Dear Hutchings Community,
I'm sorry to be sending out my newsletter two days late! Thanks for your understanding. The delays were due to a few factors, but I certainly wanted to talk about a lot of the great things that have been happening at Hutchings since I last wrote you all. Over the last two weeks, we've seen a lot of great moments of teams and community coming together.
Of course, Friday was our HUSKY HUSTLE! The thought that our PTO puts into this event was evident, and our students had a blast. Typically, there's a little more fall in the air (it's been SO hot!), but that didn't slow us down. Huskies loved the bounce house, the donuts and cider, the chance to get color-blasted, and the other fun and thoughtful obstacles. It was great to see many of you at the event. I want to really thank our PTO Board for all of there efforts. Events like these are made possible thanks to your generosity, and we're getting closer to our stated goal of $20,000. If you want to support the PTO and ensure more events like this can happen, the fundraiser wraps up this week. You can donate and/or track our progress at the 2025 Husky Hustle Page. And please consider joining us tomorrow evening at 6 pm for our October PTO Meeting in the Library!
Where else did we see teams and community come together? Homecoming Week! It's so much fun to see our Student Council marching in the parade with Mr. DeLand and Ms. Reis, and it's also great to see all of the pride our community has lined up along Grand River. Our Spirit Days were sensational and fun, too. It's no surprise that a community built around love, compassion, and fun is a place where Homecomings are real celebrations.
We also did work to strengthen our communities at Hutchings. Sensei Sam had visited with our 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students earlier in September, but he returned to Hutchings last week to make sure all of our Begindergarten, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students were ready to create a bully-free school. We all practiced how to address unkind behaviors. All of this practice is meant to build a strong, supportive community we can all be proud of.
There's even more on the horizon. Since we met our first two goals for the Husky Hustle, we will get the chance for our entire school to come together for a BMX Assembly (that was the $15,000 goal)! We're all looking forward to that. In addition, since we met the $17,000 goal, our staff will soon welcome students to Hutchings with BUBBLES! The only school-wide goal left to hit will see me serving lunch in the cafeteria with our incredible cafeteria team, and we're nearly there.
Beyond that, you've probably heard that we're going to have acclaimed author of The Dot, Peter Reynolds, visit Hutchings on October 15. Even before we heard Mr. Reynolds was visiting Hutchings, we've loved The Dot. The book reminds us that we all have potential, we can all be creators, we can all overcome self-doubt, and we all have something to share. It's another foundational part of our community at Hutchings, and we are excited to share all of these beliefs everyday, including the 15th.
I want to thank you again for your understanding about the late edition of The Hutchings Herald. Thank you also for all the ways you contribute to our wonderful community. You are all integral parts of it. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and let's make it a great week.
Sincerely,
Ben Malecki
Principal
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District Updates:
Work at Hutchings!
We still have a few open positions at Hutchings. We're specifically looking for some special education aides, a general education aide to supervise lunch and recess, and a special education teacher. If you are interested, please reach out to Mr. Malecki or explore all Howell Public Schools Job Postings.
School Meal and Budget Update
Early Friday morning, the Michigan Legislature approved the final State and School Aid Budgets, which will now be sent to the Governor for approval. The final School Aid Budget continues the Michigan School Meals program, which provides universal free meals for all students for the 2025–2026 school year. As such, all students will continue to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each day. Please note that this does not apply to à la carte items. A new requirement in the School Aid Budget is that all families must complete the Child Nutrition, Education Benefits, and Summer EBT Application. Every family must complete this form, as the district could face a financial penalty of 5% of its state-aid funding if applications are not submitted for all families. If your family has not yet completed the application for this school year, please visit https://bit.ly/4nRSLZX to complete one.
Coffee Chat with Superintendent MacGregor
Superintendent MacGregor will host his first Coffee Chat of the school year on Thursday, October 9, from 9–10 a.m. in the Edinburgh Room at the district’s Administrative Offices. This session will focus on the district’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and the many student support programs available in Howell Public Schools. Families and community members are invited to attend. To learn more, please visit https://bit.ly/48e9IbR.
Livingston County Public Safety Trunk or Treat
Mark your calendars for the annual Livingston County Public Safety Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 24, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Livingston County Sheriff's Office. Join the Livingston County Sheriff's Office and local public safety agencies, including EMS, 911, and local fire and police stations, for a fun and safe night of Halloween festivities! Everyone is welcome to attend, and the event is free.
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Counselor's Corner:
Howell Public Schools is committed to helping every student become “Future Ready for college, careers, and life.” This year, our newsletters will feature quick, plug-and-play tips you can use at home to support your child in building the skills they need for a successful future.
Emotional Check-ins
As we near the end of the first quarter, please help remind students about the importance of emotional check-ins. Just like we check in on homework or assignments, it’s also important for students to pause and notice how they’re feeling.
- Pause and ask: “How am I feeling right now?”
- Name the feeling: happy, tired, worried, calm, excited, frustrated, etc.
- Think about what’s needed: deep breathing, a quick break, talking with an adult, or sharing positive energy with others.
- Remember: All feelings are okay — what matters is how we handle them.
- Check in often: in the morning, after recess, or before heading home.
Taking time for these small check-ins helps students understand their emotions, take care of themselves, and show kindness to those around them. This daily practice also builds lifelong skills—helping students become “future ready” with the ability to manage stress, connect with others, and make thoughtful choices.
Kristen Kinney
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Conferences are coming up! Please check with your Husky's teacher to schedule a conference. Conferences are on the following nights:
- Thursday, October 23rd
- Tuesday, October 28th
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Other Important Upcoming Dates:
- October PTO Meeting: Monday, Oct 6 at 6 pm
- Peter Reynolds visits Hutchings: Wednesday, Oct 15
- Fall Break, No School for Students: Monday, Oct 20
- November PTO Meeting: Monday, Nov 10 at 6 pm
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Hutchings Elementary School
3503 Bigelow Rd., Howell, MI 48855
Phone 517.540.8081 | Fax 517.234.6075
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