MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Kindergarten readiness is top of mind this week as Hutchinson Public Schools prepares to host meet and greet events for incoming students and their families.
On Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m., Ferris Graber, Wiley, Morgan and Lincoln-McCandless elementary schools will welcome families for a special kindergarten event. Allen Elementary, a STEM-focused magnet school, will host its meet and greet Thursday during the same time.
The events are designed to introduce children and families to their new schools and staff in a welcoming, low-pressure environment.
“This is really just a fun opportunity to meet the teachers, principals and other families,” said Stacy Goss USD 308 Director of Communications. “You don’t need to bring any paperwork—it’s just a chance to connect.”
All children who turn 5 on or before Aug. 31 are eligible to attend kindergarten in the fall. For younger children, the district offers the Little Hawks program, which serves children from birth through age 5.
Thanks to the Myrna B. Weeks Donor Advised Fund through the Hutchinson Community Foundation, the district will distribute welcome gifts to approximately 265 incoming kindergarteners. Each gift includes basic school supplies, Play-Doh, and a 100-page summer skills workbook focused on letter recognition, coloring, tracing, fine motor skills and more.
“These are all the things that educators and the state of Kansas say students need to be practicing over the summer,” said Goss. “Some students already know these skills, and some don’t—but we’ll meet them where they are.”
Kindergarten readiness continues to be a key focus for the district, as research shows strong early learning experiences set the tone for long-term academic success. Studies have shown a positive correlation between attending preschool and third-grade math and reading scores.
“We’re deeply invested in early childhood education,” Goss added. “When families are also invested, it helps children enter kindergarten emotionally, socially, physically and academically prepared.”
In addition to in-district support, families are encouraged to take advantage of resources like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides free books to young children.
The district also hinted at broader changes in how kindergarten might be introduced next year, reflecting the evolving needs of incoming students.
“We’re exploring what I’d call a ‘course correction’ in how we begin kindergarten,” Dr. Dawn Johnson, USD 308 Superintendent. “Students today come to us differently than they did 20 years ago. It’s about crawling and walking with them before we expect them to run.”