Celebrating Farm to School Month!
Bridging the Gap
Routine & Structure
Having a Family Plan for Routine and Structure Within
Your Home is More Important Than Ever
During These Uncertain Times
By Marijean Storlie, Early Learning Coordinator, Hutchinson Public Schools
Just a short time ago, we may have had a regular routine for our family that worked like a well-oiled machine. However, when COVID 19 came knocking on all of our doors it brought that routine to an abrupt halt.
For the first few days, following the pandemic’s outbreak in our nation, it may have felt more like a “staycation” for you and your family. Your regular routine went out the window and in its place came in a very fun and unstructured way of daily life. Then, the reality of the need for a regular and structured routine set in, and you ask yourself, “How do I establish a new and temporary routine for my family during this time, and what does that need to look like?”
Throughout this unusual school year, whether we are in a hybrid, distance, or in-person learning model, here are a few simple ideas that you can implement to help maintain your family’s health, social and emotional well-being, as well as a sense of normalcy.
- Have and keep a morning/evening routine for everyone in your family. This includes a regular waking/bedtime routine, a regular morning and evening hygiene routine, and ensuring that everyone is eating nourishing meals.
- Have dedicated work and play spaces as well as regular work/school hours and play times for everyone. This will help everyone get more accomplished during work/school times leaving the planned times for fun and family to happen without stress and anxiety of the work and school that was left incomplete.
- Try to set healthy eating, exercise, and sleep habits and spend time outside whenever you can. This could be the perfect time to ask yourself what healthy habits and lifestyle choices you want to try and implement for your family.
- Try to limit your exposure to the news. While it is important to stay informed about the virus, we should avoid overloading ourselves with information. Set an amount of time for watching and or listening to the news, just as we do for our children’s social media, and then move on with your day.
- Stay connected with others. As we all know, humans are social beings and as social beings, we crave connectedness with others. Try setting a time each day for all your family members to connect as a family unit but also a time to connect with at least one other person each day. Maybe this could be the time you choose to call an old friend or a family member that you have been meaning to call but just haven’t had the time to.
Remember this is a “temporary” new routine for your family. Taking the time to establish your family’s new routine will support and cultivate positive habits, re-establish a sense of purpose and meaning, and help everyone in your family feel secure and safe during this time of uncertainty.
ECFE Fall Classes
Play and Learn Screenings
Advertisement for Bids
Hutchinson West Elementary School
Addition and Renovation
Bid Package #1
Sealed bids will be received at Hutchinson Public Schools, ISD 423 District Office: 30 Glen St NW, Hutchinson, Mn 55350. Bids will be received and stamped-in prior to 2:00 pm local time on July 16, 2020.
Click Here for Complete Details
Annual Online Enrollment for 2020-2021 is Now Open
The Annual Online Enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year is now open for returning students.
To begin, log into your Parent Portal and click “More” on the bottom left side. Then select the option that reads “Online Registration” in the middle of the screen.
Then click, “Click here to go to Existing Student Registration”.
Please complete the enrollment process through the Parent Portal by Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Completing this process ensures that your student(s) will be enrolled for the 2020-2021 school year.
Please note that if this isn’t completed, your student will not be able to get their teacher assignment or schedule.
If you have questions or need to set up a Parent Portal account, call 320-587-2860.
Play and Learn Preschool Virtual Tour
Join Mary Myers-Reinarts, our Play and Learn Preschool Teacher and Program Coordinator, for a virtual tour!
Strategies & Key Practices for Successful Distance Learning
By Anne Broderius, West Elementary Principal
COVID19 has changed the way we live, work, and learn. Many parents/guardians are now required to juggle the demands of several new and very important roles for children. All of us are in the position to possibly make major adjustments to our daily routines and for many families this includes creating the conditions for children to continue their education in the home. It’s our goal to continue to cultivate a love for learning even if we aren’t inside the traditional school walls.
Here are some strategies and key practices for a successful distance learning experience:
- Distance learning will be very different from being at school full time. It’s important to establish similar types of routines and schedules used in the traditional classroom.
- Set up a quiet, dedicated work space for your child away from TV and other distractions. Ensure all of the necessary materials are accessible, organized and ready for the day. During work time, eliminate access to phones, social media and video games.
- Students should continue with morning and bedtime routines including getting up and going to bed at regular school day times. Encourage them to complete the same daily personal hygiene routines (i.e.showering, brushing teeth, getting dressed, etc.) as if they were going to school.
- With your child’s input, create a schedule for the day. Include time for breakfast, lunch, snack breaks, outside time to get fresh air, exercise, acts of kindness and even include household chores. You should not expect your child to be in front of a computer for extended periods of time. Having a schedule for your child’s day from the start of the distance learning time will be critical.
- Distance learning is new for your child’s teacher too. Each day you should expect to connect with your child’s teacher. This might include completing an activity and sharing the work, a phone call, an email, responding to a daily question. Attendance will be taken each school day and your child’s participation each day is expected.
- Read-Read-Read. Some of our best learning is done through reading and conversation about what we read.
- Set up motivators and rewards for completing educational tasks each day. Include breaks or time to connect with friends over the phone or social media for getting some of the learning tasks completed. Children like to set and accomplish personal goals.
- Come up with ways to share back with your teacher what your child is learning and new things they are trying. This will be fun and help to inspire others who are on the same journey.
During the distance learning period, it will be important to stay connected with school staff such as the building principal, counselor or nurse. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or share concerns you have about your child. We are all in this together and ready to support your child along the way.
If you are also expected to work from home this may feel overwhelming. We all care deeply about being the best parent and employee we can be, and know this will feel stressful at times. Lean on your support network of adults, give yourself and others grace, and trust that we’re all doing the best that we can.
Finally, remember children are like mirrors and they reflect our attitudes about life. Be patient and know this will take time for both home and school to master well. Consider approaching this with the spirit of a learner and adventurer, and be open to doing things differently.