Hutchison Viewbook

What Makes Her a Hutchison Girl?

Viewbook

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

—WILLIAM

FOR GENERATIONS OF GIRLS,

B U T L E R Y E AT S

Hutchison School has

been a flame that ignites the joy of learning. With a rich history of more than 100 years in academics, Hutchison has set in motion an educational process through which girls discover their intellectual strengths and life aspirations in an unparalleled learning environment. We believe that cultivating an eager mind is the strongest assurance that education will continue throughout a lifetime. Our campus is aglow with the minds of girls and young women who are learning to seek, to question, and to express themselves. With one foot firmly planted in the fertile soil of history and experience and the other marching boldly into the future, Hutchison provides girls with an opportunity to learn and grow in a unique, enriching all-girls environment.

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The All-Girl Advantage F I R S T A N D F O R E M O S T,

Hutchison is a school for girls, not merely a school

without boys. The all-girl environment gives students distinct learning advantages.

Hutchison capitalizes on specific teaching strategies and dynamics proven to work best for the ways girls think, learn, and interact. Within a framework of rigorous academics coupled with cutting-edge technology and superior facilities, girls learn through a holistic approach to education. Artistic expression, athletic accomplishment, and character development are as important as scholastic achievement. Fostering the development of strong bonds among students and teachers, small class sizes at every grade level encourage class participation and guarantee a high degree of individualized attention. In this environment, each girl possesses infinite value, and each voice is encouraged and heard.

Hutchison’s legacy and tradi tion establish a solid foundation for lifelong learning upon which continued success is built. Academic excellence, outstanding faculty and facilities, and opportunities to pursue a wide array of artistic, athletic, and extracurricular experiences make Hutchison a unique school.

Here, girls, growing into balanced young women, are inspired to hone their natural gifts and to cultivate new skills to lead thoughtful and consequential lives. Through an education that celebrates the individual, enriches the whole person, and stresses the importance of community, a Hutchison girl graduates as a confident, intelligent young woman, prepared for college and the visionary leadership roles that will shape the complex world of her future.

Hutchison girls graduate as confident, intelligent young women.

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O U R

M I S S I O N

Hutchison School is dedicated to academic excellence and to the parallel development of mind, body, and spirit as it educates young women for success in college and for lives of integrity and responsible citizenship.

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School Community and Environment T O C R E AT E A N E N V I R O N M E N T

conducive to learning at the

highest level and to transform young, bright girls into strong, brilliant women,

FACILITIES Abston Early Childhood Center Athletic Facilities Dobbs Field Dunavant Gymnasium

Hutchison chooses and designs its resources with the needs of female students

Dunavant-Wellford Tennis Complex

in mind. Our serene 52-acre campus is an ideal backdrop for educational adven-

Goodlett Athletic Center

tures, with the lake, courtyard, and woodland trails providing a natural outdoor laboratory for study, exploration, and creative inspiration. In a college-like

NBA-size Basketball Courts

setting, Hutchison’s facilities are fully equipped to meet the individual needs of

Recreational Swimming Pool

our diverse student body —scholars,

Regulation-size Track

artists, and athletes alike.

Lacrosse & Soccer Fields

Each academic division functions

Volleyball Courts

as its own uniquely designed com-

Weight Room

munity, carefully structured for the

Buxton Fine Arts Center

appropriate developmental stage of its girls to inspire achievement and

Black Box Lab Theatre

forge a love of learning. Within the

Drawing & Painting Studios

rhythm of our wireless campus, all early childhood and lower school girls have

Music Computer Lab

access to computers, while middle and upper school girls, through our individual laptop program, have a wealth of information at their fingertips.

The Hutchison faculty uses exciting and innovative teaching strategies, promoting student-driven exploration to cultivate intellectual curiosities and to guide girls on purposeful quests for knowledge. Experts in their own fields of instruction, teachers become mentors, coaches, advisors, and advocates who take a personal interest in the success of each student and motivate girls to become lifelong learners.

