birth up to age three are most often in the home or daycare setting. Children aged three through five years most often receive their services in a preschool setting. If you have a concern about your child’s development contact Help Me Grow at helpmegrowmn.org or our district website at isd423.org located under West Elementary Early Learning.
ECS is a free and simple check of how your child is growing, developing and learning. Screening at 3 years old is preferred, but your child may be screened between the ages of 3 and the start of kindergarten and is required by the MN Department of Education before your child enters kindergarten.
Play and Learn Preschool is a Four-Star Parent Aware rated School Readiness preschool program supported by a combination of MN Department of Education funding and parent tuition. We invite children aged three through five years old and work closely with ECSE to welcome children of any ability level. Our play-based curriculum builds on the common interests of children in our classes.
These four cornerstone Early Learning programs are foundational within the Hutchinson School District in supporting families with young children in our community. For more information about any of these Early Learning Programs please call the West Elementary School office at 320-587-4470 or visit our website isd423.org.
School Board Regular Meeting – 9/13/2021
The ISD 423 Board of Education will conduct a regular meeting on Monday, September 13, 2021 beginning at 5:30 pm in the Council Chambers at the Hutchinson City Center (111 Hassan St E, Hutchinson).
Click Here for School Board Agendas, Minutes, and Videos
Athletics & Student Leadership
By Bill Tschida, Activities Director
Participation in school activities and athletics provides additional lessons and leadership opportunities for students.
Tiger fall sports are off and running. We have eight fall sports: cross country (boys and girls), football (boys), soccer (boys and girls), swimming (girls), tennis (girls), and volleyball (girls). Although participation numbers have decreased overall compared to pre-Covid participation numbers (404 participants this year / 499 participants pre-Covid), we are seeing higher participation in cross country (both boys and girls) and in boys soccer.
Our coaches started this year off with professional development centered around the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Why We Play curriculum. This training program helps coaches direct our programs to be focused on educational athletics. This is a different model than youth, college, or professional athletics. Coaches worked on developing a personal Purpose Statement. This statement is their “Why” for why and how they coach. Discussion centered around goal setting for each team’s season. Goals are a necessary part of any team in any season. Goals have a beginning, an end and they are measurable. Your Purpose or your Why should not change. It should represent what your team/program stands for, and what you want your players to take away from being involved in your program. Coaches have great power. Developing strong purpose statements sets our coaches up to provide the best possible experience for our student athletes. We will continue to build on this training moving forward.
Superfans! We have begun to work with a group of students that will be leaders in our student section at sporting events – our Superfans! This group allows us to work with the students to discuss and plan for being appropriate with our words and actions at events, and help provide a fun atmosphere.
Our team captains will work on training for leadership in both our athletics and our school. Our student leaders play a big role in the success of our teams and the atmosphere of our school. This group will meet once a month to learn about being a leader. These lessons will go beyond their high school sports experience.
Tiger Pride!
T-6 Vintage Plane Fly Over
On Friday, September 10th, the evening before 9-11, the American Legion Post 96 and VFW Post 906 in Hutchinson have scheduled a fly over during the Hutchinson High School Football game. During the National Anthem T-6 vintage planes will do a fly over and missing man formation (weather depending) and help the Hutchinson Tigers Football team honor our Police, Fireman, 1st Responders and Veterans.
A giant American Flag will be carried by the men and women honored by these young men as they go into friendly battle with Willmar. All Veterans, Firemen, Police, and First Responders are invited to meet at the Football field at 6 PM to assist in holding the flag.
ECFE 2021 Fall Classes
2021-2022 Covid-19 Resources
As parents and guardians, you have been great partners over the last two school years and we appreciate all you have done. We will again need your help and cooperation to keep our students and staff healthy and safe throughout the upcoming school year. Together, we can make this a great school year for our kids. We are very excited to welcome our students back into our schools and our classrooms!
Click Here for Covid-19 Resources
Supporting Education and Social-Emotional Wellbeing
By Michael Scott, Director of Teaching and Learning
In less than a week, staff at Hutchinson Public Schools will be welcoming students back to school, following a previous school year of educational stress and uncertainty due to Covid-19. Our staff have been working on final preparations for the upcoming year during new teacher workshop week August 16-20 and our all staff workshop week August 23-27. I am seeing a growing hopefulness that this upcoming school year is much different from last year but also caution in what the year may bring.
