HJS Update-May 5, 2025

Good Afternoon, 

Get ready for a blockbuster celebration THIS week as we roll out the red carpet for Teacher Appreciation Week! We have a star-studded Spirit Week to honor our real-life stars, our amazing educators! Let’s come together to show our gratitude and celebrate the hard work, dedication, and passion our teachers bring to the classroom every day! In addition to celebrating our fabulous teachers and school nurse, we are looking forward to the STEAM showcase this Friday and the upcoming performances from both our Band and Chorus students to showcase their year-long hard work! Lasty, ParentSquare is officially up and running! If you haven’t yet signed up, we highly encourage you to do so. ParentSquare is an excellent tool for staying connected with school updates, announcements, and upcoming events. As we head into May, we encourage everyone to stay focused and finish the year strong!

Weekly Calendar

Monday, May 5:

• Teacher Appreciation Day: The Breakfast Club
• Pajama Day!

Tuesday, May 6:

• Teacher Appreciation Day: The Parent Trap
• Twin Day!
• Band Concert
• 6:00PM @ Martin Marietta Theatre
• Track Meet: SWOC League Meet
• 4:30PM @ Mt. Healthy High School

Wednesday, May 7:

• Teacher Appreciation Day: Monster University
• Anything but a Backpack!
• School Nurse’s Day – HUGE thank you to Mrs. Kinnett for the continuous care, compassion, and commitment to safety! Your dedication makes a lasting impact in the lives of our students and staff. Happy School Nurse’s Day!

Thursday, May 8:

• Teacher Appreciation Day: Forrest Gump
• Hippie Day!

Friday, May 9:

• Teacher Appreciation Day: Harry Potter
• Wear Class Colors!
• 6th Grade: Green, 7th Grade: Black, 8th Grade: White
• STEAM Showcase
• 1:30PM @ HJS Commons
• Track Meet: vs. Milford
• 4:30PM @ Milford High School

Academic Growth

This week we are celebrating academic milestones, from new skills to personal growth, our students continue to shine and push themselves further every day. Keep up the amazing work!

• Ohio State Testing is wrapping up.  We are down to finishing up our student on IEPs and 504s to ensure that their accommodations have been met.  In addition, we are wrapping up make up tests for students who may have been ill or missed school during testing.  We hope to have 100% of our students completed by the end of the week!
• Incoming 7th & 8th Graders – National Junior Honor Society
• Attention all incoming 7th and 8th graders who are interested in joining the National Junior Honor Society for the 2025-2026 school year: Complete the application at https://www.southwestschools.org/harrison-junior-school/academics/honor-society/ and return it to Mrs. Carroll by Wednesday, October 8, 2025 by 12:00PM. *Incoming 8th graders who were inducted last year are automatically members this year.
• Please be advised: as a part of the application process, candidates must complete 15 hours of service to the school and/or through the community. Any hours completed this summer can be used.  The Activity Information Sheet can also be found on the Jr. School website. You will use this sheet to log service hours.
• If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Carroll at cathie.carroll@southwestschools.org
• Xavier University Summer Program - Xavier University will be offering a wide range of summer camps this year and we’re hoping you could help get the word out!  We have a diverse range of summer programs for students of all ages and interests. From academic enrichment in STEAM, business, and the humanities to athletic camps and leadership development programs, there’s something for everyone.
• Arts Academy: Registration
• From aspiring actors to future musicians, our programs provide a fun and supportive environment for creativity to flourish.
  - Camps beginning in early June
  - Several camps for ages 4 through 17
• STEAM @ XU: Summer Research Immersion: Registration
• A one-week research immersion camp for high-school students for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) disciplines.
  - August 4-8
  - Open to incoming 9-12th graders
• CSI & Forensics Camp: Registration
• This a one-week, half-day camp where students will assume the role of crime scene investigators and learn skills to help identify a prime murder suspect from a pool of 6 alleged perpetrators. This interactive camp is designed for high school students entering grades 9-12. Advanced students entering 8th grade are also encouraged to apply. In addition to our investigation, students will learn about criminal justice and forensics careers and the education needed.
  - June 16 - 19, 2025
  - 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. 
• D’Artagnan Summer Academy: Registration
• An interactive, one- or two-week residential summer program designed specifically for standout rising high school juniors and seniors. Engage in dynamic discussions with top local business and community leaders, tackle hands-on projects, and gain real-world insights from our expert faculty. The academy offers a fast-track application process to Xavier University, and many of the courses will count toward a future Xavier degree.
  - One- and two-week sessions from May 27-June 8
  - Rising high school juniors and seniors
• Xavier Summer Scholars: Registration
• A one-week day camp designed for rising high school juniors and seniors! Students will choose one of four academic tracks:
  - Building a Sustainable Future: Government & the Public’s Roles
  - Defending the Digital World: Cybersecurity Foundations
  - Connecting Storytelling & Wellbeing: The Power of Writing
  - Committing to Cura Personalis: A Holistic Approach to Wellbeing
• Faculty-led courses are designed to spark curiosity and deepen understanding. Beyond academics, students will participate in daily seminars focused on Ignatian values like vocational discernment and gain valuable insights through college application bootcamps.
  - June 23 - 27
  - Rising high school juniors and seniors
• Xavier Summer Sports Camps: Registration
• A variety of sports summer camps for campers of all ages and interests. Each camp is led by experienced coaches and instructors who are passionate about teaching the fundamentals of their sport and helping campers improve their skills.

