Hermon Hutchens Elementary School

07/31/2026

Rams, Enrollment is now open for the 2026–2027 school year!

Please complete your student’s annual enrollment and registration forms before the first day of school. Details are available in the original post below or at https://www.valdezcityschools.org/enrollment

📣 2026-2027 Student Enrollment Is Now OPEN! 📣

Families with Returning Students:
Please complete your student's annual enrollment & registration forms online through the PowerSchool Parent Portal or Mobile App. It's quick, easy, and required for all students.

Here's how to register:
➜ Log in to the mobile app, or web-based PowerSchool Parent Portal: https://valdezcityschools.powerschool.com/public/
➜ Select "Forms" (left menu on web, or "More" on mobile app).
➜ Choose the "Enrollment" tab/option.
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Families with New Students (including Pre-K):
Complete the short online Pre-Registration form (no log-in required) at https://valdezcityschools.powerschool.com/public/formbuilder/form.html?formid=179160 . Front office staff will contact you in early August to review required enrollment documents and distribute log-in information to the full online enrollment packet.
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For more detailed information, please visit https://www.valdezcityschools.org/enrollment

After completing registration, we invite families to review our Back to School information (including calendars, bell schedules, supply lists, and event dates) on the website at https://www.valdezcityschools.org/families/2026-2027-school-year-information

We hope everyone is enjoying summer break, but we can't wait to welcome our students back next month!

05/21/2026

Thank you, VFDA, Mr. Kerney, and Mrs. Gibbs, for making this incredible learning experience possible for our students! We are so proud of all the hard work and care that went into raising the coho salmon fry this year. What an amazing opportunity for our students to learn hands on about salmon and stewardship. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to next year’s project!

05/05/2026

We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to City of Valdez Public Works and City of Valdez Parks and Recreation for creating and maintaining our incredible sled hill. This special space brings joy to our students and families, providing a place for fun, connection, and outdoor adventure throughout the winter season.

As a small token of our appreciation, our students have transformed retired sleds into “Sled Art,” showcasing their creativity and gratitude. These pieces are a heartfelt thank you for all the hard work that goes into keeping this beloved community spot safe, accessible, and full of winter magic.

04/27/2026

Join us for a special Meet the Author event with Terri Libenson on Wednesday, April 29!

Students and families from all schools are invited to Hermon Hutchens Elementary School on April 29th at 5:00 PM for a hands-on “Be a Comic Creator” workshop. The Imagination Library will also host a reading station for younger children during the event.

Later that evening, head to the Valdez Consortium Library for a community Meet & Greet and book signing at 7:00 PM. Books will be available for purchase at the event. Valdez Literacy Council will also be selling author Terri Libenson's books for $10 each in the cafeteria Monday through Wednesday - at breakfast, lunch, and after school.

This is a great opportunity for students to connect with a nationally recognized author, explore creativity, and celebrate reading together as a community.

04/17/2026

We’re proud to share that HHES has been awarded the Purple Star School Program designation for 2026–2029!

This recognition reflects our ongoing commitment to supporting military-connected students and families and ensuring every student feels a strong sense of belonging at HHES.

We’re honored to be the first school in Valdez City Schools to receive this designation and look forward to continuing this work in the years ahead.

04/15/2026

Friday, April 17 is Purple Up Day at HHES—a chance to recognize and support our military-connected students and families. These students navigate unique challenges, and we’re proud to honor their resilience and contributions to our school community.

We invite everyone to join us by wearing purple and showing your support. 💜

04/07/2026

Hermon Hutchens Elementary families: Annual state testing begins the week of April 13!

Students in grades 3–5 will take the AK STAR assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, and 5th grade students will also complete the Alaska Science Assessment.

HHES Testing Schedule:
• April 14/15: Math (Grades 3–5)
• April 16/17: ELA (Grades 3–5)
• April 20: Science (Grade 5)
• Make-Ups: April 21–24

You can help your child feel confident and ready by:
→ Keeping routines consistent
→ Ensuring a good night’s sleep
→ Providing a healthy breakfast
→ Getting students to school on time
→ Encouraging a positive mindset

Thank you for your continued support!

04/06/2026

Families in our community may qualify for free summer meals for kids through the Meals To You program.

Meal boxes with breakfasts and lunches are mailed directly to eligible families while school is out.

Applications open April 1 and close April 30. Apply here: foodbankofalaska.org/meals-to-you

04/03/2026

Reminder for families: there will be no school on Monday, April 6, 2026 for all PK-12 students due to a scheduled inservice day.

We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday!

04/03/2026

We’ve been thinking back to last month, and one highlight stands out a tail above the rest: the IditaRead!

Inspired by the spirit of the Iditarod, students worked together to log their reading minutes and help their team “travel” the trail - one book at a time. Classrooms tracked their progress as they read their way across Alaska. Along the journey, students discovered new stories, built strong reading habits, and cheered each other on just like a real race team.

And if you’re wondering who won our IditaRead… Mrs. Shiery’s first grade classroom reached Nome (aka the front office) first!

Thank you to our teachers and families for encouraging reading at home and at school. Every page helped move the teams forward, and every minute spent reading supported a child's future! 🐾📖