Hutchinson Public Schools

  • District
      • Activities
          • Activities Department Handbook
          • Activities Employment Opportunities
          • Registration: Fees & Forms
          • Season Passes
          • Special Olympics
          • Tiger Apparel
          • Wall of Fame
        • Close
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
      • Covid-19 Resources
      • District Office
          • Audit
          • Budget
          • Calendar
          • Curriculum
          • District Directory
          • Employment
          • Enroll Your Child
            • Annual Update Information
            • Online Kindergarten Registration
            • Close
          • Policy
          • School Board
            • Agendas & Minutes
            • Elections
            • Members
            • Close
          • School Improvement
          • Teacher Licensure/Relicensure
          • World’s Best Workforce
        • Close
      • Employee Info
      • Referendum Vote Information
      • Services/Resources
          • Dollars For Scholars
          • Health Services
            • Automated External Defibrillators
            • Care Plans
            • Head Lice Information
            • Immunizations
            • Infectious Diseases
            • Medication
            • Minnesota Health Care Links
            • Wellness
            • Close
          • ISD 423 Foundation
          • Nutrition Program
            • Menus
            • Free & Reduced Meals
            • Meal Prices & Charging/Debt Collection Procedure
            • Operating Policies
            • Close
          • School Resource Officer
          • Technology
            • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
            • G Suite for Education (Google Apps)
            • District Technology Plan
            • Close
          • Transportation
        • Close
      • Staff Directory
      • Tailored Programs
          • English Learners
          • Section 504
          • Community Education
          • Early Childhood Programs and Services
            • Early Childhood Screening
            • Early Intervention
            • Play and Learn Preschool
            • Close
          • Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE)
          • Crow River Area Learning Center
            • Admission Requirements
            • Contact Us
            • Mission Statement
            • Night School Calendar
            • Night School Course Options
            • Night School Registration Form
            • Night School Schedule
            • Summer School Registration is now closed
            • Close
          • GED / Adult Basic Education
          • Minnesota Reading Corps
          • REACH
            • Why REACH?
            • Day to REACH Camp
            • Meet Our Staff
            • REACH Gallery
            • REACH in the News
            • Sponsors
            • What People Are Saying About REACH
            • REACH Program Overview
            • Our Success
            • Close
          • Special Education
            • Early Childhood Special Education
            • Parent/Guardian Resources
            • Special Ed FAQ
            • Special Olympics
            • Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
            • Close
          • STaR – Success, Teamwork, and Responsibility
          • Title 1
            • Title 1 Park
            • Title 1 West
            • Close
        • Close
    • Main Contact

      30 Glen Street NW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-2860

      Fax: 320-587-4590

    • Close
  • West Elementary
      • Early Learning Programs
      • For Students
        • 1st Grade Websites
        • Kindergarten Websites
        • Close
      • For Parents
          • Counselors Corner
            • Character Education Classroom Leaders
            • Group Counseling
            • Individual Counseling
            • Parenting Classes
            • Starting School
            • Close
          • 1st Grade
          • Kindergarten
          • From the Principal
          • Parent / Student Handbook
          • PTO
          • Should my child be in school?
          • Statewide Testing Refusal
          • Supply List
        • Close
      • Resources
          • Academic Standards
          • Library
            • Great Websites
            • Book Awards
            • Close
          • Staff Websites
          • West Elementary Directory
        • Close
      • Activities
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
    • West Elementary

      PreK - Grade 1

      875 School Road SW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-4470

      Fax: 320-587-0735

    • Close
  • Tiger Elementary
      • For Students
        • 2nd Grade
        • 3rd Grade
        • Close
      • For Parents
        • 2nd Grade
          • Teacher Contact Information
        • 3rd Grade
          • Teacher Contact Information
        • School Supply List for Tiger Elementary
        • Student Handbook for Tiger Elementary
        • Statewide Testing Refusal – Tiger
        • Close
      • Resources
      • Activities
        • 3rd Grade Musical
        • Close
      • Contact Us
    • Tiger Elementary

