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Morgan Elementary School News
May 22 a professional development day for staff
May 16, 2013While students may be out a day early for summer break, most staff will be preparing for the 2013-14 school year. One of the topics for professional development will be the district’s new student management system.
The district is converting its student management system to Skyward from PowerSchool. The district has used Skyward's financial package for several years, adopted the company's mass notification system this spring and now is making the conversion to the student management system.
Parents will receive new usernames and passwords for Skyward in late July, giving families the option of online enrollment prior to the 2013-14 school year.
The final day for 2013 seniors is today. The final day for pre-kindergarten through juniors is Tuesday, May 21.
Summer meals begin June 3
May 16, 2013Hutchinson Public Schools continues a program that provides summertime meals to children and youth in 2013.
The meals are free for anyone age 18 and under. No reservations are needed for the meals.
The 2013 summer feeding program will be weekdays June 3 through July 26 at Lincoln Elementary School, 315 East Bigger, at McCandless Elementary School, 700 North Baker and at Boys & Girls Club, 600 West 2nd.
Meals at Lincoln will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each weekday. Meals at Boys and Girls Club and at McCandless will be from 11 a.m. to noon each weekday.
Lincoln also will offer breakfast from 7:30 to 8 a.m. each weekday.
There will be no lunch on July 4, a district holiday.
Additionally, meals will be served at Avenue A Elementary School, 111 South Madison, weekdays from July 8 through July 25. Serving time will be from 7:30 to 8 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. to noon for lunch.
While meals for youth 18 and under are free, adult lunches cost $3.25.
The meals are similar to those provided during the school year, providing an entree as well as plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Menus will be available on the district's website at http://www.usd308.com/page.php?id=396 as well as tweeted the evening before at twitter.com/usd308.
The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Cooprider named director of elementary education for 2013-14
May 15, 2013A longtime USD 308 educator will be the new director of elementary education.
Cindy Cooprider, who joined the district in August 1990, was named by Superintendent Dr. Shelly Kiblinger as director of elementary education for 2013-14. Cooprider has been principal at Wiley since 2003.The promotion is the result of other promotions within and outside the district.
Current Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jeanne Stroh will become the superintendent at Ottawa, Kan., schools on July 1. Dr. Stroh had also served as director of elementary education and had taken the assistant superintendent's post for 2012-13 to get a more varied experience.
Donna Davis, longtime assistant superintendent, stepped back for a year to be director of secondary learning, to give Dr. Stroh experience as an assistant superintendent in a Class 6A district.
Davis will resume her duties as assistant superintendent on July 1.
"Donna Davis will resume her title of assistant superintendent and the accompanying duties, as was the plan when she and Jeanne made the title/duty change a year ago," Dr. Kiblinger said. "Cindy Cooprider will be stepping into the position of director of elementary education. Mrs. Cooprider shared this with her staff this morning, and we will be making announcements soon regarding the process the staff will go through to provide input to me as a new principal for Wiley is selected."
Cooprider received her initial district leadership license in 2012.
May 21 is final day of classes
May 9, 2013For most USD 308 students, the final day of classes for 2013 will be May 21.
The Board voted April 8 to move up the final day of classes for students in pre-kindergarten through 11th grade a day to May 21. The final day remains the same for HHS seniors for whom May 16 is the final day.
May 22 will be used by staff for training for a new student database and gradebook. The system will replace PowerSchool, a system the district has used for more than a decade.
Mass Bands slated for May 16
May 9, 2013In terms of sheer numbers, the biggest musical event of the school year sounds off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at the Salthawk Activity Center.
The 26th annual Mass Bands Concert features about 600 USD 308 students in grades six through 12. There will be performances by elementary bands, a combined middle school band, the high school band and both middle and high school jazz bands before the actual mass bands performance, which brings together all the students.
As with the previous Mass Bands Concert, all students come together for the song, "A Mighty Fortress."
The district has been doing the Mass Bands Concert since 1988. The event is a chance for students to play with what may be the largest group they ever will in their lives. It also gives parents a chance to hear what their children are doing as well as what others are doing in the district. For younger students, the concert provides an opportunity to see what is in store for them in the future in band.
TV 20 to go off the air temporarily
May 7, 2013Work in an area where equipment for the district's cable access channel is located will force the station off the air this spring and early summer.
Asbestos abatement in the Technology Support Center will require TV 20 equipment to be idled temporarily. The TSC is located in the Korea-era former Naval Reserve Building at Hutchinson High School.
As a result, the district's public access channel on Cox Cable will go off temporarily from later this month until early July. The district uses Cox Cable Channel 20 in Hutchinson as its public access channel.
Much of the information that normally would be on Cox will be available either on the district's Facebook page -- www.facebook.com/usd308 -- or on its Twitter account -- www.twitter.com/usd308. School menus for the following day, for example, are posted on the Twitter feed each evening between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m. Information also is available on the district's website -- www.usd308.com.
Dennis named Classified Employee of the Year
May 1, 2013Even though Gail Dennis is starting her fourth electronic student management system and she has worked with nearly a dozen counselors in 16 years, her mission never changes.
"I am security to the kids, a warm face," Dennis said recently. Dennis was named USD 308 Classified Employee of the Year for 2012-13.Dennis began as the counseling secretary at Hutchinson High School in 1997 after having worked in the oil field business. When she saw the job opening at HHS, it was attractive to her. In her former job, she felt she was missing something. A mother with four sons, she had worked with young people through youth groups and 4-H. It was something she enjoyed.
"I like the fact the students are creative, but they are human," she said. "They are learning and have a high thirst for knowledge. Not all that knowledge, though, comes from a book."
As students enter high school, they come from an environment in which most decisions are made for them. With the independence of high school comes new lessons -- some easy, others not so easy. Dennis sees her students learning manners, respect for others and other critical life skills.
"I love to see the maturity," she said. "I get to see kiddoes come in here as freshmen. You see them change and mature and at a point you just go 'wow' at all the growing they've done."
She also loves seeing her students in the community. Often students will seek her out when they see her in stores, just to say "hello."
Her 16-plus years on the job have taught her to read her students, though.
"I am the one who they see first," she said. "Many times, I'll have a student walk up, tears streaming down his face. I’ll take them into a room -- I am that warm person to them."
While the students are a constant, the technology has changed. When she first started, everything was done on paper. When a student wanted to change a class, it required both a "drop" card to be filled out and an "add" card to be completed.
Computers have replaced the card system. Additionally, much of enrollment is done online now. Dennis and other staff are in the midst of changing to Skyward from PowerSchool.
But the human factor always will be important.
Education is a key element of Dennis' family. Her husband, Danny Dennis, is director of maintenance for USD 309 Nickerson/South Hutchinson. Her brother-in-law, David Dennis, recently retired as a member of the Kansas State Board of Education.
Dennis was one of 13 nominees for the district Classified Employee of the Year. Other nominees were Darryl Ammons, Tina Angel, Lynn Booth, Jamie Brown, Susan Chaney, Lisha Collins, Mary Ann Kelley, Jamie Light, Cathy Nolan, Candy Reeves, Tamara Stanley and Robin Traffas.
Three finalists were interviewed -- Dennis, Brown and Reeves -- with Dennis being named the Classified Employee of the Year.
Pre-K open houses set for May 3
Apr 23, 2013Families interested in the pre-kindergarten program in Hutchinson Public Schools are invited to open houses and pre-enrollment for the 2013-14 school year.
The event will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, May 3, 2013, at the three schools in USD 308 that host pre-kindergarten. Those schools and addresses are:
- Lincoln Elementary School, 315 East Bigger
- Avenue A Elementary School, 111 South Madison
- Graber Elementary School, 1600 North Cleveland
The program is for children who will be 4 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2013. To qualify for the program, a child must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Qualify for free lunch program
- Single parent family
- Teen parent -- one or both parents were teens when the child was born
- Either parents lacks a high school diploma or GED
- Limited English Proficient-documented
- Lower than expected developmental progress but does not qualify for an Individualized Education Plan.
- Migrant status
Parents need to bring the following documents to pre-enroll:
- State-issued birth certificate
- Physical completed within the last six months
- Current immunization records
Kansas Kids Fitness Day April 25
Apr 18, 2013An event that will draw hundreds of third graders to Don Michael Field will return for its 15th running Thursday, April 25, 2013.
The Kansas Kids Fitness Day is a statewide event, sponsored by the Kansas Council on Fitness, to increase awareness of physical activity and safety for third graders across Kansas.
In Hutchinson, the 15th Annual Kansas Kids Fitness Day will be from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 25, at Don Michael Field, 17th and Severance in Hutchinson.
Hosted locally by USD 308, the event is expected to draw more than 700 students from schools across Reno County. Statewide, the event draws 18,000 students each year at more than three dozen sites in Kansas.
A project of USD 308 elementary school physical education teachers, more than 100 volunteers will be working on the project, including Junior and Senior Leaders from Hutchinson High School under the direction of Cindy Knox, physical education teacher at HHS. The volunteers will staff activity and safety stations during the afternoon.
Others involved in the project include the elementary and high school physical education staff, local firefighters, police officers, Red Cross, Hutchinson Recreation Commission, YMCA and USD 308 Nutrition Services.
Schools hold kindergarten information events
Apr 4, 2013USD 308 elementary schools will hold preview events this month for students who will be kindergartners in August 2013.
To qualify for kindergarten this fall, a student must be 5 on or before Aug. 31, 2013.
Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen will hold its preview event from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the school, 403 West 10th.
Morgan Elementary School, 100 West 27th, will hold its Connect to Kindergarten event at 5:30 p.m. April 15 in the school's Media Center.
Parents who will have kindergartners in other USD 308 schools can get more information about classes by contacting their schools individually.
This year's kindergartners will be the high school graduating class of 2026.
Schools to observe Spring Break
Mar 21, 2013Hutchinson Public Schools will observe Spring Break with the final bell on Friday, March 22.
Classes will be out of session March 25 through 29 and again on April 1. Classes will resume on April 2.
The USD 308 Administration Center will be closed March 25 to 29.
District to host Camp Invention in June
Mar 14, 2013For the second consecutive year, Camp Invention will be hosted in USD 308.
Camp Invention is a week-long science-technology-engineering-mathematics camp experience. The camp will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. June 10 to 14 in the district. In 2013, the camp will include a new program -- Geo-Quest. Geo-Quest features Cache Dash in which campers join in an international expedition, navigating around treasure-filled caches containing global challenges presented by youth around the world.
The program is designed for students entering grades one through six this fall.
The program costs $190 if registered online by March 28. Online registration can be done at www.campinvention.org. Telephone registration prior to March 28 costs $195 and may be done by calling 1-800-968-4332. After March 28, the cost goes up to $220.
For more information about the Hutchinson program, contact Nate Kluesner at kluesnern@usd308.com.
District symphony concert slated for March 19
Mar 14, 2013USD 308 will host the largest symphony concert of the year in Hutchinson next week.
The annual String Fling will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, at Memorial Hall, 101 South Walnut. The event will feature all the district's orchestra students from sixth grade through high school. Admission is free.
About 200 musicians will be involved in the event.
The concert provides all the district's stringed musicians a chance to perform together. Younger students have the opportunity to see what is in store for them as they advance in orchestra.
Law enforcement to step up near schools
Mar 7, 2013Beginning Monday, local, county and state law enforcement will be paying particular attention to areas around schools.
As part of an annual effort, law enforcement will be focusing on drivers and passengers properly using seat belt and other legally required restraints in vehicles in Hutchinson and Reno County.
According to Kansas Highway Patrol statistics, Kansas lost 43 teens in crashes, 74 percent of those teens were not properly restrained in 2012.
Beginning March 11 and running through March 22, all law enforcement -- including Hutchinson Police, Reno County Sheriff and the Kansas Highway Patrol -- will focus traffic enforcement efforts at all Reno County schools.
Vaccination clinics set
Mar 7, 2013The Reno County Health Department will conduct a series of vaccination clinics in USD 308 elementary schools to help families prepare for the 2013-14 school year.
Students -- particularly those entering kindergarten and again in seventh grade -- have several required vaccinations. District policy is to require the vaccinations prior to a student attending classes in the fall.
Forms are being sent home with pre-kindergarten and sixth grade students at elementary schools prior to the individual clinics. Families who complete, sign the forms and return them to the schools do not have to be present during the vaccination clinics.
A listing of the clinics follows.
- Graber: March 8, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- McCandless: March 11, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- Lincoln: April 16: 3 to 4:30 p.m.
- Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen: April 18: 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- Faris: April 23, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- Avenue A: April 24, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- Wiley: May 3, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- Morgan: May 9, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
BOE meeting moved to 2-28-13
Feb 25, 2013Because of the winter storm, the Hutchinson Public Schools Board of Education regular meeting originally scheduled for this evening (Feb. 25, 2013) has been postponed.
The meeting now will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, at the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum.
March is Youth Arts Month
Feb 21, 2013March starts a few days early in USD 308.
Hutchinson Public Schools celebrates March as Youth Arts Month. At the Board of Education meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, at the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum, district art teachers and young artists will make a presentation to the Board.
