22-23 HUTCHINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
22-23 HUTCHINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST _Spanish Verison
HMS Supply Lists can also be found in the Middle School tab, then for parents, and then school supply lists.
22-23 HUTCHINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST
22-23 HUTCHINSON MIDDLE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST _Spanish Verison
HMS Supply Lists can also be found in the Middle School tab, then for parents, and then school supply lists.
Click here to view the 2022-23
http://www.isd423.org/district/servicesresources/nutrition-program/meal-prices/
By Brenda Vatthauer, Principal, Hutchinson Middle School
We are living in a very different world from the way we knew education three years ago. There is fear of the unknown, a lack of trust in our societal system and many judgments placed on our educators. As we lead into the final weeks of the school year, it is healthy to reflect and learn from the past two COVID years as well as vision forward to next fall. It is certain that our middle school, with the students in the center of our work, would benefit if we prioritized reinvesting with our families. With this commitment, families and staff need to work as a team, learning about our combined challenges, and unite together to problem solve barriers and support students. It takes a true partnership of parents and school staff working together to improve learning, support adolescent development and the health of middle school students. Stronger partnerships should be a shared responsibility in which schools are reaching out to engage parents in various ways and parents are committed to actively supporting their son/daughter during the middle school years. This is a critical time in adolescent lives where a supportive “partnership” between home and school is essential. Research shows that parent engagement and partnership in schools is closely linked to better student behavior, higher academic achievement and enhanced social skills.
Starting the 2022-23 school year, HMS plans to emphasize parent involvement by providing a variety of activities and frequent occasions to fully involve parents. This will include:
Developing a stronger parent/school partnership is a necessary variable in the equation of student success. This includes shared beliefs, values and attitudes. If we expect students to do their personal best each day, we need to do our part to develop a stronger partnership between parents and school. Thanks to all the parents for your support this year and we look forward to building a stronger network next fall.
By Valerie Huepenbecker, Licensed School Counselor
January is a great time to start thinking about starting a new healthy habit. People are creatures of habit. A habit is something we do daily without thinking. As parents and educators we need to help our children establish healthy habits for learning. Try not to get overwhelmed by changing everything at once, start small and build off of one small change at a time. Here are some ideas for healthy habits for students.
CREATE SLEEP ROUTINES
According to The National Sleep Foundation, “Inadequate sleep can lead to mood swings, behavioral problems such as hyperactivity and cognitive problems that impact on their ability to learn in school.” You can help your child establish a good sleep routine by limiting TV and computer time before bed, make the child’s room dark and quiet, and set and keep a regular and consistent bedtime. The Mayo Clinic recommends school-age children receive 10 to 11 hours of sleep every night. Set a bedtime routine with reading and keep it consistent. Practice deep breathing or mindfulness exercises before bed to prepare the body and mind for rest.
CREATE NUTRITION AND EXERCISE
Good nutrition and daily exercise is essential to healthy brain development which is critical to learning. The American Psychological Association states that children who eat a healthy diet and exercise daily are more likely to perform better academically, feel better about themselves and their abilities, and avoid feelings of low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.
Simple things can lead to big health improvements for your child. Start your child’s day with a healthy breakfast, pack healthy snacks, and have fun being active with your child. Take a family bike ride or play catch in the yard, it is recommended that children get at least 60 minutes of exercise a day. By starting these habits early, maybe we can change the almost 30 percent of American children who are overweight. (Retrieved from the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health)
CREATE ORGANIZATION/HOMEWORK ROUTINES
Provide your child with a time and place to focus, study and read their school work. This environment might look differently for different students. Some children need a quiet place, like a desk in their bedroom. Others prefer the kitchen table. What is most important is that the time and place be consistent, so the child forms the habit of doing daily school work.
Keep things organized by helping your child prepare for the next day. Keep backpacks in the same place every night, lunches packed the night before, and clothes laid out. This will help the morning run smoothly and create the environment for an organized good morning. Help your child create checklists of things that need to be done at night and in the morning. Hang the checklists in their room or on a bathroom mirror.
Remember to not get overwhelmed by changing too many things at once. Start small, be consistent and before you know it you will be creating a healthy habit!