      Grades 2 - 3

      805 School Road SW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-1122

    • Close
  • Park Elementary
      • For Students
          • 4th Grade
            • Brainstorm
            • Language, Spelling, and Writing
            • 4th Grade Math
            • Reading
            • Science
            • Social Studies
            • SAFETY
            • Close
          • 5th Grade
          • Visual Arts
          • MCA Online Test Practice
          • Science Sites
        • Close
      • For Parents
          • 4th Grade
            • Teacher Contact Information
            • Close
          • 5th Grade
            • Teacher Contact Information
            • Close
          • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
          • From the Principal
          • New to Park Elementary
          • Student / Parent Handbook
          • Summer Resources
          • 4th & 5th Grade Teachers and Room Numbers
          • Conferences
          • PTO
          • Newsletters
          • School Supply List
          • Tech Tips for Parents
            • Electronic Databases
            • Close
          • School Report Card
          • STAR Testing
          • Statewide Testing Refusal
        • Close
      • Resources
        • Park Elementary Directory
        • Park Elementary History
        • Close
      • Activities
        • 5th Grade Band
        • FIRST LEGO League
        • Hutch Athletics/Parks and Recreation
        • Specialists at Park
        • Close
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
    • Park Elementary

      Grades 4 - 5

      100 Glen Street SW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-2837

      Fax: 320-587-4821

    • Close
  • Middle School
      • For Students
      • For Parents
          • Course Database
            • Art
            • English/Language Arts
            • Health
            • Music
            • Physical Education
            • Science
            • Social Studies
            • Close
          • Emergency School Closing Information
          • Morning Announcements
          • Principal Newsletter
          • Online Payments
          • School Report Card
          • Statewide Testing Refusal
          • Student Handbook
          • Supply List for Hutchinson Middle School
        • Close
      • Resources
          • Middle School Directory
          • Student Resources
          • Staff Resources
          • HMS Library Media Center
            • Access Online Books (free)
            • Book Trailers
            • Digital Citizenship & Digital Wellness
            • ISTE Standards for Students
            • Close
          • School Resource Officer
        • Close
      • Activities
        • Activities Department Handbook
        • Fall Sports Start Dates
        • Middle School Musical
        • Registration: Fees & Forms
        • Season Passes
        • Spring Sport Start Dates
        • Winter Activities Start Dates
        • Wright County Conference (WCC)
        • Close
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
      • Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
        • Benefits of BYOD
        • Device Recommendations
        • Digital Learning Toolbox
        • Prepare Device for BYOD from Home
        • What does a BYOD classroom look like?
        • Close
    • Middle School

      Grades 6 - 8

      1365 South Grade Road SW

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-2854

      Fax: 320-587-2857

    • Close
  • High School
      • What’s Happening at HHS This Week
      • For Students
        • 2022-2023 Student Handbook
        • Business
        • Counseling Center- Naviance, Website, and Scheduling Appointments
        • English
        • English Learners (EL)
        • FACS
        • Mathematics
        • Music
        • Physical Education/Health
        • Science
        • Social Studies
        • Special Education
        • Technology Education and Agricultural Sciences
        • Visual Arts
        • World Languages
        • Close
      • For Parents
          • 2023 Graduation
          • Counseling Center Website and Link to Naviance
          • Process Grade
          • School Report Card
          • Statewide Testing Refusal
          • Jennifer Telecky, HS Principal
            • MEADA, Ms. Morrow
            • Close
          • Daily Announcements
          • Online Payments
          • National Honor Society
          • Bell Schedule
          • 2022-2023 Supply List
        • Close
      • Resources
          • High School Directory
          • Naviance
          • FAQ
          • Technology Information
            • Pearson Success Net
            • Close
          • School Resource Officer
          • Math Lab
        • Close
      • Activities
        • Activities Department Handbook
        • Activities Employment Opportunities
        • Fall Musical
        • Fall Sports Start Dates & Times
        • HHS Clubs & Enrichments
        • Hutchinson High School Activities Marketing Sponsorship
        • Lettering at HHS
        • Prom
        • Season Passes
        • Registration: Fees & Forms
        • Special Olympics
        • HHS Spring Sports Dates
        • TIGER of the Week
        • Wall of Fame
        • Winter Activities Start Dates
        • Wright County Conference Schedules
        • Close
      • Contact Us
        • Contact Form
        • Staff Directory – Complete Listing
        • Close
      • 2023-24 Hutchinson High School Course Catalog
        • ISD 423 Graduation Requirements
        • Close
      • ISD423 BYOD
        • ISD 423 Personal Device Regulations
        • BYOD FAQ
        • Close
      • Counseling Center Website
      • TigerPath Academies
      • Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
    • High School

