Patient Program
If a student is a patient, he or she is encouraged to start school on arrival in Seattle. Even a short visit to see the school and meet the teachers will help students feel connected and enable us to design a program that meets individual needs. or contact information can be found on the contact page. If that’s not possible, we will come meet the students in the hospital.

Our goal is to provide educational continuity throughout the treatment process. We also recognize the tremendous learning that occurs as a result of the medical treatment and help translate that learning to the home schools. Whether in-patient or out-patient, we will do our best to provide school in a way that best suits the needs of our patient students, primarily with 1:1 tutoring, although also in small groups with a doctor’s approval. Typically, a patient's academic needs are met by the teachers at Hutch School, with the teachers at Children's Hospital assisting while the students are in-patients.

Grades K – 3 Primary Family Member Program
“Life at Hutch School is probably different from your home school. We have mixed-aged classrooms, usually a smaller setting, and a shorter day. The work your children do will not be the exact same work they would be doing at home. The ultimate goal of school during the first four years in any setting however, is the same. The goals are: to foster independence, confidence and a love of learning; to make friends, learn to work together and respect individual differences; to make progress towards fluency in reading, writing, and mathematics; to pose and solve problems; and to learn to ask questions and pursue answers. At Hutch School your child will be engaged in a variety of activities that will provide opportunities to grow emotionally, socially, cognitively and physically.

Once you have enrolled we will contact your child’s teacher at his/her home school. We will send a report to the school when it is time for your child to return, answer questions the teacher may have and help in the transition home in any way that seems appropriate.

What to bring:
Please bring the contact information for your child’s current school, address, phone number, and email. It is fine if a student leaves all books at home; Hutch School can provide all supplies and materials. It is also fine if someone wants to bring a math, spelling or phonics workbook. Our program is tailored to meet individual needs.”

Eileen Hynes
Primary Teacher

Grades 4 – 7 Middle School Family Member Program
“The intermediate and middle school years are unique for any child and involve several formidable times in a student’s life. During this time we want the students to feel confident, safe and to find their voice as a learner if they have not already. We believe that the sense of community we create together, the balance between individual and group work, and using Seattle as our classroom all contribute to a successful learning environment while students are here. Because they will be returning to their home schools, we will continue contact with their teachers to receive information about individual needs, strengths, and essential assignments, if any. We have small class sizes and many talented volunteers who help students progress at their own rates. Our multiage setting enhances the learning dynamics in class. Our classroom is a very kind place where the students feel comfortable to talk about what they are experiencing, while also going through "normal" adolescent times. When a student returns to their home school, we write a narrative report detailing what they accomplished while at Hutch School.

What to bring:
We ask that you bring information to contact a student's home school. The school's address, e-mail, telephone number, and a contact name are useful. Students do not need to bring any of their textbooks. However, if they would like to use them, we will incorporate them into their program. The books that can be useful are their math books, foreign language, spelling, and any novels they are currently reading. We do provide an individualized program for each student.”

Ann Marie Slevin
Middle School Teacher

Grades 8 – 12 High School Family Member Program
The Hutch School probably doesn't resemble most of our students' home schools, but in general, our students love going to this school and are able to make an easy transition back to their home schools. It is not uncommon for our students to actually be ahead of their classmates at home in some of their classes.

As the high school teacher, my goals are to keep students current with their home classes, to expose students to learning opportunities and methods they may not have previously experienced, and to support them emotionally during a tough time.

YOUR HOME SCHOOL
I will contact home schools and make certain that we are taking care of your student's required course. Generally speaking, I prefer to negotiate with the home school in general subject areas like History and Language Arts. I believe students learn more when they learn together. i would rather all my students were reading the same novel and having group discussions and assignments, rather than each student reading a different book.

There will undoubtedly be some subjects (like Math) where it is important that the student be doing the same work as the home school students. in these cases, I ask the counselors or home teachers to provide a detailed outline with dates to accompany completion.

GRADES
I give grades. I know what work the students have achieved, what discussions they have participated in, and what learning they have accomplished. If the home school insists on giving grades (extremely rare) they can. I'm flexible!

FINALS
If students have been away from their home schools for a considerable amount of time, I will recommend to the home school that students be excused from final exams.

OTHER TESTS
I can arrange SATs, Regents, Driver's Ed, Welding Classes, etc. Just ask.

HOMEWORK
There will be homework, but I try to keep it to a minimum. Evenings should be a time when students can visit parents in the hospital and be with their families. i will, however, assign reading on a daily basis.

FIELD TRIPS
These are part of our curriculum and high school students are expected to attend. A big part of this program is about introducing students to Seattle and its many cultural rewards.

Please feel free to call me about any concerns you may have. I am happy to conference with parents and will come to the hospital to do this.

Margaret Flatness & Maggie Chambers
High School Teachers