Dear Hutchings Community,
I am enjoying a quiet evening after an eventful two week stretch. Since the last Herald, we've had some really big events at Hutchings:
- The Husky Hustle
- PTO Trunk-or-Treat
- Two Nights of Parent / Teacher Conferences
- Halloween
- Our District Late Start Day, with Professional Development for Staff
- Field Trips across some grade levels
And not surprisingly, our staff and our community have been positive and wonderful in all of these big events. Thank you to everyone who participated in any of these. All of your involvement contributes to the great community feeling we have at Hutchings.
I remember last year, I went through a stretch where I sourced quotes for inspiration for some of my Hutchings Herald notes. I was thinking about all of these big moments, and it caused me to think about a quote entirely on my own- no sourcing required!
During my junior year in high school, I was in my English class. My class had juniors and seniors in it. I don't remember this happening any other year, but on this particular day, on our school's PA system, someone was announcing some election results. They were the results of the Senior Class Song, Flower, Color, Motto, etc. I remember the Motto was something along the lines of "it's not about the number of breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away."
I remember one high school senior in my class was very excited that the motto they had wanted won. What stuck with me even more was that my English teacher - who was on their way to being my all-time favorite - challenged it. They challenged us to consider that real value is in finding ways to make the regular breaths better, not simply waiting for breathtaking moments. Quality comes from finding ways to improve the steady, dependable breaths so that everyday is positive and you aren't waiting for showstoppers. I've always appreciated people who challenge my thoughts, and I appreciated the insight.
I might be taking the metaphor too far, but it's only to arrive at this.
Many people helped with all of our big Hutchings moments over the past few weeks. I also really need celebrate how the Hutchings staff operates day-to-day. We've had a lot of long days and a lot of changes in routines in this two week stretch. I'm so impressed by the people I work with. Everyday they care deeply for students. Everyday they help kids learn. And everyday they support one another. I hear positives from many of you regularly, too, but it's a joy to be at Hutchings day-in, day-out.
I hope you all have wonderful weekends.
Sincerely,
Ben Malecki
Principal
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District Updates:
Vote on Tuesday, November 7
Please remember to vote on Tuesday, November 7. The Our Kids, Our Community, Our Future Bond Proposal will be on the ballot, outlining plans for district-wide improvements focusing on safety and security, learning environments, learning tools, aging infrastructure, and community needs. This proposal is structured with no expected tax rate increase from the current tax rate of 5.5 mills. For a comprehensive overview of what the bond encompasses, we invite you to visit HowellSchools.com/Bond. Participation in local elections is vital, and we encourage all eligible community members to exercise their right to vote on Tuesday.
Mobile Food Pantry in Howell on Thursday, November 16, 2023
On Thursday, November 16, Gleaners Food Bank will have a Mobile Food Pantry in the bus lot at 411 N. Highlander Way (between Highlander Way Middle School and the Freshman Campus). The Mobile will be open from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Anyone in the community needing food can drive through and pick up food from the Mobile. A family of 4 receives about 40-45 pounds of food. A Family of 5 or more receives double the amount. Each portion consists of fresh produce, milk, fresh meat, and shelf-stable items. If you have any questions regarding the Howell Food Mobile or food access in Howell, please contact Gleaners Food Bank at 517-548-3710.
ParentGuidance.org November Newsletter
Financial stress can significantly impact mental health, and as a parent, you play a crucial role in helping your child navigate these challenges. Understand the profound link between financial stress and mental well-being. The ParentGuidance.com November Newsletter provides insights into strategies to equip your child with the resilience to face financial challenges head-on. As always, check out the ParentGuidance.org resources, where you can access free courses led by licensed therapists on more than 50 topics. To access the course, navigate to ParentGuidance.org and click courses.
School Breakfast is Available Each Day
Did you know the Howell Food Service Department serves breakfast daily at every school? Students who eat breakfast have been shown to have better concentration, be more alert, and reach higher levels of achievement. You can view the breakfast menu for your child's school at https://bit.ly/3oVCcPD. Breakfast is free for all students as part of the Michigan School Meals program. While school meals are free for all students, we still encourage eligible families to complete a Free and Reduced Price School Meal Application as they may qualify for addition such as the Summer EBT program, discounts on college application fees, academic tests, home internet access, and reduced Chromebook repair fees. If you think your family may be eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, please complete an application at https://howell.familyportal.cloud/.
Howell Public Schools Canned Food Drive Starts Monday
The Howell Public Schools annual Gleaners Food Drive starts Monday, November 6, and runs through Friday, December 1. The Food Drive is organized by students in the high school's leadership class. Donation boxes will be placed at each school in the district.
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Counselor's Corner - Mental Health Webinars for Families
Strong mental health is essential for success, in and out of school. Click on the links below to learn more about some upcoming (and free) events to help you best support your child’s mental health and well-being.
Your Child’s Anxiety (November 9, 2023) - Simple strategies to help parents respond to child or teen anxiety. When applied, these skills will help the child and parent bond, allowing the child to identify and work through their anxiety more effectively.
Livingston County Mental Health Series - In an effort to proactively support students’ overall well-being, Livingston County has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to offer monthly webinars developed by licensed therapists. This series will be virtual, interactive, and is designed to help parents/guardians support students. Registration, attendance, and interactions are kept totally anonymous from other viewers.
For more support, don’t hesitate to reach out: [email protected]!
Kristen Hogan
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Hutchings Canned Food Drive & Upcoming Spirit Days
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In the attached flier, you'll find information from our Student Council, led by Mr. DeLand, about our part in the Salvation Army & Gleaners Food Drive.
Hutchings Food Drive, Spirit Days
You'll also find information about our Spirit Days throughout the month of November!
- Nov 6 - Country / Western Day
- Nov 10 - Comfy / Cozy Day
- Nov 17 - Decades Day
- Dec 1 - Crazy Hair / Hat Day
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Our PTO and Hutchings staff will work together in the coming weeks to honor the efforts of individual and class fundraisers from the Husky Hustle!
Our next PTO meeting is scheduled for this coming Thursday, November 9th at 6 pm in the Hutchings Elementary Library. Howell NHS students are expected to support this meeting once again.
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