C O - E D G E C O O R D I N AT E P R O G R A M

Because we realize that forming positive working and social relationships with boys is an important aspect of a girl’s development, we offer students

Music Practice Room Pottery Room Wiener Theater Dobbs Academic Building Classrooms for Lower & Middle Schools & Center for Excellence Labry Hall for Upper School Robinson Center for Senior Kindergarten & Lower School Russell Chapel

beginning in seventh grade numerous opportunities to participate in Co-Edge, our coordinate program with adjacent Memphis University School for boys.

Through a wide variety of academic seminars, leadership development workshops, fine arts offerings, civic and community service projects, social events,

Wilson Advanced Learning Center Morrow Children’s Library Walker Library

and shared swimming, track, and tennis facilities, Co-Edge offers enriching experiences and brings the best of both worlds to Hutchison and MUS students while maintaining each school’s commitment to single-gender education.

Brinkley Building for Middle School Science Labs

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EARLY CHILDHOOD ACADEMIC OFFERINGS Art Art History Ballet Chinese Early Literacy Journal Writing Keyboarding Mathematics Movement Music Science Science Lab Social Studies

Early Childhood Pre-Kindergarten, Junior Kindergarten, and Senior Kindergarten B R I G H T. B O L D . B L O S S O M I N G .

These words accurately

describe the budding young students in our early childhood division. Presented in a nurturing and stimulating environment, early childhood activities are carefully designed to develop the academic, creative, physical, and social skills of each little girl. An interdisciplinary curriculum and innovative teaching approach using thematic units quench these young thirsty minds and foster a joy of learning and discovery.

Small group and individualized reading and writing instruction keeps an early childhood girl appropriately challenged as she masters literacy skills.

Teaching mathematics within the context of everyday life makes math fun and exciting; manipulatives reinforce underlying con-

Spanish

cepts and introduce girls to

Technology

abstract operations. Science, social studies, Spanish, computer, dance, creative movement, and art are woven into a rich tapestry of daily experiences designed to ignite curiosity, promote hands-on learning, and foster independent reasoning.

Our early childhood faculty and staff have created a unique program that builds self-esteem and confidence in each girl while she discovers how to work both independently and with others, accept responsibility, and contribute meaningfully as a member of a group. As her literacy leaps forward, she experiences success and forges new relationships with her classmates, teachers, and girls in the larger Hutchison community.

Hutchison fosters a joy of learning.

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“Hutchison is a school full of happy little girls who are eager to learn. Our daughter jumps out of bed in the morning already planning her day ahead and comes home excited to share her daily adventures. Hutchison is a world of endless learning in a fun and creative environment.

The school’s teaching philosophy takes into account the sensibilities of young girls and engages them in a way that makes the world a more interesting place to discover.”

– Lucia Heros, Early Childhood Parent

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“When I sought a school for my three-year-olds, what I wanted most was a place that would embrace them and tell them they were special. Ten years later, I scarcely could have imagined how broad that embrace would become. It has encompassed each girl’s unique learning style within a rigorous, challenging curriculum. It has instilled in all the girls a confidence not only to cultivate their natural talents, but also to venture into the unknown. The security of that embrace has encouraged them to develop intellectual curiosity, artistic expression, social integrity, and athletic fortitude.”

— Ellen Austin, Lower and Middle School Parent

Lower School Grades One through Four AS A YOUNG GIRL PR OGRESSES

through Lower School, dramatic

changes take place —intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Surrounded by a supportive and caring community, a lower school girl experiences the joy of childhood and new discovery as she engages in studies that are cognitively, creatively, and physically challenging.

Hutchison’s approach encourages each girl to develop self-confidence and initiative as she finds success in becoming an independent learner and problem solver.

Research shows that females excel in

LOWER SCHOOL ACADEMIC OFFERINGS

the use of language and auditory skills at

Art

an early age, and Hutchison capitalizes on

Ballet

these strengths to broaden and develop

Chinese

scientific and mathematical skills in con-

Health

junction with language arts. At each grade

Language Arts/ English

level, interdisciplinary units in all curricula areas combine student-engaged learning with a rich mixture of small group and individual skill development activities.

Lower school Spanish instruction follows Hutchison’s world language philosophy of proficiency over exposure. Extending beyond a standard program of memorization and repetition, girls continue to participate in conversational Spanish classes four days a week.