By Brenda Vatthauer, Middle School Principal
As we wind down the 2020-21 school year at Hutchinson Middle School, we have many things to reflect on and celebrate this year. We are very busy reshaping the educational plans for next fall. We can all say that this school year has been a year like no other. As educators we have grown in many ways moving in and out of learning model changes, adapting to new safety guidelines, yet providing the best instruction to all of the middle school students. Our middle school students have learned to make transitions, adapt to changes in how they “learn best” and discover new opportunities during this very busy year. We greatly appreciate our parents who have supported learning in many ways and adjusted their schedules to help learning continue. “Thank-you parents!” In the past few weeks, one of our amazing teachers decorated their classroom door with a display in the theme of “Just Keep Swimming.” Students and staff walk by the decorated door each day and it reminds all of us to never give up, even when faced with adversity, changes and challenges.
Celebrations–HMS students are swimming ahead with celebrations from the pandemic year. Yes, there are many celebrations to recognize. We have amazing students who demonstrate respect, resilience and adaptability on a daily basis. Who knew we would be masked all year during “in-person” learning? Students have done an outstanding job wearing their masks properly. Some of you may be familiar with snorkeling gear, where masks fog, the mask is too tight and the mask strap might even break. We have overcome similar experiences with student glasses fogging, masks too tight and/or small and an occasional mask strap failure. Until mask restrictions are lifted in the K-12 school system, we will keep swimming-we have adapted.
Middle school students are very social, yet they have been exceptional at following the safety expectations at school, on the bus and at extracurricular activities. Social distancing was once a term used during middle school “dances.” This year the term became part of our daily vocabulary and students demonstrated (most days) they clearly knew the term. Google Meets have provided opportunities for students to group and meet safely, keeping a social distance. Students have mastered Google Classroom and actively participated in learning, completing assignments, submitting assignments and redoing assignments. Like fins for snorkeling gear, our students have powered through currents to make progress. If we would not have had a pandemic, I don’t know if applications such as Google Meets and “break out rooms” would have been discovered to the depth they have been used this year. Learning new technology has been a celebration.
Throughout the pandemic, more students took advantage of our retake and retesting opportunities. Students developed more skill at self-advocacy, monitoring their own progress, grades and scheduling. Some students were given a nudge (even a snorkel for air to “keep swimming”) as the “comfort” of traditional learning had changed. Students rose to the challenges and should be commended for doing their personal best, and continuing to learn.
The relationships built this year, around the obstacles, will be never forgotten. We may have had to change some of our navigational tools, use a different compass at times, to reach and connect with all students-the distant learners, hybrid learners and in-person learners. Our middle school takes pride in building relationships and will continue to “keep swimming” toward building a strong foundation to support social and emotional learning.
As we “keep swimming” ahead, we are on the count down to the last day of school for the 2020-21 school year. As we reflect, rethink and reshape we have many things to be thankful for. Parents, you have been astonishing to “keep swimming” and keeping the homefront afloat. We know you are balancing student schedules, emails from multiple buildings, messenger notices, and hundreds of details throughout the year from school(s) and doing your personal best. Thank-you! Thank you for supporting your child at Hutchinson Middle School and throughout the district. As summer approaches, know that your efforts have been greatly appreciated. We are all swimming together to finish out the pandemic year. Please take time this summer for rejuvenation for yourself and your family. We appreciate you!
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.
We have great ideas for your student’s grad party or family get togethers. Items are now split into smaller portions for families to decide on the quantity they want without having to buy the whole case.
Families benefit from the low cost bulk products and profits from these items benefit our Food Service Department.
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 Sunday, May 2nd.
Pick up Monday, May 10th at West Elementary from 3:45-4:45pm.
The District is making a change in learning models due to the continued decline in local Covid-19 rates. Secondary students will return to in-person learning starting Monday, February 22. There is no change for Elementary students. They will continue in the current in-person learning model.
Learning Model Schedule (as of 2/19/21)
Secondary Staff and Students (6-12)
Elementary Staff and Students (Prek-5)
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.
In order to keep our kids in school and finish the school year in-person, please continue your efforts in supporting social distancing, mask wearing, and hand washing. It is important to screen your children daily. If symptoms are present, please have your child stay home.
The District appreciates your continued patience and support
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)
Secondary Schools (Grades 6-12)
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