Youth Arts Month is an annual observance in the district and nationwide each March to emphasize the value of art education for all children and to encourage support for quality school art programs.
Youth Arts Month provides a forum for acknowledging skills that are fostered through experience in the visual arts that are not possible in other subjects offered in the curriculum.
In recognition of March being Youth Arts Month, schools in Hutchinson are planning a variety of activities to spotlight student artists. Those activities include:
- February 25 at 7:00 p.m.: Presentation to the Board of Education by Hutchinson elementary art students and teachers.
- Month of March 2013: District wide art show representing elementary art in the Hutchinson Public Schools at the Administration Center. Additionally, there will be school-wide shows in all eight elementary schools.
- Through March 13: All sixth graders in the eight Hutchinson Public Schools were invited to show their best work of art in an online show. This is the ninth year for the virtual gallery. The show is online at: http://www.usd308art.com/
- March 2: Art will be selected from the elementary schools to be part of an annual Youth Art Month Exhibit at the State Capitol Building in Topeka. This exhibit features artwork from students throughout the state. As part of the celebration student artists, families, and friends are invited to a reception at 2 p.m. March 2 at the Capitol Building. Student artists from Hutchinson include:
- Avenue A School: Juliana Rangel, 1st grade
- Faris School: Kyler Edington, 5th grade
- Graber School: Thomas Barnett, 2nd grade
- HMS at Allen: Jordan Edmonds, 5th grade
- Lincoln School: Trinity Torrez, 3rd grade
- McCandless School: Audrey Craig, 5th grade
- Morgan School: Rebecca Lewton, 2nd grade
- Wiley School: Corbin Klick, 4th grade
- March 7 to 9: Area art students work shown at the National Art Education Association Conference in Fort Worth.
- Avenue A School: To be announced
- Faris School: Giselle Graciano, 5th grade
- Graber School: Connor Chick, 2nd grade
- Morgan School: Chloe Gresham, 3rd grade
HMS-7 holds sixth grade family night
Jan 31, 2013In just about six months, the Hutchinson High School Class of 2019 will begin its journey together as seventh graders.
To prepare for the journey, a parent meeting for this year's sixth graders is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, in the Hutchinson Middle School -- 7 gymnasium, 210 East A.
During the evening, families will have a chance to meet school administrators, the counselor and activities coordinator; learn about HMS-7 course offerings; learn about the enrollment process; have a chance to ask questions; and get time to walk through the building.
District begins 2013-14 budget process
Jan 30, 2013For the second consecutive year, Hutchinson Public Schools is seeking additional public input as it drafts a budget for the coming school year.
As a result, patrons will have the opportunity to provide suggestions for the budget both in person and electronically this winter and spring.
For the past several years, the district has gotten input on budget matters from a group of local business leaders. Those leaders will help the district with an expanded committee of local residents, staff, parents and students.
In 2012, the district embarked on a new process to gain additional input from the community.
Beginning with a meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4, the group will learn how the district budget is comprised and how the budgeting process will work. Participants also will learn what areas have faced cuts in years past and will revisit program cuts that were discussed but not made in the past few years.
Time will also be spent discussing how budget decisions support or hinder attainment of the district's strategic plan goals.
The meeting will be in the Professional Learning Center at Hutchinson High School. The PLC is a portion of the school's former auditorium at 1401 North Severance.
"We worked last year to develop this process to give our staff and community more input into the school's budget," said Dr. Shelly Kiblinger, USD 308 superintendent. "We will be making a few refinements to the process this year; we've used feedback from last year's participants to provide opportunity for even greater input and discussion. We have designed new activities to help the participants process and understand budget issues better. Hopefully, those who participate come away with a greater understanding of school finance and feel they had a real voice in the decision-making process."
There will be additional meetings for the group from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18, March 4 and April 15. All the meetings will be in the Professional Learning Center at Hutchinson High School.
The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussion and watch the process.
Additionally, the district will take electronic feedback from the public. A budget comment line has been set up on (620) 615-4014. Patrons may leave comments on the line but are asked to leave a name and telephone number so that district staff may be able to call back and get additional feedback.
Feedback also may be provided by emailing the district at comment@usd308.com. A Budget Suggestion page is available on the district's homepage at www.usd308.com.
Kansas K-12 school budgets go from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year. Because the way the district receives information from other entities that impact the budget, however, the final budget is normally not available to the Board until late July and is formalized in August.
Sixth grade honor choir concert set
Jan 10, 2013About 90 sixth grade vocal music students from all eight Hutchinson elementary schools will perform in a district-wide honor choir concert at 5:30 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2013, in the Hutchinson High School Performing Arts Center, 810 East 13th.
Music teachers from each of the district's elementary schools have selected sixth graders for the choir. Sixth graders have been preparing the music for the past several weeks.
The musicians will perform four selections: "The Battle of Jericho," "Cantate Domino," "Sing a New Song," "Korobushka" and "The Dream Keeper."
Additionally, the Xpressives from Hutchinson High School and the Hutchinson Middle School Adam Street Singers also will perform. Those two groups will join with the sixth grade honor choir to do a combined number at the end of the concert.
Concert to benefit New Beginnings
Nov 15, 2012Current and former musicians from Hutchinson High School are teaming up for an evening of music to benefit a local charity.
The Salthawk Revue Benefit Concert for New Beginnings will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Hutchinson High School Performing Arts Center, 810 East 13th. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Additional donations for New Beginnings are welcomed as well.
Musicians for the event range in age from 16 to 70.
Musical genres include acoustical classic rock with strings and vocals, jazz and blues favorites and a grand combination finale showcasing the creativity and musical talents of all. Produced by students from the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy and Josh Davies, the event is hosted by the HHS Theater Department.
All proceeds benefit New Beginnings, and help to advance their mission to shelter and rebuild human lives while fostering the development of affordable housing.
District to host Body Venture
Oct 4, 2012Students from three USD 308 schools will have the opportunity to learn about the human body in an interactive way next week.
Body Venture is a traveling exhibit about learning healthy lifestyles. Developed by Child Nutrition and Wellness Division within the Kansas State Department of Education, the exhibit is an 11-stop tour. Students move through the major parts of the body, including the brain, mouth, stomach, small intestine, heart, lungs, bones, muscles and skin.
On Tuesday, Oct. 9, kindergarten through fifth grade students from Faris Elementary School and Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen will tour the Body Venture exhibit in the Hutchinson High School North Gym.
Then on Wednesday, Oct. 10, the exhibit moves to Morgan Elementary School where kindergarten through fifth grade students will participate in the tour.
Body Venture is part of KSDE's ongoing "Eat Smart Play Hard" campaign.
First round of parent-teacher conferences slated
Sep 27, 2012The school year is a sixth complete.
As a result, parents and students will have a first round of parent-teacher conferences in the district next week. At the elementary level, appointments already have been set up for conferences that occur after school during the week and on Thursday, Oct. 4.
Both Hutchinson Middle School and Hutchinson High School conferences area arena-style, allowing parents and students to come and go as desired.
On both campuses of HMS, conferences will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4.
At Hutchinson High School, conferences will be from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Salthawk Activity Center.
There is no school for students on either Oct. 4 or Oct. 5.
Cheer clinic slated
Sep 6, 2012The Hutchinson High School cheer squad will conduct its annual Kiddie Cheerleader Clinic, beginning at 4 p.m. Oct. 5. The clinic begins at the Salthawk Activity Center and then moves to Gowans Stadium where the young cheerleaders will do cheers during the first quarter of the HHS-Derby varsity football game.
The clinic, which costs $20 per youth, is for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Participants are asked to wear tennis shoes, comfortable shorts/pants and a t-shirt. The registration fee includes a snack and shirt.
Enrollment forms are available at USD 308 elementary schools.
Convocation opens year for staff
Aug 8, 2012The more than 800 Hutchinson Public Schools staff members formally began the 2012-13 school year with the annual opening convocation Wednesday (Aug. 8, 2012) at the Salthawk Activity Center on the Hutchinson High School campus.
Superintendent Shelly Kiblinger gave a State of the District presentation during the two-hour convocation. Donna Whiteman, Kansas Association of School Boards assistant executive director, was the keynote speaker.
Several educators were honored during the event. The Davis Foundation made its annual Teachers of the Year Awards. The elementary winners were Courtney Bleything, fifth grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, and Martin Vieyra, first grade teacher at Wiley Elementary School.
The middle school winner was Jo Davis, special education teacher at Hutchinson Middle School -- 8.
The high school winners were Sheila Meggers and Brenda Stegman. Both educators teach math at Hutchinson High School.
Each winner receives $4,000. The Davis Foundation has contributed millions of dollars to Hutchinson Public Schools' staff and students since its first scholarships were awarded to HHS seniors 55 years ago. This is the 31st time the awards have been made to teachers.
Also recognized during the event were the USD 308 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees -- Dori Schneider, instructional coach at Morgan Elementary School, and Laura Bottom, medical sciences teacher at HHS.
Recognized during the convocation as the Classified Employee of the Year for 2011-12 was Brian Brillhart, TACS educational aide at HMS-8.
Staff will have in-service training and room preparation for the 2012-13 school year through Aug. 14. Students in grades one through nine return on Aug. 15. High school sophomores through seniors begin the year on Aug. 16. Boys in kindergarten and the 4-year-old program begin on Aug. 20 with girls in kindergarten and the 4-year-old program begin on Aug. 21.
Open houses set
Aug 6, 2012Students who attend elementary school in USD 308 will have the opportunity to see their buildings and meet their teachers prior to the first day of classes.
All elementary schools will have open houses on Aug. 14, the afternoon and evening before the first day of classes. A schedule of elementary open houses is below.
In addition to seeing the schools, open houses give parents a chance to ask staff questions, turn in health and other necessary final paperwork and see what parent organizations are available.
The first day of classes for students in first through ninth grades will be Aug. 15. The first day for sophomores through seniors at HHS will be Aug. 16. Kindergarteners and 4-year-olds’ first day will be Aug. 20 for boys and Aug. 21 for girls.
Families who have not enrolled for the 2012-13 school year are asked to go to their school and enroll in person.
Avenue A: 111 S. Madison, August 14, 5 to 6 p.m.
Faris: 301 E. 10th, August 14, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Graber: 1600 N. Cleveland, August 14, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
HMS at Allen: 403 W. 10th, August 14, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Lincoln: 315 E. Bigger, August 14, 4 to 5:30 p.m.
McCandless: 700 N. Baker, August 14, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Morgan: 100 W. 27th, August 14, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Wiley: 900 W. 21st, August 14, 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Mass Bands set for May 17
May 10, 2012In terms of sheer numbers, the biggest musical event of the school year sounds off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17, at the Salthawk Activity Center.
The 25th annual Mass Bands Concert features about 600 USD 308 students in grades six through 12. There will be performances by elementary bands, a combined middle school band, the high school band and both middle and high school jazz bands before the actual mass bands performance, which brings together all the students.
As with the previous Mass Bands Concert, all students come together for the song, "A Mighty Fortress."
The district has been doing the Mass Bands Concert since 1988. The event is a chance for students to play with what may be the largest group they ever will in their lives. It also gives parents a chance to hear what their children are doing as well as what others are doing in the district. For younger students, the concert provides an opportunity to see what is in store for them in the future in band.
McCandless wins BOB
May 8, 2012A team from McCandless Elementary School won a third consecutive Battle of the Books title for the school, edging out Morgan Elementary School in competition on Tuesday afternoon (May 8, 2012) at Avenue A Elementary School.
The team of Fransisco Lewis, Stormy Roloff, Novalie Rodriguez and Erick Maldonado defeated a team from Morgan 42-29 for the title.
For the past eight months, teams of students from USD 308’s elementary schools have been reading books from a list of two dozen. From that reading list, questions were developed and teams of four students answered questions Thursday.
McCandless won the title in both 2010 and 2011.
Fourth annual career day slated
May 3, 2012The fourth annual Sixth Grade Career Exploration Day is set for 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2012, in the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, 800 15th Circle.
Businesses and organizations that offer training programs will help every sixth grader experience careers through interactive, informational exhibits. Numerous Kansas Career Clusters will be represented. During the day, groups of students will rotate through 16, 15-minute career exploration stops.
In all, more than 360 sixth graders from every USD 308 sixth grade class will participate. Also participating are 30 HCTEA Ambassadors, Business Professionals of America and DECA members, who will serve as tour guides.
Participating sixth grade teachers and their students also have been provided with pre-day classroom, career enhancing activities.
- Career stops include:
- Law Enforcement
- Emergency Medical Services
- Computer & Industrial Technology
- Culinary Arts
- Broadcasting
- Health Science
- Welding
- Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) Plasma Cutter
- Machine Technology
- Entrepreneurship
- True Colors
- Collision Repair
- Commercial Construction
- Journalism
- Automotive Technology
BOB competition encourages reading
May 3, 2012For the past eight months, teams of students from USD 308's elementary schools have been reading books from a list of two dozen.
Their goal? To win the Battle of the Books.
The annual Battle of the Books begins at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at Avenue A Elementary School, 111 South Madison.
Two teams of four to six members answer questions about the two dozen books with the team scoring the most points advancing to the next round of competition.