Mathematics Music, Instrumental & Choral Physical Education Science Science Lab Social Studies Spanish Technology

The course material covered often corresponds with the unit they are studying in science.

As a young girl develops, she grapples with her desire to emulate the older girls in her life.

In Hutchison’s all-girls environment, older students interact with younger girls on a regular basis, providing positive role models and ample opportunity for greater bonding experiences that instill a sense of community, cooperation, and confidence.

Lower school girls become problem solvers.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL ACADEMIC OFFERINGS

Middle School Grades Five through Eight

Algebra I Algebra II

MIDDLE SCHOOL M ARKS A TIME

of great change in a young girl’s

American Studies

life. Hutchison’s approach in Middle School is tailored to fit this unique time.

Art

Caring and concerned teachers support girls in their academic pursuits and

Chinese

facilitate the development of critical

Co-Edge Facing History Seminar

thinking skills, positive peer relationships,

Creativity & Problem Solving

ricular areas.

and interests in a wide array of extracur-

Middle school girls participate in stu-

Dance

dent-initiated learning opportunities that

Drama

challenge them to apply concepts, predict

Earth Science

outcomes, synthesize information, explore

Geography

ideas, and find their own voices. Their eyes

Health

are opened to the relationship between the

Language Arts/ English

classroom and the real world. Current events are more meaningful when consid-

Latin Life Science Mathematics Music, Instrumental & Choral Orchestra Physical Education Physical Science Pre-Algebra Social Studies Spanish World History For a complete listing of middle school academic courses, please refer to the Program of Studies.

ered through the lens of history during the Co-Edge Facing History seminar series.

Math lessons become more relevant when coupled with marketing exercises using real-world companies and online research to spark imaginations.

Successful counseling and advisory programs provide critical academic and emotional support. Each student meets weekly with a faculty advisor and group of her peers to discuss issues and to develop the skills needed to make ethical and moral decisions, handle academic challenges, and engage in positive interpersonal relationships.

A Hutchison education enables a middle school girl to define herself, her interests, her passions, and her strengths. She gains confidence and poise after experiencing success both in and out of the classroom , helping to clarify her vision of her future.

Girls learn to define themselves.

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“I love our laptop program. It makes learning easier and more fun and helps me stay organized. Instead of having different binders for every subject, I have my own digital notebook that has all my classes, assignments, notes, online books, and research right there. Now, everything I need is at my fingertips all day long and even at home.”

— Caroline Orr, sixth grader

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“The value of my education at Hutchison was not necessarily in the substance or the actual material that I learned here. It was not in my ability to quote Shakespeare, to find the area under a curve, to write a term paper, or to dissect a frog. All of these learning experiences together taught me something much more valuable— they taught me to think. They taught me to ask questions, to research, and to analyze. To put it simply, my education at Hutchison prepared me to learn. And learning is the most valuable skill I use everyday.”

— Meg Thomas, Hutchison Class of 1988; University of Richmond, Class of 1992; Human Resources Manager, Google, Inc.

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UPPER SCHOOL ADVANCED HONORS AND AP ACADEMIC OFFERINGS

Upper School Grades Nine through Twelve A HUTCHISON UPPER SCHOOL GIRL ACQUIRES

more than

just a sense of self; she gains self-knowledge and defines who she is through her roles as leader, follower, friend, student, mentor, creator, and problem solver. In an atmosphere that celebrates diverse strengths, talents, and interests, she values the dignity and worth of each individual.

Resourceful and resilient with a strong sense of purpose, she excels in a strong academic program grounded in the liberal arts.

Her college preparatory foundation includes honors, advanced placement, and college counseling classes with college choices extending from coast to coast. Each year Hutchison girls receive recognition as National Merit and Advanced Placement scholars.

Hutchison’s innovative block schedule, similar to a college schedule, provides girls with greater autonomy and flexibility in completing their coursework and develops critical time management skills that allow girls to participate fully in extracurricular activities.

Classes meeting every other day on a six-day rotation facilitate meaningful lessons and allow for sustained work, independent exploration, and collaboration with classmates and teachers.

Each girl truly can have an individualized experience at Hutchison—no two educational journeys are necessarily alike, but all are uniquely enriching. A Hutchison student can tread confidently, knowing that the road ahead is hers to explore as she strives for excellence in all of her future endeavors.

