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September 2024 - Volume 1


Dear Harrison Families,
 

We welcomed more than 3,800 students back to our schools, the most in our history. Your children were eager to start school, bringing our classrooms alive with their vibrance and joy. 

Students engaged in summer learning, from Reading with the Huskies to Bridges to Literacy and College Essay Writing. Faculty participated in more than 40 professional development courses, curriculum writing, and study groups to evaluate and improve curriculum and instruction. The maintenance, buildings, and grounds crews worked throughout the summer to ready schools for reopening. We started facility improvement in all of our schools, which was made possible by your support of the bond referendum, and we will soon introduce a webpage to share progress.

Our back-to-school newsletter captures all that faculty and students engaged in this summer. I also look forward to discovering all your children and our faculty will accomplish in the year ahead. 

Sincerely,

Louis N. Wool, Ed.D. 

Superintendent of Schools


School Year Off to a Great Start!

Students across the District returned for the 2024-25 school year on September 9th with energy and smiles. The HCSD learning community welcomed 3,803 students, the highest enrollment in history. 


6th & 9th Grade Orientations...Ready for LMK & HHS

Students in 6th and 9th grades attended orientation sessions at LMK Middle School and Harrison High School before the start of the school year. Orientation is the final program in the district’s transition support for 6th and 9th grade students as they prepare to attend a new school.  Students meet their school counselors, receive class schedules, find their lockers, and explore the school buildings in a relaxed environment and feel that the orientation “helps reduce feeling so nervous on the first day.”


Superintendent Wool Begins School Year with Annual Address at Opening Day

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Louis Wool’s annual welcome address marked the official start of the 2024-25 school year on Tuesday, September 3rd. Teachers, aides and assistants, clerical staff, school safety staff, buildings and grounds staff, nurses and health assistants, technology staff, and administrators gathered at the HPAC at Harrison High School.  Dr. Wool recognized many of the extraordinary members of our faculty and staff, pointing with pride to the academic and inspiring acts of character and empathy achieved by our students.  He reminded them that none of this would have been possible without their collective contributions to every student who attends Harrison’s schools, “Every person in this room is a teacher, regardless of title.”  Everyone participated in two days of professional development, before welcoming students on September 5th.


Harrison Welcomes New Teachers and Administrators

The District is pleased to welcome new administrators and teachers to our learning community.  Dr. Wool and District administrators conducted a four-day New Teacher Institute to introduce the District's instructional philosophy and practices. These talented and dedicated educators were selected through a rigorous hiring process based on their professional preparation and prior experience, their commitment to the District's core values, and their passion for teaching and learning.  Meet these new members of Harrison's exceptional learning community by clicking here.


College Application Process in Full Swing; Seniors Attend College Essay Workshops 

More than 150 seniors participated in the District’s college essay workshop at sessions held during the summer and in September.  High School ELA teachers lead the hands-on workshops for students preparing for the college application process.  The workshop, open to all HHS seniors, provides feedback and guides students throughout the writing process including one-on-one teacher conferences and peer feedback sessions.

Husky Marching Band Performs at UConn

The Harrison High School Marching Band traveled to the University of Connecticut where students had an amazing experience learning from college musicians and professors, gaining perspective about collegiate music participation, and interacting with high school bands from Connecticut and New York. Husky musicians joined bands and faculty from 9 other high school marching bands for a rehearsal with the UConn Marching on the Pratt and Whitney Stadium Field. Students then refined their music performance, learned the march-on logistics of the halftime show, and to prepare for performing at half time. 


Harrison Educational Foundation Celebrates 30 Years 

The Harrison Educational Foundation is celebrating 30 years of support for Harrison's schools and will their annual fundraiser on October 10th at Harrison Meadows.  For more information about the foundation and the fundraiser visit the HEF website.


Information and Announcements

CrisisGo App for Parents:  As part of an ongoing effort to enhance communication with parents and improve school safety, parents are encouraged to download the CrisisGo app, which will provide you with timely and reliable information in the event of a school emergency, such as an evacuation or an unscheduled early dismissal.  Please click here to download the free CrisisGo app and subscribe to one or more schools to receive school safety alert messages.  

Bus Transportation: To reduce traffic congestion during drop-off and dismissal, parents/guardians of eligible students are encouraged to use the bus transportation provided by the District.  To learn more about bus transportation for eligible students, click here.