District honors retirees May 6
Apr 26, 2012The 2012 Retirement Reception for Hutchinson Public Schools will be the first Sunday in May. The come-and-go reception will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 6, in the Events Center at the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, 800 15th Circle. There will be a brief formal program at 1:45 p.m.
Staff members who are expected to participate are Chuck Ebmeier, automotive mechanics teacher at Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy; Al Kolarik, business teacher at HCTEA; Donna Thiessen, kindergarten teacher at Faris Elementary School; Rick Walker, music teacher at Faris and Lincoln elementary schools; Kris Anderson, reading support teacher at Graber Elementary School; Rochelle Berkley Calhoun, vocal music teacher at Hutchinson Middle School; Terrie Kale, communications teacher at Hutchinson Middle School -- 7; Tony Santangelo, social studies teacher at Hutchinson Middle School -- 8; Judy Snyder, counselor at HMS-7; Cynthia Shultz, kindergarten teacher at McCandless Elementary School; Sandra Graves, paraprofessional at Faris; Lynda McCue, fourth grade teacher at Morgan Elementary School; and Patty Compton, custodian at Hutchinson High School.
Kansas Kids' Fitness Day set
Apr 19, 2012An event that will draw hundreds of third graders to Don Michael Field will return for its 14th running Thursday, April 26, 2012.
The Kansas Kids' Fitness Day is a statewide event, sponsored by the Kansas Council on Fitness, to increase awareness of physical activity and safety for third graders across Kansas.
In Hutchinson, the 14th Annual Kansas Kids' Fitness Day will be from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 26, at Don Michael Field, 17th and Severance in Hutchinson.
Hosted locally by USD 308, the event is expected to draw more than 700 students from schools across Reno County plus students from McPherson County. Statewide, the event draws 18,000 students each year at more than three dozen sites in Kansas.
A project of USD 308 elementary school physical education teachers, more than 100 volunteers will be working on the project, including Junior and Senior Leaders from Hutchinson High School under the direction of Cindy Knox, physical education teacher at HHS. The volunteers will staff activity and safety stations during the afternoon.
Others involved in the project include the elementary and high school physical education staff, local firefighters, police officers, Red Cross, Hutchinson Recreation Commission, YMCA and USD 308 Nutrition Services.
Morgan science fair slated
Apr 19, 2012Fifth and sixth grade students at Morgan Elementary School will have their Science Fair from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 1 at Morgan, 100 West 27th.
There will be about 160 students involved in a wide variety of projects. Some topics are perfect atmosphere for growing crystals, what glue is the strongest, what vegetables/fruits produce electricity, whether smiling contagious and if fingerprints are inherited.
Students were allowed to pick their topic using an online science fair resource as long as parents and the two science teachers approved it. Students have been working on projects since March 1. Most of the project has been done at home with one day every week dedicated to Science Fair at school.
Morgan character education programming recognized
Apr 12, 2012Character education programming at Morgan Elementary School, 100 West 27th, is being recognized by the Kansas State Department of Education.
At a 1 p.m. ceremony May 3 at the Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka for a Promising Practice in Character Education.
The Kansas Schools of Character Award recipients are schools or school districts that have demonstrated education principles. Those principles include a caring community, engaging families and community members, fostering self-motivation and implementing meaningful and challenging academic curriculum.
Morgan has two specific programs -- Character in Action Videos and the Morgan Family and Friends Program.
Barbara Phillips, counselor at Morgan, wrote in her application about the video programming for the award that "student-generated Character-in-Action videos show students responding to situations with inappropriate behaviors then with 'character in action' behavior."
The Morgan Family and Friends Program puts 10 randomly selected students from grades K-6 with a staff member to interact and build healthy relationships. The program involves all the building's staff, and the groups meet several times a year.
Reception slated for sixth grade artists
Mar 27, 2012The final event of Youth Art Month occurs in April.
Hutchinson Public Schools celebrated March as Youth Arts Month with several activities. The final activity of the month, however, is the annual reception for sixth grade artists and their teachers from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at the Hutchinson Art Center, 405 North Washington.
Sixth grade artworks remain on display at the Hutchinson Art Center through April 5, when the show closes.
Final community budget session slated
Mar 22, 2012The public is invited to the fourth and final community budget meeting for the 2012-13 budget.
The meeting will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 2 in the Professional Learning Center at Hutchinson High School, 1401 North Severance. The Professional Learning Center is in the old auditorium at HHS.
During the evening, the group will work on recommendations that will be forwarded to district administrators who will include the work as a budget is crafted to be presented to the Board later this summer.
The community budget group includes community members, parents, students and district staff. The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussion and watch the process.
During the first three sessions, the group learned about school budgets in general and the USD 308 budget specifically. Participants looked at four budget scenarios for 2012-13, ranging from the district receiving additional money to another year of cuts. Based on the scenarios, the groups are making recommendations for elementary, middle and high school programs as well as for support services in the district.
As part of the new budget process, the district will take electronic feedback from the public. A budget comment line has been set up on (620) 615-4014. Patrons may leave comments on the line but are asked to leave a name and telephone number so that district staff may be able to call back and get additional information as needed.
Feedback also may be provided by emailing the district at comment@usd308.com. A "budget suggestion box" also available on the district's homepage at www.usd308.com.
Kansas K-12 school budgets go from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year. Because the way the district receives information from other entities that impact the budget, however, the final budget is normally not available to the Board until late July and is formalized in August.
District sets kindergarten and 4-year-old pre-enrollment
Mar 21, 2012Hutchinson Public Schools will have its pre-registration for kindergarten and the 4-year-old at-risk program from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 3 at the Salthawk Activity Center.
This program replaces the traditional kindergarten roundups in the district.
Parents are asked to bring their child's record of immunizations, physical and birth certificate to the event.
Families need to bring proof of residence for the child's legal guardian. Legal proof includes a recent utility bill or payroll stub showing an address.
Staff from the elementary schools will be on hand during the come-and-go event to answer questions and to get pre-enrollment information. Families who participate in the pre-enrollment will receive enrollment information for their child in July.
All children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2012, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten in Hutchinson Public Schools for the 2012-13 school year.
Enrollees in the 4-year-old program must be 4 on or before Aug. 31, 2012.
Students are enrolled for kindergarten in their neighborhood school. The 4-year-old at-risk program, meanwhile, is offered at select schools in the district.
District sets spring online auction
Mar 15, 2012Hutchinson Public Schools is in the process of selling items no longer needed by the district and declared surplus by the district’s Board of Education.
The district uses the online auction service, Purple Wave, for its auctions. Items range from old student chairs to commercial kitchen items to electronics to vocational items to the former Building Trades Program modular classroom.
Bidding closes at 10 a.m. April 10.
Links for the four locations in Hutchinson with items are
http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?120410/location/7697
http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?120410/location/7698
http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?120410/location/7699
http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/mnlist.cgi?120410/location/7700
Details about inspections, terms and conditions are available at
http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/pwdetails.cgi?120410
Annual orchestra concert slated
Mar 15, 2012USD 308 will host the largest symphony concert of the year in Hutchinson next week.
The annual String Fling will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at Memorial Hall, 101 South Walnut. The event will feature all the district's orchestra students from sixth grade through high school. Admission is free.
About 200 musicians will be involved in the event.
The concert provides all the district's stringed musicians a chance to perform together. Younger students have the opportunity to see what is in store for them as they advance in orchestra.
Hutchinson IHOP partners with USD 308 for fundraiser
Feb 29, 2012From March 1 through May 30, the Hutchinson IHOP restaurant will donate a portion of receipts to the Hutchinson Public Schools Endowment Fund.
The Hutchinson IHOP will donate 10 percent of the receipts for meals for families, individuals and groups who collect the receipts for meals they've eaten in the local restaurant and then give the receipts to USD 308.
"The district will be using the funds to benefit all USD 308 students from pre-K through high school," said Dr. Shelly Kiblinger, district superintendent. "Our plans are to use the money to jump start our Endowment Fund while providing money for district library books, visual arts, performing arts and other programs."
Staff, patrons, students and their families who want to help the Endowment Fund should collect their receipts every time they eat at the Hutchinson IHOP, 1807 East 17th, which is just northeast of the Hutchinson Mall.
Receipts may be taken to any district school office, brought to the district office at 1520 North Plum or mailed to the district at Hutchinson IHOP Fundraiser, c/o Hutchinson Public Schools, P.O. Box 1908, Hutchinson, KS, 67504-1908.
"We're honored that Hutchinson IHOP Manager Ali Issa would partner with us in this project," Dr. Kiblinger said. "We're always open to new business partnerships in our community.
"This is a very simple way to raise funds for the district -- you just have to eat at the Hutchinson IHOP between now and May 30 and then provide your school with the receipt."
District celebrates Youth Arts Month
Feb 23, 2012Hutchinson Public Schools is celebrating March as Youth Arts Month with several activities, kicking off at the USD 308 Board of Education meeting Monday, Feb. 27.
At Monday's Board meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. in the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum, elementary art teachers will bring students to make presentations to the Board.
The goal of Youth Arts Month is to make people aware of what is being done in the area of arts education and encourage their support and involvement. Art teachers daily ask their students to engage in learning activities that require use of higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis and evaluation.
Also on Monday, the annual online art show opens. All sixth graders in the district's eight elementary schools were invited to show their best work of art in an online show. This is the eighth year for the virtual gallery. The show is online at: http://www.usd308art.com/.
The public is invited to go online and vote for best of show. The top finalists will then be invited to display their art at the Hutchinson Art Center from March 20 to April 5. There will be a reception for the young artists and their families at 7 p.m. April 5 at the Art Center, 405 North Washington.
Additionally, throughout March there will be a district-wide art show at the Administration Center.
Hutchinson student art also will be part of the Youth Art Month Exhibit at the State Capitol Building in Topeka. This exhibit features artwork from students throughout the state. As part of the celebration student artists, families, and friends were invited to a reception at the Capitol Building on March 31.
For more information, email Sondra Horning, elementary art teacher, at hornings@usd308.com.
Camp Invention returns to USD 308
Feb 16, 2012A popular summer camp experience is returning to Hutchinson Public Schools.
After an absence of several years, Nate Kluesner, sixth grade teacher at Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen, will direct the camp in Hutchinson. The camp will be June 4 through 8 at the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, 800 15th Circle.
The program is open to any student who will be in kindergarten through sixth grade in 2012-13 school year. Additionally, seventh and eighth graders can volunteer to be junior counselors.
Camp Invention is a STEM -- Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics -- based camp that opens up student imaginations. Students will create many different inventions during the modular-style rotations of the camp. Each module will require students to problem solve to create items with a given purpose.
The camp will be taught by highly qualified certified USD 308 staff members. Those teachers include Tab Gray, Shelley Rodriguez, Jen Cochrane and Tina Beeghly.
Registration prior to March 20 costs $190 with the cost going to $215 on March 21. The cost for junior counselors will be $120.
The camp will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.
Nationally, the program is part of the nonprofit Invent Now, Inc. Invent Now was founded in 1973 as the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Over the past 38 years, the organization has expanded its mission and has encouraged more than 1.9 million students, teachers, parents and independent inventors to explore science and their own creativity.
For more information, contact Kluesner at kluesnern@usd308.com. Enrollment packets have been sent to USD 308 schools and are available online at www.campinvention.org.
Morgan presents program of spirituals
Feb 2, 2012Morgan Elementary School first and second grade students will present a musical program featuring spirituals at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, in the Hutchinson High School Performing Arts Center, 810 East 13th.
The program is being done in recognition of Black History Month.
Students have learned the history and significance of spirituals, why they are significant, what they really mean, what musical genres have evolved from spirituals and why the music continues to be sung.
During the evening, Valerie Brashears, an African-American instructor at Hutchinson Community College, will be a featured guest artist, singing with the students on the song "Wade in the Water." Ms. Brashears will perform the song as second grade provides backup.
Budget process revamped
Jan 16, 2012Hutchinson Public Schools is seeking additional public input as it drafts a budget for the 2012-13 school year.
As a result, patrons will have the opportunity to provide suggestions for the budget both in person and electronically this winter and spring.
For the past several years, the district has gotten input on budget matters from a group of local business leaders. Those leaders will help the district with an expanded committee of local residents, staff, parents and students.
Beginning with a meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 30, the group will learn how the district budget is comprised and how the budgeting process will work. Participants also will learn what areas have faced cuts in years past and will revisit program cuts that were discussed but not made last year.
Time will also be spent discussing how budget decisions support or hinder attainment of the district's strategic plan goals.
The meeting will be in the Professional Learning Center at Hutchinson High School. The PLC is a portion of the school's former auditorium at 1401 North Severance.
"Our goal is to make our budget process as transparent as possible and to provide a means for all stakeholders to have input in the process," Superintendent Shelly Kiblinger said.
There will be additional meetings for the group from 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 5, March 19 and April 2. All the meetings will be in the Professional Learning Center at Hutchinson High School.
The public is invited to attend and listen to the discussion and watch the process.
Additionally, the district will take electronic feedback from the public. A budget comment line has been set up on (620) 615-4014. Patrons may leave comments on the line but are asked to leave a name and telephone number so that district staff may be able to call back and get additional feedback.