Students develop a strong sense of purpose.

Advanced Honors English I & II Advanced Honors English III & IV AP English III & IV Advanced Honors Algebra II Advanced Honors Geometry Advanced Honors Pre-Calculus AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC Advanced Honors French IV AP French IV & V Advanced Honors Latin II Advanced Honors Latin III AP Latin IV Advanced Honors Spanish IV AP Spanish V Advanced Honors European History AP European History AP American Government AP U.S. History Advanced Honors World History AP World History Advanced Honors Heritage of Western Civilization and Cultures Advanced Honors Chemistry AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Physics B AP Physics C AP Studio Art— Drawing AP Studio Art— 3D Design AP Music Theory For a complete listing of upper school academic courses, please refer the Program of Studies.

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The Arts Early Childhood through Upper School A N I N T E G R A L PA RT

of a complete education, the Hutchison fine arts

curriculum enables girls in Early Childhood through Upper School to acquire an aesthetic foundation that opens their ARTS OFFERINGS

minds to creative problem solving, origi-

Acting I, II, III, & IV

of art in its many forms. The depth of

AP Art History

instruction and breadth of fine arts

Ballet

offerings in visual arts, music, dance, and

Chorus

theatre demonstrate Hutchison’s com-

Dance

mitment to providing the highest level of

Drawing & Painting

arts instruction in the region. Within this

Experiments in Playwriting & Directing

enriching environment, girls develop

Film Production

interests, becoming active participants in shared journeys of inspiration.

Film Seminar Lower, Middle, and Upper School Choral Groups

nal expression, and a lifelong appreciation

their artistic talents and identify new

A faculty of experienced arts educators and practicing arts professionals nurture, mentor, and motivate students as they participate in a world of stimulating art experiences. Girls of all ages create and exhibit original works and perform on stage in recitals, concerts, and theatrical productions. Through an interdiscipli-

Media Communications

nary approach, the exchanges of ideas across academic and artistic disciplines

AP Music Theory

strengthen instruction and forge meaningful connections to the world.

Orchestra Photography Private Art, Music, & Voice Lessons

The Arts Academy The Arts Academy at Hutchison is a school within a school. The Academy

Stagecraft

encourages students to approach traditional artistic learning with open minds

Studio Art I & II

without preconceptions or boundaries. Available to students of all ages with an

Summer Modern Dance Intensive

interest in visual arts, music, theatre or dance, the Arts Academy offers study on

Summer Studio Art Intensive Theatre Company Please refer to the Center for Excellence catalogue for additional art offerings.

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many different levels from introductory workshops to pre-professional training.

The Academy’s Certificate of Arts Program allows upper school girls to advance their studies with the goal of making the arts a career or lifelong focus. Arts educators, highly respected artists in their own right, guide students as they cultivate artistic expression, exploration, and risk-taking through comprehensive studies designed to build and refine their talents.

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Athletics and Fitness Early Childhood through Upper School STARTING WITH OUR YOUNGEST GIRLS ,

physical development

is recognized as essential to a girl’s well-being. Sports opportunities, physical fitness, health, and wellness programs build personal character and develop physical strength and coordination. Through early childhood movement classes, lower and middle school physical education offerings, upper school fitness programs,

learns to understand and strengthen her

ATHLETIC TEAM OFFERINGS

body as she grows and makes healthy

Basketball

choices throughout her life.

Bowling

as well as team sports, a Hutchison girl

The athletic program at Hutchison

Cross-country

conveys positive values and promotes

Dance Team

responsibility, commitment, coopera-

Golf

tion, sportsmanship, and excellence

Lacrosse

in individual and team efforts. Highly

Soccer

experienced coaches, state-of-the-art

Swimming

athletic facilities, and cheering fans

Tennis

lend strong support to our athletes. With recreational team sports beginning in

Track

the third grade, girls acquire skill definition and confidence that support their

Volleyball

participation in both recreational and competitive team play through Middle School and Upper School. Each year our outstanding program reflects the proficiency of our many successful recreational, competitive, junior varsity, and varsity teams. Our coaching staff guides the girls as they hone their talents, experience the fellowship of teamwork, and understand the value of good sportsmanship.

