Hutchison School

Hutchison School is an private, independent college preparatory day school for girls age 2 through 12th grade located in Memphis, Tennessee.

History

Hutchison School was founded by Mary Grimes Hutchison in 1902. The first few years of the school included the training of young boys and girls by Miss Hutchison alone. One of its most famous early pupils was Richard Halliburton, who grew up to be an adventurer and travel writer. By 1913, six girls had graduated and Miss Hutchison's School was established as a college preparatory school for girls. Miss Hutchison would remain the school's owner and principal for the next thirty-four years. In 1925, the school moved to 1925 Union Avenue where there was a larger campus consisting of three buildings, the main building where academic classes were held, the gymnasium, and the cottage which served as Miss Hutchison's home, and also as the music and art studios, lunch room and kindergarten.

In 1947, Dr. and Mrs. William R. Atkinson purchased the school and became its directors. In July, 1954, Miss Hutchison's School was chartered as a non-profit, independent day school for girls. Dr. Atkinson retired as Head of School in 1959, ceding leadership to the school’s third headmaster, Dr. Robert Dewese Lynn. Mrs. Atkinson remained on staff as Dean of Students until 1964, the year in which the school formally changed its name to Hutchison School and relocated to its present campus at 1740 Ridgeway Road.

Academics

Hutchison offers a college preparatory program with opportunities in arts, athletics, leadership, community service, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, wellness, internships/fellowships, pre-professional art certifications, etc.^[3][4]

• Early Childhood: Little Hive (2-year-olds), Pre-Kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten
• Lower School: 1st–4th grade
• Middle School: 5th–8th grade
• Upper School: 9th–12th grade

Athletics

Their championship athletic program fields more than 70 teams across 12 different sports for grades K-12 including basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and trap. The program holds many athletic championship titles and many players have gone on to play collegiately.^[5]

Fine arts

Their fine arts program is nationally recognized for producing pre-professional artists and actors. Many have gone on to national or international acclaim for their work. Offerings include ballet and modern dance, digital design and communications, music, theatre, and visual arts. Girls train with faculty who are also professional artists.^[6]

In the 600 seat Wiener Theater, the Hutchison theater department holds award winning plays several times a year. Rob Jolly directed the theater in the early 80s, featuring Oliver!, starring Academic Dean Mr. Leonard Frey as Fagin and Chris Donovan as Oliver.

Hutchison Alumna, Anne Marie Caskey, took the helm in 1990, transforming the department. Upcoming programs are listed here: https://www.hutchisonschool.org/page/programs/arts/theatre-box-office

Sandra Ellis Henson joined the Hutchison faculty in 1974 as a fifth grade social studies teacher. In 1976, the students named her "Miss Bicentennial" in a play they produced as they studied the nation's 200th anniversary. Sandra Henson became the Director of the Learning Center where she introduced many creative programs to Hutchison students, including Future Problem Solving, Odyssey of the Mind, and Destination Imagination. The Hutchison students have won the Global Finals in Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imaganation several times.

Leadership, service and entrepreneurship

Girls have the opportunity to participate in service, leadership, global trips, and entrepreneurial projects through Hutchison Leads, Hutchison Serves, and Hutchison Invests.^[7]

Faculty

More than 75% of Hutchison faculty hold advanced degrees. Faculty collaborate across divisions and subjects to encourage well-rounded educational learning and critical thinking. Professional development is widely encourage to foster continued educational growth and knowledge of emerging trends. https://www.hutchisonschool.org/page/about-us/fast-facts

Technology

Girls are introduced to technology in the classroom beginning in the early childhood program. Beginning in fifth grade, each girl is assigned her own laptop. The school's one-to-one laptop program has been in existence for more than a decade.

World language program

Hutchison's world languages program introduces girls to Spanish and Chinese in early childhood. In middle school they also can study Latin. By seventh grade, girls choose a language to continue until graduation. In upper school, girls are encouraged to attend a global trip. By graduation, Hutchison girls can speak conversationally, and many are considered proficient in Chinese or Spanish.^[8]

Notable alumnae

• Margaret Polk, namesake for the Memphis Belle
• Sarah Jane Morris, American actress
• Louise Fitzhugh, author
• Dana Buchman, designer
• Lisa Patton, author
• Virginia Williams, actress
• [http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/south-park-magazine/article9194774.html Mary Tabor Engel, Class of 1982, journalist, arts advocate

References

External links

• Hutchison School

[[Category:Schools in Memphis, Tennessee]