The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from the principal at Taylorville High School, at the club’s weekly meeting on Tuesday at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.

Matt Hutchison has spent nearly 30 years in the Taylorville School District, the last several years as high school principal.   Hutchison told Kiwanis members this year’s 800 high school students begin their school year August 16th, with freshmen orientation called “the Tornado Drill” in the building on August 10th.  

He said his goal as education continues to recover from the pandemic, is to challenge students to attend school and do their best.

He outlined 7 different areas where Taylorville High School has excelled and continues to do so:  The Christian County C-E-O, or “Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities” program; dual credit courses offered thru Lincoln Land Community College; 71 students this year enrolled in vocational training at the Capital Area Career Center in Springfield; the successful Tommy TV video production program; a new program being offered called “Tommy Photo” teaching photo skills; Taylorville High School’s very successful FFA program being the 2nd largest in Illinois with over 300 students; and the high school building trades class getting ready to sell house # 29 and start on house # 30 this fall.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.