“Being a student-athlete at Hutchison helped shape me into a wellrounded person. Working together with my teammates taught me how to work as a group member, to be a leader, and to set goals. Time management is a necessity throughout life; by participating in athletics, I learned to utilize my time well as I balanced school and sports. Lastly, I developed an appreciation for the hard work that mobilizes achievements. My experience as a student-athlete enhanced my years at Hutchison, and the valuable lessons learned are gifts that I apply throughout my life.”

—Megan Gibson, Hutchison Class of 2006 17

College Preparation CONSIDERED AND THOUGHTFUL PLANNING

for each girl’s

educational journey provides her with a firm foundation for college and for life. With 100 percent of Hutchison graduates attending four-year colleges and universities across the country, we are committed to shaping the unique promise and potential in each girl.

Beginning with pre-kindergarten and continuing through Upper School, a superior college

preparatory curriculum and a wealth of athletic, artistic, and leadership opportunities guide girls through a self-defining process that will lead them to fulfilling lives.

As college selection is a cornerstone in each young woman’s Hutchison education, experienced college counselors guide girls through this all-important process beginning in the eighth grade. Hutchison’s college counseling professionals act as resources for students and parents navigating through the complex college admissions process and serve as vital links to college admissions offices across the country. Hutchison’s comprehensive college counseling program includes interest inventories, career shadowing, information sessions with college representatives, SAT and ACT preparation, and assistance with applications, interviews, and scholarships. Through a process of selfreflection and planning, a Hutchison girl gains acceptance at colleges and universities compatible with her individual academic strengths, extracurricular interests, and career aspirations.

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Leadership Development

IN AN ERA WHEN INSPIRED

and creative leadership is more crucial than ever, Hutchison is committed to providing girls with the skills they must possess to become effective leaders. Hutchison girls are encouraged to explore their strengths through roles and activities that replicate real-world challenges. The results are the experiential learning, creative thinking, and insight that define great leaders.

Aware that the very essence of leadership is vision, conviction, and articulation, Hutchison affords students countless opportunities to expand their abilities. From classroom responsibilities assigned in pre-kindergarten to serving as the president of a class, club, or organization in Middle School or Upper School, girls are finding their voices— voices that propel them to take on challenging leadership roles. By experiencing the complexities of leadership through student government, peer committees, honor societies, and school organizations, Hutchison girls develop effective leadership styles and acquire the finesse to transform learning and ideas into action.

“At Hutchison I was inspired to be forward-thinking and open to a wider perspective of ideas. When I graduated, I took with me the solid academic foundation I needed to succeed at a top research university. By serving as the president of the Hutchison Honor Council, I learned the importance of leading with authenticity and cultivated my own leadership style—a style that served me well in college and has led to even more opportunities today.”

—Susan Emmett, Hutchison Class of 2001; Princeton University Class of 2005

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Integrity & Responsible Citizenship B E L I E V I N G T H AT U N WAV E R I N G VA L U E S A R E E S S E N T I A L

to leading a

rich, purposeful life, Hutchison actively guides girls to live compassionate lives formed by standards that instill a strong sense of maturity, ethics, and social responsibility. Hutchison’s high ethical standards are established early and fostered throughout a girl’s educational journey, supported by a school-wide character education program based on the nine attributes of the Ideal Hutchison Girl. To develop individual accountability and to create an atmosphere grounded in trust that is so often lacking in today’s world, these standards are woven into our curriculum, chapel programs, and expectations beginning in pre-kindergarten.

Girls in all grades participate in regular chapel services that allow Hutchison to be a proponent of education over indoctrination and ensure that each student’s beliefs are valued. Middle and upper school students assume leadership roles in planning and organizing each division’s chapel programs.

Our Honor Code guides daily life and instills a spirit of integrity and responsible citizenship in the entire Hutchison community. Each student’s commitment to the Honor Code becomes internalized as she recognizes the significance of other girls’ reliance upon her to meet the community’s expectations. In this atmosphere of trust, girls are better able to focus on their studies and individual areas of interest. In the Upper School, the Honor Council is an elected group of students who enforce the school’s Honor Code.

