Friday August 19th, 2016

Thank you to everybody for a great first day of school on Thursday! Many hands truly make light work.

Here is a great picture of two students with Dr. Dobbs and Dr. Dickinson. We have had school supplies donated for our students, and it is very much appreciated:

Thank You Post

We have our 1st quarter classified staff meetings today. We'll meet by the office, and then find a room depending on the size of our group for each time option.

If students need a grab and go breakfast, they are in room 15.

Have a great Friday! Thought for today:

Thursday August 18th, 2016

Today is the first day of school!

The 1st quarter classified staff meeting is on Friday. Here is the schedule:

1. PRC- 7:55

2. Title 1, ESL, Mentor, Playground, and Resource: 9:30

3. Preschool- 12:00

We have extra copies of the bus schedule, lunch menu, and other forms/handouts on the table on front of the office. Please help yourself if you need anything, or if families ask.

If you walk by the office and the phone is ringing, feel free to answer it.

Let us know in the office if students need school supplies and or a backpack.

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

One of my favorite activities at the beginning of the school year is visiting/welcoming students in every classroom pre/k-5th, and reading books to them. The schedule is online, and a paper copy is on the counter in the office, if you need to find me.

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. Thought for today:

Wednesday August 17th, 2016

A big thank you to everybody for welcoming and assisting families during Open House on Tuesday, and for assisting with table booths and the front office area.  It was very much appreciated! From the classrooms, to the office, front entry way, our custodians, and parent volunteers- what a great example of synergy and kindness.

Here is the updated schedule for celebrating staff birthdays. It is also on the schedules tab at the top of the staff blog.

Staff Birthdays Schedule

We are all here for a reason. You matter and are important. Remember this when you encounter unkind words, actions, or people:

image source: @FalconPassElem

Tuesday August 16th, 2016

Open House is from 5:00-6:30. Please help remind families about signing up for different areas to assist and volunteer during the school year. Every family that signs up for something will be entered in a drawing for a Fred Meyer gift card. Sign up sheets will be by the office. We will also have free yogurt that was donated by Chobani. School shirts will be sold, and we will have staff providing applications and information about the before and after school program with the 21st Century Community Learning Center grant.

The following link has ideas for teaching reading skills, as well as increasing interest in reading:

Reading Ideas

Just as adults are talking about the upcoming election, Hilary and Trump, so will students. This link from PBS has several great resources and downloads for the upcoming Presidential election. There is also a nice poster download about debating, which would be great for any topic that your class is discussing this year:

PBS Election for Educators- Information about website

PBS Election for Educators- Direct Link

This picture was shared at our staff retreat on Monday:

Monday August 15th, 2016

Duties for the week: 
     
     AM Bus: Terrell
                 Lindquist
                 Sweet
     PM Bus: Kenyon
                 Music/PE/STEM
                 Nail
     Staff Room: Porter
 
 
  Meetings/Reminders for the week: 

   August 15th, 2016- Monday- AM: Staff Retreat 8:30-11:30 
   
   August 15th, 2016- Monday- PM: District Opening Event at Roper 1:00
 
   August 16th, 2016- Tuesday- Staff Work Day

   August 16th, 2016- Tuesday- Open House 5:00-6:30
 
   August 17th, 2016- Wednesday- Staff Work Day

   August 18th, 2016- Thursday- First Day of School 8:15-3:15

   August 19th, 2016- Friday- Insurance Meeting 7:45 am in Library

   August 19th, 2016- Friday- 1st Quarter Classified Staff Meeting 9:30

Upcoming: Thursday August 25th is Leader in Me Training day.


Habit of the week/Classroom leading morning announcements:
 
    Hammond- Habit 1: Be Proactive


Please remember to print the first quarter block/specials schedule. 