Feedback also may be provided by emailing the district at comment@usd308.com. A "budget suggestion box" also available on the district's homepage at www.usd308.com.
Kansas K-12 school budgets go from July 1 of one year to June 30 of the next year. Because the way the district receives information from other entities that impact the budget, however, the final budget is normally not available to the Board until late July and is formalized in August.
New concert set for sixth graders
Jan 12, 2012About 90 sixth grade vocal music students from all eight Hutchinson elementary schools will perform in a district-wide honor choir concert at 5:30 p.m. Friday, January 20, in the Hutchinson High School Performing Arts Center, 810 East 13th.
Music teachers from each of the district's elementary schools have selected sixth graders for the choir. Sixth graders have been preparing the music for the past several weeks.
The musicians will perform four selections: "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho," "John Henry," "Alleluia Canon" and "There Will Be Peace."
The afternoon of the concert, Lori Scantlin, Hutchinson High School vocal music director, will rehearse with the students. Scantlin also will direct the performance that evening at HHS.
The concert will conclude by 6 p.m., allowing performers and audience to attend other Friday night activities.
Holiday hours set
Dec 8, 2011The Christmas-New Year’s Recess will be Dec. 22 through Jan. 2. School resumes on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
The district’s Administration Center will be closed Dec. 22 through Jan. 2, reopening on Jan. 3.
Elementary fundraiser runs through Dec. 12
Dec 1, 2011Elementary schools in Hutchinson USD 308 are sponsoring a buy-one/get-one-free card program again in 2011.
The Education Funding Group Card Program is a quick and easy campaign that involves the selling of the Preferred Dining Card. It is a restaurant/entertainment discount card that sells for $10 and entitles the holder to 15 buy-one-get-one free deals at the following businesses: IHOP, Sonic, Papa John’s, Cool Beans, Fazoli’s, Wilder’s Bakery & Bistro, Jumpin’ J’s, Burger King, Playa Azul, Taco John’s, Cherry Berry, Quizno’s Sub, KFC, Carlos O’Kelly’s and Daylight Donuts.
The program kicked off Thursday (Dec. 1, 2011) and runs through Dec. 12. Proceeds from the campaign will benefit participating schools.
Board slates listening opportunity
Nov 15, 2011The public is invited to provide input to the USD 308 Board of Education at a listening event at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 28, 2011, at the district’s Administration Center, 1520 North Plum.
The listening event, known as a “linkage,” provides the public a formal opportunity to meet with Board members and provide input on district matters. The linkage is an extension of the opportunities provided at the semimonthly Board meetings.
During the event, the Board will have a series of questions about district programs and activities to gain input from the public. The Board is especially interested in hearing patrons’ views on the Hutchinson Recreation Commission’s tax base.
In the past, these more formal opportunities for discussion have included meetings with high school and middle school students, with staff members and with members of the public who served on the Blue and Red Ribbon Committees for the 2006 bond issue.
Morgan slates veterans program
Oct 27, 2011Morgan Elementary School, 100 West 27th, once again will honor the nation’s veterans with its Veterans Day Program.
The program will be at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, at the school. USD 308 will not have school for students on Veterans Day because of an in-service training.
Morgan’s second graders with a little help from fourth graders will host the musical program. The program is open to friends, relatives and veterans of second graders.
After the program, visitors are invited to be the school’s guests at a cookies-and-punch reception.
This year, all Morgan students and staff are donating money to send at least one veteran on an Honor Flight. A representative from the Central Kansas Honor Flight group will be on hand to accept the donation at the program.
For more information, contact Denise Hewitt, Morgan vocal music teacher.
Empty Bowls set for Nov. 15
Oct 20, 2011The third annual Empty Bowls fundraiser to combat hunger will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Hutchinson High School Cafeteria, 1401 North Severance.
For a minimum donation of $5, guests will get an original piece of artwork along with a dinner of either chi
li or red beans and rice and a dessert.Bowls and artwork for the event are made by sixth through 12th graders in USD 308 as well as Hutchinson Community College and Bethany Co
llege students. In addition to the artistic bowls, there will be two-dimensional and welded items in the event. This year, some of the artwork will be sold via a silent auction.In all there, will be 200-plus items for sale. In addition to the $5 items, there also will be artwork for $10 and $15.
Proceeds will go to Backpacks for Kids, the Reno County Food Bank and the Heifer Project.
Music will be provided by various USD 308 groups. For more information, contact Todd Ray.
Open house signals successful bond issue completion
Sep 22, 2011 Hutchinson Public Schools will celebrate the conclusion of work for the 2006 Bond Issue with a ceremony and tours of Hutchinson High School. The event begins at 10 a.m. Oct. 1 new lobby of HHS, 810 East 13th.In November 2006, Hutchinson voters approved a $78.8 million bond issue that brought improvements to all the district’s K-12 schools. Additionally, it constructed a new Career and Technical Education Academy building on the HHS campus.
Hutchinson High School, which had not received significant upgrades in earlier district bond projects, received the biggest changes, including new science laboratories, an expanded library, a new performing arts center, an expanded cafeteria and made the campus ADA accessible. The school also received a new “front door” on 13th Avenue.
During the event on Oct. 1, Board President Mike Mendoza, Superintendent Shelly Kiblinger and HHS Principal Ronn Roehm will make introductions and make brief comments before a ribbon cutting ceremony is held.
Following the brief ceremony, there will be tours of HHS. The tours will last about 90 minutes with the entire event concluded by noon Oct. 1.
Additionally, Hutchinson High School will use the event as an opportunity to give away some of the trophies. Trophies, some of which are nearly 100 years old, that do not represent Kansas State High School Activities Association honors will be available to give away on a first-come, first-served basis.
Morgan Friends and Family meets
Aug 26, 2011When you stand four-foot-nothing and you’ve spent the first five years of your life surrounded by family and close friends, a six-foot-something adult can seem like a scary stranger.
Even if that six-foot-something "stranger" is a teacher, a custodian or paraprofessional on staff at your school.
Friday, Aug. 26, Morgan Elementary School, 100 West 27th, kicked off its Morgan Friends and Family Program for 2011-12.
The program is all about making healthy contacts.
"We have some kids who don't know all of the adults in the building," said Rod Rathbun, Morgan Elementary School principal. "We designed the program to create connections between students and adults. Specifically, at least once a trimester, the adults are supposed to make a contact with the student."
Designed by Morgan counselor Barbara Phillips, each adult in the building is matched with a group of students with whom he or she might not normally come into regular contact during the school day. Mr. Rathbun, for example, has 10 students assigned to him.
"They’ll check in on birthdays or just walking down the hall, 'How are you doing?' kind of thing," Mr. Rathbun said.
What they found, though, in the first year of the program was that a sixth grade teacher doesn't have a lot of formal time to make contact with a kindergartner or first grader. Hence, Friday's celebration included "goofy games and silly sports" for much of the afternoon, with the students grouped with their adult mentor.
USD 308 begins with opening convocation
Aug 15, 2011The more than 800 Hutchinson Public Schools staff members formally began the 2011-12 school year with the annual opening convocation Monday (Aug. 15, 2011) at the Salthawk Activity Center on the Hutchinson High School campus.
Superintendent Shelly Kiblinger introduced herself to staff and gave a State of the District presentation during the 80-minute convocation.
Several educators were honored during the event. The Davis Foundation made its annual Teachers of the Year Awards. The elementary winners were Margo Suhler, sixth grade teacher at Faris Elementary School, and Sondra Horning, district elementary art teacher.
The middle school winner was Bruce Bingham, science teacher at Hutchinson Middle School -- 8.
The high school winners were Glenna Armbrust and Brad Binns. Both educators teach social studies at Hutchinson High School.
Each winner receives $4,000. The Davis Foundation has contributed millions of dollars to Hutchinson Public Schools' staff and students since its first scholarships were awarded to HHS seniors 54 years ago. This is the 30th time the awards have been made to teachers.
Also recognized during the event were the USD 308 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees -- Kerri Werth, fourth grade teacher at Wiley Elementary School, and Brad Binns, social studies teacher at HHS.
Recognized during the convocation as the Classified Employee of the Year for 2010-11 was Kathy Allen, paraprofessional at Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen.
Photos from the event may be found on the district's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usd308.
This week, staff will have in-service training and room preparation for the 2011-12 school year. Students in grades one through nine return on Aug. 22. High school sophomores through seniors begin the year on Aug. 23. Kindergartners and students in the 4-year-old program begin on Aug. 24.
District receives AdvancED accreditation
Jul 11, 2011 District accredited till 2016Formal accreditation received
It’s official. USD 308 is accredited by a top-level international organization for five years.
Superintendent Shelly Kiblinger presented the USD 308 Board of Education with a plaque from AdvanED and the formal report from the accrediting agency Monday, July 11, 2011 during the Board's organizational meeting. In May 2011, AdvancED, a global leader in continuous improvement, organizational effectiveness and accreditation, spent four days in the community and district, reviewing district operations.
Board President Mike Mendoza accepted the plaque.
USD 308 was accredited as a district. USD 308 was one of the first three districts nationally to receive the district-wide accreditation in 2006 and was the first in Kansas. This is a rigorous accreditation process that is completed in addition to state accreditation processes.
During the May review, the AdvancED team met with administrators, teachers, community members and students and visited a majority of the district’s schools.
Districts are ranked in four levels for the seven standards examined by AdvancED -- not evident, emerging, operational and highly functional.
The review by the team showed USD 308 had no areas in which it was not evident or emerging. Four areas were found to be operational and three areas were found to be highly functional.
The highly functional areas were governance and leadership; resource and support systems; and stakeholder communications and relationships.
The operational areas are vision and purpose; teaching and learning; documenting and using results; and commitment to continuous improvement.
The district received commendations for activities in seven areas:
The district has created systemic and sustainable practices and procedures that promote effective communication with stakeholders to enhance community support for district operations and for instructional initiatives that promote student learning.
The district has sustained a high graduation rate and a significant increase in the percentage of students who are proficient in the "all students" category for state assessments as well as in all subgroups.
The district achieved its 2000 Technology Bond of $4.7 million with the support of its community.
The district implements and monitors a results-based strategic plan through the use of operational plans that are developed annually. The operational plan aligns elements in the instructional system to build the capacity to enhance quality strategic results, support systems, and staff.
The Hutchinson Board of Education has articulated streamlined operational procedures and a clear delineation of roles that allow for effective operation of the district.
The district stakeholders expressed the appreciation for transparency in governance and communication of district initiatives.
Annual growth in academic performance from all students is a shared expectation throughout the district.
Because the accreditation is part of a continuous improvement process, the group also found three areas where it will require the district to make improvements:
Evaluate and prioritize district initiatives to determine what is required and what is optional, and then expect systemic fidelity to the prioritized initiatives.
Develop a data analysis protocol and train staff in use of the protocol yielding consistency in data use to drive instructional and operational decisions.
Develop a framework for assessment that clearly articulates the purpose of each assessment contributing to an effective tiered intervention program.
USD 308 has a long relationship with AdvancED and its predecessor -- the North Central Association. Hutchinson High School became accredited by NCA 105 years ago. The rest of the district schools became accredited on a school basis 10 years ago with the district receiving district-wide accreditation in 2006.
The district-wide accreditation process involves three ongoing components: meeting high quality standards; implementing a continuous process of improvement; and engaging in quality assurance through internal and external review. The district’s accreditation is for a five-year term with regular monitoring of progress and reporting occurring during the term.
Dedicated to advancing excellence in education through accreditation, research and professional services, AdvancED is the world's largest education community, serving and engaging over 27,000 public and private schools and districts in 69 countries and serving nearly 16 million students. AdvancED is the parent organization of the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI).
NCA CASI is a non-governmental, voluntary association of nearly 10,000 public and private elementary and secondary schools throughout the world.
Accreditation by AdvancED is in addition to Kansas State Board of Education accreditation.
Summer meals begin June 6
May 31, 2011Hutchinson Public Schools continues a program that provides summertime meals to children and youth in 2011.
The meals are free for anyone age 18 and under. No reservations are needed for the meals
. The 2011 summer feeding program will be weekdays June 6 through July 29 at Lincoln Elementary School, 315 East Bigger. For the third consecutive year, the neighborhood feeding site will have breakfast all summer. Breakfast hours at Lincoln are from 7:30 to 8 a.m. each day with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be no lunch on July 4, a district holiday.
The second all-summer site is at Boys and Girls Club, 600 West 2nd. Breakfast there will be from 7:30 to 8 a.m. with lunch served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Both the Lincoln and Boys and Girls Club sites will serve meals Monday through Friday during the summer, except on July 4.
Additionally, meals will be served at Avenue A Elementary School, 111 South Madison, weekdays from July 5 through July 22. Serving time will be from 7:30 to 8 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. to noon for lunch.
While meals for youth 18 and under are free, adult lunches cost $3.05 with adult breakfasts priced at $1.85.
The meals are similar to those provided during the school year, providing an entree as well as plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Menus will be available on the district's website at http://www.usd308.com/page.php?id=396 as well as Cox Cable Channel 20 in Hutchinson.
The program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For more information, contact Jennifer Gardner.
2011-12 enrollment will be in late July and August
May 19, 2011Hutchinson Public Schools is planning both walk-in and on-line enrollment options for the 2011-12 school year.
On-line enrollment was popular for the 2010-11 school year. For 2011-12, on-line enrollment will begin in late July. Walk-in enrollment for families new to USD 308 or returning families who prefer face-to-face enrollment will be Aug. 4 at the Salthawk Activity Center.
Families who want to enroll on-line this summer will need a current email address on file with the district. Families should contact their children's schools and update their email addresses if they don’t have an email address on file or the address has changed before school ends for the year on May 25.
In late July, families with valid e-mail addresses will receive information needed to enroll on-line.
McCandless wins BOB
May 12, 2011For the second consecutive year, the McCandless Elementary School Battle of the Books team won the USD 308 competition.
McCandless team members Robert Duggan, Salonne
Pope, Siynatee McGraw and DJ Norman defeated a team from Morgan in
the finals Thursday (May 12, 2011) at Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen. The second-place
Morgan team was composed of Anne Blake, Brooke Ackley, Maggie Kovach and Will
Kovach.
Coached by sixth grade teacher Courtney Bleything, the McCandless team repeated its success from 2010.
For the past eight months, teams of students from USD 308's elementary schools have been reading books from a list of two dozen. From that reading list, questions were developed and teams of three or four students answered questions Thursday.
FPS teams qualify for internationals
May 10, 2011Five Hutchinson Public Schools Elementary Students have qualified to participate in the Junior Division of the 2011 International Future Problem Solving Conference, which will be held from June 8 to 12, at the University of Wisconsin, La Cross, Wisc.
Additionally, a team from Trinity Junior/Senior High School qualified in the Middle Division. USD 308 provides special education and gifted services for Hutchinson Catholic Schools.
The Junior Division Team, composed of Chance Heitschmidt and Zane Allender, Graber Elementary, and Luke and Daniel Willis, Morgan Elementary, placed first in the Junior Team Global Issues, Kansas State Future Problem Solving Competition.
Additionally, Isabella Wintamute, Avenue A Elementary, placed first in the Junior Individual Global Issues, Kansas State Future Problem Solving Competition.
These students applied the six steps of the creative problem solving process to complete a booklet related to a scenario on the topic of Water Quality. They were judged on their analysis of a futuristic scenario, application of the creative problem solving process, creativity, written communication abilities and application of research.
Middle Division team members who qualified were Charlie Garcia, Dominic DeLuca, Logan Hughes, Ellie Rumback and Sofia Garcia.
Nancy Birgen coaches the Junior Division Team while Karla Degner coaches the Middle Division Team.
BOB returns to district
May 5, 2011For the past eight months, teams of students from USD 308's elementary schools have been reading books from a list of two dozen.
Their goal? To win the Battle of the Books.
The annual Battle of the Books begins at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen, 403 West 10th.
Two teams of four to six members answer questions about the two dozen books with the team scoring the most points advancing to the next round of competition.
For more information, contact Denise Neighbors, Faris Elementary School principal.
ACCREDITED!
May 4, 2011Hutchinson Public Schools Wednesday (May 4, 2011) was formally re-accredited by AdvancED, a global leader in continuous improvement, organizational effectiveness and accreditation.
USD 308 was accredited as a district. USD 308 was one of the first three districts nationally to receive the district-wide accreditation seven years ago and was the first in Kansas. This is a rigorous accreditation process that is in addition to state accreditation processes.
During the oral exit report Wednesday, Dr. Walter McLean, lead evaluator from Detroit, Mich., said he and the seven others on the team spent 2½ days in the community, verifying to see if what school officials had said in their written report was, indeed, occurring in the district. The team met with administrators, teachers, community members and students.
Over that time, the team met with 206 different individuals, a commendable number, Dr. McLean said.
Schools are ranked in four levels for the seven standards examined by AdvancED -- not evident, emerging, operational and highly functional.
The review by the team showed USD 308 had no areas in which it was not evident or emerging. Four areas were found to be operational and three areas were found to be highly functional.
The highly functional areas were governance and leadership; resource and support systems; and stakeholder communications and relationships.
The operational areas are vision and purpose; teaching and learning; documenting and using results; and commitment to continuous improvement.
The district received commendations for activities in seven areas:
- Transparency in governance and communication of district initiatives
- Strong district focus on student performance
- Streamlined procedures for the Board that has clearly defined roles, allowing effective operation of the district
- District monitors its strategic plan through an annual operational plan
- Systemic and sustainable district/community partnerships
- Technology bond issue in 2000 that provided tools for student learning
- Sustained high graduation rate
Because the accreditation is part of continuous improvement process, the group also found three opportunities for improvement for the district:
- Develop and initiate a K-12 framework for assessment that clearly articulates the purpose of each assessment
- Develop a data analysis protocol and train staff to use it, yielding consistent data use to drive instructional and operational decisions
- Prioritize district initiatives to determine what is required and what is optional
USD 308 has a long relationship with AdvancED and its predecessor – the North Central Association. Hutchinson High School became accredited by NCA 105 years ago. The rest of the district schools became accredited on a school basis 10 years ago with the district receiving district-wide accreditation seven years ago.
AdvancEd to evaluate USD 308
Apr 28, 2011A team of eight educators from across the country will evaluate Hutchinson Public Schools May 1 through 4 for a district accreditation visit.
The AdvancED accreditation provides USD 308 with a comprehensive review that verifies alignment and support between all departments of the district and its schools. The three pillars of AdvancED accreditation are high standards, continuous improvement and quality assurances.
USD 308 has a long relationship with AdvancED and its predecessor, NCA. Hutchinson High School has been accredited by NCA for 105 years. All USD 308 schools became accredited by NCA a decade ago.
Seven years ago, USD 308 was one of the first school districts nationwide to be accredited as a district. USD 308 was the first district in Kansas to earn the districtwide accreditation distinction.
On Monday, May 2, the AdvancED team will meet with small groups of staff and community members. On Tuesday, May 3, AdvancEd team members will be in most schools. The purpose of meeting with small groups and traveling to schools is to verify that what the district wrote in its application matches reality.
On Wednesday, May 4, the team will report its findings during a meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum.
Sixth Grade Career Day April 26
Apr 21, 2011The third annual Sixth Grade Career Day will be from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, at the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy on the Hutchinson High School Campus.
Half the USD 308 elementary schools will attend sessions in the morning with the other half attending in the afternoon.
During the event, students will learn about career training opportunities available to them in Hutchinson through the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy on the HHS campus, Hutchinson Community College, North Central Kansas Technical College, the Quest Center, Reno County EMS and the Hutchinson Police Department.
Career opportunities to be highlighted include Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical Services, Computer and Industrial Technology, Culinary Arts, Health Science, Heavy Equipment Operation, Welding, Machine Technology, Entrepreneurship, Collision Repair, Commercial Construction, Journalism and Automotive Technology.
Additionally, YouthFriends will guide students through a computerized career interest inventory known as "True Colors."
For more information, contact Kent Blessing, career counselor in H-CTEA.Healthy living focus of day
Apr 21, 2011An event that will draw hundreds of third graders to Don Michael Field will return for its 13th running Thursday, April 28, 2011.
The Kansas Kids' Fitness Day is a statewide event, sponsored by the Kansas Council on Fitness, to increase awareness of physical activity and safety for third graders across Kansas.
In Hutchinson, the 13th Annual Kansas Kids' Fitness Day will be from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 28, at Don Michael Field, 17th and Severance in Hutchinson.
Hosted locally by USD 308, the event is expected to draw more than 700 students from schools across Reno County. Statewide, the event draws 18,000 students each year at more than three dozen sites in Kansas.
A project of USD 308 elementary school physical education teachers, more than 100 volunteers will be working on the project, including Junior and Senior Leaders from Hutchinson High School under the direction of Cindy Knox, physical education teacher at HHS. The volunteers will staff activity and safety stations during the afternoon.
Others involved in the project include the elementary and high school physical education staff, local firefighters, police officers, Red Cross, Hutchinson Recreation Commission, YMCA and USD 308 Nutrition Services.
USD 308 retirement reception set for May 1
Apr 21, 2011The 2011 Retirement Reception for Hutchinson Public Schools will be the first Sunday in May. The come-and-go reception will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in the Events Center at the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, 800 15th Circle. There will be a brief formal program at 1:45 p.m.
Staff members who have announced their intention to retire this year or already have taken retirement during the 2010-11 school year include Linda Alonzo, Terri Baumchen, Steve Bowman, Petty Crews, Jane Davidson, Marylyn Davis, Larry Frederick, Connie Friesen, Andrea Henne, Priscilla Hoover, Carol Lemen, Jeanette Nunn, Ralph Palacio, Linda Perrin, Susan Smith, Virgil Tucker and Elizabeth Yoder.
Kindergarten-Pre-K pre-enrollment set for April 7
Mar 18, 2011Hutchinson Public Schools will have its pre-registration for kindergarten and the 4-year-old at-risk program from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 7 at the Salthawk Activity Center.
This program replaces the traditional kindergarten roundups in the district.
Parents are asked to bring their child's record of immunizations, physical and birth certificate to the event.
Families need to bring proof of residence for the child's legal guardian. Legal proof includes a recent utility bill or payroll stub showing an address.
Staff from the elementary schools will be on hand during the come-and-go event to answer questions and to get pre-enrollment information. Families who participate in the pre-enrollment will receive enrollment information for their child in July by mail.
All children who will be 5 years old
on or before Aug. 31, 2011, are eligible to enroll in
kindergarten in
Hutchinson Public Schools for the 2011-12 school year.
Enrollees in the 4-year-old program must be 4 on or before Aug. 31, 2011.
Students are enrolled for kindergarten in their neighborhood school. The 4-year-old at-risk program, meanwhile, is offered at Avenue A, 111 South Madison; Graber, 1600 North Cleveland; and Lincoln, 315 East Bigger.
County superintendents set listening session on the future of education
Mar 18, 2011Reno County superintendents in conjunction with the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) will conduct a "Kansas Conversation" at 7 p.m. April 4, 2011, at the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, 800 15th Circle.
School board members, PTO/PTA/Site Council leadership, staff and patrons of all Reno County schools have been invited to attend.
The Kansas Constitution requires the legislature to establish and maintain public schools for "intellectual, educational, vocational and scientific improvement." The Governor and legislative leaders are seeking a definition of what our public schools should be like in Kansas.
The evening will focus on answering three questions at the community level:
- What do Kansas public schools currently offer that promotes intellectual, educational, vocational and scientific improvement?
- What are Kansas public schools not doing that should be added to provide such improvement?
- What should Kansas public schools stop doing because it does not advance such improvement?
The results from Reno County will be shared with KASB and combined with results from across the state. The report will then be shared with state legislators and the Governor during discussions about "defining a suitable education."
For more information, contact Kelly Nelson, Buhler USD 313 Public Information Officer, at (620) 543-2258, or Ray Hemman, Hutchinson USD 308 Public Information Officer, at (620) 615-4029.
For those of you not familiar with Hutchinson, the Academy is located on the Hutchinson High School campus. The easiest way to get there is to go east off Plum Street on either 14th or 15th avenues and follow the streets around to the Academy. Parking is adjacent to the academy.
Distric orchestra concert slated
Mar 10, 2011USD 308 will host the largest symphony concert of the year in Hutchinson next week.
The annual String Fling will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at Memorial Hall, 101 South Walnut. The event will feature all the district's orchestra students from sixth grade through high school. Admission is free.
About 200 musicians will be involved in the event.
The event provides all the district's stringed musicians a chance to perform together. Younger students have the opportunity to see what is in store for them as they advance in orchestra.
The first and last pieces of the performance will be performed by all the students. The first piece is "Symphony for Young People" while the final piece is "Regal Procession."
The students are under the direction of Bruce Boyd, Ashley Holbrook and Jay Hawkins.
Art shows slated
Mar 10, 2011March is Youth Art Month and there are two art shows involving USD 308 students that have events scheduled for next week.
The Hutchinson High School Student Art Show opens Friday, March 11, and runs through Monday, April 4 in the Events Center of the Hutchinson Career and Technical Academy, 800 15th Circle. There will be a special reception for the show from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, at the HCTEA.
Elementary student art, meanwhile, will be the focus of a show at the Hutchinson Art Center. Beginning Tuesday, March 15, the top students selected by judges in an online show will be invited to display their art at the Hutchinson Art Center at 405 North Washington. The show at the Hutchinson Art Center concludes with a reception for the artists and their families on March 31.
USD 308 celebrates Youth Art Month
Feb 17, 2011For the fourth consecutive year, the
public has a role in Youth Arts Month for Hutchinson Public Schools.
The district has opened its Virtual
Art Gallery at www.usd308art.com.
Elementary art teachers Sondra Horning, Teddy Gingerich, Kylie Funk and Nicky
Hoffman are asking the public to become a judge of art works done by district
sixth-grade students.
While on the site, visitors can view all the works and select a favorite piece of art by selecting the "Vote for this artwork" button.
The online show closes March 9, 2011.
