Looking at the Week Ahead
Welcome to the FIRST, 2023-24 edition of "Looking at the Week Ahead". It is my plan to utilize this list to send out weekly reminders for the upcoming week. For those of you who are new to this mailing, I also attach important documents, that were sent home via a paper version, that might not have found their way home.
If something important is happening in the building I might also use this forum to alert you throughout the week.
First let me introduce our new Dean of Students – Mrs. Katie Conley. We are very excited to have Mrs. Conley back on staff working with our students and teachers. Many of you might remember Mrs. Conley as one of our second-grade teachers in the old Harrison building. Please feel free to reach out to her if you need assistance.
I cannot say enough how smoothly this week has gone. Thank you for your flexibility and patience. Yesterday we had our first fire drill and this morning we will practice for a tornado drill. Next week we will have our first quarterly evacuation drill. We will continue to practice these drills in the event they are needed, so the routine becomes second nature and happened as planned.
Morning drop-offs and dismissals have gone very well this first week of school. Thank you for your patience and understanding. After the first day of school, the buses have gotten better and our hopes for today will be that they are on schedule.
If you still have not completed your Final Forms, it is very important that this is completed over the weekend. If an emergency occurs, we need to be sure that your child’s information is all up to date. If, during the school year emails, phone numbers or addresses change, please be sure to go back into your child’s forms and make the change.
Don’t forget you can now follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Please make sure you are members of the correct sites. There were several “unofficial” sites created and we are trying to inactivate them. I have been posting a lot of pictures of events happening at Harrison Elementary. Feel free to send them out to family and friends. Pictures from this week are being added to both accounts. This is a great way to keep up on events at school.
Follow us on Twitter @SLSDHarrisonEl
Like us on Facebook.com/HarrisonElementarySchool
We have had a great start to the new school year. The students are demonstrating our Four Core Values – Trust, Respect, Ownership and Leadership – throughout the day.
Have a great weekend!
Ron Mangus
Principal
Katie Conley
Dean of Students
Student Arrivals
Student arrivals have gotten better each day. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition time. After the first day of school, I really haven’t noticed any major traffic or parking concerns. As the morning progresses you will be able to see when the most traffic is happening and maybe alter your arrival times. If you are dropping students off in the morning, please pull up as far as you can in the drop off zone and watch your speed.
Just a friendly reminder NOT to block the crosswalk area leading into the school from Broadway (main school entrance). This area needs to be clear of cars so students can safely walk across the crosswalk at arrival and dismissal.
School Pictures
School pictures will take place on WEDNESDAY, August 30th. Information went home at Open House or during this week. If you have any questions please call the school office.
Families do not need to purchase packets, but all students will have their pictures taken. These pictures are used for the school yearbook and records.
Cafeteria
Students must bring money to purchase breakfast or school lunch. If you believe that you should qualify for free or reduced meals, proper paperwork must be submitted. If you have any questions, please call the school office.
Listed below is the website that families can use to add money to their students' account.
https://schoolpaymentportal.com/Default.aspx
PTO Planning Meetings
PTO meetings this school year will take place on the fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 pm in the school cafeteria. The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 28th.
You can now join PTO. Just your small membership fee of $10 helps us provide services for the kids! This does not require you to volunteer or attend meetings. It is all up to you how much you would like to be involved. If you have any questions, please reach out to a board member.
Joining the PTO is not a huge commitment and often looks like 1-3 service hours a year with opportunities in the evenings, during the school day or can be as simple as signing up to send in cookies for an event. Everyone doing a little adds up to a LOT for our kids.
Hope to see you soon!
Harrison PTO
Bus Passes
Due to the number of children riding the bus this year, NO bus passes will be written for students wishing to go home with another student. Please make arrangements for transportation once the students have arrived home. If bus situations change throughout the year, please complete a new bus route information sheet, and submit it to our office to be processed at the District Office.
N*A*M*E*S
Please make sure your child’s name is printed somewhere on his/her lunch boxes. Many lunch boxes are the same and after lunch it is very hard deciding whose lunch box is who’s at the end of the day. If your child’s lunch is in a brown bag, please also include his/her name.
Holiday Goodies and Cookie Dough Fundraiser
On Thursday, September 6th we kicked-off our annual Holiday Goodies and Cookie Dough Fundraiser. Students will be given their ordering/selling information that day. Please look at the flyers and catalogues that are sent home with your child. Profits from this fundraiser help to provide needed items throughout the school and classrooms. If you need additional order forms, please contact the office. The fundraiser concludes on Friday, September 22nd. Thanks for your help!!
Online Student Forms
Don’t forget to complete your child’s online forms. If you have questions or need help with this, please contact the office. We have staff members and computers throughout the day available to help you with this process. Please make sure you have all the information (phone numbers, addresses, medical information) handy before beginning. If information (email addresses, phone numbers, addresses etc.) changes throughout the year, please make sure you update this information in your child’s account.
Parking
When dropping off your child in the morning or picking them up in the afternoon please make sure everybody is utilizing the crosswalk. Safety is our number one goal and by utilizing the crosswalk to get across the street students will be safe. The back of the school or dumpster areas should never be used as a drop-off or pick-up location due to the number of buses that come into those areas.
When in queue to enter the parking lots, please do not block the bus entrance on Elm Street. Parking on Broadway is a perfect location to meet older children after school versus entering the pick-up queue.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher Conferences are soon approaching (September 26th and 28th) More information on scheduling conferences will be sent home shortly.
Attachments
None
Important Items for the Week Ahead
Tuesday, August 22 – Cub Scout representative will be in the school cafeteria during lunch.
- 6 pm – 5th Grade Parent Information Night - cafeteria
Friday, August 25 – Spirit Day – Wear your school spirit clothing.
DISTRICT MISSION: "Academic and Social Growth for ALL students, EVERY DAY!"
DISTRICT MOTTO: "Excellence through Relationships"
HARRISON ELEMENTARY MOTTO: "Where Children Come First"
DISTRICT CORE VALUES: Trust, Respect, Ownership and Leadership