WHHHS Update
First, thank you for all of your patience and assistance with the adjusted schedules around State testing—everything went smoothly this year and we appreciate your help. We have made it to May and have just two-and-a-half weeks left in the school year! The year has gone quickly, but we are looking forward to a strong finish with AP testing starting on Monday and all of the end-of-year awards and recognitions for our students’ academic and extracurricular achievements!
Within the last week, we had a team of five freshmen compete in the VEX Robotics World Championships in Dallas (Tyler Bruns, Carter Essen, Katelyn Funk, Edward Koehl, and Alex Strong) and we had 28 students competing in the DECA International Career Development Conference in Anaheim; Junior Kayla Morris and Sophomore Avery Dennis were International Finalists in the Integrated Marketing Campaign Event category! We also received word that our Drama Department earned a school-record 17 CAPPIES nominations for their recent production of “Legally Blonde”! This great news has definitely added to the end-of-the-year excitement!
As we approach the end of 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
Our “Did You Know?” series continues this week with the first of five videos exploring the ins and outs of finances in the Southwest Local School District. Through all of our community engagement, we've gotten a lot of questions on this topic - and we're delivering with answers and more information! We encourage you to take just two minutes to learn how SLSD spends funds to ensure that our kids receive the quality education they deserve.
You can watch our first School Finance Video HERE.
The bottom line is that over 90% of SLSD spending is directed to PEOPLE. That includes our teachers, extracurricular programs, and other opportunities for students. We are a people-based business that is always focused on investing directly in students and teachers!
We're listening. We're learning. We're acting.
2024-25 Student Schedules
The schedule for next year is complete and counselors are beginning to call down students if they have a major scheduling conflict. We began distributing student schedules today (Fri 5/3) at lunch. Students have until the last day of school THIS YEAR (May 22nd), to make any changes to their schedule for next year. This includes adding or dropping study halls and both 1st and 2nd semester classes. Harrison High School does not make schedule changes after the last day of school. This allows the district to properly and efficiently staff the building during the summer months. Please be on the lookout for your student’s schedule the first week of May. All schedule changes must be submitted by either Teams message or email to your student’s counselor. This allows us to have a reliable record of all requests.
Class of 2024 Yard Signs
The Harrison Jr/Sr High PTO has graciously agreed to purchase a yard sign for each of our Class of 2024 graduates! We began distributing yard signs this past Tuesday, April 30. Students who still need to pick up their sign or students who attend classes at an Oaks campus or on a college campus may pick up their signs in the Main Office between 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM. To ensure that each senior receives their yard sign, we are asking each senior to pick up their own yard sign and we are checking off each senior’s name upon pickup. Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation with this.
Advanced Placement (AP) Testing – Mon 5/6 – Fri 5/17
On the days that a student takes an AP Exam, they are only required to be in attendance for the duration of their exam.
Shower With Kindness – Week of 5/6
Next week, Harrison High School will be having the annual Shower with Kindness drive sponsored by Student Council. This is an event that started three years ago at the high school. Shower with Kindness is a week-long collection where we ask students and staff members to bring in basic hygienic products to be donated to a local shelter. This year, all donations will stay within our schools and will be used to assist SLSD families. We want this year's Shower with Kindness drive to serve as an opportunity to bring the district together and help make a difference in the community. Thank you so much for your participation in this event!
Wildcats Give Back – Weds 5/15
William Henry Harrison High School will be hosting Wildcats Give Back Day (formerly Day of Service) on Wednesday, May 15. The purpose of this day is to provide students an opportunity to complete service projects in our community, as well as surrounding communities. Students that will be completing projects with WHHHS staff members will be notified of their project next week. It is important for these students to understand the importance of being in attendance on Wednesday, May 15 because many local groups and organizations are relying on WHHHS students to complete community service projects.
If students completed a permission form to complete their own project that day, they do not need to report to school. Students who report to school on this day can be picked up at noon.
Underclass Awards Day – Weds 5/22
Please note that we have moved our underclass awards day from its originally scheduled date of Thurs 5/16. Underclass awards will now be held on Weds 5/22. The awards will take place in the Activity Center Theater as follows:
- 9th Grade Awards: 8:15 AM
- 10th Grade Awards: 9:30 AM
- 11th Grade Awards: 10:45 AM
An invitation letter with additional information will be sent via US Mail to all students receiving awards on this day; if a student is receiving an award but is unable to attend, he/she may pick up the awards in the Main Office any business day before Friday, June 28.
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/.
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 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
TUES 5/7: CHORUS CONCERT 7:00 PM
THURS 5/9: A CAPELLA CHOIR CONCERT 7:00 PM
TUES 5/14: SENIORS’ LAST DAY – SENIOR AWARDS
WEDS 5/15: WILDCATS GIVE BACK DAY
FRI 5/17: TEACHER INSERVICE DAY/NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
MON 5/20: GRADUATION REHEARSAL 8:30 AM
TUES 5/21: GRADUATION 7:30 PM
WEDS 5/22: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL/UNDERCLASS AWARDS
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