Then
beginning March 15, the top students selected by judges in the online show will
be invited to display their art at the Hutchinson Art Center at 405 North
Washington. The show at the Hutchinson Art Center concludes with a reception
for the artists and their families on March 31.
Other
events for Youth Arts Month:
- Feb. 28, 7 p.m.: Presentation to the Board of Education by Hutchinson elementary art students
- During the month of March: District wide art show representing elementary art in the Hutchinson Public Schools at the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum, and at all eight elementary schools.
- During the Month of March: Art was selected from the elementary schools will be part of an annual Youth Art Month Exhibit at the State Capitol Building in Topeka. This exhibit features artwork from students throughout the state. As part of the celebration, student artists, families and friends are invited to a reception at the Capitol Building on Feb. 26.
For more information on Youth Art
Month, contact Sondra
Horning.
District to hold budget information meetings
Feb 4, 2011Hutchinson Public Schools will hold a series of February meetings to inform staff, parents and patrons about the district's budget dilemma.
Since 2008-09, the district's base state aid per pupil budget has been reduced 23.5 percent. Student enrollment, meanwhile, has increased by 3 percent during the same period of time.
Gov. Sam Brownback's proposed budget would cut the district's base state aid per pupil by $1.3 million for the 2011-12 school year. The district faces increases in insurance, utilities and other fixed costs that will require an additional $900,000 in cuts.
The meetings will be held at the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, 800 15th Circle, on the northwest side of Hutchinson High School.
- Tuesday, Feb. 15, 6 p.m., joint meeting of all district PTO/PTA/Booster Clubs/Site Councils.
- Monday, Feb. 21, two meetings at 4 and 6 p.m., for district staff.
- Tuesday, Feb. 22, two meetings at 4 and 6 p.m., for community members.
During the meetings, the governor's proposal will be examined and options for offsetting some of the cuts through the local option budget will be explained.
Superintendent interviews slated for week of Jan. 10
Jan 3, 2011 The search for the 31st superintendent of schools for USD 308 will mean major changes in January Board of Education meetings for Hutchinson Public Schools.
The list:
On January 11, 12 and 13, individual candidates will be brought in for a day-long interview process. The name of each candidate will be released the day before his/her interview at noon. If needed, a fourth candidate will be interviewed Jan. 14.
As part of the process, the public is invited to a reception each day of the interviews from 3 to 3:30 p.m. at the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum.
The interview by the Board, itself, will be done in executive session each evening of the interviews.
The deadline for superintendent candidates to apply is 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 6. The Kansas Association of School Boards is assisting USD 308 in the search process.
Jan Strecker has served as interim superintendent for the 2010-11 school year.
Schools to celebrate Veterans Day
Nov 4, 2010 Hutchinson
Public Schools' two largest elementary buildings will have Veterans Day
celebrations on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010.
At
McCandless, John Rust from the American Legion Post No. 68 will present two
assemblies, beginning at 1 p.m. Rust will speak about flag etiquette and
teaching about the importance of it. McCandless is located at 700 North Baker.
The evening of Nov. 11, the
McCandless' student community service group will attend the hamburger and
French fry dinner at the American Legion from 5 to 7 p.m. McCandless students
will have the opportunity to sit down and meet some of our local veterans.
At Morgan, 100 West 27th, the
second graders will present the program with help from fourth and sixth
graders. The school has invited family, friends and especially veterans of
second grade families to come and listen to songs and readings about our
country. Sixth grade Boy Scouts from Morgan will present the flag. Morgan
has two students whose father was on the USS Cole when it was bombed in Yemen
10 years ago as well as veterans from all wars since World War II.
P-T conferences set
Sep 23, 2010District parents will have the opportunity to meet their students' teachers face-to-face during the first set of parent-teacher conferences for 2010-11 in USD 308.
Hutchinson Middle School will have arena-style parent-teacher conferences from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, on both campuses of HMS. Arena style conferences do not require an appointment with all teachers located in a common area of the school.
Elementary schools will have conferences on the evenings of Tuesday, Sept. 28, or Wednesday, Sept. 29. Parents already should have gotten information on
when their conference is for their child. Elementary conferences are held on an appointment basis.
All schools will have conferences on Thursday, Sept. 30. Elementary conferences are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Middle school conferences are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Conferences at Hutchinson High School are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. HHS conferences will be done arena style in the Salthawk Activities Center.
The first conferences of the school year are done at the midway point during the first trimester, providing an opportunity for face-to-face consultation early during the school year.
Board to pilot paperless meetings
Sep 9, 2010Normally, copiers would be humming at the Administration Center the first week of the month as Board Clerk Molly Carson prepares the agenda for the meeting the following Monday.
Copiers are humming less this week, however, as the USD 308 Board of Education pilots a paperless Board meeting Monday, Sept. 13, 2010. The Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday at the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum.
Well, almost paperless.
Using software the district already has, the agenda is being published electronically as an Acrobat Reader(R) document Friday, Sept. 10, 2010, to its website. Individuals and groups who have requested notice of the meeting will receive an email that directs them to a website to view the entire 272-page document.
The agenda is indexed for easy access to agenda items, but readers will need to click on the "bookmarks" on the left side of the page.
A few paper copies will continue to be made for individuals who attend the meeting and do not have access to the Internet. Instead of printing out 20 copies of the agenda, however, the district will print out five.
If the pilot is successful, the move will provide real savings to the district while providing the full agenda packet to anyone in the public who desires to view it. A 272-page agenda -- which is on the large side for a regular Board meeting -- would cost $27.20 to print at 10 cents a copy. Producing 15 fewer copies would result in savings of $408 for the Sept. 13 agenda.
Agendas
normally run about 125 pages for average savings of about $190 per meeting.
HCC vocalist to work with Morgan students
Sep 9, 2010The top vocal ensemble from Hutchinson Community College will work with fifth and sixth graders at Morgan Elementary School, 100 West 27th, to help the students prepare for a concert later this fall.
The HCC students will be at Morgan from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010.
"The top HCC vocal ensemble will be coming to Morgan School to give a short concert but, more importantly, to workshop with the fifth and sixth graders," said Denise Hewitt, Morgan vocal music teacher. "Fifth and sixth grade will be putting on a vocal jazz concert in November, and Neal Allsup (HCC vocal music instructor) has agreed to bring his group to demonstrate many of the vocal techniques the students are learning about. HCC's vocal jazz group is arguably the No. 1 jazz ensemble in the US right now, and I feel it's a real honor for them to work with our students."
For more information, contact Hewitt.
Convocation opens 2010-11 school year
Aug 16, 2010The nearly 900 Hutchinson Public Schools staff members formally began the 2010-11 school year with the annual opening convocation Monday (Aug. 16, 2010) at the Salthawk Activity Center on the Hutchinson High School campus.
Superintendent Jan Strecker talked about her educational experiences as a student and as a young teacher as she kicked off the school year with her presentation titled "Roots and Wings." Keynote speaker for the event was Hutchinson Community College Instructor Carolyn Parson, who spoke on the importance of diversity. Diversity is one of the district's focuses in 2010-11.
Several
educators were honored during the event. The
Davis Foundation made its a
nnual Teachers of the Year Awards. The
elementary
school winners were Karla Pruitt, kindergarten teacher at McCandless Elementary School, and Pam
Allender,
second grade teacher at Graber Elementary School.
The middle school winner was Chanin Aumiller, social studies teacher at Hutchinson Middle School -- 8.
The high school winners were Nancy Williams, special education teacher, and Nathan Henry, social studies teachers. Both educators teach at Hutchinson High School.
Each winner receives $4,000. The Davis Foundation has contributed millions of dollars to Hutchinson Public Schools' staff and students since its first scholarships were awarded to HHS seniors 53 years ago.
Also recognized during the even were the USD 308 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees -- Martin Vieyra, first grade teacher at Wiley Elementary School, and Lori Meis, reading teacher at Hutchinson Middle School -- 7.
Recognized during the convocation as the Classified Employee of the Year for 2009-10 was Valerie Armstrong, secretary at HMS-7.
This week, staff will have in-service training and room preparation for the 2010-11 school year. Students in grades one through nine return on Aug. 23. High school sophomores through seniors begin the year on Aug. 24. Kindergartners and students in the 4-year-old program begin on Aug. 25.Online enrollment opens
Jul 30, 2010Many of the families of Hutchinson Public Schools students will have the opportunity to enroll their students online for the 2010-11 school year.
The district has opened an online enrollment portal on its website, www.usd308.com.
Families who have emails on record in the district's student records database received an email Friday morning (July 30, 2010), inviting them to participate in the process. The emails went out to about 2,800 of the district's 4,500 students.
The pilot project, however, is not limited to families with email addresses in the student database. Any USD 308 parent or guardian who has his or her student's PowerSchool user name and password as well as the student's district ID number from the 2009-10 school year also can enroll online.
As part of the online enrollment, parents will be able to apply for free- or reduced-priced lunches online.
As of noon Friday, about 100 families already had taken advantage of online enrollment.
Walk-in enrollment for all USD 308 students (pre-K through 12) will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2010, and Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010, at the Salthawk Activity Center on the Hutchinson High School campus.
For walk-in enrollment, families are asked to park in the east Sports Arena parking lot. Families who only have HHS students are asked to enter from the southwest doors of the Salthawk Activity Center while all other families should use the southeast doors of the facility.
Jan Strecker named interim superintendent
Jun 21, 2010The Hutchinson Public Schools Board of Education Monday (June 21, 2010) hired Jan Strecker to be the district's interim superintendent for 2010-11.
The selection represents Mrs. Strecker's third tenure with the district. Mrs. Strecker retired as assistant superintendent for student learning after the 2008-09 school year.
The educator's first teaching position was as a fifth grade teacher at Grandview Elementary School in January 1967. She taught 12 years in the district, including fifth grade, second grade, kindergarten, language development classroom and the developmentally delayed first grade.
In 1985, Mrs. Strecker's family moved to Great Bend, and she was hired to finish the year in fifth grade. In 1987, Mrs. Strecker became a teaching principal at Shady Grove, a two-room school in Great Bend. In 1988, Mrs. Strecker became full-time principal at Jefferson Elementary School in Great Bend.
In 1992, Mrs. Strecker became Hesston Middle School principal, a position she held for three years. In spring 1997, Mrs. Strecker served as interim principal in Sterling.
In 1997, Mrs. Strecker began her second tenure with USD 308, becoming principal at Graber Elementary School, where she spent seven years before becoming director of elementary education and then to assistant superintendent.
The superintendent's position becomes vacant this summer as current Superintendent David Flowers takes over the superintendency at West Fargo, N.D. The Board had advertised for the position this spring but decided to go with an interim superintendent after interviewing three candidates.
The Kansas Association of School Boards will work with the school district during the 2010-11 school year to find a permanent replacement for Dr. Flowers. Under its contract, KASB will not charge any additional fees for the extended search.
Mrs. Strecker formally takes over July 1, 2010.
Superintendent search changes Board's June meeting schedule
Jun 7, 2010The search for the 30th superintendent of schools for USD 308 will mean major changes in June Board meetings.
The list:
June 11: 5:30 p.m. at the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum. The Board will meet briefly in open session to handle some items of district business, and then will move into executive session to discuss finalists for superintendent of schools.
June 14: 5 p.m. at the Administration Center. The Board will move into executive session to meet with Candidate No. 1.
June 15: 5 p.m. at the Administration Center. The Board will move into executive session to meet with Candidate No. 2.
June 16: 5 p.m. at the Administration Center. The Board will move into executive session to meet with Candidate No. 3.
June 17 (if needed): 5 p.m. at the Administration Center. The Board will move into executive session to meet with Candidate No. 4.
June 21: 7 p.m. at the Administration Center. The Board will have a regular meeting. At this meeting, the Board is expected to receive the Boundary Task Force Report and its recommendations.
June 28: 7 p.m. at the Administration Center. This is the regular second meeting for June. Regular end-of-fiscal-year district transactions will occur at this meeting.
On June 14, 15, 16 and 17 (if needed), individual candidates will be brought in for a day-long interview process. The name of each candidate will be released the day before his/her interview at noon.
As part of the process, the public is invited to a reception each day of the interviews from 3 to 3:30 p.m. at the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, 800 15th Circle.
Superintendent David Flowers announced he was taking a similar position with West Fargo, N.D., May 10. The Board contracted with the Kansas Association of School Boards to assist it in the search for a new superintendent.
The interview by the Board, itself, will be done in executive session each evening of the interviews.
The Board has set a goal to name the 30th superintendent for the district in its 138-year history by June 18.
The
Schedule
- Noon the previous day: Candidate's name and a brief biography released
Interview Day
- 10 to 11:30 a.m.: Tour of school district facilities
- 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Lunch with central office administrators
- 1 to 2 p.m.: Interview with district administrators
- 2:15 to 2:45 p.m.: Meet with members of the media at H-CTEA, 800 15th Circle
- 3 to 3:30 p.m.: Public reception at H-CTEA
- 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.: Meet with teacher representatives at H-CTEA
- 4:30 to 5 p.m.: Unscheduled time
- 5 p.m.: Formal Board interview and dinner at the Administration Center, 1520 North Plum (executive session)
Davis, Horning receive Kaleidoscope Awards
May 27, 2010Two veteran educators were honored Thursday (May 27, 2010) with third trimester Kaleidoscope Awards from Hutchinson Public Schools.