We realize as students return to a new school year, their stress may continue to be heightened. After reading many recently published articles that provide suggestions for supporting children through the stresses brought about by the changes and disruptions from the Covid-19 pandemic, it doesn’t take long to notice that many of the tips and strategies offered are very familiar. Many are the same positive, effective suggestions that existed before Covid-19 entered as a factor in our children’s everyday lives.
Establishing routines for your child at home can provide structure, predictability, and consistency. Packing backpacks the night before school, determining a time each night for your child to complete school work, and consistently talking with your child about their school day are simple examples of routines parents can provide.
In addition, assist your child to focus on the positive aspects of returning to school instead of the areas of worry. Ask them what they are excited about as they return to school, what their hopes are for the upcoming year, and what goals they may want to achieve. Discuss any concerns they may have to work together to problem solve.
Another routine to restore from summer vacation is expectations of when your child should get to bed at night. Research has shown overwhelmingly that children need adequate sleep time (no fewer than 9 hours a day for elementary and middle school aged students and no fewer than 8 hours a day for high school aged students), miss no more than 10 percent of the number of school days (no more than 6 days a trimester for Hutchinson Public School students), and have time daily to connect with their parents about their school day. Focus on asking your children what they “learned” in school instead of what they “did” in school.
Our hope is this year has fewer uncertainties and disruptions to your child’s education and routines. No matter the reason for your child to potentially be approaching the start of the school year with feelings of uncertainty, our staff are here to support your child’s education and social-emotional wellbeing. Never hesitate to contact your child’s school with questions or need for support.
Attention K-1 Parents
Back to School Message from Principal Broderius.
Excellence in Academics, Activities and Character
Si a usted le gustaría recibir estas formas en español, por favor llame al 320-587-4470 ext. 3050 y pregunte por Fabiola, la intérprete para las escuelas West.
Welcome parents to the 2021-2022 school year! My name is Mrs. Broderius, and I am honored to be the principal at West Elementary. The new school year is fast approaching, and I look forward to sharing my commitment, enthusiasm, love for kids, and education with you and your child. You are such an important part of your child’s education; after all, you are your child’s first and most important teacher. We value your input and the time you spend helping your child experience educational success. We welcome you as our partner in education.
Our entire staff returns to work to prepare for the school year on Monday, August 23rd. They will work on schedules, prepare curriculum, focus on impactful teaching strategies, and get ready to welcome our students for the new school year. West has an amazing staff who are fully committed to making this year a wonderful experience for all of our students.
Our district uses a student information system called Campus as our main communication tool. If you are not getting our emails, please check your Spam folder and then notify us to verify we have your updated information. It is very important we have your current contact information at all times. Your child’s teacher may use Google classroom, SeeSaw, and email to share important information with you on a regular basis. You will be receiving information on how to help your child access these online platforms early in the school year. Please notify school with any contact information changes throughout the year.
Please check out our website to read the 2021-2022 Safe Learning section for information regarding the upcoming school year. http://www.isd423.org/covid-19-info/ This information will be updated throughout the year with any changes we encounter.
The West student day is from 8:35 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. Our office is open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. You can call the office at 320-587-4470 during office hours or leave a message on our answering machine at any time. Someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Breakfast/snack & lunch for K-1 students remains free and will be part of the classroom schedule. The time students eat will be based on each classroom schedule. Students will be offered lunch while in school each day. They will eat with their classmates in the cafeteria. More information from our Child Nutrition Department about breakfast/snack and lunch is available on the website. If you would like to apply for educational benefits, please go to our website and download the Application for Benefits form under our Nutrition Program page. http://www.isd423.org/district/servicesresources/nutrition-program/
Teacher assignments will be emailed on Friday, August 20th after 3:00 p.m.
We will be hosting Kindergarten Welcome Conferences by appointment Wednesday, August 25th OR Monday, August 30th. Each Kindergarten family will receive a letter in the postal mail with a scheduled appointment time. Letters will be mailed to Kindergarten families on Friday, August 20th. All Kindergarten students’ first full day of school will be on Tuesday, August 31st.