Our dedication to a girl’s development into a thoughtful, spiritual, and self-disciplined woman whose vision is wide, intelligent, and compassionate reinforces our mission as an institution to prepare each student for a life of integrity and responsible citizenship.

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“As an alumna, I know that Hutchison has consistently nurtured a personal sense of integrity.

Building on values such as honor, respect, and trustworthiness creates a foundation on which girls can define who they are and who they will be as they are equipped to successfully confront moral and intellectual challenges.”

– Laurie Stanton, Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning, Hutchison Class of 1965

“Both Hutchison students and alumnae understand that we have a responsibility to influence positive change in our world, and community service is an important piece of that responsibility.

Through our many service activities, we help feed the lives and souls of so many people in need.

Whether it is a new heart for a young man in Belarus, or an encouraging hug to a child with cancer at the Ronald McDonald House, or tutoring children at the Emmanuel Center, community service extends hope and compassion throughout our community. Community service is all about giving— giving back and giving hope.”

—Lucia Crenshaw, Hutchison Class of 2005

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Service to Others TO ENSURE GIRLS

HUTCHISON SERVICE PROJECTS

develop a strong sense of altruism and social

responsibility, Hutchison places a priority on service to others, combining

Altria Assisted Living Home

civic responsibility with philanthropy.

Beginning in pre-kindergarten, girls

Boys and Girls’ Club Soccer Clinics

participate in a wide range of community service projects designed to foster

Disaster Relief Efforts

the realization in each student that she can influence positive change in her community and in the world. As girls mature, they take initiative to create and plan outreach projects on small and large scales. Our student-led Community Services organization implements numerous service opportunities. Hutchison girls prepare and serve meals to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House, tutor inner city children, organize an all-school talent show for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and initiate efforts to raise supplies for disaster relief. Hutchison girls volunteer more

Emmanuel Center Tutoring Make- A- Wish Foundation Multinational Ministries Neighborhood School Race for the Cure

than 4,000 hours annually to meet a variety of needs in the community. Through this commitment to service, girls learn that they have a responsibility for a world

Ronald McDonald House

greater than themselves and develop the practice of helping others.

Through student initiatives, Hutchison girls have raised money to create the Community Service Endowment Fund. This fund generates interest income distributed to Memphis-area nonprofits and provides an avenue for upper school girls to learn about the financial aspects of grant management—raising money, investing, and grant making—as they experience firsthand the benefits of donating time and resources. Girls administering the grants work with The Community Foundation of Greater Memphis to make wise investments,

Service Over Self St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Thanksgiving Food Drive VA Hospital Outreach

solicit requests for proposals, evaluate applicants, and manage the grants once they are awarded.

It’s about giving back, and giving hope.

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“Each Hutchison girl graduates with the educational foundation and the confidence to advance professionally, to lead and motivate others, to make a difference wherever she goes, and to open her mind and imagination as she follows her dreams.”

— DR.

ANNETTE C. SMITH HEAD OF SCHOOL

A LT H O U G H T H E W O R L D

and the roles of women have changed

dramatically since Mary Grimes Hutchison founded our school, her vision of providing girls with an exemplary college preparatory education has remained constant, lighting the way for generations of Hutchison girls. For more than a century, Hutchison graduates have shaped the future, enriching their own lives and the lives of those around them. We take tremendous pride in their successes, and with this pride comes an enduring commitment to continue the tradition of educational excellence so that today’s students enter the world equipped with the knowledge, fortitude, and vision to face tomorrow’s challenges.

While Hutchison is supremely academic, we strongly believe that artistic, athletic, and moral development is essential to a complete education.Our instructional methods are student-centered and encourage girls to think broadly and independently. We recognize that each girl possesses unique talents, interests, and dreams—and shares a commitment to her peers and to the world around her.

We invite you to visit Hutchison and experience for yourself the feeling that permeates the environment here —a feeling fired by an enthusiasm for learning 24

and the joy of enduring relationships.

Founded in 1902 Accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

1740 Ridgeway Road

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Memphis, Tennessee 38119

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901.762.6672

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fax 901.432.6655

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www.hutchisonschool.org