Little Hive Girls Build Their Own Winter Wonderland
While the weather outside is frightful, Ms. Hollingsworth and Ms. Aguilar’s Little Hive girls are staying warm and cozy in their own igloo built entirely from milk jugs.
What started as a spark of curiosity in music class turned into a hands-on engineering challenge in Ms. Hollingsworth and Ms. Aguilar’s classroom in our early childhood division. After a snow day, music teacher Heather Short incorporated the wintry weather into her class and sang songs about the season with the girls.
Winter, snow, and seasonal animals were all our youngest bees could talk about when they got back to their classroom. Ms. Hollingsworth and Ms. Aguilar then taught the girls about how some animals live underground while others inhabit igloos, which they were excited to hear about. Their interest grew from there, and our teachers knew they wanted to do more with igloos.
After our girls collected milk jugs from their families and neighbors for a month, their problem-solving skills were put to the test. They built and rebuilt their igloo three times, experimenting with different techniques to make sure it was sturdy. Now, they’re having a blast playing inside their igloo and gliding on a nearby "skating rink.” What a fun and creative way to experience the joy of winter!
This is a strong example of how our early childhood teachers follow the Reggio Emilia style, engaging the girls through hands-on projects and real-life experiences that are relevant to them. Following our girls’ natural curiosity and sense of wonder sets them up for future academic success and a lifelong love of learning.
Ali Chesney was presented with the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of individuals furthering the early environmental education of youth.
One of our most highly decorated athletes, Ava’s accolades speak for themself: Daily Memphian Player of the Year, Commercial Appeal All-Metro Player of the Year, a TSSAA Miss Basketball finalist, four-time All-Region selection, and a 1,000+ career point scorer.
Hutchison’s assistant head of school is the first recipient of the Lynn Parkes Award, which is given to a former student-athlete who has had a profound impact on the community through women's athletics.
Hutchison Now highlights graduates early in their careers who embody how a Hutchison education can lead anywhere you can imagine. We spoke with Gaby Nair ’14, Ph.D., a Postgraduate Research Associate in Politics at Princeton University, where she recently completed her PhD in political theory. She is also a former Morehead-Cain Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Hutchison is thrilled to announce that Kristan Ash will be leading the Hutchison lacrosse program. She steps into the role of Varsity Head Coach starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
We asked Kristen Farmer Davis ’99 about some of her past experiences, how those influence her work with Hutchison students today, and what she’s excited about in her new role.
Hutchison’s Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum weaves critical skills development throughout the school day. As girls progress to the next grade and beyond, they revisit the same traits that they first learned in Early Childhood.
Congratulations to the 18 middle and upper school girls who won Scholastic Writing Awards in the recent Alliance for Young Artists & Writers competition!
It’s a special memory for Gabrielle Arkle ’12. When she was younger, she visited the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. The museum features more than 150 restored aircraft representing the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard aviation.
If there’s one thing Elizabeth Blankenship-Singh ’08 knows about, it’s pivoting. It’s something she has done successfully several times and something she believes Hutchison prepared her well for.