The Principal's Corner:
There was a video commercial from a while back called, “Here’s to the crazy ones” and it was a promo for Apple Computers that never aired. The commercial highlights the life of many famous change advocates and important people throughout history. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rwsuXHA7RA) However when I hear the title, “Here’s to the crazy ones” I often think of teachers, and yes I’m fully aware that I am/was one of these interesting people.
I think back to when I first started teaching and all of things I tried to do for my students that I would never do around my friends. I had a child who was upset because none of her friends thought singing Disney songs was cool, so I started to memorize Disney songs and sing them out loud in front of 30 students for no other reason than to make one child feel special. I see that same, wacky, over the top love here at Hutchings as well. I see teachers who are totally willing to make a complete fool of themselves if it benefits a child in any possible way. I see staff members willing to admit to students they made a mistake or push out of their comfort zone to show students that sometimes you just have to take a risk.
I remember when I was at 5th grade camp as a teacher I would have to open up to kids about how I used to get scared when I had sleep overs away from home and that it gets better with time. I would never in a million years admit that to my friends or family, but for some reason as a teacher I knew it was my obligation to make sure those kids grew like I did.
As the year winds down I have been giving tours to families that are coming into the Hutchings area or are thinking about joining our family here and the response I have seen from those families has been fantastic. They comment about how they can literally feel the love from staff towards the students in the building, they talk about how helpful everyone is at the building, and they talk about how mature our students are in the hallways or classrooms.
Most people who come into the building always ask me how I know every students name and I never really have a good answer to that question. I normally say that I am in classrooms every day and that I make it a point to interact with students or something about how important I feel it is to call students by their name to make sure they know I care about them. But the real answer, the answer I would tell my students if I was a teacher, the open and vulnerable answer to that question is far different. I know every students name in the building because I have this crazy, weird, hard-to-define passion that I cannot contain. This results in caring so much about the students that it would be impossible for me to not know their names, because when I see them in the hallways or classrooms I want to make it the best part of their day, and you cannot do that if you don’t know their name.
That same energy is felt throughout the building with all our staff and our volunteers as well which is why when I go into the community and I hear the word Hutchings the next sentence I normally hear is about how awesome the staff is. So as the year winds down, and I have to battle my own emotions about the 5th graders who are leaving us here soon (can they stay is that an option?) I wanted to make sure we revisited the message that I speak to incoming Kindergarten families. We love your kids as our own and it is a great pleasure to get to work with them every day.
Mr. Moore
Counselor’s Corner
Summer time! It’s just around the corner! With summer vacation comes free time for children. Lots of it. At times, parents may even wonder what to have their children do during the months where the days are long and the structure of the school year is gone. One simple, low-cost or no-cost suggestion for summertime fun is unstructured time outdoors. There are many benefits to this. Megan Delaney, an assistant professor in the Department of Professional Counseling at Monmouth University in New Jersey, takes it one step further. She shares that research suggests a connection between the increase in anxiety and depression in children and their disconnection with nature. She also says that there is a loss of free play in nature. If children are indeed outside at all, it’s controlled.
We all know that it’s beneficial and fun for children to play outside. Even playing outside for as little as five minutes a day can boost well-being! In addition, time spent outdoors can improve relationship skills, reduce stress and aggression, help with the ability to focus, reduce symptoms of ADHD, and improve impulse control.
So.. here are some ideas for summertime fun in the sun!
- Have some “outdoor only” playdates. No tablets or video games allowed! Give your children some basic tools - like a stick, a ball, and a blanket, and let their imaginations run wild!
- Go for a walk outdoors. This can be especially helpful for people with anxiety and struggles with social skills. Walking side-by-side rather than looking the other person face-to-face can help some people engage more easily in conversation.
- Plant a garden.
- Have an outdoor picnic.
- Blow bubbles! This is also a great deep breathing exercise to help children learn to calm themselves. A helpful tip for proper deep breathing is to breathe in through your nose and to fill your belly with air, then exhale slowly through your mouth. Pretend a rope is pulling on your belly or rest your hand on your stomach so you can feel this area expand as you inhale.
- Spend time outdoors with animals. Take the dog for a walk, read aloud outside to the dog, visit an outdoor petting zoo, or play “I Spy” to search for various animals that can be found in your backyard.
- Find some unique rocks in your yard and have your children paint them. Then let them find a special new outdoor home for their beautifully painted rock.
- Visit a local park or playground!
- Play with sidewalk chalk. Let your young Picasso have artistic freedom on your sidewalk or driveway while working on fine motor skills!
- Check with your local library or local newspaper for outdoor adventure ideas.
We wish you all the best as you plan and prepare for this coming summer!
Your Partner in Education,
Jennifer Starkey
School Counselor
MacGregor's Message:
Summer Lunch Bunch
Once again, The Salvation Army of Livingston County will be hosting its summer meal program The Summer Lunch Bunch at several locations in our community. The Summer Lunch Bunch is a free community meals program that ensures access to plentiful food during the summer months. Summer Lunch Bunch is not just about free food! Just as important is the fun, featuring guest speakers, games, prizes, contests, art, science, nutrition, literacy, physical education and more. Summer Lunch Bunch is a great meeting place for friends, and everyone is welcome! For more information on the Summer Lunch Bunch, please click here