Donna Davis, science teacher at Hutchinson Middle School -- 7, and Sondra Horning, elementary art teacher, received the award Thursday during professional development gatherings of staff. Superintendent David Flowers made the awards.
The award, which is made three times each year, includes a hand-made kaleidoscope.
Davis has taught
in USD 308 since the 1995-96 school year.
In a nomination letter, a colleague of Davis wrote, "... Donna dedicates hours of her extra time helping students who don't understand a lab procedure or how to organize their thoughts to draw and write a conclusion. She doesn't question a child's ability to learn, but rather operates under the assumption that if a student isn't performing at the expectation -- no matter the reason -- there must be a disconnect, and it is up to her to work with the student to fix it."
Horning joined the school district
during the 1995-96 school year as well. She was nominated by seven
members of
the Graber
Elementary School
staff, which is one of
the elementary schools she serves.
"She transfers her love of art directly onto the children, turning their 'I can't' attitude into 'I can create beautiful art projects!' " the educators wrote. "We believe that Mrs. Horning encourages our students to become lifelong learners of art. The future of our children depends on Mrs. Horning!"
All staff and district patrons were able to nominate district employees for the Kaleidoscope Award. Qualities and abilities of nominees include:
- Helping to create a system that values every child, no matter how gifted, no matter how broken;
- Seeing potential where others see defeat;
- Reflecting what our beliefs say we are made of;
- Personal courage, to see hope rather than fear; and
- Uncommon vision that transforms ourselves, our staffs or our children into even more than we have dreamed to be.
Mass Bands set for May 20
May 13, 2010In terms of sheer numbers, the biggest musical event of the school year sounds off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 20, at the Salthawk Activity Center.
The 23rd annual Mass Bands Concert features about 600 USD 308 students in grades six through 12. There will be performances by elementary bands, a combined middle school band, the high school band and both middle and high school jazz bands before the actual mass bands performance, which brings together all the students.
The high school uses the concert to preview its marching music for the 2010 fall season.
As with the previous Mass Bands Concert, all students come together for the song, "A Mighty Fortress."
The district has been doing the Mass Bands Concert since 1988. The event is a chance for students to play with what may be the largest group they ever will in their lives. It also gives parents a chance to hear what their children are doing as well as what others are doing in the district. For younger students, the concert provides an opportunity to see what is in store for them in the future in band.
For more information, contact Daryl Koestel, HHS band teacher.
BOB returns
May 6, 2010For the past eight months, teams of students from USD 308's eight elementary schools have been reading books from a list of two dozen.
Their goal? To win the Battle of the Books.
The annual Battle of the Books begins at 1 p.m.Thursday, May 13, at McCandless Elementary School, 700 North Baker.
Two teams of four to six members answer questions about the two dozen books with the team scoring the most points advancing to the next round of competition.
For
more information, contact Denise
Neighbors
principal, Faris Elementary School
USD 308 announces end of year calendar changes
May 3, 2010Because of the construction calendar and teacher training, the final days of school have changed for USD 308 schools from the original district calendar.
The two schools undergoing the most summer construction will see the earliest final day. The final day for classes at both Lincoln Elementary School and Hutchinson High School will be Friday, May 21.
The other district school with major construction work is Faris Elementary School. Faris' final day will be Tuesday, May 25.
For all other K-8 schools, the final day of classes will be Wednesday May 26.
The changes do not impact HHS' graduation. HHS' graduation will be at 2 p.m. May 23 at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Certified staff remain on contract through May 28 and will be involved professional development related to district initiatives and end-of-year recordkeeping.Hutchinson students qualify for International FPS
Apr 23, 2010Both teams and individuals representing Hutchinson qualified for the International Future Problem Solving Competition during a recent state competition.
Qualifying from Hutchinson were the following individuals or teams.
Junior Division Team Global Issues:
First Place: Hutchinson Elementary School
Team members:
Emily Fan, Morgan Elementary; Isabella Wintamute, Avenue A Elementary; Alicia Seems, Graber Elementary; Sofa Garcia, Holy Cross Catholic Elementary; and Shannon and Shayla Bellamy, Faris Elementary.
Middle Division Team Global Issues:
First Place: Trinity Catholic Junior/Senior High, Hutchinson
Team Members: Charlie Garcia, Logan Hughes, Luke Kicklighter and Ellis Ruback
Junior Division Individual Global Issues:
First Place: Sofia Garcia, Holy Cross Catholic Elementary, Hutchinson
Middle Division Individual Booklet:
First Place: Charlie Garcia, Trinity Catholic Junior/Senior High School
Hutchinson coaches are Nancy Birgen and Karla Degner from Hutchinson Public Schools. USD 308 provides gifted services to Hutchinson Catholic Schools.
About 50 student problem solvers from across Kansas competed in the state competition in Hutchinson on April 19. Students worked in teams to complete booklets during a two-hour time period, which demonstrated their application of the six steps of the creative problem solving process to a futuristic scenario associated with the topic "Food Distribution."
The International Future Problem Solving Conference will be held at the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, Wisc., June 9 to 13. The topic of the International Competition is "Green Living."
For more information, contact Birgen.
Students learn about career opportunities
Apr 16, 2010The second annual Sixth Grade Career Day will be from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 23 at the Salthawk Activity Center on the Hutchinson High School Campus.
Half the USD 308 elementary schools will attend sessions in the morning with the other half attending in the afternoon.
During the event, students will learn about career training opportunities available to them in Hutchinson through the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy on the HHS campus, Hutchinson Community College, the Quest Center and the Hutchinson Police Department.
Programs to be highlighted include the automotive mechanics program, law enforcement, medical science, automotive body and collision repair, engineering and computer graphics. Additionally, Promise Regional Medical Center will help with the medical science program, and YouthFriends will do a presentation on learning styles.
For more information, contact Kent Blessing, career counselor in H-CTEA.
Day focuses on healthy living
Apr 16, 2010An event that will draw hundreds of third graders to Don Michael Field will return for its 12th running Thursday, April 29.
The Kansas Kids' Fitness Day is a statewide event, sponsored by the Kansas Council on Fitness, to increase awareness of physical activity and safety for third graders across Kansas.
In Hutchinson, the 12th Annual Kansas Kids' Fitness Day will be from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 29 at Don Michael Field, 17th and Severance in Hutchinson.
Hosted locally by USD 308, the event is expected to draw more than 650 students from 16 schools in Reno County. Statewide, the event draws 18,000 students each year at more than three dozen sites in Kansas.
A project of USD 308 elementary school physical education teachers, more than 100 volunteers will be working on the project, including Junior and Senior Leaders from Hutchinson High School under the direction of Cindy Knox, physical education teacher at HHS. The volunteers will staff activity and safety stations during the afternoon.
Others involved in the project include the elementary and high school physical education staff, local firefighters, police officers, Red Cross, Hutchinson Recreation Commission, YMCA and USD 308 Nutrition Services.
For more information, contact Kyle
Welliver, physical education teacher.
USD 308 Participates in Week of the Young Child
Apr 8, 2010The annual celebration of the Week of the Young Child will be observed in Hutchinson April 11 to 17.
A different event is scheduled each day. On April 11, for example, there will be a naturalist-led nature hike and snack from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Dillon Nature Center, 3002 East 30th.
Other events include:
- Monday, April 12, Kansas Kids Museum at the Hutchinson Mall, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 13, Hutchinson Public Library, 9th and Main, a story hour from 7 to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 14, Parents as Teachers play group at 330 Charles in the Hutcherson Center.
- Wednesday, April 14, Hutchinson Zoo, from 2 to 4 p.m.
- Thursday, April 15, Gallery 7, 7 West B, from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 15, Reno County Museum, 100 South Walnut, a Chalkfest from 5 to 8:30 p.m.
- Friday, April 16, Family Children's Theatre presents Take Flight with Peter Pan, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Memorial Hall, 101 South Walnut.
Kindergarten, Pre-K pre-registration set
Mar 19, 2010Hutchinson Public Schools will have its pre-registration for kindergarten and the 4-year-old at-risk program from 4 to 7 p.m. on April 15 at the Salthawk Activity Center.
This program replaces the traditional kindergarten roundups in the district.
Parents are asked to bring their child's record of immunizations, physical and birth certificate to the event.
Families need to bring proof of residence for the child's legal guardian. Legal proof includes a recent utility bill, recent payroll stub showing an address or lease agreement.
Staff from the elementary schools will be on hand during the come-and-go event to answer questions and to get pre-enrollment information. Families who participate in the pre-enrollment will receive enrollment information for their child in July by mail.
All children who will be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31, 2010, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten in Hutchinson Public Schools for the 2010-11 school year.
Enrollees in the 4-year-old program must be 4 on or before Aug. 31, 2010. Students are enrolled for kindergarten in their neighborhood school. The 4-year-old at-risk program, meanwhile, is offered at Avenue A, 111 South Madison; Graber, 1600 North Cleveland; Lincoln, 315 East Bigger; and Hutcherson Center for Early Education, 330 Charles.
Spring Break
Mar 18, 2010 Hutchinson Public Schools will observe Spring Break the week of March 22.The district's Administration Center will be closed for business from 5 p.m. March 19 until 8 a.m. March 29.
Additionally, there will be no classes on April 2, the Friday before Easter.
Spring String Fling slated
Mar 11, 2010USD 308 will host the largest symphony concert of the year in Hutchinson next week.
The annual String Fling will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, at Memorial Hall, 101 South Walnut. The event will feature all the district's orchestra students from sixth grade through high school. Admission is free.
About 200 musicians will be involved in the event.
The event provides all the district's stringed musicians a chance to perform together. Younger students have the opportunity to see what is in store for them as they advance in orchestra.
The first and last pieces of the performance will be performed by all the students. The first piece is March Heroic while the final piece is Nobel Dance.
The students are under the direction of Bruce Boyd, Ashley Holbrook and Jay Hawkins.Nominations being taken for Davis Teacher
Feb 4, 2010 Each
year, the James A. and Juliet
L. Davis Foundation honors Hutchinson Public Schools educators with the
Davis
Teacher of the Year Award.
The
foundation is taking
applications for the award until March 19.
The
Davis Foundation will grant five awards this year for outstanding
classroom
teachers. Two will be selected from grades K-6, one from grades 7 and 8
and two
from grades 9-12.
Teachers
must be currently serving in the Hutchinson Public Schools system to
receive
consideration. Administrators and other non-classroom and non-teaching
personnel are not eligible to receive these awards.
To obtain a nomination form, call (620) 615-4029.
Morgan concludes Haiti fundraiser
Jan 28, 2010
Staff
and students at Morgan have
been collecting monetary donations for
Open houses set for Wiley, Morgan
Dec 3, 2009 USD 308 celebrates the completion of two projects with
open houses on Monday, Dec. 7. There will be open houses from 6 to 8 p.m. at
There will be a short formal program at Wiley at 6 p.m.
with a short formal program at Morgan slated for 7 p.m. Patrons will be able to
visit the new spaces in each of the schools.
Ground was broken for improvements at Wiley and Morgan on
Feb. 28, 2008. Wiens Construction from
District uses online auction to sell surplus property
Oct 15, 2009 Looking for
USD 308 has a deal for you -- make
that 59 deals.
Actually,
All the items have been declared
surplus by the district's Board of Education. Unlike auctions of old, however,
you need a computer to bid on the items in 2009 as you have needed to do for
the past several auctions.
The district is employing the Purple
Wave online auction. Purple Wave is the state-approved auction vendor. The
online auctions have allowed the district to reduce handling of auction items
and broadened the potential bidder pool.
The district's auction can be found
at http://www.purplewave.com/cgi-bin/pwdetails.cgi?091208.
The auction closes Dec. 8.
Award nominations being taken
Oct 8, 2009 Nominations
are being taken for the
second trimester Kaleidoscope Award in USD 308.
Theresa Brown, elementary instructional specialist for
the district, received the first such award in the district earlier
this year
in front of 900 of her colleagues during the opening convocation at
the
The district will have two more recipients this year for
the "Kaleidoscope Award." The award is designed to recognize
staff members who are reflections of the districts beliefs, and for
"uncommon
vision" in advancing the vision for the district embodied in the
strategic
plan.
Nominations should include the nominee's name, and
a couple of paragraphs about why he or she should receive the award.
Nominations should be sent to flowersd@usd308.com.
Staff members nominated for the Kaleidoscope Award should
exhibit the qualities of:
- Helping
to
create a system that values every child, no matter how gifted, no
matter how
broken;
- Seeing
potential
where others see defeat;
- Reflecting
what
our beliefs say we are made of; and
- Seeing
hope
rather than fear.
Teachers recognized during opening convocation
Aug 17, 2009 A 25-year veteran educator received the first-ever
Kaleidoscope Award during the opening convocation of
Theresa Brown, elementary instructional specialist for
the district, received the award in front of 900 of her colleagues during the
first-of-the-year celebration at the
The award, which will be given out three times each year,
includes a hand-made kaleidoscope. Dr. David Flowers, superintendent of
schools, used the kaleidoscope as a metaphor for the district's strategic and
operational plans.
