From NEA President Lily Eskelesen Garcia . . .
American Education Week is November 12-16, and it’s a great reminder that educators across the nation are dedicated to nurturing and supporting all students.
Public schools are where students come together in learning communities of all kinds that share a simple idea: All students from all backgrounds deserve a good education that inspires their curiosity and love of learning and prepares them for the many opportunities ahead.
By Daron VanderHeiden, Superintendent
Vaping, or as some teenagers refer to it – juuling, has become a national epidemic. Vaping through an e-cigarette device has been around for about ten years. However, the use by teenagers has skyrocketed in recent years. There are an estimated 3 million high school and middle school students currently vaping in the United States. A portion of those 3 million attend the Hutchinson Middle School and the Hutchinson High School.
Doctors and other health professionals generally agree that vaping may be safer than smoking a traditional cigarette; however, the nicotine (a toxic chemical) and other harmful chemicals like the heavy metals contained in vaping are dangerous and unhealthy for teenagers. The long-term effects of vaping are unknown at this time.
The following is a list of things parents should know about vaping:
Hutchinson Public Schools recognizes and treats e-cigarette possession and use as we would traditional tobacco products and act accordingly.
I liken this epidemic to teenage cigarette smoking back in the 50’s and 60’s. Teenagers at that time thought cigarette smoking was harmless. Both of my parents smoked as teenagers and adults, and I recall them talking about when they started to smoke and how unaware of the health risks they were taking. There was little to no regulation, nobody seem to care about teenagers purchasing cigarettes, they were easy to get, and there was little to no law enforcement back then trying to curb the use. Of course, both of my parents regretted ever starting to smoke. The commonalities between that era with cigarettes, and present day vaping, seem eerily similar.
Let’s work together as a community to end teenage vaping in Hutchinson for the sake of our children’s long term health. Our children will thank us later!
Click Here for more information about Hutch Tiger Activities
Activities Director – Thayne Johnson, CAA
Phone: 320-234-2698
Email: thayne.johnson@isd423.org
Interim Administrative Assistant – Amber Larson
Phone: 320-234-2647
Email: amber.larson@isd423.org
The ISD 423 Board of Education will conduct a special meeting on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 beginning at 12:30 pm in the Conference Room at the District Office (30 Glen St NW).
The ISD 423 Board of Education will conduct a regular meeting on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 beginning at 5:30 pm in the Council Chambers at the Hutchinson City Center (111 Hassan St SE).
Click Here for more information about Hutch Tiger Activities
Activities Director – Thayne Johnson, CAA
Phone: 320-234-2698
Email: thayne.johnson@isd423.org
Interim Administrative Assistant – Amber Larson
Phone: 320-234-2647
Email: amber.larson@isd423.org
Congratulations to Carson and Mariah, fall musical, on being named TIGERs of the Week for November 5 – 10
Carson Markovic – Fall Musical
Carson worked in the sound and light booth for the fall musical. He was a magnificent addition to the musical this year. He put in countless hours working on the lights and sound of the show as well as helping out in other areas like set building and helping out with learning the choreography. Carson showed excellent leadership throughout the past 3 months and always did what was asked of him without hesitation.
Mariah Hopp – Fall Musical
Mariah was the stage manager for the fall musical. She was a person of incredible calm in a job that sometimes can involve higher degrees of stress than others. Her leadership helped to make for a truly special experience for fellow students and the community. She truly was a critical piece of the success of the musical with her magnificent work ethic.
By Juliana Delgado, School Counselor, Hutchinson High School
Hutchinson High School has a handful of support programs that extend services and supports to students that need them. In 2016, we started a student mentoring program for students called Check and Connect. This program was developed and supplied to us from the University of Minnesota and the Institute of Community Integration.
Check and Connect has served over two dozen students at the middle school and high school. Over a dozen faculty, teachers, and support staff have been trained each year on how to be engaging, supportive, and solution-focused Check and Connect program mentors. Each mentor is paired with one student and is committed to that student and their progress and achievement in high school for the course of two years. We hope to help younger students in the freshman and sophomore levels build a strong educational experience as they continue through high school.
Mentors check in with students once a week and provide constructive feedback on grades, attendance and overall student behavior. The goals of Check and Connect are to improve student attendance, engagement, and investment in school by showing students how to “own” and positively drive their educational experience while at Hutchinson High School. Mentors connect with the student, family, and resources in the community if needed. It is a program that looks to serve the whole student and provide connections to solutions and build student success in and out of the classroom.
Students in the program have experienced a great range of success. It’s been achieved in all ways, big and small. Students are problem-solving, building resilience, and improving their connection to school. Some students have gone from passing one class to passing all of them and getting involved in sports and activities. Others have greatly improved their attendance and make efforts to not miss school. Whether it’s figuring out that morning routine to be on time in the morning, or learning effective study habits and passing all classes, students are learning strategies that they can use not just in the classroom, but in life. This year we plan to work with another cohort of younger students to help them tackle the challenges to academic success.
Grace, Alex, and Lexi are our TIGERs of the Week for October 29 – November 2.
Alex Hantge – Girls Tennis
Alex made it to the South Section 2AA finals in singles and placed fourth in our section. Alex is a great competitor who always gives perfect effort. She is able to maintain a positive attitude while working hard to continue to improve. Alex is an excellent role model for our athletes as she shows great sportsmanship, competitiveness, and respect for the sport of tennis.
Lexi Kucera and Grace Hanson – Girls Swim and Dive
Lexi and Grace both won two individual events and were part the 200 and 400 freestyle relays that set WCC meet records. They are both great competitors who strive to be the best athletes and team mates they can be. Their hard work and dedication have paid off with both making the Star and Tribune’s preseason top ten swimmers to watch this season. Both Lexi and Grace are showing great potential to defend the state titles they won last year.
Click Here for more information about Hutch Tiger Activities
Activities Director – Thayne Johnson, CAA
Phone: 320-234-2698
Email: thayne.johnson@isd423.org
Interim Administrative Assistant – Amber Larson
Phone: 320-234-2647
Email: amber.larson@isd423.org
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