      Grades 9 - 12

      1200 Roberts Road

      Hutchinson, MN 55350

       

      Phone: 320-587-2151

      Fax: 320-587-8217

    • Close
  • Quick Links
    • calendarCalendar
    • employmentEmployment
    • onlineenrollmentEnroll Now
    • menusMenus
    • tigerportalTiger Portal
    • weatherWeather
    • Close
Home : District Featured Slides : Connecting at a Distance

Connecting at a Distance

May 4, 2020 By Hutch Tiger

By Jocelynn Buckentin, Technology Innovation Specialist

Social distancing, by its very nature, has caused us to be apart from those in-person human connections that we took for granted. After 6 weeks of being isolated from others, many are starting to feel that absence of connections amplified as we itch for life to return to the way it was. While the future may be uncertain at the moment, there are many ways that we can restore some of those human connections with family and friends while keeping safety in mind.

While we tend to focus first on the academic importance of school, it is equally important to note that kids are missing those same in-person connections as we are. Many teachers have sought to remedy this by providing opportunities for students to chat with their classmates through live class meetings. Many kids are also turning to popular social media apps like TikTok and Snapchat to maintain connections with friends online, but those apps are only open to kids over the age of 13 and are a cause of concern among many parents with fears of inappropriate use and oversharing among others.

There are some safer options out there for parents to consider. Facebook’s Messenger Kids app is a separate but related app to Facebook Messenger. It allows kids too young to join Facebook to use their parents’ Messenger account to interact with a predetermined set of contacts. Parents have full access to their child’s account and must pre-approve who their kids can interact with. Kids, in turn, get to text and video chat with their approved contacts. They can interact through games, photos with fun filters, and stickers. The best part is, parents have a dashboard of controls that allow them to access chat logs, recent contacts, and more. Think of it as social media on training wheels. Parents can think of Messenger Kids as another tool that can help kids maintain friendships at a distance while prioritizing online safety.

While there are online apps that can be used to bring us together, there are others that parents should be wary of. YOLO is a Snapchat Add On that came out around this time last year. It allows teens to add a sticker to their Snapchat Story that asks followers to give them feedback or question them anonymously. The major problem with anonymous apps is that they are “notorious hubs for cyberbullying,” according to Common Sense Media.

Parents can combat the installation of apps like this by enabling protections through apps like Google’s Family Link (for android phones and tablets) or Apple’s Screen Time (for iOS phones and iPads.) Parents can set up time limits, content filters, and increased protections for student account and device use while at home to keep kids safe and help them to navigate the complicated world of the Internet in a guided manner.

Finally, you may choose to seek out connections with friends and relatives at a distance by scheduling weekly zoom chats, or even hosting a family game night online. I am in the process of planning my daughter’s 7th birthday party and my sister-in-law’s baby shower over live video chat, and while I would rather be able to do those things in person, I am thankful for the ability to bring people together in some way, however small that may be.

Filed Under: District Featured Slides

Middle School

1365 South Grade Road SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2854
Fax: 320-587-2857
Staff Contact Information

Park Elementary

100 Glen Street SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2837
Fax: 320-587-4821
Staff Contact Information

District

30 Glen Street NW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2860
Fax: 320-587-4590
Staff Contact Information

High School

1200 Roberts Road
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-2151
Fax: 320-587-8217
Staff Contact Information

West Elementary

875 School Road SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
320-587-4470
Fax: 320-587-0735
Staff Contact Information

Tiger Elementary

805 School Road SW
Hutchinson, MN 55350
Phone: 320-587-1122
Fax: 855-574-0782

Staff Contact Information

© 2023 Hutchinson School District | Privacy Statement | Sitemap | Log in