Social Growth

At HJS, we believe in nurturing well-rounded individuals. Here’s how to get involved:

• Cheerleading Try Outs
• Mandatory Parent Tryout Meeting will be held May 14 at 6:30PM in the Harrison High School cafeteria.
• Visit William Henry Harrison High School - Cheerleading - Cheerleading Home | Southwest Local School District for ALL pertinent tryout information or contact Coach Hasenohr at molly.hasenohr@southwestschools.org with any questions!
• HJS will be partnering with Companions on a Journey (COJ) in 2025! 
• COJ offers a School-based K-12 Grief Support program that helps transform schools into grief-informed spaces where students can process complicated feelings of grief and loss, connect with a caring community, and build a toolbox of critical wellness and resiliency skills. COJ collaborates with over 70 public, private, and parochial schools to provide monthly grief support, while also responding to school crisis situations. COJ work alongside administrators and counselors to build a grief-sensitive culture where bereaved students and staff feel loved, accepted, and supported. 
• Students can join at any point in the school year, so if you know a student that could benefit from this kind of support or have any questions, please fill out this form Https://form.jotform.com/241706828041151 or email Mrs. Spurlock at emily.spurlock@southwestschools.org.

Safety

The safety of our students is our top priority. Here are some updates and reminders:

• Incoming 7th Graders - Immunizations
• The Ohio Department of Health requires all incoming 7th grade students to show written documentation of a booster of tetanus, diptheria and pertussis (Tdap) AND Meningoccal Vaccine (MCV4). One does of Tdap and one does Menningoccal (serogroup A, C, W, and Y) vaccine must be administered on or after the child’s 10th birthday.
• If your child has already received these immunizations, please supply the school with the exact date it was administered with the physician’s signature OR your child’s vaccine record. If your child has not received the vaccines, they must receive it before entering the 7th grade for the 2025-2026 school year. Please submit your child’s vaccine record before the start of next school year. The student will not be permitted to start school in the fall unless the paperwork is submitted before the first day of school.
• The paperwork can be faxed to school at 513-367-0370, mailed to school, or you can email them to our school nurse Lisa Kinnett at lisa.kinnett@southwestschools.org. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school.
• Parent Square – Parent Square has been launched to families as a result of last year's Parent Survey, which expressed the need for a single communication platform. This will replace multiple apps and provide district-wide communication.
• You received an email from Parent Square with a link to register your account.  (You may need to check your Spam folder to find the email). Click the link in that email and follow the instructions to register your account.  You also received a separate email from the Southwest Local School District with more in-depth information about Parent Square, directions on setting up your account, and a video on how to use Parent Square. 
• Students also received an email on their MyWildcats.org account to register for Student Square, which will replace apps like Band, Remind, and TeamSnap for communication about weather-related closures, delays, and other updates. Students should follow the instructions in the email to complete their registration and enter their cell phone numbers.
• Student Pickup Policy
• For the safety and security of all students, please remember that students will only be released to individuals listed on their contact list. You can update these contacts at any time through FinalForms. When picking up your child, please bring a valid ID for verification. If someone not listed on the contact list will be picking up your student, a parent must call the school or send a note with the full name of the person who will be picking them up. We appreciate your cooperation in keeping our school safe! 
• Medication Reminder
• For the safety and well-being of all students, medications must be brought to school by a parent or guardian in their original, labeled container. This ensures that the medication is properly identified and administered according to the prescribed instructions. Please refrain from sending medications with your child or in unmarked containers, as this helps us maintain a secure and effective environment for managing student health.

Please remind your child about the importance of following these safety guidelines both at school and at home.

Parent Tip of the Week: Temperatures Rising – Dress Code Reminder!

As the weather warms up, we want to remind families of our dress code guidelines to help keep our school environment respectful and distraction-free. Please ensure students wear shorts and skirts that are no higher than mid-thigh. Clothing with references to alcohol, drugs, tobacco, profanity, weapons, or anything sexually explicit is not permitted. Also, tank tops, see-through or backless shirts, bare midriffs, halters, sleeveless tops, hats, and bandanas are not allowed. Thanks for helping us keep things cool and appropriate at school!

Upcoming Events

• May 21: Laptop Collection Day
• May 23: Play Day & 8th Grade Dance
• May 27: Awards Day

We appreciate your continuous support and collaboration.