With individual components of a kaleidoscope positioned
on a table in front of him, Dr. Flowers explained how individually the
components may have some limited use. When put together as a system to create a
kaleidoscope, the parts together create beautiful images.
In much the same way, different staff members and initiatives
of the district are brought together in the strategic and operational plans to
serve students and the community in ways individual programs or staff could not.
Mrs. Brown has shown her ability to build capacity for
excellence in others within the district and community, Dr. Flowers said. She
"walks the talk" of educational excellence.
Dr. Flowers asked staff members to nominate colleagues
for the award. Qualities and abilities of nominees include:
- Helping to create a system that values every child, no matter how gifted,
no matter how broken;
- Seeing potential where others see defeat;
- Reflecting what our beliefs say we are made of;
-
Personal courage, to see hope rather than fear; and
- Uncommon vision that transforms ourselves, our staffs or our children
into even more than we have dreamed to be.
Also during Monday's convocation, the Davis Foundation
recognized its Teachers of the Year for 2008-09.
Winners were Janie Hoefer, Hutchinson Magnet School at
Allen, and Melissa Thomas, Avenue A Elementary School for the elementary
division; Cindy Beshore, HMS-7, for the middle school division; and Tobie
Henline and Theresa Smith, both of Hutchinson High School, for the high school
division.
The Davis Foundation was formed in 1953. It first gave
college scholarships to
The district's Kansas Teacher of the Year nominees were
recognized. Theresa Corcoran,
Teachers will spend this week in professional development
and getting their classrooms set up for the 2009-10 school year. School begins
Aug. 24 for grades 1 through 9; Aug. 25 for grades 10 to 12; and Aug. 26 for
kindergartners and 4-year-olds.
District unveils new phone system
Jul 10, 2009 Hutchinson Public Schools begins the new school year with
a new telephone system and new telephone prefix.
After training this week, the district began using its
new telephone system. The new main number for the district is (620) 615-4000.
All phone numbers for district staff begin with the "615"
prefix. The district was able to obtain a block of 2,000 numbers to accommodate
existing and future growth.
The new system is a voice over internet protocol system,
more commonly known as VoIP. The VoIP
system runs on the district's extensive computer network backbone. The new
telephone system replaces a 20-year-old Plexar system with 509 phone lines.
Because the new system has about a $4,000 a month lower
cost and with federal e-Rate assistance, the new system should pay for its
$250,000 cost in less than five years, said Larry Frederick, USD 308 director
of technology.
While costing less, the new system has more capabilities.
It has 60 out-bound phone lines, compared to 35 on the old system.
Even though the system allows for automated attendants,
the district will continue to use receptionists during regular business hours.
While the district has a new phone system, old telephone
numbers published in commercial telephone books will continue to work for the
next year or more, including the former main number of the district, (620)
665-4400.
The numbers have been updated in parent-student handbooks
and other publications families will receive this fall.
A list of the new building phone lines is below.
|
Building |
Number |
|
|
615-4000 |
|
Avenue A Elementary |
615-4950 |
|
Early Head Start |
615-5810 |
|
Educational |
615-5500 |
|
|
615-5000 |
|
|
615-5050 |
|
|
615-4900 |
|
HMS-7 |
615-4700 |
|
HMS-8 |
615-4800 |
|
|
615-5750 |
|
|
615-4100 |
|
|
615-5100 |
|
|
615-5150 |
|
|
615-5200 |
|
|
615-5575 |
|
Wiley Elementary School |
615-5250 |
Summer feeding program expands
May 26, 2009 Hutchinson Public
Schools will provide summer meals in June and July with the program expanded in
2009 to include breakfast at more places. The meals are free
for anyone age 18 and under. No reservations are needed for the meals. The 2009 summer feeding program will
be June 1 through July 31 at Lincoln
Elementary School, 315
East Bigger. In a first, the "neighborhood" feeding site will have breakfast
all summer. Breakfast hours at Lincoln
are from 7:30 to 8 a.m. each day with lunch served from 11 a.m. to noon. There
will be no lunch on July 3, a district holiday. The second all-summer site is at
Boys and Girls Club, 600 West 2nd. Breakfast there will be from 7:30
to 8 a.m. with lunch served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Both the Lincoln and Boys and
Girls Club sites will serve meals Monday through Friday during the summer,
except on July 3. Meals will be served at Faris Elementary
School, 300 East 9th, during the
Summer Scholars Program, which will run Mondays through Thursdays, June 22
through July 16. There will be no meals served at Faris on Fridays. Serving
time will be from 7:30 to 8 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. to noon for lunch. While meals for youth 18 and under
are free, adult lunches cost $2.85 with adult breakfasts priced at $1.70. The meals are
similar to those provided during the school year, providing an entree as well
as plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Menus will be available on the district's
website as well as Cox Cable Channel 20 in Hutchinson. The program is
funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Mass Bands draws thousands
May 15, 2009
The
22nd annual Mass Bands Concert May 14, 2009, feature about 600 USD 308 students
in grades six through 12 and drew a crowd of nearly 3,000 to the Salthawk Activity Center on the Hutchinson High School campus. There were performances by elementary bands, a
combined middle school band, the high school band and jazz bands before the
actual mass bands performance, which brings together all the students.
The
district has been doing the Mass Bands Concert since 1988. The event is a
chance for students to play with what may be the largest group they ever will
in their lives. It also gives parents a chance to hear what their children are
doing as well as what others are doing in the district. For younger students,
the concert also gives them a chance to see what is in store for them in the
future in band.
After the Mass Bands Concert, there was a reception in the Hutchinson High School Cafeteria for two Music Department staff members who will retire this year. Honored will be Sid Showalter, director of bands at HHS, and Stephen Washington, music and student records secretary.
Both Showalter and Washington were recognized in front of the entire crowd at the concert as well.
Showalter was an organizer of the original Mass Bands Concert. Each concert ends with an arrangement of "A Mighty Fortress" and includes all 600 musicials.
District expands all-day kindergarten
May 12, 2009 Two additional elementary schools in USD 308 will see
all-day kindergarten in 2009-10.
Federal stimulus and American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act dollars in 2009-10 will help provide staffing and other costs for all-day
kindergarten at Morgan and
Thanks to the $78.8 million 2006 bond issue approved by
district voters, the physical space now is available in the two buildings to
offer all-day kindergarten as well. Prior to the classroom additions, the
schools were unable to offer all-day kindergarten.
As a result, parents for students at both Morgan and
Wiley currently are being contacted about all-day kindergarten. Under
All-day kindergarten will be offered in five of the
district's eight elementary schools in 2009-10. In addition to Wiley and
Morgan, all-day kindergarten is offered at Avenue A,
Half-day programs remain at Faris, Graber and
With the exception of the magnet school, which takes
students from across the district via an application process, students
generally enroll in the school for their geographic attendance area.
School to end a day early in 2009
Apr 23, 2009 USD 308 is gearing up for unprecedented building construction
across the district this summer. As a result, USD 308's final day for students
will be May 20, a day earlier than earlier scheduled.
Teachers will prepare their rooms for the construction
process or other end-of-year activities. Non-teaching staff will assist or have
the option of starting summer a day early.
The district will turn several buildings over to
contractors on May 26 for asbestos abatement and remodeling work.
Future Problem Solvers qualify for international competition
Apr 13, 2009 Teams of
The team of Emily Fan, Morgan
Elementary; Ellie Rumback,
Also competing for Hutchinson in the
state Junior Division and placing second was the team of Shannon Bellamy, Faris
Elementary; Chloe Miller, Wiley Elementary; Sarah Hansen, Morgan Elementary;
and Jon Hornbaker, Graber Elementary.
Students worked in teams to complete
booklets, during a two-hour time period, demonstrating their application of the
six steps of the creative problem solving process to a futuristic situation
associated with the topic "Counterfeit Economy."
The booklets were evaluated on the
students' use of the creative problem solving process, their ability to
communicate their ideas in written form, critical thinking, creativity, application
of research and futuristic thinking.
The topic of the international competition
is "Pandemics."
The team of Fan, Rumback, Sofia Garcia
and Charlie Garcia also placed first in the Junior Division Presentation of
Action Plan competition.
The Future Problem Solving Program
International involves more than 250,000 students from
For more information, contact Nancy Birgen,
facilitator for elementary gifted for USD 308, at 665-4760.
Career Exploration Day set
Apr 3, 2009 As sixth graders prepare to move from elementary to
secondary school, Hutchinson Public Schools will hold a Sixth Grade Career
Exploration Day April 24 in the
Half the district's sixth graders will attend a morning
session with the other half attending in the afternoon. In all, more than 320
students are expected for the event.
For many of the students, this will be their introduction
to the Kansas Career Clusters, 16 general areas for careers. Coursework in many
of those career clusters is offered at
The day is a "first step" for many students to identify
future career choices. It is designed to bring career awareness to the
students. In all, 10 of the clusters will be represented at the April 24 event.
Interactive displays will include the BEST Engineering
Team from HHS on science, engineering and math; North Central Kansas Technical
College on manufacturing; Wichita Area Technical College on aerospace; the
Hutchinson Fire Department on health sciences and human services; the HHS
Career and Technical Academy's Building Trades Program on architecture and
construction; University Technical Institute on transportation, distribution
and logistics; Hutchinson Credit Union on finance; and Hutchinson Community
College on information technology.
For more information, contact Kent Blessing.
All district schools open Tuesday
Mar 30, 2009 After roof re-inspections by the Hutchinson Fire Department
and interior inspections by Hutchinson USD 308 staff, four schools closed
Monday as a precaution after the weekend snow will reopen Tuesday.
Three district elementary schools -- Faris,
A facility run by a partner agency, the
The wintry weather has prompted two activity
postponements. The final performance of
Additionally, junior varsity boys' golf, initially set
for Monday, has been postponed to 3 p.m. April 13 at
All other USD 308 facilities were in normal operation on
Monday.
District changes pre-enrollment for kindergarten/4-year-old at risk
Mar 6, 2009 Hutchinson Public Schools
will have its pre-registration for kindergarten and the 4-year-old at-risk
program from 4 to 8 p.m. on April 16 at the
This program replaces the
traditional kindergarten roundups in the district.
Staff from the elementary
schools will be on hand during the come-and-go event to answer questions and to
get pre-enrollment information. Families who participate in the pre-enrollment
will receive a packet of enrollment information for their child in July by
mail.
All children who will be 5
years old on or before Aug. 31, 2009, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten in
Hutchinson Public Schools for the 2009-10 school year.
Enrollees in the 4-year-old at-risk
program must be 4 on or before Aug. 31, 2009, and are identified using multiple
criteria, including:
- Poverty;
- Single parent families;
- SRS referral;
- Teen parents;
- Either parent lacking a high school diploma or GED;
- Child qualifies for migrant status;
- Limited English proficiency; or
- Developmentally or academically delayed based on
assessments.
The day of the
pre-enrollment, parents are asked to bring their child’s record of immunizations,
physical and birth certificate to the event.
Families may be asked for
proof of residence for the child's legal guardian.
Hutchinson Public Schools
has half-day kindergarten programs at Faris, Graber,
The 4-year-old at-risk
program is offered at Avenue A, 111 South Madison;
Families also will have
the opportunity to make an application to attend
String Fling set
Feb 26, 2009 USD 308 will host the largest
symphony concert of the year in
The annual String Fling will be at
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, at Memorial Hall, 101 South Walnut. The event will
feature all the district's orchestra students from sixth grade through high
school.
About 200 musicians will be involved
in the event.
The event provides all the
district's stringed musicians a chance to perform together. Younger students have
the opportunity to see what is in store for them as they advance in orchestra.
The first and last pieces of the
performance will be performed by all the students. The first piece is Telemann
Sinfonia while the final piece is Shawnee Stomp.
The students are under the direction
of Bruce Boyd, Shelly Duell and Jay Hawkins.
Sixth grade parents' meeting set
Feb 4, 2009 Parents of sixth graders interested
in attending Hutchinson Middle School are invited to attend a parent meeting at
7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in the commons of at HMS-7, 210 East A.
The parent meeting is part of a
larger pre-enrollment process through which sixth-grade students are going as
they make their selections for the 2009-10 school year.
During the Feb. 12 meeting, parents
and care givers will have the opportunity to meet HMS-7 administration, the
counselor, activities coordinator, school resource officer and International Baccalaureate
Middle Years Programme coordinator.
Additionally,
families will learn about
-
HMS-7 course
offerings, expectations, activities and athletics;
-
the Middle Years
Programme (MYP);
- enrollment
process; and
- see an
electronic presentation and question and answer time.
As part of the pre-enrollment
process, students will have multiple opportunities to learn more about HMS-7.
Through February, administrators and the counselor from HMS-7 will visit each
sixth grade class in USD 308 to provide enrollment information and answer any
questions.
Then on Feb. 25, district sixth
graders will be able to tour HMS-7 and watch an electronic presentation on the
school. At that time, students will be able to turn in enrollment cards, learn
more about HMS activities and athletics and get questions answered.
