Friday September 1st, 2017

Early dismissal is at 12:30 today.

A big thank you to Mrs. Sweet and our Title 1 staff for completing all of the IRI and beginning of the year testing. Super exciting to watch our kids grow this year.

Have a great 3 or 4 day weekend, depending on your position. Sharpen the saw with your friends and family. You deserve it.

Thought for today:

Thursday August 31st, 2017

We have Kindergarten hearing screening today.

Please help remind students and families that school is out at 12:30 on Friday. We also sent home reminder notes.

The thought for today is courtesy of Mrs. Rodriguez:

Wednesday August 30th, 2017

We have service leaders, service learning initiated by students, and service opportunities within classrooms. We need kids to learn, play, work, and give with service. All four areas are important, and we strive to integrate often. That's educating the whole child. Here is a post about service learning:

Service Learning

Be you, especially because kids love you for being who you are:

Tuesday August 29th, 2017

We have grade level teaming today.

The Robotics kick-off is tonight.

This infographic has a few quotes from the current Educational Leadership magazine. The September topic is all about working with families:

Family Matters

This image fits really well with how we try to look at behavior at Harrison. Behavior is communication:

                                                                                               source: @bethhill2829

Monday August 28th, 2017

Students are starting their classroom and school leadership roles. You can feel it in their air. Our kids are never the same from the starting place that they come to us, and that is exciting to watch. Thank you for giving second chances, taking deep breaths with kids, patience, and for encouraging all students to find their voice.

 Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   August 28th, 2017- Monday- Eval team

   August 29th, 2017- Tuesday- Grade level teaming 1st-5th

   August 29th, 2017- Tuesday- Robotics Kick off- 5:30-7:00 pm

   August 30th, 2017- Wednesday- District 1st year teacher training

   August 31st, 2017- Thursday- Kindergarten Teaming

   August 31st, 2017- Thursday- Kindergarten hearing screenings

   September 1st, 2017- Friday- Early Dismissal @ 12:30 and no Kinders


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Anderson- Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind

next week: Habit 3- Blair


We have great pictures from this last week. These would be great to share with students, and you can click on them to view in a larger size:

Pictures This Week


We educate the whole child. So true:

Friday August 25th, 2017

Here is a great post with real pictures from classrooms that have integrated flexible learning spaces. Several items mentioned are items we've seen in classrooms at our school:

Flexible Classrooms

Have a great Friday and remember to sharpen the saw with your friends and family this weekend:

Thursday August 24th, 2017

We have the second day of Thinking Maps training today with 3rd-5th grade. Thank you for welcoming and helping our guest teachers throughout the school day.

It should be a little cooler today, but the temperature will be rising again. Please help remind students to be drinking water.

Anything ordinary and routine can get boring. Enjoy the journey this year with kids, learning and growing together. So true:

Wednesday August 23rd, 2017

We have a staff meeting after school today. Our goal is to start at 3:10 in the library. We have two of my favorite topics.

One item will be certified evaluations. We get to experience learning and growth every day, both certified and classified. We have so many talented people to learn from in our building. We are super lucky at Harrison, especially our kids. The second topic will be discipline and behavior. We get to join the journey with our kids, and experience change and growth everyday.

Our students are 'our kids.' We all work with students and devices. Regardless of the setting, online or in person, we need our students to be good people, great citizens. Here is a resource for digital citizenship:

Digital Citizenship

This thought fits perfectly with our staff meeting today:

Tuesday August 22nd, 2017

We have a family note going home this week. The front page has a few safety items, there is a second page from Mrs. Sweet that has website links to access at home like Istation, and the last two pages are important dates:

Family Note Front Page

Family Note Back Page- Upcoming Dates


The big event Monday was the eclipse. Thank you to everybody for ensuring students were using glasses, and for jumping in to help with little ones. It was also a great family involvement activity. We had families assisting and viewing. Here are several great pictures that you can share with kids, and you can click on them to view in a larger size:

Eclipse Pictures

This is a great thought for the day. Adding value:

Monday August 21st, 2017

The big event this week is the eclipse. The first thing to check Monday morning is that every student and staff member has glasses. See the office asap if you are short, or bring extras to the office. We will announce with morning announcements as well. Here is an art project from fourth grade:

We are super lucky to have the Instructional Coach from Canyon Ridge with us two days this week, along with Ms. Kober. The Thinking Maps training will be great for increasing writing skills.


 Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   August 21st, 2017- Monday- Eclipse

   August 21st, 2017- Monday- Eval team

   August 22nd, 2017- Tuesday- Thinking Maps training Pre/k-2nd, Resource, ESL, Library, Comput.

   August 23rd, 2017- Wednesday- Staff meeting

   August 24th, 2017- Thursday- Thinking Maps training 3rd-5th, Title 1, and Instructional Coach

   August 25th, 2017- Friday- Instructional Coach meets with grade level teams & STEAM Team


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Hammond- Habit 1: Be proactive


The staff meeting agenda:

1. Teacher evaluation form, feedback, goals, and more
2. Milepost, Behavior, and Teacher Vitae


This article fits really well with Harrison: Science and Leadership. Leadership is for everybody, not just a few, and great soft skills that apply for any future career:

Why Scientists Should Have Leadership Skills


Our kids are well fed at Harrison. Even though this post may appear for younger children, it really could be a reference for all kids. Not all kids have the opportunity to experience a sit down meal at a table, but we can create that experience at school, and we do. Consider these ideas when giving snacks:

Snack Time and Social-Emotional Skills


Here is a great thought as we start a new week:

Friday August 18th, 2017

Thank you to everybody for ensuring that students had a great first day. Thursday might have been one of our best first days of school, and that's because of a great staff. We have several new students, but you wouldn't have known it. Students were so kind and helpful, and great examples of leaders who ensure everybody feels welcomed and included.

We will have the first quarter classified staff meeting at 9 am in room 16. That should work for most classified staff.  I will check in with preschool and prc paras next week.

Please remember to stop by the office to pick up your eclipse glasses.

Have a great Friday:

Thursday August 17th, 2017

Today is the first day of school, and it's going to be an awesome year! We have several new students, including some who will be seeing the school for the first time after they get off the school bus. Thank you for welcoming and assisting all students, and thank you for patience with the office.

If you walk by the office and the phone is ringing, please answer.

We have several people available to assist with tears, separation, or other feelings. Just let us know in the office and we'll find someone.

We have big hearts at Harrison. Please make sure students go home today excited to come back tomorrow, because they know that there are caring adults who can't wait to see them again. You all matter.

This is a great reminder for the first day of a new school year:

Wednesday August 16th, 2017

A big thank you to everybody who helped prepare classrooms during the day on Tuesday, and for assisting with Open House tasks during the evening. We had a great evening. You have to love the young man who slipped into the office and was at the counter trying to get the attention of his favorite secretary, smiling and waving at her. We need all of our kids to have at least one person they connect with. We have several new families this year, but it's truly one big family reunion at Harrison during Open House, even with parents who attended the school. Thank you!

So true:

Tuesday August 15th, 2017

We will have most of our staff back today. You were missed! Here are a few pictures of summer fun:

Staff Summer Sharpen the Saw Video


Please remember that Open House is 5:00-6:30.

Great thought that relates well, as we have been planning and talking about goals for the new school year. Great goals:

Monday August 14th, 2017

Summer vacation is ending this week for students, and staff are returning. Hopefully everybody had a restful and fun summer. It always seems to go by so quickly. We have new staff joining our Harrison family. Please introduce yourself and help them feel welcomed. That is never a problem. We have such a great staff.

A big excitement this summer was the installation of our new playground. Students have already been using it. A big thank you to everybody who helped encourage students over the last few years as we completed several fundraisers, and a big thank you to those who braved the heat to help install the playground. Here are several great pictures, a long list of people and businesses who donated and assisted, and the KMVT post:

New Playground


Please remember to get your picture taken for the new staff badges.

Teachers, please double check the schedule to remember when you signed up to have Ms. Kober and I come read books to your students. One of my favorite activities is visiting and reading books to every classroom at the start of the new school year.

The before school programs starts on the first day of school, and the after school program starts in a few weeks.


Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   August 14th, 2017- Monday- Opening day at Roper in the AM and Staff Building Retreat 1:00

   August 15th, 2017- Tuesday- Staff work day

   August 15th, 2017- Tuesday- Open House (Chobani yogurt donation) 5:00-6:30

   August 16th, 2017- Wednesday- Staff work day

   August 17th, 2017- Thursday- School starts

   August 18th, 2017- Friday- 1st Quarter Classified Staff Meeting 9:00 room #16

   August 18th, 2017- Friday- Instructional Coach check in with grade level teams


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:

   Hammond- Habit 1: Be proactive


As we start a new school year, please remember these great tips: