WHHHS Update
It is hard to believe that we are already into mid-April! We have had some of our HOSA students representing us at their State Competition in Toledo, our Drama Department has been rehearsing in preparation for this weekend’s musical Legally Blonde, and we have students in DECA and VEX Robotics representing us at the national level within the next few weeks.
As we approach the mid-point in the fourth quarter, please be sure that you are checking your students’ grades in ProgressBook; our expectation for staff is that grades are updated weekly and that any phone calls or emails are returned within 24 business hours.
Please see below for some important updates and information.
Community Engagement Update
One topic popped up again and again during our town halls and throughout our community survey - increasing enrollment across our district. It's no secret that we live in a growing community, and this naturally results in more students in our buildings. Since 2019, we've added 440 new students to our district, and this number is projected to continue to grow moving forward. Every day our staff is working hard to ensure that, despite growing enrollment, every child in every building has the same opportunities and attention along their educational journey!
Finally, our facility tours continue in March and April, and we encourage you to sign up to attend! We held our second event this past Tuesday, with one more to come! You can RSVP below:
April 29th at 7:00 PM at Miami Whitewater Elementary
We're listening. We're learning. We're acting.
State Testing Information
As we are now in the fourth quarter, State testing is now underway. We will follow last year’s schedule in which any student not taking the test for Mathematics will not report to school on that testing day and instead work remotely; the Social Studies and Science tests later in April/May will be on a two-hour testing schedule where all students will report to school at staggered start times.
Here is the remaining testing schedule at a glance:
WEDS 4/24: ALGEBRA I/GEOMETRY (all testers report to school by 8:00 AM, non-testers will work remotely)
TUES 4/30: US HISTORY/AMER GOVT (all testers report to school by 8:00, non-testers report by 10:05)
THURS 5/2: BIOLOGY (all testers report to school by 8:00, non-testers report by 10:05)
We will continue to communicate testing information in weekly emails to families.
Please contact the Main Office with any questions.
Wildcats Care Fundraiser – Saturday 4/27
We will be hosting the first annual “Junk in the Trunk” rummage sale/vendor market at Crosby Elementary on Saturday, April 27 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM. Sellers/vendors keep 100% of their sales and all rental proceeds go to Wildcats Care. Please see the attached flyer for more information; for more information on Wildcats Care, please click here.
New Mental Health Resources for Parents/Guardians
We are pleased to offer a FREE and confidential website for families, ParentGuidance.org. This site was developed by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents, to learn how to support your child. Parents can also get answers to mental health questions, including anxiety, depression, self-worth, grief and loss, suicide ideation, family strife and other mental health concerns. Popular courses you may want to explore are: “Parenting with a Purpose” and “Unlocking your Inner Parent Superhero.” The courses within ParentGuidance.org will provide you with tools to form stronger bonds with your children. You and your child’s mental health are important to us! Additionally, you also have access to FREE webinars developed by licensed therapists. These are virtual and anonymous. Please see the flyer linked at the bottom of this email for the dates, times and links of these offerings.
Tutoring is Available
The National Honor Society has started their weekly tutoring sessions. Every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 7:15 AM, the National Honor Society students will be available for free tutoring for anyone who needs help. There’s no need to sign up in advance, just show up to Room 104 (Mrs. Siemer’s room), and let the NHS students help you with any subject you need. Please reach out to Mrs. Siemer if you have any questions.
Check Out The Paw Print – Harrison’s Online Student News Site
Mrs. Evanson’s Journalism class has been working hard, and they have launched an online news site entitled “The Paw Print.” Please be sure to check it out at https://harrisonpawprint.org/.
Drama Club - Spring Musical This Weekend!
William Henry Harrison High School’s Creative Arts Theatre presents Legally Blonde The Musical, this weekend! Tonight’s performance starts at 7:00 PM, and tomorrow’s performances are at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM.
Purchase your tickets here: https://www.locallevelevents.com/events/details/32853
We’re Positive you won’t want to miss it!
School Fees
School fees are posted to our students’ accounts. If you have not done so already, please take care of these obligations right away. Directions for how to log on and pay student fees can be found here. Thank you for your attention to this information!
Junior/Senior College Information
Juniors and Seniors interested in visiting a college campus can sign up on that college’s website. We need a parent note stating the day and time of the visit. Please bring this note to the guidance office several days prior to your visit.
Senior Graduation Survey/Final Transcripts
All seniors (on and off the WHHHS campus) have access to Naviance, and all will be required to complete the graduation survey. This will be rolled out to students at the Oaks campuses next Wednesday 4/17 and students here at the high school will complete it on Thursday 4/25 during Advisory. The purpose of the survey is for seniors to indicate their post-high school plans. Students will indicate if they plan to pursue employment, enrollment or enlistment upon graduation. Any student indicating enrollment will need to mark “send final transcript” and state to which university they want the final transcript to go. If this is not marked, we will not be aware of where to send the final transcript. Email connie.acra@southwestschools.org with any questions. The last day for seniors to complete the required graduation survey is Monday, April 29.
Senior FAFSA Information
There have been recent changes with FAFSA. Your FSA ID can be obtained at FAFSA.gov and register for an FSA ID if you do not already have one. Every student will need their own FSA ID to apply for FAFSA as well as anyone that is considered a “contributor”. A “contributor” would be a spouse/parent/guardian of the student. In the past only one parent had to get an FSA ID even if the parents were married, now married parents BOTH must have their own FSA ID. (If the parents are not married/living together, then the parent that provides the most financial support must be the contributor) You must have different email addresses and phone numbers to register for the FSA ID, you cannot use the same email address or phone number when registering. By having your FSA ID registered and ready, the student and parent/guardian can immediately fill out and submit the FAFSA.
Seniors attended a FAFSA Financial Aid package presentation on March 7th, during Advisory. Topics covered included award letters, types of financial awards, interest rates, and tips on smart borrowing. Please know that with the rollout of the new FAFSA application, the government has announced delays in financial aid award notification. Many schools are pushing back their decision days due to this, check with each school to see if any decisions dates have been moved.
PTO/Booster Organizations
We would like to invite you to join the Harrison Junior/Senior High PTO as well as our Booster organizations. You can visit https://harrisonjrsrpto.membershiptoolkit.com/home to join the PTO, https://harrisonwildcats.membershiptoolkit.com/Home to join the Athletic Boosters, https://www.harrisonmusicboosters.com/ to join the Music Boosters and the Harrison CAT Boosters’ page to support the Vocal and Drama programs.
UPCOMING DATES
FRI 4/12: LEGALLY BLONDE 7:00 PM
SAT 4/13: LEGALLY BLONDE 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
WEDS 4/24: ALGEBRA I & GEOMETRY STATE TESTING (ALL STUDENTS NOT TESTING ARE REMOTE)
THURS 4/25: SENIOR GRADUATION SURVEY IN ADVISORY (SEE INFO ABOVE)
SAT 4/27: WILDCATS CARE “JUNK IN THE TRUNK” FUNDRAISER 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Please feel free to contact us with questions. Thank you and have a great weekend!
Go Wildcats!
Joe Pollitt
Principal
William Henry Harrison High School