In 1846 the Quincy Mine,
nicknamed "Old Reliable," began producing copper to be
shipped around the world. Its shafts plunged over 9,260
(1.75 miles) into the earth, chasing veins of pure
copper (termed float copper) to be mined and extracted
for use around the world. The mining expertise came from
immigrants from countries such as Croatia, Austria,
Finland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and many more
European countries. The most skilled miners hailed from
Cornwall, England whose mines consisted of deep shafts
attached to horizontal tunnels that followed rich ore
veins. When these immigrants arrived in the Copper
Country, most did not share a common language, but they
did share common values our community and students still
possess today.
Hancock Public Schools was created
to serve the offspring of these hardworking immigrants.
The Bulldog pride in the Hancock community stems from
values of this diverse deep-shaft mining community.
Working far below the earth's surface, these teams of
miners from varied backgrounds learned to respect each
other for their complimentary skills, dedicated work
ethic, and strong faith. This was the foundation of
their humanity, they were a family that took care of
each other in good times and bad. They quickly learned
that working in teams, utilizing each individual's
strength, was the recipe for individual and group
success.
You will see this rich heritage in our
district's students today, represented by the traits of
tenacity, resilience, strong work ethic, goal oriented,
creativity, confidence, courageous, and possessing a
unique humanity. Teachers, staff, and leadership develop
progressive and innovative programming to prepare our
students to be productive members of our economy and
society. What has not changed over the years is the
dedication of our teachers, staff members, leadership
teams, and parents to develop these core values in our
students. This is the foundation of our Bulldog family,
where futures are formed.
Demographic Perspective
Hancock is a community nestled
on the north side of the Portage Waterway, we refer to
it as “the sunny side of the island!” The school
district serves roughly 700 students in grades K-12,
though that number is continuing to grow. The school
district is comprised of four townships (Franklin,
Quincy, Hancock and the City of Hancock).
The
Hancock Public School education team shared one focus,
supporting and encouraging student growth. You will
often hear works such as safe, welcoming, friendly,
energetic, and family when students describe their
educational experience.
Hancock Public Schools
serves a community with deep roots in Finnish culture.
There is a famous Finnish saying “Työ tekijäänsä neuvoo”,
translated to “Work teaches the worker.” When you start
something new (like a job, class, or hobby), it’s okay
to not know anything, be slow and make mistakes. That’s
how you learn. You will get better at the task and
internalize the knowledge you are gaining in you class,
club, sport, or organization. This is the a theme of our
educational approach, one that will provide our students
skills and tools that will help them thrive in their
personal and professional lives after graduation.
At-A-Glance Calendar for the Week of April 19, 2021