RASK Force fills campus with positive notes
Motorcycle Class returning to campus
Circle K works with RASK Force to spread over 400 kind notes across campus
Starting on Friday, April 6th, HutchCC will bring in beginning motorcycle enthusiasts
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The student voice of Hutchinson Community College
www.hutchcollegian.com
March 16, 2018
Vol. 59 Issue 18
HutchCC Child Care Center shares the love By Merissa Anderson Collegian Editor
A few blocks north from main campus, next door to the Elland Hall dorms, sit the quaint building and playground area of the Hutchinson Community College Child Care Center. Julie Wisbey, Child Care Center Coordinator, has spent the last 23 years of her time working at HutchCC caring for the young children of students, staff members and surrounding area teachers. “We have children ages 3 and potty trained up to 6-years old,” Wisbey said. “We are open 7:30 to 5 Monday through Friday, and our main goal is to prepare children for their future.
They need to learn to communicate with each other, they need the social skills, they need the introduction to the letters. It’s not as direct as a preschool but we do introduce them to the things they’ll need for kindergarten.” For students with children, there are several scholarships available for possible financial help. “I want campus to know that we’re here and that we’re here to support the staff and students that have children,” Wisbey said. “We want them to know that their child is in a safe and happy space while they’re working. I want even the people that don’t have children to know that so if they know someone who has a child, they’re
Julie Wisbey/Courtesy Photo Several toddlers, between the ages of three and six, lay under a table to draw whatever their imagination creates on pieces of paper. The kids are involved in various activities throughout the day.
comfortable recommending us to them.” Although the center can care for up to 38 children at a time, with the help of three full time employees and several work study students, this year they have a smaller group with 17 kids. The day’s activities for the children are always educational and fun for all involved. “We have a lot of free play because a lot of learning happens when they’re playing,” Wisbey said. “We give them a breakfast snack in the morning, we have circle time with music and movement and we have stories that happen outside and a lot of discussion about the things they want to accomplish for the day. We have two groups where one group is outside and the other is inside and we switch them so they get to do both. Then we’ll all come in and do an activity of some sort, like painting. Then we have more free play and get ready for lunch.” Just before lunch, some children leave early and load up on a bus so that they can attend a preschool of their parent’s choice for the second half of the day. “There’s a lot of rules we have to follow but seeing the kids be successful and watching them grow up is a really great feeling,” Wisbey said. “To see them and to have them still remember me is amazing.” As much as Wisbey and the other employees enjoy spending time with the kids, there are times that the young ones can pose challenges. “Dynamics of personalities can be difficult,” Wisbey said. “Each child is different and they all have their own
Merissa Anderson/Editor Julie Wisbey, Child Care Center Coordinator, has been with the center for over 23 years and enjoys being able to see her students grow up and remember her. ment online to be her goal language development and personality and what you when caring for the children self expression through comcan say to one child doesn’t of HutchCC students and munication, strengthening work with the next child staff. motor skills and encouragsometimes. And it can be a “The HCC Child Care ing cognitive development challenge to figure out how Center, located on HCC through a variety of ‘learning to address a certain issue by doing’ activities while with a certain child. It can be campus is dedicated to promoting a healthy self continuing to grow at each challenging but it’s rewardimage and to developing child’s own developmental ing.” social skills through interaclevel,” The Child Care CenWisbey make the Child tion with others, enhancing ter website states. Care Center mission state-
games,” O’Sullivan said. He also explained in further detail what he does. “I coordinate the activities, making sure they are where they need to be when scheduled, communicate
should they arise, deal with inquiries and occasional complaints from fans, etc.,” O’Sullivan said. Since HutchCC is now in the NJCAA Tournament, O’Sullivan said he pre-
with coaches and game officials and NJCAA officials as necessary, provide solutions for problems
sumes that there will be an increase in ticket sales and more enthusiasm from the Hutchinson community.
Men prepare to compete in 21st NJCAA Tournament By Brenna Eller Opinion Editor
The NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship is coming to the Sports Arena again, starting Monday. Not only that, but Hutchinson Community College received one of the eight at-large-bids and has been seeded 11 in the tournament against Cape Fear, which the Blue Dragons will play at noon Tuesday. The Blue Dragons will now have been in the NJCAA Tournament 21 times. Joe O’Sullivan, the Tournament Director,
gave some information on the workings of being in the NJCAA Committee. There are other people with specific jobs such as team host, scorer’s table, press credentials and assignments, locker room and equipment, statisticians, entertainment, opening ceremonies, awards, public address, game officials (provided needs and security by committee), house committee, and others. “They all do a great job without much involvement from me. My job is to manage all aspects of the tournament directly involving the
“Many of our fans have been coming for many years, and they can recite from memory the years in which Hutchinson won the tournament,” O’Sullivan said. “They are familiar with many of the teams who are returning, and the coaches and players from those schools who went on to fouryear schools and to professional basketball.” Even if the Blue Dragons hadn’t gotten into the Tournament, there still would’ve been a large audience. “That has been proven
over the 70 years the American Legion has sponsored this tournament in Hutchinson, even when HutchCC didn’t make it,” O’Sullivan said. Since the American Legion hosts for all 24 teams, the Sports Arena has been appointed a “neutral court” so that there is no bias and no such thing as a “homecourt advantage”. Therefore, committee members like O’Sullivan are impartial to certain teams, although O’Sullivan said that he is glad Hutchinson has made it to the Tournament.
CAMPUS BEAT
Upcoming events
Are you planning on attending the NJCAA Tournament next Tuesday?
March. 17 — Softball vs. Labette (Doubleheader) 2:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. March. 18 — Reno Choral Society and Concert Choral present: Messiah in the B. J. Warner Recital Hall at 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. March. 19-24 — NJCAA Tournament at noon in the Sports Arena. March. 20 — Baseball vs Cowley 2:00 p.m. - 5:00p.m. March. 21 — Softball vs Sterling JV (Doubleheader) 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.
“I can’t go to the Tournament because I have class on Tuesday and I usually don’t go to the basketball games.”
“No I wasn’t planning on going because I’m not into sports.”
“No I don’t think I’m going because I think we gotta pay for it, but if I can I will.”
— Kyndra Packard, Kingman
— Alec Ratzlaff, Hutchinson
— Kenny Armstrong Curaco, Caribbean
“I’m actually not because I’ll be working. I think the games are pretty cool though and they work really hard to get to where they’re going.” — McKenzie French, Buhler
“ I will be there, but I won’t be able to watch because I’m working the parking lot.” — Alex Stika, Hutchinson