If your Kindergarten child has not completed the Early Childhood Screening process, you will be scheduled for an appointment during the week of August 23rd or on August 30th. Early Childhood Screening is a health and developmental assessment for children ages 3 years and older. Early Childhood Screening is mandatory in the state of Minnesota for all children before they enter Kindergarten. You and your child’s timely attendance at this screening is required. Please contact ECFE or visit our website for more information. http://www.isd423.org/district/tailored-programs/early-intervention/earlychildhoodscreening/
First Grade students and families are invited to our Open House event which will take place in person on Wednesday, August 25th, between 4:00-7:00 p.m. This will give you a chance to find the classroom, meet the teacher, drop off school supplies, and verify transportation information. First Grade students’ first full day of school will be on Monday, August 30th.
You should have received communication from the Hutchinson Bus Lines with your child’s bus information. Please contact them directly with updates, changes, or questions about bussing at 320-234-0888.
Our morning buses will be arriving and unloading at West between 8:25 and 8:35 a.m. We will have staff ready to greet students and help them find their way to the classroom. Once verified and received, your child should attach the plastic bus tag on their backpack. Staff use these to help students find their way during the first few days of the new school year. If you still have one of our plastic bus tags from last school year, we encourage you to use it again on the first day.
If you are transporting your child to school, please use the new parking lot on the northside of West Elementary. Do not use the south circle bus loop or the west staff parking lot. Parent drop off in the morning will be between 8:25 a.m and 8:35 a.m. You should escort your child to the door or have your child meet one of the staff along the sidewalk where they will be helping supervise and guide students as they enter the building. Kindergarten students who are transported by parents will enter the north Kindergarten door #11 and First Grade students will follow the sidewalk and enter the west door #7. Only staff and students are able to enter the building, so we ask that you say your goodbyes at the door or at the car. There is no outside supervision in the mornings and our doors will remain locked until 8:25 a.m. Please do not leave your child unattended. If your child is tardy and arriving after 8:40 a.m., please use the main entrance and check your child in at the office.
At the end of each school day, we will begin loading our transfer buses at 3:10 p.m with the goal of them leaving our lot by 3:20 p.m. The transfer buses arrive at Park Elementary where students transfer to their go home bus (if needed) and our Park students get loaded. These buses are scheduled to leave Park by 3:40 p.m. at the latest. Please know that the first week of school the buses will be off schedule by a few minutes. Buses also run behind on days where there is a lot going on in town, such as city wide garage sale day. In addition, buses can also run behind during weather events such as rain and snow storms. If you are concerned about your child’s bus, please contact Hutchinson Bus Lines directly at 320-234-0888. They have direct radio contact with the driver and can quickly get the answers you are looking for. Students may have assigned bus seats and are required to wear face coverings while riding the school bus.
At the end of the school day, parents who are picking up should use the new parking lot on the north side of West Elementary and meet their child on the sidewalk. Please look for the supervising teacher assigned to your child’s classroom. You are required to sign your child out each day by using the clipboard paper sign out or by using the digital sign out option found here: https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1Y_hoQviWRE0OoYhsq6OAja-cQleHiidTbXcy3Mm0j-c/edit?ts=5f342511 You can bookmark this on your phone for easy daily use. Signing your child out each day is required.
West Elementary is also on Twitter, which also serves as a text message communication. You do need to have a Twitter account and/or the Twitter app to receive the text messages. We use it to share great news and important updates about West Elementary. Follow us on Twitter: @WestElemTigers Our district also has a Facebook page that shares occasional school news. You can follow us: Facebook.com/isd423
Your child will see specialist teachers for Art, Music, PhyEd, and STREAM while at school. A school-wide schedule has been developed so your child will see two of these specialist teachers each day.
Our West students will have at least 20 minutes of outside recess after lunch and will be supervised by an educational assistant. Outside play, sunshine, and fresh air are so important to our day. Please know we will be going outside as much as we can. We only stay in if it’s really raining hard and for excessive cold. Please make sure your child has appropriate clothing and shoes for outside play every school day. We require students to wear shoes that cover their toes and have backs on them. These are the safest shoes for school.
Picture Day at West Elementary is scheduled for Thursday, September 2nd and Friday, September 3rd. Information flyers will be distributed with more information.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Broderius
West Elementary Principal
