Ruahmah J. Hutchings Elementary School

Dear Families,

 

After college I had the opportunity to travel abroad for a while before I officially entered the workforce. During the trip, I ended up on the west coast of Ireland at a location called the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs were absolutely fantastic, breathtaking, and every other superlative you can think of. As I left, I thought that would be the highlight of the entire trip.

 

I went to get lunch at this hole in the wall and sat down next to a shepherd. I did not know at the time he was a shepherd but as we started to talk he told me about his farm down the road, the sheep he has, and this incredible system of dog whistles that he uses to round up sheep on his land. As we were talking he told me that he had to “go outback for a spell” because the dogs needed to chase the sheep away from the road. I asked him if I could watch this, and he said “absolutely.” 

 

It was incredible. With four different pitches of whistle, he was able to move the dogs on the hill and bring these sheep back from the road into a pen that was no bigger than a soccer goal. I was blown away at the intelligence and responsiveness of the dogs and asked him how he trained these dogs to do that. He responded with, “It’s not how you train them all the time; it's how you care for them. You let them know the calls, and then you reward the good and teach away the rest.” We talked for a bit longer, and I suggested that he become a teacher with that mindset, to which he laughed and said, “Herding the sheep is easier than herding the wee little ones!”

 

I didn’t expect to get an education in caring for people on the west side of Ireland from a shepherd during lunch; however, oftentimes in life learning doesn’t always come from a book or even an individual task. Instead it comes to us through working with others who may view the world differently. 

 

Howell Schools has launched what we call Future Ready, which aims to equip our students with the skills they need to be successful later in life. A big focus at Hutchings Elementary in this process is caring for other people and that other people matter. This is demonstrated in many of the programs we run here at the school from T.I.E.S. to the Extra Recess Program. If you are looking for language to use with your kids at home to support that work here at the school feel free to say, other people matter.

 

I’ll never forget the way the water hit those cliffs in Ireland, and when I see that image on my phone I am reminded of possibly one of the most important lessons I’ve learned in my life. It’s not always about the training; it’s about the caring.

Mr. Moore

 

 

Stop By and Visit the Highlander Reading Express Tomorrow

The Highlander Reading Express will be out in Downtown Howell tomorrow, Saturday, September 25, as part of Downtown Day. The Highlander Reading Express will be parked near the historic courthouse on Grand River, giving out free books. Additionally, there will be special offers from downtown businesses and even some give-a-ways. 

 

#OneHowell Committee

To ensure that Howell Public Schools continues to meet the needs of our students today and into the future, the district is forming the #OneHowell committee. The committee will review the district’s current strategic plan and revise it into an adaptive plan to guide the district for the next several years. The plan will align with the district’s  Portrait of a Highlander, which outlines the skills and abilities that our students need when they leave Howell Public Schools for the next chapter of their lives. To learn more about the #OneHowell Committee or apply to be a member of it, please visit https://bit.ly/3o4U4bC. 

 

Covid-19 Process and Options

With the recent addition of the Livingston County Health Department’s (LCHD) Alternate Quarantine Option and other changes to the quarantine process, the district has completed a document that includes its case identification process and each of the quarantine options approved by LCHD. To view this document, please visit https://bit.ly/3u9bPrd. 

 

School Meals and Free and Reduced Meal Applications 

Thanks to several USDA waivers, all students will receive school meals for free this year. This applies to full breakfasts and lunches but not ala carte items. While school meals will be free for everyone, it is very important that families who would typically be eligible to receive free or reduced-price school meals still complete a free and reduced meal application. The district receives federal and state funding based on the number of eligible families in the district. Qualifying families may also receive additional benefits, such as discounted college application fees and access to supplemental meal programs. To learn more about these benefits, please visit https://bit.ly/2Xxqhx0. To complete a free and reduced meal application, please visit https://bit.ly/2z6nDlP.

 

 

Counselor’s Corner

As we ease into the 2021-2022 school year, we would like to remind you of a program that we offer for our families.  All schools in the district participate in a supplemental food program entitled Weekend Survival Kits.  A typical kit will contain approximately two weekends’ worth of food servings that are discreetly sent home with students every other Friday throughout the school year.  The kits are free to eligible children who currently qualify for free or reduced school meals. Your family must complete a free or reduced price school meal application to participate. The application can be found at https://bit.ly/2z6nDlP.   

 

The contents of the food kits vary from month to month.   However, some commonly included items are boxes of macaroni & cheese,  individual apple sauce servings, peanut butter, oatmeal packets, granola bars, canned soup and fruit snacks.  Breakfast items are always a priority in the kits.  Additionally, the meals are easy to prepare!  

 

Weekend Survival Kit application forms will be sent home with your child soon.   If you are interested in participating in the program, please complete the form and return it to your child’s school.  If you have more than one child, you only need to submit this form to one school.  There is no need to fill out the form again if you participated in the program last school year.  And remember, there is no cost for your family to participate in this incredible program!

 

If you have any questions, please reach out!   Additional information about the Weekend Survival Kit program can be found by visiting www.weekendsurvivalkits.org.

 

Your Partner in Education,

 

Sarah Marker
School Counselor 

 

Important Dates

• September 29th - School Picture Day
• October 15th - No School
• October 18th - No School
• October 21st - Conferences
• October 28th - Conferences