This is a great article for all educators, not just new teachers. We've all been new:

As A New Teacher


Here is our staff summer video. So many great sharpen the saw activities:

Staff Summer Video 2016

We had a great staff retreat on Friday. One of the activities was a field trip learning about our bus stop locations, our school boundaries, and where our students live. We had our teachers, our new school secretary, and our custodians. What a great activity:

A big thank you to Great Harvest Bread and our awesome driver Mr. Reinke from Western States Bus! We ended the field trip with a yummy treat:

As we start the first week of a new school year, remember that we are all learning and trying. It's going to be a great year! Enjoy the journey:

Monday August 8th, 2016

A big thank you to everybody who has helped a new staff member, assisted with painting, made a colleague smile and laugh, or spread kindness that brightened somebody's day! Also, thank you for sending your summer pictures for the staff video.

Meetings/Reminders for the week:

   Monday August 8th, 2016- Board Meeting at CR will Recognize Classified and Certified Staff- Mrs. Pauley and Ms. Ramezan: 7:00 pm

   Wednesday August 10th, 2016- New Teacher Training

   Thursday August 11th, 2016- Standards Based Report Card Training

   Thursday-Friday, August 11th and 12th, 2016- Kindergarten Open House

   Friday August 12th, 2016- Staff Retreat
 

Tuesday will be the last day of the getting ready for Kindergarten program. A big thank you to Mrs. Pauley and Ms. Cantu for leading and teaching! We have had a great group of kids. Here are a few pictures, and you can click on them to make them larger:

Get Ready For Kindergarten

We only have two positions to fill, the playground para positions. If you know someone who would be a great candidate, please encourage them to apply.

We really need students to fill out the bus application form if they are going to need transportation. Please talk with friends and families. The online form is on the right side of the school website, the right side of the district website, and we have paper copies in the office. We will also have a staff member from the bus company at open house. As of right now, we only have one school bus planned. That bus will cover all of the stops from the President streets, Boys and Girls Club, Fawnbrook, Rivercrest, and a few stops in between. Having students signed up for bus transportation is crucial for planning.

Getting ready for the beginning of a new school year can be crazy busy and stressful. Don't forget the excitement as well:

Monday August 1st, 2016

It is hard to believe that August has arrived. Our new secretary has started and the office is open. If you know about new families, please encourage them to come in and register. That is really helpful as we are preparing class lists.

Welcome to all our new staff! We are so excited to have you join the Harrison family. From the kitchen, to our custodians, classified staff, support staff, and certified staff- We have an awesome team at Harrison that works very well together. I'm really proud of that. If you have any questions or need any help, please ask. There are so many people willing to jump in and help.

Please continue to send a summer picture of yourself sharpening the saw, for the staff video.

Please remember the fun staff work party on August 2nd. That is a great time to talk, laugh, paint, and have fun. The day starts at 8:30 am. Our building has had great updates the last few years, like the front entry way and bathrooms. It's the staff work party that has accomplished that. Come sharpen the saw with your colleagues!

You may have noticed that the school website is not working. The school district is updating websites. As families are asking for items, here are a few details you can help share and pass out. This is a busy time of year and the school website usually helps. Please help to share the following information with families:

1. School Supply List (click on link)

2. Open House for Kindergarten: August 10th, 11th, and 12th- students/families will receive letters in the mail if they registered by June 1st. New families will receive information after they register.

3. Open House for Kindergarten-5th Grade: August 16th, 5:00-6:30- I also asked and received a donation from Chobani for yogurt that evening. Back to school letters are ready and will be mailed out the week of August 8th. A big thank you to Ms. Warner and her ladies church group for folding all the papers and stuffing all the envelopes! Students will find out who their teacher is that night.

4. First day of Preschool and Kindergarten-5th Grade: August 18th

5. School Supervision on Playground for AM Kindergarten-5th Grade: 7:50 am

6. Breakfast 2nd-5th Grade: 7:50 am

7. School Hours for Students: 8:15 am-3:15 pm

8. Breakfast in the Classroom: Kindergarten and 1st Grade at 8:15 am

9. Lunch: Free for every student

10. Before School Program: Starts Monday August 22nd at 7:30 am- with our school mentor

11. Before and After School Program with 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant: Starts September 12th.


Enjoy the final days of summer with your friends and family! Here is a great reminder as we are getting ready for a new school year: