Tutors
Tutors: The District does not endorse or recommend specific tutors; however, a list of people providing tutoring services is available.
The Hutchinson Public Library also has many resources for student learning.
Last Chance to order High School Yearbooks!
Last call to order your Hutchinson High School yearbook for 2024!
head to jostensyearbooks.com or call 1-877-767-5217.
Order by February 25th, 2024.
2024-2025 Academic Calendar
The 2024-2025 Academic Calendar is now available!
Revised 2/12/24
*No School for Students December 20, 2024 and April 17, 2025 (K-12 Professional Development)
Highlights
- First Day of School: September 3, 2024
- 2 Hour Early Releases (instead of late starts)
- Shorter Breaks Integrated Throughout the School Year
- Spring Break: March 10-14, 2025
- Last Student Day: June 4, 2025
- Graduation: June 6, 2025
Cell Phones and Social Media
By Tim Singer-Towns, Assistant Principal, Hutchinson High School
Cell phones and social media have become a large part of the lives of our families and students over the last few decades. They allow us to connect and share our lives with those who mean the most to us. Apps like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram give us the ability to share whatever is on our minds at the touch of a button. While this technology improves communication, it can also create problems in educational settings.
One concern is the distraction caused by cell phones and social media in schools, harming students’ academic performance. Social media, in particular, has proven to be addictive and cause students to lose focus during class. To tackle this issue, Hutchinson Middle School does not allow cell phones to be in classrooms, and the High school requires them to be put away during classtime. If a phone is out when it is not supposed to be, it can and will be confiscated by staff.
Another consequence of social media is the increase in cyberbullying among students, which can seriously affect a student’s mental health. Hutchinson schools teach digital citizenship and have implemented anti-bullying programs emphasizing empathy and online safety. When concerns about online postings are brought up to staff, we work with all our resources including counselors, administration, and law enforcement to ensure that all students feel safe and comfortable in school.
It is the team of school and home that will make these efforts successful. Families play a crucial role in monitoring their children’s online activities. To encourage responsible phone use without being overly restrictive, families can follow these strategies:
- Establish Open Communication: Encourage children to share their experiences, concerns, and interests related to phone use, fostering trust and understanding.
- Set Clear Expectations: Establish realistic and age-appropriate guidelines for phone usage, involving children in the process and considering factors like schoolwork, family time, and personal responsibilities.
- Model Responsible Behavior: Set an example by using phones responsibly and purposefully, avoiding constant phone-checking during family time, and engaging in offline activities.
- Encourage Face-to-Face Interactions: Plan activities that promote quality time and open conversations within the family, without the distractions of phones or screens.
- Designate Phone-Free Zones and Times: Create designated periods in the house, such as mealtime or before bedtime, where phones are not allowed. This promotes uninterrupted family interactions and healthier boundaries with technology.
- Teach Time Management Skills: Help children balance phone usage with other activities by prioritizing responsibilities like homework, chores, physical activities, and social interactions. Teach the importance of setting limits and taking breaks from screens.
- Encourage Hobbies and Offline Activities: Support children in pursuing offline hobbies, sports, arts, or other activities they enjoy, providing alternatives to excessive phone use and promoting a well-rounded lifestyle.
- Establish Rules for Appropriate Online Behavior: Talk with your child about the kinds of online behavior that are hurtful and unacceptable. Be sure they understand the damage that online gossip and cyberbullying cause their classmates. Establish consequences if they should ever engage in such behavior.
By implementing these strategies, families can work with the schools to promote responsible phone use while maintaining a supportive and balanced approach. It is important to strike a middle ground between setting guidelines and allowing children to develop autonomy and decision-making skills regarding phone usage.
Spring Sports Regristration is open!
Congratulations Logan Butler & Gunnar Bick!
Congratulations Kaitlyn Rahne!
Congratulations Logan Schwanz & Anna Plath
“It’s not ‘How smart ARE you’?, it’s ‘HOW are you smart?'”
By Andrea Moore, TigerPath Coordinator
This is the philosophy behind Hutchinson Public School’s TigerPath program. We know that a “one-size-fits-all” educational system does not serve students or society in the most productive way because every student has a unique set of abilities, gifts, and interests. Hutchinson’s TigerPath program is a partnership between the school system, Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce, Hutchinson Economic Development Authority, Ridgewater College, Southwest Initiative Foundation, and dozens of local businesses and organizations, designed to provide more opportunities and better educational outcomes for our youth. In short, TigerPath helps to answer the question we’ve all been asked, “What do you want to be or do when you grow up?”
The concept of TigerPath has been around since at least 2014 in Hutchinson, but really came to fruition with the 2018 renovation of the high school, and the subsequent hiring of a full-time TigerPath Coordinator. The funding for the TigerPath Coordinator position was largely provided through the Youth Skills Training Grant from the MN Department of Labor and Industry, and this has been crucial to the success of the program.
The four TigerPath Academies, condensed from the Minnesota Department of Education’s 6 Career Fields, are as follows: STREAM, SCI-HI, Business, and Human Services. Each TigerPath Academy has a set of recommended classes designed to prepare students for further education and/or future careers within that general area of study. Any of the academies can lead a student to a 2-year school, 4-year school, graduate school, a military career, or even direct employment into the workforce. Students have flexibility to “try on” different academy options and to switch academies if they wish.
Along with the wonderful opportunities that happen WITHIN the walls of our schools, we are able to provide additional opportunities for students OUTSIDE the walls of our schools. As one of our long-time counselors said, “Since the creation of TigerPath, career exploration is so much more of a COMMUNITY conversation.” We are able to offer students access to career fairs, job shadows, internships, quality tours, industry recognized credentials, and career mentoring opportunities, all because of our talented educators and our supportive community partners.
Parents, of course, can help their students in this career exploration endeavor. Watch and observe what energizes your child, praise them when they exhibit a skill that you know will benefit them in their personal or professional adult lives, share your own career path with them, and encourage them to make an appointment with TigerPath Coordinator to talk about their interests and possibly set up a job shadowing opportunity.
Many visitors to our school have commented on the amazing level of collaboration within our community and the obvious benefits that it has for our students. We are incredibly grateful for that collaboration, and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for our students and our community!
If you have any questions about our program, please feel free to contact Andrea Moore, TigerPath Coordinator, at [email protected] or 320-234-2658. Our website is www.hutchtigerpath.com